Tuesday, September 8, 2020
GONE VIRAL
Stillwater sees 13th largest COVID-19 surge in country relative to population
By Ryan Novozinsky Stillwater has made national headlines once again because of its current COVID-19 situation. According to the New York Times, Stillwater has seen 582 new cases in the past two weeks. Based on the city’s population of 81,784, this is the 13th largest climb of any city in the country. “The cases are also not just in college students,” Stillwater mayor Will Joyce said in a tweet. “Many of the positive cases are among younger adults who are very socially active and are taking few of the recommended precautions against the spread of disease. “It’s disappointing that so many of our neighbors refuse to take the situation seriously. Yes, many of them will never be seriously ill, but such carelessness has a
huge effect on our community.” In a statement obtained from the O’Colly in July, Oklahoma State University officials stated that school switching to online classes “will be determined by the rate of increase of number of infections per day, number of hospitalizations per day, rate of decrease in availability of hospital beds, ICU beds” and “There is NOT a case number threshold that would trigger the switch.” The city has 455 active cases of the novel coronavirus, 1,221 total cases, 763 recoveries and three total deaths. news.ed@ocolly.com
Zachary Hunter/O'Colly
Students dressed in Plague Doctor costumes hand out masks to students around campus on August 21, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Big changes coming Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 implement anti-racism plans By Adam Engel Bob Bowlsby implements plans to fight racism Toward the end of the conference, Bowlsby released important plans regarding the conference’s plans to combat racism and hate. “This week we are rolling out an anti-racism, anti-hate campaign,” Bowlsby said. “I think this will be very impactful and includes a number of different components.” “We have engaged the Chief Diversity officers from each campus in an advisory group, and we have assembled a black student-athlete council that is composed of one male and one female athlete from each campus that will work with the diversity officers as well as the other universities.” Bowlsby said there would be a patch on the front left of most uniforms with a social justice message and
O’colly fille photo With the season a week away, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and coaches talked to the media on Monday. Here are the five biggest takeaways from the teleconference. Big 12 branded unity sticker on the back of helmets. There would also be a unity message prior to kickoff. Dave Aranda’s first season as head coach Another situation for Big
12 fans to keep an eye on will be how the first season for Baylor head coach Dave Aranda goes. Aranda takes over the reins in Waco after former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Aranda takes over
for a first-year head coach. Despite the expectation of a challenge, Aranda sees the beginning of his first head coaching season as an opportunity rather than a challenge. When asked about the level of difficulty Aranda and his staff have faced getting his team ready to play in this current environment, Aranda provided an honest yet thoughtful response. “I haven’t seen it as challenges. I have seen this situation as more of a learning opportunity to get to know our guys and addressing their needs and listening to understand, whether its COVID, education or social injustice” Aranda said. Tom Herman discusses potential walk-ons playing The current times with COVID-19 present many uncertainties and require citizens to adjust and adapt accordingly.
after flourishing as LSU’s defensive coordinator for years. Leading a team as head coach for the first time is already an adjustment but the COVID-19 pandemic adds Continued on page 5 another layer of difficulty
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