The Cameron University Collegian: November 25, 2013

Collegian T he Cameron University

Monday, November 25, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Volume 89 Issue 10

CU looks at future of digital marketing

Photos by Kaylee Jones

Tech Night: (Left) Arun Tilak explains to the audience the purpose of “Tech Night.” (Right) Carrie Hatcher, the first full-time employee of the Lawton Marketing Group and Kelly Edwards, CEO of Lawton Marketing Group talk during the “Tech Night” event. The presentation took place Nov. 19 in CETES.

Kaylee Jones

Edwards spoke while sitting near the head of the conference room.

Assistant Managing Editor She began by asking everyone in attendance to introduce themselves.

“Tech Night,” an event that takes place the third Edwards then showed a brief video by Erik Qualman Tuesday of every month, most recently focused on “The over “Socialnomics,” which covered the significance of Future of Digital Marketing.” social media in culture.

Co-hosted by Cameron University, along with the “The future of digital marketing is the future of Center for Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurial marketing in general,” Edwards said, explaining the Sciences, the event took place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 in importance of the topic.

CETES Conference room 207.

After brief ly addressing problems that can make Kelly Edwards, CEO of Lawton Marketing Group, traditional marketing (TV commercials, magazine ads, acted as speaker for the evening. etc.) ineffective, such as channel surfing and irrelevance Flyers previously distributed by CETES staff invited local business owners and students interested in marketing due to timing or viewer market, Edwards provided two reasons for why digital marketing is often the most and web development to attend.

Director of CETES, Arun Tilak, explained the purpose effective for marketing a business.

The first she called the “magical moment,” which of “Tech Night,” “To get techies out and to meet.” He means a person views an ad or is directed to a website at pointed out two attendees chatting across the room; the the exact moment they were looking for it. first was an entrepreneur of 3D printers who worked The second, Edwards said, is that oftentimes, those from home, and the second was a man who specialized in searching for services do not feel as though a business is simulation modeling. intentionally marketing to them when the person finds “They would never meet under normal circumstances,” their website themselves.

Tilak said.

However, a person’s discovery of a website, is very much “Digital marketing is normally social media. Lots of an intentional marketing ploy through the mastery of people think digital marketing is only social media, but it’s much more than that,” Tilak added before introducing search engine optimization (SEO) as Edwards explained.

Well-built, well-optimized websites are ones that Edwards, who he said was there to cover “all that.”

occupy the top spots of Google searches, a ranking system which is determined by a top-secret algorithm written by Google employee Matt Cutts.

Throughout the evening, Edwards covered the difference between “Black hat SEOs” and “White hat SEOs,” businesses that either cheat their way to the top temporarily for their clients and are later penalized, and businesses that ethically build websites deserving of prime placement.

Edwards also encouraged burgeoning businesses seeking to market themselves online to set goals of what they want to achieve, select media channels through which they can effectively promote themselves and commit fifteen minutes a day to marketing themselves online.

Edwards opened the f loor for an lengthy question and answer session after the lecture, which concluded around 8 p.m. as Tilak thanked everyone for attending.

Afterward, students hung around to finish the last of the pizza Sandra Dunn, CETES’ administrative assistant, handed out before the lecture and to socialize with Edwards and other attendees.

“TECH NIGHT” was one of two events held to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 1824,) the second being an 8 a.m. a live stream address by international entrepreneur, Chris Bradford, a co-founder of Newline Interactive.

Art Guild to host Box City event Sadie Jones A&E Editor

Photo by Tyler Boydston

In the lead: Vice President of Student Services Jennifer Holland and Vice President of University Advancement Albert Johnson answer a question at the Leadership Academy. The event took place Nov. 19 in the MCC Buddy Green Room.

Cameron vice presidents discuss leadership with students Tyler Boydston Managing Editor

Leaders of Cameron University united to speak about the ins and outs of being a responsible leader.

The Leadership Academy took place at 3:30 Nov. 19 in the MCC Buddy Green Room, and was hosted by PAC. Director of Student Life Zeak Naifeh began the discussion, asking both Vice President of University Advancement Albert Johnson and Vice President of Student Services Jennifer Holland questions regarding their time in leadership positions.

“This is a leadership panel to give some good insight into leadership from some of our executive council members,” Naifeh said.

The first topic of discussion was influences on Holland and Johnson’s leadership skills.

According to Johnson, one of his major influences regarding his leadership is his father.

“My take on leadership is a saying my dad has: “If a task is once begun, never stop until it’s done. Be the labor, great or small, do it well or not at all”,” Johnson said.

Holland mentioned three different mentors, one of the three being former CU President Cindy Ross, who

retired this past summer.

“What I learned from President Ross, and what she preached to us, was the idea of creating a shared vision,” Holland said. “If you know where you’re going, that will get you nowhere unless the people behind you also know where you’re going. She would kind of paint pictures with her words, and that was to get you to buy into her vision for the university.

“When we were building a facility, she would paint a picture that you could repeat verbatim, I could say her vision verbatim, because she knew that she needed all of us to get the vision in order to move the

university forward.”

After asking a few questions of Holland and Johnson, Naifeh turned the questions over to the audience, allowing CU students to ask the two about their leadership roles and what they have learned over their time in those positions.

Johnson said he believes he is always learning from his job and will hopefully continue to learn from it.

“I’m learning all the time to be better, a better Albert Johnson, and if I’m a better Albert Johnson, maybe I’ll be a better leader for those I’m responsible for, maybe I’ll represent the university better,” Johnson said.

The Cameron University Art Guild is hosting a poster contest for the Family Promise of Lawton’s Box City event—scheduled for April 2014.

The event will take place in the field north of Howell Hall.

Jason Hall — Psychology major and head of the event for Family Promise —described the organization’s mission.

“Family Promise is a local nonprofit who works with different churches in the area to provide immediate shelter and food needs for family’s living in transition,” Hall said. “It is a four month program for families to basically help themselves.

The center provides them with a way to find jobs and houses — they help them get back on their feet.”

Box City is Family Promises’ largest fundraiser.

Groups will pay $25 per box house.

Shae Dickinson — Fine Arts major with an emphasis in painting and head of the poster contest — said the theme of the Box City event is “Sharing Your Dream, Keeping Our Promise.”

“Family Promise has set

up this event to help those in need,” Dickinson said.

“So the whole idea is to ref lect the dream of being able to afford the things that you need. We ask contestants to center their idea around that — that is what we will be looking for.”

Dickinson said there are additional submission requirements.

The logo design needs to be able to be printed on both posters and t-shirts and must be printed at 11 X 17 in 300 dpi. Contestants are encouraged to submit a poster design with a logo and space available for Family Promise to insert their information about the event.

There will be first, second and third place prizes, ranging from savings bonds to gift baskets. The first place logo will be printed on the back cover of OKIE Magazine.

Students who enter should submit their entry to Dickinson’s email at manda. dickinson@cameron.edu.

Contestants need to include their full name and contact information.

Submission deadline for the poster contest is Dec. 10, 2013. Examples of what the Art Guild is looking for can be seen at www. cameron.edu/artguild.

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News

November 25, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Photos by Kaylee Jones

The search for sponsors: Miss Black CU Scholarship Gala Kaylee Jones

Asstistant Managing Editor CU’s Ebony Society hosted the 2013 Miss Black CU Sponsorship Gala on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the CETES Conference Center.

The Gala is held to “officially unveil” the 2014 contestants, according to Taylor Thompson, CU’s Coordinator of Diversity Affairs.

Because of the Gala, each of the seven contestants has the opportunity to receive at least one sponsor to assist them with their pageant expenses.

The event contained two segments; the first was an interview with potential sponsors, which lasted roughly five minutes per contestant.

The second, open to the public, served to introduce each contestant.

The current Miss Black CU, Sonia Chukwudozie, also performed her spoken word talent.

Thompson said: “Overall the event was a success. Each contestant walked away with a sponsor and that is always the goal.”

CU Be Smart asks students to be smart with money Charlene Belew Student Life Editor

Students were invited to be a part of CU Be Smart’s Couponing Workshop at 2 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the Wichita Room.

Lisa Jones, Academic Advisor and Tutor Coordinator for Student Support Services, led the Couponing Workshop and taught attendees the miracle behind shopping savvy and saving money.

Jones stated it was her family of eight that started her couponing lifestyle.

Jones began her workshop by talking about some characteristics behind couponing websites. Jones said coupons can be found on Twitter and Facebook as well as on hip2save.com.

She also explained some of her favorite stores to use coupons at include Country Mart and Target.

“Probably the best thing I’ve saved was when Country Mart had a big sale,” she said. “We spent $440 and we only paid $88. That was huge but

that took a lot of time. When you’re a college student and when you’re a parent and when you work, it’s very difficult to take that time and spend couponing.”

One of her favorite memories, Jones recalled, was involving more than just her family members in her couponing voyage.

“My daughter had some friends at our house,” she said. “There’s these noodles that come in a small package and they are usually $1.50, but Country Mart had them 10 for $10. I had like 10 $.50 coupons but you can only double coupons one transaction at a time. So I made my daughters friends all take a coupon and go to Country Mart and line up. They were so embarrassed, but they came home with five packages of noodles for free.”

Jones clearly stated she believes it is important for students to try couponing during their college career.

Jones said she thinks it is a great way for students to be able to feed themselves on their college budget.

“I think, as college students, it’s

important to learn to coupon because you’re on a budget. Some students are just living off their financial aid, and when they get their money, its important to budget that out not spend it all at once,” Jones said. “So if they use some budgeting skills, start saving money and use some couponing, they can do that, and it’ll help them survive throughout the semester.”

Jones advised students, or anybody who is starting to coupon should always take it slowly. While massive savings are waiting, she believes that baby steps are the safest way to get there.

“Start small,” Jones said. “Don’t use the coupon just because you have it.

You don’t need 97 bags of croutons.

Buy what you need and let that be. If you have a coupon, that’s great; if you don’t, look for it online or wait until next week.”

While this is her third couponing workshop she has led this semester, Jones said she is looking forward to sharing her knowledge in future semesters.

Photo by Charlene Belew

Aggie Rec Center raises the stakes Casey Brown Staff Writer

Cameron University’s Aggie Rec Center promotes exercise with a friendly game of poker.

November is “Thank Goodness for Fitness Poker Walk Month” at the rec center. Students can earn one poker card for each 30 minutes of exercise. At the end of each week, the student with the best poker hand wins a prize.

So far, 23 students have participated in the event with more new entries every day.

Running, jogging, using

the elliptical and other machines, playing a sport, yoga, Pilates and Zumba all count toward the 30 minutes to earn a card.

The winner at the end of each week wins a gift card to Sodexo.

Lateefah Soremekun, sophomore Psychology major, who works at the Aggie Rec Center said there are a lot of regulars who participate in the event.

“We have like a bunch of people come in and work out,” Soremekun said, “Most of the time they are normal work outs because we have the regulars.”

In addition to encouraging participation at the rec center, the event also encourages people to make fitness a priority.

“This program gets people active,” Soremekun said. “It does encourage them to come work out. There is a reward at the end for what they are doing. We got people that normally don’t come.”

Reactions vary to the poker component of the competition, Soremekun said.

Halid Gariba, sophomore Sports Fitness Management major, is participating in the Poker Walk. He said that he

likes to work out to stay fit and exercise.

“It depends on the reason that you are exercising,” Gariba said. “Some people exercise to body build. I work out to build my body. I think I have an incentive for why I exercise. I know what I’m chasing.”

Players can earn up to seven cards per week, one card per day. With those seven cards, players must make a standard five card poker hand; a royal flush is the highest hand in poker.

Gariba said different people can have different incentives to working out.

The Poker Walk may be an incentive for some, whereas other people may have more personal incentives.

“It is great,” Gariba said.

“It is like you are exercising your body, and you are allowed to get more points.

The points that you are getting are an incentive to keep going. It is like killing two birds with one stone.

You’re getting healthy, and at the same time, you’re getting points for a lot of prizes.”

To compete for the Sodexo gift cards, students can go to the Aggie Rec Center, work out and then sign the Poker Walk sheet at the front desk.

Next month’s competition and prizes are still being discussed.

A host of activities, facilities, equipment and classes are open to those competing in the Poker Walk.

Students can also check out available Exercise DVDs. The Aggie Rec Center is open Monday-Thursday 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m.-8 p.m.

For more information about the Poker Walk or class schedules, visit the website http://www.cameron. edu/aggiereccenter.

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Student Life

November 25, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

SOCA lights the night with fundraiser Kaitlyn Stockton Copy Editor

On Nov. 14, Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA) welcomed Cameron University students and their guests to dance away the night for a good cause in the organization’s first ever Glow Fete.

Surrounded by glow sticks and balloons, CU students and guests danced to the latest hits.

To gain entrance into the dance, students had to bring stationary items that SOCA would later donate to local elementary schools. The event was held from 9 p.m. to midnight in the CETES Conference Center.

SOCA’s president, Eloise Herbert, said the concept of the fete arose from the organizations recent involvement in the religious community.

“Caribbeans are from a Christian society, and we put prayer in the middle of everything, so we started looking at different churches and let them know who we are, about our mission and our goals,” she said. “A couple of parents contacted us and said ‘We have a project for you.’ They told us a lot of the Title I

Photo by Kaitlyn Stockton

This place about to glow: Aggies lit up the CETES Conference Center with glow sticks while hosting a fundraiser for Title I schools in need of stationary. The event took place at 9 p.m. on Nov. 14. schools in Lawton are in desperate need of resources: pencils, papers, books and whatnot.”

Herbert said many students are unaware of the obstacles faced by teachers in the Lawton community.

“You would hear about teachers in the office photocopying and they have to be meticulous with their paper,” she said. “Compared to schools with more money,

where teachers could make photocopies all day, these people literally count the sheets of paper because they don’t know when they may get more.”

According to Herbert, Caribbeans love to meet new people and thrive on socializing. After finding an avenue to impact their community, Herbert said a holding celebration was the obvious choice for

getting people involved and donating.

“What is the best way to get a crowd of people together? Good music and good company,” Herbert said. “If you have this, and throw a good cause into it, your outcome can be awesome.”

While SOCA targeted CU students to attend the fete, each student was allowed to bring one guest

PAC presents “Red 2” Casey Brown Staff Writer

Photo by Casey Brown

Don’t cry over spilled milk: Sean Batiste makes himself a bowl of cereal that was provided at the “Red 2” movie night presented by PAC.

with them. Once checked in, each attendee was given a glow stick to wear or dance with.

“We don’t discriminate,” Herbert said. “It’s for a good cause.”

Gilron Charles – SOCA’s Public Relations Officer – said the “charity party” was a test for the organization.

Although the fete was a new event for SOCA, Charles said he thought the event

resulted in a great turnout.

“We always have a full house at our parties,” Charles said. “I like interacting and meeting people.”

While SOCA plans on not only becoming further involved in the Lawton community, Herbert said the organization is also focused on impacting the CU community. In the next few months, SOCA will be holding a Nativity Scene – one in which members will depict the birth of Jesus Christ through song, drama and dance. The organization will also be hosting a Miss Caribbean pageant and masquerade ball. All of these activities will support a special project for the group.

“All that we are doing and all the funds that we are raising will go towards establishing a Caribbean scholarship fund on campus,” Herbert said.

“Scholarships on campus are very competitive. Many students that are coming from the Caribbean are not wealthy. We decided amongst ourselves that this year, we are going to establish these funds. We are on an aggressive move to collect funds.”

Programming Activities Council packed the house with a showing of “Red 2” on three big screens at 9 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the MCC Ballroom. Students snacked on cereal and milk instead of the usual faire of popcorn and candy for this month’s installment of the PAC movie night.

“Red 2” is the sequel to the 2010 flick “Red” starring Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren. Bruce Willis’s character and his fellow retired C.I.A. agents reunite for a global adventure to find a nuclear device.

Junior English major Breanne Holley said she had yet to see the first film.

Despite bad reports of “Red” from her friends, Holley said she was looking forward to seeing the film.

“I hope it is good,” Holley said, “I try to give my own opinions on movies, even if it is bad then I like to go see it for my own benefit.”

Holley had never been to a PAC movie night before but wanted to check it out to spend time with friends.

“This is a first,” Holley said, “but I like to try new things.”

Before the movie began, groups of friends and couples gathered to visit with one another and eat breakfast for dinner.

Tony Henderson, sophomore Communication major and PAC member, said he is glad that PAC shows movies for Cameron students. These movie nights provide students opportunities to see shows they would otherwise be unable to watch.

“I mean, it is pretty good,” Henderson said. “It gives people the opportunity to see movies that they want to see in the theaters that they never really get to see or have the money for.”

PAC decides which movie to show based on student votes. The organization has the opportunity to show a variety of movies before being released on DVD. “We normally have a movie vote,”

Henderson said. “We normally have a choice between six movies, then we get the people downstairs [in the MCC lobby] to vote. And out of all the choices the best movie is what we show.”

Meghan Canfield, PAC adviser, said in response to a survey, the side doors would be closed for the entire film. One backdoor would be left open for people to enter and exit while “Red 2” was showing.

“One of the issues that people have brought up again and again is that whenever people come in, the doors slam, and it interrupts the experience,” Canfield said.

PAC takes surveys at most events to get feedback and suggestions for any improvements to events.

“As many of the suggestions that we get, we try to accommodate as many that we can,” Canfield said. “Another suggestion that someone has put forward that I kind of like is to leave a section open for like bean bags or pillows and blankets, so we might try and see about that.”

Biology Club visits Oklahoma aquarium

Get crafty with your service

Students and faculty members gathered at 11 a.m. on Nov. 21 in the MCC lobby to make scarves to give to homeless people throughout the winter season.

Charlene Belew Student Life Editor

Photos by Charlene Belew

At 9 a.m. on Nov. 16, the Biology Club embarked on their field trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Members of the organization invited their friends and families to accompany them to the aquarium.

President of the Biology Club Samantha Ristedt, a senior Biology major with a Cell/Molecular concentration said that approximately 24 people attended this field trip.

She also said that Cameron students who attended paid $6 while Non-Cameron students paid $12.

Ristedt said that this wasn’t the first field trip the Biology Club has taken. In previous years, members have travled to the zoo, the natural history museum and the botanical gardens. She said that these trips accompany their many events and guests speakers well.

“We are a social club, so this gives us the opportunity to have

some fun in an environment outside of Cameron,” Ristedt said. “We want to involve the campus and people from other majors. We want to show other people who we are and why we are cool.”

She said that one of her favorite parts of the trip was watching students who attended get so involved as well as meeting up with previous presidents of their organization.

“We had a group of kids that are all taking Zoology right now that were going from exhibit to exhibit classifying all of the animals,” she said. “It was absolutely hilarious. I love Zoology, so it was cool for me to watch them laugh and be geeks.”

Although the Biology club has no more events scheduled for this semester, they will be picking back up next semester by hosting Darwin Day with Beta Beta Beta in February with Neil Shuben, author of “Your Inner Fish,” as their guest speaker.

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Voices

November 25, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Pop culture: the end of civilization

Tyler Boydston Managing 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 - Charlene Belew, Kaylee Jones

Newswriting Students

Maurice Buckner, Kaleb Castillo, Nicole Clobes, Ekanem Ekpenyong, Mikaela Greene, Nicole Hartvigsen, Trevon Herbert, Krista Hubbard, Charles Johnson, Jennifer Landers, Chase Mallow, Lora Miller, Christina Nalsen, Misty Neal, Kaley Patterson, Peyton Presgrove, Hannah Smart, 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.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has caused a firestorm of hilarious and stupid situations over the past few weeks.

After he was first caught smoking crack, many allegations came out: from solicitation to rampant alcoholism to sexual harassment, Ford has given the late night talk show hosts a million and one things to talk about.

So now, here are my two cents: why should we all be talking about it?

How many good politicians are there in the world? There are probably quite a few, but in the news we rarely ever focus on them. What we like to focus on instead are the negatives. Rob Ford is to politics what Charlie Sheen is to Hollywood, so all of us in North America are sitting on the edge of our seats to see just what he will do next.’

We as a society love train wrecks. After all, why is Miley Cyrus so popular now? How many of her songs can I name? I can tell you about “Wrecking Ball” because she was naked in the music video, but that’s pretty much the only reason I remember it. I remember her performance at the VMAs this year because, well…reasons. However, her musical prowess has not been a factor in any of the reasons for me remembering her at this

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.

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

Iran’s embassy in Beirut being attacked, because apparently not as many people want to read about that. No, let’s talk about stuff that really matters, because Rob Ford tackled someone at a city council meeting, and that’s just hilarious to watch.

People used to be

informed. The bright people of our world still are, and they make sure they read about serious news, but what saddens me is that we’re all so immersed in gossip columns and funny clips of people’s stupid actions that we’ve lost our intelligence; we’ve lost our sense of decency.

We don’t focus on what is important; society as a whole can be better.

Do as I say and not as I do, because I just watched a lot of silly cat videos. I, too, am trying to get better about being informed, but we all have to start somewhere. I start by writing this.

want to know why I have gone so long without obtaining my license, how I manage getting from place to place and if I will continue making every trip that I take as the passenger.

When the moment for my reply arrives, I halt the awkward feeling that comes by blaming my failure to maneuver my vehicle on a common problem that people encounter when learning the rules of the road — parallel parking. It is a paradox that a technique for stopping an automobile prevents me from going.

But these inquiries have led me to think of driving solo as a metaphor for living. Movement occurs after making every pivotal decision and traversing to the destination that follows.

Some moments were made

for cruising whereas other require control, and I have been reluctant to hand over the keys as of late. I know that took a road to call my own because my desire to attend college and start a career was never in question. I am setting the speed limit on my way to milestone. But my courage falters when facing things that are far from certain.

Doubting my ability and potential cripples me and keeps me from going farther. But far be it my wish to become the patron saint of penurious travelers; it is not within me to plunge the keys into ignition and peel out of sight without consulting my compass. But I think progress involves a formula that puts terror and trust at equilibrium, and this

is a lesson that driving instructors cannot teach the individuals they take out on the road for the very first time.

Fear can check our ambition and make us more aware of what lies ahead, but it can also take a toll on our ability to move forward.

Without a way of my own, I am left to rely on the kindness of others close to me or wait for a cab or bus to pick me up. When my dad let me take the minivan out for a spin at sixteen, he saw how my hands were clenching the wheel in the proper ten and two o’clock positions as he sat next to me and was quick to tell me to sit back and relax.

That was over a decade ago, but my foot still hovers the break, and I am quick to tap that pedal when my confidence falters in rushhour traffic or in other scary situations.

But faith is the driving factor in almost every endeavor that a person can pursue: we either trust that we have what it takes or believe in the goodness that is inherent in those that care for our best interests. Some pray for divine assistance when the wheel slips from their hands while others hold on tight and have the conviction to overcome the obstructions that await them.

Having faith helps me take every mile as it comes and handle every twist and turn along the way. I can see more without a map and hear more without listening to a GPS device.

I would much rather wander when lost than let my life pass me by, but I must have the wisdom to know when to take the wheel and when to enjoy the ride as well as the courage to move forward.

On the go with wisdom as a compass

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.

point.

Why in the world are we like this?

Like I said, we love train wrecks. We like to look at what’s the most entertaining rather than what’s the most educational and informative. Think about how many people watch the first few episodes of “American Idol” to see the competitors who are awful singers and then stop watching once the talented musicians are all that’s left.

This, in my opinion, is what is wrong with my generation.

Let’s look real quickly at what the top stories are on Google News.

The top story is the stabbing of Virginia senator Creigh Deeds. This story is important to know.

Just below is a story with the headline: “New allegation made against Zimmerman in court,” regarding George Zimmerman. This story is not so important for us to know as a society.

The 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address is the third story. Sadly, just below that is a story about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in a music video where they “get hot and heavy,” according to the headline that Google provided.

So, there are our top stories for the day of Nov. 19, 2013.

Let’s forget about

Sarah Brewer Staff Writer

I am twenty-six years old, and I have been on the move since the moment my mother gave birth to me.

My birth certificate lists Spokane, Washington, as the city where I made my debut, but my mother had to get the show on the road and go from one coast to

another: my father, a soldier serving in the United States Army, had orders to leave for Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Three siblings, two continents and one veritable world tour later, I realize that my travels from state to state and country to country have taught me to consider every route before choosing a course of action.

I have been logging miles, collecting stamps in my passport and taking photos of every landmark in this journey of mine.

I have done all of this with only a learner’s driving permit to my name.

Questions arise when the issue of transportation enters conversations that I have with acquaintances, and it is a subject I would much rather avoid: people

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

5

A&E

November 25, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Student lithography showcased in “Endangered Species” exhibit Carson Stringham

Daoang said the piece took him two years to complete.

Copy Editor During that time, his mentor Senior Art major Jonathan at Cameron, Professor Katherine Liontas-Warren, Daoang is passionate about had to take a leave of absence, art.

Recently, Daoang’s passion so he took that time off from the project as well. and attention to detail in his Having time off, Daoang work has been rewarded. said, allowed him to take the His lithograph titled “Oni time to think about what his Totem” was accepted into the plans were for the piece.

“Endangered Species” exhibit “Coming back, I just really in Grants Pass, Ore. The exhibit is sponsored by Off the wanted to finish it,” Daoang said. “A big piece like that Map Tattoo. contains a lot of detail. It took Lithography is the art of carving a design into a surface, me six months just to draw the design onto the stone.” like stone, and then making Daoang said he was very prints from it by covering the pleased and surprised when surface in ink and pressing the his piece was chosen for the paper onto it to make a copy.

Daoang said lithography is just exhibit because of the pool of talent that had been collected like drawing, except one uses for the show. stone instead of paper.

Daoang commented on the “If you love to draw, you’ll quality of his work. love lithography,” he said. “You “Everything else I have done just have to be patient because leading up to this piece has it takes a long time. You can’t been novice,” he said. “But this rush the stone.”

one is really important to me.

I feel like I know what I am doing well enough to where I could teach it.”

The piece itself contains many references to Daoang’s cultural backgrounds. Coming from Hawaii and being of mixed Filipino and Hispanic descent, there are details of Daoang’s work that refer to his native heritage.

“I wanted to do a totem that didn’t look like a totem. I wanted it to shock people, but I didn’t want it to be about blood and gore,” he said. “I wanted it to be about where I am from and to show little bits and pieces of who I am.”

Daoang said he chose the title “Oni Totem” to help those who see the work better understand his vision.

“Oni” refers to a monster in Chinese folklore, much like the Boogieman; “totem” refers to the statues in the Pacific Islands comprised of

one carving stacked on top of Photo by Carson Stringham another. Daoang’s piece depicts an Oni face sitting atop its own skull while resting on top of a traditional Japanese hannya mask.

Daoang pointed out that many of the smaller details were added to highlight other aspects of himself: the plumeria flowers in the eyes are reminiscent of “El Dia de Los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead” in Latino culture; the goat horns harken back to the time spent with his father learning how to take a goat from the pen to the table; there are piercings, gauged ears and, of course, the skull itself that all speak to the tattoo culture that Daoang is a part of.

“I understand who my target audience is,” he said. “I wanted to create something that speaks to a younger audience using a medium Work of art: Daoang’s Lithograph “Oni Totem” was they might not have heard of accepted into the “Endangered Species” exhibit in Grants before.”

Pass, Ore., sponsored by Off the Map Tattoo.

Virtuosos: Musicians perform dynamic range

Photos by Sadie Jones

Photos by Sadie Jones

Musical delight: (Top left) CU students Peter Macias and Brad Wolf perform “Lethal Injection.” (Top right) The Guitar Ensemble began the Chamber Music Concert and performed 11 songs, three of which written by student Shane Rutherford. (Bottom left) Flute Trio member Kirstie Bridges performs “Menuetto from Piano Sonata, K. 282.”

Sadie Jones A&E Editor

At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, students, staff and friends of the Music Department used the McCutcheon Recital Hall as their platform and presented a Chamber Music Concert.

The program featured a Guitar Ensemble, Flute Trio, Clarinet Quartet and a Brass Ensemble.

The performance produced an array of sounds that showcased several different instruments as well as the performers’ wide range of talent.

Cameron University Professor Dr. Kirsten Underwood welcomed guests to the performance and expressed her thanks to those who attended as well as to the students who dedicated time to perform.

The lights dimmed, and the audience fell quiet as they listened, captivated by the quiet strumming from the CU’s

Guitar Ensemble.

Cameron University students Peter Macias, Ashim Bohara, Jeremy Redbird, Shane Rutherford, Wesley Stafford and Brad Wolf made up the ensemble.

The group began their performance with two movements from “Musique D’ensemble pur Guitares”— “Ma julieta, Dama’” and “Se ben vedi o vita mia.”

The guitarists continued the ensemble with “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2,” composed by Franz Liszt.

“Anitra’s Dance” by Edvard Grieg followed. Next was a performance of the song, “Three Catalan Fold Songs” with the movements, “El Testament D’ Amelia, L’Hereu Riera’” and “Canco del Lladre.”

The group continued with “Vals No. 3” and “Prelude No. 3” as well as “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “Peer Gynt, Op. 46, No. 3.”

“Nessun dorma” from

‘Turandot’ immediately followed and featured Guitar Ensemble member and tenor Peter Macias as the vocalist.

The final three songs performed by the ensemble were “The Seven Deadly Sins,” with movements, “Sloth” and “Lust,” as well as “Contention” and “Folding Chair in a Locked Room”— each composed by Music major Shane Rutherford.

Rutherford explained his pieces to the audience.

“The song “Contention” was named in reference to the amount of dissonance throughout the piece,” Rutherford said. “The song, “Folding Chair in a Locked Room” kind of has the same feel as “We Will Rock You” by ‘Queen.’”

The evening of performances continued with the Flute Trio, performed by Kirstie Bridges, Diane Pihulic and CU Instructor Justin Pierce. The trio presented “Trio Pour Flutes,” written by Alexander Tcherepnin.

The Clarinet Quartet — Kelsey Alden-Cox, Brittany Curtis, Lori Jester and Emily Rollf — followed the Flute Trio with their performance of “Menuetto from Piano Sonata, K. 282.”

Next, Dr. Matthew Morales performed alongside Dylan Shadoan and Tommy Agee on the trombone. Wolf played the euphonium. The Brass Ensemble presented to the audience, “Adagio” from “Symphony No. 3.”

Guitarist Bohara and tenor saxophone Pierce performed two songs for the crowed — “Four” and “Out of Luck, Not Sunny Anymore.”

The final performance of the evening — “Lethal Injection” — incorporated a variety of performers and instruments.

The ensemble included Bohara on the guitar, Wolf who played the bass, Shadoan on the piano and Ft. Sill Band member, Zach Halzel, who played the drums.

Film series gives students a look at the past Jacob Jardel

intermission, Morris explained the background for “On the Staff Writer Beach,” which was directed by Stanley Kramer and starred Magic Lantern Film Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck Society reeled audiences in and Fred Astaire. with its screening of “On the “With a cast like that,” Beach” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in Morris said, “it was a big CETES. budget movie and received That night marked the first some critical acclaim.” showing of the film for The The movie, adapted from Magic Lantern Film Society, a novel

by Nevil Shute, was known for screening classic set in a world after a nuclear films to the public free of holocaust.

According to charge.

Morris, the people in the movie For Dr. John Morris, were in the process of recovery Professor of English and and “attempting to pick up the faculty adviser of Magic pieces and carry on with their Lantern, the showing was the lives in Australia.” first time he had seen the film After the movie, Morris as well. said the overall response from After the audience filed the audience was somberness. into the room and grabbed He said, “Both Carson their refreshments, provided [Stringham], our president,

by Magic Lantern on a perdonation basis, Morris started and Amanda [Bell], our vice president, found the movie to the evening with two episodes from a 1948 “Superman” serial. be depressing, and given the subject matter, that is one of At the conclusion of things most will carry away the serials and a short

from it.”

However, Morris also provided some context for the solemnness in the movie, providing a reminder of the time at which the movie was filmed as well as the cultural zeitgeist incorporated into the movie.

He said, “Since the film was the first big-budget Hollywood movie to address the fear of nuclear annihilation during the height of the Cold War, one has to see it with some historical imagination.”

Morris noted that one audience member felt the film ended optimistically, noting the symbolism of a particular object and scene at the end of the movie.

“The filmmakers are interested in getting the people who see the movie to realize that they, too, have time to prevent annihilation before it happens,” Morris said.

“The film is both depressing

and optimistic at the same time because it shows how permanent the aftermath of a nuclear war could be.”

This duality proved to be one of the reasons that Morris walked away from the movie with positive reviews, noting the actor’s performances as well as some of the more covert aspects of the film.

“Some critics thought the film had too much conversation and not enough action,” he said, “but I did not have any problem with the dialogue as it was top-notch. The cinematography was great and the acting was terrific.”

Thus, the movie fit in with the classic criteria Magic Lantern emphasizes during its year-long film series. Using movies such as “On the Beach” and other critically-acclaimed classics, the series tries to enlighten the audience to ideas they may not have been exposed to.

Photo by Jacob Jardel

Setting up: Magic Lantern Film Society President Carson Stringham sets up refreshments for the society’s screening of “On the Beach” on Nov. 15 in CETES. “We try to show stuff that we think would give people some background that they don’t have. A lot of things we’re showing are things [some students have not] never heard of before,” Morris said. “We like to think we have a variety of interesting stuff.”

It’s this mix of variety

that led Morris to remark on the value of the films Magic Lantern shows.

“It’s good to have variety,” he said, “but that there’s an educational value in watching some of these classic movies.

Magic Lantern has shown movies that I’ve never seen but have stayed with me.”

6

Sports

November 25, 2013 www.aggiecentral.com

Giving Thanks: Aggies take action

Photos by Kali Robinson

Holiday Helpers: Aggie lady basketball players (above, right) volunteer at Cleveland Elementary, serving students turkey, dressing, green beans and potatoes. CU ladies (left, bottom) work their muscles before practice in the mirror at the new Softball Complex. Canned goods (bottom left corner) were donated by students to help families in need.

Kali Robinson Sports Editor

The CU women’s basketball team gave their thanks from 11 a.m to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Cleveland Elementary. Aggie athletes volunteered to help serve a Thanksgiving meal to Cleveland students and faculty before the Holiday break.

Head coach Tom Webb, who accompanied the students, said it was worth the end result.

“I think just seeing college students giving back is a good thing,” Webb said.

“I think it’s great for us too, to see youth in an environment where they are learning and growing.”

Assistant coach Justin Cellum and Graduate Assistant Jessica Priest also accompanied the team to the event.

Both new and returning Aggies took their turns scooping out potatoes, passing out rolls and talking to kids as they filed into the auditorium to eat.

Sporting their Bleed Black and Gold CU shirts, the ladies manned their kitchen

stations and directed the holiday celebration.

They also talked basketball with a few members of the Cleveland Elementary basketball team.

Noelle Kindred, gaurd for the Aggie team, said she enjoyed her time volunteering during her first year at CU. “I like it,” Kindred said.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

Christine Thomas, Cafeteria Manager and Cameron Student, worked with the lady Aggies to get the Thanksgiving meal started.

“Oh my God. They were a Godsend today,” Thomas said. “ I’m exhausted, but they saved me some pain later on.”

Coach Webb the importance of community involvement.

“If we can be any help at all in their next endeavors as far as college, it would be great,” Webb said.

“We’re really here to give back and I think our ladies understand that. They do a good job.”

The lady Aggies will return to the Aggie Gym at 6 p.m.

Monday Nov. 25 to play their last game before the holiday against Hillsdale Free Will.