Collegian T he Cameron University
Stocks www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, February 11, 2019
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Volume 100 Issue 3
Madison Lyda Managing Editor
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Every Fall semester, the Cameron University Department of Business opens up a year-long portfolio program to students. The program manages a $2 million portfolio containing real money that is used to practice financial analysis and join collaborative voices. In 1988, the Stocks and Bonds program originated at Cameron to be a vessel of knowledge to further student understanding in the world of stocks and bonds. Cameron University and Citizens Bank collaborated to agree on an original loan of $500,000 cash for the class. Utilized as seed money, students used the funds to begin developing and managing a real life portfolio to sell, buy and wager stocks and bonds. Howard Styron, an adjunct professor and a licenced stockbroker and financial planner is currently teaching his second semester. “The main lessons the students learn are the language, how the financial market works and how a bond works,” Styron said. “They learn how all of that plays not only in their financial portfolio, but their career portfolio.” In 2001, the university paid off the loan, and the portfolio transitioned to Bank First who loaned the class $1 million. Since converting to Bank First, the program uses a line of credit up to $1 million to help manage and purchase the securities on the loan. Currently, the portfolio program is broken up into two semesters, the Fall semester which manages a stock portfolio of $500,000 and the Spring semester which manages an additional portfolio of over $1.5 million. The students in the program continue to use real money provided by the local bank and compete in rigorous stock market analysis’ and studies. The program also incorporates graduate students who are given additional projects and requirements but work closely with the undergraduate students in a collaborative effort. Styron said that the program at Cameron University plays a unique role in the lives of the students who participate and
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the university itself. “This is a very unique program,” Styron said. “Programs around the country do something similar, but I think the fact that this is a partnership between the university and a local bank and deals with real money is very unique.” The program has been so successful in its practices, the balance of the $1 million loan has a remaining standing of $600,000 and the class has earned over $900,000 in trades, buying and selling bonds. The drive of the portfolio has not gone unnoticed, and the money the class earns through the portfolio practice does not go unused. Senior Business Finance major and Class Administrator of Stocks Ryan Christie said the
that we can put that money towards things when Cameron profits,” Christie said. “We have been profiting for years, and that money earned goes to scholarships, trips, endowments or any events the business department wants to put it through. These factors add to the drive of all of us.”
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university and its students receive the money from the portfolio in many different forms. “It’s really about the opportunity; we obviously try hard to make money so
What’s inside
All the money from the loan is organized into two separate stock brokerage accounts held by the Cameron University Foundation and is a part of a formal agreement between the university and Bank
“The class beats the index in which they are measured against,” Styron said. At the end of every semester, the students First. present their portfolio at Once every the Department of Business three months, the banquet where they share university pays the and disclose information the process interest on the loan and on various successful and and having so occasionally the class pays unsuccessful bonds. They many resources down on the principle of the also share the earnings they makes it easier. loan adding, to the student met through their practices “It’s a little risky; it’s a effort to make effective and how successful the little scary sometimes, but decisions to bring revenue entire program has been for we’re very collaborative, so up. them. the whole class is at fault if Styron said his favorite In addition, the students we lose any money,” Christie take a field trip to Oklahoma aspect of the class is the said. “We do have a line of way it affects students and City where the students get credit with the bank too, prepares them for their to see a brokerage house, though, so we always have futures. trust department and “What’s incredible to me something to fall back on. bank and an investment It’s a learning experience.” is that when they’re sitting management company. Part of the students’ around the news one day, The students are shown curricula each semester is they can understand those what is done on a daily basis to go through their options, in each role and gain valuable numbers or the language of the stock market in general. do research on favorable information on career paths. bonds they believe will be It makes sense to them and “This is square one for successful and present a solid a business major,” Styron means something when to case of their studies in front said. “This is how they most, it wont.” of their fellow classmates. As the cash goes out to decide what they want to do After the pitch, the pay for the bonds purchased or if they want to continue class will debate the by the students, money this major, this class sets earned from either the bonds recommended bond and them up for success and a that have matured or gained vote on whether they should broad career in the financial interest goes back into their proceed with it. services business as financial Styron said the program analysts, stock brokers and designated accounts. offers not only credit hours, financial planners. There’s Christie shares that the but also a competitive and experience can sometimes a whole career field out rigorous study that rewards there available to them after be intimidating, but having the students through their a positive group of students this class if they choose to hard work. to surround each other in take it.”
Dropping that Tea-mix
Snacks and Chats: LGBTQ+
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Page 3
Truth Seekers: Journalism Page 4
News
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February 11, 2019
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Mixing with Teas
A cultural celebration at Cameron Celeste Powell
to my experiences.” Polynice said the importance Student Life Editor of hosting these events lies in inclusion. At 11 a.m., Jan. 29, Cameron “We’re learning about these University Diversity Diplomats topics and holding ourselves to hosted their spring cultural a standard of respect,” she said. celebration Mixing with Teas in “Being inclusive isn’t for us; it’s for the Buddy Green Room. Inclusion and Student Success the people we’re trying to include.” Polynice also said she Coordinator Olivia Polynice, who is also the advisor to the Diversity appreciates being an advisor to the Diversity Diplomats because of Diplomats, said she believes her own culture and experiences. Cameron students acknowledge “It means a lot to me to be diversity on campus. a voice for minority people,” “Students respond well she said. “I feel there is a great to ethnic diversity,” she said. importance not just in what I’m “We like to stress in Diversity experiencing or what women Diplomats both ethnic and nationally are experiencing, international diversity because it but what about the students is very different. Sometimes we only think of diversity as race, but on our campus? What are they feeling and experiencing in the a lot of it is social diversity.” workplaces or in the classrooms? I The Diversity Diplomats want to make sure their narratives host a cultural celebration every are heard.” semester. The first event is Both Polynice and Shahid the Diversity Celebration—in agreed that they identify with a coordination with the Office of specific tea from their individual Student Development—in the cultures. Fall and the second is Mixing Polynice said she identifies with Teas in the spring. as Caribbean-American, where Past events include summits, coffee is popular. workshops and roundtables. “We’re big coffee people in the This year at Mixing with Caribbean, especially in Haitian Teas, the Diversity Diplomats and Puerto Rican cultures,” she presented styles of tea from said. “Café can leche is coffee Morocco, Africa, Russia, Saudi with milk that is made with an Arabia and China. Vice president Sammar Shahid expresso-like machine used on the stovetop. said during a presentation at “We usually eat it with bread the event that there are multiple like pan sobao.” varieties of her culture’s tea. Shahid said drinking tea in her “There are many types of loose leaf tea,” she said. “Loose leaf tea’s household happens at a specific taste can vary depending on where time each day. “My family is a big tea and how it’s grown despite being drinker since my great-greatthe same tea.” great grandfathers time,” she Shahid said she developed said. “Every day at 6 p.m. sharp the idea for Mixing with Teas everyone in the household drinks to highlight and represent other tea.” cultures. For more information on “I was born and raised in joining Diversity Diplomats, Saudi Arabia and my parents contact Olivia Polynice at are from Pakistan, so I relate to opolynic@cameron.edu. both cultures,” she said. “Being Diversity Diplomat meetings in Diversity Diplomats helps are also held at 1 p.m. on Fridays me share my culture with a wide in North Shepler, room 312. variety of people that may relate
Photos by Celeste Powell
Mix it up: Junior Noah Polynice (top) and freshman Valeria Villatoro (bottom) pour honey and sugar into their cups of hot tea as part of the Mixing with Teas event hosted by the Diversity Diplomats.
CU features new Associate of Arts degree Drue Watkins Managing Editor
Cameron University (CU) is offering a new Associate of Arts Strategic Communication degree through the Department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages. The new major is the first Associate of Arts degree to be offered at CU and will include 44 hours of general education along with 22 hours of required, base courses pertaining to the degree. In comparison, the Bachelor of Arts Strategic Communication degree features 22 hours of the same required, base courses combined with 18 hours of a concentration option—the two options being Communication Studies or Public
Relations. Department Chair of Communication, English and Foreign Languages Dr. Christopher Keller said the new program is an easier, more simplified way to get students involved with a Communication degree path. “The great thing about the new Associate of Arts major is how much it covers,” he said. “If you go through the list, it goes over writing beyond composition two, video editing, layout and design through photoshop, public speaking skills, [and] interpersonal communication. “These are important, foundational aspects of the standard bachelor’s degree that we can ease students into in just a two-year timeframe.” Keller said when he became the
Department Chair, he realized there was no liberal-based associate’s degree at Cameron—and he wanted that to change. “We have A.A.S. [Associate of Applied Science] degrees,” he said, “but we didn’t have a good arts program for students to get involved in. There’s a significant number of students out there who want to come to college, but don’t have the grades or the background to get into a four-year degree—a traditional degree. “This helps those students who are not interested in nursing, or criminal justice, get their feet wet. It’s all about opportunity.” Enrollment at CU is steadily decreasing, and Keller said this was a critical talking-point for the new degree— that modification is necessary to open
Photo by Drue Watkins
more doors for more students. “The ultimate goal is always the student,” he said, “and the reality is we have fewer students. I would be lying if I said that associate’s degree is not an advertisement for our bachelor’s degree.” Keller said that although the new degree is the most prominent addition to the department at the moment, it’s only an entryway. “The associate’s degree is useful,” he said, “but I think the bachelor’s degree is where the money’s at. It’s where we would like students to go.” Keller also said that while overall enrollment may be decreasing, online courses are proving to be more and more popular within both the curriculum and the university in general. “The new Strategic Communication major is a critical flexing point,” he said. “Cameron gets to expand its educational opportunities, and we get to take advantage of what online classes can offer to students. “This is how Cameron gets to grow— by looking at what is working and amplifying it.” The creation of the associate major took two years, but Keller said it was worth the patience. “There was no Associate of Arts degree here,” he said, “and there should be. We created something brand new, and that makes me excited. I’m hopeful for its future, and I can’t wait to see how this degree blossoms.” For more information on the Associate of Arts Strategic Communication major, visit the CU website, contact the Department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages at 580-581-2359 or Dr. Keller at ckeller@cameron.edu.
Student Life
February 11, 2019
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Snacks and Chats Discrimination and LGBT Rights Cambron Alsbrook and Celeste Powell
Photo coutesy of Tribune News Service
At 4 p.m., on Jan. 30, in the Buddy Green Room, the Diversity Diplomats, and People Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality (PRIDE), hosted a Snacks and Chats event. The event focused on LGBT rights with LGBT members and allies alike welcomed to participate. Inclusion and Student Success Coordinator Olivia Polynice led the discussion. One of the themes discussed at the event was discrimination. One participant said their experience with harassment regarding their gender was through verbal and emotional means. Following the shared experiences, the roundtable discussed suggestions of how to work through difficult encounters. would hope they continue to grow even Some of the suggestions “I know that a lot of more inclusive.” involved knowing what Diversity diplomat Candace Craig said resources are available and people thought after she believes with planning, an LGBTQIA+ who to contact, such as same sex marriage rally could be possible. Olivia Polynice. “Organization is a major key when was legalized, that Brittany Ross said she it comes to protests and rallies because was pleased with her peers the fight for gay rights everyone has to be on the same page for being open-minded during ended. We want to the purpose to be clear and successful,” she the event, and she hopes said. “Do I think it could happen? Yes. Do make sure that for positive changes in the I think the support from both faculty and future. people know that there students will be there? No. “To see my peers being is still more work to “There is not enough knowledge beyond so open and so withthe LGBTQIA+ community to form be done.” taking of the information something that will make people want to was really satisfying,” she — Candace Craig care enough to participate.” said. “I have a good feeling Diversity Diplomat Previous Snacks and Chats events about positive change in covered topics of health, self-care and the future.” cultural awareness. PRIDE Vice President Polynice said the events discuss Lynndon Lambert said he hopes implementation of different varieties of topics. inclusivity training at Cameron becomes a reality. “The snacks and chats are a series that students and “I wish Cameron would let LGBT students know the university do that cover a wide range of topics,” she they are safe and loved here on campus,” he said. “We in PRIDE try to reach as many LGBT students said. “They stem from politics, to science, different things in legislation, how it affects our university, as we can, but we can only do so much as a group of society, workplaces—the whole shebang.” students. Cameron has some great policies, and I Diversity Diplomat member Candace Craig said
students should share their experiences to ensure the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights do not subside. “Through our Snacks and Chats series this semester,” she said, “we really wanted to focus on the different groups on campus, specifically marginalized diversity groups. “We wanted to partner with PRIDE on a Snacks and Chats event about LGBTQIA+ issue because I know that a lot of people thought after same sex marriage was legalized, that the fight for gay rights ended. We want to make sure that people know that there is still more work to be done.” Brittany Ross said she spent time focusing on explaining issues the LGBTQIA+ community goes through rather than aiding in the discussion of helpful ideas. “For me personally,” Ross said, “I don’t feel any more aware - simply because I felt like most of the time I was explaining the struggles the LGBTQIA+ go through instead of having an actual conversation about awareness and solutions. “I do think if we continue to have Snacks and Chats, more students will want to get involved in awareness around campus.” The next Diversity Diplomats event (in collaboration with RHA) will celebrate Black History Month as an Open Mic night on Feb. 20.
SGA addresses organization funding Derek Snow Staff Writer
Cupid’s Hangout Finding love: From 6 - 8 p.m. on Feb. 6, PAC hosted Cupid’s Hangout — a friendship speed dating and dance party open to all students. When students arrived, organizers gave a choice between two different types of name tags: blue, which indicated the student is open to a romantic entanglement, and red, which indicated the student is only interested in friendships.
Photos by Celeste Powell
Cameron’s Student Government Association (SGA) met for their second meeting at 5:15 p.m., on Jan. 28, in Ross Hall 101. SGA introduced two new officers for the spring semester. Whitney Brown won an uncontested election as the Treasurer of SGA, while Devyn Crosley was appointed the new Secretary. Previous officers of SGA include President Luis Jaquez, Vice President Ryan Christie, Parliamentarian Robbie Day and Sergeant at Arms Brittney Ross. The SGA has several committees, each with their own chairs or heads, with Treasurer Whitney Brown overseeing the Constitutional Committee and Brandon Gibson heading the Public Relations Committee. The Legislative Committee, chaired by VP Ryan Christie, is currently overlooking numerous pieces of legislation before presenting them to the senate floor. Each committee plans to present a report for the third meeting. The Finance Committee oversees requests to use the SGA Organization Budget. Currently, the budget totals $2,415. Jaquez encouraged more organizations to request funding. An organization’s SGA Representative is eligible to request funds. “We would like to see that number hit zero,” he said. “If we don’t use that money it goes back to the general budget.” What is leftover cannot be spent in
the next academic year and must be used before the spring semester is over. The SGA body also discussed concerns and questions about the Financial Aid disbursement change coming in Fall 2019. PRIDE representative Lynndon Lambert said the new financial aid disbursement could have prohibited him from turning in class assignments. “It’s three weeks into school right now,” Lambert said. “I’ve had six assignments due in art; if I had to wait for my Financial Aid, I wouldn’t have been able to turn in.” The agenda also addressed the upcoming elections for Student Government officers. Jaquez said there is a need not only for new senators and representatives, but also for new officers as well. “Many of us will be leaving in the spring semester,” Jaquez said. “We’d appreciate seeing more faces here; I would love to see this place full.” At the meeting, Dean of Students Zeak Naifeh also reminded students graduating in May 2019 must apply for graduation. The Cameron website states how students can apply for graduation, “Undergraduate and graduate students may apply for graduation online by logging in to their Aggie Access account and selecting the ‘Graduation Application’ link located within the ‘My Info’ tab.” The due date for graduation applications is April 1. For more information on applying for graduation visit the Cameron University website.
Voices
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February 11, 2019
www.aggiecentral.com Courtesy Photo
The Staff: The Cameron Collegian Editorial staff put the finishing touches on the current issue of The Collegian on Friday morning, Feb. 8, 2019. The Collegian has been in publication continuously since 1927.
Who tells the story: The case for our news Payton Williams Voices Editor @YoureSoVanya
If a journalist’s job is to tell the truth, the job of a local journalist is to show how the truth matters to their community. Over the last few years, every major newspaper in America has decried the horror of the death of the newspaper, and many of these grim appraisals are misguided, but for reasons I don’t think these outlets understand. Perhaps even for reasons they don’t care to understand. From where I stand, the undeniable death of the printed newspaper is coming, but it’s not The New York Times and the Washington Post that should be worried. It’s the local news that should be worried, because it is very nearly extinct. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with expression and, more deeply, with communication. I loved the ways that people talked to each other, and the different rhythms and word choices they used to make a point. It was this obsession with communication and making a point that made me interested in writing. I wanted to tell a story, to affect someone, maybe even to persuade someone to look at life from a different perspective. And now, all these years later, writing for a campus newspaper, I already see that what is threatened is not major news outlets with brand recognition. It’s the idea of the different perspective, of the “local spin.” Local news is dying at a shockingly rapid rate. In only 17 years, from 2000 to 2017, the advertising revenue for local newspapers decreased from $48 billion to $16.5 billion. That’s a decrease of more than 60% in less than 20 years. Subscription revenue has been similarly decimated.
In 1998, local newspaper subscriptions were held by 62.7 million people. In 2018, the number was 31 million, a decrease of a little more than half. Most communities take local news for granted, and the local newspaper is thought of as more of a public service than an industry that needs revenue to sustain itself. And then there is the issue of the internet, the very thing most major news outlets seem unwilling to understand. The internet is the single biggest reason for the death of printed newspapers, for the simple reason that most people get their news from the internet. I am not interested in bashing the internet for destroying newspapers. I believe it is completely understandable that the news would move to the internet. For readers, it’s faster, and it’s cheaper, and once major news outlets begin to understand the uses of the technology more thoroughly, there is no reason why it shouldn’t be fairly profitable. In fact, I blame resistance to new technology for a lot of the decline of major newspapers. But while major newspapers have the option to create a financially viable digital version of their publications, the same cannot be said of local newspapers. The reason for this is simple: The Lawton Constitution and The Duncan Banner simply don’t have the brand recognition that The New York Times has. And The Cameron Collegian certainly doesn’t either. I imagine there are probably those who don’t think these problems would affect journalists on a university level. They might think that, at an institution whose purpose is to teach people the job, the existence of a newspaper would be secure. These people would be wrong. Increasing costs for printing our newspaper, together with a steadily decreasing budget, have put The Cameron Collegian in very real danger.
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 for free. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
Our Views
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “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.
Even now, the staff of The Collegian is faced with the very real question of either being paid substantially less, or not printing the paper at all. It feels strange to have to say so, but I think the work we do here at The Collegian is worth at least the money to print a newspaper and to employ the staff, because it simply isn’t as easy as it seems. There was a time, when I first started my work study job at The Collegian, that I didn’t really know how to design the page. I had none of the training for using the software to create the pages and edit the photos, and for a few months, I would regularly be in the office on Thursday nights until 2 a.m. and get up at 7 a.m. for class the next morning. Now I have gotten much better with the equipment, but I can still be counted on to sink several hours into writing and researching stories, and editing my page, almost every week. And my job isn’t even close to being the hardest on staff. For example, take Co-Managing Editor of The Collegian, Drue Watkins. His work week involves all of the things I do, mixed with all of the responsibilities of being a supervisor, and the difficulty of the task hasn’t been lost on him. “You’re always running around making sure people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Watkins said. “And making sure people understand what they’re supposed to be doing. “It’s not just a supervisory role, it’s also a teaching role,” Watkins said. Drue is always working diligently on the paper; every time I’m in the office, he seems to be there. For him, this is a full time job, and not something he could do for no compensation. “Free labor is not fun,” Watkins said. “I think the compensation is necessary because of all the time I do put into it.” The Collegian is meant as a place to learn a job. And that is not necessarily just the job of creating a newspaper. At The Collegian, we learn principles
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN
of design, of writing, of communication, and a lot about the art of telling a story and making an argument. If the battle cannot be won on the college campus for the uses of a newspaper, how can we hope to win the battle anywhere else? The fact is that some people will always think local news is irrelevant. That it doesn’t reach enough people, that the work is not as polished as the work they see on major newspapers, and that the coverage isn’t quite what the public wants. But to abolish the local news completely is to show a lack of interest in a community. It shows a lack of interest in local politics, local events and local people. But more than that, it shows a wider disinterest in the idea of differing viewpoints on issues, and this can be dangerous. I’ll give an example. Last year, Oklahoma state house was the sight of an historic Teachers Strike that garnered national attention. After the strike, several state legislators were voted out of office in this state due entirely to their lack of support for teachers. And that was the end of the story, or at least, it was for the national news outlets. For CNN and Fox News, once some Republican legislators got fired, there was no longer any need to tell the story. There was no coverage of the continued struggle of the teachers, of the fact that many of the teachers are still being paid massively unfairly, and there was certainly no coverage of the Oklahoma state legislature’s attempt to siphon money from school infrastructure funds to pay teachers, even though Oklahoma’s school infrastructure is already disastrously underfunded. All of that information came from local outlets. And when those outlets are gone, who can we count on to tell these stories? Who can be counted on to care about our stories? Letters Policy
Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.
Editorial Staff
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.
Managing Editor - Drue Watkins Managing Editor - Madison Lyda A&E Editor - Sarae Ticeahkie Sports Editor - Mason Orso Student Life Editor - Celeste Powell Voices Editor - Payton Williams Copy Editor - Kim Frey Aggie Central Editor - David Bublitz Social Media Editor - Abby Gonzalez
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Derek Snow, David Perkins, Lindsey Edwards, Lea Killian, Dontaye Abram, Amanda King, Cambron Alsbrook Circulation Manager - Drue Watkins and Madison Lyda Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
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.
5 A&E Chair and professor of music
February 11, 2019
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Hyunsoon Whang
Courtesy photo
A contrast of compositions Amanda King
followed the piece wherein Whang explained her final composition choice of Staff Writer the night, Frederic Chopin’s 24 Preludes, At 4 p.m. on Feb. 3., Cameron Op. 18. University’s McMahon Endowed chair “Why did he write 24?” Whang said. and professor of Music Hyunsoon “Well, my students know because there Whang presented a piano recital in the are 24 keys, right? So, he wrote one for University Theatre. each key.” Whang began the concert by Whang chose to play all 24 of Chopin’s performing Robert Schumann’s Arabeske Preludes as the centerpiece of her recital. Op. 18., electing to open with a soothing Ranging from 30 seconds to six composition as it allowed her to ease minutes long, the second half of her listeners into the performance. performance was rife with contrasting Whang told the audience at the close pieces that Whang felt were always meant of this first piece, however, that she had to add up to a collective whole. plenty of more intense tunes to come. “I don’t hear people play all 24 “If you were relaxed during the first altogether, but I think it works as a set.” piece,” Whang said, “You won’t be relaxed Afterward, while thanking her during this next one.” listeners, Whang divulged a desire to Her second composition of the evening leave her audience with something a bit was Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in C lighter. Minor, Op. 10 No. 1, which consisted of “I don’t want you to go home three movements. depressed, so maybe I should play Whang chose the piece to contrast her something happy” she said. selections while also fulfilling her latest Her fingers soon dancing across the “urge to learn a new Beethoven work.” keys to the tune of an upbeat Johann A brief intermission immediately Sebastian Bach prelude.
Once the song came to an end, Whang again expressed gratitude to her audience and soon left the stage embracing some of her peers and students while receiving not a few flower bouquets. Whang is no stranger to performing. She is an internationally renowned pianist with hundreds of concert credits all around the globe. In Feb. 2018, she released her album “Chopin Nocturnes,” which showcases her deep love of the composer’s work. Whang started dedicatedly playing the piano at the age of four and said it was actually due to her sister’s early lessons that she was first drawn to the piano. “My older sister was taking piano,” Whang said, “and I just had to do it.” In addition to Whang’s musical accomplishments, she advises the Asian club, is president of Phi Kappa Phi and holds the Louis D. McMahon Endowed Chair in Music at Cameron University. She continues to instruct music appreciation and piano classes. Whang tries to play at least one solo recital on campus per year, as well as
bring in guest artists for chamber music concerts. “It’s always nice to play for the community members and the students,” she said. “It makes me really happy.” Chair of the Art, Music, & Theatre Arts Department Scott Richard Klein believes that having such events on campus is highly advantageous for students. “I think it’s great that everything is, as far as the concerts, the plays, the galleries, are all free for students because,” Klein said. “This is the time in their lives when they should be exposed to all of this. You know, start developing your sense of aesthetic and what you like. I see the benefits as being tremendous.” Whang’s performance indeed had a promising turnout, which she said was surprising due to conflicting with Super Bowl LIII’s broadcast. For more information about the Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts upcoming concerts, plays and events, contact Scott Richard Klein at scottk@ cameron.edu or 580-581-2346.
‘The Walking Dead’ returns Spring 2019
Courtesy photo
Lea Killian Staff Writer
On Halloween, 2010, AMC ran their first episode of the “The Walking Dead.” The show is about a small-town sheriff who gets injured on the job and wakes up alone, in a hospital bed. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) woke up after the end of the world, when the dead walk and the living are few and far between. Eight and a half seasons later, “The Walking Dead” remains well loved in the world of horror drama. The show is originally based off the comic books adapted by Robert
Kirkman, and has since formed a life of its own - as many comic book inspired television shows tend to do. With Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier) and countless other remarkable actors, the show flourished; so much so, that AMC almost immediately ordered a talk show. “The Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick, is exactly that, a show for fans to watch right after “The Walking Dead.” The show enabled fans to mourn their favorite characters, discuss plot twists and marvel at
character developments. When shows survive as long as “The Walking Dead,” people start questioning its ability to continually engage viewers. Even online fan clubs may begin to tear the show apart and question writers’ choices, even berate the actors who brought these beloved characters to life. Unfortunately, “The Walking Dead” is no stranger to these kinds of critiques. Over the last few years, the show’s popularity died down immensely. “The Talking Dead” successfully remains on air, and there are even fan conventions for zombie enthusiasts in which “The
Walking Dead” cast and crew headline all over the country. It wasn’t enough; that is, until season nine. Much has changed for Rick since season eight. Viewers immediately find the show has implemented a year and a half time jump. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the primary antagonist over the last few seasons, is now behind bars in Alexandria. The communities are under Rick’s orders, including Negan’s Saviors, and are working together. Rick attempts to honor a lost loved one’s request by sparing Negan and his followers while also
claiming leadership. There are, however, many people in the communities who violently disagree with his decisions. Much of the plot in the first half of season nine has the unified communities in a race against time to build a bridge before the rains of spring arrive, but all this does is heighten the tension between them. When an unexpected hoard of the dead arrives, no one is around to lead them away, and Rick finds himself in a precarious position. What happens to Rick Grimes leads “The Walking Dead” fearlessly into completely uncharted territory.
In yet another time jump in episode six, six whole years have passed since viewers last saw Rick Grimes. A new threat, unlike anything viewers have seen before, has emerged in the forests outside of the towering, protected walls of Alexandria, Oceanside, Hilltop and the Kingdom. With these communities venturing into a vast unknown, any semblance of safety they worked so hard for ends, and a whisper of the future begin. “The Walking Dead” is better than ever. The second half of season nine premieres on AMC on Feb. 10.
Sports
February 11, 2019
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Track and Field
6
A leg up on competition
Photos by Mason Orso
Going the Distance: On Jan. 26, both the Cameron men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in their first opening meet in Norman, Oklahoma.
Mason Orso
Johnson said. “I was just hoping “That’s always scary everyone figured out Sports Editor going into the first meet how to check in. There’s On Jan. 26, the with so little time to a specific type of spike Cameron track and prepare.” they let you use in your field team visited the The team practiced shoes, so you have to Mosier Indoor Facility six days a week which get your spike checked,” at the University of includes two quality Johnson said. Oklahoma for their track workouts a week for “I was hoping we all first ever meet. distance runners. had the right type of Athletic Director Cameron University’s spike in our shoes.” and head coach for the first track and field meet Freshman men/women’s track allowed the team to figure Communication major and field and cross out where they are fitness- and member of the track country teams Zach wise and to get a starting and field team Shianne Johnson looks forward point for the rest of the Taylor aid she just to competition with season. wants to run to the best the new additions to “For most of those of her ability. Cameron University’s competing it was kind-of a “At first I was feeling athletics. rust buster. We had a few really nervous because “The women’s cross people run personal best it was my first college country team is new, times, and that’s always meet, but once I stepped and we just added men great,” Johnson said. on the track, I let my and women’s track and “Our biggest focus is to nerves go and went after field. This is our first get a meet under our belt, it. I let what I’ve been season and it’s pretty see where we are at, and practicing just come to exciting,” he said. keep moving forward.” life.” Johnson said The team consists of A challenge for Cameron was looking almost all freshman. Taylor was participants to add another women’s “The negative is who already had sport. that we don’t have a lot experience at the meet. “It came down to of experience going to “Those people either women’s already have soccer or track set times. The “We want to be good and field,” he biggest thing team members, said. was psyching “Ultimately encourage each other myself out, that they ended other people were and get better. We try up adding faster than me. I to have a good culture had to trust my women’s track/field and training,” Taylor within the program.” cross country. said. — Zach Johnson I’m definitely Taylor said excited we it means a lot Head Coach added the represent CU Athletic Director to program.” Cameron To separate University on the Cameron from other college meets and running men and womens’ track track teams, Johnson’s on indoor tracks, but the and field teams. main focus is to be positive is that everything “I think it’s an good at distance is new, and they are awesome opportunity running. excited about everything,” to be a part of the first “There’s different Johnson said. women’s team and be a events in track and Johnson stresses part of this new legacy field. We don’t have values so the team can be that Cameron is going great facilities for long consistent and work hard. to have.” jump or throws, but we “We want to be good Taylor ran the 600 have the wild life refuge team members, encourage race in one minute and which is great for doing each other and get thirty nine seconds long runs,” he said. better. We try to have a which resulted in her “There are lots of good culture within the being seated at 14th dirt roads, so it’s great program.” he said. place. training resources for “I want them to be On Feb. 9, Cameron distance runners.” good students, always will compete at the The track and field working to have a high University of Central teams only had two team GPA. We want to Oklahoma Broncho weeks to prepare for try to be competitive in Open as part of the their meet in Norman. the Lone Start Conference upcoming spring season. “Most of the which is pretty much the Starting on Feb. 23, performance is toughest track conference the official outdoor based on what in D2.” season begins at the they accomplished For the first meet, Hardin-Simmons themselves over Johnson focused primarily Invitational in Lubbock, Christmas break,” on basics. Texas.
February 11, 2019
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Trending
7
Not a morning person? These genes may be to blame Tom Avril
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Perhaps you are one of those peppy people who spring into action with the sunrise. Or perhaps you find that sort of person exhausting, and you do your best work in the evening. As with so many other human traits, genes seem to play a key role in the answer. In a new study of 450,000 people, researchers
identified 351 genetic variants that were associated with chronotype—the scientific term for when a person prefers to sleep and wake. Individually, the study found each variant to have just a slight connection with whether participants preferred the morning or evening. But collectively, the various genetic markers made an appreciable difference, the authors reported recently in Nature Communications. The 351 telltale snippets of DNA consisted of 24 that had been previously linked to chronotype and 327 new ones.
A presidential history: Following President Trump’s second State of the Union Address on Feb. 5, Tribune News Service released a graphic (above) detailing the history of presidential speeches to Congress; it includes the length of addresses and the average number of words used. Trump finished with a time of 1:22:25—the longest since President Clinton in 1999.
Some of the new findings were plausible, in that the genes in question were known to be connected to how the body regulates various hormones, while others had no apparent connection to our daily rhythms. Now comes the hard work of sorting out cause and effect, and someday determining which of the genes might be useful in diagnosis and treatment. Researchers at the University of Exeter in England led the study, with collaborators from the University of Pennsylvania, among other institutions. “We know from these genetic studies that some of those are going to be real, informative associations, and some of them are just random,” said coauthor Philip R. Gehrman, an associate professor in the psychiatry department at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. “It’s a matter of working through them and trying to figure out which ones are the meaningful ones.” Contrary to what has been reported in some previous studies, the researchers found that night owls were no more likely than morning people to suffer from obesity or Type-2 diabetes. The authors speculated that perhaps the true culprit in those diseases is not whether someone is a night owl, but whether there is a mismatch between a person’s work schedule and natural sleep rhythm say, a morning person who is regularly assigned to work the graveyard shift. The UK Biobank drew the study subjects; a powerful new database of genetic and health information that has been mined for thousands of studies in just the first two years. It is unusual because of its large size and the fact that participants contributed both genetic and detailed health information. Other researchers from Penn recently used the database to determine if brain size was connected to intelligence (Yes, but barely). For the sleep study, researchers relied on participants to identify themselves as morning or evening people, as follows: —Definitely morning: 107,555 (23.9 percent) —More morning than evening: 144,731 (32.2 percent) —Don’t know: 46,538 (10.3 percent) —More evening than morning: 115,090 (25.6 percent) —Definitely evening: 35,818 (8.0 percent) Morning preference was more common in this group than in some past studies, perhaps because the average age of study subjects was in the late 50s, said Gehrman, whose coauthors included Diego R. Mazzotti, a geneticist at Penn. “Sometimes we can become more of a morning person as we age,” Gehrman said. To check the validity of having participants selfidentify themselves as morning or evening people, researchers directly measured the sleep cycles of a subset of 85,760 participants—giving them electronic activity monitors to wear on their wrists for a week. Once again, the genetic evidence seemed to fit. Those having the highest numbers of genetic variants associated with self-reported “morningness” did in fact have earlier sleep-wake cycles, by 25 minutes on average, when compared with people who had the least number of those genetic variants. The study excluded people taking medication for sleep or psychiatric disorders. While there is a genetic component to sleep-wake cycles, they can be altered with therapy. Gehrman said he sometimes treats patients who worked the night shift years ago, yet their bodies feel “stuck” on that cycle despite a shift to daytime employment. In such cases, he often uses light therapy to get patients back on track.
Retrospective
8
The graphic is a product of “The Cameron Collegian,” published in Volume XV, Issue 5 on Nov. 5, 1941. Graphic by Madison Lyda
February 11, 2019
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“The Cameron Collegian” would like to thank the members of the Library and Archive staff for their patience and help with bringing the history of the paper back to life.
- The Editors