March 15

Monday, March 15, 2021

Dancing shoes Chris Becker Grab the dancing shoes, Oklahoma State men’s basketball is heading to the NCAA Tournament after earning a 4-seed from the NCAA Selection Committee.

Every game of the tournament will be in Indianapolis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with TV, game times and other information still to be announced.

The Cowboys will face off with ASUN champion Liberty on Friday in the Round of 64. OSU is in the same region as former OSU coach Brad Underwood, who led his Illinois squad to a Big 10 Tour-

Big 12 Conference The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Texas Longhorns compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 10, 2021.

nament Championship and a 1-seed.

The 4-seed draw received a mix reaction from fans and analysts across the country. Many saw OSU as a high 3-seed, but the NCAA

decided differently. However, the seed is the highest OSU has had since being a 2-seed in 2005, when the Cowboys made a run to the Sweet 16.

“If I had to pick one team that got the worst

draw, I would say Oklahoma State,” ESPN’s Jay Bilas said after the bracket reveal.

The Cowboys will use this as extra motivation, and use it as an added chip to their

shoulders.

“It’s more motivation,” OSU star Cade Cunningham said in a video posted by OSU Athletics. “I still feel like we didn’t get the respect we deserve, and to be in the tournament is a blessing.”

Liberty drew 13seed after winning the ASUN Conference Tournament, and has a record of 23-5. This will be Liberty’s fifth NCAA Tournament appearance, and second consecutive appearance. Liberty is 1-4 in its previous four appearances.

In 2019, the Flames last appearance, they upset 5-seed Mississippi State as a 12-seed.

Liberty has played two tournament teams, Purdue and Missouri, both early in the season.

See Dancing on pg. 5

On the decline OSU sees decline in coronavirus cases in early March

By Ellen Slater Out of the 385 students and faculty that were tested at Oklahoma State University’s University Health Services the week of March 1-7, only two cases came back positive, with an additional one case being self-reported, taking the positivity rate down to 0.52%.

All positive cases were students; none were reported by faculty.

Other weeks throughout the past academic year have reported dozens of positive cases at a time, making a decline in cases apparent when comparing past records.

At the beginning of the school year, there were word of mouth reports that there were 3+ positive cases within one fraternity house or one floor of a dorm, etc. Now that small number of 3 stands as a campus-wide measurement.

When these numbers were reported, there was a cumulative total number of 2,699

Oklahoma Department of Public Health daily reports and executive order reports.

positive cases from the whole academic school year.

Last Tuesday, Oklahoma State University announced that they were now in accordance

with the state to open up vac6000 members of it’s commucinations to all students and fac- nity, and is continuing to book ulty as they have entered Phase full days of appointments.

3 of the vaccination plan. The university has vaccinated over See decline on pg. 4

Page 2 Monday, March 15, 2021

News

Thanks, mom

By Jillian Eckert

Dozens of parents from all over the map came to OSU on Thursday to show love to the many students who are doing their best to make it through school during a pandemic. .

Hugs from Home is an outreach group based in Stillwater, founded by Dena Lewis, mother of two OSU students. She started the group last semester, when other parents began to post on Face-

Book about how lonely and isolated their children felt at college during the pandemic.

“It was just heartbreaking, as a mom, to read that,” Lewis explained, and that led her to post on FaceBook inviting other parents to join her in supporting students on campus. Several other parents said they would attend.

Their first event was held in October. It was only semi-organized, said Lewis.

They had snacks and Chickfil-A sandwiches set out, and of course, parents were there offering hugs. Lewis said that about 200 students came to

DON’T STUMBLE! (Part #1) “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

(Mt. 11:6) The words “fall away” are sometimes translated “offended” or “stumble.” Let me paraphrase; blessed is the man who does not stumble, get offended, or fall away because of the way I do things.

This is Jesus’ answer to a question from John the Baptist. Are you the one who should come or do we look for another? John was now in prison. He is the one who baptized Jesus and said “Behold the lamb of God.” John is the one who had given witness who Jesus was. Now John is asking, “Do we look for another?” John believed the messiah was coming, but in coming he expected him to come in a different way than Jesus came. It is so easy to stumble at God’s ways,

because his ways are not ours Notice Paul’s quotation from Isaiah: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that make them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Is.8:14, 28:16 NIV) The Jewish leaders stumbled at Christ’s first coming because he did not come as they expected. They expected a conquering king, but he came as a servant in doing God’s will. (Phil.2:8) Peter almost stumbled and was very upset when Jesus began to tell his disciples what was going to happen to him: he was going to suffer.

“Never, Lord!” Peter said. He did not understand God’s plan!

Let’s be people of prayer and humility. Be open to God’s clear guidance in our lives!

the event, and they lined up to get a hug before getting any food.

“Whenever I hug these kids, even today, you can just feel them melt,” said Lewis.

One mother, Goldie Kakacek, came all the way from San Diego to participate in this event. “It’s a great thing because my daughter doesn’t get to come home every weekend,” said Kakacek. She was so moved by the organization that she decided to fly all the way to Stillwater this week to join Hugs from Home. Meeting all the different students and parents has been Ka-

kacek’s favorite part about the event.

Hugs from Home has had three events so far, each one bringing in more parents than the last. This most recent event had a tropical theme, complete with mocktails with little umbrellas. The event was supposed to be held outside, but the weather forced them to move inside. However, that didn’t stop these parents from doing their very best to share their kindness with the students of OSU. news.ed@ocolly.com

Lifestyle

Royal Fess Up Students React to Prince Harry and Mehan Markle Interview

By Megan Cherry The British royal family is no stranger to drama and media presence, they have been followed by the press since the beginning and interviews are common.

But Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan was a complete bombshell with many shocking claims. The interview follows the departure of Meghan and Harry from the royal family.

One shocking revelation was Meghan admitting to having suicidal thoughts during her first pregnancy, she claimed that after going to another family member for help, she was told to keep quiet and that it “wouldn’t be good for the institution.” She does not state which family member said this and gives no hints.

“It’s devastating to know that the royal family showed no empathy when Meghan had come to them for support,” OSU student Sarah Jarvis said.

Another startling claim is in regards to security and money. Every royal family member receives money each year for their work with official arrangements.

“My family literally cut me off financially,” Harry said.

“I’ve got what my mum left for me, and without that, we would not have been able to do this,” Harry claims that after their public separation from the family, their money

Aaron Chown/PA via AP A man watches a phone screen showing an interview of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, by Oprah Winfrey, in London Monday, March 8, 2021.

was cut off.

“I think right now the royal family isn’t showing themselves in the best light. and I think cutting Meghan and Harry off completely wasn’t the right thing to do,” student Taylor Jennings said.

It is hard to forget the life of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. Her split from the royal family in August 1996 was full of controversy. Her then-husband Prince Charles publicly admitted to being unfaithful

and divorced Diana to be with his mistress, Camilla Parker Bowels.

“Diana served as a fantastic role model for women as she continued to remain strong as she was betrayed by her husband and cast away,” Jarvis said. “It is heartbreaking how her death could have been avoided had she been given more protection and safer transportation.”

Another shocking revelation in regards to Meghan

and Harry’s son Archie was that there were discussions within the family about how dark his skin would be and what that would mean for the family. There was also the fact that he would not be given a title at birth. “He won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title,” Meghan said. Today Archie still has no title and the family has not been given any security at their new residence “I think they definitely should have still been given security even after they stepped back,” student Elena Liebl said. “They’re still just as famous to the public, so the rest really never changed, and it seems that now they’ll be even more at risk now that everyone knows they don’t have security.”

Meghan and Harry now live in California with their son, and Meghan is pregnant with a baby girl and is due this summer.

Buckingham Palace released a statement that states in part “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.” The couple made a point to say that Queen Elizabeth had nothing to do with the disrespectful claims and said in part that “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members.” entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

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Page 4 Monday, March 15, 2021

News

Decline Continued from pg. 1 The more students and staff that get vaccinated, the less positive cases campus will expect to see. If things go according to plan, this trend of a low volume of positive cases is here to stay.

Oklahoma State student Alicia Cornelius, who had the virus back in November and got vaccinated this Friday was overjoyed when she heard that there were only 3 cases reported for all of OSU. “I was really excited to hear,” Cornelius said. “It seems like we are really on track to getting things more back to normal which is so awesome.”

Cornelius thinks that the combination of so many students already having the virus, therefore having antibodies, and how well OSU has been distributing the vaccines to students plays into these low numbers.

Just because there is a decline does not mean that people in the OSU community should stop taking precautions on and off-campus.

“We are making encouraging progress towards the end of the coronavirus pandemic, but we have not arrived at the finish line,” Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce said in a Tweet. “This is not the time to let down our guards.”

To see more of OSU’s University Health Services reports and stay up-to-date, as well as reporting a COVID case or scheduling a vaccination, visit their website at uhs. okstate.edu. news.ed@ocolly.com

sports

Dancing Continued from pg. 1 Liberty put up a fight in both contests, but ultimately came up short. OSU and Liberty share one common opponent in TCU, the two teams both lost each meeting with the Horned Frogs.

With a win OSU would face the winner of 5-seed Tennessee and 12-seed Oregon State.

OSU has played 10 tournament teams in its schedule to this point, and has at least one win against each of them, with a total of 13 wins against those teams. The Big

12 has seven teams in the tournament, which is second only to the nine selected from the Big 10.

This is OSU’s 29th NCAA Tournament bid, and its first since 2017. OSU is seeking its first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2009 when it beat 9-seed Tennessee. The last time OSU was a 4-seed it made a run to the Final Four in 1995.

“Blessed to be here, but we still have a lot of points to prove,” junior guard Isaac Likekele said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

The Liberty File Coach: Ritchie McKay (seventh season) Record: 23-5 (11-2) Conference: ASUN Top scorer: Darius McGhee (15.6 points) NET Ranking: 86th

16 T H O F APRIL The department of Design, Housing, and Mercha nd is ing p re sent s i t s 10 t h annual Euphoria fashion show. This is a fully student-produced event where students gain valuable, hands-on experience in planning and executing all aspects of a f a s hio n s ho w.

For their final project, our graduating seniors create one -of-a-kind collections to showcase their skills and tale nt. For the first time in Euphoria histor y, these will be presented through individual designer vignet tes that display their creative vision to t he audience. Please join us for an orange carpet af fair, coming to you v irtua lly o n Ap ril 16 , 2 021.

To purchase tickets or learn more information about Euphoria, visit our Instagram @o ks ta te_eup ho ria.

Page 6 Monday, March 15, 2021

sports

Lessons learned What Josh Holliday discovered about his team in victory over Vanderbilt

Ben Hutchens It was the equivalent of a person who has lived his entire life in Florida spending a snowy February weekend in Buffalo, New York.

The Cowboy baseball team hadn’t faced a lot of defeat prior to its series this weekend against the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores. OSU was 10-0-1 before losing both games of a doubleheader on Saturday by a combined 19 runs. In the final game of the series, a 10-6 OSU win, the Cowboys learned what snow was, and how to keep warm.

“After coming out and getting our teeth kicked in yesterday, we bounced back today and then to come and get a big win today that’s huge,” OSU pitcher Bryce Osmond said. “We’re fighters and that’s what we do.”

Joshua Cleary

The Cowboys weren’t thinking about Saturday on Sunday.

“They couldn’t miss a barrel last night, both of their pitchers were great, sometimes you have to

tip your cap and move on to the next day. The best players have the shortest memories and the best teams do too,” OSU infielder Nolan McLean said.

Their refreshed

performance began in the second inning, where they scored six runs on six hits. It was their most productive offensive inning since they plated six against Illinois State.

Cowboy starting pitcher Osmond, middle reliever Trevor Martin, and closer Brett Standlee combined to hold the Commodores to 6 runs, which is not a total the staff strives for, but a total they will take against the No. 2 team in the nation.

“There was probably no bigger starting point for this game than the way Bryce pitched, which was excellent,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said.

In keeping with the snow analogy, the Cowboys first experience of snow was a Buffalo blizzard. But instead of folding to the cold and resigning themselves to their fate, they learned how to deal with the cold and keep warm.

“I learned that when (the Cowboys) woke up this morning they were ready to compete,” Holliday said. “They didn’t go out here and hope things would go our way, they came out here and did something about it.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 8 Monday, March 15, 2021

News

‘They’ is Here to Stay

By Jennifer Maupin Two small words added to the end of Oklahoma State students’ names on Canvas marks a big step towards inclusivity on campus.

A group of students and professors noticed Canvas, the website students use to communicate with professors and find their coursework, had a pronoun setting available, but OSU hadn’t enabled the setting.

Irissa Baxter-Luper, coordinator of Women’s and LGBTQ Affairs, with the help of seven students and faculty members known as The Chosen Name and Pronoun Working Group, worked to implement the change. She/her, he/him and they/them are the options a student can designate to show how they would like to be addressed.

Baxter said giving people a safe space to express their identity will make students feel more welcome.

“It’s just a sign of respect saying I want to get your identity correct,” Baxter said. “I don’t want to refer to you incorrectly, misgender you or dead name you. I want to get it right. I want to respect who you are. It can have such positive effects on people’s mental health, on their well-being, on their identity, especially for college students.”

Rita Peaster the Registrar for OSU worked with Baxter-Luper to include pronouns and chosen names on Canvas and Banner, systems the university uses to communicate with students.

“When Irissa came and suggested the use of pro-

Canvas Thanks to a group of OSU students, Canvas at OSU now allows a variety of pronoun options.

nouns on Canvas, I thought that that sounded great,” Peaster said. “I proposed that we considered just expanding the scope of her proposal a little bit to not just include pronouns, but also chosen names and look not just at Canvas but at the bigger picture in terms of other student systems.”

The Chosen Name and Pronoun Working Group created a webpage explaining the process of designating pronouns and chosen names.

The site provides educational information on the topic and links to support for LGBTQ students.

Lynn Jolliff, a theater sophomore, said she hopes OSU working to recognize pronouns will make students feel safer on campus and in class. Jolliff uses she/they pronouns.

“It’s important to have opportunities to state/ask one’s pronouns because being a young trans[gender] or gender nonconforming person is downright terrifying,” Jolliff said. “It feels like the world is determined to see you as a person you aren’t.”

‘They’ and ‘them’ have historically been known as plural pronouns. The singular use of ‘they’ might be

confusing to those who have had little experience with its usage, but more organizations are accepting that a singular ‘they’ is grammatically correct, including Merriam-Webster, the Modern Language Association and The Associated Press.

The choice to designate pronouns on Canvas is up to each professor and student, but one OSU adviser argues that cisgender people displaying their pronouns is an important act of allyship.

Sarah Mutschelknaus is an undergraduate history, philosophy and religious studies adviser whose pronouns are she/they. Those who have two pronouns listed typically prefer the use of both pronouns.

“We really need our allies to be involved,” Mustchelknaus said. “The more cis[gender] or straight folks that use pronouns and this language, the better, to really normalize this.

From Baxter-Luper hearing about the pronoun option through Canvas, to the designation being available on OSU’s Canvas, it took roughly a year, but Baxter-Luper said inclusivity is a life-long mission of hers.

“It’s hard to say why it’s so important to me because it is just so vital,” BaxterLuper said. “I don’t see diversity as something that is necessarily just about my work or about philosophy or theory. It’s quite literally we want to make people feel more included more safe and more welcome and more heard. Why would we want to do that?”

FOR RELEASE MARCH 15, 2021

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Business Squares

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Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Shop located on 128 N. Main

Business Squares

Needing to play a sport? Get a TEAM together and Play SASA Adult League. Deadline March 1st for Volleyball. Deadline March 12th for Softball.

Try Firo Pizza’s New Roman Style Pizza! The fastest drive-thru, authentic style-pizza offered in the US! Get a free drink with any Roman Style Pizza!

Church Meetings Join the New Covenant Fellowship for service every Sunday at 10am and share in our passion for Jesus Christ!”

UKirk university group at First Presbyterian Church meets every week! Join us for Bible study every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.! For more information or for Zoom access, visit us at stillwaterfpc.com Join us every Sunday for our live streaming services!

Matins @ 8:50am and Divine Liturgy @ 10:00am.”

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 What a regular often orders, with “the” 6 First of a cereal box trio 10 Box score number 14 See 5-Down 16 Distinctive vibe 17 Sauce with basil 18 Like many cars sold online 19 “Jurassic Park” predator 20 Youngster, metaphorically 23 Antlered Yellowstone beast 25 __City: computer game 28 Stick a stake in, as a vampire 32 Dry-eyes solution 34 Manual filing

By Michael Lieberman target? deterrent 39 Brings on board 41 Luau neckwear 42 He played Grant on “Lou Grant” 43 Morning awakener 46 Poi source 47 One of four in five 48 Theater walkways 50 Before, in poems 51 “__ Misérables” 53 Hesitant utterances 54 Behind-thescenes money source ... and a hint to the start of 20-, 35- and 43-Across 61 Elton or Lennon 64 Garlicky mayo 65 CNN anchor Burnett 66 Great Lake with the shortest name

DOWN 1 Officials calling strikes 2 Trickle 3 Cold War initials 4 Italian wine region 5 With 14-Across,

3/15/21

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

to many 6 Experiencing say 7 Light snack 8 Bit the dust 9 Online talk show 10 Fill until full 12 “Roses __ red ... ” 21 Secluded valley 22 Eucalyptus eater 26 Response from the next room 27 Urban transit systems 28 Take a breath 29 “The Naked and the Dead” author Norman

68 Spinning toys 31 Wide awake 69 Apt word found in 33 Grocery “accident” 36 Sick 70

©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

__ Wild 38 Hyphenated fruit drink brand 40 Incense-sensing sense 44 Scared, with “out” 45 Hindu god of desire 52 Drum type victory

3/15/21

55 Roadside lodgings 56 Mary-Kate, to Ashley 57 Mah-jongg piece 58 PBS science series 59 Yale students order 61 Hot tub feature 62 Spanish gold

Daily Horoscope Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (03/15/21). Pursue an inspiring dream this year. Careful planning, coordination and consistent practices realize your long-term and family phase. Adapting to changing news with renewed messaging inspires a career surge. Follow your own beat.

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 a 9 — Plan your communications.

Clean, sort and organize over the next three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. Your dreams could seem prophetic. Prepare a creative launch. with Mercury in Pisces for three weeks. Friends share valuable information, solutions and advice. Team projects blossom. Make valuable virtual connections.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Market, promote and connect. Watch for career opportunities for several weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. There may be a test involved. Learn the answers.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Explore and investigate.

With Mercury in Pisces for three weeks, consider philosophy, sciences, metaphysics and eternal questions. Research, write and report. Share your view.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — For three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces, it’s easier to grow shared account balances. Sort wins and losses. Actions speak louder than words.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Get into a creative collaboration phase. Learn from the competition over three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. Sign contracts. Brainstorm with your partner.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Balance work, play and health. Listen to your body, with Mercury in Pisces. Maintain physical practices. Collaborate with doctors and coaches for higher performance. fun with, Mercury in Pisces. You’re creative and charismatic. It’s easier to put feelings into words. Use your persuasive charms.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Discuss domestic changes, with Mercury in Pisces. Apply creativity and artistry. Talk about what you want with family. Redesign your nest together for current circumstances.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — You can solve an intellectual puzzle. The next three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces favor communication, research and learning. Share discoveries with your networks.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Networking gets lucrative, -

Level 1

2

3

4

3/15/21 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

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially creative, with Mercury in your sign. Write, record and share your views. Polish your public image. Try a new style or look.

Page 6 Monday, March 15, 2021

sports

Lessons learned What Josh Holliday discovered about his team in victory over Vanderbilt

Ben Hutchens It was the equivalent of a person who has lived his entire life in Florida spending a snowy February weekend in Buffalo, New York.

The Cowboy baseball team hadn’t faced a lot of defeat prior to its series this weekend against the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores. OSU was 10-0-1 before losing both games of a doubleheader on Saturday by a combined 19 runs. In the final game of the series, a 10-6 OSU win, the Cowboys learned what snow was, and how to keep warm.

“After coming out and getting our teeth kicked in yesterday, we bounced back today and then to come and get a big win today that’s huge,” OSU pitcher Bryce Osmond said. “We’re fighters and that’s what we do.”

Joshua Cleary

The Cowboys weren’t thinking about Saturday on Sunday.

“They couldn’t miss a barrel last night, both of their pitchers were great, sometimes you have to

tip your cap and move on to the next day. The best players have the shortest memories and the best teams do too,” OSU infielder Nolan McLean said.

Their refreshed

performance began in the second inning, where they scored six runs on six hits. It was their most productive offensive inning since they plated six against Illinois State.

Cowboy starting pitcher Osmond, middle reliever Trevor Martin, and closer Brett Standlee combined to hold the Commodores to 6 runs, which is not a total the staff strives for, but a total they will take against the No. 2 team in the nation.

“There was probably no bigger starting point for this game than the way Bryce pitched, which was excellent,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said.

In keeping with the snow analogy, the Cowboys first experience of snow was a Buffalo blizzard. But instead of folding to the cold and resigning themselves to their fate, they learned how to deal with the cold and keep warm.

“I learned that when (the Cowboys) woke up this morning they were ready to compete,” Holliday said. “They didn’t go out here and hope things would go our way, they came out here and did something about it.” sports.ed@ocolly.com