COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Monday, March 22, 2010

Variety

Roots:

Campaign seeks funds to repair damages to campus foliage from ice storm

By Amanda Finch

tree surgeon is being consulted to save as many trees as possible while ensuring the safety of those who pass beneath them, but it is clear that most will not be salvageable. The cost of assessment, pruning, removal, planting and continued assessment through spring could total to around $300,000. The campaign has reached out to those who have a connection to Cameron University including donors, alumni, faculty and staff to get involved and participate by donating to the campaign. “We have been careful to be very cost-conscious about how we contact people for contributions, by using effective ways to reach out through mailings to off-campus supporters and emails to alumni, faculty and staff,” Vice President Johnson said. After appealing to these groups Vice President Johnson turned his attention to current students and organizations to encourage them to join in the fundraising effort. He spoke at the Student

Collegian Staff

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 SEE PAGE 10

A&E

Students garner broadcasting awards.

The Cameron University administration has created a campaign to help raise funds to replace the hundreds of campus trees that were destroyed or damaged during the ice storm that took place in late January. According to Vice President of University Advancement Albert Johnson, the campaign, “Replanting our Aggie Roots,” is not an ongoing campaign but rather a one-time contribution in response to this campus emergency. If the trees are to have a chance to root and grow planting must be done between now and Arbor Day at the end of March. “The purpose of the campaign is to try to ensure that we maintain the campus beautification efforts that we had already begun,” Vice President Johnson said. The ice storm left approximately 200 trees damaged or destroyed. A professional

Sports

MCT Campus

By Tatiana Isis Collegian Staff High school students will be flooding to Cameron in April as CU’s Annual Agricultural Interscholastic Competition is just weeks away.

SEE PAGE 8

Voices

Photos courtesy of Public Affairs

Aftermath: Throughout Lawton this scene repeated itself as a result of the ice storm that descended on campus in late January. Government Association meeting, the Program Activities Council meeting, the Student Housing Association meeting and sent an email to all students to explain how important this campaign is. Vice President Johnson hopes that student organizations set donation goals and challenge each other.

See TREES Page 2

Split: The heavy icing on campus harmed some trees and nearly destroyed others.

Agricultural Interscholastic Competition coming in April

SEE PAGE 6

Aggie Softball depends on “fab five” freshmen.

Volume 84 Issue 18

The event, which has been held annually for the past 50 years, will be hosted here at Cameron April 7 and 20 and is only open to high school students that are members of the Future Farmers of America. “We expect 400 people,” Dr. Phil Schroeder said.

The judging contests will start at 8 a.m. on April 7 at Cameron Stadium. Contestants will receive instructions and will then be sent off to their individual competitions: welding; farm shop tests; floriculture; meat-judging and livestock-judging. “You have to be able to identify the cut of the meat,” said Dr. Schroeder about the meat-judging contest. “We keep it wrapped up and then sell it.” That means the meat will not be wasted after the contest is over, he said. The livestock judging contest takes place at the Animal Science Complex on 38th Street, where the animals will be held in portable pens outside the building.

“They have to know what makes a good quality cow, sheep or pig,” Dr. Schroeder said. There will also be land, range and pasture evaluation and judging. The welding and various farm shop tests will be held in the Ag/Mech Shop acoss from the Physical Facilities and the floriculture contest will be held in the Mezzanine. Farm business management, field crops, agronomy, seeds identification and meat judging will all be held on South Shepler’s second floor.

See AG Page 2

Votes can help secure new publications funding Alum striving to secure funding for online literature, art , music magazine Jeff Simpson isn’t running for office, but he needs your vote. Simpson, a PLUS scholar who graduated from Cameron in 2004, is already making his mark on the literary scene, and he wants to help other writers and artists have the same opportunity. He has plans to launch “The Fiddleback,” a free online magazine promoting literature, fine art and music. But to get his nonprofit project off the ground,

he needs funding. Enter Pepsi, a potential benefactor Simpson never expected. The Pepsi Refresh Project is offering grants to help get new and “refreshing” ideas off the ground. However, the competition is fierce, and only the top 10 projects in each financial group receive funding. Currently, “The Fiddleback” is ranked #15 in the $5K category, and Simpson needs your help to break into a top position.

Jeff Simpson, a former PLUS scholar, graduated from Cameron University in 2004 with a BA in English. From CU, he went on to Oklahoma State University, where he completed his MFA in creative writing in 2009. In addition to nearly two dozen publications in literary journals, Simpson’s first book — a collection of poetry titled “Vertical Hold” — will be published next year by Steel Toe Books.

To Vote:

Fashion faux pas prevalent and ridiculous. SEE PAGE 5

Look for a complete article in the March 29 issue of the Collegian.

- Go to www.RefreshEverything.com/fiddleback - Sign in with your Facebook info or take two minutes to create an account - You get ten votes to cast each day. You can vote every day of the week. - This is a social networking competition, so blog it, tweet it, mail it, share it. - Simpson is working with three other groups to increase votes. Support the arts by voting for these other great projects: HVYWE, Adopt An Instrument, El Sistema - Voting ends March 31.

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March 22, 2010

TREES continued from page 1

Photos by Jim Horinek

Uprooted: Many of the new sappling trees planted in the Bentley Garden were ripped from the ground due to being top heavy with ice.

“I am a 1979 graduate of Cameron, and I know what campus was then and see what it has become. It is hard to articulate in words, but when you see the transformation with your eyes you realize what a difference a tree makes,” Vice President Johnson said. The campaign has already received an overwhelming response. Regent John Stewart donated $20,000 and the McMahon foundation contributed $10,000. Those contributions combined with the generosity of others

equaled a total of around $50,000 before spring break. “Every dollar we receive helps us defray the cost of planting and replacing trees. If every student attending Cameron University right now donated just one dollar, that would be huge,” Vice President Johnson said. Those wishing to give to the campaign can fill out a pledge card as an individual or with an organization. All donations will be taken in the Office of University Advancement in the Administration building or by calling 581-2999.

Destroyed: Sadly, some of the largest and oldest trees on campus were drastically reduced in size, or in some case removed all together.

Student in custody due to possession of drugs, poisonous snakes By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff A Cameron University student was taken into custody on March 3 after being charged with growing marijuana and possession of illegal deadly vipers. According to Lawton Police Detective Jason Roberts, police arrived at the home of 37-year-old Michael Eckert while investigating a traffic accident earlier in the morning. The troopers were investigating a possible hit and run accident around 1:10 a.m. near Northwest Homestead Drive and Waterford Road. According to a Lawton Police report, Eckert picked up his friend after the accident and drove around. Roberts said police discovered

Eckert’s information in the vehicle, which lead them to his residence in the 700 block of Northwest 32nd Street. Police were concerned for the welfare of the driver in the accident, so they made entry into the home. Roberts said the front door was slightly open, but was barricaded by something inside. They went around to the backdoor and were able to gain entry after the door was slightly open. When they got inside, they found several containers and cages with poisonous vipers. But their main discovery was a closet filled with 16 marijuana plants that were being grown. The police exited the home and called Roberts, who began the process of getting a warrant to search the residence. While

the police were leaving the home, Eckert and his friend pulled into the drive. He was taken into custody and charged with felony count of cultivation of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of paraphernalia for having a smoking pipe. Eckert is also facing charges from the Lawton Animal Welfare (LAW) Division. Rose Wilson, director of the division, said LAW has filed charges against Eckert, which are pending based on the Lawton Police Department investigation. The charges include possession of illegal vipers and animal cruelty. “There were a variety of different vipers that were found in the home,” Wilson said. “There

were eight the pot plants different growing in “There were a variety his closet. But snakes, each of different vipers extremely Wilson said that were found in the snakes poisonous.” Possessing weren’t his the home. There poisonous only animalwere eight different animals related crime. snakes, each extremely within city “We found a box limits is poisonous.” against the turtle in the law. Wilson — Rose Wilson refrigerator,” said LAW said. “It Lawton Animal she is working had been there Welfare Director for some time, to find a and we don’t permanent home for know why he had it.” the snakes. Eckert was arraigned in district She doesn’t know why he had court on March 4 and was taken the snakes, but detectives said back into custody on a $50,000 he was more concerned for his “babies,” the snakes, rather than bond.

MCT Campus

AG continued from page 1 Land, range and pasture evaluation and judging locations will be decided on the day of the competition. The second session of the competition, the speech competition, will begin at 3 p.m. April 20 at various locations around campus, including the Science Complex, the Mezzanine and South Shepler. There will be speeches held in the following categories: agribusiness; agriculture policy, agriscience; animal science; 8th Grade agri-exploration; 8th -10th grade general agriculture; extemporaneous; FFA creed; natural resources; 9th grade FFA opportunities; plant science and quiz bowl. Winners will receive plaques or certificate. The Agricultural Interscholastic Competition allows agriculture students to hone their skills in the areas of practical animal science and agronomy, leadership and business and helps the students prepare for state competitions. The Agricultural Interscholastic Competition will also allow high school students to become familiar with Cameron University in case they decide to attend the school in the future. “This will hopefully get them to come to college here,” Dr. Schroeder said. Though only high school students can compete in the competition, Cameron students are encouraged to attend the event. For more information interested parties may visit the Agriculture Department section on the Cameron Web site. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT FUN VALLEY FAMILY RESORT SOUTH FORK COLORADO Needs students for all types of jobs: kitchen, dining room, housekeeping, stores, maintenance, horse wrangler, office & other. Salary/ room & board/bonus. For information & application write to:

See page 7 for solutions.

Student Personnel Director 6315 Westover Drive Granbury TX 76049 or Call 1.800.548.1684 or e-mail: rafain@sbcglobal.net

March 22, 2010

News

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March 22, 2010

Voices

March 22, 2010

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Fix your fashion sense

Faux pas becoming more prevalent, more ridiculous Throughout history, the world has witnessed many changes in fashion trends, both for the better and for the worse. Presently, it seems we are experiencing less conformity and more freedom when it comes to dress. The ability of individuals to express themselves freely in their clothing choices is wonderful; however, there should be some level of respect maintained so other members of society who are forced to witness their wardrobe preferences aren’t sucked into the vortex of their fashion hell. One of the most frequent fashion miscalculations committed by members of the public today is wearing apparel specifically designated for inside of the house outside of the house. Honestly, do you have to wear your house slippers to Wal-Mart? Or anywhere else outside of a five-foot radius of your home? It doesn’t matter how comfortable they

may be or how big of a rush you were in, this south of the ankle fashion faux pas is never appropriate and always tacky. Unless you’re on your way to or from a sporting event, sweatpants are another item that should strictly be reserved for inside of the house use. Ladies, it makes no difference how cute they are, how much they cost or if they say “PINK” across the butt – they’re still sweatpants and are still only intended to be worn while you are inside of your house. Perhaps the most irksome of these fashion offenders is the trend of wearing pajama pants anywhere other than to bed. And girls, tucking your pajama pants into your

Amanda Phillips

MCT Campus

UGG boots doesn’t somehow magically turn your laziness into a cute outfit. This isn’t a pajama party. Go home, get dressed and try again. Fashion failures don’t end at peoples’ inability to distinguish between at-home attire and in-public attire. The next style sin is something nearly all of us have been faced with. You’re sitting in class trying to focus on the professor’s lecture but can’t because the thong of the girl in front of you, along with one-third of her bare-butt, is hanging out of her pants. This peep show is not suitable for the classroom or any other public place. It should be reserved for after hours viewing only in the privacy of the offender’s own bedroom or the strip club. While on the subject of intimate apparel ladies, here is a word of advice about bras: wear one. It’s really as simple as that. When you’re bending down, no one needs a full frontal view of your goodies. Men, don’t think that women are the only fashion offenders. Guys commit their fair share of style blunders as well. For those men who think it’s acceptable to wear their pants closer to their knees than their waist – it’s not. I know you have your “swagger,” but no one wants to be confronted with a face full of your butt on their way to chemistry class or anywhere else. So, please, have some common courtesy and pull up your pants. Thanks. The next wardrobe offense is practiced by many but is most

frequently illustrated by a certain segment of the athlete population on campus (you know who you are). Wearing socks with sandals is simply a fashion no-no. Either it’s cold enough outside that your feet need to be socked and paired with sneakers or it’s warm enough to wear sandals. It’s either one or the other – never both. Cologne usage is another matter some guys have failed to master. Cologne is not meant to be used in lieu of soap and water. Who do you think you’re fooling? When it comes to cologne, less is more. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if someone who is standing more than six inches away from you can smell your favorite scent from Abercrombie and Fitch, you’ve over-applied. Both students and faculty alike have committed all of these fashion sins, and they must be stopped. So, please, before leaving your house, dorm or apartment take 10 seconds to do a quick sniff test and look in the mirror and honestly ask yourself, “Is this really appropriate?”

Census a necessary evil of federal government MCT Campus We cringed a few weeks ago when we heard Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., briefly call for a boycott of the 2010 census, which she apparently thought would ask too many nosy questions yet not ask about U.S. citizenship or resident status. She’s recanted the boycott call, but her misinformation is representative of the many myths about the census. Immigrant and other so-called hard-to-count communities too often view the process with conspiratorial skepticism, while others, like Bachmann, have an ideological aversion to the government asking questions. So when you get the census form in the mail this month, don’t ignore it. Fill it out and return it so that you — and your community — can be counted.

Myth 1: It’s not a very accurate count The last canvass in 2000, considered the best to date, scored a 98 percent accuracy rate. Nothing is 100 percent; census officials estimate that they missed about 6.4 million Americans, including about 373,000 people in Texas. That number includes mostly lowincome households, minorities and children under 18. It’s up to each person who receives the questionnaire to make sure the count is as accurate as possible. Myth 2: It’s such an invasion of privacy It’s a federal crime to disclose or publish private information. Not even the White House, the Internal Revenue Service, law enforcement, other agencies or journalists’ Freedom of Information requests can secure private census information. Myth 3: The detail sought is

excessive Actually, the form asks 10 questions, among the shortest queries since the first national count in 1790, which posed six questions. The 2010 form is limited to name, age, date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, household members’ relationships, whether you own or rent, and a telephone number. There are no questions about income, the number of cars you own or even whether you are an American citizen. (For the first time since 1940, there will be no “long form” questionnaire sent out to a subset of households.) Myth 4: There are so many censuses Scammers and political parties often take advantage of this once-a-decade count to ask other questions in census-like documents designed to solicit personal or other information. Don’t be fooled. The real census

doesn’t ask for a Social Security number or for your political leanings. And if you get an inquiry online, rest assured that it’s a scam. Myth 5: It doesn’t matter Yes, it does. And the Constitution requires it to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. Texas is expected to pick up several congressional seats, reflecting its population growth. Moreover, the national count is used to distribute more than $400 billion annually to communities for such things as employment training, lowincome home-energy assistance, Medicaid grants, housing, substance abuse treatment and unemployment insurance. If you don’t get yourself into the count, you cheat yourself and your community.

MCT Campus THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Rachel Engel Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - Justin Cliburn Back Page Editor - Monica Garner Digital Editors - Kyle Luetters and Michael Faggett

Newsroom Staff Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Rashmi Thapaliya, Amanda Finch, Alyssa Knerr, Tori Strecker, Tatiana Isis and Amanda Phillips. Circulation Manager - Matthew Penick

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 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.

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A&E

March 22, 2010

Broadcast students recognized Communication Stephen Adams said it was good for the students to Collegian Staff get some recognition. At the recent Oklahoma “It looks good on the resume,” Broadcasting Education he said. “They get to compete Association student competition against larger programs who are several Cameron University doing 30 minute broadcasts; it’s students beneficial.” received awards Senior Kyle for their work Luetters won “Winning an award produced first place for like this puts it in in class, Radio Aircheck perspective for me. It for student and second broadcasts place for Radio lets me know that I’m and in the Newscast. doing something right community. “DJ and others have taken Students Aircheck is from 15 a shortened notice.” universities version of a across the regular radio — Michael Faggett shift,” Luetters state competed in over 30 Communication major said. “Basically, different I come out of categories the song, do featuring radio my talking and television, and were judged and then introduce the next song. by industry professionals from For this award, they look at the throughout Oklahoma, according DJ’s personality and character on to the press release. the air, and how that person tries Assistant Professor of to create excitement and entice

By Rachel Engel

the listeners to stay tuned to that station. It was actually one of my Monday afternoon shows from KLAW 101, so the piece that won the contest actually aired live.” Radio Newscast is a short check of the news, usually some local and regional happenings mixed with some national news, Luetters said. “The newscast was actually part of a class I took in the fall called Broadcast News,” he said. “It was a two minute newscast featuring Oklahoma news.” Competitions like this keeps him striving for perfection, Luetters said. “I’ve learned the power of patience and attention to detail,” he said. “The judges at these events really run our pieces through the ringer. They do this to ensure that we get as good as we can.” Junior Michael Faggett won second place with alumnus Cecilio Ramirez-Cibes for Television Sports Play-by-Play, which features two commentators ad-libbing and talking about a

sporting event and the specific sport. “I was covering the 2009 CU homecoming basketball game,” Faggett said. “We were doing a three camera coverage of the game, which was a big deal for us at the time. Cecilio-Ramirez and I commented during the part of the game that we sent into the competition.” For Faggett, the recognition reinforces his decision to choose broadcasting as a profession. “Winning an award like this puts it in perspective for me,” he said. “It lets me know that I’m doing something right and others have taken notice. Professors at other universities, as well as professionals judge the competition, so to know that they see something in my abilities says a lot about my future in this field.”

Other winners were Cameron Goss, who won first place in Television Entertainment, and Mitch Watson who won first place for Radio Hard News Story and third place for Radio Feature News Story. Jason Elbert won third place in Radio Entertainment.

Student Housing Association hosts first lock-in By Alyssa Knerr Collegian Staff This semester, students will be taking their sleeping bags, toothbrushes and other hygiene items and heading towards the fitness center for a lockin hosted by the Student Housing Association. This is the first year students have held a lock-in at Cameron University. Women’s Residence Hall Director Krystle McCorgary is the adviser for the Student Housing Association and said this semester they are trying something a little different. “Once a month we try to think of an event that we can all do together for Cameron students or just the residents, but this time the lock-in will be for all CU students,” McCorgary said. “This is something that the SHA students all came up with. They mixed together ideas, and it is just going to be a big night of events.” The lock-in is going to have a racquetball tournament, a volleyball tournament, a small basketball tournament, karaoke, small carnival games, board games

McCorgary said; however, there is and, of course, food for students a cut off time. The entry into the all night long. Since this is the first time for the CU campus to lock-in will be cut off at midnight. have a lock-in, the SHA is going to Once students have entered the Fitness Center for the lock-in be trying the idea out to see how there will be no going back outside well students respond. until 8 a.m. the next morning. “We have never really heard of other colleges having a lock-in “I just don’t want people going out to their cars and getting either,” she said. “So, it is kind stuff — of an alcohol or experiment “We have never really heard to see if unneeded of other colleges doing a people items — to bring are really lock-in. So it is kind of an into the interested experiment to see if people or not, but Fitness are really interested or not, Center,” either way it is going to but either way it is going to be she said. be a lot of “So, once fun and very a lot of fun and very different they put to do than what students different that wrist band on, to do normally do.” they are than what students there for — Krystle McCorgary good. If normally do. So, we Women’s Residence Director they leave are kind of after we put the being the wrist guinea pigs for this event.” band on, we will cut off the wrist band, then tell them they cannot There is no maximum amount of people for the lockcome back in.” in since SHA is experimenting, Even though this is a new event

on campus, SHA is still getting a lot of input into the all-night event from other people about lock-ins. “We’re, of course, the guinea pigs and experimenting, but we are hearing from other people about how this works,” McCorgary said. “Having ID checks, the wrist bands, the timetable for not coming back and also the 12 a.m. cut off time are all security precautions for the event.” SHA students were very happy to learn the lock-in was going to happen, McCorgary said. Students want a variety of things from the regular events held on campus. “I really think students wanted something different to do that they have not done before,” she said. “We have a really good budget for this event. We are getting food, drinks and even buying pizza.” The Student Housing Association is putting on the event so each tournament will be put on by one of the members from SHA. McCorgary will be there along with another director to oversee the event and make sure everything runs smoothly.

The lock-in will run from 10 p.m. Friday, March 26 in the Fitness Center through 8 a.m. Saturday, March 27. Students have to show a valid ID to get into the free event. McCorgary is looking forward to the experiment and knows the students who came up with the idea of the lock-in are as well. “It was kind of funny because the SHA members wanted to have a lock-in, but they live here on campus anyways,” McCorgary said. “I thought ‘why not do that?’ I’m game.” Even though Cameron is not hosting or sponsoring the event the black and gold from students spirits shine right through.

Spielberg, Hanks deliver follow-up to ‘Band of Brothers’ By Chuck Barney MCT Campus With each passing day, more World War II veterans are dying, taking with them valuable shards of history. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks keep doing what they can to ensure that their valiant efforts burn brightly in our memories. The Hollywood heavyweights who famously joined forces on “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers” return to the combat zone once again as executive producers of HBO’s “The Pacific,” an awe-inspiring 10-part, $200 million miniseries that recalls America’s gruesome war against Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Unlike the masterful “Band of Brothers,” which followed a single company of Army paratroopers in the from Normandy into Germany, this Emmy-ready companion piece tracks the reallife journeys of three Marines — Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello) and John Basilone (Jon Seda) — as they fiercely battle the Japanese on a series of remote specks of turf they’d never heard

of: Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Okinawa. As the saga unfolds, their paths occasionally intersect, but each has his own story to tell. Leckie, a budding journalist, pens contemplative letters to a woman back home he barely knows. Sledge, the idealistic son of wealthy parents, is at first kept out of the war by a heart condition, but eventually finds himself trapped in an existence more hellish than he ever imagined. Basilone, a former boxer, commits a stunning act of bravery that turns him into an instant hero who is considered by his government to be more useful as a celebrity pitch man for war bonds on the home front than a fighter in the trenches. With this multipronged approach, “The Pacific,” at times, feels less cohesive than “Band of Brothers.” And though it is packed with high-caliber performances, this cast doesn’t quite match its predecessor — man for man — in terms of on-screen magnetism. One notable exception is Rami Malek, who as a brash, droopyeyed warrior nicknamed “Snafu” is a major scene-stealer. In other ways, however, “The

Pacific” trumps “Brothers.” The thunderous battle scenes, for example, might be the most harrowingly visceral ever put on film. They plunge us deep into a frenetic chaos of noise, blood, anxiety and human carnage until we’re practically gasping for breath. The film’s multiple directors seem determined not to spare our feelings, but intensify them. This is not a production for the squeamish. In that same vein, the filmmakers also pay meticulous, unflinching attention to the ghastly conditions imposed upon the troops by jungle warfare: Torrential rain, brutal heat, dysentery, malaria, rats, maggots and rotting corpses all around. The physical and mental toll is palpable and you can’t help but watch “The Pacific” without wondering how you might have fared if forced to endure such nightmarish misery in the name of freedom. Although the miniseries focuses on a conflict waged more than a half-century ago, it carries a chilling, modern-day resonance. The Japanese, after all, were similar to al-Qaida in the way they eschewed conventional warfare

and fought with a fanatical, selfsacrificial fervor that, at times, resorted to suicide bombings. Like a good novel, “The Pacific” tightens its grip on you with each chapter. Some of the most emotionally powerful moments come in Part 9, directed by Tim Van Patten (“The Sopranos”). It finds an exhausted Sledge and his comrades on Okinawa, where they cope with thorny moral dilemmas heightened by the presence of civilians. It’s one of the most beautifully crafted — and heartwrenching — hours of television

you’ll ever see. As its lofty production price tag suggests, “The Pacific” is bursting with epic sprawl and extravagance. But like any effective film of its kind, it also contains a brand of intimacy that will have you bonding with its characters and caring deeply about their fates. Spielberg, Hanks and company have once again managed to delve beyond the mythic layers of WWII to find a beating heart. Ultimately, that’s their greatest gift to the Greatest Generation.

MCT Campus

Soldier on: James Badge Dale, center, and Joshua Helman, right, in HBO’s 10-part series, ‘The Pacific.’

March 22, 2010

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‘Night Fires’ garners nomination By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff The whirlwind of success for Dr. Edward Stanley’s “Night Fires” continues after it was nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award by the Oklahoma Center for the Book. “Night Fires,” the latest book from Dr. Stanley, follows a young boy living in 1920s Lawton who loses his father. He finds a father figure in a next door neighbor who happens to be a leader in the Klu Klux Klan. The darker material is a departure for Dr. Stanley, who has traditionally written children’s books. “In the past, I’ve always written books that are fun to read,” he said. “They call that mass market, but it’s enjoyable for people to read. This one has a deeper meaning to it. Mass market books can have meanings as well, but this one especially has one.”

For Dr. Stanley, his Book Award would be such an nomination by the Oklahoma honor because of the family history and all that.” Center for the Book is the culmination of years of hard “Night Fires” has been one of Dr. Stanley’s most successful work. He helped start the Oklahoma Center for the Book. original titles. It was such a He’s never garnered a nomination departure from his normal in the past from the Oklahoma writing style that his editor Center for the Book, but said questioned whether he truly wanted to write it when he first it would certainly be an honor, especially proposed the with his idea. Dr. Stanley said the idea for history with the “Night Fires” organization, came from several years of and his family history in research he did for an almanac Lawton. “I’m from and discovered Texas, but the KKK’s presence in the Stanleys have been Lawton. “This was a all over East Oklahoma,” long time coming he said. “The together,” he very idea of said. “Mainly because my my receiving an Oklahoma Courtesy photo editor was a vice

president, but she just didn’t have the time to edit it. But there was this back and forth with her, because she was disturbed by the child having a fascination with the KKK.” Dr. Stanley said the writing process was back and forth over the course of the four to five years it took to complete the book. He said his editor wanted more comments from the child about how the KKK was bad, while Dr. Stanley wanted the child to sympathize with them more. He said the “tug of war” ultimately made the book a better story. “Through the whole writing process, she’s the mother and I’m the boy,” he said. “She keeps telling me how horrible it is, and I keep saying it’s not that horrible, and I can handle it. That’s what the book was all about.” Dr. Stanley doesn’t know whether he’s going to continue down the darker path. He said he’s not sure how many books he has left, but he’s sure he doesn’t want to write another book that takes five years to complete.

He’s begun work on a new series about a kid named “Smart Alec,” about an intelligent student in the third grade, which will return him to his roots, humorous children’s books. He has one on the backburner called “Aunt Bee, the Dirty Commies and Me,” which takes place during the Red Scare. “Those times get to be a bit dark because that destroyed lives and such,” he said. “It’s supposed to be humorous though.” For the moment, Dr. Stanley has his sights set on hopefully winning the children’s book entry of the Oklahoma Society of the Book. He said he’s competing against three friends of his in the same category. But, he’ll know for certain on April 17, when the winners are announced in Oklahoma City. “I’ve never been nominated for anything like this,” he said. “Usually, it’s the publishers that submit the book, but you can submit one yourself. The types of books I write I don’t look for awards. So this is definitely an exciting time. I just hope I win.”

8

Sports

March 22, 2010

Men’s Golf team eyes home course regionals By Amanda Phillips Collegian Staff Men’s golf season has officially begun and will soon take full swing as the Aggies’ schedule becomes cluttered with more tournaments in the next few weeks. Golf coach Jerry Hrnciar has high expectations for the men this year, and his thoroughly solid roster allows him to believe his expectations can become a reality. “This season we have more talent, experience and depth than we have ever had before. That may not have shown in the fall, but I expect the team to start out well and pick up momentum as the season progresses,” Hrnciar said. Hrnciar said the wealth of talent the team has pushes the players to keep their quality of play high. “I have always held that you are only as good as your sixth man. Only five men on the team can compete in each tournament, but everyone on the team wants to play, so the sixth man can really push everyone else,” Hrnciar said. “This year we have seven players that fit in that category, so it is keeping everyone on their toes.” Two of the players that make the men’s lineup so strong are Jason Timmis and Peter Svajlen. Timmis has twice been named an All-American at the junior college level and has made 12 consecutive All-Tournament teams. Svajlen also has impressive credentials, as he was named an All-American athlete in his 2007-2008 season at Cameron. The experience that Timmis and Svajlen bring to the team will be critical when the Aggies take on

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Power and precision: Senior Brett Leavell (left) hits an approach shot on the 18th hole at the Territory Country Club, Cameron’s home course. Senior Peter Svajlen chips out of the bunker onto the green on the Territory’s difficult ninth hole their toughest opponents. “Traditionally, St. Edwards, Abilene Christian, Northeastern State and UCO are our toughest competitors, and they are again this year,” Hrnciar said. However, Hrnciar is confident that his team has the talent to be a real threat to all of the challengers they will face in the region. “We ought to be in contention for every tournament in the spring,” Hrnciar said. “If we play well early and get good momentum going, it is very possible for the team to finish in the top 10 in the nation.” Hrnciar is so certain of his team’s abilities that he anticipates their handicap to be at zero. “All of the players are able to

shoot under par on any course,” Hrnciar said. The course Hrnciar is most looking forward to playing is Sagamore, which is a Jack Nicklaus signature course in Noblesville, IN. Sagamore is also the host of the 2010 Division II National Golf Championships. Cameron had the opportunity to play the course in the fall, but the team did not perform to their full potential, so Hrnciar would like to go back for a bit of redemption. “We played Sagamore in the fall; it’s a good course, but the weather we were faced with was so bad. We were battling 48 mph winds,” Hrnciar said. “I’m really anxious to get back there and put on a better

performance.” Of course, before the Aggies can compete in the National Championships, they must first play well in the Regional Championships. This year, the Regional Championships are going to be held at The Territory in Duncan, which Hrnciar said is good news. “Having the Regional Championships at The Territory definitely gives our team an advantage. However, we have to play well enough in the spring to earn a place at regionals,” Hrnciar said. Most of the tournaments the Cameron men will be playing in this year are in reasonable driving

distance from Cameron, which allows more Aggie fans to go out and support the team. Hrnciar said fan support can really help the players. “When we have supporters at our tournaments it helps get the players to focus more,” Hrnciar said. Overall, Hrnciar said it is important for the team to maintain good stability throughout the season. “My goal is for the team to have more positives than negatives. For example, I want the team to have more birdies than double bogies,” Hrnciar said. “I like to keep the ratio of positives to negatives three to one.”

‘Army’ to be relaunched By Michael Faggett Collegian Staff Fans of Cameron’s indoor sports can enjoy a competitive game, sounds of the Pick Axe Band and the Aggie cheerleaders tossing free goodies into the stands. This season, the Athletic Department added another element for fans enjoyment by starting a fan group called the “Aggie Army.” The program embodies a group of students willing to cheer their home team to victory. Athletic Director Jim Jackson said the Aggie Army encompasses two concepts. “We wanted to entice more students to get involved in the games and support our student athletes,” Jackson said. “We also wanted to do something for the students and add to the campus environment.” During the volleyball and basketball seasons, Cameron athletics made a push to get more students to attend games. Before each game, students were able to join the group by signing up at a designated table. Upon joining the Aggie Army, students received a free t-shirt and an entry into a raffle. If students continued to attend games, they earned free prizes: free drinks from the concession stand; pens; sunglasses and other prizes. Students also earned multiple entries for raffled prizes. Prizes included a Blu-Ray DVD player and a high-definition television. Jackson said the process initially brought in good results. “I thought at first it was very well received,” Jackson said. While the initial returns were solid, Jackson said overall, the program stagnated as time progressed.

“The results were not quite what I wanted because we saw the same students were coming, and a lot of students that showed up later in the season did not know anything about it,” Jackson said. In addition to seeing the same students at games, Jackson said publicity for the Aggie Army played a factor into the results. “I think we need to advertise better,” Jackson said. “I think we can do a better job of getting the word out and continuing to press the issue of publicizing it.” Publicity will begin next fall with the start of volleyball season. The department decided to run the Aggie Army during volleyball and basketball only because of limited personnel. “Cheerleading is getting ready for nationals, six of our sports are competing, cross country is running spring track, volleyball is in the offseason and basketball just started individual workouts,” Jackson said. “So, our manpower is limited.” Even though the Aggie Army will not continue during the spring sports schedule, Jackson said fans can anticipate fun events that promote Cameron sports during baseball and softball. Jackson also believes more students will join the Aggie Army once the volleyball team and basketball teams compete for Lone Star Conference playoff bids and conference championships. “You can market, you can sell and you can promote, but until you have that championship product, you really are beating your head against the wall,” Jackson said. “I think when our teams compete for a conference championship, I think you will see students fill their side of the gym.”

Sports

March 22, 2010

9

Lyons finds success at cleanup By Tori Strecker Collegian Staff As the 2010 Cameron Aggie baseball season swings into full force, it marks the beginning of the end for a member of the black and gold. Senior outfielder and Communications major Alex Lyons will walk across the stage this May, ending his collegiate baseball career. Lyons has been an Aggie athlete for the past two years, and he said he has enjoyed his time at CU. “I have had a great experience at Cameron,” Lyons said. “The professors here really go out of their way to accommodate students and provide help whenever needed.” In addition to Cameron’s academics, Lyons said he has also been very pleased with the athletic program. “We had the best season in Cameron history last year, and we are set up to better that mark this year,” Lyons said. “We also have a close group of players; I consider them and the coaching staff my family.” While Orem, Utah will always be home to Lyons, his college baseball career began in California where he attended both Taft Junior College and the University of San Francisco. Lyons decided to spend his last two years at Cameron thanks to a friend and fellow Aggie, Charlie Calamia. “I ended up at Cameron by word of mouth,” Lyons said. “I played in a Virginia summer league with Calamia, and he told me how much he loved attending Cameron. Then coach Holland called and offered me a scholarship, and the rest was history.” During his time at CU, Lyons has contributed to the team in a number of ways. He currently maintains a batting average of over .400 and was named the Lone Star

Conference Diamond Hitter of the Week a few weeks ago. Furthermore, Lyons has also earned a leadership status on the team. “I do not know if I would actually call myself a leader as much as some of the other guys would, but I do believe in setting good examples,” Lyons said. “Every time I step onto the field, I try to compete and hopefully that rubs off on others.” Lyons said he joined the Aggie family because he was eager to help build a winning program at the university and, even though this season has started out much like a rollercoaster, he feels that it is just another step in the right direction for CU. “We have had our ups and downs already this season,” Lyons said. “At times we have played great and at times we have struggled. As long as we can stay in the moment and always compete, we will be where we want to be at the end of the year.” According to Lyons, a lot is riding on this season, and there are some high expectations set by both him and the team as a whole. “Our team goals are to repeat as conference champions, win the conference tournament, and attend a regional,” Lyons said. “On the flip side of that, my personal goal is to contribute to the team goal in any way that I can by never quitting and always competing.” The Aggies have several games under their belt now and according to Lyons they are strong many areas. “We have good pitching, defense and hitting,” Lyons said. “I expect this season to be fun and full of more wins.” Upon graduation Lyons plans to continue his baseball career. If that doesn’t work out, he said he would like to attend graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Captain clutch: Senior Left Fielder Alex Lyons (top) drives a single into right field with the bases loaded in front of the home town fans. Senior Keith Powell (bottom) slides through home plate safely, driven in by Lyons clutch hit with runners in scoring position.

Softball team fueled by Freshmen By Tori Strecker Collegian Staff

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Stars in the making: Amanda Karth (top right), Leslie Martini (top left) and Drew Wright (bottom) all take their turns at bat.

The Cameron University softball team has seen a rollercoaster start to the 2010 season, but that has not stopped the newest Lady Aggies from stepping into the spotlight. This year’s recruiting class consists of five players: Amanda Karth; Leslie Martini; Jessica Orr; Drew Wright and Shelby Meadows, all of whom have landed a spot in head coach Beth Watson’s lineup. “We have a very talented group,” Watson said. “There are some growing pains though. They do make mistakes, but they do not ever make the same mistake twice, and that has been a very good thing for us.” Watson’s underclassmen have proven to be assets to the team in more than one way. Freshman Leslie Martini was named the LSC North Division Hitter of the Week a few weeks ago. Assistant coach Megan Young said she wasn’t surprised with Martini’s performance. “From the time Leslie got here, we knew she was going to be something special,” Young said. “It did not take long for her to prove how good she was, and I believe we will continue to see good things from her.” Martini, along with Wright, was also named to the Abilene Christian CBS Insurance Classic AllTournament team that same weekend. Fellow freshman Drew Wright has also worked hard for her spot on the team, and she said she feels lucky to be part of the athletic program at Cameron. “It is a great feeling to be amongst these athletes and know you are being picked to step up,” Wright said. “It shows that hard work really does pay off. It seems like the harder I work, the luckier I get, and the harder I work, the more I am asked to step up and then the more I succeed.” According to Watson, the biggest adjustment a freshman faces when transiting into collegiate softball is the different level of pitching. For freshman Amanda Karth, however, that adjustment came fairly easy. “Summer league softball is very close to college softball,” Karth said. “I have already seen the faster pitching speed, so the only thing I’ve had to adjust to so far has been more movement on the ball.” While Watson did spend a significant amount of

time recruiting these outstanding players, she claims that much of their talent was already instilled in them before coming to CU. “Recruiting is so much different now than it was even five years ago,” Watson said. “The freshmen that come in, provided they played on a quality summer team, have hundreds of games under their belt, so there are not too many situations they have not been in before. These athletes love the game, love to compete and love to win.” Watson also believes that Cameron has the resources to provide its students with a quality and memorable college experience, making it easy to sell the university to prospective Aggie athletes she said. “I feel like we can recruit kids here,” Watson said. “Cameron provides access to a great education, great facilities and great staffing. So when kids come in and make an immediate impact, it is a testament to all those things.” Watson and Young both agree that this particular group of freshmen is very unique in that they already have good softball sense. They know the game, verbally communicate well and lead my example, all of which are things that cannot be taught by a coach. “These players are young and the advantage to that is they do not know any better,” Young said. “Each day is new and they just go out there and play. It is just ball to them, and that really helps in the long run.” For Watson and the team as a whole, having this group of young athletes in the lineup is beneficial in a number of ways, she said. “All of these freshmen are self-motivated and hate to lose,” Watson said. “I feel like they know that this team can pull together and have a really good conference showing, and I think that is the best motivating factor for all my athletes.”

10

Variety

March 22, 2010

Review by Joshua Rouse When faced with insurmountable odds and certain death, would a quirky one-liner really be the last thing to come out of a hardened soldier’s mouth? “Battlefield: Bad Company” was the title that finally brought EA and DICE’s “Battlefield” franchise to the consoles with a respectable entry. The unprecedented destructibility, combined with DICE’s classic large-scale multiplayer was a potent combination. But the Swedish developer has never undertaken a single-player story campaign with any measurable success. “Bad Company” changed that with an over-the-top and insanely funny take on a potential American war with Russia, and the four screw-up soldiers of B Company that turn the tide. Can one really take a game seriously when it features an entire level centered on flying a “pimped” gold-plated attack helicopter with diamond-studded accents? When EA and DICE undertook a sequel to their console hit, they decided to take a more serious route, especially in the face of the success of Activision’s “Call of Duty” series, which moved into contemporary times with “Modern Warfare.” Some of the charm of the first game’s humor has been lost in “Bad Company 2.” Instead, it’s been replaced with a gung-ho dark heroic struggle against the Russians and their plan to detonate a weapon so dangerous that it could turn the tide of the war and destroy the United States. Obviously, the only soldiers that can stop this are the boys of B Company. The entire cast makes a return — Marlow, Haggard, Sweetwater and Sgt. Redford. After going AWOL and hunting mercenary gold in the first game, they’re back in the military and are fighting on the front lines of what appears to be World War III. The humorous banter is still sprinkled throughout the dialogue, but the atmosphere is decidedly more serious and darker. Often, the National Lampooninspired one-liners don’t mix with

the despair that’s presented in the game. “Bad Company 2” suffers from an identity crisis. It doesn’t know whether it wants to be a fun riff on war in the same vein as “Stripes,” or if it wants to be a hard-edged war epic similar to “Modern Warfare.” This holds the campaign back from being truly interesting. The story of B Company’s struggle to recover the weapon is pieced together through cut scenes and missions that take the player from snowy mountains to the jungles of South America to Middle Eastern deserts. What sets “Bad Company 2” apart from other contemporary shooter games is the use of overpowered vehicles. No matter what vehicle it is, almost anything in the game with wheels, treads, wings or blades can be commandeered in the name of peace, love and the United States. The mission areas are large enough to use the vehicles to their full potential. However, stray off an unmarked path and you’ll die quickly from some invisible killer. These boundaries are undefined and can often be mere footsteps away from a battleground. It can make some more intense battles harder by trying to stay within the bounds. Destructibility is the main selling point of the game, and DICE really brought their A-game with this sequel. The Frostbite engine has been improved, adding even more destructibility. While it’s not as impressive as “Red Faction Guerilla,” the brittle nature of the game environments is certainly a sight to behold. There’s nothing more satisfying in “Bad Company 2” than shelling a house with a large tank and watching the foundation crumble with Russian soldiers inside. After the single player campaign has been completed, usually within six to eight hours, gamers will discover the

multiplayer suite. DICE made its name by developing some of the best multiplayer shooter experiences on the PC. To date, “Bad Company 2” is the closest console gamers have come to experiencing those epic military battles. Up to 24 players can battle on 10 different maps. Each map is tailored for either infantry battle or vehicular combat. Players will have to adapt their game to the map they’re on, which can prove difficult when first starting the game. The game features an impressive amount of vehicles for multiplayer. Several versions of tanks, ATVs, jeeps and helicopters are available for players’ disposal and can really shake up the tide of any fight. There are four classes in the game: assault, engineer, recon and medic. Each one offers a different play style and strategy. Engineers can repair vehicles with his trusty repair tool and can even kill enemies with it if he gets close enough. A good engineer can change the course of the of battle by repairing vehicles and keeping them safe going into battle. Assault soldiers are the standard foot soldiers with rifles and explosives. They can also throw down ammunition supplies for other players on the battlefield. Medics lug around large light machine guns but can heal themselves and friendlies. Recon soldiers pick good spots around the map and snipe the enemy. DICE should have implemented a class limit, because most people opt for recon online, turning most games into huge spawn killing sessions with several snipers on each team caring more about kills, rather than the objectives. It all depends on the game type and the map, and some are worse than others, but it can be a detrimental experience if it continues for very long. The level of customization is expanded beyond any other

“Battlefield” game to date. Each class can be upgraded as the player gains more skill points while playing at that class. This leads to more powerful weapons, more ammunition and even perks. These perks are similar to “Modern Warfare” in that they can affect how much damage a weapon does, how much damage a vehicle can take, how far a motion sensor can detect, etc. It adds a new layer of strategy and encourages the player to switch between play styles. “Bad Company 2” certainly doesn’t reinvent the single player wheel. The campaign offers some fun laughs and some interesting encounters. There’s nothing more pleasing than blowing up a twostory house for the first time. But after a while, the destruction can lose its novelty, and you’re stuck with a by-the-books military shooter campaign with a throwaway story that contains some hilarious characters. Thankfully, DICE succeeded in improving its multiplayer suite in almost every regard. The customization options really breathe new life into the game and will keep players coming back long after they normally would. This is nothing new to “Battlefield” veterans who have seen it in “Battlefield 2” and “Battlefield 2142,” but it’s a great new addition for console gamers. Both main series game types, Rush and Conquest, return and give the multiplayer even more variety. New players might become discouraged initially by the high death and low kill totals, but the more you play, the better you’ll get. “Bad Company 2” offers one of the most complete multiplayer games on consoles to date with excellent gameplay that should offer something for everyone. Just don’t expect the campaign to stand on its own two feet. “Battlefield Bad Company 2” is rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and is available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Page Design by Monica Garner Graphics courtesy of MCT Campus