Corbin Lacy typically gets a haircut every few weeks and looks forward to conversations with his stylist and lifelong friend, Mika Webb.
During his last haircut, Webb mentioned Hurricane Helene, a deadly Category 4 hurricane that devastated areas along the East Coast on Sept. 26.
“I was spending so much time on social media watching locals post videos of their homes being destroyed, telling their stories and asking for help,” Webb said. “It was absolutely heartbreaking, and that’s when I started talking about it with Corbin.”
Lacy agreed, and a conversation turned into an idea to get a group of people together to help with relief efforts in Tennessee.
“We always talk about everything under the sun, and this time, the hurricane came up,” Lacy said.
See FARMHOUSE on page 6A
KENNEDY THOMASON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @_KENNEDYPAGE
Mena stood in the long-gone shadow of Edmon Low Library on Monday night, next to about 30 OSU students holding candles.
A Palestinian student born in Gaza, Mena, who requested her last name not be used for safety reasons, participated in a vigil held by OSU’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, or SJP. The vigil was the first of a planned week of activities, which SJP is calling a “Week of Rage.” However, OSU has revoked its approval for some of the group’s events.
For the SJP president, the week is a way to show that the group wants
peace and mourns the deaths of the Israel-Hamas war.
“While this week is a ‘Week of Rage,’ we wanted people to know that we want peace, and that we mourn for the deaths,” Mena said.
The Israel-Hamas war hit its oneyear mark Monday and has seen about 42,000 people killed, according to ABC News. Students have organized on college campuses across the country since the war began, with many groups demanding their respective universities divest any resources that support Israel.
OSU is no different.
SJP has staged a walkout and three protests since its inception during the spring semester. It has also held the same demands of the university from the beginning. The group has asked
OSU to fly the Palestinian flag at the Wes Watkins Center for 24 hours; provide transparency with its investments; and divest and end partnerships with companies that profit from the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.
SJP Vice President Jake, who requested his last name not be shared for safety reasons, said he and other students met with OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum and other administrators in May. He said administrators were interested in hearing personal stories from students, but they “weren’t interested in taking any action.”
Since, Jake said administration has not followed up with the group and has not responded to a meeting request following SJP’s September protest.
on page 7A
Breast Cancer Awareness leads OSU students to make changes for the better
It’s the time of year when pink ribbons appear on everything from T-shirts, cereal boxes, pins on clothing, and symbols online to show support for those impacted by breast cancer.
But this month is about more than the color pink.
As one of the most common types of cancer found in American women, breast cancer impacts nearly two million individuals around the world each year, according to the World Health Organization. The average risk of a woman developing breast cancer in her lifetime is a 1 in 8 chance, according to Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Most people know someone who has been significantly
impacted by breast cancer. Whether a family member or distant friend, the impact often extends far beyond immediate family and can affect an entire community.
For Sydnee Sisneros, it was her high school basketball coach.
As a freshman at Stillwater High School, Sisneros created a quick bond with her coach Kendra Kilpatrick. A mom, coach, educator, colleague and friend, Kendra was a light to her community.
“I feel like in a lot of ways she was just what Stillwater is,” said Megan Fenderson, Kendra’s friend. “She was just very welcoming, very warm, down to earth, laid back, you know, just kind of that vibe of Stillwater.”
As Sisneros navigated the ups and downs of life in high school, Kilpatrick was always around as a friend and mentor.
on page 5A
Bryson Thadhani
Corbin Lacy worked with Mika Webb to organize a hurricne releif mission to Tennessee.
Courtesy Stillwater High School
Coach Kendra Kilpatrick with her basketball team during a Pink Out football game.
Bryson Thadhani
A student speaks into a megaphone at the pro-Palestine rally by Whitehurst Hall on Tuesday.
OSU takes first steps in Ideal Graduate initiative
KENNEDY THOMASON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@_KENNEDYPAGE
OSU is rolling out the next steps of its Ideal Graduate plan.
The plan, which was installed during the start of the fall semester, aims for OSU students to graduate with four attributes: professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership and personal responsibility. The first phase of the project, a portfolio, is available on a platform that can be reached through Canvas.
professor of nutritional sciences, said during Tuesday’s Faculty Council meeting that the system is already being integrated for freshmen.
“Students can use this to populate their portfolio with all sorts of things that you’d expect: their education, work experience, courses they’re in, volunteering, clubs, activities — all of those sort of basic things,” Emerson said.
Students are also able to include anything they deem “reflective of their development,” such as volunteering or attending a guest lecture, Emerson said.
Students are also able to have control over their portfolios —
News & Lifestyle editor
Hayden Alexander news.ed@ocolly.com
deciding whether they want items public or private.
Despite the initiative’s new rollout, there are currently no incentives for students to continue to use the portfolio or for professors to encourage it.
Emerson said he hopes faculty buy-in will help the portfolio portion of the initiative flourish.
“We don’t want to make this thing where students or faculty feel like it’s a requirement,” Emerson said. “We think it’s a tool that adds value. How you… create a culture where it is used, it’s desired, it’s viewed as valuable. That’s what we’re trying to do slowly.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
News & Lifestyle
reporters:
Milo Cantrell
Ask the Pokes
Thursday was World Mental Health Day. How do you prioritize your mental health?
“I spend as much of my free time as I can with the people I care about.”
- Ethan Fisher
“I think hanging out with friends and having scheduled downtime, especially in the evenings, just being able to kind of walk away from it all.”
- Adam Shuck
“I have a bullet journal that I keep up with. It’s more like finding a way to do artistic things besides just doing homework.”
- Mallory Kaizer Social
Assistant News & Lifestyle
editor
Raynee Howell news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
Adviser
Brett Dawson
brett.dawson@okstate.edu
Bella Casey
Luisa Clausen
Jackson Johns
Jocelyne Perez
Issac Terry
Alli Themer
Ava Whistler
Sports reporters: Photographers & Designers:
Daniel Allen
Dalton Arredondo
Allyssa Brandon
Baylor Bryant
Cayden Cox
Timonthy Christenson
Gina Foster
Kenzie Kraich
Samuel Mitchell
Calif Poncy
Allyn Orndorff
Kaitlyn Robertson
Wyatt Tessier
Will Thorogood
Wyatt Watson
Weston Wertzberger
Jace Bormann
Jose Brito
Delainey Cops
Mykalyn Daidone
Andon Freitas
Conner Fuxa
Riley Harness
Kaytlyn Hays
Ethan Hilbert
Jonathan Jackson
Isaac Terry
Bryson Thadhani
Kennedy Thomason
Sam Emerson announced the Ideal Graduate’s first steps at Tuesday’s Faculty Council meeting.
Friday is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming general election on Nov. 5. To register and vote in Oklahoma, you must be a U.S. citizen and an Oklahoma resident.
Most residents in Oklahoma can register to vote online using the OK Voter Portal. The website requires Oklahoma residents to provide personal information such as their home address, their drivers license number and the last four digits of their social security number to register.
Local election boards can also help residents register to vote; in Payne County it is at 315 W. 6th Ave.
On the Oklahoma State Election Board website, residents can also check voter registration status. The state recently announced more than 453,000 voter registrations have been removed from
the system since the last election. A large part of that population is people who moved, died or became convicted felons, but a portion are residents who are considered “inactive.”
Using the voter registration tool will identify if you are considered an active voter. If not, you must register again by the Friday deadline to participate in the general election.
For students who are U.S. citizens, but from out of state, absentee ballots can be requested until Oct. 21.
The Student Volunteer Center helps students register for absentee ballots. If you visit the office in Student Union 211, one of the coordinators can help you fill out the necessary paperwork and turn it into the Payne County Election Board.
In-person forms to register and request an absentee ballot are also available online and at the Payne County Election Board.
Whether you plan to travel home, use an absentee ballot or vote in Payne County, be sure to register by Friday’s deadline. news.ed@ocolly.com
An OSU student was driving a motorcycle Sunday night when she was rear-ended by another OSU student driving a car. Around 8 p.m., McKenzie Taylor was traveling southbound on Western Street on her Yamaha motorcycle when she stopped at the light on Admiral Avenue, waiting for an opening in oncoming traffic for her to turn left and go northbound, according to the police report.
Kristi Dillon, the driver of a Hyundai Elantra sedan, rear-ended Taylor while she was sitting in the lane. Taylor, according to the police report, landed on the hood of Dillon’s
GOD’S VIEW OF US!
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10 NIV)
It is good to stop and see who and where we are. This is what the apostle says of all believers. Those who have turned to Christ and received him as their Lord and saviour. By God’s grace, we have received a new relationship with God. It is quite a step up from where we were before. We have received mercy and are God’s people. We belong to him! However, there is a purpose in all of this.
We are to realize all that God has done for us and praise him who has called us out of spiritual darkness into his wonderful light. He has not only forgiven our many sins, never to be remembered any more, but has brought into a new relationship. We are children of God! We are to live with him forever in his Heaven. The wonderful truth is that all can come to Christ and receive this wonderful relationship with the God of love!. No matter about your past. All are welcome to come. Christ died for all that they might receive this great and eternal blessing.. Wow!
As Christians we can and should share this message with all. I remember first sharing this with two fellow air force men As I begin to share, there was a great joy.that filled my being. No wonder it is called the “Gospel”. It is the “Good News” that is for you and all people.
sedan upon impact.
Taylor was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision but did not leave uninjured. She was transported to Stillwater Medical Center Emergency Room immediately following the accident.
At 9 a.m. on Monday, officer Jacob Rivera, the investigating officer on the case, reached out to Taylor to inquire about her injuries.
She informed Rivera she had fractures in her T12 vertebrae and L1 vertebrae, both located in the lower back area. She also had road rash on her left shoulder and ankle, as well as bruising on the left side of her body.
The area was dark but lighted, according to the police report, but Dillon claimed “it was dark and Unit 2 (Taylor’s motor-
cycle) did not have any lights on so she could not see her.”
Four different witnesses, all OSU students, stated they could see the brake light and turn signal activated on the motorcycle. With the eyewitness accounts matching Taylor’s story, Dillion received a citation for inattentive driving.
The O’Colly reached out to both Dillon and Taylor and the witnesses for comment. Morgan Thompson was the only one to respond in time for publication. She said avoidable things like this happen often.
“I just think it’s important that you pay attention when driving regardless of how good at driving you think you are, especially when it’s dark,” Thompson said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy Stillwater Police Department
An OSU student was rear-ended while driving her motorcycle Sunday night. The picture above was acquired from a police report of the incident.
Courtesy Creative Commons
Friday is the last day to register to vote for the general election on Nov. 5.
Courtesy Creative Commons
Four witnesses claim the motorcycle that was rear-ended had a brake light and turn signal indicator on at the time of the accident.
for transportation
Travis
drainage, requested that the City Council approve his department’s choice to improve some of Stillwater’s roadways.
Campus Corner, The Strip
roadway improvements on horizon
‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ A cruel, joyless punchline
JACKSON JOHNS STAFF REPORTER
Review
“Joker: Folie À Deux” is the world’s greatest punchline to the world’s worst joke.
But like any joke, the setup is important.
lucinations and reflect the film’s titular-shared psychosis.
They come at some rather jarring moments, however. Arthur will be sitting in court, grilled by the babyfaced district attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey), when we are suddenly transported to the set of a variety-show-styled jazz duet. A prison-yard pondering can turn into a full-blown flash mob in seconds with this format.
Campus Corner and The Strip could soon see improved sidewalks and roads.
In a 5-0 City Council vote Monday, a professional services agreement was approved in an effort to fix some of Stillwater’s deteriorating roadways. The company, CEC Corp., now has an agreement for $722,700. This includes $664,510 for roadway maintenance and $58,190 for waterline maintenance.
Travis Small, engineering manager for transportation and drainage, said this builds on a fiscal year 2021 plan that a previous City Council approved. Currently, the Knoblock Street project includes roadway, water and streetscaping, he said.
“Most of the pavement involved in this project, from the pictures you see here, are leaning more towards the full reconstruction, and rehab is not really an economical or a viable option,” Small said.
The project uses financing from the city and the Stillwater Utilities Authority, so both bodies are required to approve it, City Attorney Kimberly Carnley said.
Interim City Manager Brady Moore said merchants on Campus Corner and The Strip have requested for the roads and sidewalks to be improved.
“They don’t like the roads around that, the roads and sidewalks, especially around Campus Corner,” Moore said. “So I know they’re really excited that this project is in the design.”
Campus Corner has about eight businesses in its area, and The Strip has about 22. Both border the southern part of OSU’s campus, which contributes to heavy foot and vehicle traffic.
Mayor Will Joyce said it is important for that area to receive improvements.
“That’s a major gateway entry for people coming up, down and going down the campus, especially,” Joyce said. “So it would be really nice to have streetscaping and the answer stuff, part of this too, and that waterline on Knoblock (Street) is a problem.” news.ed@ocolly.com
10 ways to take a break for World Mental Health Day
HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR KENNEDY THOMASON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @_KENNEDYPAGE
Midterms are sweeping through the student body, generating an air of stress and anxiety.
Projects, labs and homework are never ending, and OSU’s busiest time of the year, Homecoming season, is weeks away.
It’s a lot, and for students, prioritizing their mental health is often left on the back burner in favor of all-nighters fueled by energy drinks and desperation.
Taking time for your mental health is essential, but it can feel daunting to work it into an already busy schedule. Mental health, like homework, is not an all-ornothing. Small changes can make a big difference.
In honor of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, here are 10 easy ways to give yourself a mental break.
Take a walk
A quick walk around campus can help clear your mind and give you a breather from your 11th round of Quizlet flashcards. Theta Pond is a great spot on campus to end a walk.
Self-care day
A hot shower, getting your nails done or a quick round of skin care is the perfect way to reset after a stressful day.
Hobbies Whether you enjoy taking photos, drawing or hiking, don’t let your hobbies fall to the wayside during your time at college. Set aside 30 minutes for yourself, explore your passions and have fun.
Grab a bite
A meal with friends can instantly change your outlook on the day. Good food, friends
and time away from your pile of homework can help re-energize you before hitting the books again.
Take a nap
The human body needs sleep. A total of eight hours a night is ideal but not always obtainable as a college student. Incorporate naps into your schedule if you can. The more you sleep, the better you’ll perform on exams and other projects.
Go to the gym
A 30-minute workout can help improve your mood and assist you in tackling your insane schedule. The Colvin Recreation Center is open to all students.
Sweet & savory
Before jumping into the next assignment, treat yourself. Grab your favorite coffee or snack and allow yourself time to enjoy it. Watch a show or read while snacking.
Phones down
Before going to bed, try putting your phone up about 30 minutes before it’s lights out. Take this time away from doom-scrolling on social media to relax and wind down with your favorite book or TV show.
Movie night
Grab your favorite snacks and feel-good movie and settle in. If a horror movie or sci-fi movie de-stresses you, then go for it. You can watch with friends or take a night for yourself.
Prioritize your health
Drink water, sleep and eat good food. Keeping up with your health can reduce stress and make tackling your assignments easier.
As always, OSU is home to multiple resources for students, including Pete’s Pet Posse, University Counseling Services and OSU Student Support offices.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Watching it without the proper context and research makes this film a chore to get through. I think that’s what is causing it’s meteoric bomb at the box office.
You have to remember, “Joker” (2019) came out at a weird time for movies. Superhero fatigue had not yet set in to the degree it has now.
Just six months earlier, “Avengers: Endgame,” the highest grossing film of all time was released, which was also a comic-book film. “Joker” was a runaway success, becoming the first R-rated film to pass $1 billion at the box office. Not only was it a success financially, but it also was a success critically.
In fact, it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning the awards for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Best Score for composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. This made a sequel inevitable.
To start, “Joker: Folie À Deux” is even less of a comic-book film. If it has anything that it’s trying to imitate, it’s the good old-fashioned American musical. Much more “Chicago,” and a lot less “The Dark Knight Returns.”
Because of this, pop icon Lady Gaga joins Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck as this film’s take on the clown prince of crime’s favorite girl, Harleen Quinzel, who is referred to mainly as “Lee” in this film. Gaga once again shows her acting chops here. Joaquin also gets to flex his own surprise talents, singing some songs of his own.
The musical sections are certainly the film’s strongest moments. They serve as fun ways to represent Arthur’s hal-
It’s not like the first film was devoid of delusions either. Zazie Beetz’s Sophie has an entire story arc based around her being Arthur’s imagined girlfriend. This psychosis shared more fluently with the audience has proved divisive, however.
Although my girlfriend and I enjoyed the musical numbers, theaters across the nation are reporting people straight up leaving their screenings. These aren’t even situations where the audiences are being bombarded with disturbing imagery, like this summer’s indie darling “Longlegs” — I remember at least two people leaving my screening of that.
They are insulted by the change of form, but this is not a “Batman” movie. I think that needs to be reiterated. People are going in, expecting tight leather and spandex shenanigans, and leaving unimpressed. However, those truly invested in the caped crusader’s more than 80 years of crime fighting will be rewarded with a very beautiful film with a slight garnish of Gotham and grime.
The film rarely leaves the walls of Arkham. When it does, the streets of Gotham are full of clowns calling for Arthur’s release. It’s clear that everything Arthur did as the Joker left an impact on Gothamites. But this isn’t a film about the Joker.
In fact, it actively laughs at the Joker and his fans. If anything, this is a film that hates the idea of comics. It’s a well-made, pretentious cash cow.
If you want an actually good Batman story without Batman, just watch HBO’s “The Penguin.” At least it respects you.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
The World Health Organization celebrates World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.
Kennedy Thomason
Small (left), Stillwater’s engineering manager
and
When she was diagnosed, Kilpatrick was pregnant with her second child and had to postpone chemotherapy until after her son was born.
“She was rejoicing at the birth of her son, he was totally healthy, but then also there was the reality of starting her cancer treatment,” Fenderson said.
Within days of her son being born, Kilpatrick began treatment.
Although her chemotherapy treatment lasted for years, she continued showing up for her students and community. And they showed up for her also.
“Through it all she had just a true passion for basketball,” Sisneros said. “Coach K loved the sport with everything in her. She just loved it. So she was there for us almost the whole time, as much as she could be.”
Kilpatrick stayed on the sidelines well into her treatment as the Stillwater head coach, continuing to train and encourage her students. In November 2022, Kilpatrick passed away at 36.
“She’s the reason I coach now,” Sisneros said.
Years later, as a college sophomore at OSU, Sydnee Sisneros has become a junior high school basketball coach.
“I mean, she left such an impact on me, and if I could do that for even one person… when I played, I was really hard on myself, and the girls I coach are the same way,” Sisneros said. “So I’m just really excited to be a cheerleader for them, build confidence, help them love the sport.”
Just as Sisneros let Kilpatrick inspire her to make a change, other OSU students are doing the same.
Mackinsey Darrough, an OSU junior, watched both her mother and grandmother battle breast cancer, and she fought alongside them.
“When someone you love is sick, you’re kind of sick with them,” she said. “Their mental health affects your mental health; their physical health affects your physical health.”
Both her mother and grandmother recovered and are now breast cancer survivors, but the experience still changed Darrough’s life for good.
After her freshman year, she changed her major to plant pathology, with aspirations to research cross-breeding in different plants, “to hopefully alleviate some symptoms that are caused by the radiation and chemo. Or even research alternative chemotherapy medicines.”
“I just saw so much of how they were affected,” she said. “And it affected me to see them go through that, too. So why not try and do something about it?”
Early detection in the form of regular self-exams, clinical screenings and mammograms can save lives. And things like Breast Cancer Awareness Month are beneficial in helping people understand the risks. But awareness is important for support and solidarity also. The power of community cannot be underestimated.
“It’s easy for us to feel kind of untouched in seasons when we’re healthy,” Fenderson said. “But we’ll all eventually be touched by different hardships–whether that’s sickness, financial struggles, or mental health struggles. We’re all going to walk through really hard things, and so we need to be looking out for each other, advocating for each other’s stories and journeys. No one is able to navigate this life alone.”
Watching her mom struggle with breast cancer was not easy on Hannah Blair.
Ange Blair was diagnosed when Hannah was 8. As a competitive cheerleader, Hannah was the only girl on her team who had a sick mom. Seeing healthy moms was hard for Hannah, but one of the hardest parts was never learning to braid.
Ange’s course of treatment involved chemotherapy and radiation, which caused her to lose her hair. Hannah couldn’t practice on her mom like her teammates could.
“All my friends were learning how to braid hair, do hair, and I just never learned until high school because my mom literally, like, she didn’t have hair,” Blair said. “So I didn’t ever practice on anyone, and I never learned. And that was just one of those things that it’s small, but it’s something that I will never forget.”
Memories like these still affect Hannah today, and now as a Zeta Tau Alpha women’s fraternity member, she focuses on its philanthropy.
Breast cancer awareness and education is its goal.
Raising awareness on campus for the fraternity starts with handing out pink ribbons for students to wear during “Think Pink” week, Sept. 30 - Oct. 4.
Freshman Lorin Scott wore the ribbon this year to honor her great grandma and anyone else who has experienced the harsh realities of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The reality of the illness sticks with her and her family every day of every month, Scott said.
“Breast cancer is something my family struggles with and has a lot of anxiety about,” Scott said. “My great grandma had breast cancer, and my boyfriend’s mom fought against it until she, unfortunately, passed away. It’s definitely a touchy subject, and it’s one of those things that sits
in the back of your head.”
The “Think Pink” ribbon was more than an accessory to Scott. For her, it reminded her of the women in her life who suffered and those who are still dealing with it. She said though it’s anxiety-inducing to think about it, it’s important to raise awareness.
ZTA members nationwide raise awareness by tabling at their universities, selling donuts, cookies and other items to collect money during the entire week. The money is then donated to cancer research and education efforts. Contributing is beyond worth it, Hannah said.
“They (ZTA foundation) disperses all the money from different chapters to different charities or wherever they think may need it,” Blair said.
“I believe this past year, out of all of the Zeta chapters, we bought brand new mammogram machines for a hospital.”
For Blair, it’s also about educating the masses about breast cancer. From teaching her fraternity sisters about early detection to sharing her mom’s experience, she is heavily involved in philanthropy efforts.
Ange has spoken to the fraternity at philanthropy events. Being able to harvest that bond has meant everything to Blair.
“Honestly, because she had cancer,
she has a different outlook on life,” Blair said. “She doesn’t take anything too seriously, but serious enough to where she’s still able to educate my friends, but she’s always been a friend to them as well. So there’s so many girls in my sorority that literally will text my mom about something, and I have no idea what’s going on,
“It’s been really cool to be able to see her, like, make connections.”
“Think Pink” is represented beyond the walls of the ZTA house. Throughout “Think Pink” week and October, the ribbons can be found across campus on students’ shirts and backpack straps.
Each person is showing their support for those affected by breast cancer, and it means so much to ZTA, Blair said. She thinks of her mom each time she sees the ribbon.
“’I know to everyone, it’s just like a ribbon on the backpack, but just wearing that as a sign of support, not for my sorority, but for… it can literally be for my mom or my friend’s mom, who’s had it, or like any survivor or anyone who’s going through it,” Blair said. “It just shows them that there’s people out there that are like thinking about them, and I just know how it affected my mom to see people having little details.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
OSU celebrates sustainabilty month
HAYDEN
ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
October is National Campus Sustainability Month, and OSU’s Office of Sustainability is raising awareness through events, initiatives, and social media campaigns.
OSU Green and Student Government Association work together through the Office of Sustainability to promote recycling, sustainable choices and a positive environmental impact on campus.
“We’re going to try to be sustainably minded all the time, but in particular during this month,” OSU Sustainability Communications and Campus Engagement Intern Erin MacDonald said.
MacDonald works with Karter Caves, SGA’s Sustainability Director, to educate and inform their fellow students.
“Not a lot of people actually know about sustainability, so we try on a bi-weekly basis to meet with all the sustainable and green clubs,” Caves said.
The organization works with other on-campus groups, helping with events like Student Union Activities Board Night and Mock-Tail Gate.
During football season, volunteers provide recycling bags to each tailgate.
“We’ll go up to each individual tailgate and say, ‘Hey, you want a free bag? You can just throw cans in here, and then we’ll pick it up no hassle.’ So we try to go around to every single tailgate during the game,” Caves said.
To celebrate Sustainability Month, the organization is hosting pumpkin painting on Oct. 23 and a monthlong clothing drive. Goodwill boxes are set up in each dorm for students to drop off donations.
“We brought in some Goodwill
boxes and have encouraged people to donate small items and clothing,” MacDonald said.
Beitz and her peers believe sustainability encompasses more than clothing drives and recycling. It’s about caring for your neighbor, she said.
“People think sustainability is just recycling or taking care of the planet, and that is a huge part of it, but there’s also the human aspect of taking care of your fellow man, and I think that’s something really important in this current climate,” Beitz said.
MacDonald said it is vital to prioritize sustainable mental health.
“Sustainability is recycling and things like that, but it’s also taking care of other people,” MacDonald said. “In the climate that we’re in,
we’re about to enter winter and that, to me and many others, means seasonal depression, so especially taking care of your friends and just making sure everyone is doing OK.”
Beitz said that getting involved on campus and being sustainable is easy. Students can email sutainability@okstate.edu or reach out to OSU Green through Instagram.
The Office of Sustainability is finalizing a map of all recycling locations on campus, and MacDonald is wrapping up a bottle-refilling station. Caves said these projects give students the chance to make a difference and do their part.
“You’re doing your job, you’re making a world cleaner place and all that, but there’s also good,” Caves said.
Courtesy Stillwater High School
Kendra Kilpatrick with her daughter.
Bryson Thadhani
A student wearing a ZTA Think Pink ribbon during a week-long awareness campaign.
Bryson Thadhani
A OSU student plants a tree during an Office of Sustainability event.
Student Affairs reaches out to students affected by recent hurricanes
HAYDEN
ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene rammed into the Florida coastline, wreaking havoc in the Gulf and southeastern United States.
On Wednesday, Hurricane Milton hit the Tampa area.
Communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are dealing with the aftermath of the storms. Floods have washed away towns and roads, and millions are still without power. The estimated cost for both storms is $425 billion, according to PBS and CNBC.
member, fire damage, temporary housing needs and so on and so forth.”
Students can apply online or contact student.conduct@okstate. edu for more information.
Another method for receiving help is to contact the OSU Care Team and fill out a care report. The team works with students to get them the help they need.
“We have something called the Care Report System that students can submit a care report if they’re struggling or needing assistance, along with parents, faculty and staff,” Manning-Ouellette said.
Resources for affected students:
- OSU Emergency Relief Fund
- OSU Student Support
- OSU “Let’s Talk About It”
- OSU Care Team
- University Counseling Services
The effects of the hurricanes can be felt nationwide, and at OSU, the Division of Student Affairs has reached out to students.
“Anytime our office is aware of a natural disaster, could be a tornado, could be hurricanes, just larger events across the United States that will impact our students and their families, we will reach out,” said Amber Manning-Ouellette, the Interim Director of Housing and Residential Life.
Student Affairs works with Student Support, University Counseling Services and other offices under the Division for Student Affairs to provide resources to students in need.
Of the many resources available, students affected can utilize the Cowboy Strong Emergency Fund, which provides temporary funds to students in unavoidable emergency situations.
“That (Cowboy Strong Emergency Fund) is financial support to students that are experiencing unforeseen hardships that impact their ability to remain enrolled in school,” Manning-Ouellette said. “That could be any emergency situation that is unexpected, unforeseen, or unavoidable around accidents, illness, death of a family
OSU University Counseling is readily available for students struggling with their mental health because of the storms. The “Let’s Talk About It” campaign points students to multiple mental health avenues.
Manning-
Ouellette said the best way for students to support their peers is by knowing how to point them in the right direction and be available to talk.
“If you hear of something struggling, help them to understand that resources are available to students that are impacted,”
Manning-Ouellette said. “It’s sort of like peer-to-peer education if I hear that a suite mate or someone living down the hall from me was impacted, or their family, then I might say, ‘Hey, did you know that the Division of Student Affairs and OSU might have emergency funding available?’”
So far, the Division of Student Affairs has reached out to more than 400 students potentially affected by the storms and is preparing to reach out again as Hurricane Milton moves through Florida.
Manning-Ouellette said their goal is to ensure students know they have a support system.
“We’re here to support you,” Manning-Ouellette said. “If you have any needs for support based on what’s going on with the hurricane related to your family, please let us know.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
nessee and allow them to purchase supplies and equipment.
The pair decided to make their idea a reality. Webb organized a GoFundMe page, and Lacy posted a message in his fraternity group chat asking for volunteers. Webb and Lacy didn’t know what to expect. They figured they’d at least raise $5,000, but after three days, they raised more than $18,000 in donations.
“I didn’t think we’d get this big,” Lacy said. “It’s just been crazy to see that it’s gotten this big in three days.”
Webb said the support from students, community members and alumni is overwhelming and welcome.
“The community has been amazing,” Webb said. “Never in a million years did we think we’d be where we are. It makes my heart so happy knowing strangers are stepping up and helping one another; that is what it’s all about. In the end, we all deserve to have someone show us compassion.”
The donations will help support the FarmHouse members traveling to Ten-
Lacy said finding volunteers was easy and within minutes of messaging his brothers, 15 FarmHouse members signed up to go.
“I’ve been super grateful to get this great group of guys to go,” Lacy said.
During their relief mission, the team is going to deliver supplies to Butler, Tennessee. Lacy has been in contact with community members there to help better organize their efforts.
“They’ve just been going door-to-door, making sure everyone’s OK,” Lacy said.
The group plans to help with clean-up and delivery and has plans to help rebuild a house.
“Their goal is to fill in gaps where local resources might be stretched thin, contributing directly to recovery efforts on the ground,” Webb said.
Lacy said the community support is overwhelming, but he understands many of his peers cannot give monetarily or take a break from classes to travel, but that there are multiple ways students can help out.
“If they have any extra toiletries or they want to go to Walmart and spend 20 bucks on toilet paper,
paper towels, different things like that, feminine products toiletries, jackets,” Lacy said. “Anything like that, we’re accepting donations.”
Multiple student groups reached out to Lacy, including the Greek Community.
“It’s super short notice so I knew we wouldn’t get a lot of help, but it has been super cool to see a lot of other groups coming together to support us,” Lacy said.
From a Friday haircut to a fully-funded relief mission, the community response has been overwhelming, and Webb and Lacy are overjoyed at people’s willingness to help out.
“It’s just been so fulfilling, and it just goes to show there are still so many kind people out there wanting to help,” Webb said. “I know we couldn’t have done this without the help of other Oklahomans.”
After the donation deadline closed Lacy and his brothers loaded a U-Haul full of supplies before hitting the road.
The group left for Tennessee on Thursday and plan to return Sunday. news.ed@ocolly.com
Bryson Thadhani
Members of FarmHouse load a U-Haul truck with hurricane relief supplies for Butler, Tennessee.
Courtesy Kaleigh Thandani
Heavy winds and rainfall left a path of destruction in a Tampa, Florida, neighborhood.
‘This conflict is not black and white’: Pro-Palestine protest brings out counter-protestors
RAYNEE HOWELL
ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
@RAYNEEHOWELL
The black, white and green stripes on the Palestinian flag waved above the protesters near Whitehurst Hall on Tuesday. But this time the red, white and blue flags were accompanied by counter-protestors.
OSU’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a “Week of Rage” full of events observing the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, one year later.
The protest was the second event of the week.
SJP members and supporters were not the only protestors to show up on the lawn. The group was joined during their protest by another student club, Young Americans for Freedom, who brought American flags.
SJP president Mena, who asked her last name be withheld for privacy reasons, is a Palestinian student from Gaza.
Mena said she did not understand YAF’s purpose in bringing out the American flags. She said she doesn’t think they understand what they’re protesting, and they should be more enraged than SJP.
“No one should be fine with their tax money going to another country,” Mena said. “This money should be going to people who are paying for them. This money could be paying for their tuition, their health care and helping them solve the homeless problem.”
The purpose of the protest, named “Demand Divestment,” was to continue to demand the university to reach certain expectations outlined in a press release posted by SJP on Sept. 9. The student organization demands include the university providing full transparency of investments, waving the Palestinian flag at the Wes
Watkins Center for 24 hours and divesting in partnerships with companies funding and profiting off of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
To Mena, the purpose of the “Week of Rage” was more than just the university investments. She said the event was meant to mark the one year of “genocide” of the people in Gaza.
“We have this ‘Week of Rage’ to show people that enough is enough and that we need action,” Mena said.
“We’re obviously enraged. The people of Palestine are enraged, which is where the week comes from, the enragement of the slaughter and the murder of the Palestinian people.”
The groups stood divided on the lawn, but some weren’t entirely divided in their views. YAF member Triton Snodgrass found some common ground with SJP, at least relating to innocent lives being taken.
“To my knowledge, the protesters are upset about civilians being killed,” Snodgrass said. “I agree with them. Palestine has a right to be free and has a right to exist alongside Israel, but the Hamas-led government is creating problems for the entire region.”
But when it comes to their demands to the university, Snodgrass said he is protesting against them.
“I’m out here to protest and defend the rights of the school and the individuals within the school to invest in who they want and give money to whoever they want,” Snodgrass said.
Yet, his view differed from YAF club president Thomas Hatfield’s view on funding. Hatfield did not specify whether he believes the university should follow the demands, but he said war is wrong and the way to keep innocent people from dying is to stop funding the war.
“This is a humanitarian issue and people need to stop dying,” Hatfield said. “And
that’s really what our focus should be first. Our focus should be America first and life first, not just one side or the other because both sides are good and bad in their own ways.
“This conflict is not black and white.”
As for the American flags, Hatfield said it’s about giving money back to the states instead of funding Israel, Ukraine and other countries. For example, the money could fund FEMA to aid Americans in Hurricane relief efforts, he said.
Like Mena, some passersby weren’t sure what exactly YAF’s intentions were with the counter-protest. Onlooker Evan Schreyer said he was interested in watching the protest to see what both sides thought. He said he knows a lot of people who are pro-Israel, especially in America, but protesting using the American flag was confusing.
“I feel like it’s a little interesting that they’re carrying American flags,” Schreyer said. “I mean, like I just don’t really know what message they’re trying to send. I mean, are they trying to send the message of supporting Israel?
“Are they trying to send the message of just supporting the United States?”
A pro-Israel woman, not affiliated with either student organization, passed the protest and began yelling “Free Israel” and “Long Live Israel.” Mena, whose family is still in Gaza, did not take the statement lightly.
“When we say ‘Free Palestine,’ there’s an actual meaning behind it,” Mena said. “Like I said, a Palestinian, I can’t go to Palestine. Palestinians cannot exit.
“Like my family, if I wanted to bring them, they wouldn’t be able to leave. So that’s what we say. Israelis can go in and out. We can’t. So I ask her, free Israel from what?”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Governor
Continued from 1
“We don’t even have the ability to compromise if they won’t talk to us,” he said, “and so that’s part of the reason why we were having to keep protesting, is that we have to have our voices listened to, and if they won’t meet with us, then we have to stand outside of their building and demand that they we do. We have to cause enough of a fuss that they say, ‘Fine, we’ll meet with you.’”
After granting approval for flags that were to be placed on Library Lawn, as well as a bake sale, OSU walked back on its approval, Jake said. It restricted the time the flags could be placed on the lawn and canceled the bake sale, citing a 10-day notice policy.
SJP submitted its event proposal nine days before its event, violating the policy that is listed on the event request forms.
OSU issued a statement Wednesday, saying SJP, and other student organizations were found to not be in compliance with university policy. As a result, their event approvals have been revoked.
“With a new interim vice president of Student Affairs and Housing and Residential Life director, the provost’s office has taken an active role in reviewing the practices and policies of the division,” the statement read.
“The provost’s office was made aware that some existing policies were not being adhered to and notified relevant parties regarding their compliance status with said policies.”
Melisa Echols, the Student Government Association adviser, said during Wednesday’s SGA Senate meeting that Meeting & Conference Services is in talks with administrators to potentially amend the policy.
“We know that student orgs (organizations), whether that is tabling events, flyers, et cetera, don’t always… we tend to plan a little bit differently and very on the fly because we’re student orgs; that comes very regularly to us in Student Affairs,” Echols said. “And so we are, as administrators, working to see about some updates to that, because it is an older policy. It’s just something they wanted us to adhere more strictly to.”
OSU maintains the decision was made based on university policy, not political pressure.
Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday brought attention to OSU SJP’s “Week of Rage,” sharing a post to X, formerly Twitter, condemning the group’s actions and calling it a celebration of a massacre.
“As governor of this state, I call on all leaders to condemn this spectacle and stand with our Jewish and Israeli friends as they mourn this painful anniversary,” the post read.
Jake said SJP, which has Jewish, Arab and Palestinian members, stands for equality.
“His comments are absolutely reprehensible, saying that we’re celebrating the massacre on the day that we have (names of ) 2,000 dead toddlers on our campus,” Jake said. “You know, to call that a celebration… I don’t know if it’s a misunderstanding; that’s what I hope it is. But it is a deep misrepresentation of what our movement stands for and what we’re really out here for.”
Abegail Cave, spokeswoman for Stitt, said Stitt was concerned, “given it was on the anniversary of the horrific attacks in Israel.”
“I think the governor’s top concern was ensuring that Jewish students felt safe, especially given some of the events that have happened on other university campuses, along these lines where Jewish students, in particular, were targeted and harmed in the process of events such as this,” Cave said. “I don’t think he was concerned that would necessarily happen at OSU, because he knows the leadership at OSU wants to make sure that all free speech is protected.”
OSU issued a separate response Tuesday, saying it does not officially support or endorse the events or political positions SJP promotes. However, it said the university will continue to support students’ free speech and assembly rights.
Mena said she feels as if her voice has been suppressed on campus.
“I don’t feel safe; I don’t feel comfortable,” Mena said. “I heard students laughing about the fact about what’s happening. You know, whoever it was who decided to make the decisions that they’ve made that’s led up to these moments has encouraged the hate for Palestinians, whether they like it or not, on this campus, people find pleasure in what’s going on with us, and this university helps fuel that.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Lilian Easter
A protester visibly upset over hearing the names of dead children from Palestine.
Lilian Easter
A protester for OSU SJP talks to counter-protester in front of Edmon Low Library.
‘Nobody Wants This’ is a feet-kicking
LUISA CLAUSEN STAFF REPORTER @LUISACLAUSEN
“Nobody Wants This,” except everybody wants this.
Netflix’s new romantic comedy checked all the boxes to make the genre’s fans happy. The 2000s nostalgia for the good old rom-com movies is replaced with charm, chemistry and a sense of familiarity with this contemporary way of telling a love story. The show is loosely based on Erin Foster’s life, who is also the show’s creator.
The show is about the connection between Joanne, a Los Angeles podcast host played by Kristen Bell, and Noah, a rabbi played by Adam Brody. Joanne, in her late 30s, shares her love-life drama that did not finish with happy endings. All the gone-wrong dates are featured on Joanne’s podcast, co-hosted with her sister. Noah starts the show in a relationship and with big aspirations to become the lead rabbi of his synagogue.
The two are the epitome of opposites attract. She comes from an unconventional family. He comes from a traditional one. She is skeptical of any sort of religion. He is… well, he is a rabbi.
It may seem more of the same old, and maybe it is. But there is a depth to it usually not seen in rom-coms.
After Noah breaks up with his girlfriend, he attends a friend’s dinner party where Joanne is at. Her extroverted and honest personality immediately catches his attention. She is outspoken and well-set
in her ways, and it’s almost as if he needed those qualities in his life.
With perfect comedic timing and intense eye staring, the two start a relationship and let me tell you, as a rom-com lover, this is one of the best of the genre in recent times.
The dramatic tension comes from Joanne’s shiksa status, which refers to a woman who is not Jewish. Noah’s close circle, specifically his mother, is not in favor of the union. In a way, it almost makes the female Jewish characters look more hostile than what they are in reality. It ends up putting them in a box, following certain stereotypes that are no
longer true.
Although there are traditions in the Jewish religion, an intermarried relationship is no longer taboo, with 61% of Jews who have married since 2010 being intermarried, according to a 2021 Pew Research Report.
Most of Noah’s anxiety throughout the show surrounds the possibility of setting a bad example if he marries a non-Jewish woman. I almost think the exaggeration of his drama contributed to the misinterpretation of Jewish women, which I hope is improved as the show comes back for a second season. Pitting women against each other in TV shows contributes to the real-life tone
of the way some may treat each other. I understand there is no show without drama, but minimizing women to become enemies, too silly or desperate for men is the type of drama I could have gone without.
Other than that, what stuck to me was more than just the romance, it was how they navigated the conflicts. This was a couple clearly trying to get it right. They both came with baggage from previous relationships and balanced each other out during some hard moments.
Their non-negotiable values were not the same, and if you ask me, you cannot continue
mary values are not the same. Noah’s religion is important to him, his traditional family is important to him, and as far as Joanne, she enjoys the freedom of speaking her mind and is not necessarily looking to go on a spiritual journey. But this is a TV show, not real life, and realism stays on the back burner.
“Nobody Wants This” manages to be a thought-provoking and feet-kicking cliché all at once. It’s a love letter to those who see themselves as too complicated to be loved, but it is also a chance to relax, laugh and enjoy 10 episodes of a well-done rom-com.
Courtesy Tribune News Service
Kristen Bell (left) and Adam Brody in “Nobody Wants This” fall head-over-heels for one another.
‘Time will tell’
Former Cowboy QB analyzes Bowman, current OSU position controversy
BY
CASHTON SLAUGHTER I SPORTS EDITOR I @ASHTON_SLOT
lint Chelf has been Oklahoma State’s QB1, but he’s also been benched and the second- and thirdstring guy.
So he at least has some understanding of what Alan Bowman is going through.
After quarterbacking OSU to the Big 12 Championship Game last season, Bowman has faced scrutiny for his play through six games. His 12 passing touchdowns are already rivaling his 15 from last season, but his eight interceptions and his at-times-
poor decisions have fans turning on him.
For the second time in three games, Bowman was benched for backup quarterback Garret Rangel in this past Saturday’s 38-14 loss to West Virginia. Bowman was boo’d most times he threw an incompletion or even when he smartly chucked the ball out of bounds — anything other than a positive gain through the air is a negative right now for Cowboy fans.
Although Chelf knows Bowman worked on tangible things — his mechanics, footwork, et
What OSU football should focus on during its bye week
PARKER GERL
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @PARKER_GERL
Oklahoma State badly needs answers.
The Cowboys, sitting at 3-3 amid a threegame losing streak, are underperforming across the board.
Adjustments and fixes could turn their luck around, and now they have a bye week to make some before they play at BYU next Friday.
“It starts out with just little mistakes,” OSU offensive lineman Preston Wilson said. “It’s not just one person or one specific group. It’s a bunch of little, small things that add up into big mistakes and cost us.”
Here’s what OSU should focus on during its bye week:
Solving the quarterback problem Obvious, but necessary.
Starting quarterback Alan Bowman has been benched for Garret Rangel in two of OSU’s past three games. Bowman has thrown two interceptions in three straight outings and hasn’t completed more than 52% of his passes since Week 3.
Mike Gundy has a decision to make in the hope of a midseason surge. Experience or a fresh, I-got-nothing-to-lose mindset of a backup.
Bowman is the most experienced optionand led OSU to 10 wins last season. Rangel, though, could use in-game reps and can do more with his legs than Bowman. There’s
Zane Flores, too, though it’s unlikely he will get the call as he’s yet to make his OSU debut.
See BYE WEEK on page 5B
cetera — during the offseason, the former Cowboy believes the current Cowboy is “largely the same guy as last year.”
“And I don’t mean that in a negative way,” Chelf said. “We’ve got a good grasp of what Alan is and what his strengths are, and I think you’re seeing a team that is around him that is not having any success stopping the run or running the ball, and so we’re seeing more pressure put on him, and sometimes he’s up to it, sometimes he’s not, and that’s just part of playing the position.”
‘She’s our leader’
How Morris’ leadership is key for OSU soccer
CALIF PONCY STAFF
REPORTER
@PONCYCALIF
Nearly a decade ago, Alex Morris committed to Oklahoma State. Morris, a mainstay of the OSU backline the past three seasons, has been tied to the Cowgirls in one way or another since 2016. But that won’t be the case in two months, for the first time since she was 14.
Morris’s stats don’t leap off the page. She has just four career
goals and 16 career assists. She has never been someone to be put at the front of the program. Regardless, her importance to the Cowgirls over the last three seasons is impossible to overstate.
“It’s just one of those stories you love,” OSU head coach Colin Carmichael said. “She comes in, doesn’t play a lot. Senior year, kills it. That’s really the kids you pull for. She’s just developed into a great leader, so it’s been a really cool thing to see soccer-wise.” See MORRIS on page 4B
Payton Little
Despite Alex Moris not having incredible stats, her leadership is indispensable.
Andon Freitas
Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman has been benched twice in the past three games for backup quarterback Garret Rangel.
Payton Little
One area Oklahoma State needs to improve upon during the bye week is its run defense.
from there.
How OSU, Bowman got here
Last season, Chelf, who was with the Cowboys from 2009-13, told The O’Colly that he believed Bowman should be the starter as head coach Mike Gundy and Co. used a threequarterback rotation the first three games. Chelf believed Bowman’s experience was best fit to lead OSU at that time.
Now, though, with the Cowboys having multiple problem spots — the inability to find Ollie Gordon II consistent lanes, opponents chewing up the clock because of OSU’s poor run defense and opposing quarterbacks having their way through the air or on the ground — Chelf said Bowman has played just “OK.”
But he doesn’t think it’s all on Bowman.
“I don’t think he’s certainly played poor,” Chelf said. “I think part of what gets caught up in looking at quarterback play is obviously the turnovers. But whenever you have two games where you have the ball for less than 20 minutes time of possession (Kansas State and WVU games), everything is going to be amplified. So if you don’t have the ball very long and you turn it over, I think it’s gonna feel and look a lot worse to fans and people watching the game.
“But if you look at his stats, he’s tracking about how he played last year. So it’s hard for me to criticize him when we kinda got a good picture last year and then going into this year, it’s largely been the same. So I certainly don’t think with the issues surrounding running the ball on offense and stopping the run on defense that you can really just point to Alan as someone who’s played poorly, and that’s why the team is losing.”
In Chelf’s estimation, there are only a handful of quarterbacks who can elevate the team by themselves. And most of them are in the NFL. He said the rest depends on the play-calling, the players around him and the execution
And although fans have voiced displeasure about offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn’s play-calling, the players around Bowman are legitimate talents, but his execution isn’t always there.
Racking up completions and getting into a groove is what Chelf wants to see more from Bowman. Because then, the offense can get first downs and drive down the field, but it can also give the defense a break.
But it’s unclear if Bowman will have the opportunity to do that next game.
Next man up?
After the WVU loss, Gundy was asked if he plans to turn to Rangel, who went 4-of-5 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown in relief of Bowman.
“I don’t want to get out in front of that again,” Gundy said. “(Rangel) didn’t have very many plays. He only threw the ball five times. We need to look and evaluate. I don’t want to say something now, and then it may not be true.”
Gundy may have been unsure after that game, but the fans felt certain about wanting a quarterback change. Those boos that the Cowboy offense heard flipped to cheers when Rangel entered the game. Check social media, and the pleas for redshift freshman Zane Flores are loud and proud, too.
So who trots onto the field in Provo, Utah, next Friday against a high-powered BYU defense is going to be interesting.
“You see a guy like Alan who the team’s not playing well (with), and you’ve been benched two of the last three weeks going into the bye week; I wouldn’t be surprised if you see some sort of change there,” Chelf said. “At some point, it seemed like from Coach Gundy playing Garret Rangel, they wanted to see what he can do. And so, I think it’s only fair that if that’s the case that you give him the proper runway to prepare to play a game.
“And I don’t know that’s gonna be the case — for all I know, I’m prepping like I’m gonna see Alan Bowman. But in the mind of someone who’s been through it, you want to give (the quarterback) a chance to succeed.”
Chelf knows firsthand how difficult it is being thrown into a game — like Rangel has been. The high was the WVU performance, and the low was the 3-of-11 passing for 31 yards that led to Bowman being put back into the game against Utah.
And though two weeks of prep time for Rangel is ideal, the Cougars’ front seven is no joke, Chelf said.
But with the coaching staff clearly intent on seeing how Rangel looks, it makes the quarterback situation for the next week hazy.
“Going on a three-game losing streak is tough, and I’ve always liked the guys that have committed to the program,” Chelf said. “I was one of those guys; I could’ve very easily transferred… I would love to see Rangel get a shot, just because he’s been a guy that could have very easily left, and he loves it in Stillwater and he stayed. But — and I hate to be kind of a middleman — Alan decided to come here, and he’s been good to this team and took us to the Big 12 championship last year, and so I don’t want to downplay or badmouth Alan and say he doesn’t deserve to play.
“But at some point, it just has felt like with Rangel getting to play two of the last three weeks, they’ve at least wanted to see what’s there.”
Bowman’s mental toughness as a 24-year-old, seventhyear college quarterback is a strength, Chelf said. One that’s needed to endure a QB controversy.
After being benched in the Utah game, Bowman talked about running the table the rest of the season.
He played the whole game in the 42-20 loss to K-State and “didn’t do a lot with it,” as Chelf said.
Then he got benched again late in the third quarter against the Mountaineers the next game.
As for where his mental state probably is now on the bye week? Ask the QB who’s been through it.
“It’ll just be kinda time will tell to see how his mental state is moving forward,” Chelf said.
OSU’s Roberson embracing larger role for injured Martin
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER @DANIELALLEN1738
Jeff Roberson rose from the playing surface at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The roar of the home crowd greeted him as his feet met the ground. Shortly after, a herd of his teammates huddled around him in celebration, acknowledging his sack of elusive West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene.
Opportunities like this aren’t recurrent for Roberson, a senior linebacker for OSU. So he makes the most of them.
Such moments to contribute were sparse early in the season. After missing most of the 2022 season because of injury and spending most of 2023 on the bench, Roberson has since reaffirmed his spot as a defensive mainstay for the Cowboys’ front seven. It intensified when AllAmerican linebacker Collin Oliver suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot in Week 2 against Arkansas. And now, with the absence of All-Big 12 linebacker Nick Martin — whom OSU head coach Mike Gundy said he thinks “will be out for a while” — Roberson will likely prolong his time with the starters.
“It sucks, but that’s why we recruit and do what we do, so the next man’s gotta step up,” Roberson said. “…I think we’ll be just fine, and we’ll be ready to roll.”
But replacing a force as daunting as Martin is a tall task. Especially after losing one like Oliver just weeks prior.
Martin missed time in the spring because of a left wrist injury, so filling the void he leaves is nothing new for Roberson. However, doing the same ingame is another story.
“I mean, it’s football — you win some (and) you lose some,” linebacker Kendal Daniels said. “But, you know, you just gotta keep going. Because at the end of the day, nobody cares that you’re frustrated.
“But Nick not being out there
for the whole defense is different. Just not having him in that leadership (role) and everything.”
In 2023, Martin recorded 140 total tackles — tied for the fourth-best nationally — six sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Roberson has logged 44 total tackles since his freshman season in 2020, playing primarily on special teams. And Roberson’s enhanced role might come at the expense of a comfort level. Stepping in for a defense that just surrendered 389 rushing yards and 558 yards of total offense in a 38-14 loss to West Virginia is easier said than done. OSU’s defense ranks 130th nationally in total defense out of 133 FBS programs.
Heading into the bye week, the Cowboys are 3-3, are in the midst of a three-game losing streak — their first since 2014 — and are off to their first 0-3 start in Big 12 Conference play since 2005, which ended in a 4-7 campaign. Roberson said he hopes to aid OSU out of its current skid.
Those close to Roberson have said his temperament has allowed him to overcome such mental obstacles.
“I think he’s handled the whole situation quite well, honestly,” nose tackle Justin Kirkland said.
“To step in there like he has and face the competition with (the starters) like he has, I mean, it’s impressive.
“He’s a good player, and I think that he’s showing that right now.”
So far this season, Roberson has 30 total tackles and two sacks. And in all likelihood, those numbers will only balloon in the coming weeks given his impending increased workload.
Regardless, he’s just happy to be here — a driving force for OSU’s defense, just as he said he imagined the moment he first set foot on campus in fall 2020.
“I’ve just trusted the process here at Oklahoma State, the culture and everything like that,” he said. “And now, I’m just enjoying everything that comes along.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo
Clint Chelf (No. 10) said it “feels like” OSU wants to see its options at quarterback other than Alan Bowman. Bowman
Payton Little
Linebacker Jeff Roberson (No. 22) is a bright spot on a struggling OSU defense.
Gundy’s 20th
How OSU has played after a bye week under Mike Gundy
Editor’s note: This is a story from “Gundy’s 20th,” The O’Colly’s weekly series to commemorate OSU football head coach Mike Gundy’s 20th season as the leading man. This week, we talk about how Gundy’s teams perform after a bye week.
A bye week seemingly couldn’t have come at a better time for Oklahoma State football.
The Cowboys have lost three straight games and are tasked with planning for No. 14 BYU in preparation for a game next Friday night in Provo, Utah.
When asked about the bye week after OSU’s 38-14 loss to West Virginia, OSU head coach Mike Gundy said it “gives us a chance to experiment with different things.”
Whether it’s offensive or defensive scheme adjustments, here’s a look at how Gundy’s teams have fared after an off week during his time at the reigns of the OSU program.
Overall record
OSU is 17-12 in games after bye weeks under Gundy
with an average winning margin of 17.2 points. Blowout victories against Kansas (70-28 in 2011) and Baylor (49-16 in 2017) help raise that number, even though Gundy’s had close calls like three-point wins against Texas A&M in 2010 (38-35) and No. 17 Iowa State in 2020 (24-21).
Home/away record
At home off a bye, Gundy is 10-8, while on the road his squads are 7-4. Gundy’s best home win off a bye was a 2717 victory over No. 13 Texas Tech in his first season, and on the road it was defeating No. 16 Baylor 36-25 in 2022 (also the rematch of the Big 12 Championship Game from a season prior).
If BYU stayed ranked at No. 14 or higher and OSU won, it would be Gundy’s highest-ranked road win off a bye.
Against ranked teams
Speaking of ranked teams, Gundy is 5-6 against top 25 teams coming off a bye. At home, he’s 2-3, and on the road, he’s 3-3. The OSU’s better-as-anunderdog narrative is true in this case.
OSU as an unranked team When it comes to OSU
being an underdog, the Cowboys are 7-8 when they’re unranked coming off a bye. The main struggle is at home, believe it or not, where OSU is 3-7. On the road, Gundy’s squads are 3-1.
Once again, BYU is a top-15 team, and even if it loses to Arizona at home, the Cougars may still be a top-25 team.
What to make of this No matter the vibe and uncertainty around the Cowboys, they play well with at least a week off.
OSU under Gundy as an unranked team is 3-1 off a bye — the Cowboys will certainly be unranked next Friday. Gundy’s teams are also 7-4 on the road off a bye, which is a pretty good statistic.
Even Gundy’s 17-12 overall record is a little worse than what it is in recent memory — in the last five years, OSU is 5-2 off a bye. His record takes a little bit of a hit in his first five seasons, where the Cowboys went 3-4.
Take all these results however you want, but sometimes the best predictor of the future is the past.
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Just because Oklahoma State football is on a bye week doesn’t mean that The O’Colly’s weekly EA Sports College Football 25 simulations have to take a week off. Although there isn’t one specific game to simulate, I simmed each of the Cowboys’ remaining games 10 times to see how my PlayStation expects OSU to fare the rest of the season. Here were the results:
OSU @ BYU; Cowboys went 8-2
This began my thought of “maybe EA Sports hasn’t adjusted its ratings this season,” because the Cowboys absolutely dominated the Cougars in Provo, Utah, with an average score of 27.4-20.6. If OSU won by a touchdown next Friday, Cowboy fans would be stoked. Predicted OSU record: 4-3 (1-3 Big 12).
OSU @ Baylor; Cowboys went 9-1
Baylor isn’t great, but this continued my wondering thought about EA Sports’ sim logic (spolier alert, it continued, so I’ll stop bringing it up now). OSU defeated the Bears with an average score of 35.8-20.4.
Two-game winning streak at this point for OSU. Predicted OSU record: 5-3 (2-3 Big 12).
OSU vs. Arizona State; Cowboys went 10-0
This one is a little less surprising; I doubt EA Sports factors in this being OSU’s Homecoming, but the Cowboys coming up short in that game — no matter how poorly the season is — is a tough sell. OSU defeated the Sun Devils with an average score of 34.8-15.6.
A three-game losing streak to a three-game winning streak sure
would be something. Predicted OSU record: 6-3 (3-3 Big 12).
OSU @ TCU; Cowboys went 8-2
The Cowboys also handled their business in Fort Worth, Texas, defeating the Horned Frogs with an average score of 34.8-15.4 (a weirdly close score to the ASU simulations).
The last time OSU went to TCU, it was a nail-bilter; this one, not so much. Predicted OSU record: 7-3 (4-3 Big 12).
OSU vs. Texas Tech; Cowboys went 8-2
For the most part, OSU left Senior Day victorious, but the Red Raiders — who are listed as the Cowboys’ rival in the game — got the best of OSU a couple of times. The Cowboys won with an average score of 31.8-23.
Would OSU fans forget about the early season woes at this point, or would it just be even more frustrating? Predicted OSU record: 8-3 (5-3 Big 12).
OSU @ Colorado; Cowboys went 9-1
This one was the most surprising, as Colorado is pretty solid in the game — maybe too good if you ask me — but the Cowboys went to Boulder and didn’t blink for the most part, winning with an average score of 24.4-18.
OSU would likely be on the outside looking in of the Big 12 Championship Game race, but would be heading toward a good bowl game after this finish. Predicted OSU record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12).
Despite the six-game winning streak, I really do think that Cowboy fans would be disappointed with the season overall if they turned it around, as they’d be left wondering what this team could have done if it started better. But hey, if EA Sports is right, this outcome sure is better for OSU than what looks possible right now.
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File Photo
Mike Gundy Oklahoma State teams have tended to perform well after a bye week.
Morris
Continued from 1
Morris’ journey to becoming one of the most important players on an OSU team that has a good chance of making the NCAA Tournament started on the bench behind Charme Morgan and Hannah Webb, who were stalwarts of OSU defenses in their own right. As a freshman in 2020, Morris played fewer than 300 minutes all season, appeared in only 10 games and recorded no goals and one assist.
Despite the duo of Morgan and Webb returning her sophomore year, Morris stayed the course.
“People didn’t really transfer back then,” Morris said. “You lost a year of eligibility if you did. So the transfer portal didn’t really come alive until I was here. I never really thought about the possibility of transferring.”
With Morris staying and getting healthy, her play began to rapidly improve. Despite being a defender, Morris is as dangerous with the ball at her feet as anyone on the OSU roster. Her ability to advance the ball via either the dribble or the pass is rare for her position. She is commonly in the middle of the Cowgirls attack despite playing at the back of the defense.
Her fellow defenders, such as Mollie Breiner, Katelyn Hoppers and Chloe Joseph, all have their moments of being dangerous on the attack, but the constant threat of Morris makes her indispensable on the back end.
“Watching Alex, it was just a huge inspiration, just because not only is she probably the best player I’ve ever seen play, she’s also an amazing person,” freshman defender Katelyn Hoppers said. “What I love about Alex is every time she gets the ball, her mindset is, ‘I’m gonna do something that can get me close to the goal.’ She has the most confidence I’ve ever seen in a defender.” Morris’ ability to advance the ball got her on the field, and her decision to stay at OSU immediately paid off. She got on the field as a sophomore and immediately made an impact, playing in 17 matches.
That number increased to 19 as a junior, 15 of which were starts.
Her mix of defensive ability, attacking skills and speed on the back end made her an every-game player for Carmichael’s Cowgirls. Once she was locked into the starting lineup, a new part of her game began to unlock — her leadership.
Leadership has always come naturally to Morris, but as a young player who was in and out of the lineup, she didn’t feel as if she was in a place to be vocally critical of her teammates.
“Obviously when you come in and you’re 18 and there’s girls who are 22 and 23, you’re definitely just naturally more quiet,” Morris said. “I just kind of knew my place. But I would say that’s definitely a pretty integral part of my personality.”
Now in her fifth season, Morris has become the epitome of a vocal leader for a team that plays several underclassmen.
When watching the Cowgirls, it is clear that Morris has no issues voicing displeasure to teammates, coaches or officials. But vocal leadership is a two-way street, and Morris has no issue praising teammates when the gates to Neal Patterson Stadium close.
“She compliments me every time I’m doing something good,” Hoppers said. “I think that even just watching her play on the other side of the field just gives me motivation and hearing her motivate the team. It just gives everyone else motivation around me.”
With only four matches remaining in her regular season career, Morris’ has come a long way in her journey. From barely cracking the lineup to being one of the most critical starters on the team, Morris is the blueprint that every coach will want their players to follow. With a young, upcoming group of defenders developing under her, Morris’ last five games with the Cowgirls will be just as important to her OSU legacy as her first 79.
“She’s gotten better every single year,” Carmichael said. “Her first year, she had a lot of injuries. In her second year, she had to play behind Hannah Webb and Charme Morgan, which nobody is getting a lot of minutes behind those two, but she learned from them. And the last couple years you’ve seen Alex mature, and this year, she’s our leader.”
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said
How
OSU soccer can soon bounce back in the Big 12 standings
CALIF PONCY STAFF REPORTER @PONCYCALIF
Heading into Big 12 Conference play, everything in Stillwater was going great.
Oklahoma State soccer was unbeaten and flirting with a top-10 ranking. OSU was emerging as a favorite in the Big 12 — until Colorado came into Stillwater and knocked the Cowgirls, and then Texas Tech did the same. After draws against BYU and Utah, a once-promising season was teetering. OSU got back in the win column against Kansas, but one thing remains clear — it is now or never for the Cowgirls to tap into the excellence they displayed early in the season. With a homestand coming for the Cowgirls, it is the perfect time to get momentum moving in a positive direction after a difficult road stand.
“Road trips are always hard because we’re getting into their environment and we have to hear their fans,” freshman defender Katelyn Hoppers said. “It’s just a sense of comfort being at home and also just the extra motivation when at home in front of the fans or in front of your parents if they come. It’s a lot of fun.”
Before the two consecutive losses to CU and TTU, OSU was dominant at home. The Cowgirls outscored opponents 14-0 in Neal Patterson Stadium during nonconference play, doing so with dominant defensive play and an offense that could take advantage of the opportunities that it was given.
During the cold stretch, OSU’s defense remained pesky despite allowing goals, but the offense that was able to dismantle teams like Central Arkansas, San Diego State and UL Monroe was nowhere to be found.
“We’ve been having a few locker room conversations about just being able to get in those big moments and finishing those big moments and being able to capitalize on them,” OSU head coach Colin Carmichael said. “And I think that’s just the one thing that we need to start focusing on, is when we’re in front of goal and we have those big moments, putting our bodies on the line, getting a foot in front of it, running across their players and just finding the back of it. I think that’s the biggest problem that we’ve had.”
With three goals last Saturday against Kansas, OSU seems to have solved its goalscoring issues on some level, but the primary issue with the Cowgirls all season has been a lack of offensive consistency. There have been offensive explosions, but in four of nine nonconference games, the Cowgirls mustered either one or zero goals.
If OSU is to capitalize on its win against Kansas, it starts on the offensive end. With a run of matches against weaker opponents, the Cowgirls have a chance to creep back into the top five of the Big 12 standings. With a handful of impressive nonconference wins, OSU will have a strong case to make the NCAA Tournament if it can beat the teams it is supposed to the rest of this season. But after a start to the season that nearly saw the Cowgirls as the highest-ranked Big 12 team, expectations are higher than that, and the chase to meet them starts now.
“We kind of looked at it on paper and thought if you come out of that first group of games in a reasonably good spot, you now have a run of games that won’t be easy, but you’ll certainly be favored in,” Carmichael said. “So now, it’s on us to go win those games.”
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Cowboy Classic set to preview OSU men’s tennis
BAYLOR BRYANT STAFF REPORTER @BAYLORBBRYANT
Oklahoma State men’s tennis is planning to roll out some new players in the Cowboy Classic this weekend.
Before the season starts in the spring, Cowboy tennis will show off its fall form in Stillwater. OSU tennis returns to the Greenwood Tennis Center on Friday. OSU is hosting Baylor, Texas Tech, Tulsa, SMU and Wichita State.
With returning faces and some new ones, OSU is entering its fifth season under coach Dustin Taylor. Last season, the Cowboys went 1810 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After losing the Court 1 and 2 players, OSU’s Isaac Becroft takes up a major leadership role. Taylor said it comes naturally to Becroft.
“He’s always been our vocal leader,” Taylor said. “He’s always been the most external when they’re out there competing. And so now, it’s kind of Becroft’s team.”
A few Cowboys’ careers ended last season — Tyler Zink, Alex Garcia and Leighton Allen graduated earlier this year. With the loss of key veteran players, current members of the team will need to step up and fill those roles. Becroft said he is giving everything he’s got this season for OSU.
“Just return the favor as best as I can for the opportunity that they’ve
given me here,” Becroft said. “I’ve always been grateful for that. Just go out there and really lead from the front and get people saying, ‘That’s Cowboy tennis, and that’s what we represent.’ Very looking forward to that, and it’s gonna be a great honor.”
Other Cowboys are stepping up when called on. OSU sophomore Derek Pham had to sit out last season because of injuries, but he has been one of the Cowboys’ best players this fall. Pham went 3-0 in singles during the Big 12/SEC Challenge last week and said his health has been great.
“I’m excited to be healthy this semester,” Pham said. “Hopefully I’ll get a lot of matches in the spring.”
Taylor expects Pham to play on Court 2 this season. Becroft gave Pham credit, saying he’s good enough to play on Court 1. Pham said he understands he has big shoes to fill, and he’s going to do his best to fill them.
“Playing the two spots (is) not gonna be easy, but it’s something I’m prepared to do,” Pham said.
The Cowboy Classic is the only chance for fans to see the Cowboys perform this fall. Taylor said he’s super excited to get the new freshmen out there this weekend.
“That’s a big reason that we wanted to host one event before next spring,” Taylor said. “We want to get them on the home courts in front of the home fans. Give them some experience. It’s always special to play here in Stillwater.”
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Kaytlyn Hayes
Isaac Becroft is going to be a Court 1 player for the Cowboys this season.
Chase Davis
Alex Morris has gone from a bench player to a key contriubor for Oklahoma State.
Bryson Thadhani
Katelyn Hoppers (No. 8)
Why Lofton followed the path of legendary OSU wideout
redshirting this season like he had planned to, it opens up an opportunity for Lofton to battle with Ayo Shotomide-King for playing time as a backup (if Lofton himself doesn’t redshirt, that is.)
When Da’Wain Lofton entered the transfer portal, he wanted to go to the school that would keep his hometown’s tradition going.
Oklahoma State.
Lofton, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, watched Tylan Wallace, former standout Cowboy wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award Finalist, play in high school. Wallace went to South Hills High School, and Lofton went to North Side High School. Only about 30 miles separate the two high schools.
So he left Virgina Tech to follow in Wallace’s footsteps and catch balls for the Cowboys.
“I really wanted to come here out of high school, so once I got the opportunity, once I hit the portal, it was a no-brainer,” Lofton told The O’Colly before the season. “That was definitely the guy I wanted to be (Wallace). Really made me want to play receiver.”
Now, after appearing in his first game of the season against West Virginia — he caught three passes for a team-leading 73 yards, including a 41-yard pass from quarterback Alan Bowmn — Lofton is starting to find his footing in his final collegiate season.
On paper, Lofton getting playing time wasn’t going to be easy with Brennan Presley, De’Zhaun Stribling and Rashod Owens in front of him, not including talented backups. But with OU transfer Gavin Freeman
When OSU head coach Mike Gundy was asked before the season about Lofton’s and Freeman’s roles in the slot, he described Lofton as “more of a pure receiver” and Freeman as “a returner, but a receiving running back.” He also said that Lofton’s receiving skills were further along than Freeman’s.
But that makes sense for a guy who’s been playing college football since 2021. At VT, Lofton appeared in 36 games, seeing the field both on offense and in special teams. His most productive season was his sophomore year, when he started all 11 of his appearances and was third on the team in receiving yards (254) and receptions (22).
In his junior season, he played in 13 games but started one. His role on offense diminished.
And though his role at OSU hasn’t been sizable thus far, if the last game is any indication, the 5-foot11 speedy receiver could provide a spark for a Cowboy offense that’s needing one, whether that’s racking up yards after catch or hauling in a deep ball.
All for the school he watched his idol play for.
“(Lofton’s) come in here motivated to learn the plays, motivated to get on the field and play,” wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling said. “... He’s cool vibes. Uplifting. Always seeing the best in everything.”
Bye Week
Continued from 1
Regardless of who Gundy starts, the Cowboys need certainty at the most important position in the sport. Without it, there’s little chance of a turnaround.
“We need to look and evaluate,” Gundy said when asked if Rangel would start. “I don’t want to say something now and then it may not be true. We’ll need to look where we’re at.”
Finding ways to get Owens, Gordon going
Wide receiver Rashod Owens has caught eight passes across OSU’s last three games. Running back Ollie Gordon — the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner — has rushed for more than 50 yards only twice this season.
That’s not enough production from two of the Cowboys’ top playmakers. Offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn should look to Owens and Gordon to help OSU’s offense and relieve its quarterback dilemma.
If the Cowboys can get Gordon going and establish a run game, it will take pressure off whoever is playing quarterback — Bowman, Rangel or Flores.
Ethan Fang has two of the most important things a golfer needs to be successful: preparation and confidence.
In Fang’s first fall at Oklahoma State, he finished eighth in the Sahalee Players Championship and fifth in the Fighting Illini Invitational. The sophomore said working day-in and day-out on his game ensures he will perform well in tournaments, and that’s what has led him to success early in his collegiate career.
His golfing journey started when he was 6, at Ridgeview Ranch, a local golf club in his hometown. Fang was focused on T-ball, soccer and basketball before he chose golf. His father, Frank Fang, was playing one day and let his son try out the sport. Frank knew his son had potential from the moment he first swung a club.
“He saw me and wanted to try, and I noticed he had a natural swing,” Frank said. “I asked if he wanted to play, and he said yes — that’s how his golf journey began. It was an exciting experience watching Ethan golf for the first time at Ridgeview. You can tell he has raw talent, and he clearly enjoyed playing. He demonstrated exceptional focus out there.”
As he started focusing on golf, his skills grew, with his short game being his biggest strength. He broke through in his senior year of high school, when he made the necessary adjustments to make his irons and long game sound.
“(I) Started to hit it better and just be able to score lower, give myself more chances,” Ethan said. “I wasn’t fighting back and forth trying to get up and down... That took longer to try to get good at my ball striking.”
And Owens’ big-play potential and redzone skills should be a point of emphasis. The passing game needs a spark, which Owens can provide, just as he did last season.
Run defense, tackling
OSU’s run defense hasn’t been great, but it looks even worse because of its tackling struggles.
In the past three games, there have been moments when the Cowboys have hit a runner behind the line of scrimmage but don’t wrap up and bring him down. Then, it balloons into a long run — like when Utah running back Micah Bernard ran for 62 yards after OSU missed three tackles.
Similar mishaps happened against Kansas State and West Virginia, which led to K-State averaging 8.8 yards on the ground and WVU running for 389 yards.
The Mountaineers and Wildcats ran all over OSU’s defense, and their quarterbacks had no problem finding running lanes, too.
The Cowboys’ run defense needs adjustments, schematically and physically.
“We have to do a better job of fitting the run,” Gundy said. “Without seeing it (on film), it looked like to me (that) we had our worst tackling day of the year (against West Virginia).”
Ethan had offers from OU and Texas and had talks with OSU during his recruitment. However, he decided to go in a different direction and chose California Berkeley. He made the most of his time there with two podium finishes — second place in the Pauma Valley Invitational and third place in the Pac-12 Championship. He also made the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and All Pac-12 Second Team.
After his freshman year, he left Cal because the program did not fit his style despite the success he had. He transferred to OSU in the summer, wanting to be closer to home and familiar faces. His fellow Cal transfer, Eric Lee, joined him in the process. Lee said the biggest thing he learned from Ethan was balancing when to take things seriously.
“He keeps a good balance of things, like he knows when to take things seriously and just he knows when to have fun with it,” Lee said.
During his time in Stillwater, Ethan got to reconnect with fellow Texans such as Gaven Lane and Preston Stout, whom he played against in high school — and he was even paired with Stout last year in NCAA Regionals. Stout said going up against a guy who is composed like Fang brings challenges to his opponents.
“He’s a super mellow guy, especially on the course; (it) seems like nothing really bothers him; (he) stays pretty composed,” Stout said. “Those are always the hardest guys to compete against, and it seems like nothing gets to him, and it’s been good for me to see too, because that’s sometimes something I struggle with, but I’m glad he’s on my team now. I don’t gotta play against him.”
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Payton Little
After the bye week, Oklahoma State should look toward wide receiver Rashod Owens more.
Juan DeLeon/Big 12 Conference
After transferring from California Berkeley, Ethan Fang is making his mark at OSU.
Payton Little
Oklahoma State wide receiver Da’Wain Lofton could play a role in an offense needing a spark.
Why Newman’s connection with Lutz brought guard to Oklahoma State
CALIF PONCY STAFF REPORTER @PONCYCALIF
A a top-75 recruit coming out of Valparaiso, Indiana, in 2019, Brandon Newman could’ve gone many places.
He had offers from Indiana, Florida State, Kansas State and Ohio State, but ultimately he chose Purdue.
Five years later, Newman finds himself at Oklahoma State. After spending last season at Western Kentucky, where he averaged 10 points and was an All-Conference USA honorable mention, Newman once again had a variety of places he could call home. But just like when he committed to Purdue, one man made his decision a lot easier when he entered the transfer portal — new OSU head coach Steve Lutz.
“Coach (Lutz) and I have been together for a majority of my college career, and we’ve had some success doing so,” Newman said.
“Going into the portal again, I didn’t want to have to find myself trying to relearn a whole new system again. It’s something about playing for someone that you know and trust already that’s going to be right about you and be fair with you.”
Lutz was the lead recruiter for the Boilermakers when Newman decided to head to West Lafayette; he was Newman’s coach in his lone year at WKU; and now Lutz is his coach once again as Newman navigates his final year in the toughest college basketball conference.
Lutz and Newman’s trust in one another shines through on the court, but it was also paramount during the two years when they weren’t together.
After Lutz left Purdue to become the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Newman remained with the Boilermakers. In their two years apart, Newman’s role at Purdue faded. After starting 23 of 28 games as a freshman, Newman started once as a sophomore and six times as a junior. With Purdue’s underclassmen taking his minutes, Newman elected to enter the portal with two years of college eligibility left.
Before Newman entered the portal, Lutz accepted the job at WKU and was rebuilding at a program that missed the NCAA Tournament for 10 consecutive years.
Newman didn’t enter the portal with plans to reunite with Lutz, but when the opportunity presented itself, he took it.
“When I first got in the portal, I was taking all the calls and listening to what every single coach had to say, and he kind of just came in at the end,” Newman said. “We spoke periodically throughout the process. He kind of let me know, ‘This is where
I’m going to be; if you want to, we can.’”
When he took the job at WKU, Lutz knew his roster from TAMU-CC wasn’t going to cut it in Conference USA, and he knew he wanted to quickly institute his style of play. Similarly, Lutz knew that his CUSA-winning roster at WKU wasn’t going to be good enough to compete in the Big 12 at OSU. So Lutz didn’t have any of his Hilltoppers follow him to Stillwater, except for Newman.
Just like when he was at WKU, Lutz said he wants to get his team playing fast and shooting 3s as soon as possible. For players like Bryce Thompson, Jamyron Keller and Connor Dow, switching to Lutz’s system is certain to be a major adjustment. But for Newman, getting out and running has been a way of life for most of his college career.
“Brandon’s no different than any other player,” Lutz said. “There’s days where he gets off track, so I gotta corral him back in a little bit. But it’s a tremendous help. Where I think Brandon’s best value can be, besides on the floor, is in the locker room.”
Lutz hopes that Newman’s influence shines through quickly with teammates, and if Lutz has it his way, Newman will be key for an OSU team that shocks everyone and finishes in the top half of the Big 12. At his previous two stops, Lutz has engineered quick turnarounds and gotten his teams to the NCAA Tournament in his first season.
Making the Big Dance in the Big 12 — which is likely to see a majority of the conference either ranked in the preseason — will be difficult. But if OSU can embrace Lutz’s style of play early, it could shock some people in conference play.
With Newman likely to be a key starter for the Cowboys this winter, his importance to Lutz and his brand of basketball has never been higher. It remains to be seen if Newman and Lutz can elevate OSU in their one year together in Stillwater, but Newman will play a vital role in getting Lutz’s style up and running at a new place for the second straight season.
“He’s shown that he’s been a good person off the floor,” Lutz said. “We talk a lot about the future; well, the best predictor of the future is the past, and he’s already demonstrated that he could start in the Big Ten as a freshman and produce points and shoot the ball and play the right way. It’s an easy thing for me to say. I know that he’s proven he can do it, so let’s try and bring it with us.”
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Courtesy OSU Athletics
Brandon Newman joined OSU for his final collegiate season after Steve Lutz coached him at Purdue and Western Kentucky.
Courtesy OSU Athletics
Fall baseball has arrived.
Oklahoma State’s fall slate will begin a two-game series against Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which will commence Friday at 6 p.m. The first pitch for Game 2 is set for noon Saturday.
The Cowboys are coming off a 42-19 season, which featured a second-place finish in the Big 12 Conference standings and a conference tournament championship. OSU’s season ended in the Stillwater Regional championship game against eventual College World Series participant Florida.
Arkansas is coming off a 44-16 campaign, which included a first-place finish in the SEC West. Its season ended in a loss to four-seed Southeast Missouri State after a 1-2 finish in the Fayetteville Regional.
OSU is returning seven starters from its 2024 roster and has added seven prospects from the transfer portal.
Here are five things to watch for ahead of the Cowboys’ fall series in Fayetteville:
What will OSU’s pitching rotation look like?
For the third consecutive offseason, head coach Josh Holliday and Co. were tasked with reloading their entire starting pitching rotation.
In 2024, the trio of left-hander Sam Garcia, right-hander Brian Holiday and two-way star Carson Benge logged an average ERA of 3.11. But each heard his name called in July’s MLB Draft.
On the bright side for OSU fans, the Cowboys managed to reload their starting rotation the past two years via the transfer portal. In 2023, OSU ace right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown from Long Beach State and Ben Abram from Oklahoma and Garcia from High Point.
And this offseason was no different.
In June, OSU got a commitment from former Hawaii left-hander Harrison Bodendorf, a coveted portal prospect who chose the Cowboys over a bevy of SEC and blueblood schools. Bodendorf logged a 4.61 ERA as a sophomore with the Rainbow Warriors in 2024, striking out 64 while allowing a .247 opponent batting average through 56 2/3 innings pitched and 20 appearances. He made 11 starts on the mound this year but was also utilized as a bullpen option throughout the season.
Shortly after, former St. John’s righthander Mario Pesca committed. As a sophomore in 2024, Pesca logged a 2.96 ERA, to go with 53 strikeouts and a .242 opponent batting average through 76 innings pitched and 15 mound appearances, all of which were starts.
Bodendorf and Pesca are expected to be starters for OSU. Right-hander Gabe Davis, a 6-foot-9 flamethrower who has
reliever Hunter Watkins and Division II
Westmont College starter Sean Youngerman. Watkins, a righty who logged a 3.83 ERA, to go with 47 strikeouts, a 22.2% strikeout rate, a 3.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .279 opponent batting average through 47 innings and 18 appearances with GCU last season, holds a 6-foot-8 stature and could throw some quality innings for OSU.
Youngerman, a righty who posted a 3.71 ERA to go with 69 strikeouts, a .236 opponent batting average and a 4.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 12 starts, 13 appearances and 70 1/3 innings pitched, could also throw significant innings against the Razorbacks. Over the summer in the Cape Cod League, Youngerman earned a spot in the Cape Cod All-Star game.
A two-game fall series likely won’t be enough to pinpoint what the Cowboys’ starting rotation will look like come Opening Day. But it could provide a feasible gauge to fans in terms of which arms are starting-caliber.
Which arms could emerge out of the bullpen?
If Youngerman and Watkins don’t solidify roles in the starting rotation come March, both are clear-cut bullpen mainstays for OSU in 2025.
Left-hander Ryan Ure made a strong recovery last season after missing all of 2023 because of Tommy John surgery. His fastball can eclipse the 100-mph mark with relative ease, and his slider is sharp and sneaky-good. Southpaw Drew Blake is expected to hold a more prominent role this season as a veteran reliever.
Right-hander Noah Wech — the No. 209 overall recruit in the 2024 class ac-
high-end bullpen roles for the Cowboys this year.
Jacksonville transfer Tommy Allman, a righty — 5.05 ERA through 19 appearances and 46 1/3 innings pitched; 52 strikeouts; 278 batting average against — will be an intriguing relief prospect for OSU this weekend, too.
And a two-day clash with a potent Razorbacks’ offense will be a telltale for how ready the bunch is early in the fall season.
What can OSU fans expect from prized recruit Garrett Shull?
Pundits and former coaches of freshman Garrett Shull have often called him the same word.
“Special.”
Shull — the No. 47 overall recruit in the 2024 class according to Perfect Game — wasn’t selected in this year’s MLB Draft, but that can be chalked up to his age (19), which was thought to be a turnoff for MLB front office officials. That said, Shull will be draft-eligible after two seasons of college baseball, so enjoy him while you can, OSU fans.
Shull’s defensive ability is the crown jewel of his skillset. But he also excels with his bat. He holds good switchhitting ability and has unique power with his 6-2 frame.
He can play the infield and outfield, so he could be a feasible utility piece for Holliday. But regardless of where he plays this weekend, OSU will reap the benefits of having him.
Who will fill the middle infield void?
OSU found a diamond in the rough in shortstop Lane Forsythe, who transferred in after three seasons at Mississippi State.
After he exhausted his eligibility, the Cowboys are in search of a new starting
Senior Aidan Meola has made his worth at third base but has played shortstop for OSU in the past. Missouri
transfer Drew Culbertson hasn’t posted flashy offensive numbers but has a quality defensive track record from his lone season of SEC ball with the Tigers. Shull can play the infield and outfield. And sophomore Avery Ortiz has experience at shortstop from his days at Union High School in Tulsa.
OSU fans have been spoiled the past few seasons with the defensive prowess of former starting shortstop Marcus Brown and Forsythe. So expecting parallel results in the fall might be farfetched. However, that’s not to say that fans should expect a notable drop off in overall production. That likely won’t be the case with either option.
Can the Cowboys compete with the big dogs?
That remains to be seen. But the 2025 Cowboys are expected by many to be one of Holliday’s better OSU teams.
OSU hasn’t clinched a spot in the CWS since 2016. It hasn’t made it out of regional play since 2019. A handful of Holliday’s teams have been deemed championship-caliber — most recently his 2022 and 2024 teams — but have faltered in the early stages of postseason play.
This year, however, could be different. Fall baseball analysis is often a crap shoot. But a two-game series against Arkansas on the road should make it easier to project this team. The Razorbacks return a bevy of talent from last year’s top10 squad. And a prolific transfer portal class should make them a championshipcaliber squad, as they typically are under soon-to-be 23-year head coach Dave Van Horn. Fans and pundits have an opportunity to see what OSU looks like against a presumably elite team.
If OSU’s pitching transfers pan out and the returning offensive pieces, highlighted by left-field slugger Nolan Schubart, are up to par, OSU could find its way to Omaha in 2025.
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ashton slaughter
OSU needs a solidifed quarterback. No, not a let’s-throw-himin-for-one-game QB, but an actual guy who the coaching staff is fully behind. Rigth now, it’s a rode-adope situation, where no QB can have complete confidence. It all stems from the guy under-center, so once that’s finalized, OSU will improve.
The run game. The quarterback controversey is a hot topic right now, but quarterbacks will struggle in OSU’s offense if the Cowboys can’t run the ball no matter what. With no rushing attack, Alan Bowman or Garret Rangel must play a perfect, 10-out-of-10 game to beat good teams. That’s not feasible for any quarterback.
