Friday, March 8, 2024
‘Open-air prison’
Students speak out on war in Gaza Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor When Menatallah Awad left Gaza in 2008, she didn’t know it would be the center of global conflict 16 years later. But it’s not a surprise. Awad, who is a Palestinian born in Gaza, has watched the conflict evolve as her extended family sits in its crosshairs. It has been five months and one day since Hamas, a Palestinian political and militant group, attacked and killed at least 1,139 Israelis, according to Al Jazeera. In retaliation, Israel declared war. Recent counts put the death toll in Gaza at more than 30,000 people killed. Despite perceptions that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians started on Oct. 7, 2023, Awad said it started 75 years ago. Thomas Carlson, an associate professor who specializes in medieval Middle Eastern society, said the start date is debated. “There’s one sector of Israeli and American society that would say, ‘Look, we need to start this story on Oct. 7 of 2023 when Hamas committed a terrorist attack and killed 1,200 Israelis or so,” Carlson said. “(There’s) a separate segment of Israeli and American society who would say we need to start at least 1,400 years ago, when Islam conquered Palestine. And then there’s anywhere in between.” Awad left Gaza with her family to escape violence. Since, Gaza has continued to be a place of unrest. Awad said families or groups of
Israel has historically killed about 10 Palestinians for every Israeli killed. Awad said Gaza is already home to displaced people, such as her grandmother, who were driven out of a town near Jerusalem into Gaza. When a family member of Awad returned to Gaza last summer, she saw people living in tents and refugee camps. “From when she got to Jordan to get into Gaza, it took her 12 hours,” Awad said. “The plane ride wasn’t even that long.” A few of Awad’s family members about 10 checkpoints to enter Gaza, each one about 20 minutes apart. Awad said it was an Israeli tactic to make them not want to return. Israeli forces control most movement in and out of Gaza. President Joe Biden has recently leaned harder on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid in. Israel is a longtime ally of the United States, which can complicate the relationship. “Most Americans don’t realize the degree to which even what we might call liberal mainstream media, this is repeating Israeli propaganda,” Carlson said. “So often, I’ll see the New York Times or The Washington Post— these are not considered conservative news outlets, but they’re just quoting an Israeli military spokesman with no fact checking, with no pushback.” Courtesy of Maha Achour Carlson said reading sources such The Muslim Student Association set up a display to honor martyrs of the conflict in Gaza. as Al Jazeera, an English-language news 10-20 people are surviving off a small going threat of bombings and invasion. network financed by Qatar, along with other balanced news organizations, can tank of water for 1-2 weeks. As the conflict has evolved, they have give different perspectives to Americans “It is a refugee open air prison; been displaced further, pushed south who want news without a western focus. that’s what it is,” Awad said. toward Egypt. People in Gaza have faced an on-
See Gaza on 5A
Until Oct. 7, 2023, Carlson said
Women’s history month
The face behind SGA
Echols leads with love, responsibility Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief
that I could have asked.” Echols always knew where she belonged. From looking up to female role models to becoming For Melisa Echols, blood one, she built a career focused does not define family. Love on education and connection, does. where she spends her days Growing up as an only guiding OSU students toward child, Echols, the coordinator their goals. While navigating of student government prolosses and heartbreaks, Echols grams at OSU, knew from an early age she was adopted. Her found freedom in her family, friendships, her work and her parents never saw a reason to students. hide it. And she never saw a Echols connection with reason to question it. “ I am thorough in know- OSU started early. When Echols was in 8th ing that I had the life I was grade at the Glenpool Middle supposed to have,” Echols said. School, she was selected as a “And the mother that gave me up did so for the reasons and I state member to play for OSU’s respect her for that choice. And centennial celebration. Years later, OSU would become her I think that for me, that is all
alma matter and place of work. Echols’s family moved to Tulsa when she finished 8th grade. They wanted her to have a better education, and Glenpole was not offering that at the time. At Metro Christian Academy, Echols noticed something that would later turn into her mission and passion: education. During her time at a private high school, Echols noticed how different education was between public and private schools. She was 14, but she knew it wasn’t fair. Everyone deserves an education with quality, she said. Echols would never forget that feeling. See SGA on 5A
Courtesy of Melisa Echols
Melisa Echols’ father died a month after her masters graduation. This is the last picture they took together. From left to right, George and Glenda Meinheit, Echols and Don Echols.
What’s Inside
Attorney General
Alumnus visits campus
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Courtesy of the City of Stillwater
Stillwater is expanding to fit its growing population, with projects such as Block 34 to attract new residents.
Growing pains
Stillwater adjusts to expanding population Addie Wagner Staff Reporter
Rachel Mosier, an associate professor in the division of engineering and technology, said Stillwater doesn’t look like Main Street in Stillwater it used to. “Stillwater has gone has looked the same for dethrough many changes since cades. the athletic village based on Old brick buildings emthe Boone Pickens donation,” brace visitors with history. Mosier said. “With the loss of The small town atmomany rental homes between sphere is one of Stillwater’s the north side of the stadium most beloved qualities for and Will Rogers Elementary students away from home. However, in recent years, there School, areas for housing have shifted to the south and east of have been significant buildcampus. New housing is also ing contributions to lure new being built in larger developresidents to Stillwater. Stillwater may be a small- ments to the north and west of er town, but its recent construc- Stillwater.” tion growth might change this. See Growing on 4A
Miss Black OSU’s
Hairstylist shares culture
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‘GUTS’
Students pay steep ticket prices
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