Friday, August 15, 2025
Welcome Back Edition
‘More
than a mascot’
Inside the lives of Bullet’s dedicated caretakers
Jennifer Roberts had never been to a college football game when she came to Oklahoma State in 1997. She now houses OSU’s cutest mascot – Bullet.
“On Dad’s Day weekend, my dad came up and we went to my very first game,” Roberts said. “… We
BY KENZIE KRAICH I STAFF REPORTER
scored the first touchdown, and I see this horse come out, and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I want to do that.”
Roberts came to OSU as part of the rodeo team, and that experience solidified her future as the woman behind Bullet. She initiated a fundraising campaign
The O’Colly summer headlines you missed
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The O’Colly’s coverage didn’t end when classes did last semester.
Though a large part of the college population moved out of town, the news kept coming in. The summer staff stayed behind to report on the happenings of Stillwater and Oklahoma State. If you missed the summer headlines, you’re in the right place to catch up.
McKnight Center announces 202526 season lineup
The McKnight Center for Performing Arts will bring another year of entertainment to campus. It announced the lineup for the upcoming season in May. Hugh Jackman will be the first to grace the stage on Sept. 12 with his one-man show. Alongside Jackman there will be other high-profile names such as Ashley McBryde and Maddy Patinkin. Jazz bands and orchestras will also perform throughout the year. For the full schedule visit: mcknightcenter.org
See HEADLINES on page 5A
and lobbied on behalf of the team to build practice facilities along with creating a scholarship fund.
After raising $16,000 in the firstever rodeo auction and getting a $10,000 donation from former OSU President James Halligan, Roberts was chosen as the spokesperson for the team.
As part of her responsibilities, she continued lobbying and eventually met Harry Birdwell and Dave Martin — both integral parts of the university’s athletic department at the time.
Advice to freshmen
Kenzie Kraich STAFF REPORTER
Welcome to college, freshmen. You now have a new student ID, a dorm room that probably smells faintly like the last five people who lived there and a realization that you can now eat ice cream for breakfast if you really want to.
It’s exciting, but equally terrifying. Here’s the good news – you’re not alone. There are plenty of upperclassmen who are here to share their experiences to help you navigate this newfound reality of being on your own, and they have some advice they want to share.
Plug in College is what you make of it, and that includes making it less boring. To do that, upperclassmen advise that you get involved.
There’s a place for you just about anywhere, whether that be through intramural sports, campus clubs or student organizations. If you want to meet up on Tuesdays to make tiny hats for the squirrels at Theta Pond, there’s probably a group of people that’ll do it with you.
See ADVICE on page 4A
organizations for students to get involved in.
See MASCOT on page 7A
Bryson Thadhani
Bullet is housed at the Stone Ridge Ranch in Tulsa, which is owned and operated by Jennifer Roberts and her family.
Raynee Howell
Sigma Chi’s demolition was one of The O’Colly headlines during the summer.
Bryson Thadhani
houses various clubs and
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Hey O’Colly readers! Creating this welcome back edition has been bittersweet. The O’Colly has been my home since my freshman year. This semester will be my last, and I hope to leave a lasting impact on this editorial team and the papers we produce this semester. Stick around and support OSU’s student journalists!
RAYNEE HOWELL | CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Hey readers, I’m heading into my fourth year at OSU and The O’Colly and will continue to focus on sports coverage. I primarily write about football, softball and men’s basketball. I’m from the Houston area and major in sports media.
PARKER GERL | CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Hey y’all! I am currently going into my fourth year as a graphic design student here at Oklahoma State. I took a break from The O’Colly for a semester; but I am back, and I am excited to design the paper for y’all!
KATIE LEHEW | DESIGN EDITOR
Hey Pokes! I’m heading into my junior year as a sports media student and have been with The O’Colly my entire time here in Stillwater. This semester, I’m stepping into my first role as photo editor, and I’m pumped to meet — and photograph — each and every one of y’all!
CHANCE MARICK | PHOTO EDITOR
What’s up y’all! I’m going into my third year with The O’Colly, as a marketing major. I will be assistant photo editor this semester and I’m stoked to work alongside Chance to get y’all the content y’all deserve!
PAYTON LITTLE | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Hey y’all! I’m a sports media student starting my junior year and year three with The O’Colly. I’m all about storytelling, whether I’m covering breaking news, crafting a post, or shooting photos. Stick around, we’ve got some fun things coming your way on @ocolly_ newsroom.
BRYSON THADHANI | SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
What up homies? I’m heading into my second year at The O’Colly and I’m a strategic communications major. I plan to bring a balance between entertainment and news to you guys this upcoming semester. Can’t wait for you guys to see!
JOSE BRITO | ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Welcome to The O’Colly
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl
A news desert doesn’t exist on Oklahoma State’s campus.
The O’Colly brings the latest news, lifestyle and sports coverage to campus on ocolly.com and into the pages of our weekly paper.
This historic student-run paper has been around before the website… Well, even before the internet. The O’Colly has been students’ eyes and ears at OSU since 1895. This welcome back edition is not only a welcome to campus for new students, but a welcome to The O’Colly.
Although we cover OSU and the surrounding area of Stillwater, we are independent of the university. We are completely student-ran. Our reporters, photographers, designers and editors are students; students who deliver content to other students, alumni and anyone who grabs a paper from one of the several news stands around campus.
This semester, a new editorial board is being trusted to continue the legacy of The O’Colly. Raynee Howell was previously the assistant news and lifestyle editor and Parker Gerl was the sports editor. Together as Co-Editors-in-Chief, we will combine our areas of expertise.
We hope to inspire and lead our staff toward filling our website with important news, fun lifestyle stories and high-demand sports coverage. It’s important to us and for The O’Colly to report with transparency and honesty. Our staff talk with students, faculty, administration and experts outside of the university to provide great coverage.
If we miss something or there’s a topic you want to read about, email editorinchief@ocolly. com or find us in our newsroom in the Paul Miller journalism building.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Editorial board
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor
Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com
Social media editor
Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant social media editor Jose Brito news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Chance Marick photo.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
The O’Colly Staff Newsroom
News & Lifestyle reporters: Addy Blankenship
Rhema Coleman Cody Garcia Cadan James Olivia Upton
Ricky Robertson
Megan Roy Annie Ross
Alli Themer
Aliyah Young
Ashley Yarbrough
Sports reporters: Photographers & Designers:
Timothy Christensen Cayden Cox
Gina Foster
Pearson Gilliam
Kenzie Kraich
Luke Mazza
Sam Mitchell
Tanner Revas
Will Thorogood
Weston Wertzberger
Jace Bormann
Mykalyn Daidone
Catherine Dzanski
Andon Freitas
Connor Fuxa
Kaytlyn Hayes
Ethan Hilbert
Jonathan Jackson
Kaitlyn Robertson
Isaac Terry
Payton Little Parker Gerl and Raynee Howell are working together as Co-Editors-in-Chief for the fall semester.
Welcome week brings new students to campus
As the fall semester begins, Oklahoma State plans to extend its arms to more than 5,000 first-year students.
To help students settle in before class starts, OSU puts on Welcome Week, which began Wednesday. Some of OSU’s largest clubs and iconic facilities are being introduced to students through fun activities scheduled for the “Cowboy Welcome.”
Although the fun’s already begun, there’s still time to catch a few events. The Cowboy Kickoff, the official pep rally welcoming students to campus, will start at 3 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday. Go straight from GIA to the Colvin Recreation Center for the infamous Rock the Block.
The event will include games, food, activities and a petting zoo. Intramural and club teams will be available to answer any questions beginning at 5:30 p.m. To try out any new fitness adventures, remember the first week of school is free fitness week. It’s the perfect time to try out any fitness classes before purchasing a membership.
Not ready for the night to end after visiting the Colvin? As Rock the Block wraps up, the Student Union Activities Board is hosting its first Late Night Cafe of the year in the Student Union. SUAB members will be serving free drinks and pancakes.
Sleep in after a late night at the Student Union, but make sure you’re ready to go by 6 p.m. for Xposed — a step show that introduces the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council. The event will be held outside at the Student Union North Plaza.
Last, but not least, dress in your brightest orange for a class photo. The class photo will be taken at Boone Pickens Stadium at 8 p.m. Sunday.
Welcome Week may end, but “America’s Friendliest College Town,” remains open. Lights on Stillwater — an annual event that occurs the first Wednesday of the fall semester — will bring together the community and the college. Local vendors, student organizations and more will gather outside of Boone Pickens Stadium at 6 p.m.
Who is Jim Hess?
Caden James STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State’s president is an award-winning educator that started from small beginnings.
Jim Hess was born in Henryetta and has continuously pledged his commitment to valuing education and putting students first. “For example, one of the first things he did as president was give his parking spot to the students, stating, “I’d rather walk,” starting the Park Like a President initiative.
Hess once worked as an assistant manager at Walmart, which he credits with helping him develop skills such as “great leadership” and “management skills,” according to OSU News. Then he got his first job on campus at the College of Veterinary Medicine shoveling the stalls.
When he had a conversation with a mentor, it opened up a door for him. Hess said that his mentor told him, “You’re gonna spend your entire career in higher ed.” He then gave him the opportunity to be the assistant to the president at OSU.
Hess worked to earn the title — one of his accomplishments occurred in March 3, 2009, when he secured the OSU Medical Center as the nation’s only osteopathic teaching hospital, creating new opportunities for medical students.
In February, previous OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum suddenly resigned amid financial issues, and instead of launching a search for the next president, the OSU governing body decided to give Hess their “full support,” making him the 20th president of OSU in April.
Since Hess has been president, he has created the Big Orange Bus shuttle service to connect the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses. He also continues to brainstorm new ideas for improving campus.
Hess has disclosed some of those ideas, such as the construction of the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital, improvements in agriculture research, such as a new greenhouse and a Wheat Improvement Center, and a new program meant to give students an academic counselor and career counselor.
news.ed@ocolly.com
OSU names new VP for Student Affairs
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Oklahoma State president Jim Hess announced Wednesday the name of the new vice president for Student Affairs.
Brent Marsh, the current assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of students at the University of Mississippi, will begin the position Sept. 2, once approved by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents at its next scheduled meeting.
Marsh’s background, professionally and educationally, has long been in college affairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in college student personnel and a doctorate of philosophy in higher education administration.
Marsh will lead the Student Affairs department, making him responsible for all non-academic aspects of student life. Student services including career services, Campus Life, dining services, counseling services and more fall under that umbrella.
Marsh was one of three finalists in the nationwide search. Hess said he was mostly
impressed with the support Marsh received from student affairs professionals and student leaders. The decision to hire Marsh resulted from that praise.
“On my first day as president, I made a promise to always put our students first,” Hess said in an email. “That promise isn’t just words, it’s the heart of everything we do, and it’s what drives us to find the very best people to support the OSU community.”
Marsh is from Kansas but is familiar with higher education in Oklahoma. At Rogers State University in Claremore, Marsh served as vice president for Student Affairs for five years before moving into his role at Ole Miss.
“I’m humbled and incredibly excited to join Oklahoma State University during a pivotal time in the institution’s history,” Marsh said in an OSU News release. “I am eager to work with President Hess, the leadership team, Student Affairs colleagues, student leaders, alumni, faculty and others to provide transformative student experiences and resources that foster personal growth and student success.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
File photo
A group of OSU students playing Spikeball outside of the Colvin Recreation Center at the 2024 Rock the Block event. Rock the Block will be at 5:30 this Friday.
Payton Little
Oklahoma State president Jim Hess took office after former OSU president Dr. Kayse Shrum resigned.
Courtesy OSU News
Brent Marsh is leaving his role as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Mississippi to become VP of Student Affairs at OSU.
Community is what’s brought most upperclassmen through, and that narrative holds true for senior secondary education major, Noah Rainwater.
“I am so blessed with the community I found here at OSU via the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry),” Rainwater said. “Those people have been able to lift me up and support me in the hard times and also celebrate the good.”
Don’t isolate
Going hand in hand with getting
plugged in, don’t sit in your dorm room and wait for the world to come to you — it won’t. Surround yourself with opportunities to meet new people, try new things and truly experience college.
Before you know it, you’ll be applying for graduation and spending money on a cap and gown.
Not only will surrounding yourself with solid community help your sanity, but it’ll also help you stand up when you can’t do it alone. Current resident assistant and exercise science major Isaac Clemmerson is passionate about this idea.
“It’s what will get you through these couple of years,” Clemmerson said. “It’s not easy doing this thing called life alone. It’s better to have a
support system that will be there in your darkest moments and failures in life, but also be there to celebrate your achievements and cheer you on.”
Find hobbies
If anyone understands a busy schedule and stressors of school, it’s Jaycie Adams. The fourth-year nursing major has dedicated the past several years to academia, and even she believes in the importance of taking time for yourself.
“Trying new things and finding your passions is what college is all about,” Adams said. “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and live life a little bit.”
Without giving yourself time to do the things you love, you’ll find yourself more stressed and irritated
DORM MOVE IN
with less energy to give to what you’re here for – your degree.
Filling your free time with things like running, walking, fishing, reading or any other time-manageable hobbies will allow you to create space for yourself in a time that feels chaotic and messy.
At the end of the day, college is just four years of your life. While it seems like forever right now, it’s going to fly by. It won’t be perfect. Some days you’ll forget to study for a test, you’ll eat cereal for dinner or you’ll get lost finding a class, but if you take time to plug in, meet new people and find your hobbies, it’ll make life a lot easier.
Kaitlyn Robertson
Photos by
Bryson Thadhani
Finding a community in college allows you to connect with people who share your interests, values and goals.
Parents helping their students move into Wentz Hall during Welcome Week.
Totes of belongings were wheeled into the dorm buildings.
Community mentor greets new residents at Patchin Hall. Student volunteers help new students and parents navigate move in.
Village A mentors welcome students from Ferguson college.
Headlines
OSU secures historic investment for new veterinary teaching hospital
OSU president Jim Hess revealed at the beginning of his presidency that one of his main goals was to build a new veterinary teaching hospital. The upgrade would benefit students but also maintain OSU’s accreditation.
The school requested a $295 million appropriation from lawmakers in April. At the end of May, OSU secured a $250 million investment to build a new state-ofthe-art teaching hospital, which is the largest in university history.
OSU tightens international travel, airfare class policies
The internal audit of OSU and its Innovation Foundation in March found $41 million in misused legislatively-appropriated funds. As part of the university’s plan to ensure financial responsibility moving forward, international travel and airfare class policies received an update in May.
Now travelers on university business can only obtain economyclass tickets and can not upgrade without documented, pre-approved authorization from university leadership. For international travel, the process of approval is more intensive.
All international travel must now receive prior approval from the appropriate vice president or the Office of the President. Randy Kluver, OSU Global associate provost and dean, will still have final approval.
Stillwater fire chief takes on new role as chief of Edmond Fire Department
Terry Essary stepped down as chief of Stillwater Fire Department after 28 years in various positions for the city. Essary was chief in Stillwater for four years and began his new role as chief of Edmond Fire Department July 1. Essary’s new department is a 160-person department, which is a step up for him as SFD is a 74-person department.
Shrum named Chickasaw Nation’s chief health strategy officer
Previous OSU president Dr. Kayse Shrum resigned in February. In her resignation letter, Shrum said she would return July 1 to OSU at the OSU Center for Health Sciences as
FALL 2025
Aug. 18 –
First day of classwork
Aug. 25 –
Last day to add/drop for a full refund
Aug. 29 –
Last day to drop with partial refund; Sept. 1 –
Labor Day (No classes)
Nov. 3 –
Last day to file graduation application
Nov. 7 –
Last day to drop with “W”
Nov. 24–28 –
Fall Break & Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 1 –
Pre-Finals/Dead Week
Dec. 5
Last day of classes
Dec. 8–12
Finals Week
Dec. 12
Graduate commencement
Dec. 13
Undergraduate commencement
Dec. 17 –
Final grades due by noon Dec. 19 –
Final grades available on transcripts Dec. 24–Jan. 2 –
Campus closed for holiday break
Dates you need to remember for fall 2025
a tenured faculty member. Before this could become reality, Shrum was named Chickasaw Nation’s chief health strategy officer.
It’s a full-time position, in which she’s expected to assist in the execution of the future Newcastle medical center campus.
OSU tuition to stay flat for 4th straight year, OU tuition increases
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents voted in June to keep tuition and academic fees flat for a fourth consecutive year. Hess said the vote shows the university’s commitment to putting students first and fulfilling the land-grant mission.
Chair member Jimmy Harrel said affordability and accessibility of college education was the motivator behind the vote.
The OU Board of Regents approved a 3% increase in tuition and academic fees. University of Oklahoma President told the OU Daily that it will allow for higher financial aid for students.
‘No Kings Day’ protest in Stillwater unites local political groups, community
A nationwide protest of President Donald Trump’s administration and policies reached the Payne County Courthouse lawn June 14. Around 250 Stillwater residents held signs in protest of what they deemed “authoritative actions” including tax cuts that benefit the upper class, defunding of national programs and ICE raids.
The protest coincided with Flag Day, Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s founding.
Sigma Chi fraternity closer to starting construction
Sigma Chi fraternity received approval from the city council in June to close the public alley between its gymnasium and its house. The city will still have access to the alley to reach utility easements. This development put the fraternity a step closer to demolition.
Since this article’s release, the old building was demolished and ground has been broken on the new house. The chapter spent the last three years planning the layout of the new 87-member house with a focus on upgrading mechanical systems. The new house will be 4 stories, the gymnasium will be renovated into a multi-purpose building and a new parking lot will be installed.
Pete
in front of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was stolen in broad daylight in July. Two men removed the statue from its wooden stump and put it in the bed of a truck. The police identified the suspects two days later.
Eskimo Joe’s iconic street party returns Thirty-two years after the iconic Eskimo Joe’s street party ended because of a surrounding shooting, it finally returned for the 50th anniversary in July. The entire town of Stillwater celebrated Eskimo Joe’s and its impact for an entire week, wrapping it up with a street party full of local vendors and musicians.
Block 34 opens; park rules, regulations approved Stillwater’s long-awaited community park opened at the end of July. The Dancing Turtle Arts festival coincided with the grand opening of Block 34. Live music, games and more brought out a crowd.
The park rules and regulations were approved at the city council the week of, clarifying what is acceptable in the park and how Market 34 — a weekly local vendor market — will run.
Shooting in Stillwater kills two, injures one
A double homicide in the 200 block of West Elm Avenue took place in the early morning hours of July 28. The suspect in custody associated with the shooting was 36-year-old Theodore DeMarrio McCloud of Langston. The two deceased at the scene were 38-year-old Vanessa Henry and 35-year-old Andrew Rice, both of Stillwater. One other was injured and transported to a local hospital and listed in stable condition.
McCloud later shot at Langston University Police officers at his residence in Langston. One officer fired back, and he was taken into custody without injury to any party. The case is still under active investigation.
‘Untapped resource’: Sugar Llama’s to open store in Stillwater
A new dessert place opened in Stillwater in early August. Sugar Llama’s, known for its gourmet mini donuts, ice cream and custom coffees, is located on 132 ½ N. Main Street.
Bryson Thadhani SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
The start of the semester always feels like a blur. New classes, new faces, a new coffee order because your 8 a.m. requires extra caffeine. But there are several dates worth locking in now before the semester gets away from you.
Monday is go time. That’s when classwork officially begins for the fall semester. If your schedule looks good on paper but doesn’t work in reality, you’ve got until Aug. 25 to add or drop classes for a full refund. No harm, no foul and no trace left behind on your transcript.
After that, the safety net gets smaller. Until Aug. 29, you can still drop and get a partial refund, but adding a class will require both your advisor’s and your instructor’s signatures. Past that point, fullsemester adds are done.
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 1, which means a three-day weekend right out of the gate. By Sept. 12, instructors can file excessive absence alerts, so if you’ve been skipping, expect a nudge. Six-week grades start showing up on Sept. 23 and are locked on Oct. 1. Short courses that end in the first half of the semester wrap up with final grades on Oct. 7.
If you’re walking the stage this fall, the paperwork comes first. Nov. 3 is the last day to file your graduation application if you want your name printed in the program.
The final chance to drop with a “W” on your transcript is Nov. 7. After that, it’s up to your instructor, and the outcome could be a W or an F. Fall Break runs Nov. 24-26, with Thanksgiving break following immediately after on Nov. 27-28. Once you’re back, the sprint to finals begin. Dec. 1 is a big date. It’s both the assigned W/F drop deadline and the start of Pre-Finals week, also called “Dead Week.” During this period, no new assignments worth more than 5% of your grade should be assigned.
Classes end Dec. 5 and Finals Week takes over Dec. 8-12. Graduation commencement is set for Dec. 12, with undergrad the day after on Dec. 13. Faculty have until noon on Dec. 17 to submit final grades, which will be on official transcripts by Dec. 19.
After that, campus goes quiet Dec. 24-Jan. 2 for holiday break. Then it’s time to get ready for spring semester chaos all over again.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Cristian Mendoza
Block 34’s grand opening was a huge headline during the summer in Stillwater. The Heard and several other local artists performed at the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival, which was the first event at the new venue.
Pistol Pete statue stolen from fraternity
The wooden Pistol
statue
News
Navigating fitness on OSU’s campus
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
New school year, new you.
Goals and resolutions are made each August as students arrive on campus. Getting fit is at the top of the list for some students. If you’re new to campus and Stillwater, here are your options for maintaining a fit lifestyle when you’re not in class.
Colvin Recreation Center
There’s no way you missed the large gym and outdoor facilities off the corner of Hall of Fame and Cleveland when you were touring. The indoor track, outdoor pool, tennis courts, basketball gyms and exercise equipment are free to all OSU students.
The Colvin offers more than the amenities offered in the regular membership. Outdoor Adventure — a program featuring a rock climbing wall — group fitness classes such as cycling and high intensity workouts called F45 workouts can be attended through the purchase of a different membership. The first week of class, the Colvin is hosting a free week.
All students can register for classes at least 24 hours before at https://rec.wellness. okstate.edu for no cost. Try out the classes during free week before buying any additional memberships.
Local gyms
The Colvin Center gets busy, especially as students try out the facilities for the first time. If you’re a dedicated gym go-er who can’t stand killing the burn while waiting in line for equipment, checking out local gyms may be a better bet. The only downside is paying for a
monthly membership.
The YMCA is only a few blocks off campus and offers several membership options. There’s also an indoor swimming pool. ES Bodyworks gym and House of Payne, both on Perkins Road, offer day passes. House of Payne has a way for visitors to pay after office hours digitally.
Take a week to try out each gym and pick your favorite before committing to a membership.
Club sports
Oklahoma State offers 42 club
sports, including bowling, archery, volleyball and many more. If you played a sport in high school and aren’t ready to give it up, check out the list of club sports. Students involved in club sports compete against other colleges, keeping the competitive spirit alive. To register for a sport team, check out the OSU Wellness website.
Intramural sports Although different from club sports, intramural sports are still a great way to stay active. You can join a team or form
Guaranteed Parking!
Salem Lutheran Church, Corner of Duck & Elm 405-372-3074
Monday-Thursday 9-noon
Students’ Right to Privacy Notice
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records in all offices, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings.
An OSU student has the right to:
1. Inspect and review information contained in his or her educational records within 45 days of the day that the University receives a written request from the student.
2. Challenge the contents of the educational record.
3. Have a hearing if the outcome of a challenge is unsatisfactory.
4. Submit an explanatory statement for inclusion in the educational record if the outcome of the hearing is unsatisfactory.
5. Secure a copy of the institutional policy, which includes the location of all educational records.
6. Prevent disclosure, with certain exceptions, of personally identifiable information from the educational record.
7. File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-8520.
Withholding Disclosure of Information. Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information. A student may file a written request with the Office of the Registrar to not release personally identifiable information, including directory information. Such requests will be honored until revoked by the student. The University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure.
Access to Records. Students may inspect and review their educational records by making a written request to the office that maintains the records (See Location of Records below). No non-directory information regarding students’ educational records may be disclosed to anyone without written consent of students, except for selected purposes as authorized by federal law, such as to "school officials" who have a "legitimate educational interest" in the student, to another institution to which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled if the disclosure is related to the student's enrollment or transfer, and in response to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena.
Parental Access to Records. At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent rights to inspect their son’s or daughter’s educational records. Information regarding educational records is best obtained by direct communication between the parent and the student. Students may consent to release their educational records to parents, legal guardians, or other individuals by completing the appropriate form in the Office of the Registrar. Such consent should be given in an uncoercive environment. Parents of a dependent student may challenge denial of access to educational records by producing the most current copy of Internal Revenue Form 1040.
Definitions. "Educational Record" refers to those records which are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution. "Directory Information" includes: student’s name (including chosen or preferred first name); local and permanent address or hometown; telephone number; year of birth; major field of study; weight and height of student participating in officially recognized sports; dates of
a team with a few friends or classmates and compete against others. There are more than 50 different sports leagues available. Softball, dodgeball, basketball, flag football and others are available to join. To create, join or check out the current leagues, visit mleagues.com/okstate and create an account.
Lawn activities OSU has lawn space around every corner. Grab a few friends and play a game of frisbee or catch. If ball-
centered sports aren’t your style, grab a yoga mat and try out a few yoga poses. Not only is it good for you physically but also it’s a good way to mellow out when times get stressful.
Go for a run OSU’s campus is large. Lace up your running shoes and become familiar with your new home. A Pistol Pete Walking Trail is also available to follow and find Pistol Pete symbols around campus, spicing up an otherwise normal walk around campus.
attendance at Oklahoma State University; degrees, honors, and awards granted or received, and dates granted or received; academic classification such as freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, etc.; institutional electronic mail address; most recent educational institution previously attended; dissertation or thesis title; or thesis/dissertation advisor; participation in officially recognized organizations, activities, and sports; parents’ names and addresses (city and state only).
“School official” is defined as an individual currently serving as a member of the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges; the President of OSU and the administrators, faculty and staff they supervise; the President and CEO of the Alumni Association and President and CEO of the Oklahoma State University Foundation and the staff they supervise; the National Student Clearinghouse; and contractors, volunteers and other nonemployees performing institutional functions as school officials with legitimate educational interests.
"Legitimate educational interest" is defined as an interest which results from the duties officially assigned to a school official and which are related to such a school official's responsibility for facilitating the student's development. School officials may have legitimate educational interests both in students who are currently enrolled and in those no longer enrolled.
Location of Records Several offices share responsibility for maintaining and releasing information pertaining to student education records. These include but are not restricted to: a) the Office of the Registrar for academic records, b) the Office of Student Conduct Education and Administration for disciplinary records, c) the Office of the Bursar for billing and payment records, d) the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for scholarship and financial aid records, e) the Human Resources office or Career Services office for employment/ placement records, and f) the Communications Service office for directory information.
Challenge the Content of Records. When a student seeks to challenge the content of the educational record, the following steps will be used:
1. The student will submit a written request to the official responsible for maintaining the record, with such request specifying the content being challenged, the grounds for the challenge, and the exact action being sought.
Within one month of the request, the official shall provide a written response. If the official grants the request, the change(s) will be made. If the request is denied, the letter will explain why and will inform the student they may add an explanation to the record and/or appeal the official’s decision. If the student adds an explanation to the record, the explanation will accompany the part of the record to which the explanation pertains, whenever that part of the record is released.
3. An appeal may be filed by submitting
The Colvin Recreation Center is hosting a free fitness week as an opportunity for students to try different classes.
“Dave Martin is the one who called and hired me to do this job,” Roberts said. “It was because of all those layers of things that happened… that I met him, and he said, ‘Hey, do you want to come back and run this program?’
In her senior year at OSU (2000-01), Roberts joined the Spirit Riding team — a collective of students put together each year who get to be part of Bullet’s appearances at events and football games. Just a few years later (2005) Roberts took the reins of the program, literally.
While taking care of one of the beating hearts of OSU comes with great honor and responsibility, Bullet has become something much greater to Roberts and her family.
“Our family has always thought that it’s an honor and a privilege to run the program and house the horse, but we also try to protect him at home,” Roberts said. “I allow the occasional visitor to come see him, but for the most part, he just gets to be a horse at home.
“When he comes to Stillwater, he knows that he has to be in character, so at home… he just gets to relax and know that (it’s) a safe place.”
Home is 60 miles east of Stillwater for Bullet on Stone Ridge Ranch in Tulsa — owned and operated by Roberts and her family. In housing Bullet, training, loving and caring for him has become an integral piece of Roberts’ relationships.
“My girls absolutely love this program,” Roberts said. “They’ve grown up on that football field. They’ve brushed their teeth in pajamas at band practice.
“And if there’s 8-10 students (on the Spirit Riding team) a year… I gain all these extra children. It’s just great.”
OSU’s Spirit Riding team is made up of eight students, with just one selected to take the reins on Bullet’s back every season. Last fall, Roberts’ oldest daughter, Keaton Cunningham, held the honor, and this year, the chaps were passed down to Avery Langley.
“Keaton came over to my apartment… and she handed me the chaps and said, ‘I’m handing these down to you,” Langley said. “I just started bawling.”
For Langley, the honor doesn’t stop on the football field, but carries over into her everyday life and interactions
in Stillwater.
“I think a lot of people think that it’s about the rider, and it’s really not,” she said. “It’s about being with (Bullet) on the field and making him look good.
“But it’s also all these little kids and all these people you meet… It honestly makes your heart more warm than it does theirs. It benefits us more than it benefits them.”
Similar to Roberts, Langley was recruited to OSU for something other than the Spirit Riding team. The Oxford, Mississippi, native competed for the university’s equestrian team for two years before trying out for the Spirit Riding team her junior year.
“It was a game changer,” Langley said. “Being out
on the field wasn’t even the best part of it. It was the relationships you make with other teammates, the vets, other students and just people in general.”
While many people are infatuated with Bullet’s 10-second appearance after Cowboy touchdowns, there’s much more to the seasoned horse entering his seventh season.
“Bullet, and horses in general, have the purest souls,” Langley said. “In the Bible, it mentions horses over 300 times — they’re a holy animal.
“Each and every one of us have our own stories, but horses will understand all the stories themselves. (Bullet) can feel your energy, and
he’s such a huge part of OSU because of what he gives others.”
Langley explained the experiences she’s had with Bullet at appearances and games, both being equally as rewarding.
She has seen him play with children at fundraiser events supporting those with special needs and disabilities. She has felt the empathy he has for those going through things only some can understand — making him the perfect mascot for OSU in her eyes.
“He’s more than a mascot,” she said. “He knows how to affect people emotionally and benefit them in a way nobody can explain.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
Keaton Cunningham, the oldest daughter in the Roberts family, took the reins as Bullet’s rider last season.
Friday, August 15, 2025
‘Insurmountable
challenge’
How Auerbach battled through grief, injury
The applause at graduation was for her degrees, but Sivan Auerbach knew that moment carried more than what was on the surface.
In the span of weeks, she had lost her father, tore a tendon and found herself unable to run or focus. It could have
BY KENZIE KRAICH I STAFF REPORTER
been a season of life that broke her. Instead, it became one of resilience through grief, injury and activism for the Oklahoma State cross country and track runner.
Balancing a double major, two minors and a 4.0 GPA put her under a well-deserved national spotlight, but Auerbach’s fortitude shines a brighter light
than any recognition could give.
Handling grief “Grief is very much an ongoing, lifelong process,” Auerbach said, all too familiar with the feelings.
In February, she got the call from her mother that her father had an unexpected heart attack. Days later, she was attending his funeral in Israel.
How Hoyt balances faith, family, coaching at Oklahoma State
Faith, family and basketball — integral parts of Jacie Hoyt’s life.
“You can’t talk about one without the other,” Hoyt said. Each piece has carried Hoyt through big wins as Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball coach, heartbreaking losses and a fiveyear battle that tested her beliefs. On and off the court, these three
pillars have become inseparable.
Faith “It’s what drives me, it’s what shapes me, it’s what moves me,” Hoyt said. “I am who I am because of it. I am where I am because of it.”
Stewarding the responsibility she believes God has given her comes with great highs and suffocating lows, but obedience to her faith has become a characterization of
her daily decisions.
“Not everything is sunshine and rainbows when you have a strong faith,” Hoyt said. “When you’re trying to be obedient and follow Christ, and his plan isn’t aligning with what you want it to look like, that’s really, really hard.”
Pursuing her faith is what Hoyt credits as the sole reason she was able to find victory during her fiveyear struggle with infertility.
See HOYT on page 4B
Auerbach’s father was one of her biggest supporters, known to show his college students her running videos while beaming with pride. The trend began in Auerbach’s younger years as her father would drive her an hour home from the track every day.
See AUERBACH on page 4B
Hello from The O’Colly sports department
Want to hear what Mike Gundy and OSU football players said after a game? The latest on men’s and women’s basketball? Soccer? Equestrian?
We’ve got you covered.
The O’Colly Sports department is committed to offering the best insight into each sport on the Oklahoma State campus. We’re at almost every sporting event and media availability and report with accuracy, fairness and determination to provide our readers with the highest quality of coverage. We have writers at soccer and football in August and are at postseason baseball and softball in May and June.
Our weekly print hits campus on Fridays and daily content is published on ocolly. com. Also expect digital content from us — Instagram reels, podcasts and videos to keep you up to speed on the latest sports news and content, as well as feature stories on athletes from all sports and stories and videos on Cowboy and Cowgirl coaches.
One week, expect a good read on new men’s and women’s basketball players. Next week, expect something on OSU’s golf teams. Name the sport, and we’ve got you covered.
If you want to learn more about OSU sports, look no further than The O’Colly. We strive daily to provide our readers with what they’re looking for, and want to connect with you, regardless of where you’re at. Our work is by the students and for anyone looking to learn something new.
Kaytlyn Hayes
OSU senior and Israel native Sivan Auerbach graduated with a 4.0 GPA as a track and cross country runner.
Connor Fuxa
Jacie Hoyt is entering her fourth season at OSU and looking to reach the tournament for a second straight season.
Kenzie Kraich STAFF REPORTER
Jackson continuing receiver transition
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Jackson V has been asked the same question often since arriving at Oklahoma State.
Will you be the fifth quarterback on the depth chart?
Jackson is in his second season of playing wide receiver after beginning his collegiate career as a quarterback. But with another offseason to prepare combined with his playmaking ability, Jackson has the potential to be a top weapon in the Cowboys’ revamped wide receiver room.
OSU’s four quarterbacks haven’t thrown a pass in college. But Jackson, whose quarterbacking days are over, is easily the most experienced passer on the roster. He’s completed 57 passes with five touchdowns and has totaled more than 600 yards passing.
“I’ve never even really thought about that,” Jackson said with a laugh. “It’s kind of crazy.”
Jackson’s switch to receiver began last season at Auburn. He played in nine games and caught two passes for 63 yards, scoring a touchdown on a 37-yard catch against Alabama A&M.
His college career started at TCU, though, where he spent two seasons behind center. He played in two games during his first season while taking a redshirt
and completed all five of his pass attempts in his second season.
In 2023, Jackson transferred to Cal and won three of the first five games of the season at quarterback. He completed 53.1% of his passes with 556 yards but had to miss the last seven regularseason games because of injury.
So, after some ups and downs as a college quarterback, Jackson re-evaluated his situation. He was chasing his “ultimate” dream of getting to the NFL.
“My first three years of college at quarterback weren’t going how I wanted them to go,” Jackson said. “I knew I had two more years left, so I just had to be mature about the decision and ask myself, ‘What’s gonna be the best option for me (to get to the NFL)?’ That was switching to receiver.”
Now, Jackson — in his final college season — is in position to have his best season yet.
The switch from quarterback to receiver last season asked a lot of his body with more movement and contact daily. But now Jackson knows what to expect and has more time to continue the transition from a passer to a catcher.
Coming out of high school in Chicago, Jackson was a fourstar dual-threat quarterback and ESPN’s No. 1 player in Illinois.
He played some receiver, too, though not full time — but his explosiveness and full-speed cutting ability made him an intriguing college prospect and make him a breakout candidate for OSU in 2025.
“Physically, (the transition) was the hardest, just cause as a quarterback, you don’t really run and cut that much in practice,” Jackson said. “But mentally, it was pretty easy. Going to receiver, I already knew coverages and had been reading defenses (as a quarterback).”
The Cowboys’ receiver room — like most of their position groups — are loaded with new faces.
Alongside Jackson, OSU brought in Terrill Davis, who led the NCAA in receiving last season at Central Oklahoma, Shamar Rigby from Purdue and Jaylen Lloyd from Nebraska, among others. The Cowboys also have returners Da’Wain Lofton and Ayo Shotomide-King, each of whom saw time last season.
Jackson says the new-look wide receiver room could be a big part of the Cowboys bouncing back this season.
“Usually, those teams that win a lot, the receivers are one of the best groups on the team,” Jackson said. “And I think in our room, we have a lot of versatility.”
Big 12 to require football, basketball injury reports in 2025
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fans of schools in the Big 12 Conference will have a better idea of who is injured or healthy soon.
The Big 12 announced Wednesday that beginning with the 2025-26 season, it’ll publicly provide player availability reports for all conference games in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. The policy will include updates in the days leading up to each game, as well as a final report 90 minutes prior to kickoff or tip-off time.
Big 12 football programs will be required to submit daily reports beginning three days before each game. For basketball, teams will update their availability reports the night before each contest. For football, student-athletes must be designated as available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out. Basketball designations will include available, game-time decision or out. All reports will be housed exclusively at Big12Sports. com.
The Big Ten was the first power conference to require injury reports in 2023. The SEC followed it last season and now the ACC and Big 12 will, too. Now, each power conference will have an injury report.
What it could mean for players
Players face scrutiny from gamblers when they are held out of a game because of injury. Nasty messages on social media apps with threats and disrespectful language have been shared by players several times.
Now, with a public injury report, it could take pressure off athletes who could be harassed by bettors for information on their status. The formal injury report will give the public a better idea of who is healthy or banged up.
What it means for Oklahoma State
The Cowboys will just have to be more public about injuries during the week. But, they also will have that information on their opponent. It’s an even playing field — in both football and basketball.
The injury report process for OSU football could be tweaked depending on what day the Cowboys play, though. If OSU plays on a Thursday or Friday, it’ll have to release its injury report early.
Nonetheless, a formal injury report won’t change too much for OSU. The Cowboys will still have to go out on the field or court and try to win ball games. The injury report will just give them a better idea of its opponents’ health and a gameplan for who they might face.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
Sam Jackson V joined OSU after a season of wide reciever at Auburn and is in his fifth college season.
File Photo
The Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday that it will begin player injury reporting for football and basketball.
Vegas’ expectations for OSU football
a strong start to get back to a bowl game.
‘I’ve been very fortunate’
Gundy
enters 40th season of college football
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Once Oklahoma State football opens its season Aug. 28 against UT Martin, Mike Gundy will reach another milestone.
Gundy, the Cowboy head coach heading into season 21 leading his alma mater, is entering his 40th season of college football. Gundy turned 58 years old on Tuesday and is still full of college-football life, he said at the school’s media day.
“I’ve been very fortunate from a health standpoint and my energy level is high, if not higher, than it’s ever been,” Gundy said.
Gundy’s 40 years are from combining his years at OSU as a quarterback, assistant coach, offensive coordinator and head coach, with his time on staff at Baylor (one season) and Maryland (four seasons).
When Les Miles left OSU after the 2004 season to accept the LSU job, Gundy was hired as the Cowboys’ next head coach. During the next 20 seasons, OSU built itself into a consistent winning program.
Gundy guided the school to an 18year bowl game streak from 2006-24 and helped the Cowboys accomplish several notable feats: eight 10-win seasons since 2010, five New Year’s Six bowl games, an outright Big 12 title and multiple appearances in the Big 12 Championship game.
expected it to play out this way.
“Nobody would have thought, whether it was me or anybody else, that it would have lasted more than five or six years,” Gundy said. “... At that time, we had a lot of things that we had to overcome to be successful, and we had some things work in our favor and to our advantage.”
Entering the 2025 season, though, Gundy and Co. had to hit the reset button.
The Cowboys went 3-9 in 2024, their worst finish under Gundy, and were winless in Big 12 Conference play. That led to several staff changes and OSU being the most active its been in the transfer portal. Now, the Cowboys badly need to bounce back.
As he said at media day, Gundy is still highly motivated in the coaching seat and ready for another season at the helm. But with how long he’s been around the sport, he can’t help but reflect from time to time.
“(Bob Stoops) said whenever you get ready to get out of the game, you’ll know it,” Gundy said. “I haven’t known that yet, but I do, at times, catch myself adding up the years and I have to use my fingers to do it.”
So, what’s going to be next for Gundy after coaching?
Can Oklahoma State football return to a bowl game in 2025? If you trust Vegas’s projected win totals, the odds suggest no.
FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM have released win totals for Big 12 teams, and OSU sits with the lowest total in the conference. Preseason win totals don’t guarantee outcomes — Arizona State won the Big 12 in 2024 despite a 4.5 win total. So, projections don’t tell the story.
FanDuel and DraftKings list Oklahoma State’s win total at 4.5 (over -200), while BetMGM sets it at 5.5 (over +140). The consensus among oddsmakers projects the Cowboys as a 5–7 team.
Win totals reflect not only roster talent, but also the strength of a team’s schedule. Based on preseason Big 12 odds, the Cowboys will need
OSU faces only two teams with win totals of 7.5 or higher — Oregon and Baylor — in its first seven games. The final five games pose a tougher challenge, with four opponents, including Big 12 contenders Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas, projected at 7.5 wins or more.
Overall, the Cowboy’s face a challenging Big 12 schedule, but games against UT Martin and Tulsa should be manageable wins. The Cowboys also face three of the projected bottom-six Big 12 teams — Houston, UCF and Arizona.
The Big 12 has the most parity out of the Power Four conferences, making win-loss projections largely a guessing game. Still, if OSU can win the toss-up games and take care of the matchups it should, a bowl appearance remains possible.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
BIG 12 WIN TOTALS
AVERAGE OF THE THREE SPORTSBOOKS
T-1. Texas Tech (8.5)
T-1 Kansas State (8.5)
T-1 Arizona State (8.5)
T-4 Iowa State (7.5)
T-4 Utah (7.5)
T-4 Baylor (7.5)
5. Kansas (6.8)
T-6 TCU (6.5)
T-6 BYU (6.5)
T-6 Cincinnati (6.5)
T-7 Colorado (6.2)
T-7 Houston (6.2)
T-8 UCF (5.5)
T-8 Arizona (5.5)
T-8 West Virginia (5.5)
9. Oklahoma State (4.8)
Gundy is also the school’s all-time winningest coach and is one of only 10 coaches in college football history to produce 18 straight winning seasons at one school. Gundy never
He hasn’t offered a timeline on when he may be done, but says he has a good idea of what could come after that — following some of his former coaching colleagues in this modern era of college sports. “I’m going to guess that eventually, I’ll probably get into television,” Gundy said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
FanDuel and DraftKings set OSU’s projected win total at 4.5.
Payton Little
Mike Gundy is set to enter his 21st year at the helm of Cowboy football.
Luke Mazza STAFF REPORTER
from 1
“I think that’s where obedience comes in,” Hoyt said. “To continue to follow and trust (God) when things aren’t going the way that you wish they would.
“Then along comes Harlow, and the timing probably couldn’t have been harder, but that’s what I prayed for… She came at the most perfect time.”
Just 10 days after giving birth, Hoyt showed up in Gallagher-Iba Arena for the Cowgirls’ win against Iowa State. What most can only imagine doing, she put into action.
“God just took over in his own way,” Hoyt said. “The Bible says that when we are weak, he is strong, and I felt that. No one will ever convince me that it was anyone or anything but him.”
A month and a half prior, Hoyt found herself baptizing three of her players and a graduate assistant – she turned her influence to what she calls “Kingdom coaching.”
“It was the greatest reminder of why I do what I do,” Hoyt said. “As coaches, we’re striving to win games, but we’re also striving to win souls for the Kingdom, and that was just great affirmation for me.”
Family Family has been essential to the way Hoyt has pursued her faith and career her entire life. Dec. 11, 2024 made those truths even more real.
“No one understands the journey that Daniel and I went through to get Harlow,” Hoyt said. “She’s just an amazing testament to God’s faithfulness and his perfect timing.” With the timing coming right in the middle of the season, it was hard for Hoyt to imagine how she’d balance being a coach, mom and wife all at the same time — no offseason.
For the Cowgirls, Harlow became much more than just a coach’s daughter, but the center of the family they were building.
“It was such a long journey of infertility and not knowing if we were going to be able to have a child, but now I get to be blessed with the most perfect daughter… and coach a team that I love and adore,” Hoyt said. “To be able to marry those two worlds has been really special for me, more special than I think people realize.” Hoyt and her husband, Daniel Hefflin, have celebrated many wins, losses and everything in between, but the birth of their daughter has
solidified the importance of family.
“(Harlow) has made me so much better, as a coach and in my faith,” Hoyt said. “She’s pushed me to a different level of love and understanding that bleeds out into all the other areas of my life.
“I didn’t know it was possible to love something as much as I love her.”
Basketball
“I love this game,” Hoyt said. “I love everything that comes with it… It’s given me everything in my life.”
The greatest part of Hoyt’s career, both playing and coaching, has been the sisterhood of the most recent Cowgirl roster.
“They were the most selfless group that I’ve ever coached,” Hoyt said. “It was simply the love that we all had for each other that drove us to new places and helped us get to new heights that I don’t think anyone saw coming.”
Both Hoyt’s personal social media and the OSU accounts publicly accounted for the shared experiences among the team throughout her pregnancy. Once Harlow was born, the resilience continued.
Hoyt’s life began to exemplify sacrifice for the sport she loves most — dedicating hours to the gym, despite a lack of sleep or energy.
“I always prayed that if I could have a baby and get to do this career, I was going to show my players you could do both,” Hoyt said.
While last year’s team was one Hoyt got to experience an endless amount of highs with, she’s already impressed with the new faces she’s brought in.
“The players who came in are players who are very motivated to help us continue to climb to new heights and take this thing to another level,” Hoyt said. “I think we have a group that understands who we want to be and what it takes on a daily basis.
“Unfortunately now, I think the byproduct of the transfer portal is that there’s not a lot of loyalty to a university… I don’t think the players (at OSU) had that last year, and I don’t think they feel that this year. They love OSU so well.”
With Hoyt signing a contract extension ahead of the 202425 season, she’s excited to be in Stillwater with a new family, strengthened faith and a growing career.
“OSU has allowed me to find a place where I feel like I can fully be me,” Hoyt said. “Whether it’s as a believer, a mom in coaching or a head coach… I just feel incredibly grateful.”
Continued from 1
It became an integral part of the pair’s conversations — even up to their last as they discussed an upcoming, national-qualifying meet just before his passing.
“It was the last thing we ever talked about,” Auerbach said. “So I fixated on coming back and running it.”
Despite being fully aware of her previous foot injury she had been nursing since earlier in the indoor season, Auerbach got on a plane to Boston just four days after arriving in her home country.
She was hopeful for a full recovery for herself, but was still not able to compete in the very race her father had held out hope for. After an MRI, she was back in a boot with a torn tendon in her foot.
“I found myself here in Oklahoma, without family, completely unable to run or do anything,” she said. “That was really tough.”
On top of battling an injury and one of the worst imaginable losses one can experience, Auerbach was handling the pressures surrounding her degree.
“It was hard for me to find the motivation to do, and I didn’t even know where to begin,” Auerbach said. “It seemed like a really insurmountable challenge.
“Everything was just a lot to handle at once, and eventually it was also just really hard for me to take care of myself… I didn’t really recognize who I was.”
At this point, most people would fold to the pressure — they would abandon the things they know to be true and give way to the stressors. Auerbach was different.
She ran to a different beat, kickstarted by someone who knew her best.
“My boyfriend came to visit me and stayed with me for a little bit,” Auerbach said. “It was really huge to be around someone that I could talk about my dad with… We’ve been together for seven and a half years, so I felt like he understood what I was going through.”
While the road had a rocky start, Auerbach found a saving grace amidst the chaos. The visit by her boyfriend marked a turning point in the road back to who she knew she was.
“I never had any doubt of my ability to actually complete something I set out to do, and that was something I was missing those first few weeks,” Auerbach said. “But I started making gradual progress in the pyramid of needs, getting sleep, fueling up and getting things sorted out.”
While the grief of losing her father wasn’t going anywhere, Auerbach found herself surrounded with more opportunities to spin a positive light on her athletic and academic career.
Her rehabilitation began looking positive, and her academics thrived as she attended more engineering expos.
The senior pressed on in her studies, graduating with a double major in computer engineering and computer science with minors in mathematics and physics, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
Handling success When she first came to OSU, the double major was not in her plans, but a language barrier seemed to pave the way for her.
“I saw computer engineering as one of the majors, and I got really excited,” Auerbach said. “I thought it was basically computer science… but when the school year was supposed to start for my freshman year, I found out that computer engineering is, in fact, not software engineering.”
Amidst it all, her dad’s passions became hers as she put her adviser “in overtime” to try to accomplish her two majors and minors while juggling the pressures of success as a Division I athlete.
More recently, Auerbach was named as a nominee for the Big 12 and NCAA Woman of the Year awards. In her time with the Cowgirls, she was a three-time USTFCCCA Academic All-American and became the first woman in NCAA history to win the Elite 90 award twice in cross country (2023 and 2024).
She has continued her passions off the field, volunteering her time at local Stillwater elementary schools and the Stillwater Humane Society Animal Shelter. After Oct. 7, 2024, Auerbach pushed activism on OSU’s campus through the reinstatement of the Hillel Jewish Student Organization — something close to home for the Israel native.
While academics have been at the forefront of Auerbach’s accolades in recent years, her athletic abilities should not be undermined. She is a two-time Big 12 indoor champion in the 1,000 Meters and holds several Israeli national records in the indoor and outdoor mile and 1,000 Meters, indoor 800 Meters and outdoor 1,500 Meters.
Auerbach’s time in the orange and black might be over, but her passion for running is not.
“I still have a big dream to represent Israel in the Olympics in 2028, so I’ll do that alongside getting my graduate degree, wherever that is,” she said. What one can only imagine to go through, Auerbach turned into a story of inspiration for others. She has pushed resilience to a new standard, and leaves a legacy much greater than herself, her grades or her athletic pursuits at OSU.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I know the other side is there,” Auerbach said. “This is what my dad would’ve wanted.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Connor Fuxa
Oklahoma State head coach Jacie Hoyt said faith is important to her life.
Sivan Auerbach was one of the runners who OSU expected the team to lean on for leadership.
OSU’S RANKED OPPONENTS
Four Big 12 teams ranked in preseason AP Top 25
The best time of the year just got much closer, as the Associated Press poll released its top 25 on Monday.
With less than two weeks before kickoff, Texas was named No. 1 and four Big 12 teams were ranked, with five others receiving votes.
Arizona State leads the Big 12 at No. 11 after winning the league and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024. Kansas State followed at No. 17. Iowa State landed at No. 22 just ahead of Texas Tech at No. 23.
Among the Big 12 teams outside the top 25, BYU ranked 26th (156 points), Utah followed at 27th (144 points) and Baylor came in 28th (132 points).
Further back, TCU placed 45th (4 points) and Colorado rounded out the list at 49th (1 point).
The bigger question in Stillwater: Which of those teams will Oklahoma State face this fall?
OSU will be tested early. On Sept. 6, the Cowboys will travel to
Eugene to face the No. 7, Oregon Ducks. Oregon is the reigning Big Ten champion but ended 2024 with a blowout loss to Ohio State, who went on to win the national championship.
Former five-star recruit Dantae Moore is expected to replace Dillon Gabriel at quarterback after Gabriel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL draft. The Ducks’ offense may not match last year’s production, but Dan Lanning’s defenses rarely falter.
Next, the Cowboys visit No. 23 Texas Tech on Oct. 25. The Red Raiders enter the season with one of the most intriguing storylines, fueled with top portal additions thanks to its NIL contributions. It’s the program’s highest momentum since the Michael Crabtree era, and expectations are playoff-or-bust.
Coming off a bye week, the Cowboys host No. 17 Kansas State on Nov. 15. The Wildcats went 8-4 last season but looked bound for the Big 12 title game after a 7-1 start. Eight wins won’t cut it in 2025 and like the Red Raiders, the Wildcats face
playoff-or-bust expectations in 2025. Quarterback Avery Johnson had a bit of a sophomore slump this past season, as his 69.7 QBR was 42nd best. Johnson was highly rated out of high school and was a tremendous athlete as a star basketball and football player. He has the talent to take a big step in 2025 as a junior.
OSU finishes the regular season Nov. 29 at home against No. 22 Iowa State. The Cyclones finished one win shy of a College Football Playoff berth last year, and are led by coach Matt Campbell, one of the most respected names in the sport.
Senior quarterback Rocco Becht returns, continuing the Big 12’s trend of elite signal-callers. The Cyclones lost standout wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins to the NFL, who combined for 66.4% of the team’s receiving yards in 2024.
In this season’s preseason poll, the SEC had a strong showing with 10 of its members being ranked, the most ever for a conference. The Big Ten had six, the Big 12 had four and the ACC had three.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Tanner Revas STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State begins its season in two weeks, as it brings football, traditions and game themes back to Boone Pickens Stadium this fall.
The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing 2024 season, but are hopeful to be contenders again in 2025 with a new roster and coaching staff. Here is a look at each home game and its theme and events:
Aug. 28 – vs UT Martin
OSU opens up the 2025 season at home against the Skyhawks, who are coming off a 9-5 season in 2024. The Cowboys should be favorites to defeat the Skyhawks.
OSU wants fans to wear throwback outfits for Throwback Thursday, as the Cowboys will be wearing throwback jerseys.
Sept. 19 – vs Tulsa
Fresh off of an early bye week, the Cowboys will return home to face off with in-state rival Tulsa. The Turnpike Classic rivalry began in 1914, with the two teams facing off a total of 77 times. The Cowboys lead the series 44-27-5.
OSU wants fans to wear black, as blackout returns to Boone Pickens Stadium once again. The Cowboys will look to extend its win streak to 11-straight vs the Golden Hurricanes.
Sept. 27 – vs Baylor
To kick off Big 12 play, OSU will host the Baylor Bears. The Bears, coming off an 8-5 season in 2024, are usually a tough opponent to play when it comes to conference games, so the Cowboys will be tested early to begin their run in the Big 12.
The theme for the conference opener is Big 12 Tour. No details have been provided yet on what to wear.
Oct. 11 – vs Houston
The Cowboys should be early favorites to defeat Houston in October. The Cougars have struggled in the Big 12 conference since joining in 2023, as they are coming off a 4-8 season in 2024.
OSU wants fans to dress in their best Cowgirl and Cowboy attire, as the theme is Roots and Boots.
Oct. 18 – vs Cincinnati
The Cowboys should be heavy favorites to defeat Cincinnati, as the Bearcats have also found themselves struggling in the Big 12 since joining in 2023. This will be the second time these two programs will face off as conference opponents, both games being in Stillwater.
The game comes on the weekend every OSU fan and student looks forward to the most: The Homecoming game. OSU wants fans to wear orange.
Nov. 15 – vs Kansas State
Fresh off a two-week road trip and a bye week, the Cowboys return home to host the Kansas State Wildcats, the highest-ranked conference opponent on their schedule. The Cowboys are looking to be competitive in the Big 12, and this will be a great opportunity to showcase that.
The theme is Salute to Service, as OSU will honor all men or women who have or continue to serve America’s armed forces.
Nov. 29 – vs Iowa State
After not playing each other last year, OSU and ISU will face off in Stillwater to end the conference play and regular season. The Cyclones are the second highest-ranked conference opponent on the Cowboys’ schedule.
The Cowboys will celebrate their seniors with Senior Day to cap off their season. OSU wants fans to wear orange and help celebrate its seniors for their time at OSU.
Bryson Thadhani
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt helped
Payton Little
Oklahoma State football announced its game themes for the 2025 season, preparing fans for participation.
Luke Mazza STAFF REPORTER
Preparation for game days through the eyes of Bullet
to decipher what he’s comfortable approaching.
How to use your All-sports pass
Sam Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
It’s that time again.
The band will play and the Cowboys and Cowgirls will wear America’s brightest orange with pride.
For freshmen walking into Boone Pickens Stadium for the first time or seniors on one last “Ride ‘em Cowboys,” OSU athletics are back. Regardless of how many times you’ve waited outside BPS’ gates or crumpled up an O’Colly before a basketball game (every writer’s dream), the easiest way students can attend all OSU sporting events remains the sports pass.
Here’s a quick rundown on what it is, how it works and your options if you don’t have one.
What is a sports pass?
Oklahoma State fans attend football games in Boone Pickens Stadium for a multitude of reasons, but there’s only one piece that brings life to the field with every run — Bullet.
Gamedays for Bullet aren’t as simple as one might think, with an entire team dedicated to protecting, preparing and equipping both him and the field.
“Their job is to mitigate risk,” said Spirit Riding program head, Jennifer Roberts. “They keep the rider, the horse and the fans safe, so they’re constantly looking for potential hazards or obstacles.
“They have to figure out how to take verbal and nonverbal cues from the horse, the rider and the fans because it’s such a chaotic atmosphere… they have to be able to communicate with people from a distance.”
To ensure a successful runout after every touchdown, the moving parts have to be cohesive, which is where the seven ground-crew members of the Spirit Riding team come into play.
“These students are putting a lot of thought and effort into making sure that gamedays go smoothly,” Roberts said.
Roberts gives each student on the grounds team a specific role at the safety meeting that takes place a week before the first game. At this time, Bullet and the Spirit Riders will also go through the pregame show with the OSU marching band and cheer squad.
The safety plan put in place for Bullet is detailed and intentional, making his safety top priority.
“We have a sled in his stall under the stadium that two people could pull (Bullet) off the field within seconds,” Roberts said. “We also have two veterinarians with us at all times, so there’s a plan in place for all scenarios.
“I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and I will be surprised by something this year… We learn something new every season.”
Avery Langley, the rider holding the honor of saddling up Bullet this season, has the responsibility of walking him up and down the field
From new logos to new seating arrangements on the field, Bullet himself has some adjustments to make with every game. New jersey colors, temperatures, media — you name it, he has to adjust to it.
The Paddle People next to the tunnel in BPS are also given strict instruction to hold their paddles as Roberts and Langley walk Bullet up to the field. In the same way, cheerleaders, band members and onfield spectators are given a heads up of what’s to come — all in preparation for one of OSU’s greatest traditions.
“We have to be extra sensitive to (Bullet),” Roberts said. “One bad experience, he’ll never forget… You don’t want that imprinted in his brain.”
Being on top of Bullet as he runs through the sea of orange may not be as easy as one would expect, and Langley makes sure to take that with pride.
“I think people underestimate the time commitment it takes from all parties involved, and how special it is to be part of the program,” Langley said. “Those seven days are the best days of our lives, but at the same time, they’re the most stressful.
“We have to work the hardest on those seven days. You don’t just hop on, throw a leg over and hold the flag.”
Trusting in her teammates to do their jobs is easy for Langley as she was once part of the grounds team herself. If she needs a cord or cans moved, she puts full faith that her team is already on it.
“It’s just the smallest things that make the biggest difference,” Langley said.
With Bullet taking the field for the first time on Aug. 28, the preparation has kicked into high gear, but the goal remains the same with every season — keeping OSU’s cutest mascot safe.
“Nothing is typical,” Roberts said. “Expect the unexpected. Keep your head on a swivel. Know that you have to be on high alert all the time.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
With a sports pass, all home Oklahoma State athletics events become available on a first come, first serve basis. The sports pass costs $250, and while it’s a frightening number for a college student, the charge is put on your Bursar.
To see your tickets, go to okstate. evenue.net, click the three lines in the top left and sign in. Your sports pass should be waiting for you.
How do I use my sports pass?
Using your pass might be confusing at first, but you won’t have to think about it once it’s set up.
Pull up the website beforehand in case the internet causes you problems at the gate, as screenshots won’t work.
If you can, add the pass to your phone’s wallet. The ticket will automatically update to the newest
event, so you shouldn’t need the website anymore. You can do this now, you don’t have to wait. Now you have your ticket ready to scan and can head to the student gate to wait.
The sports pass guarantees a ticket to the game, but only you can make sure you have a seat. OSU athletic events work on a first come, first serve system for student seating. If Boone Pickens Stadium fills up before you get there, you won’t have a seat. While usually not an issue, plan in advance when you need to leave. With Bedlam in the past, you should be good, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Your tickets are nontransferable. This means if you’re out of town or don’t feel like going out, you can’t sell or share your tickets. Does this mean you won’t hear your classmates planning out the season with more people than sports passes? Does it mean you can’t slide your signin information under the table for someone else to use? No and no. However, as with all personal information, be careful who you share your account with. And if you get caught, there are consequences.
Help! I didn’t get a sports pass! If you don’t have a sports pass, it’s too late. Scanning OSU’s ticket website or verified ticket resale sites are your best bets.
You may have a good friend drop a cryptic message with their login information or stumble across an Indiana Jones-type adventure to find some tickets, but your best hope is to get signed up for a sports pass next year.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Connor Fuxa
Preparation begins months in advance for OSU’s Spirit Riding team.
Lilian Easter
The sports pass remains the best way for students to attend games.
Kenzie Kraich STAFF REPORTER
5 sports storylines heading into the school year
Every year, Oklahoma State sees new headlines from all of its sports, whether it’s after a successful or disappointing season.
OSU recapped the 2024-25 season with four conference titles as well as a national championship for the Cowboy golf team.
As a new sports year rises from the horizon, it’s not too early to ask what the biggest headlines are for the Cowboys and Cowgirls.
Here are five notable OSU sports storylines heading into the school year:
Can Lutz get the Cowboys back into the NCAA Tournament?
The Cowboys haven’t qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four years and have only had one appearance since 2017.
OSU finished the 2024-25 season with a 17-18 record in Steve Lutz’s first season as head coach with a 12th-place finish in the Big 12 Conference standings.
The five-win improvement from the 2023-24 season gave the Cowboys a positive look for the future. And before arriving in Stillwater last year, Lutz was consistent in reaching the Big Dance.
He made two straight tourney appearances at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and guided Western Kentucky to the tourney in his one season there before accepting the OSU job.
Lutz and Co. have improved the roster, too. OSU ranks 38th nationally in recruiting, according to 247sports.
Will the Cowboy golf team win back-to-back NCAA Championships?
With all five players from last season’s squad returning for another year, OSU is in a position to lift the national championship trophy again in May.
Preston Stout already holds an impressive resume with two individual conference championships and finished third at the NCAA Championship.”
Stout and Ethan Fang also won outside the collegiate game, with each claiming an amateur championship during the offseason.
Head coach Alan Bratton was tabbed as the 2025 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year after earning his second national title with the program.
The Cowboys also finished last season with seven-straight tournament wins, including the Big 12 and NCAA Championships.
Can the Cowboy wrestling team contend with Penn State for an NCAA Championship?
Head coach David Taylor gave OSU fans a season to remember last winter after finishing as Big 12 champions and NCAA bronze-finishers in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
Coming into his second year with the Cowboys, the team will only return three starters (all NCAA qualifiers) for the 2025-26 season.
OSU is predicted to finish eighth at the NCAA Championships while Penn State is marked to place first by a wide margin, according to FloWrestling. Off the mat, the Cowboys are No. 1 in the recruiting rankings after picking up six Top-100 recruits and four of
the top six overall.
Will Cowgirl Tennis continue to succeed with a new head coach?
Chris Young helped lead OSU to the NCAA Quarterfinals in the spring before falling to Michigan. A few months later, he no longer coached the Cowgirls after the NCAA found he committed multiple recruiting violations.
During his 15-year run as the head coach, OSU won an ITA Indoor National Championship, three Big 12 regular season titles and a runner-up finish in the 2016 NCAA Championships.
This upcoming season, assistant coach Henner Nehles will act as the interim coach while OSU conducts a national search for its next coach.
Can Gundy get the Cowboys back into a winning formula?
The Cowboys are coming off their worst season since Mike Gundy’s first season in 2005 after recording a 3-9 season with no conference victories in 2024.
OSU enters the 2025 season with uncertain expectations and with Gundy in a position he hasn’t been often.
Gundy has surprised people in previous seasons when uncertainty surrounded the Cowboys. After finishing 7-6 in 2014 and 2022, OSU had 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2023 (Big 12 runner-ups in both seasons).
Gundy remains one of the winningest coaches in Big 12 history with 169 total (tiedsecond with Bill Snyder), only trailing Bob Stoops (191).
Payton Little
OSU coach Steve Lutz is looking to get the Cowboys back to the tournament for the second time since 2017.
