A different point of view Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Student Asia Rutledge of Singapore shares her experience at OSU By Addison Duling
everything is so big and spread apart. She also finds it odd After 9,513 that everyone drives miles and over 26 places, as people in hours of travel, Singapore use public eighteen-year-old transportation. Asia Rutledge ar“The jars of rived in Stillwater, peanut butter at the Oklahoma. In the store are seriously summer of 2019, huge,” Rutledge said. she left her home For Rutledge, country, Singathe hardest part pore, to attend about leaving SinCollege here at gapore was leaving Oklahoma State behind her friends University. because she did not Ironically know when the next enough, Rutledge time she would see was born in the them would be. Stillwater Medical Rutledge’s Center, so this is mother is legally a not her first time citizen of the United in cowboy terriStates and her father tory. Her parents, is a citizen of Singawho also grew up pore. She currently in Singapore, atholds a dual-citizentended Oklahoma ship status, but at the State years prior. age of 21 she must Rutledge has choose which counPhoto provided by Asia Rutledge try she wants to hold grown up visitRutledge experiences snow for the first time ever in Stillwater. ing family in the residence in. RutUnited States over ledge said she plans stantly feel like you up speaking Engent experiences and the fireworks, canthe summers. to declare citizenship are at home when lish at home and travel. nons, and the big She has come to in Singapore because you walk through in school. She also “One of my Singapore flag fly her parent’s alma will always be her campus,” Rutledge speaks Mandarin and favorite memories by on the helicopter. it mater many times home and the place said. some Malay, which from my last year It just reminded me while in America, she grew up. Growing up are three of the four in Singapore was so much of the love and she’s always Even national languages of National Day, which everyone has for my Rutledge’s though felt it would some- in Singapore, Rutheart will ledge had many Singapore, including is like the Fourth of country.” day be her future always remain loyal different experiences English. July of Singapore,” A few things home. to Singapore, livfrom your average Rutledge loved Rutledge said. “We that Rutledge finds “Everyone ing in America does American student. growing up in Singawent down to the very different about at OSU is so have some perks. She attended a pripore because of the bay where all the the United States welcoming and vate American prep diversity and opporfestivities were takin comparison to See Different View on friendly. You inschool, so she grew tunities for differing place. We saw Singapore is that page 3
City Council plans to renew mask mandate in special meeting By Ryan Boyce
Next, Kelli Rader, the regional director of the Payne County Health Department spoke about the CDC’s recommendation of mask mandates even with the Oklahoma Governor’s reluctance to pass a state-wide mandate. She too asked the council to renew the mask mandate. Then Denise Weber, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Stillwater Medical informed the council of conditions in the hospital. According to Weber, the hospital responded to the pandemic by increasing the number of hospital beds so that the hospital was equipped to care for 15 COVID-19 patients. Stillwater City Hall on August 20, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Stillwater City Council members gathered in person on Monday at the Stillwater Community Center. During the opening minutes of the meeting, the council heard from a series of speakers regarding the renewal of the mask mandate that the council declared in May of 2020. The renewal would carry out the mandate until May of 2021. First, Joe Weaver spoke on behalf of OSU to thank the council for working with the school and to appreciate the thankful completion of the semester without students having to leave campus. He asked the council See Mask Mandate to renew the mask mandate. on page 2
Claire Boomer