House in low places Wednesday, September 8, 2020
Garth Brooks' former house in Stillwater demolished
Ryan Novozinsky Blame it all on its roots. Country sensation and Oklahoma State alumnus Garth Brooks’ former house in Stillwater, which has become a popular roadside attraction thanks to its prominent “Garth Brooks lived here 1987-1988” sign displayed above the front door, was torn down Tuesday morning. According to the property manager, the house was torn down due to old age and structural issues. It was built in 1908 and located at 227 S Duck St. “If you were standing right here (and looked at the profile view of the house), the whole house was tilted back,” the neighbor of the house said. “It was unrepa-
rable. They were working with it for several years.” The property manager also confirmed that the sign that reads “Garth Brooks lived here 1987-1988” was saved before the wreckage occurred. “We kept the sign and we’ll probably keep it in our office,” the property manager said. “If Garth ever decides to come back, we’d hand it right to him.” Despite the necessary reasons to tear down the property, the images of the destruction saddened many nostalgic OSU alumni. “Like a knife to my little orange heart,” said OSU alumna Brandi Ball. “Nothing is sacred anymore and my heart is full of rage,” said OSU alumna Jaclyn Cosgrove. For OSU graduate Nathan Poppe, the house was where he got deeply involved in his musical passion by organizing his ever house music event. “Seeing the Garth Brooks house comes down is like watching someone smash a TV that’s playing my favor-
ite childhood cartoon,” Poppe said. “Although I only stood in that house for a single night, it represents my love of music and the DIY freedom that filled my college years. It was the first of several shows I helped organize. I’ll never forget the feeling of walking into the packed liv-
ing room and seeing friends. You don’t really realize you’re making memories when they’re happening, you know, but this place will continue to live on in my mind.” editorinchief@ocolly.com
Claire Boomer Garth Brooks' college home torn down on Duck Street on September 15, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
See you later, neck gaiter: Neck gaiters' effectiveness remain in question By Adam Morey During the age of COVID-19, there are still uncertainties about what kind of masks should be worn at Oklahoma State University.
Neck gaiters are tubes of fabric, typically made of a polyester blend, and worn around the neck. The CDC advises that the effectiveness of neck gaiters as face coverings is unknown.
Zachary Hunter Governor Kevin Stitt wore a neck gaiter on his recent trip to OSU.
Neck gaiters were brought into the spotlight when Governor Kevin Stitt wore one to visit both OSU’s and the University of Oklahoma campuses. While OSU doesn’t mention gaiters in its mask policy, OU had banned them on campus prior to the governor’s visit. “Bandanas, and scarves, gaiters, buffs, and the like are not acceptable,” said OU’s website. “Non-medical grade masks that have exhalation valves with or without filters (such as this) may not be worn on campus unless a surgical style mask is worn over it.” OSU requires that masks; fit snugly but comfortably against the face, completely covers the nose and mouth, allows for breathing without restrictions and can be laundered and machine dried without
damage or change to shape, according to the school’s Cowboy’s Coming Back plan. Neck gaiters are also available at The Official Store of Oklahoma State. The College of Arts and Sciences requires professors to wear a mask at all times, and said that social distancing alone is not sufficient to curb the spread of the coronavirus in a document sent to OSU faculty. Emma Bunch, a studio arts junior, said she believes people who wear neck gaiters as masks are uninformed. “I’ve seen a bunch of articles about how they make the droplets (in the air) worse,” Bunch said. Neck gaiters were previously used as masks to protect against sun exposure in construction since before the pandemic, said construction management senior Cooper Gam-
blin.
“I have a regular mask that I put on if I’m running errands,” Gamblin said. “But, if I’m gonna be sitting in class for a few hours, I don’t want something tugging on my ears the whole time.” Gamblin said the gaiters are popular in his major because companies will often give them out when students work for them. The design of the mask allows for ease of access to take a drink or have an uninhibited breath of air. The frequency that masks are washed matters more to Gamblin than the type of mask worn. “I have six of these (gaiters) and I wear them three times tops before I wash them,” Gamblin said. “I know people who have two regular masks and wash them maybe once a month.” news.ed@ ocolly.com