Friday, March 24, 2023
Shaped by the orange
Brooks returns to his alma mater Luisa Clausen News & Lifestyle Editor With 814 concerts to his name and counting, Garth Brooks has done it all. From the Stillwater Strip to the biggest stadiums in the world, the country singer never forgot his roots. Brooks graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1984 and since then the singer’s career never fell short of boredom. In an exclusive interview with The O’Colly, Brooks announced he will return to Stillwater to play two concerts at The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts as fundraisers to support the creation and launch of an initiative for a new scholarship program.
Brooks did not hide the excitement about the scholarship initiative and the possibility to help students experience the care OSU has for them. The singer said he tears up when thinking about his love and admiration for his alma mater. “I use where I am from every second of my life,” Brooks said. “That’s the thing about Oklahoma State. It’s not a place you go. It’s a place you blend in. What you learn there shapes you.” During his teenage years, Brooks exhibited little interest in music, preferring to concentrate on athletics. A trackand-field scholarship brought Brooks to OSU where he met Randy Taylor, with whom he co-wrote “Much Too Young,” and guitarist Ty England, with whom he began performing at area nightclubs.
How to score tickets:
OSU students at all campuses can register for a general admission ticket with the donation of a nonperishable food or hygiene item. Stillwater donations will benefit Pete’s Pantry or the Red Pantry. Student IDs will be required for registration and one ticket is allowed per student. The first 900 students to donate and register will receive tickets in advance of the concert. Students will receive emails Friday with more info
His love for music soon grew, and after graduation, Brooks moved to Nashville, where he broke into the music business. Throughout the interview with The O’Colly, Brooks mentioned several times the importance OSU played in his life and how the things he learned playing in small bars have taught him more than he could’ve known at the time. “No matter if it’s a football stadium in Europe or a football stadium here,” Brooks said. There will always be a point in the show that something I learned at Willie’s will come back out.” See Garth on 5A
Home sweet home Chi Omega and Sigma Nu finish house construction Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter
Carson Toulouse The construction on Theta Pond started in the beginning of spring 2023 and is renovating existent architecture and adding new features.
Theta Pond undergoes construction project J.R. Churchill Staff Reporter
From Perkins Road to campus, construction seems to be taking place everywhere in Stillwater these days. The latest construction project occurs in a popular campus hangout. Construction at Theta Pond began at the start of the spring semester. The goal of the construction is to renovate existing architecture but also to add new features. Two new bridges are being built. The construction is expected to be completed between the end of summer and the beginning of the fall semester. Most of the major work will happen during the summer while students are away from campus. This not only benefits the students but also the workers, as there will be less foot traffic in the area, making it easier to get the task done quickly and safely. The renovations and additions taking place will update the historic Theta Pond, making it more functional. Formerly known as horse pond, Theta Pond is a staple of OSU’s campus. See Theta Pond on 4A
Class is back in session for Oklahoma State students after a much-needed break, and some students are returning to a new home. The men and women of Chi Omega Gamma Epsilon Chapter and Sigma Nu Epsilon Epsilon Chapter are finally living in their newly built houses after construction began on both houses in 2021. During the construction, Chi Omega and Sigma Nu members lived on and off campus. Sophomore Paige Orr lived in the dorms for a year and a half before moving Cassius Davis into the house this semester. Chi Omega is the newest sorority house on Greek Row. “I lived in Bennett Hall for and juniors had a whole apartment Sigma Nu held Greek Dismy freshman year and then in Allen complex for themselves.” covery Day events in the Wesley Hall the fall of my sophomore year Construction on the new Center. with all the Chi O’s who now live houses stalled because of economic “We rented out the Wesley in house,” Orr said. “It was a blast issues and COVID-19. Center, which was right across the living in Allen with a floor full of “The global economy and street,” Lovett said. “It actually Chi O’s.” COVID caused a lot of supply chain worked out really well because For those who lived in the issues,” Lovett said. “So, there is while we were giving our presentaoriginal Chi Omega house, such as still construction going on in the tion about the house [it] was like junior Grace Van Hoewyk, living house right now.” you could see our new house being in the dorms was a different experiNot having a house was difbuilt.” ence. ficult for Orr, but it didn’t keep the Not having a house did have “Living out of house was sisterhood from growing. some effect on the recruitment significantly different than living “It was very hard to be paprocess. in house, but there is nothing like tient, and at times it was frustrating “I think not having a house living with over 70 other girls.” Van with the setbacks,” Orr said. “The slightly diminished the feeling of Hoewyk said. “It was still a fun wait made us really value and aphome,” Van Hoewyk said. “I think experience, but I didn’t get to see preciate having a gathering place we did a fantastic job, but having the girls in my chapter as much as I to call home and to host all of our the new house already makes the wanted to.” events.” sisterhood more special, so I’m exThe men of Sigma Nu had a Many of Chi Omega and cited to be able to show that off.” similar experience but also dealt Sigman Nu’s regular events had to Having a home and a place to with housing issues due to construc- be adapted. The Greek community come together as a chapter is sigtion delays after living in Allen came together to help. nificant to any greek organization, Hall for one year. “Some of the fraternities and the men of Sigma Nu are ready “We expected the house to be allowed us to have philanthropy to come together again in a place done, so we didn’t reserve any other events on their lawns, and we rethey can call their own. dorms,” said Sigma Nu President cruited out of one of the fraternities Dare Lovett. “So, the freshmen in the fall of 2021,” Van Hoewyk lived in Wentz, and the sophomores said. See Housing on 3A