Friday, February 24, 2023
Representation matters Mr. and Miss Black pageant
Contestants comStephanie Landaverde pete in several categoStaff Reporter
ries. They are scored on their professionalism One reign ends throughout the months and another begins. of preparation and they On Saturday, have a private interview Bobbi Jarmon, OSU’s on the morning of the 2022 Miss Black, will pageant. Each contespass her crown. tant must introduce Jarmon graduated themselves with a platfrom OSU in the fall form that, should they with a bachelor’s degree win, they will carry out in general business and throughout their reign. a minor in finance. She Benard said her now works for a federal platform is Black repredefense contractor in its sentation and preservafinance and accounting tion of culture. department. “That’s just a The Miss Black really fancy way of pageant is the one me saying that I want of four multicultural to build a community scholarship pageants here,” Benard said. “I at OSU. The event will want to see more people take place at 4 p.m. be involved in the Mr. in the Student Union and Miss Black OklaTheatre. homa State University Kerri Benard and pageant. Especially seeDaisha Blation are the ing as it is Mr. and Miss contestants this year. and we haven’t had a Benard is a sophomore Mr. in the past couple majoring in psychology of years.” pre-med and Blation is a freshman majoring in See Pageant on 6A biology.
Black History Month
Courtesy of Austin Dedmon
Giving students a voice Austin Dedmon, the presidential candidate for SGA, and Olivia Kopang, the vice-president candidate.
Presidential election coming up for SGA Bella Casey Staff Reporter
OSU.
As current President Riley Pritzlaff and Vice President Maddie Dunn Student Government end their term of leaderAssociation presidential ship with SGA, two new and vice presidential pairs are competing for candidates will go head- their positions. The deto-head in a debate at 7 bate is an opportunity for p.m. in the Student Union candidates to explain and Theatre on March 3. The defend their intentions for two teams hope to lead the student body. the charge for change at For presidential
candidate Austin Dedmon and his vice presidential candidate Olivia Kopang, their mission is simple: unite the Cowboys. The three pillars behind Dedmon and Kopang’s platform are awareness, understanding and action. Dedmon plans to strengthen the relationship between SGA and the student body and ad-
dress the issues students face while on campus. A strong relationship between SGA and students promotes communication between the two parties and allows SGA to identify the pressing issues students face on campus. Courtesy of Bobbi Jarmon
See SGA on 4A
Bobbi Jarmon, OSU’s 2022 Miss Black, holds the crown with contestants Daisha Blation (left) and Kerri Benard (right).
OSU students return home with food, culture at International Bazaar
Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief
Molly Jolliff Saani Mohammed (middle) interacts with participants at the International Bazaar on Saturday afternoon. Mohammed, a Ghana native, said the event makes his country and culture feel seen.
Saani Mohammed stands in traditional Ghanaian attire, below a connected banner of international flags and basks in the exposure for his country. Finally, he feels seen, he said. Not just a statistic or body walking across Oklahoma State University’s campus. Mohammed finally acted as if he was home. He was. Kinda. OSU’s International Student Organization hosted its annual International Bazaar, a threehour fun fest filled with dozens of global foods, strong flavor and music, on Saturday afternoon in the Wes Watkins Center.
“This is big exposure for us,” Mohammed said. “Mostly Africa is not portrayed in the positive light. But we have our food here. Some of us have our national cultural dresses. People seem them and they’re like, ‘Who are these people?’ Then we talk about it. It makes us feel included.” More than 200 students and Stillwater residents bounced from 12 booths and sampled deserts and entrees from more than 12 countries or regions. It’s times like Saturday that show food and community can bring people together. “The purpose of today is to show Stillwater community the diversity of international students that we have here on campus,” Salome Suarez, International Student Organization president said. “Each area club has prepared different dishes from their own country. We want everybody to see how the dishes are from
other parts of the world.” Foods ranged from the Bangladeshi students’ tandoori chicken to the Latino American students’ cheese empanadas. Lots of desert, too. Within hours, the exhibit hall transformed into a multicultural kitchen. Tim Huff, ISO’s adviser, said the event began more than three decades ago. It’s one of ISO’s five annual events and the purpose remains. “It gives all these students a home,” Huff said. “They feel like they belong when they’re here. You can see them just relax and get into it. It’s very important to see the true nature and culture of these kids because they settle in here.” Many of the foods appeared similar. Lots of chicken and different meats. But cultural differences appeared in the bite and the food’s preparation. See Bazaar on 8A