Thursday, April 11, 2024
A March to Remember OSU ROTC cadets participate in annual Bataan Memorial Death March Erin Weaver OSU News Thirty-three students from Oklahoma State University’s Air Force and Army ROTC programs participated in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March on March 16 by ruck marching 26.2 miles through rural New Mexico. Cadets participated in the heavy category, beginning their training in October by carrying 35 pounds on their backs around OSU’s Stillwater campus and Boomer Lake Park. Air Force cadets began carrying — and marched with — 15-pound 4x4 pieces of wood for an extra challenge. “Stillwater doesn’t have mountains to train on,” said Lt. Col. Mike Cheatham, head of OSU’s Air Force ROTC unit. “We trained on a paved, relatively flat course, which was nothing like the loose gravel and mountainous terrain of the march. But when you look to your left and right and see others who are enduring the terrain, it makes it easier to push yourself and endure.” The Air Force ROTC program brought 21 cadets to New Mexico, all of whom finished the march. The group placed seventh overall and first among other Air Force ROTC programs. “The number of non-finishers for this event is staggering,” said Capt. Michael Vander Sys, Air Force ROTC operations flight commander. “There are helicopters and four-wheelers running all day to aid those who are unable to complete the trek. It’s truly incredible to see the endurance and resilience of our group. If they can push through this, they can do anything they set their mind to.” Cadets from the Army ROTC group placed fourth and seventh in their division. Capt. Burns Farley said that participating in extracurriculars like this march helps to build the ideal graduate. “For us, it is purely about the experience,” Farley said. “From training to competing, we are instilling strength and resilience in our future service members, which is critical for our overall mission. They are able to prove to themselves and their peers that they are capable and willing to put in the work for a cause.” Marchers participate in the event for various reasons. The march itself is intended to serve as a memorial to the WWII soldiers who were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese in the Philippines and experienced the Bataan Death March in 1942.
OSU News
See ROTC on 6 On March 16, 33 OSU Air Force and Army ROTC students rucked 26.2 miles in New Mexico for the annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
Where to find the best business clothes Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor
began. Check out these stores to expand your business casual closet. Old Navy Old Navy is full of adorable business clothes for a cheap I’m preparing for my first internship price. It has every color of business trousers, interview, and I have the experience and the from hot pink to safer choices such as black skills for the job, but or white for under $40. not the clothes. I run These are my favorite to the mall with my pants to wear to work mom, and after hours of searching, she buys or in the studio beme the first two shirts cause they are made of that fit and one pair of comfortable material and have an elastic pants. I tore the tags off my new clothes and back waistband. Old wobbled into the inter- Navy also has button down tops, blazers and view in a pair of illplain shirts in every fitting heels my mom let me borrow. Miracu- color. lously, I got the job, but I needed new clothes See Clothes on 8 before my internship
OSU biosecurity institute awarded $1.8M to cultivate the next generation of professionals Alisa Boswell-Gore OSU News
focuses on supporting and preparing students for careers in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences across research, education and Extension with an The Oklahoma State Univer- emphasis on the federal government sector. Students from undersity Institute of Biosecurity and served communities are encourMicrobial Forensics is offering a aged to apply. The USDA-National 2024 summer internship opportunity to Tribal Native American and Institute of Food and Agriculture Pacific Islander students interested also funds the program at the in a career in agricultural biosecu- University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Hawaii-Leeward rity. “The idea is that we will cre- Community College. “We have had a lot of colate a progression of people interlaborations with other universities, ested in biosecurity issues,” said so this was just a natural step for Francisco Ochoa Corona, professor and researcher at the institute. us,” said Maria Ma, a biosecurity expert at the institute. “The insti“Biosecurity is an important field tute has been building a foundation because of the possibility of disfor collaborative education in biosruption to major industries, such as wheat, fruits and vegetables, by ecurity since our founding director, Jacque Fletcher, established what pathogens and micro-organisms the institute now has to offer.” contaminating our agricultural Ma said the program is a industries and ecosystems.” passion project for her, Ochoa The Cultivating the Next Corona and assistant professor Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program Andres Espindola because of the historic need for more biosecurity
scientists. Biosecurity is increasingly important due to the growing dangers of foreign pathogens in global trading. The NextGen program will be a two-month paid summer internship for 10 undergraduate students interested in learning about biosecurity. NextGen will also offer a two-day workshop to 10 high school students to learn the basics of biosecurity and tour biosecurity facilities. “Our goal is when the undergraduates are done with the training workshop, they will not only have a basic understanding of what agricultural biosecurity entails, but they will also have training in a specific area, such as microbiology or food safety,” Ma said. The institute is also seeking master’s and doctoral students to join the biosecurity program in the fall of 2024. Doctoral students will have an opportunity to work internships in Australia and New Zealand. See $1.8M on 5