Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Ross Lynch takes center stage, students camp out for event Jocelyn Perez Staff Reporter
Courtesy of OSU News
they would be willing to do anything if it meant getting to see one of their favorite celebrities in person for free. It meant getting to Wes Watkins at 7 a.m. to be the Heston Barnes and Sam- start of the line. The two girls have been my Miller have spent years fans of him since his “Austin preparing to see Ross Lynch, & Ally” days, then became unknowingly. On Thursday Lynch, an “R5” music streamers, and now are supporting Lynch actor and singer, spoke and in his new band “The Driver performed on campus as a Era.” guest of the OSU Speakers Miller said Lynch and Board. Lynch, who is famous his family’s music have been for his roles on Disney Chana big part of their childhood nel productions like “Austin friendship for over a decade & Ally” or his band “R5,” is among the high-profile guests now. “We’ve been to a few the board has hosted recently. shows together, traveled to see Barnes and Miller masterminded the event since them, and it’s just been great,” Miller said. they heard of it. They knew See Lynch on 8
Dr. John O’Hara, Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
O’Hara named 2024 President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award recipient Courtesy of OSU News
Dr. John O’Hara — associate professor of electrical and computer engineering — was selected as a recipient of the 2024 President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award, a local grant program to support important and impactful research by Oklahoma State University faculty. O’Hara’s research includes the use of novel tera-
hertz and optical systems for “I am very excited and the realization of 6G communi- pleased to be selected for the cations; optical and RF/optical President’s Fellows Faculty hybrid sensing and communiResearch Award,” O’Hara said. cation; IoT (internet of things); “It is a great honor, personally, artificial electromagnetic of course. But it also reprematerials; and STEM outreach sents the fruit of the strong to rural communities. investments our department The research funding (Electrical and Computer Enwill be used to finance a gradu- gineering) and college (CEAT) ate student working on a device have made to enable impactthat simulates the behavior of ful research. My students and electromagnetic waves when I are very excited to use this they’re used in next-generation opportunity to push forward (6G) wireless communications. the wireless communication This device is intended to help technologies that the whole network providers engineer world may adopt in the next real-world 6G networks in the 5-10 years.” future. See O’Hara on 7
OSU emphasizes love, relationships during February Gina Foster Staff Reporter
partner’s therapy has had a positive impact on their relationship, according to a Very Well Mind survey. Each day in February couples, married or dating, have the opportuAfter living a love story nity to answer 20 questions, at a festival, Jonelle Jones and speak with a therapist during a free relationship check-in and her husband have faced challenges from communication to improve their relationship like Jones did. commitment. Dalton Wilcox said that The couple has been together for eight years but mar- in his relationship they have learned how to talk issues out ried for four. What appeared amongst themselves. to be perfect in the beginning Although some couples began fading as their lives have productive and great commerged and they had a baby. munication, it is also an aspect They turned to counsellacking in other relationships. ing in an attempt to reconcile There are opposing the fairytale. opinions about using therapy “I feel good about as a solution to issues within therapy because I know it works,” Jones said. “I’ve done relationships. However, various benefits come to the surface at individual therapy and what the mention of it. I’ve learned is that you have Pastor Ben Keller said to want to make a change. The there is a stigma around counreal work is within us like we seling, but benefits such as have to do the work and as I communication, finances and am willing.” The Marriage and Family self-growth overpower it. Two-thirds report an Therapy Clinic in the Nancy improvement in their general Randolph Davis West building is trying to share this skill, and physical well-beings, accordany others, with couples during ing to the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. People February on OSU’s campus participate in counseling for and in the Stillwater commumany reasons, and though not nity. 90% of couples said their everyone needs it, it won’t hurt
to try it. This is the first time since 2015 that this outreach has occurred, and clinical director Gabe Yandell said they are here to help couples succeed, and it’s important to celebrate relationships this season. “That feeling of love and relationship, we think is really important,” Yandell said. “I think how people can celebrate that every day one of the really important ways to do that is intentionality. Seeking out intentional relationships and love in your life, and going and celebrating those things, by talking to the people who you love and who you have relationships with.” Because this is a shortened premarital or marital enrichment inventory, most check-ins are light-hearted and fun. However, some couples may have unacknowledged issues that are brought to the surface and potentially resolved. “I am fond of the idea of having a third party just to hear and give proactive advice,” Jones said. “Even in our case, it was really a little reactive but gave really good tools and strategies.” See Love on 6
Payton Little Ross Lynch drew crowds hours before he stepped onto stage in the Wes Watkins Center on Thursday.