Monday, September 12, 2022
Former OSU President Burns Hargis honored with statue
Payton Little Staff Reporter
Oklahoma State University commemorates 9/11 with memorial stair climb
Cole Gueldenzoph
Firefighters all around the state honored those lost on 9/11 by doing a stair climb at Boone Pickens Stadium.
of Boone Pickens Stadium for the memorial stair climb to take place inside. One-hundred ten stories. Twothousand and 977 dead. Over 6,000 injured. The World Trade Center was a difficult place to rescue civilians in the attack, but first responders sacrificed Mallory Pool their lives to do it. Sunday, the StillwaAssistant News ter community and people around the Editor world, do memorial stair climbs of 110 stories to remember the sacrifices of the The air was crisp Sunday morning fallen. as people gathered to honor the anniMolly Amsler, a local firefighter versary of 9/11. OSU students, firefight- and OSU student, talked about how ers from across the state and Stillwater close 9/11 is to her while preparing for community members prepared outside the climb in full gear.
“This is important to me because I grew up in the area and someone close to me passed away because of it,” Amsler told The O’Colly. “It’s very emotional. Knowing that I were close to someone that died in 9/11 and knowing that I easily could’ve been there, or my family could’ve been there. That’s why I do this. I love being a firefighter and helping people like this. I’m here today, climbing for someone that I held very close to my heart. It’s an emotional day for everyone here.”
Hargis has been throughout the years. “I have a great relationship with Burns and Ann,” Shrum said. “He really gave me an opportunity, but he did give me the chance to do the job, which is amazing. He and Ann have become good friends of Darren and I and our kids. So it’s just amazing really.” Known for his abilities on the microphone, PA announcer Larry Reece acted as the master of ceremonies for the event. An OSU graduate, Reece had nothing but praise to give to the former president “We’ve always been proud of our university, but I think they changed the mindset, along with Boone Pickens, of what could happen here at Oklahoma State,” Reece said. “I really think that Burns oversaw the most transformational period in OSU history.” Hargis had an impact on athletics as well, as head men’s basketball coach Mike Boynton also came to support the former president.
Thirteen years, around $2 billion raised, countless students impacted and now a bronze statue. On Friday, OSU unveiled a bronze statue outside of the Classroom Building honoring former university president Burns Hargis. The statue stands 10-feet high and faces the statue of another former president, Henry Bennett. Hargis was honored and surprised when the regents told him of his future statue. “I guess the regents cooked this thing up and it’s kind of hard to say no,” Hargis said. “It’s a phenomenal honor to be looking at Henry Bennett, in my opinion one of the greatest presidents of universities anywhere.” Quite a few people were in attendance for the statue’s unveiling, including Hargis’ successor Kayse Shrum. Shrum highlighted how impactful her relationship with See Burns on page 5
See Memorial on page 4
Big 12 performances Kansas, KState win big Wyatt Phillips Staff Reporter
The Big 12 saw big wins and close games in nonconference and conference games this weekend. Here is how every team performed in week two. Texas: B The Longhorns offense marched against the strong Alabama defense at the start. But once quarterback Quinn Evers left in the first quarter with an apparent left shoulder injury, everything shifted. Texas gets a strong B
against Alabama, but needs to figure out offensive struggles before true conference play begins. Kansas State: A+ Running back Deuce Vaughn was the highlight of the Wildcat offense Saturday. The run game and the offensive line gave Vaughn the opportunity to run wild. The Kansas State defense played at an elite level all day. Those two performances alone gives Kansas State the A+. Iowa State: BIowa was leading the game the entire time, but let up a costly touchdown in the 4th quarter which led to
the 10-7 Iowa State win. If Iowa State hopes to make a run in the Big 12 this season, they are going to need more production out of the offense. Oklahoma State: A The offense needed to find its footing most of the first quarter, but soon after that Spencer Sanders started cooking. The defensive line is one of the most dominant fronts in the Big 12, and if the Cowboys keep pace, they could be a lock for the conference championship game. See Big 12 on page 3
Jaiden Daughty Burns Hargis’ gives grattitude towards the artist for the staute.