Friday, February 28, 2025
Housing town hall leaves returning students unsatisfied HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE
Payton Little OSU students Eli Miles (left) and Jermini Wilson (right) are hoping to shape the future through their buisnesses.
Black history highlighted through student innovation ALIYAH YOUNG
management from Oklahoma City, first attended Rose State College, where he served as treasurer of the Student Government Association and was a member Students at Oklahoma State of the President’s Leadership are contributing to Black history Council. He earned his associate through the creation of small degree in general business before businesses. transferring to OSU. February is Black History “The business I own was origiMonth making it the perfect time nally started by my grandfather, to recognize those who are shap- Frank, who shined boots as a ing the future and leaving their side hustle after retiring from the own mark on the world. Army,” Miles said. “Following his passing in 2017, my father and Eli Miles: A business owner I decided to honor his legacy by One black OSU student on turning this trade of boot repair his way to making history is Eli and shining into a legitimate Miles, a business owner. Miles, a business.” double major in marketing and Miles started his boot repair
STAFF REPORTER
business in 2018 and has since worked to grow it while overcoming obstacles. “Some of the challenges we faced included navigating the legal process of starting the business, rebuilding relationships with past clientele from when my grandfather shined boots and earning client trust and loyalty,” Miles said. “To overcome these hurdles, we sought guidance from other small business owners while conducting our own research.” He emphasized the importance of building a solid reputation and a good standing with customers.
See HISTORY on page 5A
Hunsucker told students in attendance that Res Life placed returning students based on accessibility status, financial aid and scholarships. “Before we placed Oklahoma State anyone that had financial students voiced their need, we placed anyone concerns Monday at a with an accessibility need town hall meeting hosted that was registered on by the Residential Hous- our list,” Hunsucker said. ing Association (RHA) Hunsucker repeatedly about the newly introadvocated, during the duced “standby” list for town hall, for freshmen students who did not and their importance to get placed in residential the campus culture. He housing. said living on campus Many students secured allows freshmen to grow a spot in university hous- and learn to live efficienting on Feb. 17, but others ly and independently. received an email putting “It is incredibly importhem on a standby list. tant that we provide that The email stated that service to our freshmen students on the list would who are not accustomed be notified if housing to living away from their became available. parents,” Hunsucker Students are responsaid. “I want to priorisible for obtaining offtize freshmen so we can campus housing if they provide that care and don’t receive a housing provide that support, assignment by June 1. noting that our returners “We know that securalso provide a great coming housing is an impor- munity and provide an tant part of your college additional structure that I experience, and we can’t provide.” appreciate your patience Finances, commutas we work to accommo- ing and food insecurity date as many returning among the significant isstudents as possible,” Res sues students focused on. Life said in its email to Some students rely heavstudents. ily on the proximity of During the town hall, on-campus housing and students anonymously campus transportation to submitted questions get to their classes. through a Microsoft form. “Will accommodations Although a Facilities be made for students who Management representa- are kicked out of housing tive was present, most for the (2025-26) school questions were directed year who cannot afford toward Mike Hunsucker, off-campus housing and the interim director of cannot afford to comRes Life. municate every day,” one Hunsucker said Res student asked anonyLife is working overtime mously. to ensure OSU can house Hunsucker replied with as many returners as pos- an answer he often used sible for the 2025-2026 during the town hall. school year. “I don’t have an answer “We’re watching enroll- for that,” Hunsucker said. ment numbers, so we’re The lack of answers going to place more and left some in attendance more as the spring and underwhelmed and unsummer goes along,” satisfied. Hunsucker said. “The goal is to place as many returners as we can humanly place.” See HOUSING on page 6A
Bryson Thadhani The O’Colly sat down with OSU President Dr. James Hess on Thursday morning at Whitehurst Hall.
Interim OSU president making ‘student experience’ No. 1 priority KENNEDY THOMASON
university’s spaces. “I’ve been around (the) Stillwater campus a long time, and STAFF REPORTER I said, ‘I wish you wouldn’t call @_KENNEDYPAGE it a parking permit.’ And she said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because it’s really a hunting license. It’s not Jim Hess said he won’t park a parking permit; it’s a hunting in his reserved space outside of license,’” Hess said in a ThursWhitehurst Hall. day morning interview with The Instead, Oklahoma State’s inO’Colly. terim president said he plans for Parking and housing, are two the space to go to a “student of key issues Hess said he sees for the month.” The idea comes from students. his daughter’s experience durThe OSU/A&M Board of ing her time at OSU. What she Regents appointed Hess on Feb. referred to as a parking permit, 13, four days after former OSU Hess said he sees more as a pass President Dr. Kayse Shrum for the open-season feeling of the
resigned. Her resignation was announced publicly two days after she stepped down. Although Hess said he has been a “mentor” to Shrum, Hess said he has not spoken with her since assuming his new title. Hess said he has known Shrum for 25 years, starting when he recruited her to the OSU Center for Health Sciences. “I suspect we’ll have some (conversations) over the months to come,” Hess said. “She’s been busy, and I’ve been busy, so I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to her.”
See HESS on page 6A
Hayden Alexander OSU students asked questions about housing during a town hall meeting.