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THE UNION TIMES – SEPTEMBER 2013STATEof theUNIONIN THIS ISSUE .The Loyal & True Lounge Unveiled . Page 2C.I.T. Initiatives for a Better Union. Page 3A Taste of International Culture. Page 4Steps Toward a Healthier Union . Page 5Panhellenic Recruitment Wrap Up . Page 6We are once again at the beginning of a new semester and it is as exciting and as busy as ever. As we welcome backour students, it is important to remember the services and programs we provide are all here to help studentssucceed and to enrich and add value to their educational experiences. Over the past couple of years, the StudentUnion organization has worked hard to cultivate and build a service culture in support of this idea. Our goal isto provide a welcoming, supportive, service- and value-oriented experience for all who enter our doors and partake in theprograms and services offered. In fact, we very much want to be known as campus leaders in service quality.Our Brand Promise A warm, friendly and welcomingenvironment. Clean and well-maintained facilities. Knowledgeable, informative and welltrained staff. Service-oriented and responsive.This past summer our management team met to discuss ways in whichwe could improve our service quality efforts. We reviewed what we had inplace and what additional steps could be taken to improve and expandour efforts. We settled on the concept of implementing a brand promise.A brand promise is simply a means to express in action and attitude thevalue system of the organization. When you enter a Walmart you know youare guaranteed the lowest prices, when you enter a QuikTrip you knowyou will find a clean restroom and when you shop locally in Stillwater atConsumers grocery store you know they will carry your groceries to yourcar. These are all brand promises or actions that reflect a commitment totheir brand and what their customers can expect each time they entertheir doors.As the Student Union, we have the opportunity to positively impacthow students, faculty and staff, and campus visitors feel about theirOSU experience. It is our goal when you enter one of the Student Unionmanaged facilities or partake in one of our many services or programs, youwill be met with our brand promise of a warm, friendly and welcomingenvironment; clean and well-maintained facilities; a knowledgeable,informed and well-trained staff ; and individuals who are service-orientedand responsive to your needs. Although this brand promise may seemsimple, if properly implemented and committed to by all who work in ourorganization, it has the ability to significantly impact in a meaningful andpositive way the values and attitude that make OSU such a great place toattend school, work and visit.– Mitch Kilcrease, Student Union director
T H E U N I O N T I M E S – PA G E T W OThe Loyal & True Lounge UnveiledThe Oklahoma State University Student Union is excited toannounce its newest game day addition – the Loyal & TrueLounge. The Loyal & True Lounge is a tailgating event thatwill be held in the Student Union Ballroom on OSU gamedays. Guests will be offered an all-you-can-eat premiumbuffet, a cash bar, contests and giveaways, video gamestations, televisions broadcasting college football games, aclimate-controlled tailgating experience and more.Adam Barnes,Meeting andConferenceServicesmanager,developed theconcept for theLoyal & True Lounge while traveling to bowl games with theCowboy football team. Barnes noticed that many schoolshad a hospitality room for administration, their families andcoaching staff.I hated having to set up, take down and wait for myreservation. I know there are others out there thinking this,so I thought, let’s do something fun and turn this space intosomething really great to fulfill the need that’s out there.”The Loyal & True Lounge will offer a tailgating space inthe center of the game day experience. Barnes hopes thelounge will turn into a game day tradition for universityguests. However, he said that it won’t be possible to makethat happen without the support of the Student Union staff.“This has really been a team effort,” Barnes said. “Everyonein the Union has been so supportive and excited about theLoyal & True Lounge. We’ve got this thing up and runningbecause of team effort and I can’t wait to see where it takesus next.”Cowboy fans can attend for 60 per game or 250 for aseason pass. Children under the age of 8 can attend for free.To purchase your tickets, call (405) 744-5232 or buy themonline at shopokstate.com.“We have a 7,500 square foot space with 60,000 people ina half a square mile,” Barnes said. “I know that as a tailgater,Miss OSU Pageant Takes the StageThe Miss OSU pageant is held annually for female studentsat any of the Oklahoma State University campusesbetween the ages of 17 and 25 . This year’s Miss OSUpageant will be held Oct. 3, 2013 at 8 p.m. in the SereteanCenter Concert Hall.Miss OSU is a representative of the university in avariety of capacities. In the past, Miss OSU has spokento prospective Oklahoma State University students,performed on regional cable television, judged otherpageants, and appeared in area parades. Miss OSU isa part of the Miss America pageant series. The womanselected as Miss OSU will be an automatic qualifier to theMiss Oklahoma pageant.The current Miss OSU, Michelle Langford, represented theuniversity at the Miss Oklahoma pageant in early June.On night three of the pageant, she won the Rookie TalentAward.The pageant seeks women who are personable, outgoingand well spoken. Miss OSU must be able to “think on herfeet” and her performance talent should be comparable tothe professional level.Brandon Mitts, Allied Arts & Special Events coordinator,is the Miss OSU executive director. He believes the MissOSU pageant forces young women to focus on academics,leadership and platform issues.“This pageant is different than the Miss USA seriesbecause contestants have to turn in their grades andjudges want to know whateach woman’s goals arefor her education,” Mittssaid. “The money youwin is scholarship moneyand it cannot be used foranything else. Leadershipis another key piece to theMiss America and Miss OSUsystem. If you don’t have aAlly Akers, Miss OSU 2011, crowns theplatform or you don’t have reigning Miss OSU, Michelle Langford, ata cause that you’re willing the 2012 Miss OSU Pageant.to stand up and talk about,you’re not going to do very well.”There are five cash scholarships awarded to Miss OSU andthe four runner-ups. Scholarships range between 150and 1,200. The pageant typically has 10-15 participants.Contestants will compete in the following categories:the parade of contestants, an on-stage questionnaire,swimsuit competition, talent competition and eveningwear competition.Applications for Miss OSU are due by Sept. 10, 2013 at 5p.m. For ticket information call (405) 744-7509 or visit theMiss Oklahoma State University Pageant Facebook page.
T H E U N I O N T I M E S – PA G E T H R E EC.I.T. Initiatives for a Better UnionThe newly formed C.I.T. (Creative, Innovative, Tradition)committee has been hard at work with two new initiativesfor this semester that will foster creativity and unity in theworkplace.The committee’s first initiative,The Big Idea Competition, focuseson creating and implementingideas to make the Student Unionmore innovative. The Big IdeaCompetition allows Student Unionemployees to submit their ideas tothe C.I.T. committee, who will thenwork to make the idea come to life.The C.I.T. committee members are Bryson Baker, KassidyConway, Liz Osborne, Brandon Mitts, Adam Barnes, LarryPutman, Donald Pritchett, David Casey, Fran Gragg and MattFletcher. The deadline to submit ideas for the 2013-2014school year is Sept. 13, 2013.The committee’s second initiative is the Student Union C.I.T.survey. The goal of the C.I.T. survey is to bridge the gapbetween people, services, programs and facilities in theUnion.“What we want to do with TheBig Idea Competition is empoweranyone who works at the Union to let their voice beheard,” Bryson Baker, OrangeTech manager and committeechairman, said. “If someone has a good idea that they thinkcould be creative, innovative or inspire a new tradition, thenwe want to hear about it. We’re looking for great ideas thatpeople will want to be a part of.”The C.I.T. committee will judge ideas based on fiscalresponsibility, implementation strategy and “buy in” factors.Once ideas have been submitted, everyone will sign upfor an informal presentation to pitch his or her idea tothe C.I.T. committee. The committee will choose one ideaeach year and begin meeting with the winner during themonths of October, November and December to discuss animplementation strategy. The idea will be launched in thespring of each year.“We just underwent this incredible remodel and we haveall these departments with hundreds of people who workhere and we don’t really know each other,” Baker said. “Wearen’t sure what each department does and we don’t knowhow another department may be able to help us or how wecould be a resource to them. There’s a disconnect amongstthis huge building and the C.I.T. survey is a means to bridgethat gap.”The C.I.T. survey prompts units and departments to sharetheir contact information, directory, objective statement,sponsored events and activities, and interdepartmentalassistance and resources. The information will be distributedas a Wiki or an e-publication. The publication will alsobe easy to print. The committee’s goal is to make theinformation accessible to everyone in the Union.Questions about either of these initiatives? Please feel freeto contact Bryson Baker at bryson.baker@okstate.edu or(405) 744-3542.Ready for Football SeasonFootball season is back and the Student Union is readyto make the most of both home and away OSU footballgames. Check out the two great events happening thisseason:COWBOYS WIN, YOU SCORE PROMOTIONEvery Monday after an away Cowboy football victory, allOSU spirit merchandise in the University Store will bediscounted based on the number of points the Cowboysscore.For example, if the Cowboys beat UTSA 30-6 on Saturday,the University Store will offer a 30 percent discount on allregularly priced OSU spirit merchandise and apparel.This promotion will last throughout football season.Maximum discount is 40 percent off. Some exclusionsmay apply.GAMEDAY AT THE UNIONThe Cowboys are ready to take the field and the Unionis ready to bring back the orange power for GameDay at the Union. Join us for family-friendly fun threehours before kickoffat each home game.Take pictures in theOklahoma State themedphoto booth, play inthe bounce house, get atemporary Pistol Pete tattoo or make posters to cheer onour Cowboys.GameDay at the Union is located at the north end ofthe Student Union Plaza at the corner of Hester St. andMorrill Ave. The event is open to everyone, so stop by andcheck out the fun.September 14 Event Schedule3:30 p.m. Game Day at the Union begins4:30 p.m. Spirit Walk on Hester St.5:30 p.m. Game Day at the Union ends6:30 p.m. KickoffFor a complete list of game day operating hours,including dining hours, visit union.okstate.edu.
T H E U N I O N T I M E S – PA G E F O U RA Taste of International CultureFood lovers of all kinds can enjoy authentic, home-style cuisine at theInternational Expo on Oct. 2, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, hosted by theInternational Student Organization, will be held at the International Mall, north ofthe Edmon Low Library. The International Expo exposes American students to thevarious cultures represented on the Oklahoma State University campus. It allowsinternational students to express themselves and their cultures through food.September 6Awesome ‘80s Movies:“The Breakfast Club” &“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”7 p.m. and 9 p.m.,SU TheaterSeptember 7Tailgate with Dance Marathon11 a.m. - 2 p.m., South Library LawnSeptember 9Graffiti Contest11 a.m., SU PlazaSeptember 13Orange Friday11 a.m. - 1 p.m., SU PlazaSeptember 13Parent’s Day Bingo7 p.m., Cowboy UndergroundSeptember 14SUAB Tailgate & Football Social3:30 p.m., SU Upper PlazaTim Huff, InternationalStudents & Scholarsmanager, said the bestpart of the InternationalExpo is the diverse food.All of the food at the expois prepared exactly theway it would be preparedin each home country.“The authentic food canPresident Hargis speaks with students at the 2012 International Expo.change a lot of opinionson international cuisine,” Huff said. “Nothing at the expo is ‘Americanized.’ Manystudents come to the expo expecting one thing, and find out that they love thefood. You see those same students coming back each year piling up their plates.”In addition to the food, some of the organizations will choose to sell items fromtheir home countries as well as host cultural performances featuring music, danceand other talents. For the most part, performances are held between classes from11:20-11:30 a.m. and again from 12:20-12:30 p.m.With more than 100 countries being represented on the Oklahoma SateUniversity campus, Huff said it’s a great way for the American students to beexposed to the various cultures.“This is the one time during the year that you see the international studentsmore at home than the American students,” Huff said. “It’s good for the Americanstudents to feel a little out of their comfort zones so they can empathize with howthe international students feel on a daily basis.”September 18Open Mic Night7 p.m., SU PlazaThe International Expo booths accept two forms of payment, either cash orBursar charge. Bursar charge is available via a food coupon system, which can bepurchased at the expo. Sorry, no meal plans are accepted.September 22Community Friendly Film:“Monsters University”1 p.m., Student Union TheaterGet ConnectedSeptember 25Harry Potter Bingo7 p.m., Cowboy UndergroundSeptember 27Movie MarathonFollow SUAB on Facebook andTwitter for the latest updates.Want to know about all of the wonderful, exciting things happeningin the Student Union? The Union maintains four different social mediaaccounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram) and a website(union.okstate.edu) bursting with content about events, activities,programs, sales, etc. in the Union. Be sure to get connected so you getthe scoop on everything the Union has to offer.All events and locations are subject to change ./osuunion
T H E U N I O N T I M E S – PA G E F I V EHealthy Union Making Strides Through ProgramsThe Healthy Union committeecontinues to work to provide resourcesto employees to assist its threetargeted areas: healthy eating, workand life balance, and physical activity.Following are updates to both past andfuture initiatives.BIKE-TO-WORK PROGRAMA recent Healthy Union initiative, thesummer bike-to-work program wassuccessful with approximately 16active participants. Bikers enjoyededucational sessions, heart-healthylunches and a tremendous feeling ofaccomplishment.WALKING CHALLENGEThe Student Union and UniversityDining Services has successfullycompleted the walking challenge,hosted by the Healthy Unioncommittee. Through the challenge,67 employees from eight differentdepartments logged a total of29,286,973 steps for a total of11,714.79 miles! During the course ofthe challenge participants competedagainst one another and submittedwalking logs each week counting theirdaily steps.Winners of the competition are asfollows:Overall winners: First Place – Nani Idrus,Administrative Services Second Place – Shelli Massey,Building Operations Third Place – Vedda Hsu, KerrDrummond DiningMost percentage change in steps: First Place – Kasie Dunagan, StudentUnion Dining Second Place – Cherry Bailey, RetailOperationsDepartment winner:Administrative ServicesThe Healthy Union committee wouldlike to say congratulations to all of theparticipants of the walking challenge.The committee would also like to saythank you the walking committeemembers who made this programpossible: Nani Idrus, Brandie Johnson,Chad Schreiber, Hollie Taylor, WillieTaylor, Kasie Dunagan, Melanie Field,Larry Putman, Brandon Grubb, FayeCarter, Robert Snead, Annette Smith,and Alicia Blocker.NUTRITION PROGRAMOklahoma State Student Unionemployees can expect more ways tolive a healthy lifestyle at work this year.Mitch Kilcrease, Student Union directorand nutrition program committeechairman, has been working withthe Healthy Union nutrition groupin establishing resources to give forUnion and University Dining Servicesstaff resources to create a nutritionconscience lifestyle.Kilcrease and his committee modeledhis plan after nutritional plans atcompanies like Apple and Google. Hisidea is that if a healthy lunch can beprovided at a low cost, employees willbe more likely to eat that as opposedto an a quick, unhealthy lunch.“We sometimes think it’s cheaperto eat these quick, processed foodsduring the day because it’s convenient,”Kilcrease said. “We think, ‘I’ve got toget to work, then get my kids, andit’s easier and cheaper for me to justopen up a can of Spaghettios ratherthan actually preparing a meal.’ Aftersurveying our staff we noticed therewas a concern about nutrition. We’veput together this idea to improve thequality of life for our employees. Theidea is to provide a healthier lunch, butto also teach our staff how to makethat happen.”The nutrition committee plans toprovide a nutritional lunch preparedby Union staff volunteers one Fridaya month. The cost will be, at most, 3per person. Approximately 50 StudentUnion employees will be able to attendeach lunch. All 50 employees cannotfit into a kitchen at once, so Kilcreaseplans to use technology to fix thisissue. A group of six to eight employeevolunteers will meet two days beforethe scheduled Friday lunch to learnhow to prepare the meal being servedthat week. The volunteer groups willrotate each month so that everyonehas an opportunity to prepare a meal.Each month’s volunteer group will befilmed while cooking the meal. Thevideo will be shown that Friday duringlunch to teach the entire group how tomake that week’s meal. The volunteergroup will cook the same meal onFriday for the 50 people attending thelunch.“The idea is to create a workenvironment that is very much abouthealthy lifestyle and living,” Kilcreasesaid. “Hopefully people will want tobe here more if they’re healthier andeating a balanced meal. Employees willget here and get more done if they feelgood about themselves and their diet.”Kilcrease wants employees to be ableto take these skills outside of theworkplace. The committee has workedwith nutritionists to create menus forthe program. Each lunch will consistof food found inlocal Stillwatergrocery stores,such as Walmart.By doing so,he hopes toteach Unionemployees thatliving a healthylifestyle can beaffordable and easy.RELAXATION ROOMThis past spring the StudentUnion worked in conjunction withthe Seretean Wellness Center inadministering a survey to identify keyareas of concern as well as interests forStudent Union and University DiningServices employees. One of highareas of concern for staff memberswas stress management/stress relief.The Student Union is in the process ofestablishing a relaxation room for itsemployees to assist with relief efforts.The room, which will be located onthe third floor of the building, willinclude an automated foot and calfmassager as well as a hand massager.The quiet room will also be equippedwith a set of noise cancellingheadphones, a white noise machineand other stress-fighting materialssuch as coloring/puzzle books andpersonal health-oriented educationalmaterials. The goal is to have a placewhere employees can go while onbreak and get out of their hectic workenvironment to focus on their wellbeing through relaxation techniques.
T H E U N I O N T I M E S – PA G E S I XPanhellenic Holds Successful RecruitmentThis year, 709 women received bids on Bid Day, which wasAug. 10, 2013. Twelve sororities participated in Panhellenicformal fall recruitment week, which took place Aug. 4through Aug. 10.The week began on Aug. 4 with 827 women at potentialnew member orientation. Recruitment eventsbegan on Aug. 5. Four event rounds were heldduring the week. The event rounds included openhouse, house tour and philanthropy, skit andpreference round.The Panhellenic Executive Council worked monthsin advance to prepare for recruitment. ChelseyPuckett, a senior marketing and managementstudent and Panhellenic recruitment coordinator,said recruitment was one of her most rewardingexperiences.“It was so awesome to see the women finding their homesthroughout the week,” Puckett said. “It was one of thosecheesy moments that make you really proud. All the hardwork was so worth it when we got to see how excited thewomen were to join our community on Bid Day.”The week concluded with an 86 percent retention rate.Quota, the number of women each chapter takes duringrecruitment, was 58. This was the second consecutive yearthat all 12 chapters made quota.This year was the first time since 2008 that RecruitmentCentral, a 24/7 location for recruitment staff, was in theStudent Union. Liz Osborne, Fraternity & Sorority Affairscoordinator, said she was excited about being back in theUnion.The women of Delta Delta Delta greet their new members on Bid Day 2013.“It was great to have Recruitment Central in the Union,”Osborne said. “It felt like coming home.”Potential new members also enjoyed Student Unionamenities during meal times. They ate nine meals at theStudent Union during recruitment and spent many hoursbetween events lounging in the air conditioning of thebuilding. Thank you to all staff members who helped maketheir experiences positive.Fall Family Weekend Brings OSU TogetherOklahoma State University is prepared for a swarm of parents, family and friends on Sept. 13, 2013 during Fall FamilyWeekend. Parents come to Stillwater, Okla., to have the game day experience, experience life on a college campus andenjoy time with students.Fran Gragg, Parent & Family Relations coordinator, is anticipating several hundredparents attending this year’s Fall Family Weekend since it falls during the Cowboyfootball season opener versus Lamar on Sept. 14, 2013.“Most parents just want to go to the game and have the game day experience,”said Gragg. “They want to hang out with their student and see what he or shewould normally be doing. Students are finally settling in when Fall Family Weekendcomes around, so students are excited to show parents their new home.”Fall Family Weekend hosts several opportunities for students to get involved oncampus, including a scholarship contest. Each year 10 1,000 scholarships areawarded to Oklahoma State students at a brunch on the Saturday of Fall Family Weekend. Applications are submittedto a Cowboy Parents board, who reviews the applications and selects the winners based on varying circumstances andneed.Fall Family Weekend is about more than the students, however. The weekend benefits the university as a whole.“We have a certain view of the students while they are on campus, and that’s all we ever see of them,” Gragg said.“Family Weekend helps to remind us that each student is a part of a family and network somewhere way off campus.It gives us a way to connect with people from different areas. It broadens our perspective of who our students are andwhere they’re coming from.”For more information about Fall Family Weekend, visit the Fall Family Weekend event website.
Fletcher. The deadline to submit ideas for the 2013-2014 school year is Sept. 13, 2013. The committee's second initiative is the Student Union C.I.T. survey. The goal of the C.I.T. survey is to bridge the gap between people, services, programs and facilities in the Union. "We just underwent this incredible remodel and we have
