A potential tuition raise?
How it will impact working students
Caleson Coon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
For Kacidie Wallace, every paycheck goes toward her education — a possible tuition increase would alter those plans.
It’s Sunday night at approximately 11:30 p.m., and only now is Wallace arriving at Village B
dorm after finishing a nine-hour shift. She prepares to do it all over again to support herself financially at Oklahoma State University. The secondsemester freshman from Weatherford works at OnCue Express fulltime, which ranges from 50 to 60 hours a week on top of her full-
time course load as an aerospace management and operations major. Although OSU’s tuition has remained flat five of the last six years, an increase could come at any time and affect students across campus.
“School’s always been my number one priority.
I don’t want to leave, I don’t want to drop out.
Future of Kerr-Drummond still remains unclear
After eight years, Steve Spradling was hopeful that the beginning of a large project was finally in sight. Steve Spradling is the director of parking and transportation at Oklahoma State University. Since 2018, him and his team have been planning a solution for the parking issue on campus that could impact over 200 students.
“We’re planning to build a parking lot when Kerr-Drummond is taken down, which I’m being told is pretty soon,” Spradling said. Kerr closed in 2015, while
Drummond closed in 2018. The mezzanine between the dorms closed following the completion of the Central Market Place. Since the building’s closure, plans have changed many times. In 2019, it was reported that the plan was to build a parking garage where Kerr-Drummond stands, but following the construction of the Wentz Lane Garage, Spradling no longer saw a need for one in that area. Instead, he looks to add a surface level parking lot. Spradling said traffic concerns and costs made a surface level lot more ideal than building another parking garage.
See FUTURE on page 3A
I want to finish what I started,” Wallace said.
“I love walking this campus — it’s absolutely beautiful. What keeps me motivated is the fact that I don’t want to leave.”
From 2015 to 2025, OSU’s tuition and fees have increased from $20,978 to $25,630 with the rate of tuition increasing 22.18% in
those 10 years, according to College Tuition Compare. The most recent increase in tuition and fees was in 20212022, the first increase in three years, at 2.5% for in-state students. As the 2025-2026 academic year comes to a close, there is no certainty that tuition will remain flat for the sixth year in a row.
“If they raise tuition, I mean, it’ll come straight out of my pocket,” Wallace said. In response to a possibility of a tuition increase, Mack Burke, associate director of media relations at OSU, responded via email.
13 OSU students make their way to NASA
Caleson Coon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
13 Oklahoma State students traveled to Houston, Texas to present their model for The NASA Micro-g NExT program challenge.
As a part of the NASA STEM Gateway, NASA program – Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) –challenges undergraduates students to design, build and test a tool/device that aids NASA’s Artemis Mission. Adjustable Tool Cart Handle and Passive Capture Tool Dock were the two challenges for the 2025-2026 competition cycle. Students split up into groups for each challenge back on Aug. 27, 2025, and one of the groups was given the opportunity to present its design to NASA. The Passive Capture Tool Dock proposal challenge acceptance was announced Jan. 27, 2026. OSU’s self-named team, H.O.R.I.Z.O.N. –Hardware for One handed Retention and Zero gravity Operation and Navigation – soon began building models in preparation of June 1-3 where H.O.R.I.Z.O.N. will revise, present and test their model. However, for some, there was reward in addition to the excitement of being one of the 13 colleges in the nation to present their model.
See NASA on page 2A
See TUITION on page 4A
Caleson Coon, The O’Colly
Kacidie Wallace works 50 to 60 hours a week in addition to being a full-time student at OSU.
Emi Sengvilay
Payton Little, The O’Colly
The Kerr Drummond dorms and dining hall stand tall on campus as of May 2026.
Caleson Coon, The O’Colly Gustavo Rivera (left), Jacob Witthuhn (middle) and Jessi Varela (right) in the manufacturing lab as they hold their soon-to-be perfect prototypes.
News/Lifestyle
‘Blue dot fever’s’ impact on fans, performers, industries
Delaney Waterman
For the average fan, concerts have become rare experiences that require personal budgeting and planning before attempting to purchase a ticket.
In 1976, a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen was under $10 now to see Springsteen and the E Street Band, it costs upwards of $300 for mere nosebleed seats.
The hassle of presale and authentication codes only adds to dismay. From credit card company presales, artist and venue-specific presales, tickets often disappear before the general onsale to the public begins. For some, it has become impossible to make it out of the queue and purchase tickets due to the high demand.
“Blue dot fever” is not a newfangled disease, but rather refers to the unsold seats on Ticketmaster’s website, which appear blue when available for purchase and become gray once sold.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert industry found itself at a standstill. Live shows were in distress for almost two years, but quickly found footing again in 2022. Thanks to “funflation,” a term for spending money on previously unobtainable events or items, concert revenue continues to climb. It was predicted that 2026 would break records once again, but this new wave of “blue dot fever” seems to have other plans. Several 2026 tours have been shelved recently, including Zayn, Meghan Trainor, Post Malone and The Pussycat Dolls. Yet, Live Nation President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold dismissed the idea of “blue dot fever,” saying that it all likely goes back to a “scalper marketing programme.” Berchtold cited
the company’s cancellation rates, which are “probably the same or a little better than last year,” to disprove the validity of “blue dot fever.” And besides calling it a “nice catchy phrase,” Berchtold does not appear enthused about the so-called disease and its effects.
Despite Berchtold’s comments, expensive tickets remain at the forefront when it comes to fans not attending shows. Ticketmaster does not set the price of concert tickets as only the service fees are set by the company. So, when face-value ticket prices seem inflated, Ticketmaster is not the cause of this. According to Ticketmaster, the base price of tickets is determined by the event organizer, who considers production costs, venue size and interest in the event when setting the price of tickets. While unpleasant, these high prices are not completely unwarranted. Touring itself is expensive; energy prices are climbing every day while consumer funds plummet. Just like any other product, a tour is expected to profit and adapt to the environment around it to be successful. If it is unable to adapt, it will simultaneously be unable to find success.
When the economy was on the rise in 2023, there was a justification in spending money on concerts. According to Pollstar, to see one of the top 100 touring artists in North America, one must spend around $134.23. And since 2025, there has been a decrease, but it is nonetheless, still of great expense. For a stadium tour, the average price is $216.13, which is 18.3% higher than 2025 records.
“Blue dot fever” may be affecting artists most predominantly, but fans are feeling the brunt of this issue. Those in college, especially,
he’d never even heard of the project before joining.
have become increasingly affected by this, as this is often the brief time when young adults have the flexibility to devote time away from stressors to music, friends and laughter
Students Zoe Tennill and Ava Loter spoke about their personal experience with the concert industry, stating both frustrations and fond memories.
Tennill spoke of the inflated prices, saying “I would definitely go to more concerts of people I know less just for fun, but don’t because it would be more money than I’d be willing to spend.”
Similarly, Loter brought up the trouble of not being able to afford certain artists, such as
Taylor Swift.
“I have stopped trying to see bigger artists live,” Loter said. “I know the prices will be completely out of my budget, so I stick to smaller artists that I enjoy.”
With major corporation’s, Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster finally being declared a monopoly in mid-April, it is impossible to overlook the accumulated fan frustration. Years of paying for expensive tickets – especially at unreasonable resale values –have only worsened feelings as “blue dot fever” spreads. Half a decade after the concert boom, resulting from COVID-19, fans just can’t justify dipping into their savings for a chance to see their
favorite artist live. As inflation and fuel rates rise ever so quickly, traveling for a tour has become questionable for many, especially those performing. For independent venues and lesser-known artists though, it may have become easier. Many fans have refused the prices of stadium shows, therefore choosing the smaller, more “authentic” experience to save both money and time. As a result, these tours see more crowd engagement, increased profit margins and artist flexibility.
While “blue dot fever” may not be the direct cause of poor ticket sales, it is still proving to be a fatal phenomenon for the entertainment industry at this time.
“I’m so excited, it hurt last year not to get in, so trying again, like, we really wanted to put everything into it,” said Gustavo Rivera, a junior mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Oklahoma City as a two-year participant in NASA’s challenges and lead manufacturer. “And, I just, I think it’s more exciting rather than just getting it done the first time, like, seeing failure then getting accepted is probably even better.”
Jessi Varela, a junior majoring in management from Bridge Creek as well as a two-time participant in the program and outreach team lead had high expectations as many members returned from last year.
“I feel like I knew that we would do so much better the second time around,” Varela said.
Fellow member Jacob Witthuhn, a junior mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Wichita, Kansas and lead designer said he didn’t know what to expect as
“It’s been a very big surprise, especially with everything else going on, you know, and academics, to have this succeed as well is just really really rewarding,” Witthuhn said. “We put in a lot of work, especially in the fall, designing this. And it’s just going to be really nice to see it actually trusted in the pool.”
Another aspect of the program is where six of the 13 members will go to the neutral buoyancy lab at NASA in Houston to test their model in real time. The team lead, Molly, will be leading the professional divers, who will be fully fitted as astronauts, through the testing in the mock up of The International Space Station (ISS). It is considered as an Extravehicular Activity (EVA), a task performed by astronauts fitted in their spacesuits outside their spacecraft to see how the model operates and if it’s a workable prototype.
Assistant professor Alyssa Avery in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department believes in the benefits for students that join the program on their own merit as it has no requirements
of major, year or even staying the full time after joining.
“It helps them really grow as humans, engineers, researchers – all of that,” Avery said.
Since August, the team has met up on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to sometimes past 10 p.m. This didn’t include the individual time students spent working on their roles as a designer, manufacturer or outreach, but overall were putting in approximately 30 to 40 hours a week in addition to classwork, extracurriculars, etc.
The lack of restrictions for groups joining the program serves as a positive in Avery’s eyes.
“When you have different majors, different ages, you end up being able to have a really good balance of people with crazy ideas that actually manage to do something interesting,” Avery said.
However, the many differences amongst the members may be, one thing remains: they’re still college students. And while campus cleared out, half of the team members stayed in Stillwater to finish up manufacturing and prepare for the trip. Every other week, the team has a meeting with a contact at NASA who is dedicated specifically to their team to provide feedback along the way. Although the process can still remain daunting at times for the members.
“It’s still so scary to put this all forward out to them, you know, we don’t even have our degrees yet,” Witthuhn said. “I think a lot of this falls under mechanical design. I only just took that class this semester, so designing this a lot last semester was a lot of research.”
Rivera said it can, at times, be in the back of his mind when receiving feedback for ideas
that most likely wouldn’t have occurred seeing how they’re still college students. But has still served as a positive for any future endeavors they pursue.
“I feel like I know a lot about engineering stuff that I would have never learned in my degree,” Varela said. “And I think it’s really cool to have that experience in my back pocket if I ever need to.”
The team plans to bring two prototypes, the second being in case of emergency, and will likely receive feedback once the presentation and testing is concluded. Students also receive a chance to network during the three days they’re at NASA as well as having the chance to receive awards in three divisions.
In a whole, the students are excited, apprehensive, but prepared as all their hard work and dedication will come to fruition early June.
Courtesy Creative Commons
‘Blue dot fever’ comes from the visual of unsolved seats on ticket websites.
Courtesy Jessi Varela
Courtesy Jessi Varela
Members of H.O.R.I.Z.O.N. Team for the passive capture tool dock challenge from left to right: Front Row: Gustavo Rivera Garcia, Jessi Varela, Abby Fonseca Rodriguez, Molly Dolan, Jaycie Jester, Liam Workman, and Marilyn McNulty. Back Row: Dylan Ingram, Jacob Witthuhn, Elijah Nunoo, Drenzel Garrido Vieyra, and Reagan Liles
Not Pictured: Cooper Hopkins
News/Lifestyle
For residents and students looking to furnish and decorate on a dime, there’s a wide selection of secondhand stores in Stillwater.
Stillwater has a population of nearly 50,000, according to the 2025 U.S. Census. Almost half of that population are students attending Oklahoma State University, which means much of Stillwater’s population is young adults moving out and living on their own for the first time in their lives.
Freshmen are required to live on campus, but the next academic year, each student can choose where they’d like to reside. Many students end up moving into apartments or houses across Stillwater. While some may come furnished, it’s often easier and cheaper to find unfurnished housing. It can be difficult to know where to start, but sorting the stores into categories can help you narrow down your
options. While every store may have something in each category, each excels in different areas.
For higher quality items, or a more diverse stock, it may be worth spending one’s extra dollars at SuperThrift.
owned decor. Both have unique options for decor, ranging from throw pillows and rugs to figurines and signage.
“It may end up costing around $10 thousand per space, even for a surface lot, but you’re talking three times as much for a garage probably,” Spradling said.
Spradling predicted around 250 parking spots could be added with the parking lot. He also estimated the construction could be completed within six months of the start date, but the timeline for this project was reliant on the actual demolition of the dormitory, which has been pushed back several times over the last eight years. Gabe Dreiling, the construction and contract services director for OSU, provided some insight as to why the demolition has taken so long. Dreiling cited cost, utility lines underneath Kerr-Drummond and the age of the building itself requiring asbestos abatement before any work can begin. While Dreiling mentioned these issues, he also offered his personal opinion on the matter.
Furniture
For those searching for furniture, Good Will or SuperThrift is just the trick. Throughout both stores, the most commonly donated furniture is seating, and not to forget tables, storage units and sometimes even beds.
Both stores feature a variety of options, though SuperThrift is more consistent with it’s selection. The amount of furniture Good Will carries varies depending on the current donations in rotation, but SuperThrift tends to have a wide availability of couches, chairs and tables.
Good Will and SuperThrift follow a flexible pricing model when it comes to furniture; meaning each item is priced differently as opposed to how the stores may have set prices depending on the item types. Good Will’s prices often come cheaper, but you get what you pay for.
“We have been through changes with administration,” Dreiling said. “I don’t know necessarily what all of the prior presidents – you know Hargis and Shrum –what their big philosophy was and where they wanted to go, but it just wasn’t getting traction at that time.”
“Recently there seems to be a decision that this is the appropriate time to do this.”
Dreiling said that ideally the demolition would be completed by winter of 2027, but it’s still up in the air. While he was unable to provide an estimated demolition cost because of the nonbinding nature of the estimates, he was able to describe the expected process.
Drieling said KerrDrummond is likely to be taken apart piece-bypiece, as opposed to being exploded. This process helps to manage the concerns of disrupting life on campus through the noise and destruction. Drieling also said it was necessary because of the age and structural integrity of the building.
The lot that would be built where Kerr-
Appliances
Many students arrive with the bare minimum – a microwave, coffee pot and maybe even a toaster, if you were feeling fancy. But as students move out of the small dorms and into places that feel more like home, the lack of common appliances can become more noticeable. If you’re in the market for crockpots, carving knives or blenders, your best bet is Good Will or Elite Repeat. If you choose to buy appliances from Good Will, be sure to test them in store to avoid the hassle of returning a broken item. Elite Repeat conveniently tests appliances and marks them as working before placing them on the floor.
Decor
Decorations often feel like the final step for making a home — Elite Repeat and Karman’s Korner deserve the honor of best pre-
Drummond currently stands is planned to be a residential lot for the dorms in the area. It could possibly benefit residents of the Villages, Parker-Wentz and Patchin-Jones, though official plans are yet to be set in stone. Officials predict this decision will be met with varying responses from different students depending on their residency status.
Beau Flannagan, a second-year mechanical aerospace engineering student, is a peer mentor in Parker Hall. He’s lived on campus both years he’s been a student at OSU. He said he thought a new lot could help solve some of the parking issues he’d faced over the past couple of years.
“I think it would for sure help,” Flannagan said. “They opened up like 15 spots in the gravel lot behind Parker and that made an obvious difference.”
“With how much space there is being taken up by Kerr-Drummond, if they can fit 50 spots there, I think that’d be like minimum, that would for sure alleviate a lot of the issues I think we have for
It’s also important to remember your budget when taking on a task as large as furnishing your living quarters. Each store features different deals and discounts that may vary from weekto-week, or day-to-day.
Good Will chooses a different colored tag each week that becomes half off, and Elite Repeat is currently selling small electrical kitchen appliances for half off as well.
While the aforementioned stores may excel in different groups, they all tend to have merchandise that fits into each category. The secondhand stores in Stillwater tend to be all encompassing and can act as cheaper alternatives to stores like HomeGoods or Walmart. No matter where you start, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for as long as you stay true to your personal taste –and budget.
parking right now, with residents at least.”
While the decision to make the new potential lot residential may be controversial, Spradling said the plan is made with students in mind.
“We try to balance the allocations of the lot based on one, res hall living, how many people are in the res halls, and two, how many commuters there are and where they’re going,” Spradling said. “We will estimate, to start with, what we can do for the commuters, if we can give any of that space back to the commuters. If we can, we will.”
While the plans have seemed to be focused on putting some type of parking where KerrDrummond stands, it seems like that may be up in the air.
Maggie Raper is a sophomore architecture student and a College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology senator for the OSU Student Goverment Association. She said that at the final SGA meeting of the semester, OSU President Jim Hess proposed new ideas on what to do
with the eventual open area. Raper said the new plan seems to put a parking garage where the university’s former Power Plant stood and a new life science building where Kerr-Drummond is currently.
“He said he was pushing for life sciences at Kerr-Drummond and a parking garage at, where the Central Plant is located,” Raper said. “He said that it’d be a really great opportunity for making money during football games and during basketball games.”
Raper said that while she could understand where Hess was coming from, she wasn’t fully on board with his ideas.
“I don’t think that a parking garage is really smart right now unless he plans to lower the cost
of garages,” Raper said.
“From my understanding we haven’t paid off the first two, the Monroe garage or the Wentz garage, and whether you live on campus or off campus, nobody wants to pay parking garage costs.”
While these plans are still just talk, the future of Kerr-Drummond remains up in the air. Whether it is set to become a parking lot or a new building, it still remains standing without any substantial progress toward it’s demolition. For Spradling, he still remains hopeful for the future parking project.
“Hopefully within this next year KerrDrummond will be removed and we’ll be started on a parking lot,” Spradling said.
Caleson Coon, The O’Colly Good Will prices vary depending on item’s size, quality, material and brand of furniture.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Steve Spradling is hopeful a new parking lot could take the place of the Kerr-Drummond within the next year, possibly.
“While tuition rates and fees are ultimately decided by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, Oklahoma State University and the board are aligned on their shared commitment to the landgrant mission, which prioritizes access and affordability.
OSU is dedicated to student success, and, over the past four years tuition and mandatory academic fees have remained flat. Additionally, there have been no such increases in five of the last six years. Though tuition and fees likely cannot be held flat indefinitely, OSU will continue to prioritize access while bolstering student support, enhancing the student experience and advancing institutional excellence.”
As the possibility of an increase looms, students continue to work to pursue their degree and support themselves.
Hailey Zachary, a junior majoring in psychology from Broken Arrow, works part-time to pay for day-to-day expenses as her loans cover her tuition at OSU.
“I mean, that’s why I’m doing college in three years, because, like, college is expensive,” Zachary said.
Zachary understands the financial burden seeing how she’s responsible for the cost of her education.
“Financial aid doesn’t really care that my parents aren’t paying for it,” she said.
However, Zachary said it helps to remind herself that money isn’t everything and life’s gonna keep going no matter what, while acknowledging what it will mean for her future self.
“It would just be more debt that I have to pay off later,” Zachary said. “It would just build up more.”
Laurie Beets, director of the Bursar’s Office at OSU, said establishing tuition rates for the upcoming year is part of the annual budget process with tuition being an available revenue stream to ensure adequate funds to cover mandatory costs to the university.
However, the responsibility of tuition rates doesn’t rely solely on OSU. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has the responsibility for prescribing and coordinating enrollment fees in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, while also being within the limits that are authorized by the Oklahoma State Legislature.
The University’s combined average of tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate residents must remain less than 100% , 105% for non-residents, of the combined average of undergraduate resident tuition and mandatory fees of the
institutions that were a part of the Big 12 Conference in 2003.
“As a percentage of this peer tuition and mandatory fee limit, undergraduate resident and non-resident tuition and mandatory fees are currently 68.7% and 66.4% respectively, of the peer limit,” Beets said.
This doesn’t account for other financial burdens students face, such as housing, food and transportation.
“Sometimes financial aid does not fully cover the bursar account balance, leaving students responsible for a gap they may not be prepared to pay immediately,” Beets said. “Students working part-time or hourly jobs may not have consistent income, making it hard to meet payment deadlines.”
Such is the case for Wallace, who worked three jobs to put toward savings during her senior year in preparation to support herself financially once at OSU. But during her first semester, her financial aid was delayed due to a complication with her parents’ tax documents, which led her to receiving a one-time emergency scholarship from the university that paid off her bursar bill for the semester.
But Wallace still carried financial burdens as she looked toward the next semester of what is only her freshman year.
“Because I didn’t have a job – I was struggling financially,” Wallace said. “After I went through that savings, I used all my meal plans, so then it came to a point where I didn’t even have the money to spend on food and my parents couldn’t really help, so it was a rough time.”
Not long after, OnCue Express offered her a full-time job that supports her financial needs –personal and educational.
Molly George is no stranger
to financial burdens. George is a part-time student who is heading toward graduation in fall 2026, while working at Old Navy and 7 Brew Coffee to take the financial pressure off her parents.
George said she has paid approximately $4,000 back to her parents for the share of tuition that her loans and Pell Grant as an independent don’t cover and is doing so in small increments each month after paying rent, groceries and other expenses.
“I don’t want to put financial strain on my parents, because they’re getting closer to retirement age,” said George, a junior applied exercise science major from Tulsa. “So, I picked up another job, just so that I can pay for all my personal expenses, because they don’t need to be paying for that anymore.”
Finding a balance to it all has been the biggest difficulty throughout this semester for George. With summer looming, George said she plans to save the money from her summer job, so she can pay her tuition next semester outright without the help of parents or additional loans. But an increase in tuition could alter those plans before she walks across the stage next fall.
Thomas Harnisch, vice president of government relations at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), said the key factor to flat tuition is ultimately determined by how much schools receive in state funding.
For OSU, state funding per student has fallen 38% adjusted for inflation since 2007, as enrollment has grown by more than 5,000 students.
For the 2026 fiscal year, the state sent OSU $234.5 million, while students’ tuition and
fees bring in $497.8 million, according to OSU’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget from the Office of Administrative Finance.
In the past decade, Harnisch said institutions have made a real effort to keep tuition flat. And while college presidents do everything to hold the line on tuition, if state funding decreases, tuition may be increased to help fund the campus as a last resort.
“Higher education is often called the balancing wheel of state budgets,” Harnisch said. “If they have more, they give it to higher education. If they have less, they take it away, but it’s sort of the last mouth at the table to be fed.”
Uncertainty directly affects students like Addison Webb, a sophomore agricultural education major from Piedmont.
Webb splits the cost of her education between her parents, scholarships and out-of-pocket contributions from herself. To help cover costs, Webb works as library security on campus and will soon begin working as a student academic mentor.
If tuition were to increase, Webb said her first step would be to seek more scholarships and possibly work more hours as the added costs would fall on her.
“It would definitely make things a lot harder, because scholarships only give you so much, and then, of course, taking money out for loans,” Webb said. “It just stacks up on you and creates problems for the future.”
Webb said school and work can already be overwhelming enough, and an increase would make things more stressful.
“If it was raised by a lot, I would probably look at transferring to somewhere cheaper,” Webb said.
Over in Village B, transferring isn’t an option for Wallace as she’s already signed a lease on a house for the upcoming year, and every paycheck is put toward funding her life in Stillwater.
“I love OSU, but I mean, it’d be stressful just because it’s like, whether it’s $50 or $100 or more, it’s still money you have to save that comes out of your pocket,” Wallace said.
A payday does not pass without Wallace depositing anywhere between $250 and $500 into her savings, while any extra cash goes toward her remaining loan from the spring semester.
Her full-time job allows her to prioritize saving as well as having the freedom to enjoy being a college student, but Wallace said an increase would definitely put a strain on her newfound routine.
“I’m not gonna lie, if it gets too much higher [tuition], I’d probably have to figure out where my line is,” Wallace said. If it came to a point where that line is crossed for Wallace, she said her next steps would be moving back home to finish school after her lease is up.
“I definitely do have that backup plan, but it’s definitely not something I want to entertain until I absolutely know I can’t afford OSU anymore,” Wallace said.
As the semester comes to a close, Wallace will do whatever it takes to make sure that she never goes back to the place she was only months ago – even if it means continuing to arrive home near midnight looking toward a full week of class and work.
“I don’t want to be back in that place again, so I’m gonna do everything I can to prepare for the future so that I’m not back in that place,” Wallace said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Caleson Coon, The O’Colly
Kacidie Wallace has met some of her closest friends in the six months she has worked at OnCue Express.
Friday, June 5, 2026
Behind the mask
How Campbell Smithwick became Oklahoma State’s trusted catcher
BY WESTON WERTZBERGER I SPORTS EDITOR
Every time an Oklahoma State pitcher looks toward home plate, Campbell Smithwick is waiting behind the mask.
Over the course of the season, the relationship between the OSU pitching staff and its starting catcher has steadily grown through bullpen sessions, mound visits and pressure situations.
That level of trust did not develop overnight.
Long before Smithwick became a trusted presence behind the plate for the Cowboys, he was learning the game from his father.
“It’s always been a ton of fun,” Austin said in a phone interview with the O’Colly. “I started out
trying not to coach him, and then it just led to me feeling like I needed to be the one who was in charge of how things went. So, I coached him, I guess, from the time he was four, through travel ball and through little league or rec ball. So I’ve always been the coach (until high school).”
Growing up in Conway, South Carolina, Austin said that not many people were “likeminded” like Campbell when he was working out.
“There were many times we would go hit late at night, especially during COVID,” Austin said. “We spent a lot of time late at night into the early morning, hitting because there was nothing else to do. ...
That was what his hobby was. A lot of kids play golf, or a lot of kids play video games, or different things, and his focus was that he wanted to play baseball at a high level, and he knew what it took to get there, so he would spend a lot of time working out.”
Austin continued coaching Campbell through middle school, when he still played multiple positions. By his early teens, Campbell received an opportunity that changed the trajectory of his baseball career.
“When he was 14, he had been invited to play with the Canes National team at the WWBA (World Wood Bat Association),” Austin said. “... They asked
him to come play with them in a tournament in Hoover, Alabama. That was the first time he had played on a national level, and he had a really good tournament there, and you could kind of feel that he belongs on this level. So it kind of opened our eyes a little bit and opened his eyes, and kind of showed him he belongs.”
Around that same time, Campbell would have calls from college coaches, sometimes multiple, on some nights. On the first day of ninth grade, he got his first offer.
Most SEC and ACC programs had Campbell on their radar, but Campbell already had his sights set on his college career.
“He had committed to Ole Miss his freshman year of high school, so he knew that was where he wanted to go to school,” Austin said. “So after our older son, Tucker, graduated high school and was going to college, then we decided to make the move to Oxford, (Mississippi), just so we could go ahead and get moved here.
“We knew we wanted to be able to watch him play college baseball, so it was easier for us to move closer to be able to see him play, not to get involved with his life or get involved with his college. We wanted to be close to be able to see more games.”
See SMITHWICK on page 6B
SPECIAL PEOPLE!
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet.2:9-10 NIV)
The apostle Peter is writing to a people who previously had no real relationship with God, but as they came to Christ, to trust and follow him all things changed. They are now special people, a pure people, chosen to be a special group who were taken from spiritual darkness. They are God’s people!
If you have come to Jesus, and received forgiveness of your sins; this is also your new condition. The Apostle Paul said it this way; “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Co.5:17 NIV) We are the people of God and we have sto ry to tell. We can proclaim it clearly and sincerely to all. This happened to me in Japan, November, 1956. I heard the good news of Christ and things begin to change in my life. Jesus became real and began leading my life. It has been an adventure, learning to fellowship and walk with the Lord. I have made many mistakes, but the Lord keeps encouraging me to keep following Him. The God, who has started a good work in me and you (fellow believer) will finish it with eternal consequences. All through the ages to come we get to experience life with Christ. If you have not yet put your trust in Him and begin following him. I urge you to do It now. He is faithful to lead your life into the best (sometimes difficult) things and will glorify Himself and produce lasting blessings. It’s open to al!.
A
Catherine Dzanski, The O’Colly
Oklahoma State catcher Campbell Smithwick walks onto field before the Cowboys’ game against Arizona.
Sports
Okung named to 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Former Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung has been named to the ballot for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class.
If elected, Okung would become the seventh former Cowboy player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Justin Blackmon was the sixth player from the Cowboys to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. He was a unanimous first-team All-American, Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, Jim Parker Trophy winner, Outland Trophy finalist and Lombardi Award semifinalist during his senior season in 2009. He also earned All-Big 12 honors in 2008 and 2009. Okung was a four-year letterwinner and helped lead the Cowboys to four bowl appearances. During his junior season, OSU finished No. 16 in the final Associated Press poll. The Cowboys also earned bowl victories over Alabama and Indiana during his career.
During his career, Okung started 47 consecutive games and helped pave the way for multiple 1,000-yard rushers. He also faced future NFL stars Greg Middleton and Von Miller — both NCAA sack leaders during their careers — without allowing a sack to either player. The Seattle Seahawks selected Okung with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He went on to play 11 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers. Okung won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks and was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2012 with the Seahawks and in 2017 with the Chargers. In the NFL, he would be a captain for every team he played for. He would be recognized for more than just his on-field work when he won the 2015 Seattle Seahawks’ Man of the Year award after winning the Ed Block Courage Award in 2014. The Ed Block Courage Award goes to one player from each team who
exemplifies commitment to sportsmanship, professionalism, and courage.
Away from football, Okung founded the Greater Foundation, which sought to equip atrisk youth with leadership opportunities and access to technology. He has also become a prominent advocate for financial literacy through Bitcoin education and has worked on educational and economic empowerment initiatives in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Okung is one of 80 former players nationwide under consideration for induction into the 2027 class and has a chance to join the exclusive group of just 0.02% of college football players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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OSU football announces kickoff times for first three games of Morris era
Timothy Christensen STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State football and its fans can start planning their gameday schedules with the announcement of kickoff times for the first three games against Tulsa, Oregon and Murray State, as well as the TV network for their first Big 12 opponent, West Virginia.
These games mark not only the beginning of the 2026 campaign, but also the start of new head coach Eric Morris’ tenure at OSU. The offseason has brought renewed optimism around the Cowboys, coming off a 1-11 season.
Morris and his staff have been active in the transfer portal, bringing in several former North Texas players, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young.
The coaching change and offseason additions have brought renewed energy to the fanbase, and OSU hopes to carry that momentum into the start of the season.
At Tulsa – Sept. 5
The first game of the season will take place an hour east of Stillwater, as the Cowboys travel to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 2:45 p.m. CT on Sept. 5. Fans unwilling to make the trip can watch the game on ESPNU.
The matchup carries added significance for OSU after last season’s 19-12 home loss to Tulsa, a defeat that marked the end of Mike Gundy’s tenure as head coach. Morris and the Cowboys will look to reverse that result this season.
Vs. Oregon – Sept. 12
The home opener in Boone Pickens Stadium against the Oregon Ducks will take place Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. CT. The game will also air on ESPN.
Last season’s matchup in Eugene was one-sided, as the Cowboys lost 69-3. The 66-point margin was OSU’s largest defeat since 1907. Oregon later earned the No. 5 seed in the College Football Playoff and lost to eventual national champion Indiana in the Peach Bowl, 56-22. Dan Lanning and the Ducks enter the season looking to build on last year’s playoff appearance.
The offseason moves and homefield advantage should make the game more competitive than OSU’s last outing, but pulling out the win will still be an uphill climb.
Vs. Murray State – Sept. 19
The latest kickoff time of the 2026 season will come against the Murray State Racers on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. CT, with the game available on ESPN+.
This continues OSU’s recent trend of scheduling FCS opponents early in the season, including last year’s matchup with UT Martin, which produced the Cowboys’ lone win of the year. The game could provide an opportunity for OSU to regroup following its matchup with Oregon.
At West Virginia – Sept. 26
While a kickoff time for this game has not yet been announced, it will air on FS1. The matchup in Morgantown will mark the start of OSU’s Big 12 schedule as the Cowboys seek their first conference victory since 2023.
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During his senior year at Oxford High School, Campbell carried the spotlight as the Mississippi 6A Player of the Year and 6A Mr. Baseball, while picking up all-state honors with a .463 batting average, a .616 on-base percentage and a 1.469 OPS. He also played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2022.
In college, Campbell played two seasons for the Rebels in 2024 and 2025. As a freshman, he appeared in 30 games, including 24 starts, and hit .266 with five doubles and 21 walks. His numbers went up as a sophomore, when he played in 40 games with 27 starts and hit .282 with five home runs and 23 RBI. He was even named to the 2025 Oxford Regional All-Tournament Team.
Last summer, Campbell felt a change was needed, but it was a difficult choice.
“It was really hard to leave Ole Miss,” Campbell said to the O’Colly. “I loved everybody there, and all the coaches there. Obviously, I had family and friends there who were super important to me. But thankfully, they were super supportive and were able to understand that I wanted to be able to play more.
“Obviously, it was hard, but coming here was a great decision, and I’m thankful that, looking back, I was able to make the tough decision and move here.”
After moving to Oxford during high school and later attending Ole Miss,
Campbell found the transition easy. That changed when he transferred to OSU, entering his junior season. He didn’t know anyone on the team or on campus. But soon enough, he started making adjustments.
“I felt comfortable right away here,” Campbell said. “(Head coach) Josh (Holliday) and (assistant coach) Victor (Romero) made it feel like it was super important for them to get me here and get me acclimated before school and practice started. So I was able to be here and meet a bunch of the guys. I feel like we hit it off right away, and so it was a super easy adjustment.”
Upon arrival, Campbell knew he would have to earn his starting spot against sophomore Brady Francisco and freshman Quinn Schambow. But the work those core catchers have done has not only made him a better player, but also a better teammate and friend.
“I knew I would have to earn a spot, but I wanted that competition,” Campbell said. “So I needed Victor and guys like (catchers) Brady (Francisco) and Quinn (Schambow) to help me get better, and hopefully I was able to do the same and help them get better.
“... They’ve been great. They’re some of our best friends now. Brady and Quinn, alongside Victor, we have a super tight relationship. I think that’s what makes a really good group, and I think that’s what makes a really good team, and that’s what we have with all of our guys, is just a super close-knit group. It’s been really awesome and special.” Campbell has seen significantly more playing
time this season than he did in two years at Ole Miss, starting 46 games while appearing in five others.
He’s recorded seasonhighs with 42 runs, 50 hits, 10 home runs and 43 RBI while slashing .275/.422/.500 for a .922 OPS. His .994 fielding percentage is also a season-high.
While Campbell doesn’t have the most impressive numbers in the lineup, he’s proven to be one of the Cowboys’ clutchest hitters. Three of his 10 home runs have occurred in walkoffs, and his latest homer against Arizona State on May 8 delivered a go-ahead three-run blast that turned out to be the game-winner for OSU in a 9-6 victory.
“I think late in the game, that’s when your team’s bond really shows,” Campbell said.
“That’s exactly what I feel like we’ve done, is just clung together in those late-inning situations where we’re able to put a big number up late, just because we believe in one another. We all know what each other are capable of. So just having belief to try and pass the at-bat to the next guy and put it in their hands and try and get on base, it’s really been beneficial for us.”
Even the pitching staff has grown a positive relationship with Campbell and has trusted him to be the guy behind the plate.
“He’s awesome to have back there (behind home plate),” relief pitcher Noah Wech said postgame on May 3 against TCU.
“Such a great kid. Work ethic is just unbelievable, and having him back there just gives me so much confidence.
“He believes in every single pitcher on our staff, knowing that we can get the job done and just go out there and throw whatever we want, and he’s going to catch it or block it every single time. So, that just gives us all great confidence.”
Beyond the production, coach Josh Holliday said Smithwick fills a unique role within OSU’s roster.
“He’s a coach’s son, he knows baseball, he’s got a good personality,” Holliday said postgame in the win against Oral Roberts on May 12. “He relates to all the guys... he’s been a postseason player before. ... He’s been fantastic in all those areas: a clutch hitter, a durable defender, a great communicator, smart, tough.”
A little less than two months ago, the Cowboys were 21-14, and talk was growing about whether this team would miss the NCAA Tournament. Since April 12, the team went on a late surge, going 16-6 heading into the NCAA Tournament.
A big part of that turnaround, Campbell said, has been the chemistry OSU built long before the winning streak started.
“I think what’s made this group so connected is just the bond we formed since August of last year,” Campbell said. “We’ve been together every day, and we’ve been preparing for months like this and moments like this, where it’s getting late in the season, but you still need to win.
“I would say a combination of that, alongside amazing leadership from Josh, Victor and (pitching coach Blake) Hawksworth, and just allowing us to be free and be ourselves, but at the same time, just really focus on the task at hand and play one game at a time, one pitch at a time, and not lose sight of where your feet are.”
Like most of the OSU players, Campbell has NCAA Tournament experience, having played in a regional last season
when the Rebels hosted. Although the season has concluded, the goal remains the same for next year.
“I think experience is good, but at the same time, when you’re competing for a national championship, that’s it,” Campbell said. “You’re trying to do everything you can to win. New team, old team, everybody in the country is trying to do the same thing, and that’s just win. I think it’ll be much of the same, just do anything you can to advance.” Campbell has two years of eligibility remaining, but already has an idea of how he wants to be remembered at OSU once his college career wraps up.
“If I could be remembered for anything, I would just want to be remembered as somebody who showed up every day and was the same guy and did anything and everything they could to just help the team win.”
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Matthew Miner, The O’Colly
Campbell Smithwick celebrating after hitting a home run.
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Chance Marick, The O’Colly Oklahoma State football helmet before the Cowboys’ football game against Houston.
Sports
OSU soccer releases schedule for 2026 season
Will Thorogood STAFF REPORTER
Entering its 22nd season under coach Colin Carmichael, Oklahoma State soccer released its 2026 schedule Wednesday, a slate highlighted by 13 regular-season home matches.
After an injury-riddled 2025 season that ended with a 4-13-2 overall record and a 0-10-1 mark in Big 12 play, the Cowgirls will look to rebound in 2026.
Before the regular season begins, OSU will host Tulsa for an exhibition match at 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Neal Patterson Stadium.
The Cowgirls will begin the season with three consecutive home matches against Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma. OSU will look to bounce back from last season’s 4-1
‘It’s
Bedlam loss in Norman. The Cowgirls’ first road test will be against consistent powerhouse Mississippi State on Aug. 27 in Starkville. They lost 1-0 to the Bulldogs last year in the second-ever matchup between the two schools.
OSU will return to Stillwater for five straight home matches that conclude nonconference play and begin Big 12 play. It will face Grambling State, San Diego State, Southeast Missouri State and Central Arkansas before opening conference play against the defending Big 12 regular-season champion and College Cup semifinalist TCU, which comes to NPS on Sept. 17.
The Cowgirls will follow that with a road trip to Texas, featuring matches against Baylor on Sept. 24 and Houston
on Sept. 27. They will return home in an attempt to avenge last season’s brutal losses to Arizona (3-1) and Texas Tech (4-0). The Wildcats come to Stillwater on Oct. 2, while the Lady Raiders are in town on Oct. 8.
After an early kickoff with UCF on Oct. 11 in Orlando, OSU finishes its home slate with Arizona State, Utah and West Virginia before concluding the regular season with road games against Iowa State on Oct. 29 and Colorado on Nov. 5.
The Cowgirls will aim to return to the Big 12 Tournament on Nov. 9-14, with the location yet to be confirmed. The NCAA Tournament begins on Nov. 20, and the 2026 College Cup is on Dec. 11 and 14 in Cary, North Carolina.
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why I’m here’
How Stout became OSU’s latest NCAA champion
Wertzberger SPORTS EDITOR
Preston Stout had already made a name for himself entering the 2025-26 season as a twotime Big 12 champion, a first-team All-American and a member of Oklahoma State’s 2025 national championship team.
But he knew there was another goal to chase: an NCAA individual championship.
From August to February, Stout didn’t record a victory until he collected his first two wins of the season in March at the Cabo Collegiate and the Maridoe Intercollegiate, leading the Cowboys to team titles in both events.
Stout added two more victories in April at the Mountaineer Invitational and the Big 12 Championship, where he secured his third consecutive conference title and became the first golfer in Big 12 history to accomplish that feat. He was also named Big 12 Player of the Year while leading OSU to its leaguerecord 13th conference championship.
After finishing third at the NCAA Championship last season, Stout reached the top of the podium in his third appearance, capturing the NCAA individual title. He became the 10th golfer in program history to win a national championship and the first since Matthew Wolff in 2019.
“I mean, it’s everything,” Stout said on the Golf Channel broadcast Monday.
“It’s why I’m here. It’s why I’m able to win tournaments like this. I have the best team in the world, the best coaching staff in the country. Our golf course is the best in the country, but yeah, it’s awesome.
“... To be able to be the 10th guy, whenever you get to etch your name into our program history, it’s pretty special.”
Stout’s eighth career victory moved him into sole possession of third place on OSU’s all-time wins list, and his five victories this season are the most ever by a Cowboy junior.
Along with claiming the individual championship, Stout earned his second first-team All-America honor while helping the Cowboys record a second consecutive topfive finish at the NCAA
Championship.
Stout could add another accolade to his trophy case after being named one of five finalists for the 2026 NCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, which will be announced Sunday. A win would give OSU its sixth recipient of the award, the most of any program.
The collegiate season may be over, but Stout’s summer is just getting started. The world’s No. 3-ranked amateur earned exemptions into this year’s U.S. Open and next year’s Masters Tournament, provided he remains an amateur, with one more season still ahead in Stillwater.
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Cowboy basketball add two-time national champion Roberts to strength staff
Timothy Christensen STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State announced Monday that Gavin Roberts will join Steve Lutz’s staff as the program’s new strength and conditioning coach.
Roberts comes from UConn, where he served as director of sports performance and was part of the Huskies’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2023 and 2024. Since 2021, Roberts has overseen all aspects of strength and conditioning, nutrition and wellness for the program.
Before his stint at UConn, Roberts spent three years as a strength coach at Purdue, where he worked alongside Lutz during Lutz’s fouryear tenure with the Boilermakers. Roberts also earned his degree from Purdue while playing defensive back
for the football team.
“Gavin has been part of championship-level programs and understands what it takes to prepare players to perform at their best,” Lutz said in a release. “I saw that firsthand when we worked together at Purdue. He brings energy, expertise and a very intentional approach to developing athletes, and he will be a tremendous resource for our players.”
Roberts’ arrival adds another familiar face to Lutz’s staff as the Cowboys continue building toward the 2026-27 season.
“I’m excited to be at Oklahoma State and to work alongside Coach Lutz and this staff,” Roberts said. “This program has great tradition, and I’m ready to help our players build the daily standard that it takes to win.”
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Natalie Koepp, The O’Colly
Katelyn Hoppers makes a pass to send the ball down the field.
Weston
Davis Hicks, The O’Colly Oklahoma State golfer Preston Stout hits an approach shot.
Catherine Dzanski, The O’Colly
Gavin Roberts was hired to be the new strength and conditioning coach.
Cowgirl tennis active in portal as Adamovic begins roster rebuild
Cowgirl tennis has been busy making moves this offseason.
One year after head coach Chris Young and Oklahoma State parted ways following NCAA recruiting violations, the Cowgirls have a new coach in place and are already active in the transfer portal.
Former Cowgirl
All-America standout
Katarina Adamovic was named head coach of the OSU women’s tennis team on April 28. Adamovic spent the last two seasons at Houston, where she inherited a team that went 2-19 the year prior. Adamovic turned the program around to the tune of a 17-6 season in just two seasons and led the Cougars to as high as No. 29 in the ITA rankings, their highest ranking in over 10 seasons.
She spent two seasons prior to Houston at Grand Canyon as head coach, after a year as an assistant at Missouri and four years at Cincinnati. Adamovic is bringing her assistant, Chris Wootton from Houston, along with former Houston graduate assistant Santa Strombacha, both in the same roles they
previously had. The Cowgirls are losing seven confirmed players from a season ago that was riddled with injuries.
The Cowgirls were unable to field a full team at the end of the season and had to forfeit their last five matches.
Four of those seven players have already announced transfer destinations.
Olivia Lincer has transferred to Texas A&M, Rose Marie Nijkamp transferred to Texas, Melisa Ercan to Tulsa and Luca Udvardy to SMU.
Anastasiya Komar and Marcela Lopez are both no longer eligible. Junior Gracie Epps decided to medically retire during the season after an injury forced her to undergo surgery.
Freshman Karolina Lincer and redshirt junior Lucia Peyre are the only returning players who have not entered the transfer portal or announced plans to leave the program. Peyre is coming off a right Achilles injury that required surgery and will keep her off the
court until the end of 2026.
Adamovic has already been hard at work building next year’s squad and has added three new players.
Veronika Kliuch spent her first two seasons at UNLV before transferring to OSU for her junior season. Kliuch was named the 2026 Mountain West Player of the Year this past season after going 27-2 at the No. 1 singles position. Her success at the top of UNLV’s lineup gives the Cowgirls an experienced addition heading into
next season.
Jovana Grujic transferred in after spending her freshman season redshirting at Florida State. Before her college career, she was a member of the Serbian Junior national team. She reached as high as No. 188 in the ITF Junior rankings. Grujic also reached the quarterfinals at the WTT W15-Kursumlijska Banja in Serbia in April 2025. Claudia Gasparovic will be a 21-yearold freshman from Traiskirchen, Austria. She won the 2025
Austrian Women’s National Championships doubles while finishing runner-up in singles, earning a spot on Austria’s 2026 Billie Jean King Cup team. Gasparovic reached the doubles final of the W15 Klagenfurt in Warmbad Villach, Austria, this past May, and holds a career best No. 161 ITF singles ranking. Adamovic may not be finished building next year’s roster as she looks to help her alma mater return to national prominence.
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Lilian Easter, The O’Colly
Cowgirl Tennis team celebrates win with the alma mater at the Cowgirls vs Cincinnati game.