Attention getter Friday, October 8, 2021
Millie Bryant catches the baton and eyes of the crowd Ameilia Jauregui Staff Reporter
Standing in the middle of Boone Pickens Stadium, posed in a bedazzled costume and with a long, silver baton in hand, Millie Bryant grabs the audience’s attention with her impressive baton twirling skills. Performing alongside the marching band, she leaps, jumps, twists and turns all while managing to keep the slender stick off the ground. Bryant is a face wellknown on campus, and it is hard to imagine anyone else in her position as she takes on her fourth year as the Feature Twirler for Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Marching Band. However, what most people do not know is Bryant did not start twirling until she was 13. “I was told when I started at 13 years old that I would never be able to be a college feature twirler,” Bryant said. “It just wasn’t possible. It’s very similar to dance and gymnastics in that if you don’t start early, there’s a lot of catching up to do.” Bryant discovered twirling when she had to sit through a friend’s practice while she was in middle school. Intrigued by her friend’s activity, she picked up a baton while waiting and realized she had a natural talent. “I didn’t necessarily choose twirling, it kind of chose me,” Bryant said. “From there my mom found me a private coach and I began competing.”
Habbie Colen Oklahoma State students have started to reach out and volunteer to help resettle the families.
Making room OSU pitches in helping resettling families
Anna Pope News Editor Offers of help from students, faculty and community members to volunteer in resettling Afghan families poured in Randy Kluver’s email, so fast he could not respond to them all. Oklahoma State announced its partnership with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma to aid in relocating up to 40 Afghan families. Kluver, the dean of the school of global studies and partnerships, said there are already well over 100 volunteers made up of students, student organizations, faculty and community members offering to do anything from teaching to baby sitting. “It’s just been overwhelming to see the campus community respond the way they have,” Kluver said. “And students you know, many of whom don’t have a lot of money, say ‘I don’t have any money I can contribute, but can I contribute some time? Can I contribute some labor? What can I do to help?’ It’s just been really, really heartening.” Because of the housing vacancy brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kluver said the university, in coordination with Housing and Residential Life, has 25 apartments available for the families to use. Although housing is available, Kluver said they are still focusing on meeting the other needs like providing English as a second language training through the English Language and Intercultural Center, and transportation. He said the university is able to match up the resources OSU has in place for the community and students to also help address the needs of the families. See Making room on 3A
Abby Cage
The after party
Millie Bryant is the feature twirler for Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Marching Band.
Adam Engel Staff Reporter Kevin George hates confetti. Black, orange, white or rainbow. It does not matter. As one of the 39
full-time employees for Oklahoma State University’s landscape maintenance services departments, George’s job as a groundskeeper requires him to clean up the celebratory item. The crew is solely in charge of over 860 acres on campus. “When they graduate, they throw confetti up out here in the Formal Gardens, Library lawn and Theta Pond,” he said. “Just all over in our area
The queen’s been crowned Lydia Watkins Staff Reporter
Bravery and perseverance describes the pagent hourney of Miss Oklahoma State title holders and contestants Julianne Thomison, Miss Oklahoma State University 2020 and 2021, proves this to be true. Thomison is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended OSU to earn her masters in communications. Her love for pageants began when she was 13 years old. “I’ve been competing in pageants since I was 13, so for a decade now,” Thomison said. Thomison said she
did not grow up in the pageant world, she was not introduced to pageants until one of her friends competed in Miss Oklahoma’s Most Outstanding Teen. In 2012, Thomison was named Tulsa’s Most Outstanding Teen. “My first pageant was a disaster, but from that moment on I fell in love,” Thomison said. In 2020, Thomison was crowned Miss Oklahoma State University, as well as 2021 when the pageant was postponed due to COVID-19. Thomison said it has been a “crazy” two years, and a lot of preparations go into the pageant. “It takes a team; having an opinion on politics and being aware of what
because they take pictures for graduation.” George roams the North Plaza of the Student Union, picking up leaves, chewing gum and trash with his two trusty tools, long pick up tongs and a shovel. But for his least favorite part of the job, George uses a leaf blower to capture the confetti. See Confetti on 8A
Alex Hernandez Kevin George is the man behind the confetti.
Inside...
is going on around you and translating it to others is extremely important,” Thomison said. “It takes having a servant’s heart and being prepared to give back.” Thomison chose to give back by advocating for anti-texting and driving for nine years and lobbied for a law in Oklahoma that was passed in November 2015. Thomison said she wants to utilize college students in particular and partnered with OSU to organize a marketing PSA camp for educating college students on the negative effects of texting and driving.
See Crowned on 7A
See Attention on 4A
Stimulus................................. 7A OSU students are eligible to apply for the ARP stimulus.
OSU theatre.......................... 6A OSU Theatre’s production, “The Wolves” hits the stage.
Theta......................................4A Members of Kappa Alpha Theta called Wantha Deaton “other momma” or “mom.”
Ali Isbel Millie Bryant is crowned Miss OSU 2022.
Chef.....................................8A Hospitality school hosts annual Chef Event.