Friday, October 25, 2024
Sea of misinformation Students receive news from social media LUISA CLAUSEN STAFF REPORTER @LUISACLAUSEN
Courtesy John Wooley On December 12, 1969 the Daily O’Collegian published a feature on Wooley detailing his love for comics.
Comics Cowboy
OSU alumnus to speak in Stillwater comic con BY BELLA CASEY
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biology major left Wooley recalled receiving a higher his classes and GPA in those elective classes than returned to his dorm in his major. He decided to be a to make comics. biology major because his mother It was collegeadvised him to get a degree he could aged John Wooley, a future Oklahoma “fall back on.” He stayed focused on Music Hall of Fame inductee, author comics and story writing in 1969, and and comic writer. The life-long comic he sent a story into “Eerie,” a horror enthusiast from Chelsea spent his magazine that featured some EC Horteenage years searching second-hand ror Comic artists. shops for comics and writing his own “I have never had a feeling in my whenever he could, and his love for life like I had when I opened my them did not dwindle with age. mailbox in Kerr Hall and got a thin “People just didn’t know what to envelope,” Wooley said. “(I) tore open make of somebody past their teen the envelope, and I had a check for years or in their late teen years that $25. They bought my story.” was still dealing with comic books,” That was the beginning of WoolWooley said. “They were perceived ey’s, award-winning writing career. as something for kids, and people re- Wooley wrote countless comics and ally weren’t quite sure of people who novels, country music articles for were into comic books.” the Tulsa World and produced radio That never stopped him. programs and films. Wooley and his friends founded the About that biology degree: He Comic Collectors Club, Oklahoma’s used it for seven months at a Ralston first comic club, in 1966, shortly Purina in Edmond. before he attended OSU. He could “That was one of the worst jobs I be found on campus with his nose ever had in my entire life,” Wooley buried in an EC Horror Comic or disc said. “I went from there to the jockeying for KVRO, the rock ‘n roll service. I was called on active duty. station on campus. He had a knack Spent two years in the service, one of for writing and took electives in jour- those years taking marines to Vietnalism, broadcasting and radio when nam, and that was a better job than he could. working as a biologist.”
I @BELLACASEYYY His passion for comics remained constant throughout this time, but the stigmas surrounding comic lovers changed. Wooley said he believes comics have become more acceptable for all ages to enjoy because of the development of “nerd culture,” something he hypothesizes the internet and the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” where main character Sheldon Cooper enjoyed comics, cultivated. The Stillwater community is celebrating comic lovers of all kinds from all fandoms Saturday with Stillwater Lexicon, Stillwater’s mini comic con. The free event features a cosplay contest, drawing lessons, demonstrations, the Classic Tetris World Championship regional tournament, speakers and comics. Wooley will speak at 10:30 a.m. at the Stillwater Public Library. Lexicon caters to comic enthusiasts of all ages, but it was born from the interests of a smaller demographic. Stillwater Public Library Circulation Supervisor Paula Long said library staff were thinking of possible programming for the library’s summer reading program in 2015, tossing around ideas such as costume contests when the concept of a mini comic con came up.
See COMICS on page 5A
When roommates Paityn Pitman and Jesalin Cole catch up at their dorm after classes and work, one phrase frequently comes up: “You won’t believe what I saw on TikTok.” Pitman and Cole, freshmen, get most of their information from social media apps, and both said that sometimes, distinguishing what is true or not may be a challenge. “I’ll see a TikTok and completely believe it,” Cole said. “Then I’ll tell Paityn about it and then scroll more and then I see a video that completely contradicts it. So I’m like, ‘I don’t know,’ I feel like I could believe either or not.” Cole and Pitman are not alone. In four years, the share of adults who say they regularly get news from TikTok has grown about fivefold, from 3% in 2020 to 17% in 2024, and 86% of U.S. adults say they at least sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet, according to Pew Research Center. But why are people increasingly relying on social media for information, and what are the consequences of it? For the roommates, TikTok offers instant gratification and quick information. They said they trust most of what comes across their “For You” page, even though not all the videos may offer fact-checked information.
See TIKTOK on page 5A
Courtesy Tribune News Service OSU students have noticed they increasingly rely on social media for news.
Hocoween: Students prepare for two holidays HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Bryson Thadhani Greek life spends 24 hours creating house decs during All-Night Pomp.
the middle of Homecoming. For you can go to the Homecoming Greek life, Halloween is the same game as what you want to be for day as all-night pomp, and for the Halloween,” Rotter said. many other student organizations Rotter said she is still deciding involved in Homecoming, the what to dress up as, but she has a holiday comes at a hectic time. couple of ideas in the works. This raises an interesting issue: “We’re trying to go for zomHappy Halloween! Or should I When are students planning to bies,” Rotter said. “But we’re going say Homecoming? celebrate Halloween? to go off of what we think we can It’s almost time for America’s It turns out students at OSU find.” Greatest Homecoming, and the are adapting the ghoulish day to For some students, celebrations campus is bustling as students fit their Homecoming plans, and take place on Halloween. One stuand organizations prepare for the many find the holiday’s placement dent takes Halloween seriously. upcoming week. a fun addition to the festivities. Noah Rainwater drew attention Greek life is in the throws of Members of the Paddle People, last year after a Halloween stunt battle, fighting with every pomp the heartbeat of BPS, are using earned him a few posts on the to conquer the last stand, AllHalloween to their advantage, social media platform YikYak. Night Pomp. It’s a worthy venture, dressing up in various orange How did Rainwater manage this culminating in a celebration to and black costumes to scare the brief moment of internet fame? rival OSU’s victory over OU last competition. Brielle Rotter, the He dressed up as the Flash, but season. member of its, said she is excited he didn’t stop there. After putting Amid the welcome chaos, an for a Halloween Homecoming on the speedster’s iconic costume, interesting predicament arises: game. Rainwater ran across campus sevHalloween. The spookiest of all “It’s actually kind of cool beeral times to show off his superdays falls on Oct. 31, smack in cause you get to dress up and then human speed.
See HOCOWEEN on page 7A