The Cameron University Collegian: December 9, 2013

Collegian T he Cameron University

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

INSIDE CU News

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Volume 89 Issue 11

student plays at JFK ceremony

Charlene Belew Student Life Editor

Cameron tree lighting brings people together.

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Sports

Men’s basketball heads out for two away games.

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Student Life

On Saturday, Nov. 16, Cameron University Music Junior and Kappa Kappa Psi President Joseph Kinsman attended the observation of the 50th anniversary of the funeral for President John F. Kennedy. Kinsman was invited to the Arlington National Cemetery to preform as a bugler in JFK’s ceremony. There were approximately 100 buglers at the event.

Kinsman said that on the morning of the ceremony, they sounded the bugle call numerous times: the first time in unison, the second time in a four-part harmonization and the third time at their preassigned areas throughout the cemetery. Kinsman was set to play his call at the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns.

“It was interesting for me in between calls to listen for the other buglers playing when it wasn’t the ones that were really close to me. I could hear ones that were over the hills and down in all kinds of directions. You could hear it coming from everywhere,” Kinsman said.

“It was kind of an eerie experience because it was overcast and dreary that day, so it really set a mood for it. It’s kind of like you were listening to the calls from all the funerals that have ever happened there.”

He explained the significance behind the bugle call. At President Kennedy’s funeral, Sergeant Keith Clark sounded the

Photo courtesy Dottie Kinsman

Sound the bugle: Music junior Joseph Kinsman plays at the Arlington National Cemetery. The 50th anniversary for JFK’s funeral was held on Saturday, Nov. 16, with Kinsman playing the bugle along with 99 others. call. At the end of the second phrase, he cracked a note. The country referred to this as the trumpet crying, and sentiment was attached. Kinsman was invited to the Arlington National Cemetery to honor not only President Kennedy, but to play in remembrance of this call.

“Playing in honor of President Kennedy, who was the second president to get assassinated, it’s a very special thing. It’s something that doesn’t happen all the time,” he said.

Kinsman started bugling five years ago. According to him, it was an event held in the Ft. Sill National Cemetery in 2008 that

started his music career with Taps for Veterans.

However, his love for music was a gene that he inherited from his family. His father, brother and sister all played musical instruments at some point in their lives.

His main reason for playing the trumpet is to recognize his father.

“It’s for my dad. He was a 20-year Army vet, and he was going to retire three months after he died,” he said. “It’s getting to play for him, remembering him as a man and as a solider with service to the country.

Also, for my brother who is serving in the Air Force at the moment. I’ve got military in my family on

both sides, but the ones I’m closest to are my dad and my brother, so I’m playing for them as much as anybody.”

He also recalled that there was someone farther away from home than expected for whom he played. Chin Sun Pac Wells, a 1995 Eisenhower graduate, was buried at Arlington after being killed in the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon.

“It was neat to know that I wasn’t just playing for family and soldiers in general, but also someone from right here at home,” he said.

Kinsman affirmed that bugling is something close

to his heart that he will continue to do for the rest of his life. He believes that all soldiers deserve to have a live bugler at their ceremony as opposed to a recording of someone playing the Taps call.

“It’s not something to build a career on, but it’s something I’m never going to stop doing,” he said.

“You’re talking about years of their lives spent in service to their country and being able to preform this call is giving them the salute that they deserve. Every call is unique, and it needs to be that way. They protect us every day; the least I can do to give them their final farewell.”

Graduating seniors to be commissioned Carson Stringham Copy Editor

Alpha Kappa Alpha holds Neophyte coming out show.

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A&E

SOCA presents their nativity scene.

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Cameron University’s ROTC will be holding its fall semester commissioning ceremony at 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the MCC’s McCasland Ballroom.

The Comanche Battalion will have five graduating seniors that will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the two reserve components of the Army: the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard.

Lt. Col. Zaccheus, Professor of Military Science and Chair of the Military Science Department, said the ceremony is one filled with pageantry and tradition, with the cadets having their gold bars pinned to their dress uniforms symbolizing their move from cadets to officers.

Zaccheus said he enjoys commissioning ceremonies because they devote an entire evening to celebrating the cadets and their achievements.

“You get to see all of the cadets in their formal dress uniforms, and they will be wearing the medals they have earned, so you can see the triumphs of all of their hard work,” he said.

Because the five commissioning cadets will be in reserve components, Zaccheus said he proud that they will not only be leaders in their new units but also in the civilian market as well.

Though the majority of people attending the ceremony will be the cadet corps and their families, Zaccheus said the event is actually open to anyone who wishes to attend. Tickets for general admission will be $20 per person. The evening will begin with a social hour, which will then be followed by a formal dinner and the ceremony itself.

Tickets are available for purchase in the ROTC Office in Burch Hall.

Photo by Kali Robinson

Direction: Coach Tabbert guides the volleyball team during practice. Tabbert stepped down from his coaching position at the end of the Fall 2013 season. He had been the coach at CU for three seasons.

Tabbert steps down from coaching position Kali Robinson Sports Editor

Cameron University Volleyball Coach Doug Tabbert resigned Monday, Nov. 18, at the conclusion of the Fall 2013 season.

“I think I can contribute to a program, so I’m just trying to find the place,” Tabbert said.

Coach Tabbert has been a part of the Cameron University Aggies’ coaching staff for three seasons. Along with the 7-23 record overall for the season (including 0-16 in the Lone Star Conference and 7-7 in non-conference games), Tabbert coached the ladies through a 10-22 overall record in 2012 and a 15-15 overall record in 2011.

“I certainly was not happy with our record,” Tabbert said.

“I certainly thought there were some reasons that contributed to that that were outside of my

control, unfortunately.”

Tabbert added that the injuries during the season were pretty devastating to the team’s situation, but said that it is part of the deal.

According to Athletic Director Jim Jackson, Cameron University is in the process of finding a coach for next semester.

“I hope to have somebody named by the start of classes in January,” Jackson said. “It’s 75% coaching 25% teaching in the P. E. department … Therefore, they have to have a Master’s degree.”

Jackson added that January was optimistic as the hiring process takes time.

“We’re going to take as long as we need to to find the right person.”

According to Jackson, the job is posted, and Cameron is currently collecting applications.

Jackson also said that it would be someone outside of the current staff.

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News

December 11, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Photos by Kaylee Jones

The Christmas tree is lit...

A season of remembrance:

PRIDE reminds CU not to forget Casey Brown Staff Writer

In 1998, Rita Hester was murdered for being different. Since then, people around the world take time each November to remember her and other victims of transgender violence.

CU PRIDE—People Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality— celebrated the 2013 Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) at 6:03 p.m. on Nov. 22 in the MCC in place of its regular meeting. Guest speaker Amy Merchant discussed TDOR and answered questions. Cameron students and members of Lawton/Ft. Sill PRIDE were also in attendance.

According to Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, an organization that amplifies the voice of the LGBT community, “[TDOR] is an annual observance on Nov. 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.”

Merchant opened the discussion by sharing some of her background and by defining terms.

“So, let’s talk about gender,” Merchant said, “We are taking social constructs of gender, and we are breaking them down to the very simplest idea that society has told us.”

According to Merchant, transgender has a specific definition.

She also discussed the difference between “transgender,” “transgendered” and “transsexual.” She said “transgender” is the most acceptable because “transgendered” is a grammatical misconception, and “transsexual” is an antiquated term. However, individuals may identify as they see fit. She made it clear that she was speaking as an ally and not for the transgender community.

“So what is ‘trans’?” Merchant said. “The prefix ‘trans’ means to cross. When you are talking about that, you are talking about crossing whatever comes after it. So when you are talking about transgender, you’re talking about crossing over gender roles.”

Merchant provided audience members with examples of such constructed roles. She had guests consider the concepts of a boy, a male and masculinity.

“I used those three because they are all very different. When we start to critically examine gender and identity we start to realize that there are infinite possibilities. And how every person identifies is unique to them.”

Merchant said TDOR is important because it is a time to remember the people who are deeply affected by transphobia.

“The most important thing to me about TDOR is for some of the people that passed away, they don’t ever get their due at a funeral,” Merchant said “They don’t ever get the recognition of their life, so I’m hoping by talking about the fact that they’ve

Photos by Kaylee Jones

CU honors every student, every story...

Kaylee Jones

The season of giving is under way at Cameron University.

Student-led organizations such as Psi Chi and the International Club have organized fundraising events for Lauretta Ekeh, an International graduate student who suffers from Lymphangioma.

Ekeh is scheduled to undergo surgery on Dec. 19 at the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock, Arkansas to help to correct her condition.

Lymphangioma causes malfunctions to the lymphatic system, which in Ekeh’s case, has resulted in severe growths on her face.

Dr. James Suen, a surgeon and the chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, has offered to perform

Assistant Managing Editor

the surgery as a donation; however, Ekeh and her family will still be responsible for providing $20,000 out-of-pocket before Dec. 18.

As a result, the Cameron community has stepped up to help Ekeh to achieve her financial goal.

On Nov. 20, CU’s International Club held a Thanksgiving lunch at the Shepler Cafeteria and donated the proceeds to Ekeh.

Psi Chi held a bake sale for Ekeh on Nov. 25 and 26.

“It went really well,” Jacob Jardel, a graduate student studying Behavioral Sciences alongside Ekeh, said. “Overall, we raised $307 in donations, all of which went to Lauretta’s Arvest Cares account.”

Volunteers organized a Silent

passed away, we are at least validating their existence.”

Merchant read two stories from members of the transgender community, with permission. Both had been affected by antitransgender violence.

Freshmen Sociology and Psychology major Matt Buck said he was glad he decided to attend the event. Celebrating TDOR with PRIDE was important to him because it opened his eyes to a need in the LGBTQ community.

“Like a lot of people here, I am in the LGBT area, and I don’t know as much. I didn’t know as much about the transgender community as I should have being a member of the LGBT community.”

Moving forward, Buck and others in attendance will strive to be better allies to members of the transgender community.

“Hopefully [I learned tonight] how to be a better ally,” Buck said, “within that subset of our community. Ultimately [I want to be] a better ally, to be a better friend, and to be a better advocate in the long run.”

Auction from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 3.

The official tally for the total that was raised as a result of the auction was $1800 with an extra $300 in donations from non-bidding individuals and those who donated above their bidding price.

Marty McCoy, an administrative assistant in the Office of Public Affairs, said that most of the items had been donated by local businesses.

“Without community support, this doesn’t happen,” McCoy said. “That’s been the biggest outpouring of care in our community, is just to see this for Lauretta.”

Donations to Ekeh can be made at any Arvest located in Lawton, as well as at a gofundme site set up for Ekeh.

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News

December 11, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

A dynamic duo: Hackler Awards 2013 Kaylee Jones

Assistant Managing Editor

Two Cameron University professors have added their names to the prestigious honor roll plaque for the Harold and Elizabeth Hackler Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. Jenel Cavazos, assistant professor of psychology, and Monika Linehan, associate professor of art, are the 2013 recipients of the award. Originally created in 1996, the Hackler award recognizes CU faculty for “outstanding contributions” to the lives of Cameron students.

Recipients must be regular full-time faculty members for three years, hold an appointment as an assistant professor or higher, and they must be nominated by faculty or students.

Having joined Cameron faculty in 2010, Cavazos said she was surprised to hear she would be receiving the award.

“I’d heard about the award since I started working at Cameron, but I always assumed it went to teachers who were more established in their careers,” Cavazos wrote after receiving the award. “It was [and is] such an amazing honor, and I’m so thankful for it.”

Linehan also conveyed surprise after hearing the news.

“It definitely was not something I expected, given the number of excellent teachers at Cameron. I was deeply moved that my students

Courtesy of CU Public Affairs

Better to give than to receive: Dr. Jenel Cavazos and Professor Monika Linehan display their Harold and Elizabeth Hackler Teaching Excellence Award. and chair thought highly enough of me to nominate me for this prestigious award.”

CU alumna Blagica Ristovska nominated Linehan for the award, writing that Linehan pushes her students not to settle for the average in their art.

Linehan explained her experiences in the work force are what encourage her to demand nothing less than excellent work from her students.

“Before coming to Cameron, I had a long

and successful career in my chosen field of art as a graphic designer for an international firm,” Linehan wrote. “There is no room for ‘average’ in any area of art. Therefore, if I want my students to succeed, it is my duty to push them to go beyond average.”

Nominated by senior Communication major Hannah Smart, Cavazos said she was moved to read Smart’s recommendation regarding Cavazos’ willingness to make herself available to CU students.

“I was very touched to read what [Smart] wrote and to know that my teaching made a difference in her life,” Cavazos wrote. “That’s why we do what we do, after all.”

Cavazos said having a 12-year-old daughter helps her to remember to relate to her students.

“I think a lot of professors sort of get comfortable doing what they’ve been doing for a long time, and they forget to take into consideration that the world around our students is changing,” Cavazos wrote. “I try to meet the students where they are now. I keep very current with technology.”

Regarding her own teaching methods, Linehan wrote: “A professor first and foremost must get to know and treat students as individuals with unique strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. Only by showing genuine interest in students as individuals can a professor challenge, guide and nurture students.”

Both Cavazos and Linehan will receive a stipend and grant, through the Hackler endowment, to use for teaching materials and curriculum development.

“My hope is to use the grant in a way that will benefit the largest number of students possible,” Linehan wrote.

Cavazos and Linehan officially received their awards on Nov. 14 at a reception on Cameron’s Duncan campus.

Aggie Club beefs up local cattle knowledge: The Agriculture Department and the Aggie Club held the 26th Annual Beef Cattle Improvement Conference at 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the MCC McCasland ballroom.

This year’s theme was “Examining Market Strategies for Beef Production.”

Members of the Aggie Club welcomed guests, signed visitors up for a raffle and sold t-shirts. Later, those in attendance enjoyed a free bar-be-que dinner and listened to three guest speakers.

President John McArthur opened the event with remarks emphasizing the importance of the Beef Cattle Improvement Conference.

“The Agriculture Department puts the culture in agriculture,”

said McArthur.

Despite the cold and snowy weather, the MCC ballroom was packed with wranglers, ropers and cowboy hats.

“We certainly thank you,” McArthur said, “the industry partners and speakers, you know you rate because we saw the weather forecast, and people are still here.”

McArthur thanked the department for all that they do throughout the year.

“The Aggie Club holds a variety of events,” McArthur said. “So many of our students have no idea what you do on a daily basis. Those eating events let them know where the food comes from. It connects those students with the producers.

It is also an introduction to the culture part of agriculture, so they can see the individuals, the family lines, the commitment to southwest Oklahoma that make us a great state.”

McArthur thanked the faculty – Dr. Leon Fischer especially.

Three guest speakers presented the audience with ways to add value to cattle herds.

First, Danny Jones, the President of Superior Livestock Auction, spoke about “Video Marketing’s Place in the Cattle Industry.”

Next Gant Mourer, Beef Value Enhancement Specialist from Oklahoma State University, spoke about adding value to cattle herds.

Finally, Kurtis Ward, Vice

President and General Counsel of the National Livestock Credit Corporation, spoke about future and stock options for cattle producers.

The event focused on the community that surrounds agriculture and cattle production, particularly in southwest Oklahoma.

After the event, Fischer spoke of some of the challenges and benefits of being a cattle producer.

Fischer said the greatest challenge facing cattle producers in this area is the ongoing drought.

“The drought is not over,” Fischer said, “Myself personally, I’m a cattleman, and I do not have a stock pond that does not have water in it still. Every one of my stock

Casey Brown Staff Writer

ponds in my pastures is still dry.”

Cattle producers also face uncertainty in the market, unpredictable government action and legislation, health scares, media influence and market crashes, Fischer said.

Despite these hardships, there is a flourishing cattle industry in Oklahoma and a large community behind the lifestyle.

“There is a close brotherhood or sisterhood,” Fischer said. “It’s not just a male business. There are a lot of men and women both in the cattle production industry.”

Fischer said the community exists because multiple people work together.

“They are always willing to help one another,” Fischer said.

CETES offers CU a more sociable way of working Tyler Boydston Managing Editor

Cameron University’s Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Sciences (CETES) has recently added coworking spaces to their facilities.

Co-working spaces offer people a chance to work with others in a social environment while having internet access and the opportunity to work on projects.

Arun Tilak, Director for CETES, said the reason behind CETES’s addition of the spaces is based on the popularity of the idea across the world.

“Co-working spaces have become extremely popular in the U.S. and overseas. Basically as the world is becoming digital, you have the ability to telecommute and work where you are,” Tilak said. “All over the world we have people who are sitting in their bedrooms in their pajamas and working. After a while it kind of gets lonely working in that little cocoon. Yes, you can communicate with everyone else in the world, but I think human beings were created to interact with other people.”

According to Tilak, the co-working spaces allow those who would usually work in isolation to get out and work around others.

“A co-working space is where people who are working on different projects come out and get the facilities and internet connection, coffee, social environment to work in with similar people and similar-minded people or people working on projects where there are good chances of something collaborative,” Tilak said.

In addition to the co-working space provided by CETES, the building is also offering use of private offices and conference rooms.

“Besides just a table to work at, if they want to have a conference, if they want to have a meeting, we have conference space available,” Tilak said. “We have great technology, which a small business or individual may find difficult to have access to. Can we, in Lawton, provide a hub, a nucleus for economic development, creating new companies and creating new products?”

According to Tilak, the idea has been in place for a few

months, and the costs of providing services for co-working proved the idea would work.

“We’ve been talking about it for about six months to a year,” Tilak said. “Is CETES a good place to do it? Does Lawton need it? But for the marginal cost that we have, there is very little downside. There is only an upside as I see it.”

There is a cost to using the co-working space and other facilities in the CETES building. The open space is $5 a day or $20 a week for one person, while the private office’s use is $15 for half of a day, and $75 weekly. The use of the conference room costs $20 for half of a day for room 206 and $25 for the same amount of time for room 207.

Tilak said CETES is also planning an event for next month with the Global Game Jam, an international event that gives participants 48 hours to create a game.

“In the past, some games created at other locations have gone on to become commercial successes,” Tilak said. “It could be a card game, a board game or any type of game.”

For more information on CETES’s co-working spaces and upcoming events, contact 580-581-5447.

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Voices

December 11, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Student apathy breeds empty seats

Jack McGuire Content Editor

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Staff

Managing Editor - Tyler Boydston Asst. Managing Editor - Kaylee Jones Student Life Editor - Charlene Belew A&E Editor - Sadie Jones Sports Editor - Kali Robinson Copy Editors - Kaitlyn Stockton, Carson Stringham Aggie Central Editor- Jack McGuire Archivist - Jack McGuire

Newsroom Staff

Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Sarah Autry, Sarah Brewer, Casey Brown, Jacob Jardel, James Meeks, Holden Rowe Circulation Manager - Sarah Brewer Advertising Manager - Kaylee Jones, Charlene Belew

Newswriting Students

Maurice Buckner, Kaleb Castillo, Nicole Clobes, Ekanem Ekpenyong, Mikaela Greene, Nicole Hartvigsen, Trevon Herbert, Krista Hubbard, Charles Johnson, Jennifers Landers, Chase Mallow, Lora Miller, Christina Nalsem, Misty Neal, Kaley Patterson, Peyton Presgrove, Hannah Smart, Haley Swinford, Jonathan Tuckwell

Faculty Adviser

Mr. David Bublitz

About Us

The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution The first issue is provided free of charge. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.

I recently went to the Cameron Classic in Aggie Gym. The two-day event pitted the men’s basketball team against Oklahoma Panhandle State on day one and the University of Texas-Permian Basin on day two.

As I watched each game I noticed the same three things: First, this is a great crowd turnout to start the season; second, why are there still so many seats still empty? And finally, why are the fans not cheering and getting more into the game?

Over the last decade, winning seldom happened in Aggie Gym. The basketball teams each averaged a losing season since 2003. Given that statistic, I understand why students and fans may not have wanted to come to a game. Then again, I feel that fans and students should be rallying around the school given that Cameron is Lawton’s university.

Over the previous three seasons I have noticed a pattern for attendance at basketball games. To start the season, attendance is average or even slightly below average. As the season continues, attendance grows or shrinks based on how the team is doing. The fan action is not fair to the teams.

Going into a season, fans need to pack the gym for these teams.

Fans attend in order to celebrate the teams and the possible achievements they can bring to the university. As the seasons for each team progress, attendance should remain the same if the team wins or decrease if the team is not doing well.

The woman’s basketball team is following a mere five-win season.

In the opening home game of this season, attendance was 421 people.

The Aggies managed to break a scoring record in the game. The atmosphere was impressive for such few people, but a sell out crowd would have drawn more and more fans for future games.

The men’s basketball team went

Our Views

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

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

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

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

undefeated at home from Jan. 25, 2012 through Nov. 8, 2013. They also came off their first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. Point guard Craig Foster returns as an AllAmerican and reigning Lone Star Conference (LSC) Player of the Year.

The Lawton native now carries the title as National Preseason player of the Year. CU has the opportunity to crack the nation’s Top 25. So why is Aggie Gym not packed and rocking?

CU averaged around 1,100 fans per men’s basketball game. Aggie Gym fits about 1,700 people comfortably.

Where are those other 600 attendees?

What people may not realize is a loud, supportive crowd can lift the home team and frustrate visiting teams. The best example I have is Feb. 20, 2013 when the Aggies hosted Tarleton State University. There were

1,200 fans in attendance, but the crowd did not get into the game until the last 30 seconds. A Tarleton State Player missed a free throw because the crowd became deafening loud.

This led to Cameron getting a look at the eventual game winning threepointer. This example leads me to also asking why do fans not constantly cheer throughout the game?

As I stare into the crowd I see people not giving the game any attention or texting. It’s as if the game is just a place to socialize and there just so happens to be a game being played.

I understand that students have work, school, families and social lives; however, I also believe students should show support for the universitywhere they earned their degree. There are many ways to do so, but one of the simpler and

more entertaining is by cheering on the Black and Gold to victory after victory.

I would like to challenge fans of basketball and Cameron University to attend more games for the men and women, to cheer and be loud from opening tip-off to the final buzzer.

Make Aggie Gym the most difficult place to play in the LSC. Make visiting teams nervous to come play in Lawton.

I don’t believe it is fair to the players or coaches who are trying to make both the university and the city nationally known. Last season no longer matters. A new season is here, and fans need to support the early success of the teams. They must continue to root and cheer for these teams because they are trying to make Cameron a school to be reckoned with.

Fandom: A love that corrupts common sense

Letters Policy

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

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

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

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

Photo by Jack McGuire

Jacob Jardel Staff Writer

In the last year, the connecting thread of everything I have done, learned or encountered has been fandom.

The word “fandom,” by way of transitive property, comes from the word

“fanatic.” Right-clicking “fanatic” in Word and looking at synonyms gives some interesting perspective: “Extremist,” “revolutionary” and “militant.”

Because of these synonyms, there’s a conception some people harbor of fandom as a blind rabid loyalty toward the object of adoration.

We see this sort of celebrity jingoism in pop culture news when, for example, fans defend celebrities like Chris Brown and Justin Bieber after those celebrities make poor choices (to put it lightly).

But if there is one thing I have learned in this last year, it is this: fandom is an interesting and multifaceted thing.

Yes, there are and will

always be those fans whose love for their idols and items outweighs their own common sense. That fact is unavoidable. But for every one of those fans, there are two or three of us who know that common decency is an important thing.

That said, we are all still fanboys and fangirls at heart.

We listen to songs to the point of nausea. We explicate 20-second trailers for shows on hiatus. We nerd out any and every moment we can.

YouTuber and author John Green said it best when referencing his joy before watching the last Harry Potter movie in theatres: “Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-

chair-can’t-control-yourself love it.”

When you think about it, there is a good connection between fans and nerds. Both words describe someone who puts in ridiculous amounts of time and effort into something he or she enjoys and continues to enjoy.

In essence, fans are nerds in the best sense of the word.

In the past, “nerd,” like “fanboy” or “fangirl,” was used derisively. But, as Green continued, “When people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘You like stuff.’ Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, ‘You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness.’”

Over time, thinking like Green’s has turned around popular opinions of nerds

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

and their traits. However, the opinions of fans and fandom are still nebulous.

One thing to remember, though, is that fans are, at heart, nerds in various forms of expression. Some attend every concert imaginable.

Some buy special editions of every iteration of a series.

Some own almost a hundred t-shirts that express his fandom for various things.

More importantly, fans look out for other fans as much as they do the objects of adoration. In short, fandom is family; and that was the most important fact I learned this year. Throughout my experiences in fandom over the last year, nothing has been more resonant to me than what can happen when fans get together.

I’ve seen collections of Nerdfighters freak out during John and Hank Green’s live show in Carnegie Hall. I’ve felt the rampant zeal of Whovians upon watching Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special.

Most importantly, I’ve witnessed how fans come to each other’s sides in times of trouble—regardless of whether that trouble is fandom-wide or personal.

Subject matter mattered not; if one of us needed help, we made sure that one was never alone.

In good and in bad, as a fan, you are never alone.

There is always someone there to help you experience the miracles of human consciousness as well as the lows of human existence. As long as you share that fandom connection, there will always be another person to share that experience.

After all, fandom is family.

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Sports

December 9, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Aggies play away Kali Robinson Sports Editor

TULSA, Okla. – Despite their early lead, the Cameron University Men’s Basketball team fell to Oral Roberts 64-74 at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 in Tulsa.

This exibition game for the Aggies counted. CU used every player on their bench. Will Cook, Desmond Henry and Charles Joy led the way with 10 points each.

CU trailed after making the first basket of the night. CU ended half time 22-38 to Oral Roberts. The second half was a different story for the Aggies and they racked up 45 points on the Golden Eagles and outscored them by six. Cameron got within nine points with seven minutes remaining after a Trevor Smith bucket.

The Aggies shot the ball at 38.7% from field and got outrebounded by ORU 47 to 37; Joy led CU with nine boards and Tank Mayberry added eight.

Oral Roberts had four players in double-figures with Shawn Glover leading the Golden Eagles with 15 points.

Cameron will travel on Wednesday to Missouri State for another Division I exhibition game at 7 pm in Springfield, MO.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Cameron fell 57-81 to Missouri State at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in Springfield, Mo despite ten points scored by Craig Foster and by Sean McGary.

This was CU’s second Division I exhibition game in a row and fourth game in the past six days; for Missouri State (7-1) the game counted on their schedule and it was their sixth win at home in a row.

The Aggies stayed close with the Bears early and tied the game at eight with 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Cameron continued to stay within single digits for the majority of the rest of the half until MSU opened up a 16 point lead (40-24) at the half.

McGary came through for Cameron in the second half and accounted for nearly one third of their points with 10. However turnovers and poor shooting at the charity stripe hurt the Ags down the stretch; MSU widened the point margin to get their 600th program win.

Despite losing the turnover battle by eight to Missouri State, the Aggies out-rebounded the Bears 37 to 34. Desmond Henry would lead CU with eight boards.

As a group Cameron shot the ball at 37.3% from the field and 54.2% from the line.

The Aggies are scheduled to play on Saturday, Dec. 7 at home against Oklahoma Christian with a 3 pm tipoff.

Photo courtesy of Brandon Neris

Photo Courtesy of Lonestar Conference

Leading the pack: Head Men’s Basketball Coach Nate Gamet instructs his team during an away game. The Aggie men currently hold a 3-4 record this season.

Photo courtesy of Brandon Neris

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6

Student Life

December 11, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Photo by Sadie Jones

Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrates sisters in style Kaitlyn Stockton Copy Editor

On Nov. 22, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority hosted its Neophyte Coming Out Show at 6:08 p.m. in the Shepler Ballroom. The evening allowed the newest members of the sorority to ceremoniously reveal their transformations from initiates into official sisters.

According to Ifeoluwa Egbeyemi – the president of the Xi Iota chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority – a neophyte refers to a new member joining a sorority.

The sorority has not held an

event similar to this in years.

Egbeyemi, herself, did not receive such an opportunity when she joined and thought it was time to celebrate her new sisters in style.

“We had a coming out show to reveal all our new members to the Cameron University community,” she said. “The event was just about greeting other divine nine fraternities and sororities and also greeting the chapter members that were present.”

The show started by having the five neophytes sing and march from South Shepler into the Shepler Ballroom.

All dolled up in pink, the

new members wore masks while they greeted fellow CU students, members of the sororities and fraternities on campus and alumna Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters. The five new sisters then performed a dance for the audience until it was time for their reveals.

“It was amazing the first time they took off their masks during the show because now they were able to reveal themselves as sorority members to their friends and their families,” she said.

Senior Jamie Hatcher – a new member of Alpha Kappa Alpha – said she enjoyed the opportunity to remove her

mask in order for her family and friends to see her after her initiation and transformation.

“I felt like a new person,” Hatcher said. “I felt like someone new, someone better.”

While the show required hours of time and effort for the five new girls, Hatcher said it was all worth it to join her sisters.

“There were times in the rehearsals where it got stressful, but it was all worth it. I can’t wait to see what Alpha Kappa Alpha has next,” Hatcher said.

After the performance, the women posed for pictures

and took part in the after party – the Ivy Takeover. In both events, the five neophytes joined their sisters as official members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Egbeyemi said she recommends for women to consider joining the sorority. Besides offering students opportunities for extracurricular activities and more, the sorority’s members focus on the importance of education.

“Every intelligent and goal oriented female student of Cameron University should be interested and excited about joining the sorority because

we put academics first which is what we all, as students, are here for.”

While its members prides themselves on their dedication to their studies, their sisterhood promotes participating in community projects in order to provide service to man and womankind.

“Our interest in college life and building amazing relationships between college women, in alleviating problems concerning young girls and in being of service to all people makes us different from other organizations on campus,” Egbeyemi said.

Pride holds drive to honor World AIDS Day Charlene Belew Student Life Editor

The Ebony Society and Pride banded together at the beginning of November to give back to the community with a fundraiser for people affected by AIDs/HIV. The fundraiser ended on Dec. 3.

To kick-start the fundraiser, the Ebony Society designed flyers as well as donation boxes to spread throughout the campus. The two organizations took donations for clothing, toiletry items, cleaning supplies, office supplies and fast food gift cards to give to the local Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAAIN) office.

Jennifer Castricone, third year Pride adviser and Admissions Coordinator, said it was important to keep a wide array of donations possible considering that the RAAIN office serves a wide array of people, from teenagers to senior citizens.

According to Castricone, this is the second year that the Pride organization has held the fundraiser in honor of World Aids day, which falls on Dec. 1.

“We wanted to do something to benefit our local community,” she said. “They traditionally hold a candlelight vigil on World AIDS day, which is lovely, but we do a candlelight vigil already in the fall for National Coming Out Day and Matthew Shepard Day. We wanted to do something more productive.”

Castricone explained the idea is to give back to the local RAAIN office due to their support and eagerness to be involved with Cameron Pride.

“I wanted to give that support back, and this felt like the right way to do that,” she said. “Many of the people affected

by AIDs and HIV obviously are a part of the LGBTQ community, and we also wanted to keep it local if we could.

There are lots of national organizations that we could donate to or have fundraisers for, but this is better. It’s local. It’s

What would you do?

James Meeks

Zombie’s greatest hits.

If the students choose to not perform the task they What would you do for a drew, then they could not Klondike Bar? This question receive the Klondike bar. was put to the test at noon on Many students came to Nov. 26 in the MCC where students performed tasks for perform these tasks for the chance to have an ice cream the famous ice cream bar. bar with their lunch. As some The event was held by students walked in the MCC the Programming Activities to find their peers performing Council and was the brain such tasks, curiosity got the child of PAC members better of them, and they Annette Kirk and Christi partook in the activity as Greenaway. well.

“We wanted something One such curious student simple and funny to do was Royal Johnson, a since people are just passing sophomore Graphic Design through during lunch,” Kirk major. said.

When students approach the desk for a Klondike Bar, Kirk and Greenaway had them draw from a bowl for a task the student had to perform for the ice cream bar.

“Some of the tasks include rub noses with three different people, yodel, bark like a dog, something embarrassing or funny,” Kirk said.

If the student completed or attempted to perform the task, they would win the ice cream bar or have the choice to receive a mystery prize.

Some of the mystery prizes included calendars, gift cards, sodas and even a CD of Rob

Staff Writer

Photo by Sadie Jones

Psi Chi shows poker face Sadie Jones A&E Editor

Cameron University’s Psi Chi and Psychology Club joined together at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 to celebrate the fall season with fun and games at Psi Chi’s Casino Night in the Science Complex.

Co-chair of CU’s Activity and Service Committee for Psi Chi and Psychology Club Rebecca Selstad said the event was designed to attract students—even those not involved in either organization.

“Psi Chi is the National Psychology Honors Society, so for students to be a member they must be a Psychology major and meet a certain standard,” Selstad said. “However, the Psychology Club is open to anyone who is interested. Anyone is able to join.”

On Monday, Nov. 18, Psi Chi began their Turkey Hunt where members gave away raffle tickets to students who were to bring the tickets to Casino Night for a chance to win a prize.

Students could attend Casino Night at no cost; however, there was a donation jar available for those wishing to donate money to help fund CU Lauretta Ekeh’s surgery (see Page 2).

home. They are thrilled every year when we bring them donations.”

Castricone believes it is important for the Cameron community to understand the impact of AIDs/HIV and hopes this fundraiser will spread awareness.

“Judging by social media [on Dec. 1], a lot of people have grown complacent about AIDs and HIV,” Castricone said.

“A lot of kids in this generation are not as aware of what happened in the late ’80s, early ’70s when the AIDs crisis hit in the United States and how devastating it was. People have become complacent, so raising awareness not only through this donation drive but also through National Condom Day [is a way] to advocate for safe sex.”

Upcoming events for Pride in the spring semester include National Condom Day on Feb. 14, the Harvey Milk March for Hope and a Rainbow Ball to be co-hosted with Lawton/ Ft. Sill PRIDE in April.

Students and faculty looking for more information on

Students filed into the Science Complex for Casino Night and chose from a variety of games including Poker, Spoons and Uno. Prizes were given away to the winners of the games.

“The event is designed to just be a hangout time for students,” Selstad said. “It’s just a time where students can come play games and win prizes too.”

Casino Night gave students the opportunity to laugh, compete with each other, eat and have a good time before finals week.

Both organizations provided pizza, drinks and other snacks for those who attended.

Music kept everyone energized and upbeat as it blasted throughout the room.

Psychology Club President Lauren Mounts spent her time throughout the evening making sure everyone was having a good time.

Mounts was pleased with the first Psi Chi and Psychology Club’s Casino Night event.

“I am very pleased with the turnout and participation from students,” Mounts said.

“There are several people who I know but also students that I don’t know, and I’m glad they are getting involved. The turnout is great—all the pizza is gone and all of the tables are full.”

“I was wondering was going here, so I went to the table to check it out,” Johnson said.

When Johnson approached the table, he drew the task to make an impression of someone. He chose to do an impression of Student Activities Specialist Megan Canfield, which Canfield herself stated was ‘spot on.’

After Johnson completed the task, he chose the Klondike bar as his prize.

For more information on upcoming PAC activities visit cameron.edu/pac.

7

A&E

December 11, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Tribe lineage displayed in national museum Kaitlyn Stockton

nobody will do again.”

The artist is known for her unique granite pieces. Besides her signature work, her other pieces consist of paintings, sculptures, weavings and more.

While she uses an array of mediums for her creations, Tuck-Davis connected her pieces with one special thread.

“I take ancient images found on pottery, breastplates, gorgets and other items recovered in tribal burial mounds and transform them,” she said. “All of my images are based off of imagery from the 1200s to the 1400s. I just

wanted to know what my tribe did, where we came from and wanted to pass on that information.”

Tuck-Davis said inspiration for her pieces came from her visits to various shows.

She was surprised to see her tribe portrayed in inaccurate representations and knew she had to change the way the public saw them.

“I went to an Indian market one time. I saw all teepees,” she said. “We are Southeastern Indians, and we did not live in teepees. I didn’t understand why members of my tribe were

painting teepees. I thought, ‘Why are you painting this when it’s not who we were?’ I didn’t get it.”

To counteract these stereotypes, Tuck-Davis began to research her lineage and past ancestors. Her journey to selfdiscovery lead her to find her calling in the world of art.

“I wanted to know what was my tribe and what we really did. I wanted to know the historical and factual information, so I went back. I put my spin on it and my touch.

I started making Chickasaw art B.C.: Before Casinos. Once the casinos came in, everyone tried jumping in on the bandwagon.”

To counter these portrayals, the artist incorporated symbols and spirits cherished by her tribe into her masterpieces.

Tuck-Davis said she does not see herself as a great artist by technical standards; however, her imagination and drive allow her to create awardwinning, intricate and delicate pieces.

“True art is innovative, out-of-the-box thinking. That’s what artists do.

of how the Son of God came into the world.

A&E Editor “The purpose of our Students of Caribbean production is to celebrate the Alliance (SOCA) greeted the birth of Jesus Christ,” Morton Christmas season with their said. “The play consists of production of “God Be With SOCA members as well as Us - A Nativity Scene.” The volunteers who aren’t part of play began at 7:15 p.m. Dec.1 in the organization.” the MCC Ballroom.

The narrator provided the Cameron University background to the setting of students, faculty, staff and the production and informed members of the community the audience of what was Photo by Sadie Jones were invited to join SOCA taking place. The actors in the acknowledgment and portrayed the message through celebration of Christ’s birth.

Nativity scene: CU students Chaira (left) and Garfield dance, song and poetry.

Guests enjoyed refreshments The evening began as the (right) play the role of Mary and Joseph for the production. provided by SOCA as they narrator spoke to the audience students,” said Datricia Morton is to help students with the found their seats. about the power and grandeur – a Senior Business major and transition of being away from “SOCA is a CU student of God and how He sent his SOCA member who played home.” organization that is open to son to be born — not among “God Be With Us - A everyone – however, the group the role of the innkeeper. “The the wealthy and powerful like purpose of the organization Nativity Scene” told the story mainly consists of Caribbean one would expect of a king—

but among the “forgotten, the overlooked and the poorest.”

The first scene showed Mary as she received the news from Gabriel — an angle sent by the Lord — that she would bear a child. Mary, who was a virgin, was astonished by the news. Frightened, she set out to tell her fiancé Joseph.

As Joseph and Mary both struggled with the news, a second angel appeared to comfort them.

King Caesar then took the stage and stated he wished to count every person in the country and forced citizens to return to their hometown.

This began Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

Once they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph

searched for a place to stay. The innkeeper said there was no room for them in the inn, but allowed them to stay in a stable out back. Jesus was born in the stable that night and placed in a manger.

CU student, Chaira, playing the role of Mary, sang “The First Noel” A cappella.

After her solo, children and members of SOCA entered as shepherds. Cast member Karin, who played one of the shepherds, performed on the violin.

After the violin solo, members ended the production in song. The cast performed “What Child is This,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Who Would Imagine a King,” “We Three Kings” and “Joyful, Joyful.”

Copy Editor

Cameron University alumna Tracie Tuck-Davis is making history.

The former Art major will have her art displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Art Market from Dec. 6-8.

While the market is taking place in two major U.S. cities, Tuck-Davis’s work will be found in the Washington D.C. market.

Tuck-Davis is a historical Chickasaw/Choctaw artist who has earned three degrees from Cameron.

After receiving her Bachelor of Accountancy and Master of Business Administration, Tuck-Davis experienced a successful career as an accountant. However, her job soon took over her life.

“I was making money and was doing really well,” she said.

“Then I came home, and my son called me Michelle because that was our nanny’s name. I thought ‘this is stupid.’”

Photos courtesy of Tracie Tuck-Davis

Art display: (Left) Dry Point Painting (Right) Linocut. Davis, a past CU art major will have her creations displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Art Market from Dec. 6-8.

A self-proclaimed lover of knowledge, Tuck-Davis soon returned to Cameron.

However, this time, she ventured into another field.

Two years ago, the artist walked across the stage, accepting her diploma for her Bachelor of Fine Arts.

“I took classes out at Cameron for 10 years. I was not in a hurry to graduate; I just wanted to learn about art,” Tuck-Davis said. “I wanted to know what made a piece good.

Why is it good? Why is a piece $25 while another piece is $250?”

Since her graduation, Tuck-Davis’s art has taken off.

The native artist’s work can be found in the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center, Chickasaw Nation Visitors Center and in her tribe’s recently opened gallery. She will soon be featured in a book dedicated to contemporary female Chickasaw artists and in the Chickasaw Nation 2014 calendar.

“My art is in a really good place,” she said. “Nobody does what I do. I might have invented something that

SOCA celebrates Christmas with nativity scene Sadie Jones

Choir concert “Messiah” to be performed at CU Carson Stringham

of the fact that all of the soloists for the performance are local Copy Editor singers, some of whom are Cameron students.

The Cameron/Lawton “Many times when groups Community Chorus will decide to do a work like this, perform its annual “Messiah” they will have their soloists concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, come in from outside the area,” Dec. 14 at the McMahon she said. “But we have enough Auditorium. local talent here that I didn’t feel The chorus is made up the need to do that.” of 85 volunteer singers from The show will be Lawton and the surrounding areas. Doris Lambert, Adjunct approximately an hour and Professor of Music for Cameron twenty minutes long, with no University and conductor of the intermission. Lambert said the reason for not taking a Civic Chorale, said the chorus break is because the songs and features a variety of ages and the text of the “Messiah” are experience levels. She is proud interwoven together to tell the

story of Jesus’s birth and earthly ministry.

The chorus will be performing an abridged version of “Messiah,” which means that while some of the music will be familiar to audiences – such as the “Halleluiah Chorus” – Lambert said she has also chosen to do some different songs that are less well known such as “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs.”

The concert is free and open to the public, though the chorus will be accepting donations to help offset the cost of the renting the space and paying the musicians.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Collins

8

A&E

December 9, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Pop culture introduced in a new way Kaitlyn Stockton

the school lacks is a gallery space, so we don’t really Copy Editor get any exposure to outside Cameron University’s Art artists and artwork that could start an interesting Department has recently dialogue,” Kube said. “With released its first ever my class, we settled on an exhibition catalogue titled exhibition about popular “#Hashtag.” culture.”

Fixated on the concept To begin the project, Kube of popular culture and its said he and his class posted influence on society, the a call for art and accepted exhibition features works from 15 contemporary artists submissions for over a month. Rigoni-McCormic from across the country. then selected the best fifteen CU art students received pieces and provided students the opportunity to create a with explanations for each of design featuring the chosen her choices, helping the class works. to learn and see her process.

Juror Megan Rigoni“We did a national call,” McCormic then selected Kube said. “We posted on which collection would be published. In the end, senior different websites that artists look at asking people to Amanda Lenhardt had her submit work in response to design chosen. the ideas of popular culture Instructor of Graphic and its effects on society. We Design Dave Kube said “#Hashtag” originated as an had over 50 entries. Then assignment for his Advanced we had an outside juror who selected the work that went Graphic Design students.

With the campus lacking an into the catalogue, and she narrowed it down to fifteen exhibition space, Kube said he thought the project would final artists.”

While students had to use be a great addition to CU. the same works of art, they “I decided that it would were free to add their own be a good idea for us to touch when designing the put together an exhibition catalogue. One of the things layouts for the collection.

“Each student designed his or her own catalogue,” Kube said. “They submitted it to a PDF, and the juror selected the final, official catalogue.”

Art major Amanda Lenhardt said she was excited to see her collection selected for final publication.

“It was a good learning experience to learn how to put everything together to make it cohesive and work,” she said. “It was interesting reading the artists’ statements and realizing what the works meant to them,” Lenhardt said. “It meant more than what it just looked like.”

While Kube said only a few copies will actually be printed, students and faculty can find the exhibition online or on the monitor located in the MCC’s Inasmuch Art Gallery.

“We had a run of 30. We are giving one copy to every artist that was selected, one for the juror and a few for the faculty members. It is a very small run,” Kube said, “but it was a nice way to celebrate the people that were selected for the catalogue.”

Kube believes the project

allowed students to see styles of art normally not found inside a textbook.

“It highlights national artists that are doing really contemporary work,” Kube said. “We are talking about things such as social media and YouTube videos. There are so many pieces in these that are just relevant to what students are dealing with.”

Besides exposing students to art outside of their immediate circle, Kube said he has enjoyed the opportunity to show his students a different side to the publishing process. As many students are used to submitting works to shows, he said they may have never considered what goes on behind the scene.

“As a class we went over all the entries so that they could see what the work was that got submitted and so that they could see the outcome of how the juror selected.

The whole process is important for students to see how selection processes work when they are submitting works to shows.”

Photo courtesy of Amanda Lenhardt

CU Theatre revisits the classics Casey Brown Staff Writer

Over forty students and community members collaborated to present “An Evening of French One Acts.”

Two French one act plays, “No Exit” by John-Paul Satre and “The Bald Soprano”

by Eugene Ionesco, began at 7:30 on Nov. 22 and 23 in the Cameron University Theatre. The plays were directed by Theatre Arts Professor Scott Richard Klein.

Students performed the two plays to responsive audiences, Klein said. Both plays fascinated Klein.

“These were two plays that have been on my list for quite a while that I’ve always wanted to do. It was just fascinating. To me,

Photo by Sadie Jones

“The Bald Soprano”: Cast members perform a scene from a comedic French one act play. The production took place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22-23 in the University Theatre. they are two sides of the same coin because both deal with absurdism; “No Exit” deals with the serious side and “Bald Soprano” is the comedic side,” Klein said.

This season’s theme is “A Year of Classics,” and both “No Exit” and “The Bald Soprano” are classics that Cameron students study in

their classes.

“They are really touchstones in theater,” Klein said. “The plays we read in our Theatre History and Drama classes, and are therefore part of our history.”

The characters in “No Exit” find themselves trapped in a version of hell with one another.

The small cast of four characters consisted of Mark Branson as “Valet,” Clinton Blackwell, Jr. as “Cradeaux,” Anastasia Snoddy as “Inez” and Kimani Thompson as “Estelle.”

“The three characters in ‘No Exit’ are judged by their acts. That is how they end up in hell, or this version of

hell,” he said. “They are very hopeful until they finally figure out what is going on.

They still think there is some chance of redemption and there isn’t.”

The slightly larger cast of “The Bald Soprano” consisted of Tearza Wayman as “Mrs. Smith,” Brandon Smith—a member of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Dramatic Fraternity—as “Mr. Smith,” Charlynn Nagorski as “Mary, the Maid,” Dylan Bittner as “Mr. Martin,” Stephanie Chamberlain as “Mrs. Martin” and Mark Branson as “The Fire Captain.”

Klein said “The Bald Soprano” is an examination of the decay of language and the difficulties of communication. “‘Bald Soprano’ was a lot of fun for me,” Klein

said. “I sometimes sit back and listen to people and am amazed at how similar some conversations are with a ‘Bald Soprano’ conversation.

Married couples have their own little shorthand. So that opening conversation between the Smiths made me think ‘You know, this does really happen in real life.’”

Klein said both groups worked well together, particularly the “The Bald Soprano” cast who had a full six weeks to work together.

“I had a great time with this group because they rehearsed outside of rehearsal, so they were really a dedicated group,” Klein said. “they were really inventive with their ideas and what they brought to rehearsal for me to see.”

Lawtonian “Fights Like A Country Girl” Cameron hosts Benefit concert for student’s battle with cancer Sarah Brewer

With her blonde hair swept up to reveal twinkling cross Staff Writer earrings, Barber arrived after the concert began at 8 p.m., and Nineteen-year-old Lane Barber is not old enough to buy made her way throughout the alcohol or frequent bars, but she venue greeting those that came came to Bewskie’s Dancehall to to support her on the night of hear local musicians play for her Nov. 23.

“I’m not old enough to be own benefit concert.

here, but it’s my benefit concert, so I guess I can come,” Barber said with a shrug.

Barber, who began taking classes at Cameron University this semester with every intention of becoming a nurse, is battling Medulloblastoma, a rare form of brainstem cancer.

Many in attendance wore t-shirts with the phrase “Fight Like A Country Girl,” emblazoned on the front, a nod to a song about overcoming cancer by a country duo called Bomshel. Tables bearing gift baskets and a giant portrait of Marilyn Monroe were put

Photo by Sarah Brewer

Local musicians: Singer Samantha Rose (left) and fellow guitarist perform at Brewskie’s for Barber’s Benefit concert.

up for a silent auction, and a 1996 Chevrolet truck was the grand prize in a raffle drawing held later that night. Cover was $5; proceeds from the concert and silent auction went toward offsetting Barber’s medical bills and expenses.

“It’s kind of pricey — gas back and forth, food back and forth every day,” Barber said.

“It really is expensive. My mom gets all my medical bills, so I don’t know how much those are, but she told me how much one was, and it was really expensive.”

Barber has undergone surgery, but the surgeon was not able to remove the entire tumor.

She is now going through six weeks of radiation every day from Monday through Friday

and chemotherapy every eight days. Her regimen also requires driving to Dallas, Texas, where she receives treatment at the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital.

Despite making these out-of-state trips for treatment so often, Barber said she feels healthy.

“As far as feeling bad and stuff, I don’t feel bad — not yet,” she said. “I’m doing chemo and radiation right now, and I feel fine.”

She said she felt awkward to be the center of attention that night. ““I’m not the kind of person that takes things from people. I know that they’re doing it for a good reason, but I feel bad that they’re giving me money.”