Friday, April 21, 2023
A selfless legacy for OSU
‘NeoTalks’ share inspiration through athletes’ stories for being part of the university inspired him to use it as a tool to make an impact. The idea for “NeoTalks” was born during a FaceTime call between Kalungu-Banda and his childhood friend, Champhe Pelekamoyo. The Luisa Clausen two were thinking about how KalunNews & Lifestyle ga-Banda could make the most of Editor his time in the U.S. and after a few exchanged ideas, they thought about In Iba Hall, Neo Kalunguthe possibility of creating a talk show Banda brainstormed ways to leave a with OSU athletes. legacy. “That day I told Neo he should Kalungu-Banda was born in connect with some athletes because Zambia and moved to England when of how big sports are in America,” he was 1. When he was 20 studyPelekamoyo said. “I told him people ing psychology at the University of over in the UK would want to see Leicester, he decided to go on an that. I came up with “NeoTalks” as an exchange year to the U.S, with intent Instagram name and Neo liked that.” Courtesy of Neo Kalungu-Banda of inspiring people and telling their Kalungu-Banda said he wanted Cory Read, ice hockey player, was the first athlete to feature on “NeoTalks” Season two. stories. to find a way to turn his interactions Kalungu-Banda made it to with OSU athletes into reality, and In the first season of the show, Colvin Recreational Center and parStillwater in August and noticed the decided he wanted a show where released last fall, Kalungu-Banda ticipate in competitions against him love Americans have for sports. The there was entertainment and also invited athletes to meet him at the while he interviewed them. happiness and pride his peers showed inspirational conversations. See NeoTalks on 5A
Judge dismisses recent First Amendment lawsuit against OSU Brylee Smith Staff Reporter
addressed the issue of whether an association such as Speech First has standing to sue when it uses anonymous members in the lawA free speech organization is suit. In its lawsuit filed on Jan. 10, not entitled to sue Oklahoma State Speech First identified its members University for First Amendment only as Student A, Student B and violations because it failed to name Student C. the student members on whose Speech First challenged the behalf it was suing, a federal trial constitutionality of OSU’s Code of judge ruled recently. Conduct and Harassment Policy, In dismissing Speech First’s lawsuit on April 10, District Judge Computer Appropriate Use Policy Bernard M. Jones did not address and Bias-Related Incidents Policy. “Oklahoma State and its offithe constitutionality of the OSU cials have created a series of rules policies that the Washington, D.C.and regulations that deter, supbased organization was challengpress and punish speech about the ing. In a statement, OSU said it is political and social issues of the day,” the lawsuit alleged. “These pleased with Jones’ ruling. “Freedom of expression and restrictions disregard decades of exchange of ideas are the bedrock precedent.” The lawsuit contended the of what we believe at OSU,” the policies include vague language university said. In a court filing, OSU said its and could “chill” student speech. For example, Speech First said, the bias response team “has received harassment policy “gives students only 29 reports of alleged bias, a no details about what the Univermajority of those relating to ‘persity considers ‘abusive’ or ‘intimiceived offensive speech.’” “No speech-related incident dating’ and covers a wide swath of or any other incident for that mat- protected speech.” In February 2021, Speech ter reported to the (bias response team) has ever ‘resulted in the ini- First challenged the constitutiontiation of disciplinary proceedings ality of the University of Central Florida’s harassment policy, comor sanctions’ against a student,” puter use policy and Just Knights the university said. Response Team. In September, the Speech First Executive Director Cherise Trump said in an university agreed to discontinue the Just Knights Response Team. It email Wednesday the organizaalso paid $35,000 to Speech First. tion has appealed the Oklahoma In February 2022, Speech City judge’s ruling to the 10th U.S. First launched a case against the Circuit Court of Appeals. University of Houston. It argued Three other federal circuits have ruled in the organization’s fa- the school’s harassment policy vor. Six universities – the Universi- created an environment in which ty of Central Florida, University of students were scared to voice their Houston, University of Michigan, beliefs. The university settled University of Texas, University of the lawsuit in June by dropping Illinois and Iowa State University “creat[ing] an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environ– settled lawsuits filed by Speech ment” from its definition of haFirst. rassment. It also paid $30,000 to Jones emphasized he is not Speech First. bound by those circuit decisions news.ed@ocolly.com and that the 10th Circuit has not
By Ben Holieway
Courtesy of OSU Each fall, North American monarchs travel from their summer breeding grounds to overwintering locations.
A place to rest
Monarch butterflies make way to OSU Kirstyn Santino miles to central Mexico, admire.” Some who follow O’Colly Contributor while those west of the Rockies head for the California coast. Those bound The orange hue for Mexico can take a seen in early October break at OSU, where reflects not only the changing leaves of fall, the university has been but monarch butterflies designated as a waystation for monarchs. on their way south. “Monarchs, to Often with a stopme, symbolize change,” over in Stillwater. said Melissa Shields, Each fall, North a youth pastor from American monarchs Kiowa. “They start out travel from their sumtheir lives as these little mer breeding grounds caterpillars that people to overwintering locations. East of the Rocky tend to overlook but turn into these beautiful Mountains, monarchs butterflies that people travel as far as 3,000
the monarch flight talk about the great migration to Mexico every year, but a big piece is missing from the story. Monarchs typically live for two to six weeks while the migration can take up to two months. So, what happens then? Do the numbers decline, or do they repopulate? They repopulate, but only in certain sufficient places like Stillwater. See Butterflies on 4A