In the wake of tragedy, Yik Yak, a popular anonymous posting app, has brought together Oklahoma State University students in support of their Cowboy family.

After a car drove through a crowd of people gathered to watch the annual homecoming parade Norma Ramos, a junior member of the Cowboy Marching Band Color Guard, took to the app to recruit other students wishing to help do some good in the community. More than 50 students from the color guard, OSU Paddle People and College of Education Ambassadors have been selling orange ribbons on campus for $1 to help those affected by the parade tragedy.

Sarah Baker, a junior with the College of Education Ambassadors, has been helping put together ribbons each day.

“We’re trying to help families any way we can,” Baker said. “We wanted show our love for the OSU family and to put actions behind our words.”

Each roll makes about 90 ribbons. So far, the group has bought out all of the orange ribbon at both Walmart locations and Hobby Lobby. They also ordered another 200 yards of ribbon online. Freshman Bailey Gilley, part of OSU Paddle People, said they are trying to cover campus in the orange ribbons, going as far as to even adorn the therapy dogs who are helping out after the crisis.

As of noon Tuesday, they have raised $2,500. An account has been set up at BancFirst for the money raised. Half will be donated to the Marvin and Bonnie Stone Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Stones were two of the four fatalities in Saturday’s tragedy. The remaining money has not been designated to a fund yet, but Ramos said it will go toward helping other victims. Those volunteering their time are also volunteering their money so that 100 percent of what is raised goes back to those affected.

The group plans to be selling the ribbons on campus every day this week from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until they run out of ribbon. Georgie Sherek, a senior color guard member, said anyone is welcome to join and help make and sell ribbons.

“It’s grown to so many organizations coming together to help out for the same case,” Sherek said. “It’s beautiful.” 

Ramos, who was marching in the beginning of the parade with the color guard, said the incident puts everything in perspective for her.

“It makes you think about what could have happened,” Ramos said. “It makes you think of any relatives that you have, any little cousins, brothers or sisters. It makes you just want to hold them a little tighter at night.”

Memorial fundraisers provide help for victims

The orange ribbons are just one of many fundraisers taking place to help those involved in the Homecoming parade tragedy. 

A benefit dinner at Noodles & Company, an Oklahoma State Memorial Run and another benefit dinner hosted by Red Dirt Rotary will take place in the upcoming weeks. More information on these events, plus more events and official funds accepting donations can be found at http://go.okstate.edu/parade-memorial.

Carmike Cinemas will also be donating proceeds from admissions and concessions from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday to the families of victims.

The Stillwater Medical Center Foundation is accepting donations for their #StillwaterStrong Fund, too. More information can be found at http://smc-foundation.org/. The purchase of Stillwater Strong T-shirts will also go toward the same fund. T-shirts can be bought at https://teespring.com/stillwater-strong.

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