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News
April 22, 2013
www.aggiecentral.com
CU professor inducted into Da Vinci Institute Tyler Boydston
and from all disciplines. Usually the awards I get are Asst. Managing Editor chemistry awards, and there are not so many chemists, but Dr. Elizabeth Ann Nalley, to get an award like this from Professor of Chemistry and all disciplines I think is a great Clarence E. Page Endowed honor,” Dr. Nalley said. Chair in Math and Science Dr. Nalley has taught at Education, has been chosen by Cameron University for more the Da Vinci Institute as a 2013 than 40 years, and she said her member of the organization. students still remember some of According to Dr. Nalley, she her non-conventional methods was told of her nomination by she uses in class years later. a letter from the organization’s “I use a lot of demonstrations president. and a lot of crazy pneumonic “They wrote me a very nice devices,” Dr. Nalley said. “I tell letter and told me,” Dr. Nalley a lot of stories and then I teach said. “I had been chosen as a dancing in class. Any one of Da Vinci fellow, and I think my my students who has had me dean nominated me. I’m pretty for Organic Chemistry II can sure he did because he said he do the ‘Glucose Shuffle’ for was going to.” you. It’s kind of like the Aggie Dr. Nalley said she feels Shuffle. I know they never honored to be inducted into forget it because I ran into one the Da Vinci institute, as it of my students in New York on covers all disciplines of study the street and he did it there. throughout Oklahoma. That was years ago, so I’ve been They only induct five people teaching like this for lots of a year, and that’s from all the years, and students tell me they universities from Oklahoma never forget it.”
Dr. Nalley said she believes the ideas of the Da Vinci Institute changes the methods professors use to teach students. “What the DaVinci Institute is trying to do is use creativity and innovation in teaching,” Dr. Nalley said. “It’s a group of scholars in Oklahoma getting together to change the way we teach, and I like that. I think that we always have to find new ways of teaching to interest our students.” According to Dr. Nalley, her field of interest is difficult to teach, and therefore she must develop original ways to get information across to students. “Organic Chemistry is a hard class to teach,” Dr. Nalley said. “You have to look for novel ways of teaching in order to make it interesting and catch the students’ attention.” Dr. Nalley, former National President for Phi Kappa Phi, has stayed involved with the Cameron chapter since she stepped down as the National
President in 1998, and will be President of the Cameron chapter in the fall. “I’m the President of the Cameron chapter next year,” Dr. Nalley said. “I’ve remained active and I am an active for life member. The reason I’ll be president next year is that next year our Phi Kappa Phi chapter is celebrating their 40th anniversary.” According to Dr. Nalley, a former student of her’s by the name of Dr. Rick Storm helped to found the Cameron chapter, and she intends on inviting him as a guest speaker for the chapter’s anniversary. “The chapter was founded by one of my former students, Dr. Storm, who has donated a lot of money back to Cameron,” Dr. Nalley said. “I want to have him back next year to talk about his career. I wrote a proposal to bring back my alums next year, and it will be co-sponsored by Phi Kappa Phi as a part of our 40th anniversary celebration.”
Crossfit Center unveiled Kali Robinson Staff Photographer
Sadie Jones
Photo by Kali Robinson
Working the weights: Four year Cross Fit member, Catalina Rosales tests her skills. This group of dead lifts was done during a session of “As Many Rounds as Possible.” Isoms gestured to a woman dead lifting and sprinting. She explained that the woman was keeping count of how many reps she did by making tally marks with chalks on the floor. Eventually, Isoms said, there would be chalk all over the gym. “That’s how we make sure to keep track of everything,” Isoms said. “We do A-M-R-A-S, which is As Many Rounds As Possible in a specific amount of time. We’ll set the clock on 15 minutes and say ‘Do this, this and this,’ and see how many rounds they can get.” Four year member Rob Rogers adjusted his form and talked to Isoms about how he could improve his lifting. He expressed confidence in the direction that Isoms gave him. “It’s a lot better now that I know where to push,” Rogers said.
THE FAB FIVE Debate team places fifth in national tournament Kaylee Jones A&E Editor
Cameron University’s Speech and Debate team recently placed fifth at the 3rd Annual Junior Varsity National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. The small team, comprised of a mere five female competitors, the majority of which are brand new to the activity, took fifth place in the Division 1 Overall Sweepstakes. The tournament took place March 8th through the 10th. Division 1, as Sarah Collins, CU’s Director of Forensics, explained, is the top tier of three divisions in the competition. Collins said, for a burgeoning team, the placement served as an encouraging push in the right direction. “I think that they were disappointed some when they
didn’t have the individual success that they wanted to,” Collins said, “but when they got a team award, I think it really encouraged them, which is good, because I would like to focus on team awards.” The fifth place standing required the five individuals to participate in a total of 13 events, with sophomore Communication major Katelynn Wright participating in five events alone. Wright placed third in Communication Analysis, seventh in National Parliamentary Debate and 10th in individual sweepstakes. “The events are really hard,” Wright said. “It’s not really hard to construct, what’s hard is finding something to do. Like finding a topic for a speech event, whether it’s platform or interpretation, it’s really hard to do, because you have to find what is relevant for now.” Other victories included that of Kynzie Pierce, a
Teacher of many titles: Dr. Elizabeth Nalley received her latest honor, being inducted into the Da Vinci Institute, but this is not her only. She is also the Clarence E. Page Endowed Chair in Math and Science Education and former national president of Phi Kappa Phi.
English department presents awards for freshman writers
Aggie opening
Students, armed with nothing but their bodies, tried a free cross fit work out at the grand opening of Southern Plains CrossFit gym from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Athletes and non-athletes alike filled the gym, enjoying refreshments and checking out what the new establishment has to offer. Owner and CU student Crystal Isoms elaborated on the significance of crossfit training to guests. “If you go to another gym, you are going to get exactly what you pay for — no training, no programming and equipment,” she said. “The way that we work is that your body is the machine. We don’t use machines because we need to do motions that make our bodies stabilize in the process of using strength. Whenever you use a machine that holds you in place, you are taking away all of that ability to stabilize.” Isoms said that there a multiple plans available for interested parties. “We have different kinds of memberships. You can come twice a week for one price, 60 dollars, or twice a week for 80. Unlimited is available because we are open seven days a week, so I have people who come in five or six days a week — [that] is 90 with the discount for Cameron students. That is 100 for those who do not have a discount.” Isoms explained that she creates different workouts each day by choosing movements such as running, jump roping and rowing for her gym members. “You don’t have that at other gyms unless you buy a trainer,” Isoms said. “When you compare it to the price of a personal trainer, you get eight sessions for the price of three or if you come twice a week 20 sessions for the price of three. I always work one on one with everyone.” Isoms welcomes people of all shapes, sizes and circumstance to her gym. “People think they can’t come here because they are injured or out of shape. That is completely wrong. We take 300 pound people who cannot do a squat and get them there,” she said.
Photo courtesy of Public Affairs
Photo by Kaylee Jones
Wracking research: Communication major Katelynn Wright researches the events in which she is to compete. Wright walked away from the Junior Varsity National Tournament with two individual awards. freshman with no prior experience, who placed fifth in Informative Speaking. Also in attendance were members Bishaka Karki, Cassandra Stanga and Savanah Freeman. Preceding the JV Nationals Tournament, members Stanga and Freeman had not participated in many tournaments. “The first tournament they went to was the State Tournament … and they observed there,” Collins explained. “Their next tournament was JV Nationals.”
The success has shed a positive light on an otherwise rocky semester. Upon returning from Christmas break, the team underwent a shocking reduction. “It was rough,” Collins admitted, “but it’s rough with any sort of transition. We went from eight students to three.” Collins expressed her excitement for recruitment opportunities, “They [the current members] are all coming back next year. I’m excited to see what they’re going to do.”
and Dr. Vivian Thomlinson took the time to congratulate Staff Writer and award students during the event. Cameron University There are certain students freshmen were selected by who have a natural ability to the professors of English write, but professor of English Composition I and II and Foreign Languages Dr. courses and presented with Felicia Godwin said the awards in honor of their Freshman Writing Awards are excellent writing and hard not only designed for the most work throughout the spring, talented writers, but also for summer and fall semesters. those who put forth extreme Students who received effort. the awards were recognized “When I select the students by faculty of the English I want to recognize, I do not department and believed to aim to recognize only students exemplify the characteristics of dedicated and outstanding who write well but also those who work hard,” Godwin said. writers. The Freshman “I reserve the awards for those Writing Awards ceremony was held at 3:30 p.m. on April who work hard to develop as a writer and to those who are 15 in the Shepler Center leaders, active in discussions Ballroom. and speak up in class.” Assistant Professor and The awards ceremony for Director of Composition CU freshmen students is not Dr. William Carney began taken lightly. Students were the Freshman Writing encouraged by Dr. Carney to Awards Ceremony by continue using their writing congratulating students on ability throughout their their achievements and for college career. He explained being selected to receive an how important it is to be able award from their professor. to write well and encouraged Fruit, cookies and pastries were provided for the students the students to continue and as they waited for their names grow in their writing. “Your writing careers are to be called to receive their not over yet,” Dr. Carney said. award. “Once a year, we honor CU “Take what you’ve learned here and take it to the next students with the ceremony,” level.” Dr. Kingsley said. Dr. Carney took the Following his introduction, podium once more and Dr. Carney presented his concluded the ceremony with students with certificates and invited the other English words of encouragement and motivation for the freshmen professors to do the same. students. He said many people Dr. Bayard Godsave, Dr. choose to continue their Felicia Godwin, Professor education after completing Ashley Garrett, Professor Elizabeth Grooms, Dr. Susan their degree because being able to write well will benefit them Hall, Professor Heather beyond college. King, Instructor George “Write your way out of McCormick, Dr. Hardy Jones, here and right into your first Dr. John Hodgson, Dr. John job,” Dr. Carney said. Morris, Dr. Aaron Rudolph
ELECTIONS continued from page 1
“This remaining year of being at Cameron naturally brings up the question regarding ‘Why did I not run again for SGA President?’ And truthfully, there are several reasons,” Kennedy wrote. “First and foremost is the fact that as I transition into my last year in the ROTC program, I will take on the role of being a mentor and guide to the other classes of cadets. This is something that I want to do my best at, on account of the great mentors that I’ve also had the opportunity to learn from as well.” Students looking to get involved in SGA can join the association on Mondays at 5:15 p.m. in the School of Business for their weekly meetings.