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By Lily Mauricio - Staff Writer
With the closing of many businesses due to COVID-19, many local shops are having to get creative in order to serve their customers. A local Shawnee business, The25 Thrift, is doing just that. The25 Thrift is a curated vintage resale boutique in Downton Shawnee. Abigail Sullivan, the owner of this small local shop, is originally from the Shawnee area herself. “I was born and raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owning a business in downtown has always been a dream of mine,” Sullivan said. “I’ve had a love for old/vintage things and the styles for as long as I can remember; it’s amazing that I get to be part of downtown Shawnee with something I love.” They have both men and women’s clothing and also a large selection of other vintage items, including records, jewelry, purses, shoes and more. Before becoming a brick and mortar store, The25 appeared at pop-up shops in downtown Shawnee. “After only two pop-ups, I was given the opportunity to open a storefront and I officially opened March 13,” Sullivan said. While trying to accommodate the CDC guidelines, The25 Thrift has decided to implement private shopping appointments so that they can serve their customers in a safe environment. “As disappointing as it was to have to close the doors after just opening, we were able to offer our clients the private shopping appointments in-store,” Sullivan said. These private shopping appointments include 30 minutes for a customer and one guest to come into the store and browse through their selection. The shop is thoroughly sanitized and cleaned after each guest to make sure they come into a clean and germ-free environment. The25 Thrift is a small and relatively new business, so having an online shop during these times has been difficult for them. “I’ve been using Depop, an online service, for several months now just to get me started, my online store is currently closed because shipping costs have increased significantly during this time,” said Sullivan. As small businesses are struggling all across the country, this business found a way to give clients a safe environment while still allowing them to shop for their favorite vintage attire. “I am thankful that I’ve been able to give people something fun and enjoyable to do other than grocery shopping during this time,” Sullivan said. By Myah Doakes - Staff Writer Like others, I started taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously when schools started to close. I've never seen day-to-day life change so drastically for so many Americans.
I know that the uncertainty of the coronavirus has created challenges among many families, including several schools and childcare facilities being shut down. Not only schools but jobs are being lost, hours being reduced at work and even separation of families. These are some of the challenges that I too am going through. I am a single mother who works full time and a part-time student. It felt like the government ripped my routine from me and said, “here make a whole new one.” Not only my routine was changed but it was all now done at home. This is now my new norm. Over time, I realized that this self-quarantine lifestyle is tough. Single parents are being thrown into a new normal of balancing schoolwork, homework, active kids and the boss wants you to continue to work from home. There’s a great task at hand and all I care about is surviving, getting my work done and keeping my child alive. I often don’t credit myself, but seeing other single parents and myself surviving this quarantine, I say job well done. Even in times of uncertainty, we deserve to celebrate and be filled with hope. I think one of the keys to survival is to have an identity outside of parenting. I found that getting a hobby and taking mini-breaks was soothing. By Caleb Betterton - Managing Editor Rose State College has decided to offer options when it comes to its grading system for the spring semester. The announcement was made by Rose President Dr. Jeanie Webb.
“We will allow students to choose between a standard A-F letter or take a pass/no pass option,” Webb provided through a campus-wide email. This is only optional for students whose classes were moved online because of COVID-19 following spring break; all other classes will remain an A-F standard grade. This new option will help students who might struggle with online classes or students who might have other problems facing them during this time that could cause them to receive a lower than desired grade. This option can help students maintain their GPA. “I think it’s a good idea considering how chaotic some of our lives have become,” said English major Heidi Stewart. Students will get to make this choice after their professor has posted their final grade of the semester. Professors will post grades May 18. Students will have until noon on May 22 to request a P/NP grade option. To request the P/NP option, students must email their professor through their Raider email account before the May 22 deadline. Some things for students to think about: Some degree-required classes may not allow for a P/NP option. Also, this could affect financial aid. Students should think about their future education and how it could affect applications or scholarships. “Students needing a program, credit towards their degree, requirement for subsequent classes or any other requirement, should not opt for the P grade,” Jeff Caldwell, Vice President of Academic Affairs, provided via email. Rose State officials recommend that before making this decision students talk to their academic adviser, as well as the financial aid office. By Lily Mauricio - Reporter Have you been stuck in quarantine, going crazy with kids being home, trying to think of creative ways to keep them busy or you’re just simply bored yourself? Each of these local OKC businesses are running specials to help get their customers through quarantine. Whether it’s for yourself or your family, each of these businesses has something for everyone.
Hatch Early Mood Food – An urban brunch and bar located in OKC, Hatch is one of the most popular spots for breakfast and brunch lovers alike. They are currently offering a half off-menu when ordering curbside pick-up. The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen – One of Oklahoma City’s most loved pizza places is getting creative and partnering up with another local business to help you fight the quarantine blues. The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen is offering Pint Night on Wednesdays, it includes a pint of Capitals Ice Cream in “CoOkies & Cream” and your choice of one Hall's wood-fired pizza for $29. Scissortail Park & Myriad Botanical Gardens – Scissortail Park and the Myriad Botanical Gardens have partnered up to giveaway FREE garden-in-place kits. These take-home seed growing kits are perfect for all ages. They are available for pick-up on varying days, follow @scissortailpark and @myriadgardens on Instagram for more information. KatieBug’s Sips & Sweets – Katiebug’s is running drive-thru only specials throughout the crisis with DIY dessert boxes, weekly themed boxes and varying sized boxes filled with their daily treats. Find them @katiebugsokc on Instagram for their daily menu. 1884 – A cocktail and wine lounge located in Edmond inside The Railyard Food Hall, 1884 has a special of buy any bottle of wine and get a charcuterie board or any food item for 99% off. Simpleton Goods – Creating simple, durable and functional goods, Simpleton Goods is offering masks to help anyone going out in public to combat the germs. The masks are made of durable canvas and are double layered for maximum defense. The masks are also washable, giving you multiple uses. Each mask is selling for $25 and can be found at simpletongoods.com. COVID-19: How to keep in touch with RSC counselors & ways to reduce anxiety during this pandemic4/14/2020  Illustration courtesy of Carrie Stephens Art By Ahmya Williams - Lifestyle Editor Rose State counselors have found a way to keep in touch with students during this pandemic.
Dr. Joanne Stafford, head counselor of Rose State, explains how students can arrange counseling sessions. “We have a new online platform which allows us to hold free confidential counseling sessions; call 733-7373 to arrange your first session with a Rose State counselor,” she said. “If we are unable to answer your call, please leave a message with your phone number and we will call back as soon as we can. You may also emailcounselingservices@rose.edu to arrange a counseling session.” Many people are going through a rough time right now due to COVID-19. Do not hesitate to contact a counselor or talk to someone you trust. It is important to take care of yourself mentally during this time. Stafford recommended the following ways to increase self-care and reduce anxiety:
 Illustration courtesy of Capitals Ice Cream By Lily Mauricio - Reporter With social distancing becoming the new normal, many people all around the world are left staying inside instead of going out to their usual favorite restaurants or other local businesses.
The local businesses have been among the hardest hit during this worldwide pandemic. Unlike corporations like large food-chains or retail shops, these local businesses strongly rely on their regulars. The owners of Capitals Ice Cream in Downtown Oklahoma City have created a new way for Oklahomans to enjoy the local experience in the comfort of their own home. CITYBOX was created to give citizens a chance to shop locally while their favorite stores are closed during the pandemic. There are currently four types of boxes offered by the creators of CITYBOX. Each box is curated with a selection of goods from different stores around Downtown Oklahoma City. The different boxes offered are the CITYBOX, the Date Night Inside Box, the Brew Box and the Stuck-At-Home Box. Local businesses that have contributed to the CITYBOX include Capital’s Ice Cream, The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, Commonplace Books, Plant, Stonecloud Brewing and many more. Items included in the different boxes range from local beer from Stonecloud Brewery, take-and- bake pizza from The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen and ice cream from Capital’s Ice Cream. Prices of the different types of boxes range from $60 to $115. Another local business that contributed to CITYBOX is Café Disco. Café Disco is Oklahoma’s first French macaron shop. The shop, a small 500-square-foot storefront located in Downtown Oklahoma City, was started a little over a year ago by Amanda Sakurai and her husband Spenser. “We bake all our French macarons and have 12 flavors in the shop, daily,” Sakurai said. Along with macarons, Café Disco also has a full coffee and tea menu. “Spenser, my husband, is the coffee nerd and I am the self-taught baker obsessed with perfecting the French macaron,” said Sakurai. Café Disco is included in the Stuck at Home Box and it includes a six-pack macaron box that includes a variety of the flavors offered daily in the shop. Now is the time to help support your favorite local businesses and CITYBOX is a great way to do just that. For now, the boxes are sold out, but with such high demand they are expected to continue on with CITYBOX, even after the pandemic. These boxes can be found through their website cityboxokc.com or their Instagram @citybox_okc. By Laura Huskey - Reporter As precautions are taken across the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19, college and university students are affected most significantly in their education. Students continue to be affected by changing classes and deadlines.
The clubs and organizations at Rose State are not exempt from these adjustments either. The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Rose State is moving to meet online in an effort to stay connected. “We don’t want to go completely silent,” BCM adviser Terry Thomas said. He hopes that replacing their usual meetings with a temporary online connection will continue to be beneficial and encouraging to the students in BCM. “Any organization that is made up of people is going to be social in nature,” Thomas said. “Even if we don’t interact the way we’d like to, being together builds personal accountability.” Thomas hopes that continuing to stay in touch will drive the BCM to be together more meaningfully. Thomas thinks it’s important to realize that even in this period of time, people can make the most of it. While classes and everything else move online in response to COVID-19, students have to be significantly more disciplined in their coursework and in their connection with their friends. The group plans to meet for 30 minutes once a week over Zoom. The challenge is seeing how well students can adapt to this new normal. “I don’t want people to think this interaction is mistaken for real community,” Thomas said. Music major Nicola Lunow agrees. “It will lessen the face-to-face time, so I think that will lead to less openness just because we won’t get to know each other as well as we would if we had spent the rest of the semester meeting,” Lunow said. Thomas knows this short amount of time will not be enough to fill the holes, but plans to utilize the group’s social media to reach out to students both in the BCM and out of it. He said there is a difference between face-to-face communication and online communication. Both can be valuable, but it is hard to replace the usual. Thomas said this can be a great time for other Christian communities on campus to draw together and encourage each other and those outside the community. “I hope that people will see our love for Christ and each other through these meetings,” Lunow said. With international students being stuck on campus, Thomas and the BCM want to reach out to them to see if there are needs that need to be met. The BCM will be checking in to see where they are able to provide some assistance. Whenever all is settled, the group plans to throw a bash to rekindle the loss of face-to-face community and have a reason to celebrate. By Jaden Dunn - Reporter #10 Get Dressed
Getting dressed every day, even if it is leggings or sweatpants, can leave you feeling clean (even if you haven’t showered). Putting on clean clothes gives you a chance to start your day fresh. #9 Do Your Hair/Makeup Doing your hair or makeup can be calming. This can be a nice change to simply brushing your hair, and being fresh-faced every day. #8 Go Outside Take a walk down the street. Sit in the sun. Getting outside allows you to get fresh air and vitamin D. Spending a few minutes outside can boost your mood. #7 Pick Up an Old Hobby Restart an old hobby that you’ve been too busy to work on recently. You may reignite your passion, or at the very least it’ll be some time not in front of the television. #6 Try Something New Whether it is a new recipe, a new book or new show to watch, trying something new could help you find a new interest. Trying a new hobby could give you a new skill, such as cooking, sewing or drawing. #5 Make Your Bed Let’s be real. You haven’t made your bed the whole quarantine. Take your sheets off, wash them and make your bed. You may feel accomplished and sleep well snuggled in clean sheets. #4 Clean Your House Not all at once, that can get overwhelming. Clean one room a day. At the end of the week, you will be living in a clean house or apartment. Not breathing in dust will help you feel better, so will living in a clean environment. #3 Play With Your Pet Take your dog for a walk or play fetch or tug. Brush your cat. Take out your snake to hold and love. Give your bearded dragon some of their favorite snacks. Clean your fish tank. Your pets are excited you are home. Give them extra attention while you can. #2 Pamper Yourself This doesn’t have to mean a full-on spa experience. Paint your nails if you want. Take a bath or a shower. Put on a face mask and take some funny pictures. Use some lotion you think smells nice. You’ll be more relaxed and ready for whatever comes next. #1 Smile Do something that will make you smile. Watch a funny movie or television show. Tell jokes. Play a board game with people you a quarantined with. Enjoy time with your family or roommates. Leave notes for siblings, parents or roommates that will make them smile. You will feel better in making others feel good. Make sure to wash your hand. For the love of all that is good, wash your hands.  By Donovan Straw - Sports Editor Every news media outlet has been covering the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesses, restaurants and shopping centers are restricting their hours or just having delivery or drive-thru, while government officials across the U.S. have asked citizens to practice social distancing from others.
Apps and streaming services are taking a different approach to the pandemic. The NBA League Pass app is $28.99 a month, but from now until April 24, they’re giving their users a free pass to watch all of the exclusive games from this season and older NBA classics. Movie production companies are allowing people to pay $20 to see movies that were scheduled to be released in theaters during the time of the pandemic. Netflix has just launched its new feature called “Netflix Party.” It allows users to watch movies in sync with friends and families stuck in their own homes, while texting back and forth in a chat window. Other streaming services have started to offer customers a free 30-day free trial. Hulu, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access, Showtime and HBO have all offered free content during this time. Streaming services allow everyone to practice social distancing. |
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