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black excellence keona Marie tidwell and braeden shaw crowned mr. & Miss black osu in 50th anniversary pageant
C OV E R S T O RY
50th Mr. and Miss Black OSU gives contestants an opportunity to advocate for issues J e nnif er Mau p in S taff R epo rt er @JenniferMaupin8
The Student Union Theater rippled with excitement and anticipation Saturday night as the audience waited for the winner of the 50th Miss Black OSU to be announced. After handing out the other awards, it was finally time to crown this year’s Miss and Mr. Black OSU. Parents and supporters held their breath hoping to see their favorite contestant become royalty. It was only a moment,
but after what seemed like ages, the winners were called forward. The theater erupted in cheers as Braeden Shaw became the new Mr. Black OSU. Then, with tears in her eyes, Keona Marie Tidwell received her crown. “It feels so unreal. I didn’t really expect to win, and it was a lot of good contestants that I competed with,” Shaw said. “Now I can really try to attack my platform like I want to.” On Feb. 8 OSU held the 50th Miss Black OSU and
the fourth Mr. Black OSU. Shaw was selected out of three contestants and Tidwell out of four. The Mr. and Miss Black OSU pageant is not just a beauty pageant. It requires the contestants to have a platform, power, and pride. The winners receive a $1,000 scholarship, but they gain more than money and a crown. “[The pageant] is important because it gives students of color the opportunity to present their platform or solve an issue,” said Marhia Mitchner, the 2018 Miss Black
OSU. “I love how you just you have a chance. It gives you a chance.” The Miss Black OSU pageant was founded in 1970, and since then it has given 47 women the opportunity to tackle issues they find important. Mr. Black OSU was founded in 2016. This year’s contestants brought topics like mental health, black excellence and body positivity to light. Shaw’s platform was the harmful effects of toxic masculinity. Tidwell competed for the growing number of homeless youth in America. “It just means that I can absolutely live my dream
and follow up on my platform and just basically be the voice for all the homeless youth and all the children that are in the system,” Tidwell said. Maria Sol Ramirez Saenz, Ms. International OSU 2019, was one of the judges. She said she thinks the pageant is important because it helps build a strong community and shows black pride. “We met the contestants this morning and we had private interviews where they talk about their platform,” Ramirez Saenz said. “The winners of the title today are not only going to be a representative of the community
because of their talent, but also they’re going to be spokes people for the whole year.” The impact this event had on the community was clear; The theme of the pageant was power and pride, and each contestant exemplified that in their own way. “It is so important because as small as we are here and to have a king and a queen... it’s very inspiring for others that want to be that way,” Shaw said. “I feel as a freshman, I am only 18, and to have this crown, I feel like I can inspire other people around the African American community.”
LOOKING FORWARD! (Part 5)
Alicia Young/O’Colly
Miss Black OSU 2020 Keona Marie Tidwell accepted the crown after advocating for her platform Nightlife, an organization to help homeless youth. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, (Heb.12:3 NIV) In the context of this verse, we are told of many who trusted God in their generation and walked by faith with Him, doing his will. Yet, in conclusion of these testimonies of others, the apostle tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” We are to steadily gaze at Christ. He is the author and finisher of our faith. The Christian life, from first to last, is living our life trusting Christ. We began with Christ and we are to finish in the same manner. Christ had a “joy set before Him.” He saw past the cross and his sufferings to the end result of His life. He knew what the conclusion would be, the many lives that would be saved; He saw the great glory that was to come. He told those accusing and condemning Him; “you will
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see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt.26:64) Standing in his human weakness, forsaken by all, He spoke of the final triumph. He now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. We need to keep our thoughts on Christ. He has run the race ahead of us, and shown us the way. Let’s keep looking at what God has promised to those who trust and follow Him. At our lowest times, when things seem hopeless, when we seem the weakest, when tempted to give up, Christ wants us to trust His grace and faithfulness. He will see us through to His proper end. “Those who trust in Him will not be ashamed.” Be encouraged! Keep doing what is right! Let us finish our Christian life with our eyes fixed on Jesus. We win in the end.
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S P O RT S
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Payne County to hold elections on Tuesday Foul controversy haunts Cowboys in loss Ale x Sloan P o l i tics Rep orter @ sloan _al ex
Stillwater voters will cast ballots Tuesday regarding a city council election and a proposed sales tax extension, Resolution No. 2019-33. The city council election is only open to residents of Stillwater who are registered to vote. The ballot for the sales tax extension is open to all of the registered voters of Payne County. Resolution No. 2019-33 would extend an existing one quarter of 1% sales tax, and designate funds from said tax for the purposes of road and bridge maintenance and construction. Councilor John Wedlake, who is up for re-election, said the sales tax extension is necessary to maintain Stillwater’s roads at their current condition. “Without much debate, the streets and the sidewalks in Stillwater need some care,” Wedlake said. Wedlake and his opponent, OSU student Slade Mielitz, identified transportation infrastructure as one of Stillwater’s biggest issues. Mielitz described himself as a “common man” and said he thinks government needs more regular citizens. He is a history major and army veteran, and he is attending OSU using GI bill funds. “I don’t have some exorbitant degree. I don’t have like a doctorate or anything. You know, I’m not a millionaire,” Mielitz said.
Alex Sloan / O’Colly
Stillwater City Councilor John Wedlake is up for reelection on Tuesday. Wedlake has been a city council member since 2017, and he hopes to continue serving in that capacity following the Feb. 11 elections.
Mielitz said a lack of both sidewalks and flood infrastructure are problems for the city’s transportation infrastructure, and he pointed to last year’s flooding as evidence. “I think a city this size should not have flooding like that, shouldn’t have major roads closed down for weeks on end,” Mielitz said. He also said the city of Stillwater should be doing more to attract new and different businesses to town. “I’ve lived here for about 18 months now,” Mielitz said. “I think Stillwater is lacking for retail and dining options.” Both candidates also stated a desire to focus on retention of OSU graduates. Wedlake has been a city council member since 2017. He is a neurologist, army veteran, co-owner of Stillwater Neurology LLC and a member of the Still-
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water Medical Foundation. He said the city council has been simultaneously focusing on student retention while also trying to attract outside talent to Stillwater. “We’ve got a great pool of bright young minds here in Stillwater, but historically, those bright young minds have graduated and gone to other places,” Wedlake said. Wedlake said he’s proud to have been involved in passing the Stillwater Reinvestment Plan, which is a campus corridor revitalization plan with a projected budget of $32.5 million. He also said he’s proud of his stance against medical marijuana dispensaries in town. He is the only councilor to have voted against every dispensary’s special use permit. “That has nothing to do with any moral or ethical hangups I have about marijuana, I really don’t have all that many, but it has everything to do with my expertise as a physician,” Wedlake said. Having left town only twice to attend medical school and serve in the military, Wedlake said Stillwater holds a special place in his heart. “I’m really just a guy that is trying to do the best I can for the city that I love,” Wedlake said. “I would urge people to look at my voting record, look at some of the things that I’ve stood for, look at some of the things I’ve voted against, and that basically is my platform.”
The Oklahoma State men’s basketball team lost to No. 1 Baylor on Saturday, 78-70. Coach Mike Boynton was ejected and the Cowboys were charged with 31 fouls. Our writers Joseph Fazio and Ryan Novozinsky discussed the ejection, the fouls and what it means for the Cowboys. joseph fa z i o
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rya n n ovo
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S P O RT S Young stars light fire under team in fifth sweep of the year Jar ed A’Lator r e Staf f R epo rt er @jar edalator r e
Freshmen Oscar Moraing and Etienne Donnet’s successes were two of many highlights in a 4-0 Cowboy victory against Northwestern. The brooms were out for the Cowboys (6-2) again, as they picked up their fifth sweep of the year. While the experienced players like Matej Vocel and Dominik Kellovsky finished out their doubles and singles successfully, the freshmen core was noticed in its singles matches. Assistant coach Scoville Jenkins credited Donnet for sticking with his plan from before the match. “The thing with [Donnet] is he practices like he plays in the match,” Jenkins said. Donnet took his match on Court 5 against Northwestern’s Trice Pickens, 6-3,6-4. While Jenkins was happy about Donnet’s performance, he also said that Donnet will make the opponent earn everything that is thrown at them. “He is competitive,” Jenkins said. “He is going to make you basically beat them,” Jenkins said. As for the other freshman,, Jenkins described Moraing as someone who has a similar game style as his freshman peer. “He’s kind of the same as Etienne,” Jenkins said. “He plays the same in the matches in practice.” Moraing overcame his first set, in which he went down, 3-6. While he missed three deuce points in the
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Oscar Moraing and Etienne Donnet shined in the Oklahoma State men’s tennis team’s 4-0 victory against Northwestern.
first set, Jenkins credited his will to come back and forget about the opportunities missed in that first set. “You kind of know when he went down in that first set, I know he’s going to fight here in the second set and make some adjustments,” Moraing said. While also overcoming the first set, Jenkins commented about his jitters and how he handled it to finish the game. “You kind of see he was a little nervous, but he overcame those nerves and he’s playing the right tennis,” Jenkins said. Kellovsky and Donnet clinched the doubles point with a commanding 7-5 win. Kellovsky, as the older player, had his take on his role to help develop Donnet. “[Etienne] was a little
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nervous in the doubles, so for me it was really important to keep him on a positive vibe and not put him down or whatever,” Kellovsky said. Kellovsky expanded on his effort to keep him up. He said the most important aspect of the game was to stay intact. “I saw that he just doesn’t feel great and that he has to just get the feeling that he’s actually playing well,” Kellovsky said. “That was probably the most important thing that we stay together.” Matej Vocel gave his take on his dominant doubles point teaming up with Emile Hudd finishing with a 6-2 win. “I think we played our best doubles, we just made everything,” Vocel said. OCOLLY.COM
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lifestyle
Kesha rediscovers her original educational experience for OSU students path in new album “High Road” the quality of the music pro- to share the same space McKnight center creates a unique B r a n son Eva n s O ’C olly C o ntrib uto r @ o co lly
Oklahoma State University music students can perform on the same stage where world-renowned artists and groups display their mastery, thanks to the McKnight Center. The McKnight Center’s opening season has seen the likes of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra entertain OSU students and Stillwater residents. Thomas Lanners, a piano professor at OSU, said his current students have expressed excitement about the new facility; his former students have communicated their jealousy. “Quite a few of the artists who come through The McKnight Center will give masterclasses,” Lanners said. In those masterclasses, student have the opportunity to learn directly from the performers. Lanners said the new steady stream of direct interaction between students and master guests is extremely valuable to students and staff. “There aren’t many schools in the country who can boast the culture that we have brought to our school on a regular basis,” Lanners said. “I’m even counting the very top, biggest name conservatories in the country and the top music programs in the country.” The guarantee of incredible artists coming regularly to Stillwater has enhanced
gram on offer at OSU and has magnified its culture, Lanners said. The New York Philharmonic will be back at the McKnight Center for regular visits. This is something no other school Lanners knows of can boast, outside of the University of Michigan, which is one of the top ranked music schools in the nation. Carly Clayton, a vocal performance junior, said she attended the Kelli O’Hara masterclass. O’Hara, known for her time on Broadway, shared her experiences in the business and encouraged students, like Clayton, to pursue a career in music theater at her masterclass last fall, during the dawn of the McKnight Center’s opening season. “I would say that was a really special moment because that was kind of the first time that they brought in somebody of that caliber from the vocal world in,” Clayton said. “Getting to watch all these pros come in and do our art at such a professional level and then
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makes you want to rise up and be better.” Clayton will perform at the McKnight Center Feb. 23 as part of her degree program. Jeffrey Loeffert, director of the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music, said the McKnight Center’s director will be announcing next seasons’ guest artists soon. Prior to the announcement, more groups and musicians will come to round out the venue’s first season. One notable event features Joshua Bell, a violin soloist, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a premiere London-based chamber orchestra. Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will be at The McKnight Center Feb. 26. Loeffert said The McKnight Center is a great tool for investing in the OSU community. “This is a great place to be right now,” Loeffert said. “The program is growing and improving. The momentum we have right now as a school is truly special.”
C h as e C o ngl e to n S taff Re p o rte r @ C h as eC o ngl e to n
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The McKnight Center offers OSU music students a chance to learn from professional performers.
The last decade of Kesha’s career has been anything but a breeze. Since 2014, Kesha has been in a series of lawsuits with her former producer, Dr. Luke, who she accuses of physically, emotionally and sexually abusing her for several years. Alongside abuse allegations, Kesha also said Dr. Luke had complete control over her career and image. After the lawsuits were filed, Sony Music agreed to allow Kesha to work with other producers for her album. The turmoil she faced resulted in the cathartic release of her 2017 album “Rainbow.” With that album, she finally released music that showed her love for country music and rock music shown in her collaborations with Dolly Parton and Eagles of Death Metal. The context for that album is necessary to understand the direction for Kesha’s newest album, “High Road.” Kesha neither needs to address the pain in her past nor is she forced to release electropop party songs. Instead of continuing on one path, she combines her dance-pop roots with her slower, more serious persona. The opening track, “Tonight,” starts off as a piano ballad akin to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” Listeners feel alone in a smoky room as she sings with the piano,
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but then the piano is tossed aside approximately forty seconds into the song in exchange for thumping verses, auto-tune and an electrifying chorus about living in the moment; Kesha is back. Kesha continues the trend with resurrecting her early 2010s persona with songs such as “Raising Hell” and “My Own Dance,” the latter in which she declares her defiance against those who attempt to put the singer in a box. Kesha will continue to dance to the beat of her songs. Toward the middle of the album, the tempo slows down and Kesha begins to dig deep into her soul. “Cowboy Blues” is an existential song about thinking of someone you met three years ago at a bar and wondering if they were your soulmate all along and you missed your chance at true happiness. “Resentment,” which features Wrabel, Sturgill Simpson and Brian Wilson of the legendary group the Beach Boys, is a pure country-pop ballad about anger building up against your significant other, so much to the point that the anger becomes numb. The lyric “I don’t hate you, babe, it’s worse than that” shows the emotional turmoil between the singers. The heart wrenching “Father Daughter Dance” and the back-and-forth delivery between Kesha and her real-life best friend Wrabel in “BFF” showcase the “Tik Tok” singer’s capabilities as
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Kesha reclaims and reinvents her image on her new album “High Roads.”
a songwriter. While some songs on this album feel like pure fantasy, these two stand out as the most transparent and honest tracks on the album. Despite the string of heartfelt ballads and acoustic tracks, Kesha returns to her pop roots with other tracks such as “Birthday Suit” and “Kinky,” which feature Ke$ha, thus having Kesha reclaim her party-girl dollar sign alter ego and making it her own. Regardless of how listeners perceive this album, it goes without saying that this is Kesha in her most authentic state. She is a multifaceted artist who can have a take-no-prisoners flamboyant attitude in one song while, in the next song, have a therapeutic session between her and listener. Kesha’s unique situation allows her to finally make the art she has always been restricted from creating. With “High Road,” Kesha starts off the new decade as her most relaxed and authentic self. PAGE 5
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Solution to Saturday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
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Today’s Birthday (02/10/20). You’re especially popular this year. Organize your moves well in advance. Plans laid this winter provide a team map to navigate changes, improving physical performance. Sidestep romantic obstacles next winter, before winning a community prize. Work, play and grow stronger together with friends. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Watch your step. Focus on practical physical priorities. Nurture your health, wellness and energy. Your past performance speaks well for you. Practice for strength. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re a powerful force together. New possibilities stretch old boundaries. Stay open-minded to making a shift. Family comes first. Support each other. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Your attention is at home. Don’t make wild promises. Keep the ones you have. Get farther than expected. Follow rules closely for lasting results. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Edit and polish your creative work. Keep to practical priorities for satisfying results. Long-term benefits arise in communication. Build on strong foundations. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Listen to what others want. You’re learning quickly. Work out the budget for best value. Avoid distractions and silly arguments. Provide leadership. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- You can take extra ground on a personal project. Don’t spin your wheels on empty talk. Actions speak louder than words. Take charge. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- An answer may seem elusive. Peace and quiet soothes your spirit. Meditate on the desired results. Go for substance over symbolism. Imagine them accomplished. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Teamwork can earn lasting results. Don’t indulge in gossip or idle chatter. Take action on practical priorities for a shared vision or possibility. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- You can advance your career. Listen closely to avoid a communication breakdown. Words can be deceptive. Make a practical move for long-lasting benefits. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Study and learn valuable skills. Avoid fantasies and elusive or ephemeral words. Action beats idle talk. Advance your educational priorities. Explore your subject. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Stick closely to rules and guidelines. Monitor the budget for power, sustainability and lasting value. Avoid someone else’s argument. Actions speak louder than words. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Advance collaborative goals one step at a time. Together benefit from coordinated action. Avoid distraction and miscommunication. Keep your part of the bargain.
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