The O'Colly, Friday, April 12, 2024.

Friday, April 12, 2024

OSU professor takes classroom lessons to new level with ASL Alivia Weddle O’Colly Contributor

tions, according to the National Deaf Children’s Society. This divide often leads to higher depression rates among deaf individuals. For Evans, he grew up learning oralism.

Logan Evans’ mindset changed Oralism is a process of speech forever in an OSU classroom. training that teaches lip reading, and While sitting in a classroom unhow to mimic mouth shapes to speak. sure about his future, Evans experienced “The problem with oralism and true understanding and communication speech training is that not many deaf for the first time. Growing up deaf, he people can actually learn how to do it never experienced a class taught by a and understand the concept behind the deaf professor, nor had his family ever words,” Evans said. “Some deaf people become fluent in sign language. As he can speak well and understand the grew, he saw more options for his future language, but some don’t. It honestly open up. just depends on each individual deaf “He was teaching with so much person.” confidence,” Evans said. “And I felt my Evans said that doctors often confidence go up like, ‘I can do it. I can recommend oralism, hearing aids and do anything. I can do everything except cochlear implants over sign language. hear, right?’”

This leads to issues, however, as he said Evans was born with half cohe would often be ignored by teachers, chleas, a condition in which the cochlea or they would turn in a way he could not organ in the ears, which is essential to read their lips. hearing, never fully formed. He did not Following in his sister’s footsteps, learn sign language until his freshman he attended OSU because of the strong year of high school, relying solely on Deaf community. After graduating, his hearing aids and lip reading. This Tulsa Community College hired him, caused issues in communication with and OSU hired him two years later. people throughout his life, because he Now having taught for seven years, Evwas not able to be fully immersed in the ans has taken a step further and is now conversations happening around him. the president of the Oklahoma AssociaAbout 30% of lip reading is accu- tion of the Deaf. rately understood under the best condiSee Professor on 6A

Alivia Weddle

Logan Evans, a deaf professor, had trouble communicating with family and teachers growing up.

First-time director travels cross-country for local film festival Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

Connor Fuxa

A new four-way stop sign at Scott Avenue and Monroe Street to help increase pedestrian safety on campus.

Pedestrian Safety Task Force shows first impact Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor OSU is making progress with on-campus pedestrian safety.

On Tuesday, OSU News sent an email announcing the Pedestrian Safety Task Force’s first recommendation has been put into place. The speed limit was reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph on Monroe Street from McElroy Road to Hall of Fame Avenue; there is a new four-way stop sign at Scott Avenue and Monroe Street; and neon flags have also been placed on stop

What’s Inside

signs to draw attention from tion and Finance Joe Weaver drivers. was named as the head for the A temporary pedestrian force, which includes OSUPD, walkway has also been added Facilities Management and the to the southwest side of campus Stillwater Fire Department. near the dining facility construcAfter Tuesday morntion site. ing’s email, Weaver, along with The task force was formed Cristina Gonzalez, the chair of in late February, after two vethe Campus Facilities, Safety & hicle and pedestrian-related inci- Security Committee, spoke at dents occurred on the same day. the Faculty Council meeting that On Feb. 22, Gabrielle Claudia afternoon.

Long, 19, was hit by a car and “I’m ‘crashing the party’ killed. Later that day, another so to speak, representing you, student was hit in the parking but also representing myself as lot of the Fourth Avenue Garage a concerned faculty member and the Greenwood School of on this campus and also as a Music. mother that sees students very The next day, the task much looking more like her own force was announced. Senior children,” Gonzalez said.

Vice President for AdministraSee Force on 5A

Suicide Awareness Walk spreads hopeful message

3A

Sick Leave OSU to update policy for staff

right, well let me try to make something that covers the most difficult subject matter and the most challenging,’” Sanello said.

First-time director Her first go at the film Courtney Sanello is traveling did not go as planned. A more than a thousand miles communication breakdown to show her award-winning between her and her crew led short film “First Refusal” at to Sanello scrapping the first the Red Dirt Film Festival in draft.

Stillwater.

“I got the first cut of my The surreal film is an reel and looked at it, and I was emotional and cathartic expelike, ‘Absolutely not,’” Sanello rience for Sanello. The New said.

York-born actress and director Sanello knew that she pours her heart and soul into it needed to produce something as she traverses loss in her life. worthwhile to honor the The SAG-AFTRA memory of the foundation’s actress got her start in marketnamesake, Shawna, who died ing, graduating from Emory in a car accident in 1999.

University doMarketing and “She was an independent Organizational Management. spirit who forged her own path Following graduation, in life,” Sanello said. ”I’m carSanello got into acting. While rying the torch to honor a girl attending a film festival, she who passed away too soon.” talked with Skip Shea, the Not only is Sanello director and founder of The Shawna Shea Film Foundation. honoring Shea, but she’s also honoring her brother, who The SAG-AFTRA actress is passed in 2020 after losing his now taking the first steps to battle with mental illness and direct her own short film. drug addiction.

“I had never been to “It’s connected to my a film festival, and I had no own personal experience, and intention of really being a film I knew it wasn’t right,” Sanello director,” Sanello said. said.

After receiving the Sanello may be new to Shawna Shea Film Foundation the field, but she refuses to let grant and being given a year anything stand in the way of to produce it, with only a year her vision. to make a film and no direct“I might not know much, ing experience, Sanello set out but I’m hard-working, and if to make her way in the film they tell me I can’t do someindustry. thing, then I’ll do it,” Sanello “I was just like, ‘Alsaid.

See Director on 4A

3A

Coachella 5 things to know

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Page 2A Friday, April 12, 2024

O’Colly

page 2 People packed Library Lawn on Monday to watch the solar eclipse.

Photos by Marcus Conrad and Payton Little

Ben Holieway

What are you looking foward to during the last month of school?

Maci Hartsell “It’s a time of year where we can be more involved with university and our community, not just from our respective college or one major, but you can get involved all around.”

Elaura Hatton “No more essays. I have two 10 page essays, I’ve got a couple presentations and projects I’ve got to work on. I’m dying, so I’m looking forward to that being over.”

Asa Finn Pieratt

“Getting into my lab job that I just got.

We’re going to start actually working when school starts calming down, so I think that’ll be fun.”

Editorial board Editor-in-Chief Luisa Clausen editorinchief@ocolly.com Sports editor Braden Bush sports.ed@ocolly.com Assistant Sports editor Ashton Slaughter sports.ed@ocolly.com Design editor Ben Holieway design.ed@ocolly.com

The O’Colly Staff News & Lifestyle reporters:

News & Lifestyle editor Kennedy Thomason news.ed@ocolly.com Assistant News & Lifestyle editor Bella Casey news.ed@ocolly.com Photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com

Addie Wagner Ashton Miller Ava Whistler Grace Balducci Hayden Alexander Isaac Terry Jocelyne Perez Maddie Swain Raynee Howell

Sports reporters: Alyssa Brandon Baylor Bryant Calif Poncy Dalton Arredondo Daniel Allen Davis Cordova Gabriel Trevino Garrett Queen Gina Foster Kenzie Kraich Parker Gerl Weston Wertzberger

Newsroom

108 Paul Miller Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-6365

Photographers & Designers: Andon Freitas Ashlyn Bryant Brock Mills Bryson Thadhani Cassius Davis Connor Fuxa Davis Cordova Ethan Hilbert Gabriel Trevino Grace Galvin Jazmine Robinson Karlie Boothe Lexie Higgins Marcus Conrad Michael Jane‘t Philip Soliz

OSU Dept. of Theatre presents May We All A country musical

April 19 • 7:30 pm April 20 • 2:00 pm April 20 • 7:30 pm April 21 • 2:00 pm Vivia Nail Locke Theatre Seretean Center for the Performing Arts Presented by Paul & Toni Mass Melton Fund Written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson & Eric Pfeffinger Orchestrations & arrangements by Brian Usifer Originally directed by Shelley Butler $15 General $12 Senior (65+) $10 Student

For Tickets Scan QR code or visit: www.tix.com/ticket-sales/okstatetheatre/7287 Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

O’Colly

Friday, April 12, 2024 Page 3A

News OSU to update sick leave policy for staff Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief After 19 years without significant changes, the sick leave policy for OSU’s staff may be updated.

In August, human resources department submitted for review a modified version of the policy recommending changes such as changing the definition of illness to include mental health, adding foster children within the definition of immediate family and providing up to six weeks of sick leave for purposes of placement or adoption, removing automatic application of five days sick leave, updating the policy to include gender-neutral language, adding 960 hours to be used as one year service with Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement and for OSU retirement criteria.

On March 13, the Staff Advisory Council reviewed and voted in favor of the modified policy.

On Tuesday, the Faculty Council reviewed and voted in favor of recommending the modifications to the administration.

Christa Louthan, the assistant vice president and chief human resources officer, said the work to update this policy started before COVID-19, but the pandemic shut down the discussion.

That changed in 2023 when Louthan and her team modified the policy statements to incorporate reviews of national and regional journals from organizations such as CUPA-HR. Louthan and her team drafted a revised version of the sick leave policy for staff, 3-076.

Louthan said she knew from the beginning of the process they needed to modernize the language in the policy to clarify staff could take sick leave, not only for physical reasons but for mental health as well.

Louthan said all employees, regardless of where they work, should understand the options and benefits their workforce policies provide.

“Doing so enables them to make decisions that are best suited for them and their careers as well as what’s best suited for their family,” Louthan said.

Louthan said there is no set date for implementing this policy because it is in the initial stages of approval.

The next step is to send the changed policy to the division’s senior vice president, Joe Weaver, who has oversight of the human resources and staff workforce function. With his approval, the OSU A&M

Board of Regents Legal Counsel will review the document and indicate whether or not the action requires the Board of Regents’ approval.

The OSU leadership team will then review and approve the document. If approval from the Board of Regents is necessary, the policy does not become active until they review it and approve it.

For Kimberly Meints, OSU is setting an example of how employers should treat their employees.

Meints, the chair of the rules policy and procedures committee of the Staff Advisory Council, said the staff is an essential part of OSU, and the council is committed to aligning OSU’s policies with the goals for recruitment and retention of staff.

“Our policies should encourage equity and be written in such a way that they can be implemented evenly across campus in many contexts and as free from bias as possible,” Meints said.

The Staff Advisory Council and Human Resources Department worked on the modifications together and exchanged opinions.

Meints said adding mental health to the illness definition and foster children to the immediate family, was like sending a signal about what is important.

“We wanted to make sure regardless of how you chose to build a family you will have the opportunity to utilize your benefit, which is using your sick leave in order to take off,” Meints said.

This policy is not in place for faculty yet. Mark Weiser, the chair of the faculty retirement and fringe benefits committee, reviewed the modifications as part of the approval process from the faculty and said the updates are also beneficial to OSU when trying to hire and retain staff.

“If you look at other universities, our benefits need to be competitive with other universities,” Weiser said. “If we’re going to be competitive and attract the staff members and faculty that we want to have.”

Weiser said the updates might inspire a future change in the sick leave policy for faculty. Weiser plans to create a rough draft with Louthan and compare the faculty policy with the possible staff policy before his committee meets in May. Any policy modifications related to faculty go through the Provost’s Office, not through human resources. news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

The Staff Advisory Council and Human Resources Department worked on modifications for a new version of the sick leave policy for staff.

Bryson Thadhani

Active Minds hosted the third annual Suicide Awareness Walk around campus on Tuesday.

Active Minds organization hosts 3rd annual suicide awareness walk Ava Whistler Staff Reporter

mental health struggles,” said Brianna Hall, Active Minds president. “Even if not personally, we all know someone who has been affected by it.”

There is a high rate of Active Minds hosted the mental health issues, including third annual Suicide Awareness suicide, among college students.

Walk around campus to reduce Sixty-five percent of colthe stigma around suicide and lege students reported feeling raise awareness on Tuesday. hopeless in the last month, and “That’s the reason why 36.7% have thought about killwe put these events on, is to reduce the stigma around mental ing themselves in the last year, health,” said Jordyn Bales, vice according to the 2022 National College Health Assessment at president of Active Minds at OSU. OSU. “It’s important to talk Students, faculty and staff about suicide (and) just to, gathered outside the Student honestly, insert it into our lanUnion before the walk. They set guage,” said Garrin Morlan, the up tables holding T-shirts and multicolored bead necklaces rep- founder of Suicide Awareness resenting the different ways that Walks. “The more we’re able to talk about it in public or on suicide might affect someone. campus, the more that someone “Everyone has their own

will hopefully be aware of what they’re feeling and reach out to someone for help.”

Morlan helped found the Active Minds chapter on campus as an undergraduate student and has a strong passion for suicide prevention, mental health advocacy and building hope for recovery.

She encouraged those who showed up for the walk to take a shift in their willingness to start conversations with one another about mental wellbeing and to “chase away the darkness and light up a path toward better mental health.”

Campus mental health resources include University Counseling Services, Student Support and Conduct and University Health Services. The suicide hotline number is 988. news.ed@ocolly.com

Students showcase ‘New Echoes

Art Inspiring Art’ at OSU Museum of Art Raynee Howell Staff Reporter Paige Nguyen, a studio art and art history double major, has reached a new level of artistry with her portrait piece of her Vietnamese grandparents, Nguyễn Xuân Uyết and Cao Thị Nhiêu.

Her previous pieces exhibited in the Edmon Low Library and the Gardiner Gallery of Art in the Bartlett Center after winning the 2023 Student Art Exhibition. Although those are important experiences, nothing has compared to the feeling of her grandparents’ portrait being showcased in the OSU Museum of Art. “A lot of students have been in smaller shows, on campus and the Gardiner Gallery, but I think this is the first time, Raynee Howell well, this is my first time being in an actual museum-accredited Paige Nguyen painted a portrait of her Vietnamese grandparents, facility,” Nyugen said. “It’s a Nguyễn Xuân Uyết and Cao Thị Nhiêu, which is housed in the OSU really cool opportunity for a lot Museum of Art’s new exhibit, “New Echoes: Art Inspiring Art.” of studio artists to get their first cool to see everyone do an exact portraiture, but also because of piece in an actual museum.” copy of the piece and learn from the way this woman of that time Nyugen’s piece is one of their techniques,” Nyugen said. period was portrayed in the artthe many student works in the “But when switching to making work and how that speaks on the collection, “New Echoes: Art their own pieces, just translating ideology of what a woman was Inspiring Art.” The art comes their own style and voice into it, supposed to be,” Bischoff said. directly from three classes as“Especially what type of women sociate professor Molly Kaderka was really cool to see.”

The displays show the deserved to be painted.” teaches: advanced drawing, oil different art mediums students Bischoff is a studio art painting 1 and 2. The exhibimajor with a focus on oil painttion will be shown for free until are learning in the curriculum ing. During this experience, she April 20 with a closing reception combined with their own style and artistic choices. The original said she learned new painting on April 19 from 5-7 p.m. works are shown alongside the techniques as well as how to use To create this collection, reimagined student pieces. color in a new way. students from each class chose Nyugen, despite creating The collection allowed an art piece from the existan amazing piece of art, comstudents like Bischoff to gain ing exhibition at the museum mended her fellow classmate, new perspectives while learnto inspire their own piece. The Julia Bischoff, for her work. ing more about classic art styles. purpose of the exercise was to “For me personally, I reBischoff felt the importance of show the strong influence artists ally like portraiture, so I’m a art history was honored throughcan have on one another. out the works of her classmates.

Nyugen said many students little bit biased to Julia’s piece “I learned that there is so made artist copies before creat- with the drinking glass; it is really nice,” Nyugen said. much potential for new art from ing a reinterpretation of the art Bischoff took inspiration old art, and the cycle is really piece. To her, seeing her peers’ from an untitled painting by never-ending,” Bischoff said. “It styles translate into their own was super exciting to see the difpieces was an art form in itself. Pauline Townsend. She called ferent ways everyone responded “I was in class with a few her piece “Luminescence.”

“I decided to do this paint- to their chosen art work.” of them while we were making ing partly because I like to do these, and I think it was really news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 4A Friday, April 12, 2024

O’Colly

News it publicly with the Director . . . express chance of it being rejected

or people not understanding, Continued from 1A and I had to be completely comfortable with it failing,” Sanello said.

It didn’t take long for To Sanello’s delight, Sanello to find a crew willing audiences nationally and to help her bring her vision to internationally found comfort, the screen. clarity and purpose in her “I had the right crew film. that asked questions and were “It’s helped a lot of other interested and wanted to be people who might have had there,” Sanello said. tragedy or unfortunate events On top of being a direchappen in their life,” Sanello tor for the first time, Sanello said. “It’s great to have people plays an acting role in “First feel comfortable enough to Refusal.” She jumps from the share their experience with scene to behind the camera me,” Sanello said. regularly.

Getting to share, and Sanello’s determination help others heal through her and aversion to the word ‘no,’ experience is reward enough coupled with a crew dedicated for Sanello. to her vision, led to a final “It’s nice that they feel product she can be proud of. comfortable to share and I “First Refusal” prereally honor and treasure that miered at the Shawna Shea because it’s not every day that Foundation Women in Film people feel safe to talk about Festival in 2023. The nonit with me.” linear storytelling style, Sanello wants viewers to colorful themes and original walk away from her film with soundtrack won over the the courage to let the past go hearts of audiences everyand come to terms with differwhere. ent situations.

In the film, Sanello’s “I would love viewers to character grapples with her feel vulnerability or just feel brother’s death, which mirrors empowerment,” Sanello said.

Sanello’s genuine loss. The “The main character had that. character exists in a purgatory She was able to confront her state, with her brother desperdeepest fear and accept that ately holding onto him. and move on.”

“It’s essentially what Sanello is excited about would be the thing you needed sharing her short film with a to say if you had a chance of new audience. In her search being with that person that is for film festivals, Sanello fell no longer there,” Sanello said. in love with the name “Red In a moment of selfDirt,” and the location caught evolution, Sanello’s character her interest. learns to let go of her brother, “There was something allowing the character and, about it that was very intriguby extension, the director to ing,” Sanello said. “It just move forward. seemed like a very warm and “Being so close with inviting festival.” somebody and having that Sanello plans to concord severed so severely, tinue her directing career, it’s just traumatic,” Sanello producing more short films said. “It was a way for me to and hoping to one day direct heal; it was very obviously a feature film. For now, she’s emotional for me. I was very excited to get to know Oklaangry for a long time, and this homa and meet new people. film helped me process it.”

“I would love to have a Sanello sees the film group of friends at the end of as a way to progress and find it just to have that resource,” purpose in life after a loss.

Sanello said.

“In order for you to Sanello’s film premieres progress and become who on, April 20, between 3:30you’re meant to, you have to 5:00 p.m. The actress is ready let it go,” Sanello said. “It can to show Oklahoma what she’s be heartbreaking because you made of and work with the have to let go of the closest exceptional filmmakers in our people in your life.” state.

The subject matter is “It’s very exciting for complex, but Sanello knew me working with all these that film held the key to clartalented people that I would ity. never had an opportunity to “It was necessary to work with in that way.” do it, you know, to challenge The Red Dirt Film Festimyself,” Sanello said. “It was val is happening in Stillwater able to physically, emotionally April 18th-21st. Tickets can be and mentally move on.” purchased online at reddirtAlthough the film acts film.com. as a conduit for Sanello’s exSanello’s short film, perience, she hopes her open“First Refusal,” is avaliable on ness speaks to her audience.

YouTube.

“It’s very vulnerable to news.ed@ocolly.com

Here’s what you need to know about music’s latest Jocelyne Perez Staff Reporter It’s music mania in the music industry.

Over the past couple of weeks, it appears as though many artists are dropping music.

If you haven’t been keeping up, here’s a rundown of who’s dropping what.

Rappers Metro Boomin and Future came out with a collaboration album that contained numerous features, most notably Kendrick Lamar. Fans were shocked when Lamar started rapping on the song “Like That.”

The shock continued once fans processed that Lamar’s verse was a diss to rappers Drake and J. Cole.

Drake and J. Cole came out with the song “First Person Shooter” last year, in which J. Cole name dropped Lamar, referring to him as one of the big three in rap.

Lamar’s diss stated he believes there is no big three. It’s just him. Fans are troubled with the prospect of a rap civil war on their hands, but, admittedly, are excited for all their favorite rappers to release new music as a result of this rap feud.

J. Cole has already responded to this in his newly dropped album “Might Delete Later.” He later made an apology statement to Lamar.

Fans are now waiting on the sidelines as Drake takes his time to respond to the diss. Metro Boomin announced a deluxe version of the album that started it all, so who knows what’s to come from this continuation.

Despite the male-rapper world possibly self-destructing, rapper Megan Thee Stallion released a hot new single with GloRilla. The song is perfectly timed to defrost for “hot girl summer,” which Megan is known to advocate for.

Pop music has been on the rise as well. Pop-star BFFs

Tribune News Service

Kendrick Lamar was featured on an album released by Metro Boomin and Future, where he dissed Drake and J. Cole.

Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo pine’s album is raw and tells both released new music. honesty bare to the listener.

Gray released his third Additionally, indie artalbum last Friday. The album is ists Chappell Roan released a called “Found Haven.” The pop- new single and Malcolm Todd star brings in an 80’s and 70’s released his debut album, “Sweet nostalgia sound to coincide with Boy.” his soul-crushing lyrics. Tracks Roan’s new song, “Good like “Killing Me” and “Lonely Luck, Babe!” is perfect for those Dancer” showcase synth pop of out of luck in the dating scene. the 80’s and Conan brings in 70’s The lyrics summarized is longritzy visuals to create “Found ing for anyone who will also Haven.” want you to the same extent.

Rodrigo dropped a deluxe Todd’s “Sweet Boy” gives version of her sophomore album, a classic indie feel, with a steady “GUTS.” The deluxe version beat, soft vocals and a good is called “GUTS: spilled” and guitar riff every now and then. features five new songs. Fans The indie singer exposes himself were ecstatic to finally have their in his songwriting of his great hands on these songs after Rodespair in love. Track one off drigo included them on her tour the album, “Earrings,” sets off setlist despite not releasing them the tone right away with having on streaming platforms. someone’s love in his head.

Indie music also has hands There is more to come full with artists dropping left and in the music scene, with Taylor right. Lizzy McAlpine released Swift’s “The Tortured Poets her new album “Older” on April Department” dropping in less 5. The singer’s third album hones than two weeks, Billie Eilish anin on her journey over the last nounced a new album, “Hit Me three years, which is how long Hard and Soft,” and the rumors she claims the album took to are growing louder of Harry make. With her breathy vocals Styles being in the works for his and minimal production, McAl- fourth album. news.ed@ocolly.com

5 things you didn’t know about Coachella Jocelyne Perez Staff Reporter

It all started with Pearl Jam Coachella Music Festival?

The concert promoters No, Coachella movie set behind Coachella, Goldenvoice, When Lady Gaga headgot the idea to host the festival at lined the festival in 2017, she Indigo Valley after putting on a was also in the works of starring It’s almost time for one of concert for Pearl Jam in the same in the Oscar winning movie, “A venue.

Star is Born.” Parts of the film the most talked about nights in Showcasing Madonna, were shot on the festival grounds music.

Prince and, somehow, Tupac? during the week of her headlinThe Coachella Valley The Coachella setlist is ing performance.

Music and Arts Festival is this widely anticipated each year, and Headliner kicked out weekend. with the crazy talent the proTyler the Creator has been But before Coachella moters have brought in, it’s not to the festival not only as a perbecame known as one of the surprising. Stars who have performer, but also as an attendee. biggest festivals in the world, it started off as a rip-off of Wood- formed who you probably didn’t Funny enough, the 2024 Coachknow about include Madonna, ella headliner was kicked out of stock, in critics’ eyes. As time Prince, Amy Winehouse, and, in the festival in 2011 after cussing went on, the festival proved to be out a security guard and spraya phenomenon that youth see as holographic form, Tupac.

Rookie mistakes ing him with a water gun. on of the best music festivals of In the first year of putThe world waits in antoday. ting on Coachella in 1999, the ticipation to see what this Despite being a globally festival’s team forgot to buy trash year’s lineup brings to the table. talked-about event, many don’t bags for the festival grounds.

Coachella history is hopefully know the festival’s history.

The rookie mistake was realized to be made with performing Here are five facts about the next day when Indigo Valley acts consisting of Lana Del Rey, the Coachella Music Festival: was littered with trash.

Deftones and Ice Spice. news.ed@ocolly.com

A TRIUMPHED END! “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering , and the time of my departure Is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing.”. (2 Tim.4:6-8 NKJ) Here is a man who has lived a life in serving the Lord Jesus and others. He is in a prison cell, expecting his execution at any time. According to history, Paul was beheaded at Rome.

In his last words to a young man and minister, Timothy; Paul was looking ahead to greater and lasting judgement that would come from Christ himself. A

well done to a good and faithful servant.

We all can take encouragement from his life of service to the Lord and his vision of something much better that awaited him.

As Jesus neared the end of his life. He prayed:to God “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me...with the glory which I had with you before the world was.”

(Jn.17:4-5 NKJ) Brother and Sister in Christ: Let us set our goal for a triumphed ending by finishing the work God has called us to do. If it be large or small to our eyes; no matter!

Let’s be faithful to that calling and receive a greatly blessed entery into the eternal presence of God. Remember, this life is not the end. It is only a short beginning that will last for eternity.

O’Colly

Friday, April 12, 2024 Page 5A

News

Payne County Drug Court grapples with fentanyl trafficking, increased drug violations Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor Payne County is plagued with a sickness: drug violations.

From 2021 to 2022, drug and narcotic violations in Payne County nearly doubled, jumping from 25 to 48 violations, according to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data. In 2023, that number grew to 58 violations.

Drug equipment violations worsened during this time. From 2021 to 2022, the number doubled, going from 14 to 28 violations, according to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data. In 2022, the number rose to 38 violations.

The Payne County Drug Court attempts to combat these issues through a program that helps those with substance abuse issues reform.

But there is one drug that does not always apply to the drug court. Fentanyl.

“It (fentanyl) is a dangerous, dangerous drug,” said Noel Bagwell, executive director of the Payne County Drug Court.

The Payne County Drug Court is a nonprofit program designed to help those with

substance abuse issues overcome addiction. Those eligible for drug court must have a pending criminal case in the district court involving substance abuse.

A team, which includes Bagwell, the district attorney, the assistant district attorney, a Stillwater police officer, a detective and a judge, review one’s case to decide if they are eligible for drug court.

“We assess everybody individually and take their individual circumstances (into consideration),” said Dane Lemmons, clinical director at Payne County Drug Court.

Many who are approved to attend drug court have issues using substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or alcohol. Counseling sessions and regular drug testing encourages users to overcome addiction.

Bagwell said fentanyl is a big issue in Payne County, but those cases are not always accepted for the drug court.

“If you’re trafficking in fentanyl, your chances of coming to drug court are probably pretty slim,” Bagwell said.

“And I’ll say that based on the fact that trafficking is trafficking, which means you got to have quite a bit of it (fentanyl), and you’re putting that stuff on the street.”

Unlike those charged

with DUIs or possession of a drug, those charged with fentanyl-related violations are often trafficking the drug, not using it themselves.

“I don’t see that fentanyl will give you the window or the opportunity for it to be recreational because it doesn’t take very much to put you out,” Bagwell said.

The legalization of marijuana also complicated the healing process for some.

Medical marijuana cards are confiscated from those who have them when they enter the program, but Bagwell said those who have used marijuana in the past 30 to 40 days may still have the drug in their system.

Bagwell said the drug court compares one’s initial test results to their test results throughout the program with the goal of the number reaching zero.

Bagwell said some choose to forfeit their medical marijuana card at the end of the program, and he has seen many participants graduate and start their own business, get high-paying jobs or get married.

“At the end of the day, I do want to be sure we’ve done everything and provided everything for them to be successful for that day,” Bagwell said. news.ed@ocolly.com

Bella Casey

Drug violations in Payne County have increased from 2021 to 2023 according to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data.

Connor Fuxa

Neon flags have been placed on stop signs around to campus to catch drivers’ attention.

Force . . .

Continued from 1A

Weaver said he received more than a dozen volunteers before noon on the day the task force was announced.

Gonzalez was one of the first.

“When she said she was the chair of the Faculty Council’s facilities and safety committee, I couldn’t get a response quick enough back to her, ‘Yeah, you’re on,’” Weaver said.

Gonzalez said the task force is intended to be shortterm, so it can be most effective.

“I wanted you all to know that these short term changes have been implemented, but the longer term recommendations will take some time, but you’ll be hearing from us in the interim,” Gonzalez said.

The committee has been expanded to include former

members with greater institutional knowledge, as well as faculty members who reached out to serve on it, Gonzalez said.

One of the committee’s discussions, along with traffic flow, parking and human behavior, is sharing resources, such as how to walk on campus, with students during orientation.

OSU also hired Traffic Engineering Consultants to assess campus and its safety needs. Gonzalez said the group has collected data since late March.

Tuesday’s email also said a campaign is in the works to “promote safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, scooters and drivers.”

“We’ve assembled a quality group who take their mission seriously,” Weaver said in the email. “They’re already making a difference across our campus community.”

Luisa Clausen contributed reporting. news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 6A Friday, April 12, 2024

O’Colly

News Professor . . .

the culture we are learning, and I think it affects his teachings by making us have a personal connection to it,” said Lila Gilreath, a senior ASL student. “He Continued from 1A openly invites a conversation, and he actively tries to get us to attend these events to meet new people and talk with OAD is a nonprofit organization them. that states its mission is to advance “Overall, I think that’s the most the social, economical, education and important thing about his teaching style, cultural well-being of deaf individuals. because I don’t think I would’ve had a Evans said he was on the board for three better understanding of ASL or the Deaf years before he became president and is community without it.” grateful for the guidance and knowledge This type of involvement is somehis predecessors passed down to him. thing students of Evans said they found Evans is always thinking about inspirational and helpful. educating. He said his main wish he “Logan is totally awesome,” said wants to achieve in his role is to get Jordan Landers, president of the OSU young deaf leaders involved so they can ASL Club. “He provides us to be able to continue to protect the culture and his- make sure we are being respectful of the tory of the community.

Deaf community.”

“This allows him to truly show us Evans advised the ASL Club by

helping them plan and conduct events in a respectful and proactive way. He also helps them before club meetings by walking them through the signs they should use while leading the meetings as they are conducted fully in ASL. ASL students are encouraged by Evans to attend club events so they can experience immersion in the community, which has led to a greater appreciation for the language causing students who are no longer in ASL classes to continue attending events.

“I’ve been to the silent events that were required for class, and I’ve really loved those, especially the deaf coffee events,” said Emily Myrick, a former ASL student. “I definitely want to continue going on that route and do the ASL club since I won’t be taking anymore ASL classes. So, by doing the ASL club, it will hold me accountable

to still kept learning the language and meet more people who are also passionate about ASL.” From a moment in a classroom where his life took an unexpected turn, Evans plans to continue to make an impact on the lives of students and those in the Deaf community. He hopes to continue to promote understanding and communication like he experienced that unforgettable day.

“I want the young deaf people to become successful and have success in their everyday life and learn what their rights are so that they can protect them,” Evans said. “My No. 1 goal is passing down that information and that desire to do that well, that’s a great way to do it through teaching, to reaching the young people.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Alivia Weddle

Logan Evans, a deaf professor, makes it his mission to promote communication with students during his ASL classes. Evans uses his experience as motivation.

p u s s CC . r e m m u S r u Yo enroll now at tcc

TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Goodbye, G.O.A.T. Smith retiring after 33 years as OSU’s wrestling coach O’Colly Staff Report

23 team conference championships, 132 individual conference championships and two Hodge The most accomplished Trophy winners. coach in Oklahoma State hisSmith’s 33-year tenure only tory is hanging up his whistle. trailed men’s tennis coach OSU announced Thursday James Wadley and men’s wrestling coach John Smith is basketball coach Henry Iba as retiring after 33 years leading longest tenured head coaches at the program. Associate head OSU. coach Coleman Scott will serve “It has been an honor to as the program’s interim head coach for more than 32 years coach. at the same institution,” Smith Under his guidance, OSU said in a press release. “I can’t produced five NCAA team even begin to tell you what championships, 33 NCAA indi- Oklahoma State has done for vidual championships, 490 dual me, my wife, my immediate wins, 153 All-American honors, family and brothers and sisters

who all graduated from OSU. My journey started at age 17 here at Oklahoma State and it has allowed me to accomplish everything I ever wanted.”

Smith, 58, is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a twotime selection as the National Wrestling Coaches Association coach of the year and a 15-time selection as conference coach of the year. He was the first wrestler to be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and is a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Smith also coach Team USA

Poullard playing freely, providing OSU a spark Parker Gerl Staff Reporter This past week, Oklahoma State utility player Jilyen Poullard reminded her coach, Kenny Gajewski, why he got in the business of coaching decades ago.

Poullard started the season as an every-game starter, then as her play slowly spiraled downward and the competition for outfield spots continued, she found herself in and out of the lineup.

So Gajewski, hitting coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher and Poullard sat down to have a chat, one that Gajewski called “really tough.”

As soon as the conversation ended, Poullard flipped a switch. All the uptightness was gone, and she responded with a stretch of play that’s given OSU a needed spark, allowing Poullard to play freely with the fire and joy she’s used to.

“It’s the only reason why (I’m a coach),” Gajewski said. “To see that kind of stuff and watch things like that happen are just cool.”

The Cowgirls were in Denton for a midweek contest with North Texas following Poullard’s meeting with Gajewski and Shippy-Fletcher. She hadn’t found herself back in the starting lineup just yet, but Gajewski called on her for a crunch time pinch hit with the game knotted at 1.

When Gajewski made the call, he could tell Poullard had been waiting for it.

“I saw her face from third base, I was looking at (her) and I was like, ‘Oh, she’s ready,’” Gajewski said. “When I told her to hit, it was like, boom. (She) jumped up and I was like, ‘That’s awesome, that’s the response.’”

Poullard was the hero. She lifted OSU to a 2-1 win against the Mean Green with an RBI single in the sixth inning.

Then Poullard made more noise in Houston right after, when she started in each of the three ballgames against the Cougars, all won by OSU en route to a series sweep.

See Spark on 2B

Payton Little After starting the year as OSU’s center fielder, Jilyen Poullard fought for playing time before a resurge.

What’s Inside

Walton the ‘Wizard’

2B

OSU’s pitching coach and his way to rebuild his players.

at the 2000 and 2012 Olympics and the World Championships in 1998, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

As a wrestler at OSU, Smith won two NCAA individual championships. On the international level, Smith won six consecutive world championships from 1987-92 − the only wrestler to ever pull off the feat.

That includes gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games.

“Coach Smith is a hero and truly the greatest of all time,” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said in a press release.

“John has dedicated his life’s work to Oklahoma State Uni-

versity, Cowboy Wrestling and the sport. Although the decision comes with much emotion for him and for us, he felt the time was right to retire. Because we have so much respect for him, we will respect his decision and honor and celebrate his exceptional contributions and loyalty to Oklahoma State. John will continue to support the program as a lifelong Cowboy and due to his efforts, we know great things are yet to come for Cowboy Wrestling.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo

OSU’s Fix reacts to Smith’s retirement Daton Fix spent seven years under coach John Smith, and won five Big 12 titles with him.

he figured out that Fix was my last name.”

Years later, Fix joined the Cowboys, and Smith became his head coach. From 2017 until the end of the NCAA Championships nearly three weeks ago, Fix was a staple on Smith’s rosters. Now, Braden Bush after this season, both Fix and Smith Sports Editor take a bow at OSU. On Thursday afternoon, OSU anFor the first few weeks that John nounced Smith’s retirement after 33 Smith knew Daton Fix, he couldn’t years leading the program. figure out Fix’s last name.

This season, Zink has a 15-6 record in When Fix, who ended his career singles on Court 1 and has reached as high in March as OSU’s first five-time Big as No. 15 nationally. Zink has brought 12 champion and a national finalist, down five ranked opponents this season, was just getting serious with wrestling including San Diego’s No. 5 Oliver Tarvet around the fifth or sixth grade, he and Middle Tennessee’s No. 25 Leo showed up at OSU in the summer to practice at the Cowboy RTC. He already Raquin.

“To me, he’s the best coach I could had some cousins who were already have asked for,” Fix said, “and I’m just wrestling and knew Smith, Oklahoma really grateful that I got to end my career State’s wresting coach, and were around the same age and height. with him.”

But different a last name.

In Smith and Fix’s last season, OSU “He called me by my cousins’ last went 14-1 and rose to as high as No. 2 in name for probably the first couple of the country. weeks I was there,” Fix said. “Finally, See Fix on 6B

Smith’s Spring OSU cornerback having his best spring season yet.

4B

Lutz’s targets

5B

New OSU basketball coach going for players in the transfer portal.

Page 2B Friday, April 12, 2024

O’Colly

SPORTS

How Walton has developed OSU’s pitchers this season Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Davis Cordova OSU interim head coach Coleman Scott (left) said he’s grateful to have coached alongside John Smith.

OSU wrestlers, coaching staff react to Smith’s retirement Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

A little after noon on Thursday, Tagen Jamison saw a GroupMe message alert appear on his phone.

Team meeting at 3 p.m.

Team locker room.

Although the timing of it felt random, Jamison, Oklahoma State’s redshirtsophomore 141-pounder, said he had a gauge of what it meant.

Minutes after the whole team and coaching staff gathered, OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg walked into the room. Then, he broke the news.

After 33 seasons as the program’s head coach, John Smith announced his retirement.

Associate head coach Coleman Scott, who was hired in mid-August to replace former associate head coach Zach Esposito, will serve as the team’s interim coach until an official replacement is found.

“I really do appreciate that I had him for at least a year,” Jamison told The O’Colly. “I mean, obviously all four years would have been cool. But at least a year is cool.

“John made a huge impact on my career. Everyone knows that he has been here for 33 years, so, I mean, he knows what he is doing. And it’s just nice knowing that he’s coached top teams in the past and I got to be a part of it.”

Jamison, who transferred to OSU after redshirting his true freshman season at Minnesota, said he often pinpoints drastic changes in his wrestling style when reflecting on his growth over the past season wrestling under Smith – a consensus feeling shared among he and the majority of OSU wrestling alumni from Smith’s tenure.

“I know I’m on the right track as a wrestler,” Jamison said. “John Smith has a lot to do with that.

Just because he has the history and the experience as a coach and wrestler.

And I’m just so fortunate to have been able to experience that for a year.”

Former 165-pounder Izzak Olejnik transferred to OSU from Northern Illinois after earning AllAmerican honors in 2023.

Why? To wrestle under Smith. Fast-forward, Olejnik logged a career-best fifth place at the NCAA

Championships.

“I’m just so, so thankful to have been able to experience one full year of wrestling under coach Smith,” Olejnik told The O’Colly. “It’s selfish of me to say that I want to keep him around longer.

Because if he feels like it’s his time to go, then that’s his decision to make.

He’s done everything and so much more. He’s just provided so much opportunity – and I’m speaking for myself and everyone – I’m just super happy to have been able to have the opportunity to wrestle under him.”

Scott told The O’Colly that no interest of transferring from any current roster member has been expressed. The expectation is for the entirety of the roster, not having exhausted eligibility, and coaching staff to remain intact for the 2024-25 season.

“Excited for next year, obviously,” Scott said.

“But today is about honoring John and what he did for this program.

“I’m grateful to have been able to see the impact that he can make on a program in just one year.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

A change in pitching technique can be as little as a misplaced finger on the stitching of a baseball or as drastic as a change in arm slot or delivery.

Oklahoma State baseball pitching coach Rob Walton isn’t like most pitching coaches. His methodology is different.

And his pitchers are the first to say it.

Walton, in his 12th season at OSU, invests in the “trial and error” aspect of prospect development, or tweaking a pitcher’s mental state. It can be “boom or bust,” as Walton says, depending on the prospect’s willingness. This season, however, it has boomed.

A season ago, OSU logged a 5.41 ERA, the worst since 2018. Now, OSU has a Big 12-best 4.10 ERA. “We call him ‘The Wizard’ for a reason,” OSU reliever Tommy Molsky said. “He’s so detail-oriented in everything he says and does, and it sticks with us. His methods are all so effective, and I think you’re seeing that with this year’s pitching staff.”

2023 and 2024 are very different. Not everything is comparable, but team strikeouts are.

Last year, OSU logged a conference-best 627 strikeouts. This year, it’s at the forefront again with 327.

However, other facets make this year better than a year ago. Most notably, the walk rate is down.

A season ago, OSU averaged 4.3 walks a game, and opposing batters took advantage. This year, the Cowboys aver-

age 3.5 walks, and OSU pitchers have escaped most high-leverage jams.

“They’re different circumstances,” Walton said. “This year, they’re different pitchers. It’s a lot of different things. We might not have as much arm strength in general this year, but generally, where we’ve had staffs with really high-end stuff, but perhaps not as much pitch ability, we’d need to strike out an enormous amount of batters. With this year’s, we’ve had our fair share of strikeouts, but I think with this year’s staff, the quality of strikeouts are up. And when our guys do get caught up, they’re able to get out of it.”

Molsky is an example.

In two seasons at Penn State, he logged 6.84 and 7.17 ERAs. His opponent batting averages exceeded .300, and on-base percentages exceeded .400.

Then Walton came into the picture.

Molsky instantly became invested in Walton’s trial-and-error game.

First: mental preparation. How does a pitcher look at themselves?

Second: attitude. Walton collectively attempts to make his pitchers assert dominance, regardless of past experiences.

Third: execution.

“That last part speaks for itself,” Molsky said.

When one pitcher has a bad day, the ensuing interaction with Walton involves multiple screens showing various angles of the pitcher’s outing as Walton breaks down what went wrong.

Since arriving at OSU, Molsky has molded into one of OSU’s highleverage relievers. His ERA is a career-best

Spark...

Continued from 1B

Payton Little Jilyen Poullard’s return to the lineup gave OSU’s struggling offense some life in the past week.

Then Poullard made more noise in Houston right after, when she started in each of the three ballgames against the Cougars, all won by OSU en route to a series sweep.

Poullard rounded out the weekend with three hits, two homers, three RBI and a walk.

As each of her home runs left the park, she pumped her fist and jumped up and down. A number of Poullard’s family and friends were in attendance to watch it all, too.

To add a cherry on top, the Cowgirls hosted Tulsa on Wednesday night, and Poullard slashed a single to left center that scored OSU’s first run in an eventual 3-2 win. In those last five

4.43 with 34 strikeouts through 22 1/3 innings.

“I’m just kind of trying to break things down and not put too much pressure on myself now,” Molsky said. “It’s a very hard mental game, especially as a pitcher. You make one bad pitch, and it can sometimes tumble into others. But I think that a big change (for me) is having the ‘next pitch’ mentality.”

Ace pitcher Sam Garcia, a High Point transfer, is another blueprint for Walton’s magic.

A season ago at HPU, Garcia posted a careerworst 7.57 ERA. That came shortly after earning All-Big South honors as a sophomore in 2022.

He said his confidence level when he arrived in Stillwater was “at an alltime low.” Now, he’s the Friday arm in a Power Five conference.

So far, Garcia has a 3.12 ERA through eight starts and 43 1/3 innings.

His 61 strikeouts are atop the OSU pitching staff thus far.

“Rob (Walton) has done wonders for me,” Garcia said. “I’m so fortunate to be around him every day and work with him so much.”

Not everyone’s teaching methods fit the orthodoxies of a modern pitching coach. Walton’s certainly don’t. But so far, they have sufficed.

“I’ve said all along that I really like our pitching staff,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “I honestly felt good about this group all along.

“And I think it’s maybe getting a little more noticed now.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

games, Poullard is hitting .385. “(I’m) just putting more emphasis on just enjoying the game,” Poullard said after the win against Tulsa. “I think that’s just taken the weight off my shoulders, and I hope my teammates can feel that because I want to put an emphasis on enjoying the game.”

Poullard is in her best stretch of softball in a Cowgirl uniform, bringing out the high-level energy she’s accustomed to playing with.

After her RBI single against Tulsa, Poullard hyped up the crowd and motioned for them to get loud.

During this run, Gajewski is seeing it: high energy, big plays and clutch at-bats, the player he knew he was getting from McNeese State.

“That’s the kid I saw on film when she was in the portal,” Gajewski said. “That’s the kid I saw.

She plays with a lot of energy.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

128 N Main St. Stillwater, OK 74075 Great selection, prices, & staff!

405.372.5080

O’Colly

Classifieds Business Squares Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

Friday, April 12, 2024 Page 3B

FOR RELEASE APRIL 12, 2024

Houses for rent

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main “The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University.

Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store 815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Cowboy Calendar Friday, April 12 Adventuring Academy: A Pathfinder Campaign @ 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Stillwater Public Library https://stillwaterok.gov/Library Cowgirl Baseball: Oklahoma State vs. Cincinnati @ 6 p.m.

Location: O’Brate Stadium https://okstate.com/sports/baseball/schedule Animal Mother Live @ 10 p.m.

Location: Em Curators of Craft Admission: $5 Cover https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Downtown Funk @ 8 - 10 p.m.

Location: Em Curators of Craft Admission: $5.00 Cover Charge https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Karaoke @ 9 p.m.

Location: The Midnight Bar Friday Flix @ 2:20 - 4 p.m.

Location: OSU Museum of Art https://museum.okstate.edu Grillin’ & Chillin’ At The Varsity Shop @ 1 - 3 p.m.

Location: Em Curators of Craft https://curatorsofcraft.co Karaoke @ 9 p.m.

Location: The Midnight Bar Classic Cinema At the Center: Singing in the Rain @ 7 - 9 p.m.

Location: Stillwater Community Center https://www.sccfoundation.org/classic-cinema-2024 Matt Axton Live @ 7 p.m.

Location: Stonecloud Brewing Company https://stonecloudbrewing.com Neon Cactus Cerveza @ 6 - 9 p.m.

Location: Mexico Joe’s https://mexicojoes.com Roz Live @ 8 - 11 p.m.

Location: Em Curators of Craft Admission: $5 Cover https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Southern National Holstein & Jersey Show & Sale @ 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Location: Payne County Expo Center https://pcexpocenter.com/event/southern-nationalholstein-jersey-show-and-sale-move-in-day/ The Laramie Project @ 2:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Town and Gown Theatre Admission: Musicals Adults: $16 Students or Military: $14 Seniors (Sun. only): $14 Plays Adults: $14 Students or Military: $12 Seniors (Sun. only): $12

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

ACROSS 1 __ test 5 Oft-poached pear 9 With 9-Down, Thanksgiving dessert 14 Arm bone 15 Bar mixer 16 Fuming 17 Some baby shower honorees 18 *Big moth 20 “Da 5 Bloods” actor Whitlock Jr. 22 Cookbook writer Garten 23 Choose 24 *Theater debt 29 “Makes sense” 30 False front?

33 ETA provider 36 Parker products 38 Made in Taiwan, say 40 “It was even funnier at the time,” or a hint to making the starred clues match their answers 44 Cantaloupe, e.g.

45 Close in anger 46 August hrs.

47 Beach city where Barbie’s Dreamhouse is available for short-term rentals 50 Historic times 52 *Frozen state 57 Toward the stern 60 Spacewalk initials 61 Title with a tilde 62 *Title bot 67 Falafel bread 68 Fountain drinks 69 Char on a grill 70 “For real?”

71 Setting for much of “The Mummy” franchise 72 Like a chimney sweep’s clothes, maybe 73 Wall St. index

5 Secretly include, in a way 6 “I’m impressed!”

7 Done in, as a dragon 8 Opposite of dogbane?

9 See 9-Across 10 Add salt instead of sugar, say 11 Baja resort, familiarly 12 Perched on 13 “What else ya got?”

19 Price points?

21 __ Heritage Month: September 15 to October 15 25 Require 26 Gallant guy 27 Products of thermal imaging 28 Derriere 31 Faded out 32 Sculler’s tools 33 Muscle building?

DOWN 34 Ada Limón work 1 Component 35 Toni Morrison’s of self-guided second novel museum tours 37 “Help us!” letters 2 Necklace fastener 39 __ zero emissions 3 Nonstudio flick 41 Colorful Hindu 4 Fiji competitor festival

Daily Horoscope

4/12/24

By Amie Walker & Wendy L. Brandes

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (04/12/24). This year showers down abundant resources. Strategize and plan to fulfill your long-term vision. Adjust to a personal change next summer, before delighting in private autumn reflection. Adapt around winter partnership changes for fresh springtime energy with your work and health. Bank a lucrative haul.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially clever. Solve a puzzle by patiently untangling clues.

Gain more with wit than you would by force. Write, express and share your story.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Lucrative ideas spark in conversation. Invent creative ways to make money. Disciplined efforts pay off in extra loot. Discuss and then implement your plan.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Take charge for desired results. Use your power, talent and confidence for good. Solutions arise in conversation. Brainstorm to refine your ideas. Advance a dream.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Lay low. Savor a pensive phase. Consider long-term goals, dreams and new possibilities. New information clashes with old presumptions. Organize and plan. Stay flexible.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Teamwork keeps a shared vision alive. Enjoy gatherings, meetings and parties. Share laughter and clever ideas with friends. Go for distance, not speed.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Take charge to advance a professional project. There may be a test. Stick close to the basic structure. Experience pays. Pursue a hot lead.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Travels and studies open new frontiers. Research a fascination. Discover unexpected beauty. The completion of a difficult project opens time for something more fun.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — It’s a good time to talk about money. Review financial accounts. Manage tax or legal matters. Collaborate for mutual gain. Find clever solutions.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — You and your partner are on the same wavelength. Your collaboration blossoms. Coordinate efforts to save time and resources.

Share a secret connection.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Your work is in demand. Don’t burn the candle at both ends. Eat well.

Balance a busy schedule with private time for exercise and rest.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Laughter is good medicine. Visualize success with a matter of heart and purpose. Romance arises in conversation. Talk about love.

Relax with family.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Beautify your place for an upcoming gathering. Clean, sort and organize.

Tend your garden. Plant seeds for later harvest. Cook up something delicious.

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

42 “Sacre __!”

43 Countess counterpart 48 Emmy-winning Ali Wong series 49 Certain travel doc.

51 Attempt to mediate 53 Batting practice sites 54 Harmony 55 Flatbreads made with atta flour

4/12/24

56 Wipe clean 57 Recess on a Catholic school campus?

58 Mesopotamian symbol of fertility 59 Neat 63 Cook in the microwave 64 Rough fig.

65 “Shows you!”

66 Attempt

Level 1 2 3 4

4/12/24

Solution to Thursday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2024 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Page 4B Friday, April 12, 2024

O’Colly

SPORTS Smith experiencing most confident spring Braden Bush Sports Editor

and senior Korie Black were mainstays on the outside, and they both return in defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo’s second year.

As a sophomore a season ago, Cam “I feel a lot more confident going Smith started every game, but his coninto this spring than I have before,” tributions at cornerback began to show Smith said. “And as a team, you really down the stretch of the season. feel like everybody is connected.”

Against Houston, his interception Black is the most experienced desealed an important comeback win for fender in the room. Entering his fifth the Cowboys that kept them alive for a season, Black has 26 starts – most on the Big 12 title game berth. The next week defense – and according to Pro Football against BYU, Smith broke up a pass in Focus, Black’s 16 receptions allowed the third quarter of another OSU come- was third best among FBS corners with back win that clinched a spot in the Big a minimum of 350 snaps. He was also 12 Championship game. Ten of his 26 tied with the most pass breakups (five). tackles on the seasons came in ArlingTied with Black in PBUs was D.J. ton and the TaxAct Texas Bowl, includ- McKinney, a promising redshirt freshing 2.0 of his 2.5 tackles for loss. man who transferred to Colorado in the But there could be more to be excited offseason. That means the Cowboy will about from Smith heading into 2024. He have to step up and replace that produc-

tion, but Black said he’s seen Smith make big strides at the end of the season and through the offseason that should help shore up the position.

“The amount of reps I got last year, I just feel more confident playing certain techniques and just being out there on the field,” Smith said.

It isn’t only Smith who feels more comfortable in the techniques. He and Black said the rest of the position group, including Kale Smith, who played in all 14 games last year, are more knowledgeable in Nardo’s defense.

In 2023, OSU gave up 23 points in the first half to Houston, then only seven in the second half. Against BYU, the Cowboys allowed 24 in the opening half and only a field goal the rest of regulation. The defense had good moments, but at times it took time to get going.

That’s something Black said the cornerbacks and defense are focused on in the spring.

“Coming out and playing to our standard like we should,” he said. “Not playing to the other team’s standard and coming out fast.”

A big key to that is the leadership of Black and Smith in a position group limited on meaningful snaps outside of them. Smith said getting 14 starts as a sophomore forced him into that role and will help him lead the cornerbacks this year.

“Experience is the best teacher, if you ask me,” Black said. “Being able to experience things and not just hear things from what other people say but actually being out there and getting reps.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Lutz plans to ingrain himself into OSU, Stillwater community Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

File Photo Collin Oliver is back on the defensive line this season, as OSU is installing more four-man fronts.

Oliver back on the defensive line, now a ‘big brother’ on the team Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

Collin Oliver is back where he wants to be.

The defensive line.

Oliver, who mostly played as a linebacker in defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo’s first-year defense at Oklahoma State last season, is back to primarily being an edge rusher.

“That’s all up to the head man (Nardo),” Oliver said of where he is placed on the field. “What he feels like is going to work best for our scheme, (and) what he feels like is going to work best for our team with the personnel we have.”

OSU coach Mike Gundy said that one of the selling points for bringing in Nardo from Gannon University, a Division II school, was the 3-3-5 scheme his defenses were known for. It was a look that TCU had run in the 2022-23 season, which is

when the Horned Frogs made it to the national championship game, so there was some familiarity among the 3-3-5 in the Big 12.

Now, though, the scheme seems to have shifted. Oliver said it is more of a four-man front that still has “different variations.” Gundy said his team will be able to do both, allowing opposing quarterbacks to see various looks.

“We’ve had a lot of talks and meetings about defensive philosophy,” Gundy said. “We’ll be able to play three down, and at times we’ll play four down, doing just different things that I feel like we need to do to be successful in trying to create confusion for quarterbacks.”

Also new to the defensive line is the unit’s coach, Paul Randolph, who came from Indiana University and replaced Greg Richmond.

Multiple players have called Randolph “ener-

getic” and described how he never fails to bring energy on the field or in a film session.

“Having Randolph here really helped me out a lot,” Oliver said. “...He knows how to gather a room real well.

You really need that with D-line because we’re just a bunch of kids.”

As for Oliver, he’s one of the most experienced players on the line. Sure, Colin Clay and Kody Walterscheid — among others — are still on the line and are older, but Oliver is having to step into more of a leadership role this season.

“I’ve always had the pleasure of kind of being the big brother, but I never really was, and now that I am, it’s real cool,” Oliver said.

But Oliver, 21, is still far from being the biggest of the brothers on the team.

“I’m not Alan Bowman old,” he said with a laugh. sports.ed@ocolly.com

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to occupy it set the bar for being loved high.

Lutz, now the 21st head coach at OSU, has Former Oklahoma plans to do the same.

State coach Mike Boyn“You’ll see us out and ton was a popular face in about in the community Stillwater, partly for non- a lot,” Lutz said of his basketball reasons. family. “Please make sure On any given day, stu- you don’t hesitate to come dents could stroll through over and visit with us. We the Student Union and plan to be highly involved run into Boynton handing in the community.” out tickets. During finals Lutz is a hard-nosed week, they could get pan- coach who grinded his cakes served by Boynton. way up the ladder to And on Veterans Day, become a head coach. He they’d see Cowboy players spent more than 20 years join Boynton at the lawn as an assistant with stops in front of Edmon Low at Creighton and Purdue, Library to plant flags. two of college hoops’ top Ingraining himself programs, before getting within the student body his first head gig at Texas and community was a A&M Corups-Christi. He forte for Boynton durtook the Islanders to the ing his time in Stillwater. NCAA Tournament in That, combined with mo- each of his two seasons, ments like his emotional then coached Western press conference after the Kentucky to The Big program received sancDance this past season. tions rallied students and Resonating with OSU fans behind Boynton. He fans and students isn’t was perhaps the school’s rocket science. In Athletic most loved coach.

Director Chad Weiberg’s On March 14, though, eyes, it comes down to Boynton was fired after one thing. seven seasons and reAuthenticity. placed by Western Ken“He’s got to be him. I tucky coach Steve Lutz 18 want him to be him,” Weidays later. As Lutz is be- berg said. “Don’t think ing tasked with generating you’re trying to do somewins and retooling OSU, thing you’re not, that’s he’s stepping into a role a recipe for failure... So, in which the last person he’s got to come in here

and do things his way and operate the way he wants to operate.”

OSU fans and students saw the hard-working, tough mentality of Lutz at his first formal appearance in Stillwater.

Swiftly into his opening statement, Lutz voiced his expectation of Gallagher-Iba Arena being sold out and becoming one of the toughest destinations for visiting teams to play at, adding that he’s ready for it all.

“It’s crazy, because you’re gonna have 13,611 people in this place screaming their heads off,” Lutz said. “And I’m not gonna have a single nerve in my body, except be ready to fight and compete.”

Lutz promised fans watching his introductory press conference that his team will play hard no matter what, and that if that ever falls out of line, he’ll be glad to have a chat about it with any of the OSU faithful.

That’s who Lutz is.

And it’s who, Lutz said, those in the Stillwater community will become accustomed to.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo Steve Lutz said he plans to be highly involved in the Stillwater community.

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Friday, April 12, 2024 Page 5B

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Payton Little

OSU targeting portal players to fix 3-point shooting, rebounding woes OSU coach Steve Lutz commanded the fastest pace offense in the country at Western Kentucky last year, and hopes to bring that to OSU if he can get the right players.

Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

New Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz was behind the fastest-paced offense in college basketball last year.

On his way to the NCAA Tournament at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers were No. 1 in True Tempo and third in possessions per game in the country, and featured a number of efficient shooters. That results in more chances to score points, something OSU struggled to do in recent years, no matter the change in personnel.

“I’ve always been aggressive with everything I do,” Lutz said. “I talk a lot about trying to score in the first 12 seconds of the shot clock against an unset defense. That doesn’t mean we get to take crazy shots just because coach says we need to shoot. Anytime we can do that, our numbers and percentages are gonna go up.”

The Cowboys were last in 3-point percentage in the Big 12 in 2021-22, second-to-last in the next season and 10th last year. Seventy-six percent of the team’s 3-point shooting from this season left through the portal or graduation, such as Javon Small, Jarius Hicklen and John-Michael Wright.

Second chance opportunities will be slim, too, as 76% of the team’s rebound

Payton Little

OSU is targetting guards who can shoot at a high percentage from 3.

production also left: with Quion Williams, Eric Dailey Jr. and Brandon Garrison in the portal.

Lutz and his staff will need to find replacements in the portal to run his style of offense. And so far, they are attempting to do that.

OSU has offered or shown interest in three players in the portal who all shoot exactly 38% from 3. Norfolk State guard Jamarii Thomas averaged 17 points per game in his junior season. Six-foot-2 Tulane guard Kolby King also shot 48% from the field, and Wyoming’s Brendan Wenzel — a 6-7 guard who shares a hometown of San Antonio, Texas, with

Lutz — put OSU in his top six schools on Wednesday.

The Cowboys also reportedly showed interest in veteran Illinois State forward Myles Foster, an undersized big man who still grabbed eight rebounds a game.

“We’ve got to have a lot of competitiveness,” Lutz said. “We’re gonna face teams in the Big 12 and beyond that are going to be as talented as us.

Heck, there’ll be a couple nights we face people more talented than us. What’s the determining factor? We’ve got an opportunity to out-compete them.”

Scoring and stats aren’t all that Lutz

said he cares for in a player. Whether in high school or portal recruiting, he wants players with good character who can mold into a locker room and the offense around them, rather than players who fit a system. Still, Lutz wants to go fast, which requires players like the ones he is targeting to achieve.

“You’ve got to be able to pass and shoot the basketball,” Lutz said. “You can’t play fast and you can’t play in a motion offense if you don’t know how to play basketball. Guys who can pass, handle, shoot and make good reads.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

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Fix..

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Connor Fuxa

Sunday Senior Day for 3 Cowgirl tennis players Safiya Carrington, Kristina Novak (pictured) and Ayumi Miyamoto will be honored during Senior Day on Sunday.

Gina Foster Staff Reporter The undefeated Oklahoma State Cowgirl tennis team is a combination of impactful players, but three will leave after this season.

Safiya Carrington, Kristina Novak and Ayumi Miyamoto have been instrumental to No. 1 OSU’s successful season.

The NCAA Championships will be in Stillwater this year, so their time at Greenwood Tennis Center isn’t finished yet. The three graduate students will be recognized during the regular season finale on Sunday against Kansas State.

Carrington has only been with the Cowgirls one season, but her confidence has been a big contributor to bringing this team together. During her four years at LSU, she was a three-time All-State Second Team and two-time All-SEC Second Team. This year she has been named Big 12 Player of the Week and clinched the first win of the ITA Championship.

OSU coach Chris Young said Carrington is not afraid of anything or anyone and she portrays the confidence well.

“She just really added a lot of things to the team, like confidence and good energy,” Young said. “She is somebody that has good leadership skills and has really been able to step into a prominent role right away with our team, especially this spring.”

Novak has been a Cowgirl for the past two years, transferring from Nebraska after three years. While with the Cornhuskers, she was named two-time All-Big Ten First Team.

Since she’s been at OSU, she has appeared on the ITA Indoor National Championship All-Tournament Team and been named ITA Indoor National Championship Most Outstanding Player. Novak won all three of her matches during the tournament and has clinched a number of team wins throughout the regular season.

Young said Novak brings a positive energy that makes everyone enjoy being around her. However, her progress was not only on the court but off.

“I’ve really just seen a lot of growth in her,” Young said.

“Just her coming into herself and her presence and being a really strong leader as well. I

think her and Safiya have really kind of teamed up well to be two really good leaders for our team.”

Miyamoto has had a prosperous five-year stretch as a Cowgirl.

She quickly became fond of OSU from her first visit.

Since then, her collegiate career has been nothing short of successful. Miyamoto is a two-time ITA All-American, two-time All-Big 12 First Team Doubles and All-Big 12 Second Team Singles.

She has not climbed the court rankings, but she has remained consistent on Court 5 and been a reliable piece of the lineup. Young said her work ethic and leadership have helped her leave an impact on this team.

“I think any time that people are training with her, she pushes them to be their best,” Young said.

Young said each of the girls have led the team in different ways on its way to a memorable season.

“Whether it’s just setting the tone of energy at practice or how hard we work each and every day and holding people accountable to going into a match and being really confident,” Young said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

The Cowboys fell just shy of a Big 12 title and placed 10th at the NCAA Championships, but it was still a breakthrough year for a team that had a worst-ever 18thplace finish at NCAAs a year earlier. Smith said after the tournament that he was “pleased” with his team and that OSU wrestling is “in a good place right now.”

During the season, Smith said a number of times he was having fun coaching this team, maybe even more than the past couple. A mix of promising freshmen and veteran leaders like Fix. It was a refreshing season. Just the kind to go out on.

Those were the sentiments he had for his final team.

“It’s special. He talked about how much he enjoyed coaching this last team, and I think that we definitely went out and competed as hard as we could for him every chance we got,” Fix said. “I think as a coach, that’s all you can

ask for out of your athletes, and we knew that he was gonna do everything in his power to help us win.”

Fix said there weren’t any direct talks between he and Smith about when the retirement was coming or that he was staying around for Fix’s final season.

There were always murmurs.

After his 15th season, Smith said after the 2023 NCAA championships, he considered retiring.

“For some reason, I didn’t,” he said.

After a tough finish in 2023, said he “thought” he’d be back.

But “I don’t know that for sure.”

But he did. He coached one more season, and Fix, who waited weeks for Smith to get his name right as a kid, got to be part of it.

And for Fix, that’s special.

“Obviously congrats to Coach Smith on an amazing career.

He’s changed the sport forever, and he a legend,” Fix said. “He definitely deserves everything he’s gonna get and all the nice words people are gonna say and what comes with his retirement.

He deserves it all.

“He’s meant the world to me.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Davis Cordova Daton Fix reached four NCAA title rounds in his seven years at OSU with John Smith.