Friday, June 25, 2021
Screen-Shotted Athletic department rolls out changes to All-Sports Pass, aims to stop ticket fraud
Devin Lawrence Wilber
Cowgirl fans cheer during the Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma softball game.
Ryan Breeden Staff Reporter Since Oklahoma State’s All
Sports Pass – a student ticket for yearlong entry to all sporting events – switched to virtual tickets in the fall of 2019, the OSU ticket office has been faced with a pressing issue. How to stop students from selling their tickets? This spring, the ticket office introduced a solution. In an email to OSU students, it was announced that the All Sports Pass was moving to SafeTix, a ticket
service focused on preventing ticket fraud through new technology. “We just don’t want anyone taking advantage of the situation at the expense of someone else,” said Payton Phillips, director of strategic marketing and ticket sales since 2019. SafeTix is different from the previous method mostly because of the barcode. In the past, students would have a virtual ticket with a square barcode that remained the
same from download through game day. The barcode on the new passes will change constantly. At issue was the ease in which students could simply screenshot their ticket and send it to somebody else for entry into games. Sell it to somebody else. Anyone else, too, including fans of opponents. See Screen-shotted on pg.2
Greek rush is back to normal at OSU Kaleb Tadpole Staff Reporter
The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house on Saturday, March 28, 2020.
Adam Luther/O’Colly
Greek Rush is back. After COVID halted the regular style of rushing last summer, fraternities are finally back to a normal state with Greek Rush in the full swing of things already. Fraternities have already started Interfraternity recruitment this summer following Greek Discovery Day in April where juniors and seniors in high school can come and get a taste of Greek life at OSU and see what it is all about. Sororities have not yet started their Panhellenic recruitment; It begins on Aug. 10 and goes through Aug. 15. Now that school is out for the summer fraternities have started to ramp up the recruiting process and get to know their potential new members. Fraternities will
spend the summer recruiting potential new members through a variety of events. “Different chapters will have different activities like golfing, swimming, barbeques, any place where they can do an activity where they can get to know each other better,” Elizabeth Greythorne of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs said. This is a way for potential new members to get to know people who are actively in the chapter, and it is a good way to know if a specific chapter is a good fit for each specific person. With the lifting of the mask mandate at OSU things have also started to go back to normal and that even includes Greek Rush. While they are still taking caution, things are finally starting to seem how they once were. “Since the university See Greek on pg.2
Page 2 Friday, June 25, 2021
News Screen-shotted... Continued from pg.1 At a deep discount – the athletic department values the pass as worth more than $1,000 – the ticket office deemed transferring tickets as going against spirit of the agreement. “You’re not supposed to be able to do that,” athletic director Mike Holder said. With SafeTix, students won’t be able to sell or transfer tickets. The SafeTix barcodes change every few seconds, so a barcode that was valid five seconds ago won’t work anymore. Once the ticket is downloaded to your wallet, the only way for the barcode to reappear is by getting close to a scanner. No more screenshot selling or transferring. “It’s an extremely discounted ticket,” said Andy Sumrall, director of fan service and ticket operations. “If you were to buy the cheapest season ticket for all the sports that you get as an All Sports Pass holder, I believe it comes out to about $1700-$1800, and students are getting that same thing for $250.” Because the price of the All Sports Pass is significantly marked down for students, the ath-
letics office felt it wasn’t right for some students to take advantage of that by sometimes making money back, and in a few cases, even flipping the tickets for a profit. During football and basketball season, prices were as high as $300 for a single ticket. That would pay for the annual price of the pass, and that’s just one game. “We need to make sure that students aren’t taking advantage of that discount, because the student has gotten an opportunity to buy it at a steeply discounted price relative to market value, so they get a chance to profit a lot,” Phillips said. Another concern was that some students weren’t being treated fairly, wishing to purchase a pass to attend games, only to be see the passes “sell out,” while students claiming tickets had no intention of going to games, but in selling them. Those in the ticket office didn’t like that. “Now you’re stuck either not coming or buying from basically a broker at that point,” Phillips said. While trying to fix the problem, the department even sought help from students. “We have worked with a lot of them closely and received their feedback. That has been helpful,” Phillips said. Still, not all feedback was positive. Whether it be through social media or email, some criticism for the new system arose.
Some thought the old system worked well, especially when it came to making sure someone filled their seat. Everyone – students, players and coaches – want to have a full student section, and one concern is that the new system could limit that at times. “I understand why they’re doing it, I just think it makes it more difficult on students,” said Lizzi Neal, an OSU student. “I know they want students to be more honest, but I think with having limited capacity, our concern should be filling those student sections and having students there to support our sports teams.” The Grand Canyon baseball series was the first time SafeTix was used, and for Sumrall the transition was mostly smooth. The point of this switch was to stop halt fraud from happening within the student body, and the ticket office message to the backlash is simple: it’s about protecting students. “The All Sports Pass is for students, it’s not for anybody else to get in and sit in the student section,” Sumrall said. “It’s a special rate for you coming to Oklahoma State. It’s our way of saying thanks for coming to OSU and helping build the atmosphere.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
T.C. Brewster/O’Colly
Fans in Neal Patterson Stadium celebrate after the Cowgirls score.
Greek... Continued from pg.1 has lifted the mask mandate it has gotten a little easier, each chapter has a Covid action plan so that the interfraternity council can overview it and make sure everything is
good, if we think the event is not following the CDC guidelines, we will not let the event happen,” Kameron Kahoe, the Director of Recruitment for the Interfraternity Council, said. This summer recruitment will at least be kind of what it once was before, exciting, fun and even a little hectic, but that is what it is all about. “It is very hectic for the first couple weeks because each recruit-
ment council will meet with potential new members in different regions, it gets very competitive” Kahoe said. Despite it being hectic, Greek Rush is something most potential new members of Greek life at OSU are looking forward to. It is safe to say that Interfraternity recruitment can be a fun time for potential new members of Greek
life at OSU. Whether you are sitting back and having a hot dog or going golfing with a group of people who you just met, Greek Rush is a good way to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people and maybe even some new friends that could last you a lifetime. news.ed@ocolly.com
News
Kurt Steiss/O’Colly
J.W. Walsh (4) and David Glidden (13) celebrate with the student section after the game. The Cowboys defeated TCU 49-29 on Nov. 7 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Control Over Student Tickets Comforting For University, Upsetting For Student Body Marshall Levenson Staff Reporter A student walks up to the gate at O’Brate Stadium with a screenshotted e-ticket he has borrowed from a friend. Instead of the normal scan and entry, he is declined and refused access on the grounds the ticket is a screenshot, not an original. That is now the reality for Oklahoma State students attending athletic events. OSU athletics announced a change in the process of how student tickets were used for entry to athletic events on campus, moving to SafeTix, a company that utilizes an ever-changing barcode in an effort to halt the transfer of tickets, and in some cases ticket fraud. “To continue to minimize the resale of steeply discounted nontransferrable mobile student tickets
and prevent fraud, OSU athletics and Ticketmaster have launched SafeTix,” university officials said in an announcement. “This feature constantly changes mobile ticket barcodes, causing a barcode in a screenshot to quickly become void and not work at events.” The statement concluded with “an attempt to sell a screenshotted ticket will therefore be attempted fraud.” The reaction to the decision, which primarily impacts the student body, has been mostly negative, with public displeasure from many students. Prior to the change, tickets were able to be screenshotted, then redeemable from any device, regardless of who downloaded them. Now, that option has been eliminated with ticket barcodes changing every few seconds, only being activated when within a certain range of ticket scanners. “I really don’t see why they
feel so compelled to do this,” said Emmy Pitzer, a business student. “Like, if they have students showing up to games, why do they care if that student was the one who downloaded the ticket? They have their money regardless, so what was the problem?” Pitzer did not purchase a $250 All Sports Pass last year, so she had friends pass along their tickets if they were not attending a sports event. “I know people who have used other people’s tickets,” said Scotty Garcia, a finance student who purchased an All Sports Pass. “It’s mostly other students using the tickets, it’s not like they’re giving it to people who don’t go here. “Most of the time, it’s just students who didn’t claim a ticket in time. I don’t know if they know it but the people making these changes are effectively going to have less students at the game now.” When the announcement of the change was made, social media fired in response.
One OSU student went to Twitter to say “Oklahoma State’s recent email about no longer allowing students to resell tickets is an absolute joke. If you don’t want students to resell tickets, open up more seats for the student section. Students already paid $250 a year for that.” Erin Bixler, a theater student who enjoys attending as many athletic events as possible, agreed. “If a student has paid the money for those tickets, why can the school then say what students can and can’t do with them?” Bixler asked. “I don’t like the decision.” At a recent baseball game in O’Brate Stadium, 12 random students in the crowd were polled on if they supported the new student ticketing process. Of the 12, nine disliked it and three were neutral or did not have an opinion. No students in the group were happy or supported the system. news.ed@ocolly.com
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Page 4 Friday, June 25, 2021
News
The evolution of the All Sports Pass Noah Weber Staff Reporter
Rob Ferguson Sep 19, 2020; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys students during the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Andy Sumrall wiped the sleep from his eyes and rolled out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to a phone call from his boss telling him to head to Gallagher-Iba Arena immediately. Students were waiting to get the All Sports Pass for basketball and had formed a line wrapping all the way around Gallagher-Iba Arena extending onto Duck Street. This was in 2005, ahead of the Cowboys season and coming off a Final Four appearance under Eddie Sutton. “Some had been camping out at the south windows of Gallagher-Iba for days,” said Sumrall, Oklahoma State’s director of ticket operations. Students were waiting outside of the arena so long because at that time, the ticket office only sold about 2,000 tickets for the All Sports Pass. Once students lucky enough to receive a ticket reached the front of the line, they were handed a sheet of paper tickets good for admittance into every home basketball game. Times have changed. While students then used physical tickets, students today use mobile tickets on their phones that have a moving barcode that changes by the second to prevent resell. Paper tickets remained for All Sports Pass holders until 2009 when the ticket office decided to switch tickets over to student IDs. With the switch, the ticket office no longer had to have crazy mornings handing out tickets and students no longer had to keep up with
all of the physical copies of tickets. As long as students kept up with their student ID and purchased an All Sports Pass, they were set. That system remained in place until 2019 shen a pivotal change took place in the ticket process at OSU. “2019 was the first year that we incorporated the mobile pass,” said current sales representative at the ticket office Kennedy Conrad. “Students were now able to download their tickets a couple of days before the game instead of having to have their student ID with them.” The change was necessary because students were caught passing around student IDs that were not their own and the ticket office wanted a way to encourage students to keep and use their tickets. Things, however, would only get worse. “As technology increased, so did fraud,” Sumrall said. With the change from having tickets on student IDs to mobile passes, students had the opportunity to transfer their ticket to anyone, even make money while doing it. The ticket office continued with mobile tickets until last spring, when it made a change to a system called SafeTix, which makes it practically impossible for students to resell their tickets. The barcode for tickets through SafeTix changes every couple of seconds to prevent students from screenshotting and transferring their tickets. “SafeTix is going to be the way of the future,” Sumrall said. news.ed@ocolly.com
sports
Weight, footwork and new faces Kalib Boone’s thoughts on offseason
Dean Ruhl Assistant Sports Editor Chianti Robert’s record at Oklahoma State lasted 26 years. This past season, forward Kalib Boone broke it. Boone shot 64.2 percent from the field during the 2020-21 season, eclipsing Robert’s 62.5 percent he shot during the 1996-97 season. A big part of his efficient production this past season was the guidance former assistant coach Cannen Cunningham gave Boone. Cunningham has since left the team to assist his brother, Cade, with his NBA career. “He would always tell me the one thing about this sport is to use your imagination as growth to want to do more,” Boone said. “He told me to keep doing that before he left.” Boone will heed Cunningham’s advice even after his departure from the team. Continuing to be one of the most productive players on the team is one
O’Colly Creative Oklahoma State will once again be represented on the Olympic golf course, with two Cowboys competing this year.
Hovland, Noren named to Olympic
Chris Becker Assistant Sports Editor
TC Brewster/OSU Athletics Kalib Boone wants to keep progressing on his offensive progression, even after breaking the field goal percentage record this past season.
of Boone’s offseason goals, even without his mentor at OSU. “I’m still working on gaining some weight, I’ve
got to be 220 (pounds) by August,” Boone said. “I’ve got to get better on See Weight on pg.6
The Oklahoma State golf history continues to grow. Golf is back in the Olympics for the second time since being reinstated, and OSU will once again be represented. Former Cowboys Viktor Hovland and Alex Noren have earned spots in the field.
Hovland will be one of two golfers representing Norway, and Noren will be one of two to represent Sweden. Hovland and Noren will join Rickie Fowler as Cowboys to earn Olympic spots since the sports reinstatement in 2016. Hovland ranks No. 14 in the World Golf Rankings, and has two PGA Tour wins in his career. Hovland is eighth in scoring average and sixth in the FedEx Cup race. Noren ranks No. 95 in the world, and is the highest ranked Swedish golfer currently. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Page 6 Friday, June 25, 2021
sports felt he was abused in, and wasn’t shown respect in this past season. Boone will receive some help in the post this season too. Forwards Woody Newton and Tyreek Smith transferred to OSU this offseason and provide formidable depth for the Cowboys in the paint. Newton measures in at 6-foot-8, 200 pounds and transferred from Syr-
Weight... Continued from pg.5 the perimeter and become more of a threat on jump shots and stuff like that.” Boone said he wants to work on his conditioning, something he said held him back at times this past season.
BOONE’S 2020-21 STATS 9.4 points per game 5.4 rebounds per game 64.2 field goal percentage 1.6 blocks per game 0.8 assists per game He also said he wants to work on his footwork, and being quicker with his movements because of the size of players he will guard this season. “I’m going to have to guard (players who weigh) 250 or 245 pounds,” Boone said. “260 pounds at times.” Overall, Boone said he is working this offseason on improving areas he
acuse and Smith, a 6-foot7, 220 pounder transferred from Texas Tech. Boone said both have fit well with the team so far. “Woody is a funny guy, his whole demeanor is just...funny,” Boone said. “Tyreek is just freakishly athletic. That dude can jump. He is a hard worker. They’re all great people.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
2021 position preview:
Linebackers Dean Ruhl Assistant Sports Editor It wasn’t a hard decision for Malcolm Rodriguez to return. As he watched former Oklahoma State linebackers Amen Ogbongbemiga and Calvin Bundage sign contracts with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, Rodriguez remained in Stillwater for spring practice. He knew the ropes this was the fourth spring he spent with coach Mike Gundy and his staff - but this time he wasn’t a wideeyed freshman. He was expected to be the leader. “I just talked to my family and coaches and I felt like I had a few more things to work on,” Rodriguez said. “Also I was getting my degree in the fall so it was kind of a no-brainer to come back.” Rodriguez, a senior who accepted the NCAA’s offer for a free year of eligibility, will anchor the linebacker corps. He led the team in tackles with 82, the second consecutive season Joshua Cleary he has accomplished this. Malcolm Rodriguez decided to return for another season at Oklahoma State, and like Add on seven of those this past season, will lead the linebacker corps. being tackles for loss, three on my drops, reading the also be a valuable asset. The sacks, two forced fumbles (quarterbacks) and playing redshirt senior only started and a fumble recovery, with my hands more at the one game, but made Rodriguez, who started line of scrimmage,” Rodrievery game this past season guez said. cements the linebackers. See Linebackers on pg.8 Devin Harper will “I’ve been working
Daily Horoscope Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes (TNS)
A LITTLE WHILE! “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith…” (Heb.10:37-38 NKJV) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (2Co.4:17 NKJV) Our calling as true believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus will be filled with challenges of different kinds. These difficulties drag on and on at times. We wonder “when will this come to an end?” Why doesn’t something happen? Won’t this ever come to an end? Thankfully, trials do come and go. It is easy to quote a scripture about trusting God; don’t lean to your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.(Prov.3:5-6) These are true and can minister to us in times of difficulty. Also, these two scriptures mentioned above, give a perspective of relating our times of challenge with the purpose of God that has eternal value.
The writer of Hebrews said to these Jewish believers who under real persecution from their countrymen; “Just a little while! Jesus is coming!” :To these believers it seemed “forever”, the hardships were dragging on and on. But, the apostle Paul, tells the Christians, “just a light affliction, which is but for a moment” I believe he used the word “moment” because of the great, eternal reward that coming to these believers as they stand fast for Christ in a hard situation. The Just (true believers) are to live by faith (trusting) God’s ways are right for us all and his timing is perfect. From a little experience, I can say things look clearer after the trial has past. When Jesus comes, and he will come, we will all see and know things clearly. Now, we are to trust our faithful God and see how He works!
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collaborative efforts yield valuable fruit. Enjoying privacy and peace this summer inspires solutions to autumn’s social challenges. Fresh health and vitality motivate your work next winter, before your team wins a prize. Build and grow your enterprise. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Faith can seem missing, with cially with yourself. Connect with a sense of purpose. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Reminisce with teammates. Reconnect with old friends. Illusions can cloud your view. Let go of expecta-
efforts. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate. Look back over adventures, studies and travels, with Neptune retrograde. Review where taken. -
retrograde, you feel most comfortable with familiar friends and partners. Nostalgia and retrospection soothe your spirit. Romance deepens. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Revise your physical routines, with Neptune retrograde. Meditate. Balance stress or burnout with relaxation and peace. Weave magic and dreams into your work. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Treat yourself with love. Let romance develop naturally, with Neptune retrograde. Reorganize your game. Review rules. Discover new perspectives. Find your own passion. retrograde transit inspires homebound privacy and relaxation. Slow to avoid serving others. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — You can see clearly now, with Neptune retrograde. What was hidden gets revealed. Use your heightened sensitivity to support negotiations, compromise and diplomacy. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — You’re especially insightful and sensitive, with Neptune retrograde. Imagine the life you want, and plan steps to advance. Connect your work with a sense of purpose. talgic retrospection thrives, with Neptune retrograde in your sign. Follow old
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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Org. visited by zombie victims in season one of “The Walking Dead” (there was no cure) 4 Looks after 11 Place to relax 14 Virgo preceder 15 Begin 16 Not talking 17 Expending? 19 Zoo draw 20 Only singlesyllable surname in an immortal 21 Drilling structure 22 Family nickname 23 Conceal, in a way 24 Improved? 27 He beat Connors at Wimbledon in 1975 29 Note next to a D? 30 Signal for help 33 Party VIP By Grant Boroughs 6/25/21 35 Optimistic 38 Unstable? 6 Voice vote option Thursday’s Puzzle Solved 42 Word of 7 Death Row distinction Records 43 As it __ co-founder 44 Print maker 8 Imperturbable sorts “Ah! perfido” and 9 Shoe part others 10 Only Fibonacci 48 Vineyard number that measure appears twice in 50 Delight? 53 Stout-bodied 11 Make spiffy rodent 12 Larvae precede 57 Bric-a-__ them 58 Pacific __ 13 Update for the 59 Sweet potato better casserole topper 18 Writer Bombeck 60 Personal holder 22 Spectrum of tricks? 24 Camera 61 Distress? 64 Look at concern ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC 6/25/21 65 Looking closely 25 Nuisance 66 “You __ here” 40 Garden __ 54 Name associated 26 Minor 67 Mil. honor with a razor 28 Recluse 68 Court stat feature 55 “Family Matters” 30 UV-blocking 69 Scratch, e.g. 46 Signs, with “to” daughter letters 47 Hotel options 56 Oft-used key DOWN 32 Scheme to gain 49 Even once 1 Hold tight 50 Pulled back Napoleon and an end 2 Fraternity letter 51 Discovery Snowball 34 Drag along honored with the 61 School stat 36 Org. once led by perhaps inaugural Nobel 62 Relaxed Charlton Heston 4 Old Eurasian Prize in Physics 37 Tree in the genus greetings ruler Taxus 52 Japanese 63 Certain farm 5 Gate info 39 “Hamlet” courtier porcelain worker
Page 8 Friday, June 25, 2021
sports Linebackers... Continued from pg.6
Cowboys to face Florida, Pastrana in Big 12/SEC Challenge
appeared in all 11 games, ranking sixth on the team with 37 tackles. Lamont Bishop, a transfer from Iowa Central Community College, was expected to have an immediate impact after his transfer in 2020, but an undisclosed injury sidelined him for the entire season. Gundy said Bishop was one of the many players who arrived on campus last season out of shape, an added setback along with the injury, but has since gotten into shape. Gundy said Bishop ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, something he was impressed by especially at Bishop’s weight (235). “We have to find a way to get him on the field,” Gundy said. “We don’t have a lot of guys who can run that fast that weight that much that at this point I don’t think he’s scared of football, so we’ve got to get him out there.” The depth of the group will be built around redshirt sophomores Na’Drian Dizadare and Kamryn Farrar and redshirt freshmen Constantino Borrelli, Jeff Roberson and Tyler Berryhill. “Our young linebackers are functioning pretty well,” Gundy said. sports.ed@ocolly.com
STARTERS: Malcolm Rodriguez Devin Harper Lamont Bishop
Courtney Bay The Cowboys are heading to Gainesville to play the Gators in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, where they will see former assistant coach Erik Pastrana, this time as an opponent.
DEPTH: Na’Drian Dizadare Kamryn Farrar Constantino Borrelli, Jeff Roberson Tyler Berryhill Mason Cobb
X-FACTOR: Lamont Bishop
Chris Becker Assistant Sports Editor Oklahoma State will get to see a familiar face on Jan. 29. The Cowboys will travel to Florida to take on the Gators as a part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Former Cowboys assistant, and close friend of coach Mike Boynton Erik Pastrana accepted an assistant coaches position
earlier this year with Florida. “It was hard, but again, this stuff isn’t personal. I love Erik. He’s one of my best friends in the whole world,” Boynton said. Two nonconference games have now been announced for the Cowboys. The matchup with Florida joins a matchup with Xavier, Big 12/Big East Battle, on the docket for the Cowboys. “If we get matched up in the SEC Challenge, I hope we beat him by 30,” Boynton said. “I’ll give him a hug and I’ll try to help him with his next scouting if he’s playing someone else we’ve played. But that’s the competitive part of it, and you’ve got to
be able to separate that part of it.” The Cowboys are 6-2 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge including winning their last three matchups. The Cowboys 6-2 record is second to only Baylor who is 7-1. This is the fourth time the Cowboys have faced Florida all-time in basketball with the Gators holding a 3-0 mark over the Cowboys. The Big 12 holds a 4-22 record in the challenge, but the SEC won in 2021. Tipoff time and TV information will be announced at a later date. sports.ed@ocolly.com