The O'Colly, Friday, November 15, 2024

CENTER STAGE

2024-25 Winter Sports Preview

A new men’s hoops coach inheriting a middling program needing revival. A women’s basketball figure entering a pivotal third year to prove herself. A decorated wrestler turned coach with big Cowboy boots to fill this year.

OSU’s head coaches this winter are center stage.

Men’s Basketball

Steve Lutz knows what he’s tasked with.

The new Oklahoma State head coach needs to bring Cowboy basketball back.

Back meaning making Gallagher-Iba Arena one of the premier hoops venues in the country (which history says it can be) and making OSU a force in a gauntlet of a Big 12 Conference and nationally.

He said his goals match his tasks.

“We have lofty, lofty goals,” Lutz said during his introductory news conference in April. “Legends have played on this court. Legends have practiced on this court. Legends have coached on this court. And I understand the importance of all of that. And I absolutely understand the magnitude of being the steward of this program. And I don’t take it lightly.”

After OSU fired Mike Boynton, who went 119-109 across seven seasons and only reached the NCAA Tournament once with the help of eventual No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham, Lutz was named Boynton’s replacement.

Lutz had just led Western Kentucky to the NCAA Tour-

nament. Before that, he spent two seasons at Texas A&MCorpus Christi, where he led the Islanders to two NCAA Tournament appearances. He knows what it takes to make it there.

“We’ve got a history almost second to none,” Lutz said. “Now, we’ve got to put our plan into action and get us back to the NCAA Tournament and get us back competing for national titles.”

Lutz’s fast-paced offense and emphasis on the defensive side of the ball bring some familiarity, even in his first season.

The desire for better defensive play matches legendary Cowboy coach Eddie Sutton.

The up-tempo offense gives OSU a new identity, even with a ragtag roster of players this season, which returns only three players from last season.

One of the Cowboys’ additions is Brandon Newman, who followed Lutz from WKU to OSU. He didn’t want to learn a new system or how he’d mesh with another coach; Newman wanted to stick with what clicked: Lutz.

Newman is the only OSU player from Lutz’s WKU team.

The jump from Conference USA to Big 12 play is undeniable, so Lutz bringing the

graduate student guard speaks volumes.

“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.”

Newman is one of the two players on OSU’s roster, (along with Arkansas transfer Davonte “Devo” Davis), who has made the Big Dance more than once. When he says this year’s team is on the right track, that’s a good sign.

“I’ve won with him (Lutz) before, and I know what winning kind of looks like,” Newman said. “I think we’re making the right steps towards being a basketball team that can win and get back to the tournament.”

Lutz would say it’s only November and his team has a long way to go — like when he called out the Cowboys’ defensive performance against St. Thomas-Minnesota.

But like Newman, Lutz knows what it takes. He’s done it at every spot. So him leading the Cowboys’ turnaround checks out.

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First-year Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz knew little about Bryce Thompson when he got the job.

But slowly, Lutz has learned one thing about Thompson — the veteran guard is a basketball junkie.

“We went to Oklahoma City (to visit cancer patients), and Bryce happened to be in my car,” Lutz said.

“And darn near the entire time, he’s either watching NBA or he’s watching game film on his phone. That cemented in my mind that he really does like basketball and he really does try to study and learn and to have a great IQ.”

Thompson, now in his fourth season at OSU, has one more go-round in Stillwater to put his basketball junkieness on display. His shot-creating ability and high-level experience make him a go-to guy on the court and in the locker room for a new-look Cowboys team.

And so far, its worked. Thompson averaged 16.5 points and 3.5 rebounds on 56.5% shooting and 62.5% from 3 in OSU’s first two games — wins against Wisconsin-Green Bay and St. Thomas-Minnesota.

Thompson’s hot start is a bit sweeter considering his misfortune a year ago. He missed the Cowboys’ final 11 games because of a torn left labrum, which he seems to have recovered well.

“Dealing with the surgery, you really can’t do anything,” Thompson said. “... I’m just glad I’m back.”

Now, Thompson is using his three-level scoring and

stoic presence to lead a team filled with new faces. Only three players on this year’s team — Thompson, Jamyron Keller and Connor Dow — suited up for OSU last season.

And aside from Keller and Dow, Thompson has earned the trust of new team members.

He was the leading votegetter when the Cowboys elected captains, Lutz said.

“Bryce has a natural leadership about him… He’s got a great presence about him, and he’s wired the right way. I think it’s partly hereditary or God-given.”

The Cowboys were picked 14th in the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll. To meet their goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament, they’ll need a big year from everybody, but especially Thompson. He’s OSU’s longest-tenured scholarship player and has scored more than 1,000 points at the collegiate level. With no injury, a new team and a new coach, Thompson can close his Cowboys career on a strong note.

Those who cheer extra loud for him at GallagherIba Arena when the PA announcer says, “From Tulsa, Oklahoma,” will get one more year to do so. It’ll be even louder if Thompson can help rejuvenate OSU.

“When the ball was rolling, it was time to go dive on it,” Lutz said when asked about Thompson’s recovery from injury. “He didn’t hesitate at all. He wasn’t worried about his shoulder. He was making winning plays.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz is looking to

A glance at 10 key newcomers for the Cowboys this season

end — he’s struggled so far this season — but he poses a threat as an outside shooter who teams have to respect when it’s falling.

With first-year head coach Steve Lutz at the helm, there’s plenty of new Oklahoma State players.

The Cowboys added 10 key players during the offseason. Here’s a look at the primary new faces on OSU’s roster:

Marchelus “Chi Chi” Avery

As one of a few players with Big 12 Conference experience (formerly at UCF), Avery has stood out in the early portion of the season. He’s a long, athletic forward with the ability to score inside or out and plays with undeniable intensity. He averaged 7.6 points for UCF last season but has upped his average to 16.5 points for the Cowboys through two games.

Arturo Dean

After leading the NCAA in steals last season at Florida International, He has been a terror on the defensive end for OSU. An undersized guard, Dean isn’t the type to defend opposing guards in the post, but his nose for the ball is noticeable and he is a solid offensive player. Dean’s 2.5 steals per game lead OSU, and he is also leading the Cowboys in assists despite coming off the bench.

Davonte “Devo” Davis

After a memorable career at Arkansas, Davis will spend the final year of his college career in Stillwater. Davis is a menace on the defensive end, actively working around screens and often defending the best player on the opposing team. His game comes and goes on the offensive

Khalil Brantley

Like Davis, Brantley has struggled on the offensive end to start, but he has a chance to play a big role when his shot starts falling. Brantley averaged 15 points for La Salle last season and played 36 minutes per game, so he’s no stranger to playing big minutes. OSU has lots of bodies at guard, but Brantley is one of the most experienced as an offensive creator.

Brandon Newman

As the lone player who followed Lutz from Western Kentucky to OSU, Newman is still adjusting to his new surroundings. He’s shooting 33% from the field this season, and with his experience playing for multiple NCAA Tournament teams, he will have to turn it around as the season progresses. Newman is not be a huge contributor right now, but he has a track record of being a good outside shooter and a capable defender and he will need to be both of those things to play a big role.

Andrija Vukovic

The Serbian’s role this season may be the biggest question mark on OSU’s team. Vukovic played professionally in his home country for two years and will turn 20 this season despite being a true freshman. It is unknown how large his role may be this season, but his talent and professional experience could get him on the floor despite being the only freshman on the team.

Patrick Suemnick

A bouncy, active forward, Suemnick is the second of Lutz’s offseason additions who boast Big 12 experience. At West Virginia, Suemnick wasn’t a consistent contributor, but over the first handful of games for the Cowboys, he has been a solid reserve. In 14 minutes per game, Suemnick’s stats won’t leap off the page, but his energy is noticeable, and he is a solid defender.

Robert Jennings II

The Cowboys seemed to have a type when filling out the forward position this summer. Like Avery and Suemnick, the former Texas Tech forward brings Big 12 experience to Stillwater and provides good defense and a bit of punch on the offensive end. Jennings started in OSU’s first two games and has another year of eligibility after this one.

Abou Ousmane

The 6-foot-10 big man missed OSU’s second game of the season for disciplinary reasons, but he started at center in the exhibition game and the season opener. Ousmane has played lots of college basketball at Xavier and North Texas and is a traditional big who will play a key role as the high screener in Lutz’s offense.

Mikey Kelvin II

The forward has not seen the floor for the Cowboys, and it’s unlikely he will have a large role. However, Kelvin posted good numbers as an outside shooter at Queens University in Ontario, Canada. His ability to make outside shots makes him a good option on the end of the bench.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Steve Lutz knew it; his team can’t play like this. The box score wasn’t all that bad.

Oklahoma State won by nine.

But after the Cowboys defeated St. Thomas-Minnesota 80-71 in their second regular season game under the new Cowboy head coach, he called his team’s second-half defensive effort “disappointing.”

“We’re just gonna continue to do it every single day until I find six, seven, eight guys that are gonna consistently perform on the defensive end,” Lutz said. “We’re just not gonna be able to go into the Big 12 and score 80 points a game. Every single game we’ve had, we’ve been 80 or above. People are not gonna allow us to score 80 points in the Big 12. They’re not.”

It’s easy to imagine Eddie Sutton smiling.

In Lutz’s introductory press conference in April, he highlighted his defensive roots and how he knew to succeed in the Big 12, the Cowboys’ ability to hold opponents off the scoreboard would contribute to victories.

Some of it seemed like fan service for the donors and Cowboy fans sitting in the Gallagher-Iba Arena stands — not because Lutz seemed untruthful, but because of his past teams’ offensive reputation and the numbers that back it up.

In Lutz’s one season at Western Kentucky in 2023-24, he took a team that went from 174th in possessions per game (70.2) to third (77.2), according to TeamRankings.

Last season under former head coach Mike Boynton, the Cowboys were 199th in possessions per game (70.2).

Through two games, Lutz’s Cowboys are 61st (76.8). Not quite third in the country, but

still a massive jump. Lutz’s offensive numbers scream that’s his identity. His defensive numbers — WKU ranked 240th out of 362 teams for opponent points per game and OSU through two games ranks 166th — say that, too.

But in the GIA theater room after an 80-point outing, 20 OSU made free throws and a great offensive showing from Marchelus “Chi Chi” Avery, Lutz kept playing a similar tune.

The defense just wasn’t good enough. This mindset has rubbed off on players, too. Maybe it was the postgame locker room speech or the defensive drills in practice Lutz has been making his team run, but only for “moments,” Lutz said, has the Cowboys’ defense been up to par.

“We had a couple of possessions where we were getting up into them, making extra efforts, (and) diving on the floor,” forward Patrick Suemnick said. “But there’s definitely room for improvement.” Suemnick would have a good grasp of what Lutz is talking about. The West Virginia transfer played two seasons in the Big 12 before coming to Stillwater, so he knows the level of physicality the Kansases, Houstons and Baylors of the league play with, so his point is a valid one, whether drilled into his head or not.

And if Lutz, who knows what brand of basketball the past great Cowboy coaches have strived to produce, wants to be mentioned in the same breath as those leading men, defense will play a crucial part. Hence his frustration at the podium.

“The people at Oklahoma State, they understand the toughness required to play for Coach (Henry) Iba and Coach Sutton,” Lutz said at his introductory press conference. “... They know that’s the way the game should be played, and as the head coach of this basketball program, I’ve got to make sure we play the right way.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Payton Little

Oklahoma State forward Marchelus Avery is one of the few Cowboys who has Big 12 Conference experience.

Connor Fuxa

Although statistics of his former and current teams would say otherwise, Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz said he’s a defense-first coach.

CALIF PONCY

woMen’s Basketball

Cowgirls’ guard flexibility a strength early this season

Anna Gret Asi didn’t come off the bench once last season.

As one of the team’s unquestioned best players, it was easy to assume Asi would slot into the starting lineup again this season, and that held true.

For one game.

In Oklahoma State’s second game of the season, Asi came off the bench. The next game against Texas Southern, Asi returned to the starting lineup, which caused Macey Huard, who scored 31 points in the season opener, to move to the bench.

Whether it’s Asi, Huard, Stailee Heard, or anyone else listed at guard on OSU’s roster, someone is going to come off the bench for the Cowgirls, and only time will tell if that’s a good or bad thing.

The Cowgirls’ full cupboard at the guard position couldn’t be more of a departure from last season. Asi and Heard were routinely asked to play more than 35 minutes and only had one consistent aid in the backcourt in Quincy Noble.

This year, the rotation of Asi and Heard is flanked by Huard, highlytouted freshman Jadyn Wooten and transfer Micah Gray, who has been on fire to start the season, and Alexia Smith, who is regarded as a high-level defensive player.

“As a staff, we’re really trying to figure out what our rotations are,” OSU head coach Jacie Hoyt said. “Not because of the scoring, but just because we haven’t had the bodies we have now.” Early on, it appears

Asi, Heard and Gray have pulled ahead of Wooten, Smith and Huard, but it is also possible that Hoyt could prioritize rotating all five of them into the starting lineup to get all of them experience and keep them fresh for Big 12 Conference play.

So far, five of six players in the guard rotation have recorded a start, and Hoyt has not been shy about Wooten being a big part of her future plans.

Luckily for the Cowgirls, Gray, Heard and Asi have good positional size and can play with other guards without becoming a hindrance on the defensive end, while the other three are limited in their positional versatility. However, Wooten’s passing ability makes her a perfect fit next to the outside shooting ability of Gray and Asi. The inclusion of Wooten and Smith also allows Asi to play the role of an off-ball shooter.

“I prefer to play off the ball way more than being with the ball,” Asi said.

There are times when too many players at one position can become an issue for a team, but with the issues OSU faced last season, an overabundance of depth is not something it will take for granted.

With a significant stretch of nonconference play left, OSU has plenty of time to experiment with all sorts of different lineups. Whether that be big, small, offensive or defensive-oriented, OSU has the guards to fill any role it needs on the court at any given time.

“I love that about this group,” Hoyt said. “Having all these weapons and just knowing that it might not be your night tonight or the next day, but it doesn’t mean that it’s never going to happen for you and just trusting that process.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

roatation through the first three games.

Expectations for Hoyt high in Year 3 of coaching Cowgirls

BY CALIF PONCY

As Oklahoma State lost in the second round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament last season, it was impossible to stop some from looking to the future.

Only a year after making an NCAA Tournament in her first season as the Cowgirls’ head coach, Jacie Hoyt’s squad went through a miserable season.

After multiple season-ending injuries and dismissals, a below .500 record in Big 12 play and a soul-crushing two-point loss in the conference tournament, what was once a program happy to be back in the NCAA Tournament conversation became one that was unsettled after a disappointing season.

After the success she found in her first season, Hoyt still has plenty of support from those who follow Cowgirl basketball, but with a retooled roster and her first top-100 recruit coming in (Jadyn Wooten), the expectations for a bounce-back season are there.

“Having gone through the Big 12, having a really successful first season, an average second season, I know what I want to do,” Hoyt said. “I know what works for me, and I know what doesn’t work for me. I feel more confident going into this season than ever.”

Hoyt may be confident, but for the first time in her OSU career, a legitimate, pressure-filled spot-

light is on her program.

With OSU wrestling and men’s basketball ushering in new eras and bringing in new coaches, Hoyt is the lone winter sports coach who isn’t in her first season, and with that comes an expectation of a competitive team.

So far, so good.

The Cowgirls have started the season 3-0, winning each game by at least 30 points and displaying a level of depth and togetherness that wasn’t present last season. OSU has also returned to the fast-paced, outside-oriented style that helped Hoyt’s first team surprise the Big 12 and make the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Hoyt’s team was forced to play slower because of reduced numbers, which led to discontentment from players and coaches.

“I’m not talking about people giving better effort; I’m not talking about people having bad attitudes,” Hoyt said. “I just get to focus on basketball, and because of that, I think we’re further ahead in a lot of areas, definitely than what we were last year. So that’s been very refreshing.”

Although the pressure is on Hoyt, her staff and her team, the Cowgirls have thrived so far.

After retaining Anna Gret Asi and Stailee Heard, OSU added Alexia Smith, Macey Huard, Micah Gray and Wooten to the guard rotation to take some of the burden off. Huard and Gray have already become great

additions, and Wooten’s passing ability was clear in her first game as a Cowgirl against Texas Southern. Smith has yet to get an opportunity to play the role she was brought in for, but Hoyt described her as one of the best defenders she has ever coached before the season.

Ténin Magassa and Stacie Jones have been excellent down low and have played a big role in helping OSU look more like the successful, together team of Hoyt’s first year than the disappointing Cowgirls of 2023-24. It’s always smart to take early returns with a grain of salt, but the level of joy and camaraderie from this OSU team was never on display last year.

With expectations at an alltime high, Hoyt and her staff appear to have risen to the occasion in terms of roster management in the early going. There is a lot of season left, and Hoyt will miss a few games when she delivers her first child, but with what they have shown so far, it isn’t unrealistic to think the Cowgirls have a chance of returning to the NCAA Tournament and silencing all the doubters that do exist.

“With our roster last year, I was so handcuffed with doing what I want to do from a strategy standpoint,” Hoyt said. “It’s great to have that depth so that we can get back to playing fast and at that high pace that we want to.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Payton Little

Oklahoma State guard Anna Gret Asi is one of the several guards in the Cowgirls’

Cowgirls credit their ‘synergy’ to sisterhood, team chemistry

KENZIE KRAICH STAFF REPORTER

@KRAICH20

From baptisms to babies, this Oklahoma State women’s basketball team has taken the Cowgirl sisterhood to new heights entering the 2024-2025 season.

And a lot of that emerged during the offseason.

On July 11, head coach Jacie Hoyt announced her pregnancy with her husband, Daniel Heflin. The couple is expecting their first child in December, and Hoyt has loved sharing the experience with her team.

“To be able to go through this journey and really just be an example for our players that you can be a career woman, and you can be a mom,” Hoyt said.

Hoyt’s team has been present for all the significant moments throughout her pregnancy – a gender reveal at OSU’s practice Sept. 6 (it is, in fact, a Cowgirl) and a baby shower at Hoyt’s home on Nov. 3. Through these events, Hoyt has never felt closer to her team, and the feeling is mutual among the players.

The same day the team gathered to celebrate the incoming Cowgirl, Hoyt baptized four members of Cowgirl basketball. Earlier that morning, Jadyn Wooten, Praise Egharevba, Kennedy Evans and graduate assistant Cali Mercer all made public professions of their faith with Hoyt standing in the water alongside them.

“Sunday was honestly probably the most special day I think I’ve ever had as a coach,” Hoyt said. “It was a day that was bigger than any career win I’ve ever had on the floor.”

The impact of that day didn’t stop at Hoyt, though. The entire Cowgirl team came together to support their teammates.

“It was amazing,” transfer guard Macey Huard said. “I think it was one of the most special days of my life.

We were all in tears standing there… watching (Hoyt) baptizing them. It was an incredible moment.”

Aside from momentous events to count toward the Cowgirls’ sisterhood, the team gathers weekly for Bible and book studies. There, the entire roster is able to come together and understand each other mentally and spiritually, further executing core values for OSU’s program.

“That’s brought us together more than anything ever will,” Huard said.

With sisterhood comes tension, as with any familial relationship, but Hoyt invites the ebbs and flows of the process to mold her team into what she wants it to become.

“Sisterhood is not always rainbows and sunshine,” Hoyt said. “It’s just not. But what it is is just knowing that the person on each side of you is going to give it their best and be in your foxhole and hold you accountable and call you up. I think that we’ve got a really great group of kids that understand that.”

The immediate connection within the Cowgirl lineup was evident from the jump. It’s easy to see the difference from the first tip of last season to what Hoyt has put on the floor the past couple of weeks.

“I think we found the right kids,” Hoyt said. “And when you do that, you can feel that synergy, and you can see that chemistry in other ways.”

The chemistry is not only evident to OSU’s coaching staff but also to the players taking the court every day. Huard credits the team’s culture as a reason she chose to transfer to OSU and a key component of the Cowgirls’ current success.

Bringing in five transfers and three freshmen, the instant connection among the Cowgirls’ roster is impressive. Whether this is because of babies, baptisms, book studies or all of the above is unknown, but the obvious detail is the attitudes of the players on this year’s roster.

“This is honestly my favorite team I’ve ever been a part of, so it’s just been sports.ed@ocolly.com

Huard’s athletic

KENZIE KRAICH STAFF REPORTER

@KRAICH20

Partrick Mahomes, Stephen Curry and Ken Griffey Jr. are alltime greats who have one thing in common — successful parents in the league.

Another name that could be added to that list? Oklahoma State women’s basketball guard Macey Huard.

Huard’s mom (basketball) and dad (football) played at the University of Washington. Her dad, Brock, went on to play in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts.

Although the University of Montana transfer is only in the second year of her collegiate career, she has already made a lasting impression on the Cowgirls’ culture.

“(Huard) has made a huge impact, probably the biggest impact of anyone, on our culture,” head coach Jacie Hoyt said. “... I’ve never coached a kid with a stronger work ethic.”

What would bring such an impactful athlete from Colorado to OSU? For Huard and Hoyt, it

What will it take for OSU to stand out, succeed in a loaded Big 12 Conference?

KENZIE KRAICH STAFF REPORTER

@KRAICH20

Four Associated Press Top-25 teams, nine Naismith Trophy Watch List athletes and 16 teams — this is what makes up Big 12 Conference women’s basketball heading into the 2024-2025 season.

The competitiveness and hype around women’s hoops evolved during the Caitlin Clark era, and the Big 12 has not fallen short of that expectation. A once male-focused conference has now given female athletes a platform to inspire the next generation and themselves.

“I think, more than ever, (female athletes) feel valued,” OSU coach Jacie Hoyt said. “It just feels great to have other people recognize (their talent) and really jump on board with it.”

to watch how those players rise to the occasion when playing in the Big 12 gauntlet.

An emotional storyline for OSU will lie in its conference matchup on Feb. 22 when it hosts Colorado. The Cowgirls will compete against a familiar face in Lior Garzon, who started every game for OSU last season before transferring.

In the Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll, the Cowgirls took 11th, just four points behind Texas Tech. Kansas State was voted first, just two points ahead of Iowa State, making for a tough climb to the top for OSU.

AP top-25 ranked big 12 wbb teams

AP Top-25 WBB teams *as of 11/14*

No. 8 — Iowa State No. 10 — Kansas State No. 15 — West Virginia No. 17 — Baylor

With newcomers like Hailey Van Lith (TCU) playing alongside notable returners in Ayoka Lee (KSU) and Audi Crooks (ISU), the Big 12 has become a conference to watch. Nine players in a conference being selected to the Naismith Trophy Watch List is no easy feat, but this new, realigned conference has names representing seven of its 16 schools.

RV: TCU (55), Utah (32) and Arizona (6)

No Cowgirls are represented on the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Big 12 Team, and with the number of newcomers to the team, it’s no surprise. But the Cowgirls still have standouts from last season like Anna Gret Asi and Stailee Heard. High competition is inevitable in the Big 12, and starting her third year in the conference, Hoyt is well aware of what it takes to get where she wants to be.

“You don’t want to get to the Big 12 and be caught off guard or surprised,” Hoyt said. “So, we’ve got a pretty tough nonconference schedule.”

How will OSU keep up with the competitive Big 12? Hoyt has a plan.

“We want to play fast… and put up a lot of points,” Hoyt said. “We feel like teams can hang with us for a little while, but for four quarters is tough for them because of our depth and because of the way that we’re going to continue to come at you with so many pieces.”

Bringing in as many key transfers as OSU did (five), it will be interesting

It’ll take more than high-level matchups to prepare for the Big 12. Defensive intensity, focus and marginal turnovers are going to play key roles in whether the Cowgirls have success throughout conference play.

“In conference, every game is going to be so close that even if you fall off in the beginning... that’s not going to mean anything at the end of the game,” Asi said.

OSU hosts Iowa State on Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. to begin conference play. sports.ed@ocolly.com

roots, hard work set to boost Cowgirls

was simple.

God.

“It truly was just a God connection,” Hoyt said. “It was just so evident this is where she needed to be.”

When asked about her instant relationship with Hoyt and the OSU program, Huard lit up. Her passion for the game is not the only thing that drew her in.

“I’m just so incredibly thankful to be here and get to play for (Hoyt),” Huard said. “... I think her faith was such a draw for me, and then I didn’t even know my teammates would have that strong of faith too.”

Retooling a roster is no easy task, but Hoyt seems to have hit a jackpot in Huard, as greatness has surrounded her throughout her life. Her 41,721 offseason shots on OSU’s ShotTracker report were the most among programs that use the shot-tracking service — she was more than 11,000 makes ahead of everyone else — a further testament to her role on the team.

Huard put her offseason work on display with a 31-point performance on Nov. 4 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, making her an immediate fan favorite.

“She understands what it takes

to be successful at the highest level, so it’s been really, really fun having her… take our standard and raise the mark,” Hoyt said.

Coming from a line of Division I athletes, Huard understands what it takes to get to the next level, and she constantly chases that dream.

“I don’t want to look back and regret anything in my career,” Huard said. “I want to know that I put all the work in that I could.”

As if her sophomore campaign hasn’t spoken for itself enough, Huard is third on the team in points per game at 14.3. She also falls right behind guard Anna Gret Asi in 3-point percentage, shooting 38% from beyond the arc.

Huard has started in two of the last three games for the Cowgirls, making her an integral part of the team’s rotation and giving them exactly what they were looking for in the portal.

“It wasn’t just a great fit for them; it was a great fit for us and everything that we were looking for in the portal at that time,” Hoyt said. “Just really rock solid people and people who love to compete.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Jose Brito Oklahoma State guard Macey Huard made 41,721 shots during the offseason, accoring to OSU’s ShotTracker report.

Lilian Easter

Oklahoma State players have grown closer together from events and hangouts off the court.

File Photo

Oklahoma State guard Anna Gret Asi is one of the Cowgirls’ standout players heading into this season.

sports Wrestling

Taylor tasked with returning Cowboys wrestling to glory

BY DANIEL ALLEN I STAFF REPORTER

In May, Chad Weiberg addressed the media with positive news.

For the first time since 1992, Oklahoma State hired a new wrestling head coach. The words the athletic director said midway through his sentiment captured the magnitude of the hiring precisely.

“There should be no expectation of this program that can be too high or that is unattainable,” Weiberg said.

If that is so, it’s reasonable for fans to expect first-year head coach David Taylor to instill a blue-blood feel in Stillwater. That likely entails a top-three finish in Nationals in Year 1 of the Taylor era at OSU, which starts Friday at 8 p.m. CST when the No. 3 Cowboys clash with Utah Valley on the road.

This year, eyes are on Taylor, A.K.A. “Magic Man” in the college wrestling realm.

A hot commodity in the coaching carousel who Weiberg said he “had to do everything (I) could to find.”

The splashy hire whom OSU went above and beyond to attain to win now.

Not later. Now.

The Cowboy wrestling faithful have expressed their hope on social media that Taylor can return the program to the glory days of being the bluest of bloods. They hope he can bring moxie and swagger back to one of the biggest brands in college athletics. And they hope he and his coaching staff can add a 35th team national title to its wrestling trophy case.

OSU fans probably hope it happens soon, too.

The Cowboys — whose 34 current team titles are the most in college wrestling — haven’t won a national title since 2006. They haven’t won a Big 12 team title since 2021 and haven’t produced an individual national champion since AJ Ferrari that same year.

Realistically, it’ll be tough to beat Penn State and head coach Cael Sanderson this year. They’ll be going for a four-peat and should be gunning for five straight in 2026.

But Taylor and Co. have the roster and recruiting talent to have a successful inaugural campaign. One that might bring true passion and optimism back to Gallagher-Iba Arena. Multi-year All-Americans like 165-pounders Cam Amine from Michigan and Dean Hamiti from Wisconsin — who will likely wrestle at 174 for the Cowboys — and heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson bring stability to weight classes that have been absent in recent years.

Mesh that with returning starters in Troy Spratley (125), Tagen Jamison (141), Teague Travis (157), Dustin Plott (184) and Luke Surber (197) and Taylor has a championship-caliber lineup.

If Penn State didn’t exist, OSU fans wouldn’t be wrong to expect a national championship with this roster. The Nittany Lions do, however, exist and probably won’t be dissipating any time soon.

But Taylor is a Penn State wrestling alumnus. He wrestled under Sanderson and knows the logistics behind building a premier program. After all, he used the same tactics to establish himself as one of wrestling’s marquee names. If this offseason is any indication — albeit a small sample size — Taylor can recruit. That won’t be an issue during his tenure at OSU.

The lingering question fans have ahead of the Cowboys’ season opener is whether Taylor can be savvy with the Xs and Os. Whether he can be successful philosophically and strategically remains to be seen.

“We’re gonna create our own little magic down here,” he said in May.

The magic starts Friday night. And the college wrestling world sports.ed@ocolly.com

DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER @DANIELALLEN1738

A distraught Dustin Plott walked toward the south tunnel at the TMobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Not a word seeped out from Oklahoma State’s 184-pound wrestler. Moments prior, Plott had logged a dominant run to the 184-pound title bout at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March. But after a 15-4 defeat to Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, Plott exited the scene in silence, while Keckeisen raised his hand centerstage in pure elation.

“It’s something that sticks with you in the wrong way,” Plott said.

“It’s also something that can motivate you into doing great things. You can choose one or the other.”

Plott said he chose the latter.

With OSU’s 2024-25 campaign and his senior season looming, Plott has attained most feats that would compile a prestigious resume for a college wrestler — two Big 12 Conference individual titles and three top-10 finishes in the end-of-season InterMat rankings.

The only thing missing? An individual title, which Plott said he hopes to make strides toward Friday at 8 p.m. CST, when the Cowboys open their season at Utah Valley.

Plott is ranked No. 3 at 184 to start the year. But Keckeisen, who beat

Plott three times a season ago, is back and ranked second. And perhaps most notably, four-time national champion Carter Starocci of Penn State bumped up from 174 to 184 in the offseason and is atop the class rankings.

Double the trouble.

“It’ll be a good challenge for him for sure,” Cowboys’ heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson said. “I mean, 184 — that weight class is no joke.”

Plott’s offseason has been defied the orthodoxies of a traditional wrestling offseason.

In September, Cowboys’ first-year head coach David Taylor enlisted his name to compete at the Senior World Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. That came nearly four months after his introductory press conference as OSU’s successor to long-time head coach John Smith in May. There, Taylor announced his retirement from competitive wrestling. But when the last ride came calling, Taylor didn’t hesitate to accept. And he chose Plott as his training partner for the event.

“(Plott) came with me to Omaha as my partner, and (he’s) just a guy like that; he’s still approaching the sport like he’s got so much to learn,” Taylor said as he was still preparing for the World Championships. “You could take guys, a national finalist, and he could say, ‘I’m just maybe resistant to change.’

“From a training stop and from a learning

(standpoint), like if it’s a feel or example or I tell him one time, he’s doing it. And I think that’s really awesome... .He can be the backbone of this team.” Plott said he learned professionalism and different ways to approach his craft. A weekend around the nation’s best will do that.

He’s hopeful to attain his elusive crown this season and knows the challenges and competition that await him, but it’s nothing new. Plott was sidelined for a large portion of his freshman season with a shoulder injury. His sophomore and junior years, he dealt with the ebbs and flows of the season as sporadic inconsistencies hindered his performance. And a year ago, despite a 31-4 season record, he ran into Keckeisen, one of college wrestling’s best. Now, he’s hopeful Year 5 will serve as a storybook ending to his collegiate career.

“I’m one of the older guys on the team now,” Plott said. “I know it’s up to me for a lot of things to happen. Whether that be general success or getting guys going, it’s my job to help things go as smoothly as they can.”

As for that elusive crown?

“That’s the goal, right?” Plott said. “A lot has to happen, obviously. But I like where I’m at heading into this year. Now it’s just a matter of applying myself and getting the results.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Payton Little

Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor needs to create his own magic in Stillwater.

2024-25 OSU Wrestling schedule

Reece Witcraft will finally have a shot at becoming a presumptive starter.

The redshirt senior spent most of his Oklahoma State wrestling career as a backup but was the starter in the 2019-20 season after Daton Fix took a redshirt to prepare for the Olympics.

Now, the 133-pounder is back in the starting lineup for the Cowboys.

“I mean, he’s prepared; obviously, he works hard every day,” 149-pounder Carter Young said. “I see him day in and day out.

“He’s been a staple for the program, for every year that he’s been here, and he’s always been ready when he’s been called upon. I think he’s going to do a lot of great things out there. I’m excited.”

Even as mostly a backup, Witcraft has already accomplished a lot at OSU.

In the 2019-20 season, he was the only true freshman in the Cowboy starting lineup, and he went 18-10 at 133 pounds and 9-6 in duals. He finished seventh at the Big 12 Tournament, earning the No. 24 Seed at the NCAA Championships, which was later canceled because of COVID-19.

In his fourth year, during the 202223 season, he appeared at the NCAA Championships for the second time after cutting down to 125 pounds in February 2023 and finished third at the Big 12 Championships. Witcraft finished the season with a 20-12 overall record and a 5-8 mark at 125 pounds.

Last season, he went 6-3 in a critical reserve role at 133 pounds as he filled in for Fix on late notice at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, where Witcraft won his first two matches and beat No. 10 Julian Chlebove of Arizona State for the fourth top-10 win of his career.

The 133-pounder had a big decision over No. 27 Jace Koelzer in the team’s first Bedlam win of the year and faced top-ranked Ryan Crookham in the Lehigh dual. He opened the season with

a championship at the Lindenwood Open.

Fix has been around with Witcraft for years and said he sees a unique wrestling style in him, along with the patience he had before Witcraft got his chance to become a starter.

“He’s really athletic with quick speed and has the ability to score a lot of points,” Fix said. “He’s wanted to be a Cowboy. That’s hard to find in today’s college sports. You see guys just not getting the chance to ride and wait. They transfer and go find somewhere else.

“This is where he’s always wanted to be coming out of high school, and he’s excited to stick it out here. I’m really grateful for that cause it gave me someone to be great partners for those three years when he was here with me. It says a lot about him as a person.”

Witcraft’s teammates know how big an opportunity he is getting after years of waiting to get his chance again.

“I think he just kind of goes out there, and he’s kind of a gangster,” redshirt senior Teague Travis said.

“So excited to see him go out there because he does some pretty cool things.”

When Oklahoma State wrestling returns to the mat Friday, returning 174-pounder starter Brayden Thompson will not be in uniform.

The No. 3 pound-for-pound recruit in the 2023 class is redshirting the 2024-25 season, as he plans to move up to the 184-pound weight class. With good reason, Cowboys’ head coach David Taylor said.

Throughout last season, Thompson held the starting spot at 174 pounds as a true freshman after former 174-pound starter Dustin Plott bumped up to 184. At 174, Thompson posted a 12-11 record with eight ranked wins, including two victories against Oklahoma’s Tate Picklo and another against fifth-ranked Peyton Mocco of Missouri during OSU’s victory over the Tigers in Columbia.

However, the offensive inconsistency on troubled him at times, resulting in a no qualification for Thompson in Nationals this past season.

“I just think it makes sense for him (Thompson) to redshirt,” Taylor said. “We have a lot of seniors in the lineup. Guys that are obviously very good guys. Brayden — not that it changes his mentality. I just think last year — it was a tough year.

“Wrestling as a true freshman is a very challenging thing to do. And he had a great season. But this gives him time to really just develop.”

Taylor said the purpose of redshirting Thompson is to invest a full year of development. He added Thompson will likely compete at 184 next season.

“He’s doing a great job,” Taylor said. “He’s getting bigger.”

With Thompson redshirting, there’s an open spot at 174. OSU has options such as Michigan State transfer Caleb Fish or Wisconsin All-American transfer Dean Hamiti, both of whom competed at 165 last season.

Taylor invited Thompson to watch him compete in the World Championship in Albania and said the experience helped Thompson understand the pressure everyone faces when wrestling.

“Prior to going on the trip, Brayden was pretty quiet, but (after) spending the time with him, he really opened up,” Taylor said. “It was good to spend time with him, and I think he really learned a lot.

“When you get an opportunity to do something like that and you aren’t the sole focus, you learn so much. He obviously wasn’t going to wrestle in the World Championships, but he was there; he was around it. He got to see everybody. He realized everybody gets nervous; everybody warms up. He realized that everyone feels the same things that he feels before wrestling. It was really good to have him.”

Thompson’s freshman season wasn’t the smoothest statistically. But Taylor said through it all, Thompson showed improvement and continued to do so. And his teammates — former and current — echo that sentiment.

“He’s gonna be really good,” former 165-pounder Izzak Olejnik said last season. “I say that just based off everything I’ve seen. He’s gonna be so good. He’s still got a long ways to go, a lot to approve in.

“Once he gets some of the smaller things down and keeps growing, he’ll be really, really good.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

The O’colly sports picks

12

Pick Leaderboard: Point / Counterpoint

Chris Vannini 13-6-1, Week 1 Shehan

Dave Hunziker 13-7, Week 9

Steve Lutz 6-14, Week 10

13-7, Week 2 Colin Carmichael 6-14, Week 3 Brett McMurphy 4-16, Week 4

Scott Wright ???, Week 12

Gajewski 10-9-1, Week 5 Nicole Auerbach 6-13-1, Week 6 David Taylor 11-9 Week 7 Kennedy Thomason 11-8-1 Week 8

Jacie Hoyt 9-9-2, Week 11

The Big 12 will get two teams in because Colorado will win the league. A week after not valuing some of BYU’s wins, the committee is respecting the Cougars’ resume. After all, they can run the table. The Buffaloes have had a different journey. After starting the season poorly, CU is on fire and has a chance to win the conference. If it isn’t Colorado, I don’t see a path for a Big 12 team outside of BYU to make the CFP, but with how the season has unfolded, I’m putting my money on Coach Prime and the Buffaloes.

I’m totally OK backing BYU here. Even if the Cougars slip up and lose a game before the Big 12 Championship Game (which they shouldn’t), I like their chances in that setting. Why? Because BYU fans travel well and more often than not this season, both sides of the ball for the Cougars have traveled well too. I like the thought of Colorado, Kansas State or some other sleeping giant coming into the title game and knocking off BYU. Heck, I’d love to see more Big 12 representation in the CFP, but I think the Cougars will end any hope of that.

heard news about CM? never dull

Kimberly Meek,

Friday, November 15, 2024

Yeah, we just didn’t get the right one this time. We’ll try again

When I asked the question, it was not intended to diminish what you have done, or to elicit a comprehensive list of activities attended. The point I was trying to make, and apparently didn’t make it well, is that you are a key leader in our community, and one of the faces of city government.

I believe it is important for you to attend structured events such as you list. However, it is also important for you to be in less structured, more social settings, such as Business After Hours, so members of our community can engage you one-on-one and build relationships with you.

That is the only point I was making with the question. Thanks for all you do.

Kevin Clark

A CMO employee called me this afternoon to let me know Teresa is ready to start sending the planner out again. However, CM told her to stop sending it because she didn’t want us to have it. There is no reason the council members shouldn’t have an understanding of what lies ahead.

likely did not happen.

Thank you,

J.

Former city manager Meek ‘blindsided’ with

termination; city officials

RAYNEE HOWELL

ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

@RAYNEEHOWELL

When Kimberly Meek became Stillwater’s city manager, she had no idea her employment would end in 11 months.

A rescheduled quarterly performance review during a City Council meeting on Sept. 9 left Meek in a state of shock and confusion.

“I didn’t know until I walked in (to executive session),” Meek said. “I was shocked, I was blindsided; that’s been my word, blindsided.”

The performance review, according to an email sent from Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce to City Clerk Teresa Kadavy

Victoria Justice talks childhood acting, ‘Victorious,’ music career

RAYNEE HOWELL

ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

@RAYNEEHOWELL

Victoria Justice pointed to Elisa Cardona in the crowd, laughing and acknowledging her sign.

It read, “I think we all sing,” a onceviral quote Justice said during her teen years on the set of “Victorious,” a Nickelodeon show. Cardona grew up watching “Victorious” and came out

to hopefully catch a glimpse of Justice performing one of her popular songs.

“I want her to sing,” Cardona said. “She better sing for us. She better sing ‘Freak the Freak Out,’ ‘Best Friend’s Brother,’ ‘“Beggin’ On Your Knees’ and ‘Take A Hint.’ That’s all I want.”

Although Justice did not perform any of the classic songs from “Victorious,” Cardona interacted with Justice from afar, an interaction she was not expecting.

“I think I’m gonna freak out,” she said.

See JUSTICE on page 6B

say she wasn’t ‘a good fit’

and obtained by The O’Colly via openrecords request, was moved to early September after the public hearings on OG+E, a utility company, providing power to the planned data center were pushed back to Oct. 7 and Nov. 4.

During the meeting’s executive session, the council reviewed both Meek and City Attorney Kimberly Carnley. Meek said she was put on administrative leave, but Joyce said the leave was

a personal choice. Nearly a month later, the City Council voted unanimously to terminate Meek.

“City Council asked for my resignation and placed me on administrative leave,” Meek said. “Ultimately, they called a special meeting on Oct. 4 when they voted to terminate my employment. That’s why I was absent.”

‘We’re fighting for the next generation’: Activist Gaines speaks to OSU students

HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

The Wes Watkins building has been the location of many speakers at OSU, but its latest might be the most controversial.

A political activist, Riley Gaines, spoke to students Wednesday about her story and platform, “Take Back Title IX.”

Gaines entered the political spotlight in 2022 after competing as a swimmer for the University of Kentucky in the NCAA National Championships, where she tied for fifth

place with transgender woman Lia Thomas. After Thomas received the trophy, Gaines said she felt that losing out on the trophy for what she called a “photo-op” and the outcome of the race was unfair to herself and other biological women.

“We knew the unfair competition was wrong,” Gaines said. “We knew the locker room scene was wrong, we knew the silencing that we were facing from universities or institutions, we knew that it was wrong.”

Scientific studies have not reached a consensus on advantages transgender athletes might have versus their cisgender counterparts.

Hi Christie Hawkins,

I’m also going to call and update him on Kimberly’s research. Carnley said Meek was supposed to follow up with , and that

Brady Moore, Deputy City Manager

Will Joyce

Kevin Clark

Bryson Thadhani

Riley Gaines, a political activist and former DI swimmer, spoke to OSU students on Wednesday.

See MEEK on page 8B

Courtesy Kimberly Meek/Photo illustration by Katie Lehew

News

OSU plans to ask Oklahoma Legislature for $75

Some of those majors include engineering or medical-related ones.

Ask The O’Colly Staff

When is appropriate to decorate for Christmas?

“I believe Christmas decorations should go up no later than Nov. 1... midnight to be specific. I think you should even finish off decorating with a cute little Christmas movie.”

- Payton Little Photo editor

“Christmas decorations can only be out up after Thanksgiving. Black Friday signifies the start of the Christmas season. Anytime before that us wrong, and Payton has no valid reason to say otherwise.”

- Bryson Thadhani

Social media editor

OSU is gearing up for the legislative session.

During the Faculty Council meeting Tuesday, OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum said the university is looking to receive a budget increase to help cover the deficit tuition waivers create.

Between in- and out-of-state students, Shrum said OSU has waived about $90 million in tuition for 2023. To compensate, she said the university plans to ask for $75 million.

“That’s certainly not an inconsequential amount of revenue that we waive each year, but I will say that greater than 85% of those waivers have gone to critical workforce majors identified by the state of Oklahoma,” Shrum said.

Editor-in-Chief

Kennedy Thomason editorinchief@ocolly.com

Sports editor

Ashton Slaughter sports.ed@ocolly.com

Assistant sports editor Parker Gerl sports.ed@ocolly.com

Design editor

Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com

Social media editor

Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com

The decision to waive out-of-state tuition was made to keep OSU as a competitive option for those students, Shrum said. The university has also not increased its tuition in three years.

OSU receives its funding from three agencies: the OSU Medical Authority, OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

The funding request will also help OSU continue to compete with OU, Shrum said. Financing that is part of OSU’s extension efforts counts toward the university’s per capita calculations, she said. This puts OSU at a disadvantage to its in-state rival.

“I think if we’re comparing apples to apples, when we’re being compared to OU, we need to be compared based on our funding for teaching and research just like OU,” Shrum said.

News & Lifestyle editor

Hayden Alexander news.ed@ocolly.com

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

“Black Friday. Nothing before. In my book, it’s practically a sin to make Christmas cookies or hang up stockings before then. Let Thanksgiving have its moment, y’all.”

- Ashton Slaughter Sports editor

“Christmas celebrations start in November. I am not from the U.S., so I didn’t grow up celebrating Thanksgiving, so to me the “after Thanksgiving” argument doesn’t mean much. It’s never too early for Christmas.” - Luisa Clausen Staff reporter

News & Lifestyle

reporters:

Milo Cantrell

Bella Casey

Luisa Clausen

Cody Garcia

Jackson Johns

Jocelyne Perez

Megan Roy

Ava Whistler

Aliyah Young

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

Jose Brito

Maya Blanks

Delainey Cops

Mykalyn Daidone

Catherine Dzanski

Lilian Easter

Andon Freitas

Conner Fuxa

Riley Harness

Kaytlyn Hays

Ethan Hilbert

Jonathan Jackson Benjamin Perry

Isaac Terry Bryson Thadhani

TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Is.55:6 NIV)

It is worthwhile to take the time; to stop and consider your way of life and make resolutions; new steps to take to make your life more meaningful or productive. Maybe you are doing this, or maybe you have just given up on the whole idea.

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

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

would come into their purposes in the “eleventh hour;” right at the end of life’s work day.(Mt.20) You may think that it is too late to turn your life over to Christ; there is such little time left on “your calendar.” Yet, those who come in at the “eleventh hour” will receive the same wages as those who labored the whole day. We need to work in God’s purpose for our lives while we still have time. The Bible tells us the time is coming when “no man can work.” (Jn.9:4)

As you set your heart and get definite about trusting God with your life and serving him, you will find wonderful opportunities will open for you. You see God has his purposes for you planned out, and he will begin to open doors that you know nothing about. There will be such great satisfaction in serving and finishing what he has for you to accomplish. When your life does end, and it will, you will be so glad you have followed Christ. The Bible tells us that your labor for him is not in vain. (1 Co.15:58)

Payton Little

OSU plans to

OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum said.

The O’Colly Staff Newsroom

‘I

felt out of place’ Student veterans transition to civilian life

HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Tucked away in a tiny office in the Student Union basement sits a man strumming a ukulele as Anna Cook listens.

She smiles as she tries to get Vincent Rivera, the Student Veteran Success Center coordinator, back on track, handing him a paper for something she’s working on. He continues playing, and she laughs, probably regretting gifting Rivera the ukulele in the first place. It’s a goofy and sweet scene in Rivera’s office. Nobody would guess that Cook is going to be piloting UH-60 Black Hawks in a matter of months.

Cook joined the Oklahoma National Guard at 17 during her junior year of high school. She jumped from basic training to the full swing of senior year, and she said the move from basic training to high school was jarring.

“Even coming out of basic training and then coming back to high school was super weird because you’ve gone out and done the full adult thing, and now I’m not the adult in the situation,” she said.

The transitions did not get any less weird as Cook graduated high school, attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and moved into her dorm at OSU.

Cook faced a similar experience to many active and retired service members. With each move, she felt less connected to the civilian lifestyle her peers experienced around her as she worked to put herself through college.

“Jumping into college mode was really hard for me because military people are not the most mature people in the world, but I kind of surpassed that normal maturity that everybody else was at,” Cook said. “I felt out of place for a lot of my time in college.”

Christopher Alan Thayer found himself in a similar situation. After joining the army at 28 and serving the duration of his contract, Thayer, an Oklahoma native, wanted to become a farmer but landed on nursing school at OSU. As a non-traditional student, his transition to the civilian lifestyle was a culture shock.

“Even though I’m from here, you’re in four years, or at least I was, and you’re used to a certain lifestyle which is very cut and dry and structured,” Thayer said. ‘You come out and you have a lot of freedom that you’re not used to knowing what to do with.”

Thayer said the difficulty is finding people who understand his and others’ experiences, good or bad, combat or not. The Veteran Success Center is a hub for service members, and students can now find Thayer manning the welcome desk in the office.

Cook said she felt the same way after walking through the Student Veteran Success Center doors.

“I felt very out of the loop for a lot of my undergrad, but coming down here and finding a community and a group of people was super influential,” Cook said. “I got to experience being a college student for the first time.”

Cook’s time at the Student Veterans Success Center, building friendships, and finding a home away from home, allowed her to grow. She wanted to get involved and help other students.

“I developed a passion for working with students, and I was pretty far into my degree by that point, so I was like, ‘I might as well finish where I’m at,’ and I started making plans on how to get back here, working on campus,” Cook said.

Cook put her mind to it and got to work, knowing nothing could stop her from returning to OSU. As a high school student many told her she would never make it in the military, and she proved them wrong.

“My entire life, I have always been a serviceminded person, and I always felt called to serve,” Cook said. “Growing up a lot of people did not encourage me to do that. I was told, ‘You can never do that. That’s not something you would ever be able to achieve.’”

Now, Cook serves as the administrative support specialist in the Office of Student Conduct. She simultaneously balances aviation school and her job, giving everything she has to fulfill her passions.

For both Cook and Thayer, the transition from military to civilian, and for Cook, the constant back-and-forth, was not easy, but they persevered.

For students who are not in the service or did not serve, the lack of experience or understanding can make forging connections a little harder to navigate. Thayer said veterans are only sometimes quick to open up, but they need someone to listen.

“Just be a good listener and that means more listening than talking,” Thayer said. “It’s very simple.”

Cook said the easiest way to connect with student veterans is to be yourself and start a conversation.

“A lot of students are non-traditional,” Cook said. “It’s about not seeing the older student in class and avoiding them. Just making an open effort to be normal.”

As Veterans Appreciation Week comes to a close, Cook said she has noticed less of a response this year to the day honoring service members, as many are focused on other things.

“I just think it’s important to remember all those people who are giving up and making sacrifices to secure our freedoms and keep our country safe.”

After last week’s election, a lot of conversation and opinions are up in the air, but Cook said she and her fellow service members, veterans and friends will serve and protect no matter what the political landscape looks like.

“There is this argument of what those freedoms should be, and we’re always going back and forth, but we forget the people who are securing those freedoms,” she said.

news.ed@ocolly.com

CODY GARCIA STAFF REPORTER

The Education and Teaching Library in Willard Hall is hosting their own Scholastic Book Fair, in hopes of helping teachers get materials and help reignite a love for reading amongst the students on OSU’s campus.

“We’ve been planning this for a couple of months,” said Rebecca Weber, a faculty member with the Education and Teaching Library. “We thought it would a good idea to help student teachers, and it is a fun way to create some nostalgia and have a good time.”

Although the opening day was rainy, Weber said they are hoping most of their traffic will come next week.

“We will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day until next Friday,” Weber said.

Weber said the library is hoping to host the Scholastic Book Fair annually to promote reading reading to students and to help provide teaching supplies to student teachers.

Karolana Foister, a staff member, said the staff had to contact Scholastic and tell them what they were planning to do. From there, Scholastic asked what type of event they wanted to host and then sent the materials.

“Everything from books, to displays, to advertising,” Foister said. “From there, we set it

up and whatever doesn’t sell, we pack back up and send to Scholastic. We get to keep the profits for the library.”

Students who visited the book fair had two things in common: a previous love for reading and a desire to experience the nostalgia that comes from visiting the book fairs they loved as children.

“I always loved going to the book fair as a kid and remembered the nostalgia it gave me,” said Abby Watkin, a social science junior.

The Scholastic Book Fair was a major event for schools. Remembering the excitement that came from getting out of class to go browse books and spend the money parents gave students to delve into the worlds the books provided, is something many can relate to.

“The book fair was always fun because you got to pick out the fun stuff like erasers and the spy pins,” Watkin said. “I always loved getting the books as a kid and wanted to experience that again.”

Taylor Post, a management information systems junior, said she learned about the Scholastic Book Fair from an email sent out by the university.

“It wasn’t really well advertised,” Post said. “If it wasn’t for the email, I would have never known.”

Whether students enjoy classics such as Jane Austen like Watkin or fantasy books like Post, the Scholastic Book Fair offers a variety of books.

Hayden Alexander

Students, faculty and staff placed 7,158 flags in remembrance.

Lilian Easter

Liliana Delarosa working the cash register at the Scholastic Book Fair in Willard Hall basement at OSU on Wednesday.

‘Mutated virus’: TikTok ban remains

KENNEDY THOMASON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @_KENNEDYPAGE

Although some students may enjoy occasional access to TikTok, the application’s on-campus ban remains, an OSU official said.

OSU banned the social media app in January 2023, after Gov. Kevin Stitt ordered it banned on state devices, which includes OSU’s eduroam wifi. The university, along with OU and UCO, worked to implement a block at the same time, Director of Information Security Services Aaron Smith said. As the app develops, Smith said his team has to adapt to continue blocking it. Because of the constant developments, OSU’s system “may not fire on it 100% of the

Gaines

Continued from 1

“I’ve made it my mission to get on college campuses, to really mobilize and engage the youth,” Gaines said. “I’m fighting not for me, but we’re fighting for the next generation.”

The former swimmer spoke to more than 400 students for about an hour. She discussed her experience as an athlete, her time on the road, different examples across the nation and her take on men’s and women’s roles in sports.

Mason Cottrell, a college field representative for Turning Point USA, said the group invited Gaines to speak because they believe students are passionate about the issue.

“We see a lot of collegiate athletes that are getting opportunities taken away because biological men have decided to participate in sports, particularly women’s sports,” Cottrell said. “I think it’s important to know what we can do as citizens of this country to ensure that men’s and women’s spaces are separate and that women can feel safe in those spaces.”

Gaines said she wants to restore Title IX to its original wording, which she said better protected women’s rights to equal opportunities in sports.

“As it originally stood, it was a very brief piece of legislation, only 37 words, a short paragraph that ensured or prevented sex-based discrimination within any educational program,” Gaines said.

Gaines said biological women should not have to fight for their right to fair competition, and they should be allowed to advocate freely and safely for women’s rights.

“We were forced to compete against a man, unjustly and unfairly,” Gaines said. “It was wrong. We all saw that — myself, my teammates, my coaches, the other competitors — but people weren’t willing to say it out loud.”

Through her speech, Gaines implored young Americans to get involved politically and be proactive instead of reactive.

“I think Gen Z, my generation, our generation, is often a genera-

time,” Smith said.

“It’s basically like a mutated virus, it’s just a little bit different,” Smith said. “And so our medicine, our antibodies, aren’t quite picking up on it yet.”

Smith said the app is blocked on eduroam only, not the wifi that dorm residents use. Smartphones can also automatically navigate to broadband wifi access if it recognizes the app is unable to be used on eduroam.

However, students who live in dorms connect to a different wifi network, which allows them more freedom — access to TikTok, among other apps.

These factors can contribute to confusion on the ban, he said.

“When you’re at home, you want to be able to use TikTok,” Smith said. “You don’t really care the fact that you happen to live on

a place that does DOD (Department of Defense) research.”

Blocking the social media app is as simple as checking a box, Smith said.

Previously, Smith said his team has blocked items, such as peer-topeer sharing, on a university-wide level. Napster, which primarily shared audio files, was a main target at the time.

Raj Murthy, the chief information officer, said blocking the app is similar to traffic on Monroe Street.

“So you see those gates that come down between 8 and 5 or something like that, right? So those gates are still down, but if you decide to take a different route, not on one road, it may almost lead you to believe that traffic is allowed in all directions,” Murthy said.

tion that’s left out of these political discussions,” Gaines said. “We’re often the generation that’s told we’re going to ruin America, but I disagree with that wholeheartedly. I believe that we’re the generation that’s going to save America.”

Her words resonated with students attending the event. One group of female athletes agreed with Gaines, having seen others their age deal with the same issues and what they see in their own sport.

“The difference in men and women in sports and (their) marks in track, they’re just drastically different, so you can see a big change,” Sarah Steair, an OSU track athlete said.

Most of the audience consisted of students, but community members, faculty and staff also attended the event. Some in the audience had traveled to see Gaines speak.

Will Vaughn, a student at UCO, came out to support his fellow students and was one of many who posed questions to Gaines. He asked how men can better support women and help them feel safe.

“It’s not just walking around campus at night,” Vaugh said. “It’s in their classrooms or in their locker room, and men play a big part in that. If we don’t do our job, then women will not feel safe anywhere on their campuses.”

Vaughn’s question was followed by a surprising guest: a 16-yearold high school student. Emilia Merrick said she wanted to know how high school students could get involved with the movement and have their voices heard over older voices.

“I’ve found that most high school students are very involved politically, and you know you’re going to be cleaning up the mess that all of the older adults are making,” Merrick said. “So high school and college kids, I think, are responsible for the future.”

Although no one challenged Gaines’ beliefs, Taylor Thompson, a member of OSU’s Turning Point USA chapter, asked Gaines if she had talked to Lia Thomas since the competition. Gaines said she had not had the opportunity but would not say no.

“We hear a lot about what others think on our side, but I wanted to know if there were any interactions with the other side because I think that’s also important,” Thompson said.

Gaines said she is open to all forms of discussion and encourages those who disagree with her to have a conversation.

“My message to them would be to come and listen and hear out my perspective,” Gaines said. “My stance does not come from a place of hatred. It does not come from a place of animosity towards any person, any group of people.”

Gaines concluded the night to applause, but she said she does not view the issue as political and she does not feel she is saying anything profound.

“I don’t feel brave. I don’t feel courageous; I’ve said nothing overly wise,” Gaines said. “I’ve literally just said there are two sexes and that you can’t change your sex, and that each sex is deserving of equal opportunity, privacy and safety.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

‘Flee speech’ OU

KENNEDY THOMASON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @_KENNEDYPAGE

An OSU preregistration policy for on-campus club events could be unconstitutional, a law professor said.

Students for Justice in Palestine, a pro-Palestine student organization, had its permit to hold on-campus events, which included a bake sale, revoked in early October. The revocation came one day after Gov. Kevin Stitt made a post on X, formerly Twitter, condemning the group’s week of planned activities.

During a lecture Monday, OU College of Law Professor Joseph Thai said the university’s 10-day preregistration policy is not narrowly tailored, violating the time, place and manner restrictions that must be met for free speech to be inhibited.

“These regulations must be ample on targets for speech to flourish so that the speech that’s being regulated and restricted can still reach the audience,” Thai said.

The policy states that a 10-day period is necessary because policing or transportation may be required. However, Thai said the policy remains too broad.

“Does the university really need 10 days to marshal bureaucratic forces to provide the necessary policing and transportation?” Thai said.

Events like throwing a torn-down goal post into Theta Pond would potentially be a violation of Meeting & Conference Services’ preregistration policy, he said.

The specialist in constitutional law, the First Amendment and civil rights litigation said the OU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine also faced pushback from the administration on its planned events.

“This is extraordinary, because I’ve been at OU for 20 years, and we’ve never had an instance where someone on campus actively notified faculty and encouraged faculty to provide accommodations in attendance and to pivot online so that students could flee speech rather than confront speech that may be hurtful or harmful,” Thai said.

In a statement, OSU maintains its policies allow events to be sufficiently planned for.

“The campus event form to utilize on-campus facilities that fall under the Meeting & Conference Services process requires events held by registered student organizations to be submitted 10 business days in advance to allow for adequate logistics planning and coordination between facilities, landscape, security, etc,” the statement read. “The applicable policy and processes are under review for any necessary updates.”

House Bill 3543, which the Oklahoma State Legislature passed in 2022, requires any restrictions to “employ clear, published, content- and viewpoint-neutral criteria.”

“Any such restrictions shall allow for members of the campus community to spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble, speak and distribute literature,” the law states.

OSU’s policy violates spontaneity, Thai said.

Student Government Association Senator Jake Williams turned to legislation after SJP had its event approvals revoked. Williams said the policy was not enforced before Stitt’s comments.

“One of the more disruptive parts of the policy is that it’s actually a blanket policy towards everything,” Williams said.

Williams passed a recommendation through the legislative body in October to lessen the policy’s requirements. He said one of the other authors met with Meeting & Conference Services leadership before creating the recommendation.

The recommendation requests an approval period of five business days for indoor and outdoor events. It also requests a two-business-day approval period for tabling, signage and oncampus food waivers.

Williams said his goal is to get things “back to the way they used to be.”

“If you talk to the people who work in Meeting & Conference Services, if you talk to student (organization) leaders, you talk to students, most people saw we had a very successful system that worked fine, and we’re kind of forcing it to not work,” Williams said. “You know, administration is forcing it to not work for some reason.”

Courtesy Tribune News Service

Bryson Thadhani

Riley Gaines, a Title IX activist spoke to a group of more than 400 students at the Wes Watkins Center Wednesday.

The council, according to a press release, terminated Meek for “any reason other than cause;” this means she was fired without “just cause,” which can be serious misconduct, a breach of contract or any other reason the employer outlines. There were no specific incidents leading to the decision, Joyce said.

“It’s really just an issue of not being a very good fit for the City of Stillwater and for our vision of that position moving forward,” Joyce said. “We brought her in and (she) worked for several months and (I) saw some good things, but also saw some things that we just didn’t think — I just didn’t think — was the right fit for our position.”

Joyce commended Meek for her organizational skills, using her rearrangement of the positions in the city manager’s office as an example. City Councilor Christie Hawkins echoed the mayor’s opinion of Meek’s successes. She said the promotion of Christy Cluck and Christy Driskel to assistant city managers was a great decision. Regardless, Hawkins said she also felt Meek didn’t fit in.

“It just wasn’t the best fit for Stillwater,” Hawkins said. “And so we wish Kimberly all the best, but it was just a matter of looking at our particular community, and that’s not a positive or negative thing about her; it’s just a matter of we determined that it just wasn’t quite the right fit going forward.”

Not being a good fit can mean many things, but to Joyce it seemed to relate to the relationship between Meek, the council and the city.

“From a community standpoint and from a staff standpoint, just personality wise, leadership style, (I) probably saw more challenges just in terms of how she approached some of that stuff,” Joyce said.

Both Hawkins and Joyce declined to comment on examples of Meek’s approach to the city manager position or clarify the meaning behind Meek

not being a “good fit.” Councilor Tim Hardin declined an interview request.

Email and text correspondence, obtained through public records, paint a picture of the relationship between the city council, the mayor and Meek.

Meek stated in an email dated July 31 that during her evaluation at the July 15 council meeting, there was a desire expressed for her to attend more public engagements. In response, she sent a list of 33 events she attended beginning a month before her hire date.

Councilor Kevin Clark sent an email response meant to clarify a question he asked during executive session.

“When I asked the question, it was not intended to diminish what you have done, or to elicit a comprehensive list of activists attended,” Clark stated in the email. “I believe it is important for you to attend structured events such as you list. However, it is also important for you to be in less structured, more social settings.”

Meek responded, saying she understood the need for more face time with individuals and the list was just a “point of reference” for everyone to consider other events she could attend.

Regardless of their digital interactions, Clark said he liked Meek.

“We had good, positive dialogue, and we would ask her to do something, and she’d get it done,” Clark said. “And I don’t have any complaints about our relationship with the city manager at all.”

In a text message sent to Joyce from Clark on Aug. 28, Clark explained a situation in which he asked for an agenda planner to be continuously updated, and Meek said Kadavy, the city clerk, would take care of it.

“A CMO (City Manager’s Office) employee called me this afternoon to let me know Teresa (Kadavy) is ready to begin sending the planner out again,” Clark said in the text. “However, CM (city manager) told her to stop sending it because she didn’t want us to have it… I understand the agenda planner is a planning tool and does not carry the authority of gospel. However, there is no reason council members shouldn’t have an understanding of what lies ahead. ”

Joyce responded, “Thanks for the heads up. I agree.”

Despite documents showcasing potential disagreements, Meek said she enjoyed every minute of working for Stillwater. She said every day she was welcomed with open arms, which is why the termination of her employment agreement came as a surprise.

Meek, who had worked less than a year, received nine months salary, accrued vacation and the city’s portion of medical, dental and vision insurance for one year, each paid in lump sum. Yet, if the quarterly reviews were never rescheduled, Meek would have hit the year mark and been eligible for her 12-month salary paid in lump sum, according to her employment agreement.

Meek’s short tenure is unusual compared to the industry standard of city managers across the state. To be most effective at the city manager position, working at least two years is recommended, said Andrea WeckmuellerBehringer, one of the district representatives for the City Management Association of Oklahoma. She said the first year at the city management position is all about adaptation and learning all the ”little” details and rules of the city charter.

The at-least-two-year recommendation is a part of the code of ethics of the International City-County Management Association, the CMAO parent

organization. Meek is a member of ICMA and worked more than seven years at her previous city manager position in Duncan. She resigned to take the position in Stillwater.

Weckmueller-Behringer said there are multiple reasons why a tenure may be cut short.

“It is a relationship that is built entirely on trust between the city, city manager and the council or commission for whom they work,” Weckmueller-Behringer said. “And in some cases, that relationship is very good, and then the tenure is long. In other cases, it’s not that great because there may be a difference in opinion and/or potentially underlying trust issues because of various different things. It could also be just a simple personality difference.”

As for Meek’s relationship with the community, she said she felt like people really wanted to get to know her. She recalled many times when citizens would come to her with issues or requests and she would work with them to the best of her ability.

“Immediately upon arriving in Stillwater, I got invitations to speak at many civic groups, the young professionals group, people really just wanted to get to know me,” Meek said. “I just really felt like a part of the city, not the city as an organization, but the city as a community, I felt like I was a part of it.”

Post-election pulse

pleased with the election results. Positive feelings toward the election are familiar across the campus, as well as feelings of concern.

Oklahoma State continues to celebrate its diverse student body, with international students sharing their unique experiences at recent campus events, such as Halloween, Homecoming and the local elections.

Rashed Alkindi, a freshman from the United Arab Emirates, found Halloween particularly memorable.

“It was so much fun, and I really enjoyed it,” Alkindi said.

Similarly, Josphine Mwaura, a sophomore from Kenya, said Homecoming’s energy and camaraderie captivated her. Although she did not participate in every event, she joined a competition and said the school spirit impressed her.

“Overall, this Homecoming was super great and attractive,” Mwaura said.

The recent election also sparked interest among international students, who observed the event with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Alkindi expressed simple curiosity about the results, saying he was “just interested to see.”

In contrast, Mwaura admitted to feeling some anxiety and said she

hoped the best for international students.

“I was feeling anxious about the outcome but hoping it will bring a positive impact,” Mwaura said.

For many international students unfamiliar with extreme weather, the tornado warning and Nov. 4 campus closure were significant experiences.

“The weather is so different from what I’m used to,” Alkindi said.

Although students expressed enthusiasm about the new experiences, they also mentioned elements of their home cultures they miss. Menyene Abasi Obong, a Ph.D. student from Nigeria, said she misses family gatherings, while Alkindi noted a longing for familiar foods.

Despite these challenges, both students are finding ways to adapt and connect with the OSU community Obong said she has built meaningful friendships at OSU.

“I am always excited to learn about my friends’ culture and lifestyle, Obong said.

When asked about cultural events, both Mwaura and Obong agreed OSU provides ample opportunities to celebrate diversity on campus.

“I’ve met some great people, and I enjoy learning about their cultures,” Obong said.

Nov. 5 was Election Day, which resulted in Donald Trump being the 47th president of the United States.

Reactions to these results are mixed and complex, mirroring the range of emotions students are feeling.

For some student voters, this election marks their first time casting a ballot in a presidential race, which also means it is their first experience with the emotions of watching a president elected from their vote — whether as a victory or defeat.

It is clear student’s feelings matter when it comes to national politics, which directly impacts their future, but it should also be clear they matter in the present, which affects their lives and campus.

Some students’ feelings are positive, celebrating the election of Trump and the possible future it perpetuates.

Tori Spomer said she feels optimistic with the results of the election.

“I’m happy Trump won,” Spomer said. “I’m excited for the next four years and for all of the things he plans to accomplish.”

Her perspective encapsulates the sentiment of many students who are

In reflecting on her feelings about the results, Jenna Yount said she was not happy.

“I just feel a really big sense of dread and anxiety about the whole thing,” Yount said. “I’m concerned about the future of education.”

For Yount and others, feelings of anxiety and uncertainty swarm students’ minds as they question possible policies that have the potential to heavily impact their lives. Other students feel intense emotions of disappointment.

Saul Macias said they feel disappointed and nervous post-election.

“I’m a little surprised because I was sure Kamala (Harris) had that,” Macias said. “I’m only excited for the four years to be over.”

Students continue to process the election results, their diverse reactions highlight the emotional and political complexities within the campus community.

No matter where students stand, one thing is clear: their voices and perspectives are shaping the present and will continue to influence the campus and the country in the years to come.

Ethan Hilbert

Alumni and students walk around the Greek neighborhood and enjoy the homecoming decs.

Courtesy Kimberly Meek

city manager Kimberly Meek at a community engagement event for Our Daily Bread.

ALIYAH YOUNG STAFF REPORTER

HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Step aside, Pistol Pete. There is a new, fluffier, bitesized celebrity in town — Pacey the Poke.

Initially known as “Rex” by Craig’s List patrons, Pacey is OSU’s unofficial bunny mascot. The little critter first debuted on social media in September 2022 and has garnered the attention of many, including OSU President Dr. Kasey Shurm.

Now, the shining star is constantly walking the orange carpet to many events, including the Department of Wellness’ ‘Don’t Duck with Cancer’ event and Alpha Delta Pi Pizookie night. His latest adventure brought him face-to-face with the 2024 Homecoming Queen, Lexie Evers.

“I first met Pacey at the Orange Fountain dyeing that kicked off Homecoming week,” Evers said. “I love how he makes appearances for our university; (he’s) truly OSU’s favorite pet.”

Before his rise to stardom, Pacey was a bunny living in Madison Metzger’s dorm room at Bennett Hall. Metzger is from Texas and was searching for connections at OSU when she decided to adopt Pacey.

“I wanted a pet because I wanted some sort of emotional support animal,” Metzger said. “He has helped me feel like I have a family here.”

Metzger works as a facilty supervisor at the Colvin Recreation Center with Beth Penland, the coordinator of Membership and Business Services. Penland said she has noticed Pacey’s impact on Metzger’s life.

“He is definitely her happy spot,” Penland said. “She loves the impact it makes on campus when she has him with her.”

Metzger and Pacey became quick and easy friends. Metzger decided to create an Instagram account to post about Pacey’s many adventures, not knowing the attention the little one would draw.

“I didn’t think it would go anywhere,” Metzger said. “I just thought it would be fun for me just to be able to host for him, and it was more for me than for anyone else.”

Pacey’s social media presence grew overnight, and students followed the account to find out where

their favorite furry pal would appear next. After 56 posts following Pacey’s journey, the page has more than 650 followers.

Metzger and Pacey built a home at OSU, and as Pacey’s fame grew, Metzger started branching out and getting involved with the College of Education and Human Services Student Council and OSU Dance Company. The council helped boost Pacey’s reach.

“As I got more involved the more people started to notice him,” Metzger said. I think the (CEHS) Student Council got the ball rolling because that was the biggest platform that I had.”

Students quickly fell in love with Pacey and started sending messages to Pacey’s Instagram, asking when they could meet him. Metzger tries her best to bring Pacey to as many events as possible.

“There’s a lot of pointing and whispering, ‘Is that a bunny?’” and I try to be the outgoing one because sometimes people don’t want to ask,” Metzger said.

Some people find asking to pet any animal a bit nervewracking, but Evers did not hesitate when she saw Pacey. During Homecoming week, she walked right up to Metzger and Pacey to introduce herself to the pair.

“She (Evers) came up to me, and she said, ‘Is that Pacey the Poke?’” Metzger said. “I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ I’m just always so taken aback when people know exactly who he is.”

Evers is one of many who loves Pacey and the energy the bunny brings to campus. Whether the little bunny knows it or not, he is a bright spot in many students’ days.

“College can often be an overwhelming experience,” Evers said. “Pacey’s presence on campus has been on par with organizations such as Pete’s Pet Posse (an on-campus pet therapy program) that mitigates student stress. Pacey is proof that the best things often come in little

packages.”

Metzger adopted Pacey to help improve her mental health. After a rough couple of years at OSU, he became her family. Since starting the Instagram page, Metzger has witnessed Pacey help multiple students struggling with missing their pets through a tough day.

“It’s so hard in college, especially if you have pets at home,” Metzger said. “It’s nice that when I bring him to things, people are able to get that joy out of him.”

Pacey is an internet sensation, but he has an off-screen personality. When he is not staring in posts, Pacey is backflipping his way across Edmon Low, hanging out at the Colvin and eating carrots during class. His favorite activity is running around on the Library Lawn.

“He gets bunny zoomies,” Metzger said. “We have to watch out for the squirrels on Library Lawn because they get territorial of their trees, and one of them tried to come at him.”

Owning a bunny and running a social media account can be difficult, especially when balancing school and graduate school applications. Metzger has found herself stressing for herself and Pacey on more than one occasion.

“I am so incredibly busy that it’s hard to post on his Instagram,” Metzger said. “I feel bad when I’m not up to date, but when I do post, people are still really interactive with it.”

Metzger’s hard work does not go unnoticed by students. The student body at OSU loves all the snippets of Pacey content and getting to see the fluff ball wandering around campus.

“Besides just being the cutest bunny ever, Pacey drums up energy and excitement at every event he graces for people of all ages,” Evers said. “You would be hardpressed to find someone who has met Pacey, who is not a fan.”

Justice

Continued from 1

The OSU Speaker’s Board event Wednesday not only allowed OSU students to interact and meet Justice, but it also gave her the space to speak about her childhood acting career, her musical ambitions and how she has navigated life thus far.

Dr. Amber Manning-Ouellette, interim vice president of Student Affairs, mediated the Q&A, and her questions began right at the beginning.

From her first commercial at 8 years old to moving to Los Angeles, California, at 11 to pursue acting as a career.

“My parents were crazy enough to believe in me and my dreams,” Justice said. “And (I) booked ‘Gilmore Girls’ as my first TV show I did. I had a scene with Melissa McCarthy. I had under five lines, but again, I was just so ecstatic to be on set.”

Justice reiterated that each time she stepped on set “it was a dream come true.” She said she grew up watching child actors on children’s TV shows and wanted to be just like them. At 12, she landed her first regular season role on season 2 of “Zoey 101.”

For “Victorious,” arguably Justice’s most known role, it was her own story she pitched to Dan Schneider, a former Nickelodeon producer. She attended a performing arts middle school in LA, and that’s where the idea stemmed from.

Justice has since dabbled in TV shows and movies including the reboot of “Suits,” a thriller titled “Depravity” and a comedydrama titled “Afterlife of the Party,” but “Victorious” has remained the one she looks back on the most fondly.

“I’m most proud of it because of the lasting impact I think that it’s had on people,” Justice said. “To this day… not only is there a fresh, young batch of kids that are watching it on Netflix, which is wild to me, but I have

people come to me all the time saying, ‘You were my childhood’ or ‘That show got me through tough times’ or it inspired them.”

Even with her successes, Justice acknowledged the struggle of balancing singing, acting and life. She said it’s a tricky thing to navigate because it feels like two careers pulling on her from both sides, but Justice said she reminds herself she is lucky for the opportunities she has been provided.

Justice is juggling many projects at the moment, but her main focus now is writing more music. She’s released multiple singles and hopes to release an EP or album in the future. Her current producer, Toby Gad, also worked on popular songs from artists including John Legend, Beyonce and Fergie.

Manning-Ouellette said college students at OSU can also relate to the feeling of trying to find balance between work, life and school. Then she turned it over to Josh Stevens, the executive director of Speaker’s Board to ask Justice questions students turned in.

Justice answered questions about her pre-show routines, social media changing the landscape of the entertainment industry and her favorite guest stars on “Victorious,” (spoiler alert: It was Kesha).

She also revealed one thing people may not know about her; she’s good at picking things up with her toes.

As for what she wanted to leave with the Pokes, she had some words of advice.

“Try not to compare yourselves to other people because we’re all on our own individual journey in this life, and everybody’s journey looks different,” Justice said. “Ultimately, I think that our lives (are) a marathon, it’s not a sprint. And success also looks different to different people. So don’t compare yourself to someone else and where they are on their journey, because your journey is beautiful, and it is unfolding perfectly for you.”

Payton Little

Victoria Justice smiling at the Oklahoma State Speakers Board event at Seretean Center for the Preforming Arts on Wednesday.

Payton Little

Madison Metzger adopted Pacey in 2022 and the two are inseparable.

News/Lifestyle

Money Talks

Free financial help and free food

RICHARD ROBERTSON STAFF REPORTER

Most freshmen, when entering college, achieve a level of freedom uncomprehended to their high school self.

However, this freedom comes with downsides, most notably: money. Some college students may not know how to navigate budget, habits and scholarships.

Money Talks is a series created to help students overcome financial issues. There are three sessions per semester, each focusing on a different subject.

This talk covered the process of finding scholarships. The coach showed popular scholarship websites. They explained what qualities, including ethnicity, hobbies and profession, can help get students the scholarships they need. They passed out worksheets for the students, allowing them to put into practice what the coaches told them. These leaders are financial planning coaches, the same ones students can schedule an appointment with through my.okstate.edu. They answer questions and teach the class.

Ben Mitchell is one of these coaches. He coaches uppperclassmen in CEAT and Ferguson. This is his second year in Money Talks. When asked about the food, Mitchell said the food also entices students to attend.

“The food is just a nice little hook,” Mitchell said. “We want to make sure we are treating you guys right. Besides the good information, we want to make sure you guys are being nutritionally taken care of; it’s a

fellowship, have a meal and share information.”

Another incentive for Money Talks is its scholarship program. Each session, names are randomly drawn to receive a $200 scholarship. If a student attends all three sessions and does not receive a $200 scholarship, they are eligible for the grand drawing of $1,000 at the end of the semester. Although food and a scholarship drawing results in guaranteed attendance, the finanical planning coaches are determined to make each session better than the last.

This is not Money Talks’ first year. However, the program added a new feature: student feedback. At the end of each meeting, the financial planning coaches collect papers from attendees. These are student comments, ideas and complaints. Overall, Mitchell said it has been a great success.

“They are grateful for the information we are trying to share with them,” Mitchell said.

Although there is little negative feedback, Mitchell said one change was made.

“We had to cap the number for each meeting,” he said. “We can’t take so many students per meeting. We are looking into to having more events going where more students are involved. The biggest meeting, early in the semester, hosted 90 kids.”

Money Talks is not done. The series will restart in 2025, hosting more classes. Like previous sessions, these will provide free food and valuable education. It remains a class where students can get their tummies filled and their financial questions answered.

news.ed@ocolly.com

MJ NYAMDAVAA STAFF REPORTER

We all need a comfortable bathroom every now and then.

Whether you’re on campus between classes or just need a quick break, it’s nice to know where you can find the cleanest and most pleasant restrooms.

Here’s a list of the top 10 best bathrooms at Oklahoma State — because we all deserve a comfortable place to go.

There are a lot of excellent bathrooms around campus, but these places really stand out for how well they’re maintained.

A fun bonus to some of these bathrooms? Many feature hooks outside the restroom door to hang your coat, bag or anything else you need to keep clean while you wash your hands.

Spears School of Business

The bathrooms in Spears are some of the cleanest and most modern on campus. They’re spacious, well-lit and always maintained, making them a great option when you need a quick stop.

Edmon Low Library

The library is not only a great place to study, but the bathrooms here are also perfect for a peaceful

moment. They’re always stocked and cleaned, so you can take a break without worrying about anything.

Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC)

The bathrooms in ATRC are some of the newest on campus. They’re spacious with nice finishes and plenty of privacy. Definitely a solid choice when you need some quiet time.

McKnight Center for the Performing Arts

If you’re ever at the McKnight Center, the bathrooms are just as luxurious as the building. Clean and quiet, they offer a relaxing break, especially when performances aren’t happening.

Human Sciences Building

The bathrooms here are roomy, well-maintained and accessible. With modern amenities and frequent cleaning, they’re a reliable choice for a quick visit.

Engineering South

They updated bathrooms are sleek and functional. If you’re in the building, you’ll appreciate the clean, modern feel.

Colvin Recreation Center

After a workout at Colvin, you’ll find the bathrooms here to be

clean and comfortable, with showers and changing areas that are always well-maintained.

Greenwood School of Music

The bathrooms here are stylish and well-kept. With quiet surroundings and regular maintenance, they offer a peaceful break for anyone in the building.

Wes Watkins Center

The bathrooms here are spacious and usually quieter than other spots on campus. It’s always clean, and it’s a nice place for a calm break if you’re in the area.

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AVA WHISTLER STAFF REPORTER

November launches a seasonal battle — an annual debate over when the official start to Christmas celebrations should begin.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and many stand firm in the belief that the Christmas traditions and festivities like decorating, drinking hot chocolate and listening to holiday music should follow turkey day.

But others are ready to blast those familiar songs, bundle up, and put up a tree and lights come midnight Nov. 1.

Social media offers an inside look into different perspectives on the situation, with Grinch memes and TikToks either poking fun at early celebrators or ringing in the holiday cheer with the opening note to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

But what do Oklahoma State students think?

For Angelica Mojica, being a college student means leaving Stillwater early for Christmas break. This offers less time to enjoy her decorations during the holidays.

“I think people should start celebrating Christmas when they’re

ready for the Christmas spirit,” Mojica said. “But my roommates and I decorate our apartment early because each of us goes home for Christmas.”

Although for many, the limited time celebrating prompts them to begin earlier, for others like Elizabeth Pribil, it makes the holiday that much more special.

“Decorating for Christmas after Thanksgiving allows you to appreciate it more and view it as a time for reflecting,” Pribil said.

Although there are plenty of students, like Pribil, who feel otherwise, there is a common trend

among many OSU students who seem willing to start the celebration early in November to ease their end-of-semester anxieties, keep a positive mindset and carry them through to winter break. In the trenches of exams, work and everything else on the collegestudent agenda, the Christmas cheer is welcomed and wellneeded by many. But regardless of when students choose to celebrate, both Thanksgiving and Christmas are opportunities for giving, celebrating and feeling the holiday excitement.

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Bryson Thadhani OSU is flush with clean and welcoming bathroom spaces.

Hayden Alexander

It’s November, but many are already decorating for the upcoming holiday season.

Payton Little Money Talks is a program that teaches students how to be smart with budgeting, scholarships and money in general.

OSU Theatre Department to perform ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ upcoming this weekend

AUDIE MARTIN O’COLLY CONTRIBUTOR

Oklahoma State’s Department of Theatre will host the play “The Servant of Two Masters” Friday-Sunday at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts.

Open to the public at a cost of $10-15, this play follows servant Truffaldino through a comedic series of events through Venice, Italy. Matthew Smith, a visiting assistant professor of performance, will direct the Italian playwright’s work that has gained adaptations over the past 270 years.

“We have a hard script and lines that have to be said and words that help us get from point A to point B,” Smith said. “But, we also have the lazzo, which is the bit or joke that (the actors) play in, and that will be different every night. So if an audience member comes to see the show three nights over the course of the run, they’re going to see three different performance bits.”

Smith said he believes this is what has made “The Servant of Two Masters” unique. The season selection committee intentionally picked this comedy to provide a show tailored to OSU’s needs through campus relevancy and theatre department capacity. With constant improvisation from the actors, Smith said those interested in the show will enjoy its nonsen-

sical comedy.

“If you’re the kind of person who has always thought theatre is for the snooty folk, this is the theatre for you,” Smith said. “There are fart jokes, there are bits straight out of a ‘Family Guy’ episode. It’s nonsense and silliness invested in the cartoon aspects of comedy. It’s an over-the-top comedy designed to be the type of show that anybody could go to.”

Smith said he is prideful in his actors’ progress over the past two months of rehearsals. Although some came into the show with a background in improvisation, others were reluctant in joining in the fun.

“Watching them invest in building that world and invest in having fun and playing with each other when their scenes come up has been really joyful for me,” Smith said. “Watching them collectively find the joy where some might have started really hesitant to do improv, really not liking it or sort of pushing it away and finding — even if it’s not their favorite thing — the usefulness of it.”

Smith’s pursuit of theatre began when he was in college, inspiring him toward the path he teaches now. After being the “kid who would run around with a wooden sword and pretend to fight monsters and dragons,” Smith gave theatre a shot in college as a crew member. However, after a rehearsal for “The Diviners” his sophomore year of college, he was inspired to join the stage

and eventually teach courses in stage combat.

“I’m by myself in the theatre and I’m standing onstage, the lights are on me, and the audience is empty,” Smith said. “All I can think to myself is, ‘I have to at least try. I will be mad at myself for the rest of my life if I don’t at least try to do this and fail. If I try and fail, then I’ll do something else.’ Failure is a great option; it’s how we learn. But at least I will have given it a shot.”

Smith’s passion for theatre and comedy led him to directing “The Servant of Two Masters.” However, he said his biggest worry for the performance is lack of audience involvement.

“One of the hardest things about this show in particular is there is written-in audience interaction and audience participation,” Smith said. “That can go one of two ways. Either the audience fully invests and is 100% with you and is willing to play, talk and engage, or you will get dead silence. The hardest thing about this show is we’re not going to know which one until we have an audience.”

Annabelle Herard, a sophomore theatre major, said she is looking forward to the show through her role behind the scenes.

“I have heard many good

things about ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ from my friends who are in the cast and I have the chance of watching a performance since I will be helping with costumes during the actual show,” Herard said. Herard said she has attended every OSU Theatre Department show since the fall 2023 play, “Airness,” which Matthew Smith also directed. She said her spirits remain high for the upcoming performances of “The Servant of Two Masters.” “I am expecting a great and hilarious show,” Herard said. “I have seen some of the actors’ performances already and know that they will have the audiences laughing nonstop.”

Courtesy OSU Department of Theatre

The Servant of Two Masters opens Friday, at 7:30 p.m.