Friday, June 19, 2026
Natalie Koepp, The O’Colly
The Whitehurst building has stood at the heart of OSU’s campus since 1926.
OSU/A&M Board of Regents approve OSU’s budget for fiscal year 2027 Caleson Coon
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On June 12, 2026, OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved OSU’s budget for fiscal year 2027 – including a tuition increase.
The FY 2027 budget for Oklahoma State University’s System, the largest university system in Oklahoma, is $1.89 billion, which is the total budget for OSU’s entire system. $1.16 billion of OSU’s System’s $1.89 billion budget
goes toward general university operations. The newly approved budget also includes tuition and mandatory fees changes for students attending OSU-Stillwater, OSU-Tulsa, OSUIT, OSU-Oklahoma City, OSU-CHS and
the College of Veterinary Medicine. This will be the university’s first tuition and mandatory fee increase in four years, and the second increase in eight years.
See BUDGET on page 3
Minimum wage increase fails to go through Kalina Williams
was overruled in Tuesday’s primary election. The State Chamber was originally On Tuesday, the issue of against the idea and tried to stop the Oklahoma’s minimum wage was proposal from reaching ballots, but rejected by voters after being a after being unsuccessful, Gov. Kevin prominent topic for several years. Stitt set the election date back in 2024. State Question 832 would have Oklahoma has not been the only meant an increased minimum pay state to vote on this topic as the from $7.25 an hour to $15 by the year Economic Policy Institute stated that 2029 in Oklahoma. “There have been 28 states and D.C. If minimum wage were to that have changed their minimum be raised, the challenges many wage law since 2014.” However, even Oklahomans face could have with other states making this change, possibly been a less prevalent issue, from the beginning, Oklahoma but ultimately not enough voters continued to face a large debate. were in support of the idea and it See WAGE on page 3 STAFF REPORTER
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Chris’ University Spirit store is located on Campus Corner, which is on Knoblock at the southwest corner of OSU’s campus.
How OSU students tell their story through fashion Addisen McBride
person to person through their way of dressing. Intentional or not, she is reminded On any given day during the school of why she loves fashion and selfyear, campus doubles as a runway for expression and she chose a career Oklahoma State University professor where she can teach others and Crystal Emerson. Each look tells a continue to learn about fashion, how story before a student ever speaks. it impacts and is impacted by the Whether it be fishnet stockings world around her. paired with Doc Martens, cowboy “It can get quite complex when you boots clicking across the pavement, think about the messages that are or a flash of designer ballet flats being sent by the person wearing between classes – Emerson notices the clothing and those messages these different looks amongst campus being received and interpreted by as she walks to her own class with another,” Emerson said. “I love her outfit perfectly curated to match pondering that complexity.” her lecture for the day. She enjoys the subliminal messages sent from See FASHION on page 4 O’COLLY CONTRIBUTOR
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Starbucks barista, Kyleigh prepares a drink at Starbucks in Stillwater.