COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, April 7, 2008
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Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
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Volume 82 Issue 10
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Students take education across pond By Amanda Herrera Collegian Staff
Catch a glimpse of Cameron’s future technologies today. SEE PAGE 2
A&E
Most college students who are planning on attending school during the summer would probably rule out a month-long dream vacation —but they don't have to. Because Cameron University is a member of a 12school academic consortium, CU students are eligible to participate in “London Alive,” a four-week study abroad program which allows students to fully experience London and surrounding areas while earning six hours of college credit. “It's less expensive than a full study abroad program,” said Dr. Von Underwood, coordinator for the British Studies Program. “You get the international experience and a lot of opportunities to travel, and you don't have to break the bank to do it.” The British Studies Program convenes in
MCT Campus
London from July 3 to Aug. 3. Students who participate will stay in King's College Hall of Residence, which is adjacent to Waterloo Station, the River Thames and the South Bank Arts Complex. Each student will have a private dorm room and bathroom that is part of a six-room suite. Participants have the opportunity to study
in 17 different areas to include: Shakespeare; Medical Practice: Past, Present and Future; the Entertainment Industry; Journalism; Sociology and History, to name a few.
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Cameron counts down days until centennial celebration By John Robertson
Senior Art students host annual exhibit. SEE PAGE 8
Sports
Collegian Staff During the 2008-2009 academic year, Cameron University will celebrate its 100th birthday, and preparations have already been made to mark the event. This March, CU President Cindy Ross held a press conference unveiling the Centennial Celebration, a year long series of special events designed to highlight CU’s past and future. “This is a remarkable moment in the history of Cameron University,” President Ross said. “As we prepare to complete Cameron’s first century, the events of this year will celebrate our rich past and provide vision to our first steps into the second century.” As a sign of things to come, the 2008 commencement ceremony will feature distinguished guest speaker Col. Eileen Collins. Collins, the first woman to pilot and command an American spacecraft, will deliver this year’s commencement address. Later that afternoon, the festivities go into full swing with the official launch of the Centennial Celebration on August 22 in the form of a carnival-style event. Located north of Cameron Stadium, the event will feature food,
games, parachutists, fireworks, tribal dancers and performances by “Johnny Cooper and The Oak Ridge Boys.” During the press conference, President Ross said that the event is the ideal way to start the festivities.
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“The Centennial Celebration Kick-Off will be the perfect launch for Cameron’s year-long celebration, and we are proud to share this historic occasion with the community,” President Ross said. Throughout the following year, CU will play host to a long list of illustrious guest speakers. On Oct. 21, James Bradley, an author and New York Times Bestseller, will present “Doing the Impossible”, a presentation on the mindset necessary for success. In November, Beverly Kearney, an International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame inductee who survived a near fatal car accident and made a miraculous recovery, will regale listeners with motivational stories about her experience mentoring some of today’s most outstanding athletes. On Feb. 19, 2009, George Will, a syndicated political columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner, will present “The Political Argument Today,” a discussion of the Washington political scene and the future of American society and politics. Finally, NBC’s Al Roker will close out the Centennial Celebration by delivering the 2009 commencement speech.
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See CENTENNIAL Page 2
Cameron volleyball looks toward future. SEE PAGE 7
ROTC cadets face Field Training Exercise By David R. Bublitz
Voices
Happy faces could mean longer lives. SEE PAGE 5
Collegian Staff Saturday, March 29, ROTC cadets from Cameron University, Texas Christian University, the University of Texas, Texas Tech and Texas State attended Camp Eagle, the annual Joint Field Training Exercise (JFTX) at Ft. Sill. MS-IV Lance Crow said that the JFTX was an extension of the biannual FTX and that an important part of the experience was the level of interscholastic cooperation. “They come here once a year and they participate with the other schools, Crow said. “We try to mix the students up so they’re not always dealing with their friends like they have in the past.” Crow explained how academic convergence helped students prepare for Leadership Development Assessment Camp (LDAC), a summertime event where upper-class students are
evaluated and considered for graduation. “They [students] have to learn to get along with other people,” Crow said. The main purpose of it is for them to get good training before they go to the summer program. They have all of the MSIII’s, which are the juniors. Before they can become seniors they have to go to a camp in the summer. That’s where they will get assessed at how well they are in their leadership skills. So, the purpose of these FTX’s is for them to practice these skills on a constant basis because, during school, they only get a three-hour lab a week. Here, they get it for three days or four days straight.” Crow said that the JFTX is planned and executed so the students are provided genuine military experience.
See ROTC Page 2
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News
April 7, 2008
Upcoming technology day promises to showcase centerpieces of department By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Photo by David R. Bublitz
Cover-fire: Regional ROTC members conduct a combat exercise at the annual Joint Field Training Exercise. Students from several schools in the Texhoma area came together to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
ROTC continued from page 1 “At the FTX, they’re getting four days straight where they are supposed to get no outside influences, they’re not supposed to have cell phones and get calls. The world is not there to interrupt them, and we have a controlled environment where we can hopefully give them an idea as to what the army feels like,” Crow said. The authenticity in place at the JFTX is part of what provides participating students with the skills they’ll need to be effective leaders. According to Crow, this is because authenticity breed stress and stress breeds practical leadership experience. “When they’re at school, they know the environment there,” he said, “whereas when we take them out into the woods, in an environment that they haven’t been in before, it’s a little more stressful.” JFTX encompasses three days and four nights of continuous activity, said Crow. “First, we brought them out here after having a formation. Then they had to do a setup. We told them
how we wanted the area set up and they had to set up the environment. They had to bring in all the equipment, like the computers and the weapons. Then we got all their information, in case they get hurt. We handed out their MRE’s, they were put into their platoons, and they set up their living area, their ‘pooches.’” Crow explained that pooches are makeshift shelters that the students crafted by tying a piece of string to a tree and positioning a poncho to “protect the cadets from the elements” and give them “a place where they can store their gear. The rest of the first day was for all of the schools to arrive and for students to grow to know each other. “The last two days,” Crow said, “basically had the same schedule and two platoons would go through stick lanes, while two other platoons went through the ‘land nav’ course. They have a day and a night ‘land nav’ course.” Sophomores and freshmen were given additional activities that included rock wall climbing, a confidencebuilding course and paintball.
Cameron University’s Computing and Technology Department hopes to amaze students with a glimpse of the future of technology at the first ever Computing & Technology Day. Katia Mayfield, a Management Information System instructor and event coordinator, said the event is scheduled for April 14 and will show attendants the potential of the department. “We’re trying to do something that will help students understand the different aspects of what we do here at the technology department,” she said. “A lot of people may not have heard of super computing, robotics and things like that and this gives them an opportunity to learn more.” The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a SolidWorks video presentation on the second floor of Howell Hall. Professors will hold presentations throughout the day with a range of topics including resume writing and robotics. “Our department has so many areas and we want to have students come and show them that we do have something that can appeal to them,” Mayfield said. The Cameron Association of Design Drafters Club’s moonbuggy will be on display all day in Howell Hall. The CADD Club recently entered the moonbuggy in the NASA Great Moonbuggy Race in Alabama, so Mayfield said it represents a practical application of what the technology department is about. “Some students might get
confused by some of the things we talk about,” Mayfield said. “That’s why we where holding the technology day and letting students see what they can do here. If anyone has a question, there’ll be 12 faculty members who can help answer it.” Dr. Pedro A. Diaz-Gomez, assistant professor of computing and technology, said Dr. Henry Neeman, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, will be on campus to speak about supercomputers in the modern world. “When we talk about supercomputers, we’re talking about the biggest and fastest computers on the planet with thousands of processors,” Dr. Gomez said. According to Dr. Gomez, a task that could take months to complete on a personal computer would take only minutes to complete on a supercomputer. “We teach students about supercomputers and his talk with give them a new perspective on everything they’ve learned from the classroom,” Dr. Gomez said. “It’ll give them knowledge and experience that they could never get without the technology day.” Two academic competitions are going to be held in the afternoon. One will focus on programming and the other will focus on database design. The winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon with prizes awarded to the winners. “Everything being done is thanks to the organizations that make up the Computing and Technology Department and they’re the ones that will see the benefits,” Mayfield said.
CENTENNIAL page 1 In addition, CU’s Office of Student Activities will work with student groups across campus to host special events and activities for students, as well as prepare materials for 50-year and 100-year time capsules that will be preserved on campus. After the celebration is over, a historical monograph will be published. CU’s own Sarah Eppler Janda, Ph.D., an author and Associate Professor of History and Government, will write the monograph. Finally, upon completion of the newly completed Centennial Student Activities Complex, a Centennial Ball will be held to christen the new building with fine dining and dancing. Jana Gowan, staff researcher and writer for CU’s Office of Community Relations, said that all of these events are years in the making. “When I started working here in 2006, these plans were already well underway,” Gowan said. “We’ve been at it for a while, and we really want this to be a great year for both the students and the community.” Above all else, the plans for the celebrations are designed to blend CU’s past with its future. With 100 years of history behind it and a bright future on the horizon, the Centennial Celebration hopes to set the stage for the next 100 years of CU’s presence in the community. “When we started planning this, we had two goals in mind,” Gowan said. “We wanted to celebrate Cameron’s heritage and set a strong foundation for the next century. I think we accomplished that.”
2008 SGA Election Results President: Jessica Daoang Vice President: Run-off • Tobias Kuhn • Megan Mefford Treasurer: Daniel Brown
April 7, 2008
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April 7, 2008
CU Supreme Court makes case for students By Donnale Mann Newswriting Student From the current CU student body of 6,000, no more than seven will be appointed to serve on the 2008-2009 CU Supreme Court. Currently the CU Supreme Court has six members and they serve two year terms. Chief Justice Matthew Nies said that the President of the SGA appoints the members of the court upon approval by the senate. “When we get appointed, we are subject to approval by two-thirds of the senate, which is what we have defined as the legislative body within the Constitution,” Nies said. The CU Supreme Court is a branch of the student government whose job is to hear traffic ticket
appeals and interpret constitutional questions. “We are an appeals court for traffic tickets, but only if you get a Cameron issued traffic ticket, not a Lawton issued ticket,” Nies said. “We have the jurisdiction to not only overturn the ticket but if we feel the ticket is too steep, to lessen the amount that is on the ticket.” Nies stated that last year’s contested presidential election is an example of a constitutional type case that the court reviews. “We were asked to review the election,” Nies said. “There was campaigning within the polling booth and someone wanted the election overturned. There was also an issue with student identification numbers being written on the back of ballots which we deemed an
infringement upon a student’s right to a secret ballot.” Nies said that during that last year, the election turnout was disappointing for those students actively involved in student government. “In the last election 43 people voted for president out of a body of 6,000 people,” Nies added. “So we were dealing with horrible apathy. A lot of that could have been that only one candidate was running.” Nies commented that many of the ballots cast were deemed invalid when it was discovered that student information was written on the back of some of the ballots. “We subpoenaed the ballots,” Nies said. “I don’t remember what the actual number was, but it was abysmal. It was something like
28 valid votes because student ID numbers were written on the back of some.” Nies said that the secret ballot is a fundamental right of democracy when it comes to voting and that was being breeched. “We resolved that,” he said, “now student ID numbers can no longer be put on the back of the tickets.” Nies noted that a recent constitutional case heard by the court involved who can run for president and the voting rights of the president’s counsel. “There was some issue about who is qualified to run for president, someone was challenging the qualifications,” Nies said. “There is also an interesting case coming up about who on the executive counsel, which is the president’s counsel, can vote.” Recently, a concerned student has challenged the voting rights of the secretary, treasurer, sergeant at arms and vice president. Nies said he already knows what the Constitution says about the matter, but the case has not been brought before the courts. He stated that part of the student government’s role is to
allow students the opportunity to express themselves through government. “Part of the student government’s role is to mimic our society, and to allow people the opportunity to understand how our government works,” Nies added. Nies said that the court wants to act as a facilitator to, and be an extra voice for students. He said the court is revising its by-laws so next years court can get straight to business. “By next year, when the new court comes in, they will not have to mess with the by-laws,” Nies said. “They can get straight to the business of representing Cameron’s students and upholding the Constitution.” Nies pointed out that anybody can bring a case before the CU Supreme Court. The court meets at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the McMahon Center on campus. “If people don’t like a bill and think that it fundamentally restricts their rights or that it is against our Constitution,” he said, “they have an avenue through us to come and plead their case.”
LONDON continued from page 1 Cameron Associate Professor of History and Government, Dr. Tom Davis will teach one of the classes offered in the program. The class, designed by Dr. Davis, examines international politics. “If you're interested in foreign relations and international politics, London is probably one of the most exciting places in the world to study it,” Dr. Underwood said. He said students are doing much more than just going overseas to learn something they could learn in a classroom here in the U.S. “The philosophy of the program is that you are trying to move the student into the culture as much as possible,” Dr. Underwood said. “You don't just go over there and listen to an Americans speak; there are guest lecturers and I'd say furious activity with respect to field trips to various sights.” He said staying in a foreign country for a month is not ideal for every student, and the program appeals to certain personality types. “You want students who are interested in seeing other places, open to new experiences and cultures, open to meeting other students and participating actively in a very exciting learning program,” Dr. Underwood said. Apart from that, students who participate in “London Alive” must have at least a 2.0 GPA and a minimum of 27 hours of coursework completed by July 3. Speech Communication senior, Lauren Bennett traveled to London with the program during the summer of 2006. She participated in the theatre studies classes and said it was the experience of a lifetime. “If you have the means, do it,” she said. “You can read about another culture and you can look at pictures and everything, but you don't get the full experience unless you're there.” She offered advice for those who will journey to London this summer: “When I got there I was so tired and it was so hot, I just sat on my bed and thought 'what have I done,'” Bennett said. “But I'd say if you have initial feelings, don't worry about it. It gets so much better, but you have to be willing to go out and make friends. Delve into the experience and don't try to resist it. You won't regret it.” Bianca Rubio, a Junior and Economics major is traveling to London with the program this summer. She said she’s looking forward to sightseeing, but also has her career in mind. “I definitely want to pursue an international lifestyle and go into international law, so this will help me prepare for that,” Rubio said. The cost of the trip is $5,199 for undergraduates and $5,399 for graduates. Dr. Underwood said those with serious interest should obtain a brochure from his office located in Room 122 in the Music Building. He said they should then speak with the financial aid office about available student loans. There may be $1,000 scholarships available to some, Dr. Underwood said. He said those interested should speak with him about it. Applications must be submitted no later than May 1, with a $250 non-refundable application fee. The final information session about the British Studies program will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 in the Student Activities Building. For more information, call 581.2491.
Voices
April 7, 2008
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Get happy:
Research finds that a sunny outlook benefits health, longevity We have countless negative messages that are thrown our way daily. Whether the negative messages are in headlines on newscasts, newspapers, or loaded on our homepage, we continually dodge what we do not want to read or pay attention to. Why should newscasters, newspapers and Internet sites get rid of what works for viewers and ratings?— blood, sex and drugs sell…right? Companies do not want to affect their bottom lines by producing something more productive, thought provoking and positive, but they should at least consider the change. However, until companies/ writers start producing prevalent front page stories with
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positive headlines, our automaticity is going to continue to work overtime. After taking Introduction to Journalism, this may sound familiar. Automaticity, in short, is when our mind allows us to complete every day tasks almost effortlessly because our brains have been conditioned to a repetitive task. Automaticity allows us to unconsciously ignore what we do not want to focus our attention to. Setting aside my being an optimist, staying positive and actively taking control of what feelings we have, benefit us more than we think. Staying in a bad mood or dwelling on the negative in life can change our personality, eating habits, health and interpersonal relationships. It has been said so many times it is a cliché, but “you are who you hang around.” This does not only apply to activities of the group, but also their attitudes and outlook on life. “Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Finland’s University
of Helsinki have shown that allow you to come back with high blood pressure is linked to a positive attitude to handle having a pessimistic attitude. your predicament or “negative A pessimistic circumstance.” attitude, stress, “Be grateful anxiety and anger for what will also damage you already your body, shorten have.” Our your life span, and experiences and negatively affect circumstances your immune make us who system and other we are and need vital organs” to be in the (BYU Idaho, “On future. Keeping Wellness”). everything into Automaticity perspective allows me the us to learn Alexis Del Ciello allows privilege to block from teachable messages that are moments and unappealing— overcome our mostly negative. I do not look mistakes. for the bad things in life to dwell “Turn your attention on or choose to groan on about a outwards.” Take a friend to lunch bad day. Thank goodness. Stay or spend time with a group of positive and the sun will shine friends with positive attitudes. sometime tomorrow. This will put into perspective Instead of reporting what that whatever you may be dealing negative attitudes result in, here with might not be that bad in the are a few guidelines offered first place. by Victoria Wright, writer for “Do not look at results but “Accomplish Life” to get you consider the whole process.” started on your new optimistic Instead of dwelling on our current self: circumstance, look at the overall “Do something nice for picture. In fifth grade your failed yourself.” Treat yourself to a great math test was a huge deal. Is it time alone doing an activity you that big of a deal anymore? No. love to do, but might not always You are now in college and have have time for. Pausing and setting overcome that fifth grade hurdle. aside for a moment negativity “Trust that everything will during your alone activity will be all right.” When it seems
Changing the interface of business Almost everyone loves the Internet, and even if they don’t then they at least tolerate it. Today, the Internet is one of the most widely used means of communication for people of all ages. You can do anything from joining online groups, to downloading music. It allows for the exchange of messages, thoughts. It’s no wonder people are hooked. From Internet marketing to selling your old junk, the Internet has it all. Not only is it a social outlet for Ashley Wilkerson people, the Internet is also a place of business. Almost every business, no matter how big or small, needs an online presence. Web based business services are constantly growing and becoming more user-friendlier. More and more traditional businesses are finally opening their eyes to how effective marketing on the Internet can be. They are also realizing that online advertising is cheap and extremely profitable. However, many small businesses do not have Web sites, and are still relying on things like the Yellow Pages for advertising purposes. As time goes on, it is more than likely that businesses will have no choice but to advertise on the Internet if they want to remain competitive in an ever-increasing web based market. Great marketing is supplying the right information at the right time. Google, more than any other entity on the web, fulfills this criterion to the very core. Google is re-writing the book on how products are marketed. According to comScore, Google has
now covered 60% of the search traffic in the United States, with 7.3 billion monthly searches. While MSN and Yahoo are listed among the top five traffic sites on the web, what most people don’t realize is that almost all of Google’s traffic is categorized as search traffic. For a marketer, this would be extremely important since search traffic can deliver the highest conversions. Simply said, it lets you capture the potential customer or client. Obviously, the key to successful Internet marketing is finding the buyers and clients for your products and services. Google has forged itself as the ultimate “middleman” as more of the worlds business is conducted in cyberspace. And as we all know, the “middleman” can reap huge profits and hold tremendous power. So, is the Internet really forcing people to change how they do business? I think most would agree that it is. Perhaps we are a nation of people who are simply addicted to the Internet. Just think about how much time we actually spend sitting at our computers checking our e-mail accounts, shopping, or just random web surfing throughout the course of the day. I’m sure that the results would amaze you. What was life like before the Internet? How on Earth did we manage to survive? Struggling to figure out how we made it without the Internet is like trying to remember a time without cell phones. Has something been lost due to the increased popularity of the Internet and its huge impact on the world today? I think the issue begs the question of whether or not Internet marketing is a good thing. Is it changing how s we do business for the better? As u mp a technology continues to progress, C CT one can only imagine how the M Internet will continue to change the way we do business in the future.
that clouds will never part, your positive attitude can force the weather to change. Even if for a brief moment allow yourself to become positive, the result is much more beneficial than the alternative—high blood pressure, shortened life span, weakened immune system. Simply put, look at mountains as opportunities. Look at “no’s” as a chance to grow and look at rainy times as an opportunity to cherish the sunshine. You get the idea—stay positive.
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Jessica Lane News Editor - Josh Rouse Assistant News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Amanda Herrera Sports Editor - Kareem Guiste Variety Editor - Bira Vidal Assistant Editor - David R. Bublitz Copy Editor - Laura Batule
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kelley Burt Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Chris Allison, John Robertson, Alexis DelCiello, Kerry Meyers, Brandi O’Daniel, Ashley Wilkerson
Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller
Newswriting Students Jenifer Biles, Donnale Mann
About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.
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 or e-mail to collegian@cameron.edu, or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.
Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” 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.
Sports
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April 7, 2008
Softball display perfect talents
Photo by Bennet Dewan
The squad: Members of the Cameron University Softball team pose for their team picture at the softball playiing field. The team has been on a run of good form so far this season and intends to keep it
By Laura Batule Collegian Staff Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. A recent ten game winning streak, the Lone Star Conference hitter of the week and multifaceted coaching and player talent, is proving to be an unbeatable combination for the Aggie softball team, whose recent play is establishing them as an indomitable force to all competitors who step out onto the their much prized diamond. Hailing from Skiatook, Okla., Shareena Pulse, a junior, majoring in Physical Education, was selected as the Lone Star Conference hitter of the week. Pulse was recognized last week for her outstanding performance averaging one home run in every 3.83 at bats and hitting at least one home run per game. With a walkoff, game winning home run versus Northeastern State University and 13 RBI’s, Pulse was an obvious
choice for the award. “I just play my game. I had a slump for a while in the beginning of the season but I finally I got out of it,” Pulse said. “I had to talk to myself about it. I did, and now hitting is not a problem for me.” Pulse, a transfer student from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) knows that dedication and motivation are key elements for a winning team. “We only get four hours a day to practice; that includes lifting, hitting and fielding.I am used to a winning season,” Pulse said. “We lost a couple more games than I thought we would, but we have worked hard and we have a great coach.” Timing is an important element in softball, not only the timing necessary to know when to swing the bat, but on a grander scale, when talented, skilled players find their game in total synchronization. “On paper, before the season started, we knew we had the
potential to be good,” Head Coach Richie Nye said. “We went through some ups and downs at
the start of the season. We’d hit good, but not pitch good and pitch good, but not hit good, but now they are finally starting to put all the facets together, pitching good, playing good defense, getting timely hits and all that attributes to wins.” Megan Young, a junior, majoring in Physical Education recently moved from second base to shortstop. Focus and concentration are important skills for every defensive player to hone, and Young knows that when playing shortstop, split second decisions are what determine if a batter gets a hit or is called out. “I have to be prepared for each pitch,” Young said. “I go through my head what I am going to do, so if it gets hit in one spot I will be prepared and know where to throw it and what to yell. I know that to do because I have the play in my head and have already thought about it.” The Aggies know that every game is important and every victory brings them one step closer to the Lone Star Conference Tournament, the NCAA Division
II Regional Tournament and the NCAA Division II World Series. “We are in the most important part of our season right now,” Young said. “Whether we win these games or not determines if we are going to the conference tournament. We need to win and to stay on our winning streak.” The future looks bright for the Aggie softball team. With three seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and one freshman on their current roster, the team will have a core group of returning players who will bring leadership, cohesion and improved skills to next years team. “It’s been an exciting season and we only lose three seniors this year,” Nye said. “Offensively our juniors are doing good things and that is hopeful for next year. Our players lead by example and by playing hard, and hopefully that will let the leaders shine.” The next Aggie home game is at 1:00 p.m. on April 5. For more information about Aggie softball, go to http://goaggies.cameron.edu/ softball/softballmain.
Photo by Bennet Dewan
At the plate: Cameron’s softball hitter Courtney Clifford practices her swing at the softball field. The team continued to display its talents two weekends ago when it went 4-3 at LSC Crossover in Durant.
Aggies keep rolling, sweep Tigers By Craig Martin Sports Information Director Looking to continue their impressive run through the 2008 season, the Cameron Aggie men’s and women’s tennis teams today traveled to Ada, Oklahoma, to battle the East Central Tigers. In what has seemed to be the norm this season, both Aggie teams defeated their opponents and returned home to Lawton with yet another victory. Both of today’s wins are Lone Star Conference victories. “I was very pleased with everybody today,” Head Coach James Helvey said. “Today saw some great wins.” Both Cameron tennis teams are nationally ranked and should continue to climb the national rankings when the next polls are announced in the coming days. Currently the men (14-4) are #11 in the nation
while the women (7-6) sit at #30 in the nation. The Aggie men won their second road match in two days, sweeping the Tigers 9-0. The men traveled to Wichita Falls on Monday and knocked off the Midwestern State Mustangs 8-1. This afternoon the Aggie women also won their match, beating the Tigers 5-4. On the men’s side the Aggies swept the three doubles matches with the Tigers (2-5) and dropped a mere 10 games. In the No. 1 doubles match senior Jordi Mullor and junior Daniel Pazos defeated Cristobal Nunez in their match 8-2. At the No. 2 slot, senior Nicolas Mascheroni and junior Cristian Easton beat Chris Kriel and Victor Rios 8-5. In the final doubles match, the No. 3 match, senior Ignacio Murgier and junior Saman Samii knocked off Colin Helton and Mitch Sholty, 8-3.
“The guys played really, really well,” Coach Helvey said. “They just came out and stuck it to them right from the beginning. It was especially nice beating two Lone Star Conference opponents in MSU and ECU in back to back days. I was very pleased this afternoon.” In singles, Cameron won all six matches as mentioned above. Mullor defeated Pyotr Sitnikov 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 1 singles match, while Pazos followed suit with a 6-3, 6-2 win over ECU’s Cristobal Nunez in the No. 2 slot. The closest singles match on the men’s side, which wasn’t very close, came in the No. 4 spot where Easton defeated Munoz 6-2, 7-5 (11-5). In women’s tennis, the Aggies took two of three doubles matches from the Tigers (6-4), who are nationally ranked at #21 in the nation. The only doubles match the Cameron women could not clinch was at the No. 1 spot where junior Irene George and sophomore Carolina Mullor fell in a very close match. “We got some awesome play from the girls,” Coach Helvey said. “It was kind of a must win for us and we got it. ECU had been ranked ahead of us all year so it was a big win for us. We needed it.” With CU up 2-1 after doubles, they needed just three matches to take the victory. After the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 singles matches concluded, ECU was up 4-2 and needed only one more match to
take the event. Cameron then won the No. 5 match behind a 6-2, 7-6 victory by freshman Whitney Renfurm, and then won the No. 6 match in a 6-0, 6-0 shutout by Carolina Mullor. The team match was then tied at 4-4 with one match left on the court: the No. 4 singles match. In the No. 4 spot junior Viviana Seca came up huge with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory. The third set tiebreak not only decided the singles match for Seca, it decided the team match for the Aggies. Cameron’s women’s tennis team hosts a five-team dual match this weekend against the likes of St.
Mary’s University, Armstrong Atlantic University, and Northeastern State University. CU plays SMU at 9:00am on Friday, AAU at 2:00pm on Friday, and NSU at 9:00am on Saturday. East Central will also be in town to take part in the event. The next action for the Aggie men’s team comes next Friday, April 11, when both the men’s and women’s teams travel to San Antonio, Texas, to take on the University of the Incarnate Word and St. Mary’s University. With today’s two victories, Coach Helvey moves to 499-262 all-time. With just one more victory he will win his 500th career match, a true coaching milestone.
Photo by Bennet Dewan
Safe return: Junior Viviana Seca won the No. 4 singles match for the Cameron University Aggies to give the team the 5-4 victory.
Sports
April 7, 2008
7
Queiroz looks ahead at a coaching career
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Final walk: Fernanda Queiroz walks off court at the Aggie Gymnasium for her last time last fall. She is looking into coaching.
By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff Most college athletes look forward to what graduation will bring them. The idea of not competing in their beloved sport, one that has given so much to them, triggers both good and bad feelings. For Fernanda Queiroz, those feelings are just beginning to surface as she prepares herself for graduation and her future journey.
Fernanda Queiroz is one of the many athletes leaving Cameron this May. After a spectacular two-year career on the Aggie Volleyball team, Queiroz is ready to move on to the next level in her life and career. Queiroz’s history with volleyball began in Brazil, when she was only eight. Born and raised in Belo Horizonte, a considerably large city in the heart of Brazil, she was convinced by her father to play sports.
“When I was eight, my dad put me in a sports school. I played volleyball and soccer for a while, but when I was 13, I had to choose between both sports,” Queiroz said, “and I chose volley.” Queiroz’s skills continued to develop as her did her love for the game. As she grew stronger and more proficient, she was selected to compete on the Minas Tennis Clube Volley Team. The local team is recognized and ranked as one of the best in Brazil. Like a soaring star with infinite talent and skills, in 2002, Queiroz was given the opportunity to play with the Brazilian University National Team in a volleyball championship in Italy. “I went to Italy to play volleyball for five months,” Queiroz said. “It was a world championship [called Memorial Ferrucio Cortonacchia].” When the Brazilian University National Team returned to Brazil, an American coach from the University of Tulsa spotted Queiroz. The coach invited her to play in the United States. “A coach from the U.S. watched one of my practices, called me aside and gave me the opportunity to play Division I,” Queiroz said. However, the English skills of the player could not be matched to her skills on the volleyball court. “I didn’t speak English at all back then, so I had to go to a junior college first,” Queiroz said. “The only words I knew in English were ‘hi,’ ‘no’ and ‘yes’.” The first hurdle between Queiroz playing for a Division I school was overcome when a fellow University of Tulsa coach offered Queiroz a place on the volleyball team at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. After she completed one year in the community college, Queiroz was ready to transfer to a bigger university, but her plans to play for a Division I school were no longer her first priority and she chose to enroll at Cameron. “In my second year, I could choose the university to transfer to, and I chose Cameron,” Queiroz said. “I gradually lost contact with the coach at the University of Tulsa.” In her two years as an Aggie, Fernanda has found a home at Cameron University. Her playing skills improved as well as her English, while she tried to adapt to a new style of game. “In the beginning it was hard because of English,” Queiroz said. “It was complicated [because] a lot of the rules are different. [But] my English improved 100 percent.” The many achievements and awards Fernanda received while at Cameron were the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year, the Lone Star Conference Player of the Week (for four weeks in a row) and the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference First Team. Queiroz, majoring in Health and Physical Science, is close to completing her undergraduate degree, and is already thinking about her future and all the decisions involved as she takes the next step. “I want to be a Graduate Assistant coach, and do my masters degree. [It’ll] probably [be in] education or anything sport related,” Queiroz said. “In the long run I want to be a volleyball head coach somewhere in the U.S.” As her future plans and dreams approach reality, Queiroz feels the pain of leaving the sport behind as a player and looking at it through the eyes of a trainer, always believing that it was worthwhile to have made the journey from Belo Horizonte to Lawton.
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Advise from the boss: Fernanda takes a word from the Coach.
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Breather time Fernanda walks off court at a training session.
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Together: Fernanda and team give cheers at training last fall.
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A&E
April 7, 2008
Seniors display art in annual show By David L. Bublitz Collegian Staff Seniors from CU’s Art Department got a glimpse of their possible futures on March 29, at the Cameron University Senior Art Show, which opened at Lawton’s Museum of the Great Plains. The museum bristled with CU students and faculty as well as cultural aficionados from Lawton and surrounding areas. High quality, multi-genre artwork lined the walls and filled the halls of the museum’s exhibition area. According to Professor Katherine Liontas-Warren, seniors who have been working through their degree programs at Cameron created all the work on display. The Senior Art Show is a prerequisite event that is a part of the graduating seniors’ Capstone coursework. The art show appealed to the many art patrons who arrived for the opening. Liontas-Warren has a few suggestions that might help novice art critics enjoy their experience at an exhibition. “They should expect to see original work that shares a vision that the artist is attempting to display,” she said. “Artists not only create original work that is new, but sometimes take something old and present it in a new way.” A useful guide at the art show was found in the artist statements that each senior composes for their work. According to Liontas-Warren, they provide insight into their work in the artist’s own words. Ellee Fulton, a Studio Art major, believes the artist statement also has practical application for art students. “If I am to be a successful artist, I need to be able to talk about my work intelligently in order to lead people in the direction that I am going,” Fulton said. “This is especially important for me since my work is very abstract.” Every artist gets inspiration from their peers past and present, and Fulton is no exception. “Two of my influences include Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams. Robert Rauschenberg is another artist whose influence can be seen in my work,” Fulton said. “He worked a lot with assemblage, found objects and sculptures. He is the first artist to do combines, which is where he would put a painting on the floor and then “Brian J. Narcomey II” by Ginger Hansen
put a sculpture on top. Everybody just despised his work when they first saw it, but he is now legendary.” Fulton’s artwork consists of photography and assemblage pieces comprised of discarded materials she collected. Thomas Pruitt illustrated his passion for all things medieval as he stood by his art collection wearing a full suit of armor, brandishing a sword. Pruitt, a senior Art major and cartoonist for the “Cameron Collegian” bases his artwork around story telling. “I am all about keeping the past alive,” Pruitt said. “I love the middle ages and the artwork from many different cultures of that era. I develop a lot of my pieces from a solid piece of wood, linoleum, or glass onto which I hand-carve or etch an image. I will then apply ink and press the image onto the paper.” Like many Cameron art seniors, Pruitt intends to continue to create and show his artwork while progressing through a career in education. Artists who serve as his inspiration lived a lot closer to the cultural surroundings Pruitt loves. “I get a lot of my inspiration from Albrecht Dürer, a German master artist from the late Middle Ages, and Alphonse Mucha, a nineteenth century illustrator from what is now the Czech Republic,” Pruitt said. “Both of those guys really focused on lines and details in their work, which is something that I am into as well. I want people to find something different every time they look at it.” Cameron art students historically land satisfying, and often, lucrative careers upon completion of their undergraduate degree, according to Liontas-Warren. “A lot of our graphic designers have gone on to really good graphic design positions in Oklahoma, Texas, some in California and other places. Those students who go for painting, printmaking or sculpture usually end up going to graduate school and receive Masters of Fine Arts Degrees. “ According to Liontas-Warren, the fear of becoming a starving artist is misplaced. “The starving artist is a myth,” she said. “If you make art and you think of it as a job that you do from nine to five, you will be successful. The great thing about it is, if you love it, it will not seem like work.”
Students make final preparations for last production of semester By Brandi O’ Daniel Collegian Staff Students and faculty in the CU Music and Theatre Departments are burning the midnight oils preparing for the much-anticipated musical, “Nine,” which is the final theatrical production of the semester. The department will be presenting the production April 17-20. Dr. David Fennema, Professor of Theatre Arts, who directed CU’s theatre productions for the past 25 years, directs this semester’s production. “Nine” is the first musical this the season that features a mix of theatre and music majors, as well as past and present Cameron students. According to Dr. Fennema, the Theatre Department puts on four productions every year with a season of plays designed, choreographed and arranged by the Photo by Brandi O’ Daniel Theatre Department. Hard at work: Costume designer, Phenix “It’s a departmental choice and Mr. Klein and Croom diligently prepares wardrobe for the myself choose a series of titles and work things out upcoming musical, “Nine.” into a season,” Dr. Fennema said. “Every year we have a musical, a comedy and a classic and one other that usually goes in the American Community Theatre Festival (ACTF).” This semester’s musical is based on the film “Eight and a Half ” by Italian director, Frederico Fellini. The play deals with the central character, Guido Contini, who is struggling to write and direct a film after a series of failed productions. Throughout the play Contini examines his life and strives to act his actual age of 40 instead of nine. Dr. Fennema said: “The film was originally called ‘Eight and a Half,’ but they changed it to ‘Nine.’ The film is about the focus character, Contini, and it deals with a 30-something year old man that can’t accept growing up. It’s not a typical musical. It’s much denser. It takes you out of reality early on. It’s his imagination, not reality, and just him thinking back to himself at nine.” According to Dr. Fennema, directing a musical is not any different then directing any other production that the department puts on throughout the year. “With musicals you have to rely on dancing, you have to rely on music,” Dr. Fennema said. “But we’ve got good people to work with. We’ve got good set designers, costume designers and just great people to work with.” While there are a number of theatre students graduating the department each year, Dr. Fennema said that is never difficult to find students to cast for roles. Dr. Fennema said, “Anyone can audition, it’s completely open, but we do give preference to students majoring in theatre.” Dr. Fennema added that they do have a great group of students within the department, but they do sometimes go outside the department and occasionally outside the university to cast for their theatre productions. “We sometimes have to go outside the university and with ‘Nine,’ we brought back one of our past graduates who had theatre training from Cameron,” Dr. Fennema said. This year’s theatre production will be slightly different than past productions with it’s unique story line bordering on reality and imaginary, but Dr. Fennema feels that it is important for students and the community to be exposed to this play, along with the others that the departments produces. “I think arts are lacking in Oklahoma, especially in high school where they are limited, “Dr. Fennema said. “Students are losing a wonderful opportunity for growth in the arts and our history.” Dr. Fennema added that being a part of a football game, a play or an art exhibition are all important elements that contribute to an individual and a community. Dr. Fennema said: “We’re losing a section of culture that we need to be introduced to. We need to find a balance with a performance of music and of theatre that offers a different view of what it means to be alive.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m., April 17-19 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students, senior citizens and military. Cameron students receive free admission with their Cameron ID’s at the University Theatre Box Office. For reservations call the Box Office at 581.2478. For questions regarding theatre performances call the Theatre Department at 581.2346.
Photos by David L. Bublitz
Becoming your art: Thomas Pruitt (in his suit of armor) stands near his artwork and greets those who attended the premier of the CU senior art show.
“Panatone Pulchritude” by Scott A Corwin
Magic Lantern Film Society to show ‘Lady Killers’ By Chris Allison Collegian Staff The Magic Lantern Film Society will close its 26th season at 7:30 p.m. on April 11 at the Student Activity Building with a free screening of the dark comedy entitled “The Ladykillers.” Dr. John Morris, Professor of English, recommended the selection of “The Ladykillers” because it was remade a few years ago starring Tom Hanks and directed by the Coen brothers, who recently won a Best Picture Oscar for “No Country for Old Men.” “We at Magic Lantern like to show the original versions of remakes because the originals, with few exceptions, are better films,” Dr. Morris commented. “Members of our audience, students especially, might not know about them or might not have seen them.” Originally released in 1955, the British film “Ladykillers,” was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and starred Alec Guinness, Katie Johnson and Peter Sellers. “It’s very English, but it is a dark, dark comedy,” Dr. Morris said. “It’s wonderfully nasty is the way to say it. I recommended it because I had seen the film; I thought people might like it.” People who like Peter Sellers (who starred in all the “Pink Panther” movies and “Dr. Strangelove”) will enjoy seeing him in one of his earliest movies. Alec Guinness has starred in many English and American movies to include “Star Wars” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” This is one of Guinness’ many British comedies he did in the 1950’s. Katie Johnson, who plays the old lady in the movie, is the only nice person in the entire picture. “Ladykillers” is about a group of criminals, one of whom is living in a boarding house. “They are planning a robbery,” Dr. Morris said. “They think the man’s presence in the boarding house won’t arouse any suspicion, but the old woman who runs the place finds out about it. So they decide they have to kill her, but they’re the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”
Faculty advisors of the Magic Lantern Film Society are Dr. Morris and Professor Emerita Sherry Newell, Department of English. The president is Lauren Bennett. The first two faculty advisors, who started the series in 1982, were Dr. Mark Stegmaier (History) and Dr. Marilyn Beaney (Foreign Languages). The Magic Lantern Film Society was named after a theater in Santa Barbara, California, where Dr. Stegmaier went to graduate school. In its infancy, the motion picture industry referred to the projector as a kind of “magic lantern.” The organization presents at least 10 classic films every school year. A student and faculty committee selects the films from suggestions by people. They define “classic” as a film that is at least 10 years old and has received critical acclaim. However, they have shown cult classics. “For example, we showed ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ once, the worst movie ever made,” Dr. Morris said. “We had a huge crowd for that though.” The biggest attendance at a was the night PAC co-sponsored a Halloween showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” About 120 people attended, all in costume. There have been films that were followed by panel discussion in the past, such as the Nazi propaganda film, “Triumph of the Will.” Plans have already begun for next year’s films. Among the films scheduled for next year are the original “3:10 to Yuma” (1957); the silent science fiction movie “Metropolis” by Fritz Lang; Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window;” “The Color Purple” and two movies that were produced by Val Lewton and directed by Jacques Tourneur during the 1940s, “Cat People” and “I Walked with a Zombie.” Anyone is welcome to attend the Magic Lantern’s monthly showings. Funding for Magic Lantern is provided by audience donations. For more information visit the Magic Lantern Web site at www.cameron. edu/magiclantern; call 581.2329.
A&E
April 7, 2008
9
Broadcast students receive state recognition By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff The Cameron University Broadcast Department has proven itself to be one of the best in the state. CU broadcast students recently earned six awards in the 18th Annual Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association (OBEA) student competition. The OBEA works closely with students in the broadcast industry. According to the OBEA official Web site, the association is “composed of broadcast educators and electronic media, and they possess a threefold mission: To work cooperatively toward strengthening broadcast education throughout Oklahoma, to encourage interest of electronic media professionals in broadcast education and to establish a channel for an exchange of information and ideas among broadcast educators and electronic media professionals in Oklahoma.” The OBEA members include the state’s largest universities, community colleges and private colleges. The OBEA works closely
with the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters to promote quality broadcast education and preparation for the future. Steve Adams, Assistant Professor in Cameron University’s Communications Department, works with students to help them showcase and demonstrate their work to potential employers across the state. “Their success as students is carrying over to their professional careers,” Adams said. “In the past few years our students have had a lot of success finding quality jobs in the highly competitive broadcast industry.” Entries from the students were judged in early March by a panel of about 50 industry professionals, with fifteen universities competing. Cameron students who brought home awards were: Senior Melinda Bonner, Radio/TV major placed first in radio newscast and second in radio feature story. Senior Tavarias Kelly, a Theatre Arts major also brought home a first place award in radio entertainment, and senior Joleen Chaney, Radio/TV major placed third in television hard news
story. Cameron graduate Kyle Weatherly and Radio/TV senior Erik Hurley placed first in radio sports play-by-play. Weatherly also garnered a second award for second place in a television sports story. Adams stated that he knows that we have talented students in our broadcast department, and it shows by the type of jobs they receive after graduation. “Cameron University’s broadcast program is recognized around the state,” Adams said. “The awards are beneficial in letting others outside of the department and university know that our students are talented.” Those who wish to pursue a future in broadcasting know that doing well in this competition will make them more marketable to potential employers. “Broadcasters all over the state are aware of this competition,” Adams said. “They have either been a judge in the competition or were involved in it as students themselves, so it looks good on a resume because Oklahoma
MCT Campus
Broadcasters understand that the winners are going to be good employees.” At the broadcast convention, employers are looking for the best candidates and future employees. “At the convention there were broadcasters from Oklahoma City and Tulsa wanting to talk to some of our students about future employment,” Adams said. “Many of the broadcast students here start
locally working at KSWO-TV or one of the local radio stations. Kyle Weatherly and Erik Hurly are currently employed by KSWO.” Students received their awards at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters on March 28 in Oklahoma City.
Search for creativity: Local art, entertainment magazine accepting entries By Jessica Lane Collegian Staff Calling all CU writers and artists. The “Lawton Arts and Entertainment Magazine” is currently accepting written submissions as well as artwork for their Summer 2008 issue. Sharon Cheatwood, Arts Coordinator of the Lawton Arts and Entertainment Magazine, said submissions can fit a wide range of forms: artwork of all mediums, essays, short stories, articles, landscaping, photographs and poetry to name a few. Calendar of events listings may also be submitted. Cheatwood said that the magazine would like to promote activities of CU organizations, both on and off the Cameron campus such as various camps that are offered. She said that she is willing to assist those who need help writing their press releases by giving them basic information. For the convenience of both parties, questions via e-mail are preferred. The theme of the Summer 2008 issue will focus on events during the summer, thus art and writing in this vein is favored. However, Cheatwood said this is not a requirement for entry. Fiction of timeless themes, such as writings about personal experiences, are acceptable. “I try to include as much as I can,” she said. Cheatwood made suggestions for articles that would fit the magazine’s needs such as “How to Survive Summer School” and holiday stories that cover the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
The opportunity for publication is open to anyone including Duncan residents and the students and faculty of CU-Duncan. Cheatwood said she is interested in articles concerning Duncan events. Cheatwood said she would like to emphasize that this publication is open to all ages and people of all walks of life and everyone is free to participate. “Lawton Arts and Entertainment Magazine” is a free quarterly. To join the mailing list, call 580.581.3470. Copies are also available at the welcome center of Lawton’s Museum of the Great Plains and at the YMCA. The magazine is printed four times a year by the Lawton Arts and Humanities Council with grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The deadline for submissions is April 18 by 5 p.m. They should be no longer than 300 words and must be doublespaced. Submissions may be edited for space. Photographs should be in tif or jpg format. Photographs of three-dimensional art are also accepted. Artists should also include an artist’s statement about the artwork with a brief biography and photograph. Submissions may be sent through e-mail (preferred) at lahc@cityof.lawton.ok.us, or faxed to 580.581.3473. Submissions can also be mailed to: Lawton Arts and Humanities Council, P.O. Box 1054, Lawton, OK 73502.
Lawton Arts and Entertainment Magazine
Entry rules and categories Guidelines for submitting articles for consideration: Articles should be no more than 300 words long and must be doublespaced. Font size is limited to 10. Please remember that if there is not enough room to run your article, the information about your event will be included in the calendar. Remember, if your article is too long it may be edited to fit in the magazine.
Guidelines for short stories, essays, and poetry: Poetry and submissions of essays on topics of local interest are also welcome and will be used as space permits.
Guidelines for submitting artwork for consideration: All mediums (oil, collage, metal etc.) and styles will be considered. Also, photographs of three-dimensional works will be accepted. Please include an artist statement about the artwork with a brief biography and photograph. Please, NO original works should be sent to the office without prior notification. (Note -only front & back are color.) All submitted items must be in electronic format. Photos should be high resolution and in jpg or tif format. The magazine is printed four times a year. The deadline for the summer issue is April 17-19.
Please send your items to: Lawton Arts and Entertainment Lawton Arts and Humanities Council P.O. Box 1054 Lawton, OK 73502 Or fax to: (580) 581-3473 E-mail: LAHC@cityof.lawton.ok.us
Variety
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April 7, 2008
Honorable students: Students from different honor classes and special guests enjoy a week of practical learning in Houston. The city provided students and faculty the opportunity to explore its diverse locations from Mar. 25 to Mar. 28.
Honor students giddy up for Houston’s major learning attractions By Kelley Burt Collegian Staff Forty of CU’s most brilliant minds converged March 25 and traveled to Houston for the semi-annual Honors Program trip. Dr. Mike Davis, Assistant Professor and director of the Honors Program was delighted that in addition to the Honors students attending, art and biology majors were able to join the group. “Our activities were planned to appeal to the different contingencies we had with us,” he said. “Though the main reason we chose Houston as our destination was to see the Lucy exhibit that was being displayed at the Museum of Natural History, the city had something to offer everyone.” The students and faculty enjoyed both scheduled events and free time before returning home March 29. Visiting the George Observatory and Challenger Learning Center filled most of the day on Wednesday with the evening dedicated to seeing Shakespeare’s “Othello” at the Alley Theater. Thursday was spent at the Museum of Natural History where the two special exhibits of daVinci’s work and Lucy were displayed. That evening’s plan included an optional brass band
concert, though most people chose to use the time for other excursions. Some went to the aquarium and shopped at local stores while others chose to experience some of the city’s diverse nightlife. Friday was spent at the Museum of Fine Arts, Buffalo Soldier Museum and Rothko Chapel with the return trip on Sat. Rebecca Matlock, Chemistry freshman, was part of the group of students from the Honors Program who greatly enjoyed the trip. “If it weren’t for the program, I would have never been able to experience any of the wonderful things I have,” she said. “It’s great to get awards for achievement in school, but being able to take trips like these make me feel like I’m finally being recognized for my hard work. It’s awesome that we get to do this.”
Look at the stars: The George Observatory give students the chance to learn about the planet and stars that exist out of this world.
Man, inventor, genius: Leonardo daVinci’s inventions and art are highlights of the Houston cultural trip. Different invention reproductions revealed to students the true genius daVinci was. From ashes to ashes: Pompeii human remains are part of an exposition at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Students observed the impact mount Vesuvius volcano had on Pompeii and its population.
Photos by Kelley Burt Photo Collage by Bira Vidal