The Cameron University Collegian: April 1, 2013

Collegian T he Cameron University

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Monday, April 1, 2013

Volume 88 Issue 7

International Fashion Show at CU Theatre Students grace the runway to show off new spring gear Kaylee Jones

attending, as two of her daughters would be walking in A&E Editor one of the segments.

Lights cast a teal glow “I’m so excited about the across the stage as steel drums fashion show,” Holland said. played through the sound “We got to go to the dress system, setting the mood rehearsal last night, and it’s for audience members while going to be really great. There they found their way to their is a lot of great music. They seats. A spotlight appeared, didn’t bring out all the fashion illuminating Eloise Hubbard, last night, so I’m excited to see who would serve as Master of it tonight.”

Ceremonies for the evening.

The show was divided Hubbard greeted guests into 13 segments, which were with the words, “Close your broken up by both dance and eyes and drift with me, to a vocal performances. sublime little shop next to the Each segment featured its sea,” as Cameron University’s own title and theme, ranging CU@Fashion Week 2013 from “Shades of Blue” to “Rock the Wear” Fashion “Caribbean Paradise.” Others, Show began. like “African Wear — From The event marked the the Motherland They Come” second year CU held the served to educate the audience International Fashion Show, on the importance of color in the brainchild of CU alumnae African clothing.

Merita Tyrell-Mitchell.

After Hubbard shared a A former Miss Black CU brief history of the growth and contestant in the Miss of Cameron’s international Black Oklahoma pageant, program and issued a round Mitchell has seven years of of thank yous to all those who experience in coordinating contributed, she introduced the fashion events. first segment, entitled “Glam “This is an idea that Rock.” just developed in my head,” Helix’s “Rock You” kicked Mitchell said. “I’m very off the show as a model spontaneous with events, and I strutted across the stage to love event planning. It was just the beat, working the crowd in one of those ideas, and I ran rock and roll fashion — in knee with it.” high black boots, silver leggings Before the show, Vice and a studded leather vest.

President Jennifer Holland She threw up classic “rock on” helped students to set up plants hand signs as she posed before to decorate the stage that returning behind the curtain. would serve as the evening’s runway.

See FASHION Vice President Holland explained her reason for Page 5 Photo by Kali Robinson

Sporting It: Student Edmund Velinor models a sleeveless sweater during the fashion show. The sweater was part of the African wear segment.

Photos by Charlene Belew

Baskets and bunnies: (Left) Children and parents flood the Bentley Gardens in search of Easter eggs. (Bottom right) A boy races to find one of the 12 easter eggs that contained a special note to win a candy-filled easter basket. (Top right) The Easter bunny cheers on eager children. He welcomed photos for children and parents during the event.

AGGIES GREET EASTER SEASON Upward Bound and PAC collaborate for family gathering Charlene Belew

students into an area of their own, the egg hunt Staff Writer started. Children and parents eagerly filed into Cameron University’s the egg arenas and all of Programming Activities the baskets present started Council (PAC) held its filling with the colorful annual Easter Egg Hunt at Easter eggs.

6 p.m. on Tuesday, April Twelve eggs hidden 26 in the Bentley Gardens. around the Bentley Gardens Children and parents were had a piece of paper inside filled with excitement of them. Children who and the sound of laughter got these eggs were given was heard throughout the a special prize. This prize gardens. included a decorative Easter PAC and Cameron’s basket filled to the brim Upward Bound students with candy. teamed together to get the PAC member Stacy Hill, colorful, plastic eggs stuffed a junior in Business, was with candy and ready to responsible for planning the go for the children who Easter egg hunt. He said attended the egg hunt. that he enjoyed the outcome Prior to the egg hunt, of the event. children separated into “It took a lot of work different groups around the during the day to get the Bentley gardens according eggs set and ready to go to their ages. Each parent for the event,” Hill said. and child was asked to “We had Upward Bound be respectful during the volunteer to help us stuff Easter egg hunt to ensure the eggs, and they really fairness and safety among the children participating in helped us out.”

Hill said that his own the event.

2-year-old son attended the After the children Easter egg hunt and that separated into their they both had an exciting respective areas of the time interacting with the gardens, including college

community and searching for the hidden eggs.

“This event was great for me,” Hill said. “Not only was I able to be a part of it as a PAC member, but I was able to bring my wife and son along. My 2-yearold son Archer was very excited. Archer loves candy and running just as much as every other kid.”

According to the PAC information page, the mission of this organization is to provide entertaining events while advocating personal growth and linking Cameron’s organizations to the community. Hill said that this was a great way to promote this mission.

“I felt that this event was a great way to reach out and give back to the community.

From my experience, there is no better way to reach people than through their children. Members of our community were able to come and enjoy the campus while their children had fun running off their energy.”

Psychology junior and one of the two PAC cochairs Sidney McCormack

said that putting on the annual Easter egg hunt is important for the community and Cameron students alike.

“We put it on every year and I think this gives the community a chance to come out and interact.

It also gives Cameron a chance to give back to the community,” McCormack said.

Children who arrived late to the Easter egg hunt received the chance to get a few eggs in their basket from PAC members.

Children were given the opportunity to take pictures with the Easter Bunny, who was portrayed by CU Student Tony Henderson.

Children and parents were also invited to enjoy refreshments and decorate the sidewalks of the Bentley Gardens with chalk.

Parents, children and Cameron students that are looking for pictures that were taken with the Easter bunny at the event can locate them on Ole Kim’s Facebook page at facebook. com/ole.kim1.

Sigma Tau Delta’s Penny Wars send students to battle Tyler Boydston

Assistant Managing Editor Cameron’s English honor society and chapter of Sigma Tau Delta recently held their Penny Wars, where different literature-based films and TV series battled it out for screening at Sigma Tau Delta’s summer movie festival.

The media that competed for the honor of being shown at the festival included the “Harry Potter” series, “Lord of the Rings,” “Twilight” and “The Walking Dead.” The first Penny Wars was set from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 14 in the first floor of Nance-Boyer.

According to Sigma Tau Delta’s vice president and senior English major Seth Copeland, the idea for the Penny Wars came from a workshop one of the members had attended.

“One of our core members had observed the concept at a Sigma Tau Delta workshop she attended and thought that would be a good idea, to pit examples of popular fiction together that have film adaptations to see who wins,” Copeland said. “We would have people toss in some cash for their favorites, specifically pennies, but we were open to different amounts. Whoever wins would be aired during our summer movie festival.”

Copeland said Sigma Tau Delta would show the winning film series at the festival, taking place at the Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES) over the course of the summer.

“The summer movie festival is hosted by Sigma Tau Delta and is held in the CETES Conference Room,” Copeland said.

Photo by Tyler Boydston

Pitching pennies: Sigma Tau Delta member Gil Nunez invites students to choose their favorite movie with coins.

The event was held on the first floor of Nance Boyer.

“It will be once a week, and we’ll show a film — in this case, we will likely show for part of the festival all of the films in that franchise.”

This is the first time that Sigma Tau Delta has had the Penny Wars at Cameron University.

“Other than the bake sales that other honor societies do, we’ve never tried something like this,” Copeland said. “So, when the idea was brought up at a meeting, we all decided this was an excellent way to make a little money and do something

that people could get into.”

According to Copeland, the Penny Wars works as a way to show students and faculty films that have a footing in literature, as well as showing that people can take popular fiction seriously.

“Of course, we also get to scratch people’s backs, providing them with cinema entertainment with a literary bend,” Copeland said. “Part of it is a way to encourage the fact that all of these examples come from literature. With “Walking Dead” of course being a graphic novel, it is still literature. It’s a way to advocate popular fiction. In the English Department, we often distance ourselves from popular fiction and often pretend like it’s just this thing that goes on that we have to put up with.

It’s valid, though. We have a Popular Fiction course, and just because something is big and popular and people are talking about it doesn’t mean it is trash or pretentious drivel.”

As well as the Penny Wars and the summer movie festival, Sigma Tau Delta will also be hosting the Shakespeare birthday party in April, and having their English awards banquet.

“Sigma Tau Delta will be doing various events,” Copeland said. “In April we will have the Shakespeare birthday party, which is always a wonderful occasion of pizza and fellowship and recitations and Cakespeare, as we call it. That’s the big event coming up, and of course there is the English awards banquet, where the poetry prizes, fiction prizes and creative writing prizes will be awarded, and new members will be initiated, including our new president, vice-president, secretary and SGA ambassador.”

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April 1, 2013

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Cookout held at CETES Center Alex Rosa-Figueroa

was just before Spring Break.

“We want to give Staff Writer the students a relaxing environment outside the The department of classroom with faculty and Criminal Justice and staff,” she said.

Sociology met for this As Dr. Su Lee, Associate semester’s Student and Professor in the department, Faculty Luncheon. grilled the burgers just Starting at 11 a.m. outside the conference center, on Thursday, March 14, students and instructors students and faculty alike were able to eat to their gathered in the Center for liking while mingling. A Emerging Technology and table was set up near the Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES) Conference Center front of the room filled with lettuce, tomatoes and other for a cookout luncheon. dressings, as well as the The department holds this various kinds of condiments get-together every semester, and according to Tina Alley, expected of a grilled meal; Administrative Assistant for that way, hungry attendees could customize their lunch the department of Criminal as they saw fit.

Justice and Sociology, the Eating food and meeting event is a hit with students. with peers was not the only “Students absolutely love order of business for the it,” she said. “We usually do afternoon — throughout barbecue and give away door the luncheon, various prizes prizes.” were handed out. Those Alley went on to explain in attendance of the meal that the event is one meant received a ticket as they to foster camaraderie, entered the conference as students dined on center; as they ate, Assistant hamburgers and snacks Professor Dr. Sherri Keenan alongside the faculty and — who helped organize the staff they learned under event — would draw from while in the classroom. The Luncheon is held once every a bag the potential twin of any given ticket, which semester and before a break corresponded to one of a — in this semester’s case, it

number of prizes. The prizes included coffee mugs, stress balls, salt and pepper shakers and full textbooks. The big prizes of the luncheon were t-shirts emblazoned with the logo for Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice organization. Only those within the department were eligible for the prizes, and the raffle continued through the full of the lunch.

Also present at the luncheon was a booth representing the Wichita Mountains Prevention Network. The table was covered in fliers, posters and paperwork containing information on the network.

According to Jennifer Ward, Regional Prevention Coordinator Project Specialist, the network has a series of programs meant to cut down on underage drinking and substance abuse in the county. The booth, a combination of Ward’s efforts and a welcoming invitation from the department, was at the luncheon to recruit volunteers for its various preventative programs.

“I was here last year for the cookout,” she said. “We

Photo by Alex Rosa-Figueroa

Luncheon line: Students prepare their plates at the Student and Faculty Luncheon.

The event took place at 11 a.m. on March 14 in the CETES Conference Center. wanted to give students the opportunity to volunteer and make a difference in Comanche County.”

Ward said that the Prevention Network has programs for volunteers for all ages, including a secret shopper program meant to keep an eye on alcoholic beverage vendors and ensure they are checking customer identification thoroughly.

The programs, she explained, are meant to curb the concerning level of underage drinking in the county.

“We know from the research that this is an issue in Comanche County,” she said. “The alcohol-related crash rate is much higher than the state level.”

Those seeking more information on the Wichita Mountains Prevention

Network can contact Jennifer Ward at jward@wmpn.org or 580.355.5246 x 101.

More information on the Criminal Justice and Sociology Department can be found at.cameron.edu/ cj_sociology/, and for more on-campus events students can turn to the Calendar of Events at cameron.edu/ eventcalendar.

Economic development forum focuses on Oklahoma Sarah Brewer

“Our objective is to come to a consensus to not only have the networking opportunity among all the attendees but to take Copy Editor something away that says ‘we know what our different resources are,’” Carolina said.

Inviting business owners and people with ideas, the “2013 The forum featured several keynote speakers: Secretary of Innovation-based Economic Development Forum: Innovation Science and Technology Dr. Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma and Collaboration for a Stronger Southwest Oklahoma” sought addressed “OneOklahoma,” the state’s strategic plan for science to promote and advance the Sooner State in the national and and technology, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Pete Palmer, the director international arena. of EDGE® Innovation Network, discussed “Technology With a focus on innovations to grow jobs and create Challenges & Opportunities in Today’s Environment” and Col. wealth in Southwest Oklahoma, the forum took place during Anthony Krawietz, Commander, 97th Air Mobility Wing at the morning of March 15 at the McCasland Ballroom.

Altus Air Force Base spoke on “STEM Education.”

Along with CU and the Center for Emerging Technology Five distinct panel discussions covered topics that and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES), the Lawton-Fort intertwined and pertinent to economic development in Sill Economic Development Corporation, i2E, Oklahoma Southwest Oklahoma — Economic Development Initiatives, Manufacturing Alliance (OMA), State Chamber of Oklahoma, Energy and Agriculture, Innovation Enablers, Manufacturing Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Sciences and and Defense.

Technology (OCAST) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber sponsored Tilak explained how the organizers selected panelists for the the forum. forum.

Michael Carolina, the executive director of the Oklahoma “Instead of having one expert speaking about something, Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology we’ve tried to bring people from different areas in a panel that is (OCAST) and Arun Tilak, the director of the CETES, were relevant to our region,” Tilak said. “We start from the state level responsible for organizing the forum starting six months and drew it down to the regional level. We look at the wealth ago after conducting a prototype forum at Oklahoma State creators that are possible for this region. I think the panels have University in Ponca City. a wide range of expertise.”

Carolina and Tilak said they wanted to refine the model In addition to organizing the forum, Tilk also served as a of the forum to further catalyze economic development and moderator for a panel dedicated to enabling innovation. He said stimulating innovation and collaboration. They would also the panelists will provide information that beginning business like participants to take advantages of the resources that were people look for: access to capital, a skilled workforce and available throughout the forum. management talent.

“What we’re really looking at are people from different industries trying new methods and learning from different people. The concept to me — in my mind — is putting people with expertise and interests in touch with other people to come up with something new.”

These methods can be as simple as creating spaces — like cafeteria tables — where company employees can meet off the clock and exchange ideas, Tilk said. And according to Carolina, another part of the objective is making people aware of available resources so that they can take advantage of them.

Carolina cited the internet as a resource that can transform a small business into a worldwide enterprise.

“No matter what business you are in in, you need to be thinking of the visionary approach,” Carolina said. “With the internet, the competition becomes global. You have a website. It goes viral.”

Adam Calaway, the director of communications at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation discussed a major research projects are finding methods to combatting worldwide malnutrition while urban sprawl takes away quality land from farming and a diminishing water supply. According to Calaway, new technologies in plant breeding will nourish the hungry and playing a pivotal role in space exploration, but these methods do not fall entirely in the realm of agriculture anymore — it comes from advances in science and biotechnology.

“Our best and brightest minds say that 70% additional increase will is going to come from technologies and efficiencies.

It’s going to come from innovation. It’s going to come from research,” Calaway said.

CU Succeed teaches about first impressions James Meeks

to Director of Student Development — and was Staff Writer held on March 12 at the With another graduating Centennial Room located at the Shepler Center. class getting ready to walk Dr. Jennifer Pruchnicki the stage for diplomas, the CU Succeed Workshop held taught and explained to its latest installment, entitled students how far a first “How To Make a First Good impression could go with professors, employers and Impression,” to teach CU potential clients. students career skills.

“Every time you go out The session featured speaker Melissa Caro — the in public it is your first impression,” Caro said. “You administrative assistant

can run into somebody at a restaurant or gas station then turn around and meet them at another time. You may not have made the best first impression on them and you can’t go back and change it.”

Caro explained that students should be mindful of their first impressions when they leave their house to run simple errands.

“Everything you do, every

Photo by James Meeks

Dressed to impress: Administrative assistant to Director of Student Development Melissa Caro (center) holds a round-table discussion about first impressions. The CU Succeed workshop took place March 12 at the Centennial Room in Shepler Center.

place you go is a potential job interview and can lead to a potential contact for your future,” she said.

Aside from impressions given on the street, Caro states that when students go to events or parties, they should set an intention of finding and knowing the people they want to meet and should be in a positive mood to help reinforce their first impression.

“If you’re in a bad mood and you have to go to a function, especially if its work related, then figure a way to snap out of it really quick,” she said. “When you go in a bad mood you’re going to attract all the negative energy in the room and that’s not the energy that you want.”

During the presentation, Caro said that body language is crucial to a first impression. She discussed things from posture to the way a person walks and the way people angle themselves while sitting down. She even talked about subconscious clues such as how a person folds their arms, facial expressions and glancing at

the clock can give negative signals to a future employer and show signs of disinterest, discomfort or anxiety.

Part of the first impression also comes from the way you dress. Snap judgments can be based on person’s clothing, make-up, shoes and accessories, Caro said.

“If you’re dressed nice, employers tend to expect a higher level of professionalism out of you,” she said. “If you’re dressed like you are ready to go to the club then they are going to make an assumption about you until you prove something different.”

Caro also states that when you are going in for an interview even waiting in the lobby you must keep up a good first impression.

“The receptionist is the eyes and ears of the company. Be friendly to them and conduct yourself professionally while waiting because it will be reported back to the employer,” she said.

When hired, Caro suggests that students should ask their employers

questions about the time they should arrive to work, when they are scheduled to leave and the dress code to further improve upon the first impression and not make any mistakes on their first day on the job.

“Learn the politics of the office, learn who the boss is and who has his or her ear.

Also, cliques are still existent — you did not leave them in high school — so choose your bedfellows wisely,” she said.

After making first impressions and entering the workplace, Caro explained that students should remember that they are now part of a team — that they are joining the company and not the other way around.

Caro states that in the event a person has made a less than flattering first impression, they should take the time to rectify the mistake and ask to start over and own up to the mistake.

CU Succeed will hold another workshop scheduled for April 9 entitled “Business Etiquette 101” at 11 a.m., in the Centennial Room at Shepler Center.

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Intramural basketball lets students play Kali Robinson

game and prepared to play Chemistry Club, captained Staff Writer

by Seth Geiger.

Chemistry Club pulled Warm Milk, Chemistry ahead with one win and Club, Goon Gobblers and Team Bentley stretched and zero losses, beating Warm laced up for the Intramural milk 68 to 47. The Goon Bobblers, led by Kelly Basketball Tournament Carey, beat Team Bentley from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

51 to 43 landing them a spot on March 13 at the Aggie at the top with Chemistry Rec Center. Students and Club. faculty filled the bleachers By 7:30 p.m., the Men’s to cheer on their favorite teams were dressed in their players. black and gold reversible These coed teams were jerseys, ready to compete. only four out of 16 teams Chemistry Club, Monstars, to play this season. The tournament began with the SmurfCatz, WET, Last Kings, The Even Odds, Women’s teams.

Glory Road, The Honey Ladies from Chemistry Club, captained by Madison Badgers, Naija Boyz and Alpha Sigma Phi competed Geiger, and Fierce 5ive, captained by Brinkley Noel, in the Men’s tournament.

Team members ranged lined up on the court for from students who played the first tip off at 5:30 p.m.

Chemistry Club beat Fierce basketball in high school to 5ive 59 to 19, ranking them former Cameron players.

There were between six and at first place. eleven people on each team.

More students filtered Chemistry Club beat into the Rec Center. By the the Naija Boyz 66 to 28 third game, the bleachers putting them at one win and were filled with players zero losses. They later beat waiting for their game and Chemistry Club beat the cheering fans.

Coed teams played next. Monstars 53 to 33.

Team WET beat Last Warm Milk, captained by Kings 68 to 51. Glory Road Brian Phillips, gathered beat the Naija Boyz 66 to by the end of the Women’s

28. Alpha Sigma Phi played The Even Odds and lost 35 to 40.

As with all other Aggie intramural sports, no current member of the either varsity basketball team was allowed to compete. Students had until Feb. 27 to choose up to eleven people for their teams.

“He was a stud the last few years,” said Brock Cowen, about Chemistry Club’s Thomas Razor.

“And now that he’s allowed to play, he just dominates intramural.”

After the first few games, Chemistry Club claimed their spot at the top of the tournament so far. The Monstars, captained by Brandon Barlett, pulled into second with two wins, one loss and a .67 percentage.

SmurfCatz, captained

by Rydge Atuna, made it to third with two wins and zero losses. WET, captained by Antonio Pereira, also had two wins and zero losses.

The Last Kings captained by Kyle Carter made one win and two losses with a .33 percentage.

Photo by Kali Robinson

Head to head: Cameron students battle it out during an intramural basketball game. The tournament took place on March 13 in the Aggie Rec Center.

The Even Odds, captained by Warith Ojealde placed sixth so far, also pulling one win, two losses and a .33 percentage.

GloryRoad, captained by Brian Phillips was the third team to claim one win, two losses at seventh.

The Honey Badgers,

captained by Marcus Vera, had one win and one loss, ranking in with a .5 percentage at number eight on the list. The Naija Boyz, captained by Oluwaseun Patunola-Ajayi had zero wins and three losses.

Alpha Sigma Phi, captained by Jarieth Gatliff

had zero wins and two losses, ranking right above the Naija Boyz.

With 16 total teams, every team did not get to play each team from its division. Games will continue on Sundays and Wednesdays until the end of the season on April 10.

Visiting Writer series continues with Benjamin Myers Alex Rosa-Figueroa Staff Writer

Cameron played host to Benjamin Myers during the last installment of the Visiting Writers Series.

Beginning at 7 p.m. on March 8 in the Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES) Conference Center, students, faculty and curious souls came to hear Myers recite poetry from his latest book .

Myers is the winner of the Oklahoma Book Award and the author of two books of poetry. He is on faculty at Oklahoma Baptist University and his work has appeared in literary magazines including “Tar River Poetry,” “New York Poetry” and “Salamander.”

For the night, Myers would read a number of poems from his newest collection, “Lapse Americana.”

Dr. Hardy Jones introduced Myers and gave thanks to the sponsors of the Visiting Writers

Photo by Alex Rosa-Figueroa

Recital: Visiting writing Benjamin Myers talks to the audience during his time visiting CU. The event took place at 7 p.m. on March 8 in the CETES Conference Center.

Series for putting the event together — specifically Susan Hill, Department Secretary for the department of English and Foreign Languages.

After being introduced, Myers read from his collection. He started with a poem entitled “Spook

House,” then moved on to “The City Dump,” a somewhat tongue-in-cheek poem he explained was rooted in his own personal history.

“I’m from a small town where we celebrated all the rural festivals,” he said. “The most important

festival we celebrated was ‘Free Day’ at the dump.”

From the discussion of small-town ennui in “Going Far” to a dedication to his father’s memory in “Trampoline,” a number of Myers’ poems found their origins in the life of the author. This combination of history and writing was also exemplified in “The Man from the Colonies,” which according to Myers’ put a unique filter over his decision to take root in his old home town.

“I found myself readjusting to the idea of growing old in the town I grew up in,” he said. “This got mixed up with the old sci-fi movies I watched as a child.”

Myers’ poems did not only take form from his past, though. He explained that his piece “Mannequins” was the result of a tried and true writing technique.

“If you want to put guts in your poem, write about what scares you,” he said.

He called upon these

fears in a later poem, “With my Daughter at the County Fair.”

“This poem is about being a father,” he said, “which is almost scarier than mannequins.”

The focus was not entirely on Myers, though.

The visiting poet, on two occasions, would read a selection or poem from another, less contemporary writer. Myers read Gerald Hopkins’ “Spring and Fall” and John Berryman’s “Dream Song 14.” He said it was a part of his nature, to give the spotlight over to other poets.

“When I do readings, I like to include other people,” he said. “I guess it’s just how my mother raised me — I just get self-conscious when it’s all me.”

The last poem of the night was the last poem of his new book, but one of the first he had written, “Last Words.”

After the reading, Myers held a question and answer session with the audience.

The first question of the session concerned his decision to be a poet, which he said was not much of a decision at all.

“I don’t think I had a choice — it’s a compulsion,” he said. “My father was a poet, so I suspect — like all of my bad habits — I picked it up from him.”

Myers went on to discuss his own humorous style, with regards to the necessity of a laugh in poetry.

“Poetry doesn’t have the audience today that it did before,” he said. “That’s the fault of poets — you can’t bore people day in and day out and expect them to be interested.”

Myers, at the end of the night, explained his philosophy on poetry and how it related to the creative process.

“I think poetry comes naturally to us all of us, but most of us get our inner poet shut up,” he said. “The trick is to be writing every day.”

Fraternity treats students before spring break Kaitlyn Stockton Staff Writer

Recently recognized fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi sent Cameron University students to spring break with a sweet treat.

Alpha Sigma Phi members wished students and faculty a safe and fun spring break by handing out candy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the MCC on March 14.

Alpha Sigma Phi member Dalton Matthews said his fraternity is a social group on campus focusing on classroom performance as well as community.

“We are a social fraternity here on campus,” Matthews said. “We like to put an emphasis on academic performance but also just on the social aspects. We try to put on events for everybody and get exposure for our new fraternity.”

While the group has been around campus for a few years, Matthews said the university recognized the fraternity semester.

“We had one of the guys start the fraternity a few years ago. We had a colony here for a couple of years. However, Cameron didn’t recognize us until this semester,” he said. “We got our official recognition in the Spring 2013 semester.”

Twenty-year-old Matthews said he hopes events like this will allow his fraternity to branch out on campus. He also said he and his fellow members are willing to answer any questions that students may have about their group.

“Not many people know about us yet,” he said.

“Hopefully with events like today, we can start to get our name out there and grow. We are not actively recruiting today, but if people ask, we are not going to turn them

Photo by Kaitlyn Stockton

The set-up: Members of Alpha Sigma Phi bid students and faculty farewell before the beginning of spring break.

They handed out candy on March 14 in the MCC. away.”

Matthews said he enjoys working with his fellow brothers as well as the student body.

“We all really enjoy being out there and talking to people,” he said. “It is always really fun whenever we all get

together. We enjoy each other’s company; it just makes for a good time.”

Matthews said the goal of the event was to wish his fellow students and faculty a safe break as well as send them off with a sweet treat.

“We just really wanted to wish everyone a happy spring break and for everyone to be safe and come back in one piece,” he said.

Fellow member Steven Feldman said he had been enjoying the event and was surprised at its progress at its halfway point.

“We have already gone through about four sacks of candy,” he said.

Senior Feldman said he has been proud of his fraternity’s progress in the past few months — the fraternity has not only participated in more events this semester, but the group’s numbers have also increased dramatically.

“This semester, everything has just shot off like a rocket,” Feldman said. “We quadrupled our recruitment numbers and are about two steps away from becoming an actual chapter instead of a colony.”

The 24-year-old said he will answer questions students may have about his fraternity, but the event was not designed as a recruiting opportunity. He said he was happy to just send fellow students to break with a smile.

“We are doing it as a way to get our name out there,” Feldman said. “and to just send everyone out there with a smile and some candy.”

Feldman said he was fine making continuous candy trips to Wal-Mart for the event’s cause.

“We are just wishing everyone to have fun,” he said.

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Senior recital’s Italian invitation Sadie Jones

the pieces she performs are in Italian.

Staff Writer “It doesn’t start off easy,” Delgado said. “I thought I had Senior Vocal Performance Italian down — but I had to major Melissa Delgado work hard on pronunciation. showcased her vocal ability at All of the languages are 7:30 p.m. on March 12 in the challenging and it takes a lot of McCutcheon Recital Hall. practice.”

Delgado represented the Delgado began her recital Cameron University Music Department through her senior with F. Schubert’s arrangement, “Lied der Mignon,” consisting recital with the assistance of three poems — “Bid Me of vocalist Clint Williams, Not Speak,” “So Let Me Seem” accompanist Yiuka Chan and and “Only He Who Knows Assistant Professor of Music Longing” — written by Johann and Vocal Instructor, Dr. Wolfgang von Goethe.

Gregory Hoepfner.

Immediately following was Delgado began to prepare Ralph V. William’s “Four Last for her senior recital during Songs.” This piece began with the beginning of the 2012 fall the slow, melodic and tragic semester. However, she began poems titled “Procris,” Tired, selecting her pieces for the “Hands, Eyes, and Heart” and recital two years ago.

“Menelaus.”

“I began rehearsing with For her third piece, Delgado Yiuka last semester,” Delgado performed G. Rossini’s said. “But I chose the arias I complex, upbeat and romantic wanted to perform two years arrangement, “Una Voce Poco before my senior recital — I Fa (II barbiere di Siviglia),” a selected them early because story of betrayal, longing and they require constant practice true love. For the following and revision.” performance, Delgado Delgado said the reason performed three different the recital required so much poems. The first was “Reve preparation is because most of

d’amour,” written by G. Faure, the second was E. Chausson’s “Le Colibri” and the third was the French piece Delgado said was her favorite, “Adieu Forets” from “The Maid of Orle’ans” by P. Tchaikovsky.

The following performance was another piece written by G. Rossini titled, “Ai Capricci Della Sorte” from “L’italiana in Algeri.” Delgado and fellow CU student and Composition major, Clint Williams, performed the comical duet that resulted in laughs from the crowd as Williams endured a slap across the face by Delgado.

“The piece I performed with Clint was something that I studied while I was in Italy last year,” Delgado said. “I loved the piece and knew that I wanted it to be included in my recital and Clint was willing to perform with me.”

The final piece for the evening was G. Rossini’s “Non Piu Mesta” from “La Cenerentola.” Delgado said this piece was the hardest to perform.

“The last piece of my recital was very difficult for me,”

Delgado said. “It was such a fast piece and the range was ridiculous.”

Overall, Delgado said she was very pleased with her recital. She said she was very thankful for those who were involved in planning and helping her prepare.

She concluded her recital by presenting everyone involved with flowers — including Dr. Jan Logan, who was Delgado’s vocal teacher in the past.

“Dr. Jan Logan was my vocal teacher for four years up until her retirement a year ago,” Delgado said. “Dr. Hoepfner has been my vocal teacher this year and has helped me put the program together, critiqued me specifically with my stage presence and has given me guidance on what to work on.”

Delgado has been training to be a vocal performer throughout her education at CU but that does not mean she is immune to the pre-concert jitters.

“I always get very nervous Photo by Sadie Jones before I perform,” Delgado said.

“But I try my best to turn it into Arrivederci: CU Senior Melissa Delgado sings at her energy for the performance.” senior rectial. She has been preparing since Fall 2012.

Contemporary Cultural Art in Discussion

Leslie Powell Gallery welcomes Lawtonians to join them for Lunchbag Lecture series Philip Harrington Newswriting Student

A feast of knowledge was available during the lunch hour on March 21 when the Leslie Powel Gallery hosted a visiting lecturer as part of its ongoing Lunch Bag Lecture series.

The Leslie Powel Gallery holds lectures from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, and this month featured guest lecturer, Cameron alumnus and a Professor of Art at the Institute of America Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Alex Pena. Professor Pena spoke on expectations in contemporary cultural art.

The Lunch Bag Lecture series began in 1989 when Gallery Director and Curator Nancy P. Anderson wanted to see if she could attract a larger group of people to the gallery.

“I thought of how I can get people who are not necessarily interested in art but are maybe interested in the humanities,” Anderson said.

The lecture series has been going for nearly 25 years, but Anderson thought it would have a much shorter run when it began.

“I thought I would do it for one or maybe two years,” Anderson said. “To begin with, it was very seasonal. But it was so popular, so I just continued to have it,” Anderson said.

Anderson said that she has strict guidelines when choosing who is a speaker for the lecture series. Speakers

have to have to be knowledgeable, interesting, friendly and concise because the lectures are brief.

Anderson said the Leslie Powel Gallery has been successful when choosing past speakers.

“I like to keep it very professional and very interesting,” Anderson said, “and I think we have managed to do that, especially with Alex’s lecture today.”

Professor Pena focused on the perception of Native American artists in the contemporary art world.

“I feel strongly about not being categorized into a certain group of artist based solely on my heritage,” Professor Pena said.

According to Pena, the categorization of artists sometimes comes from the artists themselves.

“So many native artists, or just cultural artists from any heritage, feel that they have a responsibility to just do that work,” Professor Pena said.

As a professor at a school with a population that is primarily Native American, this trend is something that Professor Pena says he sees too often.

“Coming from IAIA, I see that with my students. I just feel that their work is not going to transcend traditional art,” Professor Pena said. “I want them to be able to operate in an art world that is so huge and immense to let that feeling of responsibility stif le them.”

Professor Pena said that this belief comes from his own experience in the art world.

“There are so many people that want you to say are you a contemporary artist or a modern artist or a

Photo by Carson Stringham

Showstoppers: CU Students Jamie Hatcher, Mark Deyesso, Jose Rodriguez and Jennifer Nixon perform in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” A projection screen was used between set changes to explain the storyline to keep the opera short.

The key to a happy marriage is good music CU presents Marriage of Figaro

Carson Stringham

directed the abridged version of the opera with Staff Writer a cast of 10 students that Mozart recently attended had only eight weeks to rehearse. At 7:30 p.m. on Cameron University in March 7, the hard work of the form of one of his the director and players most famous operas, “The culminated in the two hour Marriage of Figaro.” performance that took place Dr. John Cornish, a temporary instructor in the inside the McCutcheon Recital Hall.

CU Music Department,

Dr. Cornish said the opera is part of an annual workshop that is put together by the music department; as an eight week workshop, the time to rehearse is limited to two periods of an hour and a half each.

Dr. Cornish said he chose “The Marriage of

Figaro” because of its accessibility.

“The opera is a crowd pleaser, it’s funny, there’s a good plot to it, most of the music can be sung by the kids and it was something that I thought could be edited down to a size that we could handle,” he said.

Dr. Cornish also said every student involved with the production was a member of the CU Concert Choir, but not all are music majors. In fact, the title role was played by Peter Macias, a junior Psychology Major.

Upon entering the recital hall, it was obvious that technology was going to play significantly into the evening.

In the interest of keeping the opera short, Dr. Cornish said he decided to utilize a projection screen as a way of relating to the audience what was happening in the story in between the segments that were performed on stage; this solution was not only practical but helped to draw the audience’s eyes away from the stage while it was being reset with scenery and props throughout the performance.

The entire opera was sung in English, which made it easier for the audience to watch the

traditional artist, and I think that those nomenclatures are unnecessary and restrictive,” Professor Pena said.

Pena said that above all else he values honesty in his and his student’s art.

“I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being a Native artist if that is what is honest for you,” Professor Pena said.

Professor Pena said that artists should instead focus on expressing the truth about something when creating a work.

“It was not the most honest thing for me,” Pena said. “I didn’t grow up traditionally native, and I wasn’t trained in traditional art so trying to be a traditional Native artist.”

According to Professor Pena, he would be dishonest if he were to create a work that represents a culture other than his own.

“If I were to take up traditional art — and I have tried in the past — it would do a disservice to the art as it wouldn’t come from an honest place,” Professor Pena said.

In the end, Professor Pena said he just wants his students to know that they can study more than one form of art because of their heritage.

“I try to stress to them that they go to a contemporary art school — not just a Native art school,” Professor Pena said.

The Lunch Bag Lecture series continues next month.

More information can be found by contacting Nancy P. Anderson at the Leslie Powel Gallery at lpartgallery@ gmail.com. performers and follow the story at the same time.

Every member of the cast – whether in a lead or minor role — did an excellent job of staying in character and on pitch while singing. The opera, as a whole, was very enjoyable, but there were certain scenes or characters that really stole the show.

Chief among the showstoppers was Mark Deyesso, a Cameron junior majoring in Theatre.

As the evil and conniving Count Almaviva, Deyesso was slimy and villainous and everything one likes to hate in a bad guy; as a performer, he was funny, entertaining, engaging and able to hold his own in terms of vocal prowess alongside a cast of other lead characters comprised of former or current Centennial Singers.

Deyesso said that while he has had a lot of experience in memorizing and delivering spoken lines for plays, it was hard to add in the element of vocal performance.

Deyesso said: “With music, everything is much more intricate; a lot of what you’re doing is weaving into what six other people on stage are doing, so it’s difficult to find that balance between the theatrics and the musicality, but it’s really

rewarding when you finally get it down. It’s a whole different ballgame from just learning spoken lines.”

Besides Deyesso, there were comical performances

by Jamie Hatcher and Christopher Beckett, playing Cherubino and Antonio respectively.

Along with Hatcher, Jennifer Nixon as Susanna, Melissa Delgado as Marcellina and Alyssa Yates as the Countesses all interwove their stunning soprano voices throughout the opera, rounding out the vocals of Macias, Deyesso and Jose Rodriguez (Don Basilio).

Because each member of the cast is in some way affiliated with the Concert Choir or the Centennial Singers or both, the caliber of vocal talent that was showcased in the opera was of the very highest that the Cameron Music Department has to offer.

Beside being able to perform the music, the cast’s ability to transport the audience into the world of the play was aided greatly by the amazing costumes and clever sets.

The combination of those various elements led to a performance that was as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the ears.

A&E

April 1, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

5

Stomping grounds: a musical takeover Kali Robinson Staff Writer

Music shook the ground at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 24, during “Park Stomp” in Medicine Park. Listeners gathered with drinks, lawn chairs and even hula-hoops to listen to Rachel Ammons and “Smilin’ Bob” Lewis perform as Tyrannosaurus Chicken.

The folk rock/blues hybrid hailing from Arkansas concluded the three-day spring break festival that began at noon on March 22, following up artists whose musical roots ranged from bluegrass to rockabilly to funk.

Ammons said they came up with the name when watching a PBS show about scientists manipulating reptile genes in a chicken to give it scaled feet and claws. She explained that the chicken must look how she pictured their music to sound.

Although this reptilianpoultry group lacked feathers and scales, fans said it did not disappoint for entertainment. Many of the people in the crowd returned because they had seen the artists perform before and liked their sound.

Emceed by Joe Mack and Carter Sampson, the locally sponsored 2013 “Park Stomp” was free to the public and featured other locally acclaimed bands like Whistle Pigs and Grassland Caravan.

Artists performed live on an outdoor stage as well as inside the Medicine Park Music Hall so fans could take a break from the wind and enjoy different genres. Local vendors lined the streets, offering cold

t-shirts, settling under the string lights in Medicine Park’s Music Hall. After the first three songs, a man got up and started stomping and spinning in front of the stage.

Even Medicine Park’s Mayor Dwight Cope joined in on the festivities, laughing as he hula-hooped with the other concert-goers between songs.

“We have quite a few events like this,” Mayor Cope said about “Park Stomp.” “We would love to have more Cameron students come out and join us.”

Photos by Kali Robinson A few more people wandered onto the f loor until half of the crowd was on its feet clapping, stomping and singing. Lewis said that this is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“People in a group came from St. Louis and Ft. Smith to see us in Tulsa. We play all over the country,” Lewis said. “We’re starting to love everywhere.”

Ammons said a fan had once told them, if the duo’s musical talent was not enough to attract the crowd, Lewis’ beard was. “‘Never shave this,’” Ammons said, quoting the fan. “‘In Russia, you would be a God.’ That’s when Bob decided that we would go to Stomp rock and roll: (Top) Tyrannosaurus Chicken, a folk rock/blues duo, performs at Medicine Park’s Russia,” Ammons laughed.

“Park Stomp” festival. (Bottom left) Kayla Walkey, a festival-goer from Tuscon, hula-hoops between songs.

“People think I’m Phil (Bottom center) “Smilin’ Bob” Lewis and Rachel Ammons (bottom right), the two members that comprise from Duck Dynasty as it Tyrannosaurus Chicken, goof around before the show. The “Park Stomp” music festival lasted three days. is,” Lewis said. “My mother, she’s 90 years old, she beverages and hot food to the height on her hi-hat as cigar box made in Medicine referring to Ammons who actually bought me a t-shirt the concert-goers. they set up for the show.

Park. The two multibegan practicing with her that had Phil’s picture on “This is our third year “We’ve been a band for talented artists displayed first stringed instrument playing here,” Lewis said as four years,” Ammons said. their skills, playing a string twelve years ago. “She plays it. She didn’t know that it wasn’t me.” he changed a B string on one “Almost five,” Lewis added. instrument, kick drum, cello, violin, banjo and Regardless of identity, of six stringed instruments The two adjusted, tuned hi-hat and harmonica at the guitar.”

Phil or “Smilin Bob,” fans he and Ammons would play and tested the sound on same time.

The group greeted approached him after the throughout their set. everything from the two “It’s almost ‘What doesn’t incoming fans, new and show for autographs and Ammons shifted a violin bass drums each of them she play?’ She doesn’t play returning, as they filtered in pictures. case and sat down to adjust used, to an electric cello to a the saxophone,” Lewis said, with boots and T-Chicken

FASHION continued from Page 1 Following “Glam Rock” was the uniform segment, which featured girls of variant ages as well as males. To allow time for changes, Hubbard gave a history of school uniforms and discussed the debate over mandating school uniforms today.

Without advocating any side, the segment began with an elementary aged schoolgirl sauntering across the stage in pigtails and a checkered uniform reminiscent of an earlier day.

Despite their young age, the girls maintained their stride throughout their part. As the segment concluded, Hubbard called for a round of applause for the models.

After the first three segments were finished, the first guest group made their way onto the stage. “The Beautiful Wahines,” a Hawaiian dance group, performed with leis adorning their necks and wrists.

Later in the evening, a Nepali dance featured two CU students between segments. Miss Black CU 2011, Chaira Flanders, also gave a vocal performance of Rihanna’s “Stay.”

The last several segments featured the collections of budding designers, such as: Kiwie Dan Couture’s “From Fashion to Figure,” “Collections of Brown Sugar,” “Silhouette” by Neisha La Touche, “Afri-Fashionista” by Naturally Royal, and designs by Maxine Revans-Walters.

Economy of Style, a blog about style on a budget, issued a challenge for the models to style an outfit “exuding spring’s hottest trends.” Molly Beauchamp was the winner in a pale pink lace top, light blue skirt and nude heels.

The stage faded to red as “Go Red with a Touch of Pink,” the final segment, was introduced. Models paid tribute to their friends and family who have lost the battle to heart disease. After an emotional display by the models, Hubbard issued a final round of thanks for the evening.

Make-up artists and models took to the stage for a courtesy bow.

Following the show, Mitchell expressed her pleasure, saying: “I feel really well. I think the show was a success, and I can’t wait until 2014.”

For those not able to attend, the show was available for live streaming on the Internet. Videos of each segment are available on the show’s Facebook page.

Photos by Kali Robinson

“Rock the Wear”: (Top left) Makeup artist Shanai St. Bernard helps a model to prepare for the show.

(Bottom left) Genevieve Ekpenyong models an African jumper. (Top right) Merita Tyrell-Mitchell closes the “Glam Rock” segment in a motorcycle vest. (Bottom right) Merita thanks those who helped put on the show.

6

Voices

April 1, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Sequels and spin-offs of the gaming world

James Meeks Staff Writer

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Staff Managing Editor - Tiffany Martinez Assistant Managing Editor - Tyler Boydston Crossroads Editor - Dianne Riddles A&E Editor - Kaylee Jones Sports Editor - Matthew Berberea Copy Editor - Sarah Brewer Aggie Central Editor- Mitch Watson Archivist - Mitch Watson Newsroom Staff Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Kaitlyn Stockton, Charlene Belew, Sadie Jones, Carson Stringham, James Meeks, Alex Rosa-Figueroa Advertising Manager - Tiffany Martinez Photographer - Kali Robinson Newswriting Students Philip Harrington, Kella Haire Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution The first issue is provided free of charge. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.

Letters Policy Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.

The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks.

All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification.

Letters can be sent by regular mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@ cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www. aggiecentral.com.

Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author.

The unsigned editorial under the heading “Aggie Voices” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board.

The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.

Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.

Sequels, prequels and interquels have filled the gaming industry over the past few years. Some video game journalists designated 2011 as “the year of the sequel,” and this year is no exception.

So far this year, the industry has seen a Metal Gear sequel spin-off, a Gears of War and God of War prequel, and now this year we’re even seeing series reboots such as Devil May Cry and even Tomb Raider.

That’s only the first few months of this year with only have two-thirds to go in the never ever ending sea of sequels.

We still have another entry in Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty and our favorite sport of choice right around the corner. These titles are even yearly releases which should start taking a little bit of a back seat with gamers and fans of these series feeling compelled to purchase the newest release of their beloved titles.

As a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series, I actually loved the first entry of the series despite some complaints about the repetition in it.

Collecting information about a target, planning an attack, escaping from the scene and running through alleyway to alleyway and from rooftop to rooftop were great experiences.

Then came its sequel a couple years later. It brought more positive reception from my fellow gamers. It still challenged players to gather information about the target, but the thrill for planning attacks seemed a little watered down.

After the second one, the wait for the third title began. But did the third title come out immediately

players coming into and leaving the professional leagues, rosters change and thus need updating. As a solution, I feel sports games developers should create the game and release a new players pack for a small fee if the roster has any changes.

Rather than popping another title with the same players and coaches, a new game for a next gen console for $60 would feel more

justified.

However, since EA Games now has secured the rights to create and publish the official games for NFL, NCAA, FIFA and NASCAR, there is no chance that this might actually happen. It has a reputation for money grabbing — especially with their recent move with Dead Space 3 because it has players engaging in real money micro transactions for weapon upgrades.

Are sequels destroying the gaming industry? I would say they are not because the continuation of good stories are always in demand as people would like to know more on what happened to the characters they have grown attached to and what new gameplay mechanics could be introduced or improved upon.

However, if the majority of new titles are sequels lack originality, new games could put a strain on the industry.

Then again, it is also human nature to stick with what we are familiar. The audience that has grown up with gaming industry is gravitating to what it already knows and likes.

Sequels and spin-offs are not necessarily a negative thing with video games if done in moderation and plenty of original titles to keep the industry and the market fresh and appealing.

If there is a year with many sequels, then the games should have new mechanics and innovations to where the setting is familiar and the game still feels like its predecessor. We often go on a new adventure in sequels and it should feel that way — a new adventure with new changes to keep our journey fresh.

net of college and I’ll have to walk into many rooms alone.

I know I will look back on my last two semesters at Cameron with fondness, but I will also wonder how I didn’t pull my hair out juggling broadcast and print media roles. That newsroom has seen the best and worst of me playing the roles of a producer, reporter, editor, anchor and manager all at different times. I’ve sat on top of the world at my desk and hit the lowest of lows about ten feet away at the editor’s table. How ironic is it that the same place that held me captive for what seemed like an eternity during deadline nights has suddenly grown into a sanctuary that I don’t

want to leave.

They say every end in life is a new beginning, and I guess it’s true. I think it just hit me all of a sudden during this break: I will see dozens of other spring seasons in my lifetime, but chances are I won’t ever work in another college newsroom again. The time has run out on one of the first things in my life that gave me a sense of purpose and a sense of passion. I hope to greet many other opportunities in life — opportunities that I will conquer and love and be successful with. I know, however, how thankful I will remain for my time as a leader of the student news organization at Cameron University.

MCT Campus

after a couple years? No. Instead, two other sequels that took place before the third title which then became yearly releases that added more to the plot.

If developers are going to go with a game that is going to have yearly releases, there should be an expansion set similar to how PC games are developed. There should be a core game for the retail $60 and maybe a digital download patch or physical

expansion for $30 or $40 for players to purchase.

It would certainly save our wallets from coughing up a good portion of our pay checks for a new entry of our beloved series rather than pumping another $60 to the developers that would turn it around for a quick entry and another chuck of our money.

I can actually understand why sports games have yearly releases. With new

The bittersweet springbreak

Tiffany Martinez Managing Editor

While many college spring breakers toured cities, visited beaches or entered rowdy beer pong tournaments this past week, I sat at home five out of nine days relishing in the idea of it being my last spring break — but never really celebrating the fact that it was my last spring break.

Any other year, I would’ve made plans and requested off on a Friday or Saturday to paint the town.

This year though, this particular spring season felt a bit different — almost melancholy. Ah yes, I’m graduating in a month.

Now most people would be excited about this and I am — just not as excited as I should be. I guess it’s one of those times in life where there’s something that engulfs and completely consumes you so you feel incomplete without

it. The normal person would perhaps feel this way about a relationship, career or hobby, but I’ve never regarded myself as “normal.” My something that’s come to define and challenge me is school and the newsroom, my home away from home; my advisers and my colleagues, my family amongst family.

In an attempt to sell a few advertisements over the break, I ran up to the newsroom and grabbed the necessary documents to do so. The door, resistant to key card access at the time, needed campus police to be unlocked so I waited patiently outside of the glass door.

I thought about the first time I ever laid eyes on our new newsroom (which is still quite new) and how I didn’t want to lay a finger on anything inside of it for fear it might suddenly vanish or be tarnished. It was like a dream. We must be doing something right, I thought, to have something like this. I couldn’t have felt more proud.

Picking out and setting up a desk in that newsroom was one thing, but being asked to speak at the dedication ceremony for the building in which our new journalism program would be housed will forever be one of the greatest moments I’ve lived.

When I was finally let inside, I thanked the officer

MCT Campus

and turned on the lights.

I walked to my desk and started fumbling through my drawers searching for folders and contracts. I just ended up sitting down because there was so much junk to sort through.

I’m hardly ever in the newsroom alone. There are always other people on staff working away — writing or editing or simply playing Mario Brothers. It felt strange being in there alone. I halfway expected someone to walk in and ask me how I felt about a layout or a lower third, maybe tell me about some SNL clip I needed to check out.

The foreshadowing of this lonesome adventure was almost unbearable. I will soon leave behind the safety

7

Sports

April 1, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Cameron baseball swept by ENMU Aaron Gill Staff Writer

The Cameron University baseball team has had a rough season with much less than a winning record after six straight losses this month, four of which were to Eastern New Mexico.

This brings the Aggies record to 8-16 for the year. The Aggies traveled to Portales, NM, to play a four-game series on March 22-24.

Game one for the Aggies was a hard loss as the Greyhounds jumped to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The first four runs were scored on six hits. Senior Kenny Acosta was the leader of the Aggies with two doubles and one run scored.

Junior Brian Schwabe allowed eight runs on 12 hits with three walks and two strikeouts on the day’s loss.

Cameron scored in the top of the second inning after Acosta hit his first double on the day and later crossed the plate on an ENMU error. Eastern New Mexico scored one more run in the bottom of the third, three more in the fourth and once again in the fifth.

The Aggies made a fighting effort in the top of the sixth after a leadoff walk by junior Brandon Raidy who was later brought across the plate after junior Keaton Green hit a double. Senior Thomas Galvan hit a single down the right field line bringing Green in for the Aggies third and final run of the game making it a 9-3 ballgame, Greyhounds.

ENMU scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice bunt to plate their 10th and final run.

Game two took place on March 23 and the outcome was much worse than game one. The Aggies took a 20-10 loss against the Greyhounds who had 19 hits against the Aggie pitching staff.

The game was originally scheduled as an afternoon

Photo courtesy of Brandon Neris

Coming down: Senior infielder Thomas Galvan tags a runner out at second base on March 17 against West Texas A&M University. The Aggies had a rough start to the season, going 5-14 through March 17 and currently holding a conference record of 2-6. doubleheader but was changed to one 9-inning game after a report came through that high winds were expected for the afternoon game. The 9-inning game began at 10 a.m.

The Aggies started the first five innings without a single run plated. Junior Brent Hendy started the game for the Aggies pitching staff, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits. He also only walked two batters and placed three Ks in the books for the Ags. ENMU scored first in the bottom of the first inning and kept the mentality of scoring early and often. The Greyhounds plated five runs in the bottom of the first, which started on a pair of strikeouts, but the batter reached on the

second after a wild pitch came through. Hendy then allowed five hits in a row until the inning ended. The Greyhounds scored three more in the second and two more in the third. ENMU dropped their second five run inning in the bottom of the fifth, after the Ags left the top of the frame open. At the end of the inning the Greyhounds were up 15-0.

In the top of the sixth, the Ags finally showed some offensive initiative plating 8 runs. Raidy had four RBIs in the inning and scored once himself.

Senior Colton Davis had two RBIs in the inning off a single.

The Ags scored two more in the top of the seventh where their bats ceased to bring in runners for the remainder of the game.

The Greyhounds scored one

more in the bottom of the sixth.

The final shot across the bow was taken in the bottom of the seventh when the Aggies got run ruled after a leadoff homer and the other four runs being plated bringing the final score to 20-10, Greyhounds.

Head Coach Todd Holland explained that his team was having a hard time with the fundamentals of the game and it seemed as though they just did not want to play.

“We got out there and we just struggled playing catch,” Holland said. “It just was not a good start from the go, the day before we rode in on a bus for six hours and got out there and tried to play. The weather was not great, but there is no excuse for it because most of these kids have been playing for 15 plus

years of their lives so it should be second nature but we just got out there and could not catch a baseball or throw it to save our lives.”

The first two games of the four game series were all about the bats, whereas the final two (that were played in a double header on March 24) were all about the pitching staffs. The Aggies struck first in game three with a leadoff single from Galvan. Galvan was pushed over to second on a Green sac bunt and finally junior Kaz Sanders brought Galvan home with a single down the right side. This was the Aggies only run in the 2-1 loss to the Greyhounds.

Game four started much like game three, with the Aggies striking first with a run in the top of the third. The Aggies

took the lead back in the top of the sixth after the Greyhounds earlier plated a run to tie it.

The Aggies scored two more in the game but the Greyhounds completed the sweep by a score of 4-3.

Coach Holland explained that it is a rather simple concept to winning baseball games and it seems as though the Aggies are struggling with that concept.

“I mean it’s simple,” Coach Holland said. These are such simple things that can be fixed and its like you should want the ball to be hit, every position player should want the ball to be hit to them but we got out there and they acted like they didn’t want any part of baseball and in baseball when you don’t want the ball to be hit to you, it finds you.”

Aggie softball continues slide at Tarleton Matthew Berberea

The fifth inning saw the Aggies unable to score Sports Editor again as Tarleton busted the game wide open with three Cameron University runs on four hits capped softball traveled to by a triple down the right Stephenville, Texas, on field line which scored two March 28 to face Lone bringing the score to 9-2.

Star Conference opponent Cameron found some Tarleton State. life in their bats to start the The Aggies entered sixth inning as S. Foutch the doubleheader looking drew a leadoff walk and to right the ship after six Zukerman followed with consecutive losses while the a single up the middle.

Texanns looked to improve Freshman Jill Ledford their 5-4 conference then smashed a three-run record. When all was said pinch-hit homerun to close and done, Tarleton found the lead to 9-5 with no themselves with two more outs. Cameron was unable victories as Cameron fell to build off the momentum 14-3 in game one, followed however as the next three by a 13-5 loss in the second batters were retired in order half of the doubleheader. to end the top of the sixth.

Cameron put the first Tarleton came out run of the game on the swinging in the bottom board in the top of the first of the sixth with back-toinning on a single from back homers followed by senior catcher Sonia Foutch a sacrifice f ly to put the plating sophomore Tara Photo courtesy of Brandon Neris Texanns one run away Martini. The Aggies were from another eight-run rule unable to capitalize further Looking for a spark: Freshman Sonora Zukerman watches a shot to the outfield earlier in the season against victory. Tarleton was able to however as they ended the Emporia State. Zukerman and the Aggies fell short against Tarleton State March 28 and have dropped eight straight. score decisive run on a wild inning with a pop up to third with the bases loaded. looking to cut into the lead four runs, two earned, on Cameron had only two going on a single that plated pitch from Cameron giving Junior pitcher Kelsy and was able to put a run on three hits and one error as less hits than TSU in the L. Martini giving the Aggies them the 13-5 victory.

Cameron has now lost Hebert took the circle in the board when a T. Martini Tarleton built a 12-2 lead to game but stranded nine a 2-0 lead. the bottom of the first single scored freshman end the second inning. runners on base, compared Tarleton answered in the eight straight games and finds themselves with a 9-22 for the Aggies and had to Spencer Ferrell. Once again Cameron was unable to to three for the Texanns. bottom half of the inning record overall and 2-9 in battle against early mistakes the Aggies momentum score in the third leaving The Aggies started the scoring three runs off conference. leading to a big first inning was slowed as they left two two runners on base and second game of the day Cameron starting pitcher The Aggies will face for the Texanns. base runners on to end the Tarleton added one run in looking to bounce back Samantha Betts.

Texas A&M-Kingsville Despite getting two inning. the bottom of the third and from game one and scored Cameron was unable April 5-6 at home as they early outs, an error and two After relieving Hebert in another in the fourth. two quick runs in the top to produce any runs over look to battle their way back passed balls gave Tarleton the first, freshman pitcher Facing the eight-run rule of the first. Sophomore the next few innings as into contention in the LSC. the opportunity they Sonora Zukerman opened in the fifth, Cameron was Misty Dooley smoked a Tarleton steadily grew More information needed to capitalize with a the bottom of the second only able to score one run one-out triple to right field their lead scoring one run on Cameron softball three-run homer en route to on the circle looking to slow when S. Foutch scored on and was brought home on in the second, third and and all Aggies athletics an eight-run inning. down the Texann’s attack. a ground out from junior a double to left from senior fourth innings to go up 6-2 can be found at www.

Cameron came out in Zukerman did not fare Stephanie Anderson and outfielder Leslie Martini. through four innings of cameronaggies.com the top of the second inning much better, surrendering came up short falling 14-3.

S. Foutch kept the scoring play.

8

Crossroads

April 1, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Kiwanis Pancake Days helps plenty with every plate Dianne Riddles Crossroads Editor

Many around Southwest Oklahoma know about Pancake Days and support the Lawton Downtown Kiwanis club each year as they serve up pancakes, eggs and sausage along with coffee, milk and juice at the Great Plains Coliseum.

However, many are not aware of the many other functions and events in which the Kiwanis are involved daily to help and promote the children in this community.

According to Dede Armes, a Kiwanis member and past president of the Lawton Downtown Kiwanis club, children are the one concern of the club.

“Basically everything we do is about children,” she said.

“Some of that is locally and some of that is worldwide.”

“We have been working with Kiwanis International on an initiative to get rid of Malaria, which is a great thing,” she said. “Although, I am much more about what we can do locally.”

Armes said that the

community support for and the proceeds from the annual Pancake Days allow the Kiwanis to support local youth club projects.

According to Armes, the Kiwanis support youth clubs, organizations and projects such as Lawton High, MacArthur High and Eisenhower High School Key Clubs; Comanche County 4-H Premium Sale; Lawton Food 4-Kids Program; Armed Services YMCA; Salvation Army Bell Ringing; the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Fishing Derby and provide 21 college scholarships to area students.

“One of the things that we’ve done is at the county livestock show,” she said. “We give money to the kids who show pigs that don’t make the sale, because when you don’t make the sale, you don’t get any premium money.”

“We ring the Salvation Army bells every year for a day; we provide scholarships; Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Fishing Derby, which is one of the big things that we do,” she said.

The annual fishing derby

for the Boys and Girls Club of Lawton provides an afternoon of fishing, cooking out and outdoor fun for several children and veterans at the Lawton-Fort Sill Veteran’s Center lake.

“We go out to the Vet Center and our co-op partners help us with that and the veterans also get to come out and fish with us.”

Armes said Pancake Days is the Lawton Downtown Kiwanis only annual fundraiser.

“We usually make between $18 and $20,000 at our pancake days and that’s really the only fundraiser we have annually, so it funds all of these things that we do,” she said. “When people think about Kiwanis, they think about pancake days, but we would like to be known more for the fishing derby, scholarships and the high school Key clubs.”

According to Armes, Goodwill Industries worked in partnership with the Lawton Kiwanis for the annual Downtown Kiwanis Pancake Days this year, marking the first time

Goodwill teamed-up with the Kiwanis. Anyone who donated three tall kitchen garbage bags full of new or used goods received one free ticket to Pancake Days.

“We were real happy with how it turned out,” she said.

I feel like we will probably do more with Goodwill in the future.”

Armes said the Downtown Lawton Kiwanis is a nonprofit service organization, in which a member can be as active as he or she wants to be and new members are always welcome.

“I just feel like Kiwanis is an organization that has a lot to be proud of and doesn’t make the demands on me so immense that I can’t participate,” she said. “We meet once every week — every Thursday — we have a speaker and we meet and have lunch at the Coliseum.”

For more information about the Lawton Downtown Kiwanis membership and projects for children, anyone is welcome to attend the Photo by Kali Robinson weekly lunch at the Great Plains Coliseum on any Pancakes on the griddle: Volunteer Patrick Shibi Thursday at noon. lends a hand to feed many. The event was successful.

Retired veterans volunteer to help other veterans Dianne Riddles Crossroads Editor

The Veteran Services Center (VSC) of Lawton is a facility where seven military veterans that have been certified as Veteran Service Officers (VSO) by the VSO/American Legion volunteer their expertise four days a week to veterans and their families to help them obtain services and benefits to which they are entitled.

The VSC Mission Statement states the center is a nonprofit service facility that assists veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans in obtaining benefits and services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and by providing emergency relief through a food pantry program. The volunteers of the

Photo by Kali Robinson

Listening: Wally Marion hears the needs of local veterans. He said he knows because he has been there.

facility provide assistance with compassion and in a timely manner free from racism, gender and other forms of bias to all veterans and their families in Southwest Oklahoma.

According to the Director of the VSC, W.R. Budd Phillips, a retired first sergeant and a Veteran Service Officer, the center currently has a client list of 3,500 with some clients coming from as far away as California and Colorado.

“We handle everything from World War II, Korea and Vietnam all the way through today,” Phillips said. “We are seeing more and more Persian Gulf veterans and we have a lot of Vietnam vets here too – with the Vietnam Vets, we handle a lot of cases dealing with Agent Orange.”

VSO Wally Marion, also a retired first sergeant, said that because all of the VSO volunteers are retired veterans, the organization has a good rapport with their clients.

“We like to say — been there, done that,” Marion said.

According to Phillips, the organization does not accept any government funding and exists solely from fundraising efforts such as raffles.

Marion said that some individuals and some businesses around town sometimes donate items such as a television for raffle. The VSC sells the raffle tickets at $10 each, have the drawing, give the television to the lucky winner and use the money to pay operating expenses.

Marion said some volunteers in the VSC are multilingual.

“Some of us speak other languages,” he said. “We speak German, Spanish and some Korean.”

Phillips said that on May 17, the VSC would be assisting with the Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Centenary United Methodist Church at 704 SW D Avenue. The Stand Down is typically a one to three day event that provides services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling,

and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as health care, housing, employment, and substance use treatment.

“Basically, we are putting a lot of professionals together — everything from a barber to a dentist — whatever they may need,” he said. “Veteran Service Officers will be there to help with claims, we’re going to have food, they will be able to take showers, and there will be counselors there — all at the church there on D Avenue.”

According to Phillips, Lawton has a need for this event.

“This event has always been in Oklahoma City and we have been fighting for quite sometime to have it here because we have enough homeless here,” he said. “See the homeless are not just the people that live under bridges — the homeless are also sleeping on somebody else’s couch in someone else’s home.”

“The Lawton/Red River Veterans Center down on 11th and C will have their big travel van there and we are going to set up with them to do Service Officer work while they will be there for counseling purposes,” he said.

Phillips said the VSC maintains a small food pantry to aid veterans in need.

“We also have a very small food pantry that we can help out with for a day or two,” he said. “We often get referrals from 211 and other agencies in the community.”

“Basically, what we do is case manage,” Phillips said. “Every individual that comes through the door is case managed by a Service Officer.”

Marion said that the VSC Vision Statement holds true to what they do.

“Striving to improve the quality of life for the disabled American Veteran,” he said.

Anyone interested in more information about the VSC or about donating funds or food may call 580.357.7280.

First Annual Box City to raise awareness

Dianne Riddles Crossroads Editor

The first major homelessness awareness event will be taking place in Lawton from April 5 to April 6 when Family Promise of Lawton, Inc. (FPOL) hosts the First Annual Box City.

According to FPOL Executive Director Edwina Reddick, as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and an affiliate of the National Family Promise organization, the mission of

FPOL is to assist homeless children and their families to achieve and sustain economic and lasting selfsufficiency.

“To qualify for the homeless program, the families must include children and we work with those families in order to get them back on their feet again,” she said.

Reddick said she wants to encourage community participation because she feels it will cause people to volunteer with agencies that are working with the

homeless population.

“Participation is so vital right now — especially as a family, because what the Box City is going to do is raise the awareness of the situation that we have in the community,” she said.

“It will give a family an opportunity to experience a very small part of what a homeless person goes through in a night when they have to find shelter — especially when all of the shelters are full because that is when it is needed the most.”

Participants will decorate a box or boxes and claim a spot in Box City where they along with as many as they can fit in their box will spend the night using their box for shelter.

Participants will learn about Lawton’s homeless population, enjoy great music from local talents and help raise money for homeless families in need of a hand up.

The Salvation Army will provide a soup line and drinks at the event.

No outside food or drinks will be permitted inside the event.

No guns, knives or weapons of any kind will be permitted inside of Box City.

Reddick said the twoday event would take place from 2 p.m. on Friday until 10 a.m. on Saturday at the corner of Southwest 38th Street and West Gore Boulevard.

According to Reddick, participants will pay $25 to register; those who register before 4 p.m. on April 1 will receive a free t-shirt.

Anyone wanting more information or wanting to register may

call Edwina Reddick at 580.699.2821 or Linda Mask at 580.695.8882 or by sending e-mail to director@ familypromiseoflawton.org.

More information is also available at www. familypromiseoflawton.org.