Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Friday, January 27, 2023

Frayed relationships

Insurance issues coming to a head

another on the way.

Seagraves’ priority is his family’s well-being and when he took his 2-yearold son for a checkup with his pediatrician, he was expecting to hear good news and return home with no extra concerns.

Luisa Clausen News & Lifestyle Editor

Jacob Seagraves, 20-year-old student, adores his one child and has

The consultation took an unexpected turn for Seagraves and his wife, who preferred not to be named.

His son’s pediatrician at the Stillwater Medical Center shared the news. Blue Cross Blue Shield, among the most

Students, staff, grapple with TikTok ban

Thomason Assistant News & Lifestyle Editor

TikTok is banned from Oklahoma State University.

During winter break, Gov. Kevin Stitt released an executive order that banned the use of TikTok on all state-issued government devices.

The executive order pointed to “government entities,” such as the United States Military, as an example. Using TikTok on government-issued devices has been banned in response to “its unique national security risks.”

In compliance with the executive order, OSU banned TikTok from universityissued devices and Wi-Fi. For students, this means TikTok is no longer accessible on personal devices connected to OSU’s Wi-Fi, eduroam.

Riley Flickinger, a political science major, said she discovered the ban when trying to use the app.

“I know about the TikTok ban, but it wasn’t because I heard it from the school or even anyone at school,” Flickinger said. “I just went on the app one day and it just stopped working.”

Limiting social

media access is a new move on OSU’s campus. Many of OSU’s teams and organizations have TikTok accounts, including football (@cowboy_fb), men’s basketball (@ osumbb), the Student Union Activities Board (@suabokstate) and the university itself (@ okstate).

These accounts connect with students on a popular platform. Using social media is a powerful tool to share information in today’s college landscape.

In a university announcement, OSU shared its reasoning behind this decision.

“On Dec. 8, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued Executive Order 2022-33, which prohibits employees of the State of Oklahoma from downloading or using the TikTok app on state-issued devices or networks,” the announcement said. “In compliance with the order, Oklahoma State University blocked access to TikTok on its wired and wireless networks on Dec. 22.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will remain flexible in our approach to compliance with this executive order.”

OSU is not the only university to ban TikTok. Many southern universities, including University of Oklahoma, University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M, have banned the video-based app.

See TikTok on

prominent insurers in the country and the largest insurance network in Oklahoma, contracting with more than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals — more than any other insurer — and Stillwater Medical Center were in an impasse in negotiations over who should pay for rising costs of medical care. Unless one of the sides compromises, Stillwater Medical Center will no longer be a Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network provider May 1.

How does that affect Seagraves?

His wife is expecting their second child,

and she has Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.

“The pediatritian was angry,” Seagraves said. “My wife and I were mostly frustrated.”

The collective rate payments for Blue Cross Blue Shield patients compromise 21% of Stillwater Medical Center’s patient base, according to the SMC website, and the decision to end their contract would compromise thousands

See BCBS on 6A

“Tradition Interrupted” now showing at OSU Museum of Art

A new art exhibit is available for viewing.

“Tradition Interrupted” is a traveling art exhibit that the Bedford Gallery organized, and it will be at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art from Jan. 17 to April 1.

All of its exhibits are free to the public.

This exhibit showcases art that unites traditional and contemporary ideas. The pieces range from melting rugs to skateboards flying in the air. Every piece of art is unique, though they all show something from the past and present fused into one. Looking through the pieces can bring up old memories while still playing with modern designs.

Twelve artists created all of these pieces. These artists all cohesively brought together the ideas of traditional craft with a contemporary spin.

The staff at the OSU Museum of Art is well-versed in the exhibits that come through and are happy to talk about the pieces with museumgoers. Taking advantage of the staff can help to see the backstories behind the pieces and further analyze what the artists are trying to say.

“What’s unique about this one is there are a lot of pieces that obviously come from a lot of different backgrounds and a lot of different artists,” said Casey Ihde, a marketing coordinator and museum educator at the OSU Museum of Art. “We have a lot of different techniques and materials that are being used. There’s a good blending of sculptural works, of paintings, of ceramics. So visually, it’s very different.”

Ihde said one of the most visually attractive pieces at the museum would be Mounir Fatmi’s “Maximum Sensation.” It portrays skateboards covered in prayer rugs, seemingly flipping across a wall in a massive arc.

However, Ihde has a different favorite piece.

“My personal favorite is by

an artist named Ana Gómez,” Ihde said. “These are ceramic pieces designed to look like the little cup of noodles. And then we have pieces that are also ceramic, designed to look like take-out containers. Through these pieces, she’s talking about throw-away culture and how our family dinners where we’d sit down and eat off of ceramic plates has been replaced with a more fast-paced culture where we get our McDonald’s box and eat out of the bag on our way back home.”

All of the pieces have a different message, and whether viewers would rather interpret pieces on their own or have staff help guide them through the artwork, the “Tradition Interrupted” exhibit will be there until April 1 for whoever stops.

More information about the museum and the exhibits can be found at the OSU Museum of Art website.

Graphic by Sam Beebe

Mak Vandruff Staff Reporter

Kennedy

TikTok...

Continued from 1A

The ban, while in compliance with the executive order, does not prohibit students from using TikTok. The app is accessible to users once they are no longer connected to OSU’s Wi-Fi, meaning personal data must be used.

Trevor Frieson, a management and marketing double major, said he still uses TikTok.

“I think, really, it’s not a big deal at all, however, for those people who don’t have the unlimited data or data to spare, it is definitely quite a big deal, as they have limited to zero access,” Frieson said.

The goal of the executive order was to limit usage and interaction of TikTok from Oklahoma’s citizens. OSU’s decision to ban TikTok on uni-

versity devices is in accordance with this and extends to students, faculty and staff. Regardless of intentions, the ban has not created a large impact on students.

Flickinger said the ban has created an inconvenience.

“I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but it is just more of a nuisance,” Flickinger said. “We could all just turn our Wi-Fi off and use it, but it is a bit annoying when I want to go use it and forget it doesn’t work on the Wi-Fi.”

Students are not letting the ban affect their usage of the app. Using personal data is a common way to work around the ban.

Frieson echoed Flickinger’s sentiments, saying the ban is a minor hindrance.

“Now I definitely use it less, however, knowing what a simple fix it is to get around the ban, it’s just an inconvenience at this point,” he said.

Evyne Gilmore, a psychology premed major and public relations chair for the College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Student Council, said us ing social media helps her connect with her target audience.

“Using social media is important for PR chair because it allows me to reach a different side of the community that I don’t get to meet in person,” Gilmore said.” It also allows me to make an impact that can reach everybody, and promote in different creative forms.”

The O’Colly reached out to university officials, but they declined to comment.

To read Stitt’s executive or der, visit this website or oklahoma.gov and search “TikTok ban.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Bingo with a hint of culture

Harry Styles merchandise, a Danny Devito cutout and a PlayStation were just three of 16 prizes Oklahoma State University students competed for at the Student Union Activities Board’s bingo event.

Wednesday, SUAB’s Talent Committee held its first event of the year, Pop Culture Bingo. All 16 rounds featured an item found in popular culture. Senior Emma Kincaid only had eyes for one prize.

“I heard there were Harry Styles posters and I’m a big fan of Harry Styles.” Kincaid said. “I come to every SUAB bingo because I want to win.”

‘The Nike Training Club’ Review

Netflix is more than streaming videos.

“The Nike Training Club” is the new collaboration in form of exercise between Nike and Netflix. The training offers a total of 30 hours of sessions and is free with an already existing Netflix subscription.

At OSU, the Colvin Recreation Center offers students free admission and use of most of its facilities, including weight training machines, treadmills, full-length basketball courts and more.

Around this time of the year gyms can be packed with people and some people might feel anxious about working out in front of other people and worried about crowds.

Classes might make it hard for students to make time to go to the gym. For people whose New Year’s resolution is to start working

out or for people who have been working out for a long time, the “Nike Training Club” workouts are a great way to get exercise fast and in the comfort of your own dorm, apartment or anywhere else that you have down time.

“The Nike Training Club” includes 10 different sections with each section having three to 26 episodes within them.

The sessions have a huge variety for everyone, from 10-minute workouts, to 30-minute, to bodyweight burn and more. To test how the “Nike Training Club” workouts compared to gyms such as the Colvin, I tried out a few of the many programs that Netflix has to offer.

To start, I tried “10-Min HIT: Upper Body Blast.” In the short amount of time I had in between classes, I was able to get a high intensity upper body workout that was well coached and diverse with the muscle groups it hit.

After that workout, I tried the “20-Min Bodyweight Burn: Core Strength.” The curve of difficulty and intensity goes up from

the 10-minute workouts, and what is great about this particular core workout was the level of self control with the intensity and volume.

The instructors kept it simple easy to understand and allowed for some difficulty curves for people who want a more intense workout or people who want a more relaxed one.

Last but not least, I tried the yoga session “Feel-Good Fitness: Feel-Good Flow.” The session was about seven minutes long and offered a nice and easy full-body exercise, guiding the viewers with breathing techniques and stretching out tight muscles.

“The Nike Training Club” is great for people who want to start slow or for those looking for a simple and easy exercise. The Colvin is still a valid way to get in daily exercising, running or weightlifting, but if you prefer to excercise at home, Netflix’s Nike sessions are a perfectly good substitute.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

While Kincaid and several others were treated to a fun-filled experience, the Talent Committee was hard at work putting together the event. Junior Mason Lough, the director of the talent committee, discussed some of the many steps behind pulling off a SUAB event.

“First, we’ll start with getting input from my committee on what kind of prizes we want to do, and then it will go to working with my graduate assistant to

get our graphic together,” Lough said. “Then it just comes down to logistics things like working with the committee to decide who is going to work the check-in table, who’s going to announce the bingo numbers, who’s going to check to make sure, things like that.”

There are several committees within SUAB, but the talent committee is devoted to discovering the talent of the students that OSU has to offer.

“All of our events relate back to that,” Lough said.

As to why the committee landed on pop culture as the theme of their bingo, Lough related it back to the talent aspect.

“We thought pop culture was like our whole shtick because usually bringing out the talent of OSU is going to come with the culture side of things,” Lough said. The committee’s pop culture-centered event certainly brought out some talented or just lucky bingo players. After a fun night filled with music, laughs, lots of bingos and a tiebreaker, junior Magdalyn Harry walked away with the biggest prize of the night, a record player

See Bingo on 4A

Courtesy of Time

Baylor Bryant

Staff Reporter

Hayden Alexander

Student Union Activities Board members hosted Pop Culture Bingo on Wednesday night. From left to right: Mason Lough, Alyia Smith, Drew Underwood, Izzy Wilkerson, Reagan Congdon and Katy Kemp.

Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

Tony and Grammy Award winner Odom Jr. to perform at McKnight Center

main valid for Odom’s shows.

Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief

A big-time Broadway talent is Stillwater bound.

Tony and Grammy-Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. will perform at OSU’s McKnight Center on April 28 and 29.

Odom replaces fellow “Hamilton” star Renée Elise Goldsberry, who was originally scheduled for those days. She canceled because of a change in filming schedules. The McKnight Center hopes to bring her back in the future.

All previously bought tickets for Goldsberry’s performances re-

Odom starred as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton” and won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. A New York City native, he debuted on Broadway at 17 in “RENT.” He also received Emmy Awards and Academy Award nominations for his achievements in theatre, television, film and music. He recently starred in Netflix’s “Knives Out: Glass Onion.”

Odom is working on production to a sequel to “The Exorcist.” The film will release in October.

“We are thrilled to welcome Leslie Odom Jr. to our stage this April,” said Mark Blakeman, the Marilynn and Carl Thoma Executive Director of the McKnight Center.

“Mr. Odom Jr. has a vast repertoire, and he delivers a charismatic performance that we know will captivate the audience.”

Odom also performed in Apple

TV+’s “Central Park” and Disney+’s “Hamilton.” You can also find him in “Abbott Elementary,” “The Proud Family,” “Louder and Prouder,”

“Love in the Times of Corona” and others. He is also a BMG recording artist and released four full-length albums. He will release his first children’s book, co-written with Nicolette Robinson, “I Love You and More than You’ll Ever Know” on March 28.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit the mcknightcenter.org or call 405-744-9999. Single ticket prices begin at $41.

“In-demand artists like Ms. Goldsberry are always managing multiple projects at once,” Blakeman said. “We know this cancelation is disappointing for her fans, but we’re positive they’ll love Mr. Odom, Jr.’s performance.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Bingo...

Continued from 3A

paired with multiple records.

“We all suck at bingo, and we never win, and I’ve changed it this week,” Harry said.

“This is a great win in my life. I’m going to FaceTime my mother.”

Sophomore Regan Congdon, a member of the talent committee, was happy with how the event turned out for the SUAB members and students.

“I feel like we had fun as a committee,” Congdon said. “It also seemed like the audience was having fun. They definitely got into

it at the end, which was really nice.”

Pop Culture Bingo is just the first of many events SUAB and the Talent Committee have planned for the semester. The committee is already working on setting an audition date for their feature talent show in March. All of SUAB’s events can be found on its social media @suabokstate. SUAB is also accepting applications for the spring semester until January 29th.

While not everyone walked away a winner from Pop Culture Bingo, they all left a little more cultured and will be back for more.

entertainment.ed@ ocolly.com

‘Tulsa King’ season one review

time for character development for the side characters, such as Manfredi’s personal chauffeur and the various business owners he incorporates into his gang.

Tulsa King wrapped its first season on Jan. 8.

Tulsa King stars Sylvester Stallone in his first television role as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, an Italian mobster capo who spent 25 years in prison and was then banished to Tulsa.

Airing on Paramount+, the cast not only includes Stallone but other popular actors and actresses, such as Andrea Savage from “Veep,” Jay Will from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Martin Starr from “Freaks and Geeks.”

Viewers watch as Manfredi tries to make Tulsa into a bountiful venture for the Invernizzi mob family back in New York City. He commandeers multiple businesses, including a marijuana shop and a bar, and gets into a romance at the age of 75 with an FBI agent well before she realizes that he is not who she expected him to be.

Although the show features many scenes you would expect from a mob television show such as violence, fighting and romance, it also blends in comedy it incorporates the life of an ex-convict who was put behind bars in a time when cell phones weren’t even mainstream, leading to a lot of confusion when trying to catch up with technology. The plot doesn’t just focus on Manfred and gives good backstory and

Before the first season ended, Paramount stated the show would be renewed for a second season, to the delight of many fans who felt that the first had ended on an uncertain cliffhanger. It is unclear when filming will begin for season two. Erica Scassellati from MSN says that it could be as long as 2024 before the new season’s filming is underway.

The series was shot in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma City and other small towns across Oklahoma.

Stillwater residents can catch the town’s name thrown into the show’s dialogue. According to Tulsa Tours, the series has even inspired a tour you can take for yourself around Tulsa to “See the sights like Dwight.” Several locations include the Mayo Hotel, the Center of the Universe and Triangle Coffee, all of which appear in the show.

Oklahoma residents can catch familiar sights nonstop as scenes from prominent places, such as downtown Oklahoma City, or OKC’s Quail Springs Mall are played off as being in Tulsa. It also showcases tribal Native American lands and characters throughout the season.

Because of the local filming, casting calls were sent out to Oklahomans to come act as extras in the backgrounds and as stand-ins. The extra and stand-in castings

Hayden Alexander OSU junior Magdylan Harry won a record player and several records at Student Union Activities Board’s Pop Culture Bingo on Wednesday night.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Tony and Grammy-Award winner actor Leslie Odom Jr. will perform at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on April 28 and 29.

were done through Freihofer Casting, an Oklahoma-based casting business who sends out free casting calls to those who sign up at their website.

Courtesy of Tribune News Services

Sylvester Stallone stars as in his first-ever television role as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, an Italian mobster capo who spent 25 years in prison and was then banished to Tulsa.

Isaac Terry Staff Reporter

OSU sued for silencing conservative viewpoints

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Students are speaking out.

Speech First, a national free speech advocacy organization, recently filed a lawsuit against OSU over school policies it claims aim to deter students against voicing controversial opinions. The organization said the policies are a violation of students’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Bruce Trammell, a sophomore Ag Leadership major, said the lawsuit is deserved.

“I believe it’s been a long time coming,” Trammell said. “I, personally, am disappointed in our current administration.”

Trammell said administration lacks professionalism when handling controversial situations. Trammell said he hopes to see President Dr. Kayse Shrum stand up for her own conservative views in the future, considering republican governor Kevin Stitt appointed Shrum to his cabinet as his first Secretary of Science and Innovation in 2019.

Trammel has experienced backlash for his views at OSU. As a freshman, Trammell was asked to state his name and pronouns to introduce himself to his Composition I class. Trammell chose to share only his name and as a result was asked to leave the classroom. From then, Trammell said he felt that

The O’Comic

his professor targeted him.

“He made my life miserable,” Trammell said. “That class was not fun.”

Trammell reported the event to the dean of the English department but never received a response, allowing the professor to continue to single-out and silence students.

This was not the last time Trammell’s professor forced his personal political agenda on students. Trammell said his professor offered extra credit for students that attended a pro-abortion protest on campus, essentially rewarding students who agreed with his views. Students who disagreed with the professor’s stance were forced to miss out on an opportunity to improve their grade.

Trammell said college is meant to be an environment that allows students to voice their opinions free of judgment, and controversial opinions belong in higher education. He hopes the lawsuit against OSU brings change to the university and how controversial opinions are treated by administration and professors.

Luke Spenelli, a freshman aviation management major, said he filters what he speaks of at OSU, but not out of fear of his professors or administration. Spenelli said his peers have attacked him for his views in a group chat

See Sued on 8A

‘That 90’s Show’ Review

much to Kitty’s delight, the house is full of life and new adventures again.

Netflix takes us back to Point Place, Wisconsin, in a series reboot, “That 90’s Show.” Set in summer 1995, the Formans welcome a new group of teenagers to their basement.

When people hear the word reboot, they are immediately turned off and don’t care to watch.

Honestly, the question is “What could possibly be better than ‘That 70’s Show?’” Well, “That 90’s Show” is not better, but it was funny and well thought out. The writers and production crew did a fantastic job, and I really enjoyed how they incorporated certain scenes and transitions from the original show to the new one.

The season starts off when the daughter of Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon) decide to spend her summer with her grandparents, Kitty and Red. Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) is welcomed with open arms, and

Debra Jo Rupp portrays Kitty, and she is absolutely the best part of the reboot. Her humor is still as sharp as ever and is the mom/grandmother we wish we all had. The dynamic she shares with the old cast members is beautiful, and she shares that same dynamic with the new cast members.

Kurtwood Smith also reprises his role as Red Forman. The love he has for his granddaughter is captured so well, and Red’s quick wit still brings tons of laughter. Most of the original cast cameos throughout the series appeared for short time periods.

You get to see what Leo (Tommy Chong), Bob (Don Stark), Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) and Jackie (Mila Kunis) have been up to two decades later.

One main character (Hyde) does not return for the reboot.

Portrayed by Danny Masterson in “That 70’s Show”, the series decided to completely avoid bringing up Hyde throughout the 10-episode season. Masterson

was charged in 2020 with rape in three separate incidents in the early 2000s. Although many fans love his character, the production crew made the right decision to leave any association with Masterson out of the series despite him denying any accusations that were made as these court cases continue.

As season one progresses, Leia is given the opportunity to have the time of her life, just like her parents did. Son of Jackie and Michael Kelso, Jay Kelso (Mace Coronel), appears in Leia’s new friend group along with other unfamiliar faces. Characters such as Ozzie (Reyn Doi) and Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide) had great chemistry with other characters, making this group as unique as their parents in the ’70s.

It is extremely hard to live up to an original series legacy, but “That 90’s Show” is a wonderful tribute to those who created, portrayed characters and enjoyed watching as it aired on television.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Callie Haverda as Leia, Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen and Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate in “That ’90s Show.” (Patrick Wymore/Netflix/ TNS)

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Comic By Kendall McGhee

of people in Stillwater. Oklahoma State is the largest employer in Stillwater and it utilizes Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide health and medical insurance. Employees at OSU who pay for premium insurance are now in the crosshairs of major impact. If the contract is not renewed, patients who decide to keep Blue Cross Blue Shield as their insurer will have two options in case of an emergency: not have coverage for nonemergency medical services at Stillwater Medical Center or be required to pay higher out-of-network co-pays and deductibles for those services. A deductible is an amount of money insured people pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example,

a person can pay the first $2,000 of covered services themselves. After the deductible is paid, the insured usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance for covered services and their insurance pays the rest. Health insurance providers negotiate lesser rates for care and procedures.

“My main concern is having my wife have an emergency situation,” Seagraves said. “For example, her having swift labor and her having to birth at Stillwater Medical Center. If that happens, we would be responsible for the full payment, and we cannot afford that.”

Seagraves’ father-in-law’s employer provides his daughter health insurance and if an accident transpired they would not be able to afford the high costs of medical treatment at Stillwater Medical Center.

“Switching insurance simply isn’t an option for us,” Seagraves said. “We are already spread so thin financially.”

On its website, Stillwater Medical Center claims its costs have increased 26% since 2019 and it will be unable to maintain a high level of care if it accepts reimbursement contracts from insurance provider networks that do not keep pace with inflation.

The O’Colly contacted Stillwater Medical Center and obtained no response.

Tricia Ament, the manager of divisional communications for Blue Cross Blue Shield, said the company renewed more than 80 hospital/provider contracts in 2022 and made it a priority to keep broad access available to its members.

“We were able to agree on reimbursement terms that were in line with medical inflation rates with all of these renewals,” Ament said.

Ament said the rate increase Stillwater Medical Center is requesting would put an extreme burden on Blue Cross Blue Shield’s members and local businesses who utilize Stillwater Medical Center and their providers through increased member premiums and out-of pocket costs.

“Stillwater Medical Center chose to end negotiations,” Ament said. “We will remain open to negotiations with SMC if they choose to come back to the table and it is our desire to keep them in the network.”

Grace Jackson, a senior theater major, said the lack of an agreement would be harming many people, herself included, if they finalized the decision.

“Ultimately, they are either willfully ignorant and don’t understand that

this is a bad decision. Or it is malicious and it is absolutely a bad decision and they know it,” Jackson said. Jackson finds herself in a similar situation as Seagraves’ wife. Her parents’ place of employment provides her health insurance and Jackson said she cannot afford an independent health insurance because she is a college student and is able only to work part time.

“I wish more students were aware of this because of how much it will affect them,” Jackson said.

Emma Shook is getting her master’s in geochemistry and was surprised when she heard it was an option for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Stillwater Medical Center to end their contract. Shook said she believes the situation will be solved soon but she will not change her insurance in case it is not solved because, in her opinion, Blue Cross Blue Shield has the best coverage.

“I don’t think many students are aware of this,” Shook said. “My main concern is that many people, including myself, would not be able to go to Stillwater Medical Center if severely injured. I personally would not want to pay out of pocket for something like a broken arm or concussion.”

The O’Colly reached out to the Office of Brand Management at OSU with questions on whether OSU has a backup plan and if it would consider talking to a different health insurance before May 1. Shannon Rigsby, the public information officer, said the questions were inappropriate to provide a comment on while they are in the middle of ongoing discussions.

An official statement said the university is having ongoing discussion with Stillwater Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the university is confident both parties will work toward resolution. The statement said employees who are concerned about the issue may contact OSU Human Resources for guidances. HR is assisting any OSU faculty or staff members who reach out with them individually regarding ongoing medical care needs.

Lauriele Prema, a french lecturer and a yoga instructor at the McKnight Center, got a hopeful email from the university at the end of December notifying the employees about the negotia-

tions and confident about a resolution.

Prema has a 10-year-old son and said if it becomes clear in the next couple of months that the negotiations are not going to work, she will search for another provider for her son.

“If the decision becomes final, faculty and staff will more likely have to change providers, which means changing doctors who maybe you’ve been with the same person for years,” Prema said. “That is going to be upsetting for a lot of people.”

Prema said she did not experience a lot of anxiety about the situation because her medical care, in general, is not urgent. That does not mean there are not apprehensions about the situation.

“Other than the university, Stillwater Medical Center is the largest business in town,” Prema said. “Where would you even go? Actually. Where do you? My son’s pediatrician?

“Stillwater Medical. The entire hospital here, the emergency clinics. Everything is Stillwater Medical, which basically means you don’t have another choice. That’s where you will go if you don’t have a choice.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Brittney Purcell

The previous contract between Stillwater Medical and Blue Cross Blue Shield expired on Dec. 31, 2022, and terms have not been agreed upon to sign a new contract for 2023.

Brittney Purcell

Stillwater Medical Center said the negotiations, which include but are not limited to increased payments for services, are necessary due to historic rapidly rising costs of healthcare since 2019, prepandemic.

Serving a mission

Chicago Symphony Orchestra to perform at McKnight Center

Luisa Clausen News & Lifestyle Editor

After six years of negotiations, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will come to Oklahoma for the third time.

The McKnight Center will host Riccardo Muti, one of the world’s preeminent conductors, and his orchestra on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Mark A. Blakeman, the executive director of the McKnight Center, is responsible for the behind the scene operations at the performance center. Blakeman is involved with the artistic planning and plays an active role in determining what artists play in the center every year. After working in the field for 25 years, Blakeman said it’s important to hire specialized professionals to work with orchestras.

“Orchestras in the U.S., as well as most opera companies, are all unionized,” Blakeman said. “They work under a collective agreement. There is a tremendous amount of structure put around the parameters of their work, being able to understand that and speak that language is paramount to being able to successfully present professional orchestras and dance companies.”

The Chicago Symphony is one of the world’s leading orchestras and the staff at the McKnight Center carefully organized their actions behind the scenes so the performance could happen. Blakeman said there is always anxiety when planning an event this big but the secret to being successful is putting together a group of employees who are devoted and passionate about the arts.

“We have a production outline, which we use for each performance here and carries a lot of detail so that everybody in the company has access to the same information,” Blakeman said. “We meet every week as a full team. We talk about those events from all angles. From a ticketing perspective, front and back of the house management, marketing.”

The orchestra will perform a varied and engaging program. Based on Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s tragedy, Beethoven’s orchestrations for his Coriolan Overture cover themes of war, love and family and showcase his creativity.

Muti announced his retirement at the close of this season, making this concert, an extra special occasion Blakeman said. Muti’s leadership has been distinguished with the strength of his artistic partnership with the Orchestra; his dedication to performing great works of the past and present, including 13 world premieres to date; the enthusiastic reception he and the CSO have received on national and international tours and eight recordings on the CSO Resound label, with three Grammy awards among them. In addition, his contributions to the cultural life of Chicago.

“ I will probably never get to see him performing again,” Blakeman said. “This is a unique opportunity.” The concert is sold out but it will be broadcast to the outdoor plaza located on the west side of the building and inside the McKnight Center Recital Hall.

The McKnight Center will offer a free master-

class from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Horn, David Cooper, will help people expand their musical knowledge. It is an opportunity for the Chicago Symphony to coach OSU music students on how to perform and improve their abilities.

Blakeman said the McKnight Center will continue to look for great opportunities to bring incredible performers like the Chicago Symphony to Stillwater.

“ Our mission is to positively impact and transform the lives of individuals through the highest quality of art possible,” Blakeman said. “It feels good after a successful event to know that we are doing our job to serve our mission.”

Courtesy of The McKnight Center

Riccardo Muti, one of the world’s preeminent conductors, announced his retirement at the close of this season.

Sued...

Continued from 5A

that is supposed to help freshmen students make friends.

Alisson Carcaamo, a freshman majoring in psychology, is a member of the group chat that criticized Spenelli.

“I feel like that group chat opens

your eyes when it comes to free speech and what limits you should take,” Carcaamo said.

Spenelli said he was surprised with the lawsuit against OSU, as well as his experiences with his peers. Because Oklahoma is a Republican state, Spenelli said the amount of OSU staff and administration with liberal views surprised him, and he did not expect his conservative views to be met with such judgment.

“That was one thing that shocked me,” Spenelli said. “I definitely have started being more careful about what I have to say.”

Spenelli said OSU is violating students’ First Amendment rights when it punishes students for their views. He said liberals and conservatives contribute to students practicing self-censorship out of fear of being ridiculed, and opinions should be shared freely at college, given that they are ethical.

Trammell and Spenelli said punishing students for their views results in self-censorship, and in turn, restricts students’ ability to express themselves and their values to their classmates and professors.

The First Amendment is a right, not a privilege.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Jaiden Daughty

Speech

First, a college free speech advocacy organization filed a lawsuit against OSU over three university policies.

Before the crowd packing Gal-

lagher-Iba Arena erupted in an almost unceasing cascade of noise, it quieted.

A few minutes before the Oklahoma State men’s basketball team tipped off against then-Big 12 rival Missouri on Feb. 5, 2001, everything stopped. There was a moment of silence for people to remember the victims of a tragedy.

A tragedy that devastated families and a team and a university and its people. A tragedy that stunned a nation

and drew condolences from near and far, from friends and strangers and even foes.

22 years later, OSU committed to Remember the 10

Now more than two decades later, OSU students may have little or no knowledge of the crash. The school considers it a duty to “Remember the Ten.”

On January 27, 2001, the Cowboys were flying back to Stillwater after a road game at Colorado. The team flew in three planes. The last plane, a Beech-

craft Super King Air 200 crashed in a Colorado field after its pilot became disoriented in the blustery winter night. All 10 on board were killed. Players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson, student manager Jared Weiberg, radio broadcaster Bill Teegins, pilots Denver Mills and Bjorn Fahlstrom, and director of basketball operations Pat Noyes, trainer Brian Luinstra, media relations coordinator Will Hancock, and television/radio engineer Kendall Durfey.

“I really think that’s when we became the OSU family,” Larry Reece, OSU’s longtime public address announcer, said.

“This is a part of OSU history that has affected many lives,” said Carolyn Huffman, wife of athletic trainer and crash victim Brian Luinstra. “It honors their memory when people take time to pause and reflect on their lives and what their loved ones have lost.”

The game against Missouri, a 69-66 OSU win that coach Eddie Sutton called “One of the most important games I’ve ever coached in,” was OSU’s first game since the crash.

The annual Remember the Ten effort has been a key part of the healing process at OSU. There is an annual Remember the Ten game, with the 2023 installment set for Saturday when the Cowboys face Ole Miss, as well as a 5/10K charitable race every spring.

James Halligan, OSU’s president at the time, was one of many to ensure the 10 are not forgotten.

“(Halligan) said we will always remember,” said Chad Weiberg, OSU’s athletic director and Jared’s brother. “Well those weren’t just words. I think everyone, the family at that point, was like that’s what we’re going to do. It is incredible. I remember hearing that, but not having a full understanding of what that would mean 22 years later.

“I don’t think I would have imagined it would have been like it is.”

Reece said it is a duty and an honor to tell stories about the 10 men, in an effort to share their legacy with a new generation.

“The emotions are still real to this very day as I think about what it used to be like around here when when those guys were around,” Reece said. “They were just great people and they were our friends. They were our future leaders.”

When walking around campus or attending games, Chad said he often sees students wearing Remember the Ten shirts. He is thankful the next generation has embraced the importance of the event.

“This happened 22 years ago and most of our students here at OSU right now weren’t even born, you know, when that that happened,” Chad said. “There’s no way that they have any kind of firsthand knowledge or account of it.

“They know about it, they’ve learned.”

Paula Cole, Teegins’ sister, said the students’ embrace is impactful to the families.

“It’s important for (students) to know the history of what happened with that, but for the families I can speak of, that it’s important for us to know that you guys still remember.”

Despite many changes in university leadership, the memory of the 10 has not waned. Chad said it is a testament to the passion of leaders and students at OSU.

“The passing of time can change things,” Chad said. “People change. Administrations change and basketball coaches change and all of those things but I think it’s just really, it’s because we’ve got good people.”

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

The O’Colly Sports continues to Remember the Ten, and each of their love for OSU.

Stories of What each man loved

Kendall Durfey worked dream job at OSU

Kendall Durfey quickly became an OSU fan. He moved to Stillwater to pursue his masters degree, and to reunite with his younger brother, Nelson, who was an undergrad at OSU.

They both grew up in upstate New York, and carried on their family’s tradition in Oklahoma.

“We’re a media family,” Nelson said. “My parents owned a radio

station when we were born, so we ended up going into the family business. We had a radio station in New York, then came out to Oklahoma. We had a radio station that Kendall was the general manager of after he graduated from ORU. We sold it then he came to OSU since I was there.” When Kendall got to Stillwater, the brothers quickly bonded over work in the sports radio business, and attending OSU games.

From the 1985 Bedlam “Ice Bowl” in Norman, to the basketball games in the not-yet raised roof of Gallagher-Iba Arena, Kendall embraced OSU athletics.

While at OSU, Kendall worked for the Education Television Services and the OSU radio network as a producer and engineer. From the coaches show for football to being able to work directly with the basketball team, he had his dream job.

“When he got the job at the Cowboy Radio Network, it was great, because he got paid to go to games,” Nelson said.

Bjorn Fahlstrom: Key of the Cowboy Air Force

Nowadays, most major college basketball teams charter a jet to fly them to and from away games. It’s faster, simpler and keeps everyone together.

Back in 2001, coach Eddie Sutton transported his team on multiple planes provided by donors. He started the practice as head coach of Arkansas, where it because known as the Razorback Air Force.

Sorority class lost Nate Fleming

People on campus started wondering why an entire pledge class of sorority girls had gone missing.

At some point on their way to a chapter meeting at their house, the girls decided to ditch the function and head to a different house a block away. It was one shared by former Cowboy basketball teammates Fredrik Jonzen and Nate Fleming.

The girls had stopped in to say

Here he is with his wife, Karen, a coach on the OSU soccer team.

hello, and two hours later they were still hanging out. It made sense why they were friends with Jonzen, a star senior forward on the team. But why did the girls want to see Fleming, a freshman walk-on who barely played?

Everyone liked Nate.

“All those girls knew Nate and Fredrik,” Zane Fleming, Nate’s father said. “Fredrik was a junior and

Part of the reason teams made the switch was the 2001 plane crash that killed pilot Bjorn Fahlstrom and nine people connected with the Oklahoma State basketball team. The unique way OSU traveled to games made the entire traveling party close.

“When you fly with the same people all the time there’s just a level of comfort

high profile cause he was a starter on the team and Nate as a freshman and everybody loved him anyway so it was a good place to go.”

Nate loved being part of a team. He loved being a part of something greater than himself and lifting others to success. That’s why coaches, teammates and sorority girls loved him. Whether it was hustling through drills or tutoring teammates he always heeded the advice of his father. Do the next right thing.

Will Hancock combining words, sports and people

Karen Hancock thinks her late husband, Will, could have done just about anything.

Will’s SAT scores were “off the charts,” and his math skills would have made him a great engineer or accountant. But he had no desire to crunch numbers all day.

“He was a wordsmith, he loved the English language, he loved words,” Karen said. “I think for him, he needed

to do something to entertain himself, fulfill himself with writing. And he loved sports, so he combined the two.”

Working as sports information director for Oklahoma State basketball merged all of Will’s interests. The people he could help in his role made the long hours and heavy travel worth it.

“He liked young people, and he liked helping facilitate them having a good experience,” Hancock said. “He

Daniel Lawson Jr.: A man of the people

No matter what room Daniel Lawson Jr walked into, he was welcomed.

Doug Gottlieb, point guard of the Cowboys from 1997-2000, roomed with Lawson at away games for part of his senior year. That season, the OSU roster had six scholarship seniors. Lawson, a redshirt junior from Mott Community College, fit right in.

But in a room of younger players and other players under redshirt, he acted just the same. Gottlieb said

he was accepted by the entire program.

“Everybody liked Dan,” Gottlieb said. “Dan was like good looking, smart, smooth talker – he was a good dude.” That’s what Lawson enjoyed most about those OSU teams. Being around the guys. Being part of the team. And he was great at making everyone laugh.

“Very very funny,” Gottlieb said. “He was the perfect fit for Oklahoma State in that he was super

laid back.”

Gottlieb recalled a story in which Lawson received extra tickets to a game and gave one to two girls. Problem was, he sat them next to each other.

to it,” former OSU point guard Doug Gottlieb said.

Fahlstrom, born in Sweeden, moved to Oklahoma City to learn how to fly. He was a former professional tennis player and fit in perfectly with the Cowboy basketball team.

“But those guys wouldn’t have been on the trip if they weren’t really good guys, there’s not enough space or time,” Gottlieb said. “They were just always funny and busting balls. It was just a good thing.”

wrote all the stories and tried to get some attention shown on the guys he worked with whether that was with basketball or golf.”

What surprised Karen after the plane crash in 2001 was how many people felt a piece of Will’s love.

“What was always amazing to me… is just the people that came out of the woodwork and said, ‘Will did this for me, Will said this to me,’” Hancock said. “He clearly just touched a lot of people.”

“It was hysterical,” Gottlieb said. “He was really likeable. Kinda more smooth than anything else, and he kinda dressed cool, acted cool, just one of those very laid-back big cats, man.” Courtesy

Courtesy of Nelson Durfey Kendall Durfey worked at OSU as a producer and sound engineer for both radio and television.

Coutresy of OSU Athletics

Bjorn Fahlstrom, a former professional tennis player born in Sweeden.

Courtesy Karen Hancock

Will Hancock worked as a sports information director, which allowed him to combine his love of words, sports and people.

Courtesy Zane Fleming Nate Fleming walked on to the OSU basketball team. He earned the respect and admiration of his teammates and coaches by the way he attacked every opportunity he received.

of OSU Althletics Daniel Lawson Jr. was a team favorite and always provided a laugh.

the Ten most about the team

children were young, Alexis only two-anda-half years old and Garrett eight months old, the two ended up taking after their father.

Brian Luinstra was a champion.

In high school, he was an undefeated, state champion wrestler and a star multisport athlete.

He was a champion of fatherhood, and from the moment he met his wife, Carolyn Huffman, the pair talked about their desire to start a family.

Above all, he was a champion of life.

“Brian was a fun-loving guy who loved his job and the people he worked with,” Huffman said. “He took his pro-

fession very seriously and helped many athletes get back to playing their sports through his care.”

During a stint working at Kansas before OSU, he met the love of his life, Huffman. The couple had two children together, and Luinstra took pride in being a father to his children.

“He loved me and his children,” Huffman said. “He took a hands-on approach with them; reading, playing, teaching them sports and about God.”

Although Luinstra died when his

Doug Gottlieb always liked flying on Denver Mills’ plane.

First of all, Mills’ wife, Lindell, kept the Super King Air stocked with all the unhealthy snacks hungry basketball players could desire. Whether returning from a thrilling win or gut-wrenching loss, Mills’ kindness was consistent. Usually, the coaches were on another flight back home

Both were athletes talented enough to play at the college level.

When the athletic training staff and members of the team wanted to spend time together outside of basketball, it was an easy decision who would be hosting– Luinstra. These nights usually came with him behind the grill.

“He loved being a part of a team (and) making close relationships with many of the staff and players,” Huffman said. Courtesy

questions,” Gottlieb said. “I like learning things by asking questions. He’d teach me about flying and a couple of times I was up there for the whole flight.”

Pat Noyes and OSU were a match like no other.

“It’s kind of like he found a forever place being there, I think that had he wandered or ventured off, he would have always been anchored to OSU no matter what,” Dan Noyes, Pat’s brother said. “He was a relentless defender of Oklahoma State, almost to a fault. That’s what people should remember about Pat.”

OSU coach Eddie Sutton would often refer to Pat as his “right-hand man,” too. There was truly an unbreakable bond between the legendary coach and Pat.

And for Pat, there was nothing better than being around his “family.”

No matter what job they occupied, each player, coach and staff member made eachother feel like an integral part of the OSU team.

Bill

from road games, so Mills’ plane always had a relaxing vibe.

Gottlieb, former OSU point guard, said on some flights Mills would let him sit in the cockpit. There, he made cockpit announcements to his teammates and Mills never tired of having a point guard for a co-pilot.

“I’m somebody who I ask a million

“I think that collective group of people over that era, obviously with coach (Eddie) Sutton and all his assistant coaches is what made it so special for Pat, because he felt like he had complete ownership of the program as well, even at the position he was in,” Dan said.

Paula Cole sat in the car in her parents’ garage and listened to OSU games on the radio – just to hear the play-by-play announcer. That announcer, Bill Teegins, Cole’s brother.

“He just made you feel like you were right there,” Cole said.

“We just loved it.

“We felt kind of goofy sitting in the garage, but back then that’s all we could get.”

Teegins loved what he did. He

Jared Weiberg: The backup who didn’t skip

Jared Weiberg always wanted to coach.

But without the athleticism required of a top-tier performer, playing for OSU was just a means to an end. During practice, Weiberg didn’t even have to do all the drills. Coach Eddie Sutton allowed walk-ons a respite. They could just shag rebounds and keep the energy up.

Except Weiberg never did.

“Jared wouldn’t skip out on any drill,” said Doug Gottlieb, OSU’s senior point guard on the 1999-00 team.

Chad Weiberg, OSU’s athletic director and Jared’s brother, said the thing Jared liked most about being part of Cowboy basketball was getting to be in the middle of everything.

“Being able to help the team any way he could and just observing and learning,” Chad said. “That’s the reason he came (to OSU).”

After a year, Weiberg took a position as student assistant position for OSU, Trading his walk-on role for a clipboard.

“He would call you and feed you

Mills didn’t have to spend time away from his wife and three children flying around a basketball team, much less take the time to personally connect and invest in the lives of his passengers.

“He was just a really good dude,” Gottlieb said.

admired Stillwater – Eskimo Joe’s was one of his favorite spots, and he even had his own table. Teegins loved OSU, its fans and community. Doing OSU’s play-by-play didn’t feel like a job. Cole said he enjoyed being part of the program and experiencing everything live.

His family went vacation every year, and Teegins took the time to do a radio segment while on vacation.

“My dad used to say, ‘I can’t

for shooting any time, help you with scouts, help you with watching film,” Gottlieb said.

Chad said his brother enjoyed breaking down film and following in the footsteps of their father Mick, who coached basketball.

“That was just in his blood,” Chad said. “I think he loved every everything about it. Every minute of it. He was doing what he wanted to do. I have no doubt that he’d be out there coaching somewhere right now… I think he would have been out there as part of the Eddie Sutton tree.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

believe that on your vacation you have to call in,’” Cole said. “And (Teegins) would go, ‘I love it.’ And he did.”

Besides his love for what he did, Teegins was best known as someone who cared.

Cole said Teegins remembered everyone’s name, and he would stop and listen to anyone – he truly cared about people.

“He was a very caring person,” Cole said. “That’s the one thing I’ve heard from many people. That’s just the way he was.”

of Carolyn Huffman Brian Luinstra took pride in being a father, and had a “hands-on” approach with his children.

Courtesy of Dan Noyes

Courtesy of Weiberg family Jared Weiberg (left) and Chad Weiberg (right) have both made a significant impact in the OSU sports world.

Pat Noyes and former OSU coach Eddie Sutton had an unbreakable bond.

Courtesy

Bixby freshman Blankenship taking the reigns for Cowboys at 125 pounds

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

Just before OSU’s 125-pound match against Northern Colorado, fans in Gallagher-Iba Arena were serenaded with the Native American song, “Beautiful Way,” by Northern Wind blaring from the speakers.

On short notice, freshman Zach Blankenship would make his debut.

The result would not favor the young wrestler from Bixby as he wrestled No. 17 Stevo Poulin and lost 5-0. Nor would his second one against West Virginia, where he wrestled the No. 8 125-pounder in the nation and reigning All-American Killian Cardinale and lost to a 14-4 major decision.

Until Trevor Mastrogiovanni is cleared from an unknown injury to wrestle at 125 pounds, all signs point to Blankenship being the starter. Cowboy coach John Smith assured that, “my options right now are Zach Blankenship. Period.”

Even though Blankenship’s results last Friday and Sunday were not up to his standard, those close to him know that his true potential is nowhere close to being reached.

Before OSU, Blankenship was the pride of the Bixby Spartans. As a two-sport athlete, Blankenship excelled on the mat and on the gridiron as a tailback. A weight-room warrior and an academic assassin, Blankenship boasted a 300-pound power clean and a 4.7 GPA. He was also Bixby’s class

president.

Blankenship won a lot in high school — a lot. He has almost as many rings as he does fingers with four Oklahoma state championships in football and three state titles in wrestling, posting a 116-5 career record.

The record is impressive, especially while wrestling in Oklahoma’s highest division. What may be more impressive is that Blankenship didn’t wrestle full-time. When Blankenship joined the wrestling squad, he would after the state championship game. He would wrestle from December to February every season at Bixby. In four years, Blankenship wrestled a total of eight months and was a three-time state champion.

Shane Roller, an OSU wrestling alumnus, coached Blankenship since he was 6. Roller was a three-time AllAmerican. Knowing that Blankenship has yet to be in a wrestling room for a full season, he’s aware that there’s plenty to be learned, especially on the stage of Division I wrestling.

Roller is encouraged that Blankenship is in a room full time, wrestling against top-tier competition at a historically successful wrestling program. Just as he was once a part of championship teams at OSU, he knows iron sharpens iron, and Blankenship will benefit from the position he’s found himself in.

“His ceiling is really high and he’s gonna get a lot better being in that wrestling room at OSU,” Roller said. “The other athletes up there, the

great coaching staff they have up there, they’re gonna get him ready and he knows that. He’s trusted in the process, he knows he’s young and a lot of freshmen go through some adversity and he’ll respond the right way just because of what kind of person he is.”

Blankenship’s emergence at the 125-pound weight class may have come earlier than expected, but it’s not a surprise to Bixby wrestling coach Ray Blake, who described Blankenship as “a high-character kid.” Blake only got to coach Blankenship for one season, but the impression he left on him stands out among the others.

“It was an absolute pleasure coaching him,” Blake said. “He’s the type of athlete that as a coach, you’re never nervous when he steps out on the mat. I knew he was going to give maximum effort no matter what and it was going to lead to his best results. I was always confident in him, he’s an extremely hard worker who competes to the utmost of his abilities.”

Blankenship is not only an accomplished-student athlete, but a natural leader. His leadership abilities were prevalent at Bixby and Blake attributes much of the team’s success last year to his leadership.

“We had reached the dual state finals a couple times, we were nationally ranked,” Blake said. “It was definitely in part due to his leadership and him, helping elevate the people around him.”

Blankenship isn’t the most intimidating wrestler at first-glance due

to his stature. He isn’t a tall, chiseled wrestler. Instead, he’s short with a compact build, especially in his lower body. With quads that rival an NFL player’s, explosiveness is one of Blankenship’s best attributes as a wrestler.

“I think it’s funny because people think that he’s small when he’s out there, but I think that’s actually the weight cut,” Blake said. “I think he cuts into his muscle mass a little bit right now making 125. Once he figures out how to make that weight while also keeping his strength up, people are going to see that he’s actually not small, he’s pretty darn strong.”

In wrestling, freshmen go through adversity more than the average second, third-year guy. Blake is certain that Blankenship will not end his wrestling career at OSU the way he started it.

“Once he’s their full-time starter, and I don’t know when that’s going to be, I think the more time he gets in competition, he’s going to catch up to the people around him pretty quickly,” Blake said. “I’d say that’s Zach’s greatest asset, is his competitiveness. He’s a competitor. He doesn’t like to lose and it motivates him like nothing else. I truly believe that he could be a multiple-time All-American and challenge for a national championship at Oklahoma State.”

Molly Jolliff

Freshman 125-pounder Zachary Blankenship will start for the Cowboys again this weekend with the status of Trevor Mastrogiovanni still unknown.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited

by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

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Company Coming? Check

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes (TNS)

Today’s Birthday (01/27/23). Write, record and share this year. Develop personal ambitions with consistent practice and engagement. Making winter domestic changes supports surging creative productivity this spring. A summer career shift reveals hidden potential for exciting educational investigations next autumn. Take your creative work to the next level.

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

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Don’t reveal your secrets all at once, with Venus in Pisces. Maintain a mystery. Fantasies abound. Allow yourself more quiet time. Complete projects and recharge.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Participate in a public conversation.

You’re especially popular, with Venus in Pisces for a month. Talk about what you love. Find the common threads.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Social connections benefit you professionally. Take care of business over the next month, with Venus in Pisces. Develop and harvest lucrative career opportunities.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Set goals, and plan your next adventure. Travel, explore and study over the next month, with Venus in Pisces. Investigate possibilities. Discover another world.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re building together for the future. Review family finances this month, with Venus in Pisces. Find inventive ways to collaborate for growth. Conserve resources.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Partnerships flow with greater ease this month, with Venus in Pisces. Collaborate on creative projects. Romance kindles naturally. Express your love and gratitude.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Practice to grow skills and endurance over the next month. Strength, beauty and health flowers, with Venus in Pisces. Get your heart pumping.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Discuss romantic dreams and they may come true. You’re especially lucky in love this month, with Venus in Pisces. Share your heart. Discover new passion.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Clean, sort and organize. Your home and garden flower this month, with Venus in Pisces. Focus on family. Beautify spaces with simple touches.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — You love learning this month, with Venus in Pisces. You’re especially brilliant. Words flow with ease, so take advantage. Write and issue communications.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Gather new income. The next month, with Venus in Pisces, offers extra profits. Put together lucrative deals. Put love into your work. Demand rises.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — You feel especially beloved this month, with Venus in your sign. Add some glamor to your personal style. You’re especially charismatic, attractive and charming.

Jeffrey Wechsler

Hoyt’s presence is bigger than basketball

Tessa Dorrell Staff Reporter

Jacie Hoyt’s trailblazing goes beyond basketball.

Hoyt, in her first season at OSU, is the seventh coach to lead the Cowgirls. Hoyt’s presence allows for the “Jacie’s Gems” mentorship program for young girls in kindergarten to sixth grade. The girls who apply watch the game in a section directly behind OSU’s bench.

Hoyt’s exposure to leading woman began with her mother, Shelly Hoyt, a celebrated Kansas High School coach. Jacie spent her high school career playing for her mother, then played for Wichita State.

“I wouldn’t be where I am at if I didn’t have that in my life,” Hoyt said. “So I think it’s incredibly important. I know I wouldn’t be where I am professionally or be the person that I am without that.”

Not only does the women’s basketball team feel Hoyt’s presence, but she is the only female head coach at OSU. Of the 12 leaders for each sport at OSU, Hoyt stands alone.

“I think the struggles that I face are just the struggles that women everywhere face,” Hoyt said. “It’s definitely not something I look at as a struggle. Maybe it’s a just challenge and an opportunity. I am so passionate about just pouring into our players and pouring into females, mentorship, leadership... that’s so important for young females to have… I really take it as just a great opportunity for me to use my platform to empower other people and show them what they can do if you work hard, and you don’t play the victim.

“It’s really important for me to help our kids understand we could all play the victim at some point in time. That’s not who I am, that’s not how I was raised and that’s not what I am about. I love being able to use my platform to help people understand

that.”

Lexy Keys, a junior who is one of four players back from last year’s team, is having her first experience with a female coach.

“It’s really been an adjustment for me,” Keys said, “ It’s been a good adjustment, but she’s just so passionate, so energetic, and so intense that it’s just contagious. It’s been a really great experience.”

Although the Big 12 leads other conferences with six female coaches, only 13.6% of college women’s basketball coaches are women. At 35, Hoyt is the youngest head coach in Big 12 women’s basketball. Hoyt is also the second newest hire behind Dawn Plitzuweit of West Virginia.

Hoyt’s first Cowgirl team is 13-6 and second in scoring in the Big 12. The team averages just more than 77 a game. This offensive success comes from the many recruits that Hoyt has brought in with her arrival. Claire Chastain, a fifth-year senior from UT Arlington, is one of the Cowgirl’s offensive leaders, averaging more than 11 points. Chastain feels that Hoyt empowers and prepares her for life beyond basketball.

“She’s a woman’s woman for sure, constantly telling us to stand up for ourselves and have a voice for ourselves,” Chastain said, “I think that is important for our team, being young, but also with me being 23 about to transition from the college world to the real world. She’s empowered me, showed me strength, and how to find my voice and who I am outside of basketball.”

“I think women’s basketball is in a good place right now where the game is growing,” Hoyt said, “I think it is super important that females have strong females leading them and mentoring them. So, I think it is just an awesome testament to where women’s basketball is right now.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Jaiden Daughty

At 35, Jacie Hoyt is youngest women’s basketball head coach in the Big 12.

Wittlake’s late season surge provides offensive boost for OSU

And OSU is exceeding its preseason expectations. The Cowboys are No. 10 nationally. Albeit, Smith demands more from his wrestlers than a fringe top 10 ranking, he points to the positives, highlighting where the team could have been instead of where it is.

Since the preseason, OSU coach John Smith has used one word to pinpoint his team’s path to success.

“Development.”

Smith believes development will show itself once he sees grit and aggressiveness. He wants to see his wrestlers loathing in anguish after a loss, not casually walking off the mat as they didn’t just drop a bout moments ago.

“I think we’re making progress,” Smith said. “We’re developing like we need to. We’re definitely not where we need to be yet. By no means am I satisfied yet. But I’m seeing the tenacity from some of our guys that I didn’t see in the first of the season. I’m seeing the drive, and I’m seeing more passion.”

But who or what is the driving forces behind this unforeseen success?

Travis Wittlake is one name that comes to mind.

After missing the majority of the 2021-22 season due to an ACL tear in

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his left leg, Wittlake made the decision to move from 165 pounds, a weight class he’d spent the past four seasons, to 184.

During his time as a 165-pound wrestler, Wittlake had to focus on cutting weight to qualify to wrestle. Now, the fifth-year wrestler spends his free time in the weight room.

“Travis’ biceps look big, but they’re a lot stronger than they look,” Dustin Plott said with a laugh. “It’s always been that way. But obviously wrestling him in the practice room when he was a 165-pounder was a little more fun than now that he’s at 184 pounds.”

He showcased his replenished style in major-decision victories against Northern Colorado’s Branson Britten and No. 30-ranked Anthony Carman of

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West Virginia, totaling 14 takedowns in those duals.

“(Last weekend) was the best set of performances I’ve had all season,” Wittlake said. “I think it’s just good for my confidence. That’s something that I can continue with.”

With Wittlake’s late surge, Smith is hopeful OSU can find more late bloomers as the season progresses. With the current state of the roster, there’s no other option.

“(Confidence) wise, it’s not too high, not too low,” Wittlake said. “I’ve got to carry it on, keep performing and keep executing no matter who it is (against). It doesn’t matter. (I’ve) still got to execute.”

- 10:00pm

- Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

Molly Jolliff

Travis Wittlake, OSU’s 184-pounder, enters this weekend’s Iowa trip with two straight major decision wins.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

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