Friday, February 3, 2023
Black History Month An everlasting legacy Nancy Randolph Davis made history at OSU
First Latina elected to Oklahoma’s House of Representatives
Brittney Purcell Staff Reporter
cause of the toll of the events. However, in the fall of 1944, with her family’s support and A bronze statue encouragement, Ranof a powerful Black dolph Davis enrolled woman stands proudly at Langston University in cap and gown in and pursued a degree in front of the College of home economics. Education and Human College helped Sciences building. Randolph Davis excel Nancy Randolph academically and flourDavis is a familiar ish into the confident, famous name around powerful educator she Stillwater and OSU. In would one day become. 2019, a bronze statue After graduating was built in her honor in 1948, she landed her and now hundreds first job at Dunjee Pubof students pass her lic School in Choctaw, everyday. Randolph where she taught for 20 Davis became the first years. Later she moved Black student to enroll to Star Spencer High at OSU. School where she taught Although many for another 23 years students have heard before retiring. the woman’s name and Randolph Davis are aware of her statue, did not plan on being a they don’t know about civil rights pioneer, but her story, her signifiin light of the Supreme cance or what her statue Court allowing another represents. young black woman She was born to enter the University in Sapulpa and is the of Oklahoma School youngest of five other of Law, she made her siblings. The family move to apply to Oklalived during strict laws homa A&M College of segregation and and pursue a Master of prejudice in Oklahoma, Science in Home Ecowhich lead the chilnomics. dren’s parents to raise Because of segrethem on the importance gation, Randolph Davis of education and faith was forced to sit in the as Black individuals. hallway during lectures They grew closer and listen in. However, during times of struggle because of her intelwhen during her senior ligence and making exyear of high school, cellent grades in class, Randolph Davis’ sister- students argued on her in-law suddenly passed behalf to be included in away from pneumonia the classroom. and she helped raise her four young nephews the rest of the year. She barely graduSee Davis on 4A ated high school be-
Kennedy Thomason Assistant News & Lifestyle Editor
45 seat in January. Her democratic platform consisted of environmental protection, supporting working families and expanding access to mental health resources, amongst other issues. Elva Soto, the president of Voto Latino, an OSU club aimed at empowering Hispanic and Latino voices through the democratic process, said seeing
Annie Menz is the first Latina elected to Oklahoma’s House of Representatives. Residing in Norman, Menz officially See Latina on 3A claimed her District
“Passion remains unchanged” Q&A with Brett Carver
File Photo Nancy Randolph Davis was a powerful woman who made history at OSU and influenced the young lives of all the students she taught during her career.
leads the OSU Wheat Improvement Team in its charge to develop and release winter wheat cultivars customfit for the Oklahoma wheat industry. Luisa Clausen Q-Tell me a little News & Lifestyle bit about your career. Editor You are originally from Atlanta, corThe O’Colly inrect? How was your terviewed Brett Carver, time at the University who received the Emi- of Georgia? Did you nent Faculty Award last always know what you month for his contribu- wanted to do? tions to instruction and A- Yes, I was service. raised mostly in DecaCarver holds the tur, Georgia, a suburb Wheat Genetics Chair of Atlanta, and then in Agriculture and is a moved into the city of Fellow of the American Atlanta after my 9th Society of Agronomy grade year to finish and the Crop Science Society of America. He See Brett on 6A
Perkins Road construction not an issue for medical emergency responders
Stephanie Landaverde and that’s during peak rush hour,” Hane said. Staff Reporter Construction on Perkins Road may be a nuisance, but during a medical emergency it is not a hindrance to first responders. The construction started in December 2021 and created an inconvenience for Stillwater residents. Despite the increased traffic, firefighters and emergency medical technicians report they have been nearly unaffected in their response times and arrivals. Capt. Chad Hane of Stillwater Fire Station No. 3, said the construction has not impacted his team the way they thought it might. “It might slow down our response time by 10 or 15 seconds at the most,
expected to arrive within five minutes and 20 Fire Station No. seconds and three or four 3 covers the area north more within nine minutes of McElroy and Perand 20 seconds. Last year kins roads, therefore the there were 13 structure construction on Perkins fires within Stillwater city Road affects the station limits. Halcomb said that the most. for those fires, the five Hane said within minutes and 20 second the last year there has not deadline was met 100% been any life-threatening of the time and the nine injury during his shift in minute and 20 second which the construction deadline was met 94% of impacted the response the time. time. He noted that Zach Harris, direcbecause many residents tor of operations at Liavoid the area because of feNet, said the construchigh traffic, it helps out tion has only had a minor, the fire fighters when they insignificant impact on have to travel on Perkins their response time. Road. LifeNet is a private Hane said the company that the Western expectation for emergen- Payne County Ambulance cies is to be out the door Trust Authority contracts. within 80 seconds. Assis- It serves the western twotant Fire Chief Brandon thirds of Payne County, Halcomb said that per including all of Stillwater. National Fire Protection A group of volunStandards the first truck is teers consisting of board
members from the city of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Medical Center, Payne County, the city of Perkins and the city of Glencoe are appointed to form a trust and have the authority to run the ambulances of the community. LifeNet bids on a contract and follows specific standards that the WPCTA set. In its contract, LifeNet has four time frames within which to arrive at the scene, depending on the situation and location. Harris said LifeNet has a 60 second shoot time, so from the moment they are notified, they have one minute to get to the truck. For emergencies, LifeNet is contractually expected to arrive at See Perkins on 5A
Jaiden Daughty The construction on Perkins Road started in December 2021 and despite affecting the traffic, it has not created an inconvenience to firefighters and emergency medical technicians.