Friday, January 13, 2023
Jaiden Daughty
College free speech group sues OSU over policies that discipline students Speech First, a college free speech advocacy organization filed a lawsuit against OSU over three university policies.
Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief
Speech First, a college free speech advocacy organization, is suing Oklahoma State over three university policies. Speech First launched a lawsuit Tuesday against OSU that challenges three speech policies the school claims are designed to relax and silent student speech. Speech First and executive
director Cherise Trump argued that the policies deter, suppress and punish students for constitutionally protected speech about political and social issues. Speech First boasts a nationwide group of free speech supporters, according to the organization’s website. These policies are a violation of
the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of students, according to the lawsuit. “These policies not only force students to censor themselves when they interact with one another, See Sues on 3A
‘Surprisingly existential’: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” Review Michael Clark Staff Reporter
simple, yet surprisingly existential. The titular Puss in Boots has used up eight of This shouldn’t his nine lives and the have been a good film. Grim Reaper himself is DreamWorks’ on the prowl to finish once legendary track him off. As he goes on record of movies has a journey to restore his slowly slipped from life count, our fearless their grasp over time. feline contemplates I’m not big on animated what it means to be films but I didn’t want alive and what to make to waste my AMC out of the inevitability Stubs tickets this week, of death. so I saw this movie on This movie is a a whim. full-blown existential I could not crisis, yet, it handles believe how happy I these themes beautiwas when I walked out fully in a way kids and of the theater. Even adults alike can enjoy. though I’m nearly 20 “The Last Wish” manyears old, “Puss in ages to tie these themes Boots: The Last Wish” back into its main cast was a strong reminder beautifully. of why animated movies can still be good. See Boots on 6A The premise is
Via IMDb “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” premiered Dec. 21 and has received lots of praise from kids and movie critics alike.
Graphic by Sam Beebe
Negotiations between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Stillwater Medical Center may affect OSU employees Kennedy Thomason Assistant News & Lifestyle Editor Oklahoma State University employees may be without health insurance. Negotiations are ongoing between Blue Cross Blue Shield, which insures OSU employees, and Stillwater Medical Center. If an agreement is not met by May 1st, Stillwater Medical Center, Stillwater Medical - Perry and Stillwater Medical Blackwell will no longer be in-network providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield. OSU employees would have to use other medical centers that are providers of Blue Cross Blue Shield. The nearest carriers are located in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
This decision will also affect employees of the City of Stillwater because they are insured under Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Stillwater News Press and involved parties over the rising costs of medical care described the situation as an “impasse.” Blue Cross Blue Shield and Stillwater Medical Center created web pages to describe their point of view on this situation, according to The Stillwater News Press. Stillwater Medical Center’s website cites increasing costs as a primary reason a solution has not been reached. “These negotiations, which include but are not limited to increased payments for services, are necessary due to
historic rapidly rising costs of healthcare since 2019, pre-pandemic,” the website reads. “On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, negotiations reached an impasse. This impasse with BCBSOK means we must make some difficult decisions.” Stillwater Medical Center reports a 26% increase in pre-pandemic costs. They want Blue Cross Blue Shield to recognize this, and provide them with appropriate funding. Blue Cross Blue Shield denies this line of thinking and instead wishes to protect its customers from price increases. Stillwater Medical Center’s website thoroughly explains their perspective. “If Stillwater renewed its contract with BCBSOK at the rates
offered, it would not be able to continue to deliver the same level of quality care and service offerings that our Community currently enjoys today, given that the collective rate payments for BCBSOK’s patients, comprising 21% of Stillwater’s patient base, would not allow for Stillwater Medical to continue to administer and staff the hospital to the level it needs to be able to provide the quality of care its patients so desperately need and deserve,” Stillwater Medical Center’s website reads. In a statement posted on OSU’s Human Resources website page, it details the latest updates of the negotiations as of Jan. 3.
See BCBS on 3A