Friday, September 8, 2017

T H E O ’ C O L LY

F R I D AY September 8, 2017

‘A HARD CYCLE TO BREAK’ Poverty IN STillwater: ThE Struggle of a Single mother of THREE

Poverty in Stillwater

cover s t o ry

Poverty in Stillwater: The struggle of a single Mother K e lsy S ch lot th au e r & Sam Ho l zsch u h @ OCOLLY

It’s Thursday, and the food stamps haven’t come in.

Jennifer Ankrom, 29, a single mother of three, finds only some frozen meat and a few canned vegetables at her house.

She knows she can get free food at The Storehouse today from about 4 to 6 p.m., so she loads two of her three kids into the car and drives with what gas she has left.

Ankrom’s middle child, Hannah, 7, a product of date rape, is at a friend’s house. Each child has a different father.

Ankrom lives in Section 8 government housing in Stillwater. After losing her job at a daycare in March, her only source of income is child support checks from Savannah’s father, $60 per week.

She has suffered oral and physical abuse from exboyfriends, including one who was given a 10-year prison sentence for hitting Ankrom with his car in 2013.

At The Storehouse, Savannah, 12, chases her rambunctious brother, Brayden, 5, around as he climbs on tables and chairs. They wait for a volunteer, whom Brayden calls “The Judge,” to call their number, 89. The kids think out loud about FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

what groceries they’re hoping to get; Savannah wants mac and cheese and Brayden wants noodles.

They wait for about two hours.

None of this is out of the ordinary for the Ankrom family, and they’re not the only family in Stillwater facing poverty. Fifty-four percent of single-mother households are in poverty in the city, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

They are Stillwater’s largest impoverished demographic.

Stephanie Fry, the executive director of Stillwater CARES, grew up volunteering, so becoming a professional who focuses on improving people’s quality of life came naturally.

Stillwater CARES is a nonprofit that provides coordination and support to Stillwater’s social services organizations.

Stillwater CARES started as a think tank to address poverty in the region, and Fry said it largely serves as a network that connects people in need to services available to them they might otherwise not be aware of.

In 2015, one-third of Stillwater citizens had an income below the poverty level, which is adjusted per person living in the household. For a fourperson household, such as the Ankrom’s, poverty

is considered an income below $24,600.

“Sometimes it’s not their fault,” Fry said.

“Sometimes it’s the circumstances they grew up in, and they don’t know how to get out.”

As a child, Ankrom grew up visiting food pantries. After living with her mother in Florida, she moved to her father’s house in Indiana when she was 7 and stayed there until she was 14. She lived with her grandmother in Marshall, Oklahoma, until about 16, when she dropped out of high school and ran away to live with her mother, whom she found was using methamphetamine.

Ankrom was kicked out 90 days later and moved in with the man who would become Savannah’s father.

About 40 percent of single mothers living in Payne County are under the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but Fry said being a single parent doesn’t necessarily cause poverty. She said being a single parent is a byproduct of poverty, as demonstrated in Ankrom’s life, and Stillwater CARES is looking into why the cycle of poverty starts.

Suzette Barta, the extension educator for community education and development in Payne County, is using data to

Kelsey Schlotthauer/O’Colly

​ he Ankrom kids showcased their energy during a photo session with the O’Colly on Friday, T Aug. 25. From back: Savannah Ankrom, 12; Hannah Tackett, 7; and Brayden Ankrom, 5. ​

work with Fry to better understand how the cycle begins.

“Why it exists in the first place I don’t know,” Barta said. “It’s kind of a chicken and the egg question.”

Like Ankrom, Fry said girls who drop out of high school have a higher likelihood of being impoverished at some point.

Fry said the girls drop out of high school for various reasons and don’t understand the possible repercussions. She said most dropouts aren’t aware of the choices available to them if they finish high school.

Fry said poverty creates a stressful and harsh environment for children.

OCOLLY.COM

Children fall victim to the stressors and experiences of a low-income home, Fry said, and it could affect them as they grow into adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has investigated the effect this environment has on children. The Adverse Childhood Experience test is a series of 10 questions about a child’s home life. It poses questions such as, “Does a parent or other adult in the household often swear at you, insult you, put you down or humiliate you?” and “Do you often feel that you don’t have enough to eat, have to wear dirty clothes and have no one to protect you?”

The child scores one point for every affirmative answer. If a child has an Adverse Childhood Experience test score of four to 10 before leaving elementary school, then he or she is 34 times more likely to be incarcerated at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fry said reading levels among third-graders can also determine incarceration rates. Because impoverished parents are likely to be in survival mode, concerned with food, shelter and paying bills, the importance of education is overlooked, Fry said.

PAGE 2

POVERTY IN STILLWATER

cover s t o ry Fry said a lack of accessible jobs in Payne County might, in part, cause poverty among single-mother households. Because the typical single mother doesn’t own a car, she resorts to walking, public transit or getting rides from friends or neighbors who might not have her best interest in mind. If the job is accessible, then it’s most likely going to be an entry-level job, which isn’t enough to support three children.

Vanessa Wedlake, the district social worker and homeless liaison for Stillwater Public Schools, said there is no way a single mother working a minimum-wage job will be able to get out of poverty.

“It’s a hard cycle to break,” Wedlake said. “You have to have some support

because, financially, you just can’t do it.”

Ankrom said she feels helpless about the situation her children are in because she never had a mentor to show her how to handle life.

“I’m not going to be able to give them what they need to not be in this situation,” Ankrom said.

“Even the simplest things, like getting a tag for my car, I didn’t even know how to do.”

Ankrom said she wants to give her kids what they want but can’t afford it.

Savannah wants to play in the orchestra at school, Hannah wants to take dance classes and Brayden is going to need school supplies soon for kindergarten.

When she can’t give them what they want, she settles for small treats. She said

sometimes she is able to find enough “spare change” to buy Brayden his favorite meal, $1.49 chicken nuggets from Burger King. On special occasions, Ankrom surprises the kids with a 75-cent bag of powdered doughnuts.

Fry said the thought of the poverty issue in Stillwater can be sobering, especially when it’s hard to believe poverty is prevalent in a town “as nice as Stillwater.” But she, along with Wedlake, is calling on more volunteers. She said if more people address the challenges, there is a better chance of solving the poverty issue.

“I hesitate with the word solve,” Fry said. “It won’t happen overnight. But we can impact it if the whole community comes together.”

Kelsey Schlotthauer/O’Colly

​ rayden Ankrom, 5, pauses after putting on his shoes to go outside. He started B kindergarten this school year. ​

Kelsey Schlotthauer/O’Colly

Hannah Tackett, 7, shows off a mushroom top in front of her house in Stillwater. She is one of the many children in Stillwater growing up in poverty.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

OCOLLY.COM

PAGE 3

STUDENT SUCCESS BEGINS WITH YOU The newfound freedom that comes with college can be overwhelming and intimidating to many students. There are an assortment of student services available to help you navigate campus life successfully. If you are homesick, struggling with a class or just looking to make new friends, there are plenty of resources available to help at #okstate!

Student Conduct adds prevention specialist to staff

P

Insider

From OSU Communications

ACADEMICS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

WELLNESS

WITH SIX ACADEMIC COLLEGES AND MORE THAN 200 MAJORS, THERE ARE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND YOUR PASSION AT OSU THROUGH ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES.

AMERICA’S HEALTHIEST CAMPUS PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN BOTH BODY AND MIND. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE AT OSU!

Advising star.okstate.edu

Colvin Recreation Center and Wellness Programs 405-744-5510 | wellness.okstate.edu

Edmon Low Library 405-744-9775 | library.okstate.edu Learning and Student Success Opportunity Center 021 Classroom Building | 405-744-3309 universitycollege.okstate.edu/lasso Math Learning Success Center Edmon Low Library, 5th floor | 405-744-5818 math.okstate.edu/mlsc Writing Center 440 Student Union | 405-744-6671 osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu

Personal Safety Tips safety.okstate.edu Reboot Center 320W Student Union | 405-744-6434 ucs.okstate.edu/reboot University Counseling Services 320 Student Union | 405-744-5458 ucs.okstate.edu University Health Services 1202 West Farm Road | 405-744-7665 uhs.okstate.edu

ENGAGEMENT

OSU HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS GIVING STUDENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED ON CAMPUS. THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS..

Arts, Culture and Entertainment lcl.okstate.edu/ace Be a Cowboy Fan www.okstate.com Career Services 360 Student Union | 405-744-5253 hireosugrads.com Leadership and Campus Life 232 Student Union | 405-744-5486 | lcl.okstate.edu Student Volunteer Center 405-744-5145 | volunteer.okstate.edu

THIS PAGE PRODUCED AND PAID FOR BY OSU COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

ersonal safety is one of the many new responsibilities that comes with college.

Oklahoma State University invests many financial and human resources into making the campus a safe place to live, work, study and visit.

One major personal safety initiative on campus is sexual assault awareness and prevention. Olivia Miller recently joined the OSU Student Conduct office as a sexual prevention specialist. Her role includes leading the sexual assault prevention committee.

“This is really a campus-wide initiative,” Miller said. “it is something we can all be a part of and are a part of.”

The committee meets consistently to educate students on sexual violence and is open to all faculty, staff and students.

“By becoming involved you can help change the culture on campus and prevent sexual assault,” Miller added.

The committee also looks at what the university is doing as a whole to prevent sexual violence and

what can be done across campus to engage everyone in the conversation about personal safety, sexual violence education and prevention.

In addition to the sexual assault prevention specialist, since 2014 all students at OSU have been required to take 1 is 2 Many, an online training program about all aspects of sexual and dating violence, including the role alcohol plays in consent.

“Since starting the online training we’ve seen an increase in the number of reported sexual violence incidents,” said Aleigha Mariott, coordinator of Student Conduct Education and Administration. “We aren’t seeing an increase in the number of actual incidents, but rather an increase in the reports, which is a result of people being more comfortable in reporting with the resources that are available to them.”

For more information on the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, training or the 1 is 2 Many Campaign, visit 1is2many.okstate.edu.

#DidYouKnow: Advocates believe an increase in the number of sexual assaults reported is not an indication there has been an increase in actual assaults, but rather a positive sign that survivors feel more comfortable coming forward and reporting to authorities.

PAGE 5

c owb oy FOOTBALL

S P O RT S

Cowboys heavy favorites heading to South Alabama M ar s hall S c ot t O p i n ion Editor @M arshal l _ On c e

Statistically, the Cowboys should dominate South Alabama.

The Oklahoma State football team plays the Jaguars in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday night, a week after the Jaguars gave up 429 passing yards against Ole Miss. OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph and his swarm of dominant receivers might be set for a big night.

Although the stats might look daunting for South Alabama, OSU coach Mike Gundy said the Jaguars are better than their numbers let on.

“This is a good team that we’re playing,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “I know that the score was a little lopsided with Ole Miss, but athletically, they’re as good as half the teams (in the Big 12) in my opinion.”

Athleticism is also something OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said is a strength for South Alabama. He said blocking assignments will be important to stopping the Jaguars’ myriad blitz packages.

“The biggest thing that a defense that is athletic does is get to the ball fast,” Yurcich said. “That’s what athletic defenses do, they get to the ball fast. They attack and they understand pursuit. They smother and rally to the football.”

The Jaguars were down only 13-10 at halftime against Ole Miss, but in the third quarter, Ole FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Miss scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass then a 77-yard touchdown pass on consecutive possessions.

OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said the big passing numbers stem from the Jaguars playing a lot of guys near the line of scrimmage.

“They like to load the box,” Yurcich said. “It seems they’re a heavy-box team. They’re not gonna give you a lot of good run numbers.”

If the Jaguars keep the box loaded, they’ll have to play man-to-man defense with some of OSU’s star receivers, something the Cowboys worked well with against Tulsa.

OSU receiver James Washington scored two long touchdowns against Tulsa after being left in single coverage. However, Washington said it would be tough for South Alabama to put too many resources toward him when the Cowboys have so many suitable pass-catchers.

“With the number of guys that we have, it’ll be kinda hard to roll to one side and have one-onone on the backside with Marcell Ateman or Chris Lacy,” Washington said.

“I’m expecting them to stay true.”

Although the Cowboys should have plenty of opportunities in their passing game, Yurchich and Rudolph said it is important to keep a balanced attack.

“I’m always excited about passing the football, but we still gotta be able to be balanced,” Yurcich said.

“We’ve gotta be able to run the ball no matter how many guys are in the box.

It’s just nice to come downhill and get after people and to alleviate pressure on your offensive line and your quarterback.”

The Cowboys enter Friday’s game as 28-point favorite but have lost to a Sun Belt team in Alabama before.

In 2007, OSU fell to Troy 41-23. The Cowboys turned the ball over five times and allowed the Trojans to 562 yards of total offense.

OSU had two turnovers against Tulsa, both fumbles, but Rudolph hasn’t thrown an interception since Nov. 5 against Kansas State. If Rudolph’s interceptionfree trend continues, the Cowboys will likely leave Mobile unscathed.

“It’s a very humbling game, football, and if you think for a second that you’ve figured it out, you’re gonna get snake bitten,” Yurcich said. “It’s gonna come back and it’s going to haunt you. That’s just the way this game is.”

Zach Hake/O’COLLY

Oklahoma State plays plays South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama on Friday night.

Marshall Scott is a sports media senior from Madill and can be reached at opinion.ed@ okstate.edu.

vs.

No. 11 Oklahoma State (1-0) at South Alabama (0-1) When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Mobile, Alabama Broadcast: ESPN2, Cowboy Radio Network

OCOLLY.COM

PAGE 6

cl a ss ifieds

Help Wanted

Houses For Rent Houses For Rent

Help with farming, mowing and job cleanup. 405‑743‑8200.

VALERO SHORT STOP is hiring! If you are a high energy motivated individual looking for a cashier job then come and see us! Shifts vary. Apply at 1010 W 6th St.

Misc. For Sale

3112 N. Madison 4 Bed w/offc, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage Luxury Home located in Lakeview Village next to Boomer Lake. Large trees. Yardwork included.

Pets w/owner permission. $1,900/mo www.campbellmgmt.com 405‑372‑9225 ext 0

YOST RANCH (1904 W. Yost Rd) ALL UTILITIES PAID! Brand New 3 Bed, 2 Bath 1,216 sq.ft. Solitaire Home.

Private Addition located on 65 acres. Large pond.

8 x 12Storage Bldgs.

Refrig, D/W, Stove & Oven, W/d hkups, Option for Horses.

Only $1,095/month ALL UTILITIES PAID! www.campbellmgmt.com 405‑372‑9225 ext 0

SCOOTERS WHY WALK?

Honda of Stillwater 105 S. Perkins Road stillwaterhonda.com

Houses For Rent

Computer Services

2‑Masters near campus, open layout, 405‑564‑4683.

ALL THINGS ELECTRONIC

223 S WINDSOR ‑ WESTPARK 3 BR 2 BA 405‑880‑ 6095

229 S. Burdick 3 Bed‑1Bath New Paint & Carpet Centrally Located Available Now $725 127 N. Duck 2 Bed 1Bath Apartments Only $425 Per Month Close to Campus Total Electric

Stillwater Property 405‑743‑2126

Available Now: 2‑bedroom houses with horse pasture.

2012 E. McElroy, 405‑372‑7107.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

JAMES CREEK 138 S. Bryan Ct. 3 Bed, 3 Bath, 2 Car Garage Home. Available NOW 1,550 Sq Ft, Private Gated Addition w/Pool, Spas, Sand Volleyball, Sport Court.

Granite/Stainless Steel Throughout, Each Bedroom is 13ft x 15ft with Walk‑In closet.

Starting at $1,200/month www.campbellmgmt.com 405‑372‑9225 ext 0

Laptops, game systems, computers, cell phones, data recovery and password bypass

FREE ESTIMATES

Call or text 405‑332‑1715

Misc. Services

Apartment Rentals CASA MIA has a two and three bedroom unit available, all bills paid w/cable & reserved parking. 1 block east of OSU. CasaMiaOSU.com, (405) 372‑ 1228, or visit 140 N. Duck.

Complete horse stabling facility: Indoor/Outdoor arena, round pen, pasture available.

RV parking available also.

Trish‑405‑612‑9460

FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Short pants?

5 “Gloria in Excelsis __” 8 Where JFK, Nixon and Carter served 14 Brazil’s largest city 16 Military builder 17 “In my opinion ... ” 18 MLB singleseason recordholder for most hits 19 Skier’s destination 20 Musical set in Manhattan’s East Village 22 Shooting marble 23 “Xanadu” gp.

24 Youngest Simpson 26 O’er there 28 Somewhat, to Saint-Saëns 29 Against: Abbr.

31 Spanish pronoun 32 Pen pal’s greeting?

33 Removes, as a temporary hem 36 No-hitter, usually 38 Shot with more detail 39 Hogwarts subjects 40 Ford maverick?

41 Windy City transit initials 42 Blue Shield offering 43 Energy field 44 Hardy title teenager 45 Carpathian Mountains locale 47 Do diner work 48 Roadie’s box 51 Product made from fermented rice 52 Game typically with 81 squares 55 “Scram!”

57 Make less vulnerable to earthquakes, say 59 Straying 60 Countermanded 61 Wee 62 Muesli bit 63 Repairs with turf DOWN 1 Russia had one in the 20th century 2 Level, in London 3 ’70s-’80s show about a big family

OCOLLY.COM

9/8/17

By Alex Eaton-Salners

4 Induced the purchase of add-ons, say 5 “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” e.g.

6 Brother of Peyton 7 Obsolete audio technology 8 Employing 9 Federal housing assistance program 10 “No thanks” 11 Somewhat 12 Aloe __ 13 “That smarts!”

15 Flight-related prefix 21 I problem?

24 Pyrénées peak 25 Mike of “Next Friday” 26 Rural agreement 27 Org. that inspects workplaces 28 Any of 12 popes 30 Treasure chest coins represented graphically by two consecutive letters in six puzzle answers (including this one) 32 1875 Alcott novel

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

33 Uma’s role in “The Producers” 34 Squirrel’s hoard 35 Escape destinations 37 Fourth dimension 38 Essence 40 Budget motel chain 43 Hunky-dory 44 Elizabeth I’s line

9/8/17

46 Shabby 47 “Hamilton” role 48 Help with a job?

49 “A __ formality” 50 Shave 52 Editor’s mark 53 Captain hanged for piracy 54 Pac-12 team 56 Salon offering 58 Spacewalk initials

PAGE 7

h o ros cop e

Daily Horoscope oklahoma state

STUDENT MEDIA STUDENT MEDIA AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY 106 Paul Miller Building • OSU • Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: 405-744-6363

Level: 1 2 3 4

The mission of Oklahoma State Student Media is to provide a professional environment where students create outstanding media and help local businesses.

Oklahoma State's award-winning newspaper since 1895

9/8/17

SOLUTION TO THURSDAY’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

www.sudoku.org.uk © 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

To place an ad, call 405-744-7371 or email ads@ocolly.com To place a classified ad, call 405-744-7355 or email lori@ocolly.com To pitch a story idea, call 405-744-6365 or email news.ed@ocolly.com To report an error, complaint or other issue, email editorinchief@ocolly.com To report an issue with newspaper delivery, email barbara.allen@okstate.edu or call 405-744-8369

Available throughout campus in print MWF, inside the Stillwater News Press TWF and online 24/7 @ocolly.com.

All your marketing needs under one roof, from websites to videos, from ad campaigns to social media

Our office is open M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 108 Paul Miller.

For a free video consultation, call 405-744-7039 or email videos@orangehouse.agency For a free consultation on other digital/marketing needs, call 405-744-4192 or email orangehouseagency@gmail.com

OCOLLY.COM

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (09/08/17). Haul in a bountiful harvest this year. Renovate to adapt to domestic changes. This autumn brings a two-year phase of good fortune through communications. Guard time for private reflection this winter. Recharge and make plans for spring motion. Grow and expand.

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 -- A balanced checkbook is only part of the story. Love grows by leaps and bounds. Postpone travel. Provide leadership and show up for your team.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Finish up tasks you’ve been putting off. Lay low and hide in a peaceful spot.

Make long-range plans. Consider ways to beautify things.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Community efforts go farther than solo efforts. Share what you’re learning.

Keep to practical priorities. It’s not about luck. Successful outcomes require physical action.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- A professional project requires your full attention. Take charge for a powerful win. Make decisions, coordinate actions and delegate what you can to maximize profits.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Travels and studies expand through coordination, organization and disciplined efforts. Do the homework to grow your expertise. Wait for traffic to clear.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Review and organize family finances. Consider new ways to increase income.

Collaboration mixed with disciplined action can get profitable. You can find what you need.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Listen to your partner’s view. A disruption or unexpected discovery shifts planned events to new priorities. Coordinate efforts or risk double-doing. Utilize diplomacy.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Physical action gets results. Focus on practicalities. Fantasies and illusions dissipate. If you want something, make it happen. Keep practicing. Streamline your routine.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Somebody nearby looks nice. Abandon fantasies for now. Thoughtful discipline makes a difference. Don’t count on luck. Only bet on a sure thing.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Family comes first. Beautify your surroundings. Tend the garden and decorate your space. Use something you’ve kept hidden. Elbow grease gets results.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Craft your message. Write, research and network. Communications channels flow with ease, although distractions abound. Selfdiscipline works. Pace yourself to meet your deadlines.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 9 -- The potential for profit is hot. Focused, persistent action is required. Work faster and make more money. Things could get messy. Clean up after.

PAGE 8