Friday, September 6, 2024
OSU called on to continue pedestrian safety work on campus KENNEDY THOMASON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @_KENNEDYPAGE
With three reported traffic incidents in the first three weeks of the semester, conversations are ongoing about how to create a safer campus environment. Tuesday evening, a motorcycle rearended a car. Less than two weeks before that, a student was a victim of a hitand-run. Hours later that same night, a pedestrian traveling via scooter was hit. Although all incidents resulted in minor to no injuries, the consequences could have been more severe. In February, Gabrielle “Gabi” Long, 19, was killed in a hit-and-run on the north side of campus. Danielle Long, her mother, said with a new semester, efforts to increase pedestrian safety should be renewed.
See SAFETY on page 4A
Hayden Alexander The Formal Garden fosters a thriving ecosystem with new plants for students to enjoy.
Library Lawn Formal Garden revamps, grows to new heights HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Connor Fuxa Neon flags have been placed on Monroe Street’s stop signs to catch drivers’ attention. They are part of the first round of the task force’s recommendations.
Horticulturist Tyler Troppman said. “We went with the different heights and then the hanging baskets.” Director of Landscape Services John Lee said the elevated plants Walking across campus, you might enhance the Formal Garden. “We have these plant-raised plantnotice a few additions to the Library ers that we’ve changed irrigation to Lawn Formal Garden. support, and it gives you some more The new look is part of OSU depth and height to the garden as Landscape Service’s ongoing mission opposed to just ground planting,” to bring new and exciting designs to Lee said. the Formal Garden. This year, the foAnother newer element of the cal point is multiple planters placed Formal Garden is the many different atop wooden pillars. hues present. Troppman is excited “We wanted something eyeabout the recent use of color in the catching and just trying to try new gardens. things,” OSU Landscape Services “In the last couple of years, we
started branching out into some different color pallets and trying to expand what we have here,” Troppman said. In years past, the gardens utilized school colors, but now a wide array of colors gives the gardners more creative freedom. “We love orange and white, we love OSU colors, but it’s one of those, it’s a formal garden,” Troppman said. “There’s a lot more color than just orange and just white. Instead of narrowing the scope to just a couple of colors, it really broadens it to where we have a huge amount of things we can use in the formal gardens.”
See GARDEN on page 3A
Campus political leaders agree, your vote matters JOCELYNE PEREZ STAFF REPORTER Although OSU is busy with the arrival of the new school year, there is a different season the students of OSU are focused on. Election season. The semester will wrap up the year with the election of a new president in November. Despite Stillwater being miles away from the White House, the OSU College Democrats and OSU College Republicans club leaders encourage everyone to vote. OSU College Democrats, President Avery McIntyre and OSU College Republicans, President Lane Painter, agree that getting the campus talk-
ing about the election is of the utmost importance. Both presidents are trying to spread the word about voting to as many students as they can. Painter will provide club attendees with voter registration forms and said he hopes to show students how easy it is to become a registered voter. “Voting is very important as an American citizen… no matter what side you’re on,” Painter said. McIntyre’s focus is on educating outof-state and in-state students on how to change their voter registration to the Stillwater area. “If (students are) from out of state, they can switch their voter registration really, really easily,” McIntyre said. McIntyre said students native to
Oklahoma can switch their registration to the Stillwater area in time for the November election. Painter said the hostility in the current political environment needs to change. “I think we can sit there and totally coexist with each other,” Painter said. McIntyre sees the nation not as divided as come perceive. Despite her position, she came from a conservative background and believes in the same future as Painter of political respect between both parties. “We may not agree all the time,” McIntyre said. “But at the end of the day, if we can walk away from the table, respecting one another still… recognizing that we’re all humans.” Navigating your own political stance
can appear to be overwhelming and not worth the limited time most college students have, but partaking in our nation’s history is no small thing. McIntyre and Painter are on campus, ready to guide and answer questions that the students of OSU have in regard to the upcoming election. “Explore your political options… there’s good on both sides,” Painter said. “I’m always here for conversations,” McIntyre said. “My goal is to meet more people and hear other people’s perspectives because that informs my perspective as well.” For more information about the OSU College Democrats or OSU College Republicans, visit campuslink.okstate. edu. news.ed@ocolly.com
Hayden Alexander OSU College Democrats President Avery McIntyre (left) and OSU College Republicans President Lane Painter (right) encourage students to vote in the upcoming election.