Monday, February 20, 2012
NEWS
Volume 86 Issue 16
www.aggiecentral.com
Oklahoma primary campaigning picks up as ‘Super Tuesday’ approaches
Job Shadowing Cameron students shadow jobs in their perspective career fields. Page 2
Women’s Basketball The Lady Aggies emerge victorious at home after two losses on the road. Page 7
A&E
Academy Awards The 84th Annual Academy Awards will air on Feb. 26 on ABC. Page 6
VOICES
Opportunity Knocks A look into how seizing an opportunity can change everything. Page 4
SPORTS
NEWS
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press Photo by Matthew Berberea
Oklahoma Primary: Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at his Iowa caucus victory party. Sen. Santorum visited Tulsa and OKC on Feb. 9
by Colin DuRant Staff Writer
Oklahoma may not attract the same sort of Republican party campaigning as in early primary and caucus states such as Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, but it’s still an important battleground for the 2012 Presidential nomination. Data released by the Oklahoma State Election board shows Oklahoma with 828,257 registered Republicans as of Jan. 15. The 33 delegates of the state will be of consequence to the Republican primary candidates. Oklahoma’s Presidential preferential primary elections takes place on March 6, or “Super Tuesday,” a day in which 10 states hold their primaries. This year’s field of ten states involved in “Super Tuesday” represents a significant decrease from the 24 states which participated in the 2008 Presidential election. According to Oklahoma state law, primary
elections in Oklahoma are closed or “party primaries.” Only voters registered as a member of either of Oklahoma’s two recognized political parties, the Republican and Democratic parties, may vote in their primaries. The Oklahoma State Election board writes on their website, “primary elections have one purpose and one purpose only: To allow members of a recognized political party to select that party’s nominees to go on the General Election ballot.” In contrast to Oklahoma’s system, information published by FairVote.org a website sponsored by The Center for Voting and Democracy show that 13 states, including neighboring Texas, have an open primary system for the Republic primaries. In addition to that, a further nine states use a “semi-closed” system that allows for voters registered as independents to vote in their Republican primary.
See PRIMARY Page 2
Paint the Town Cameron University seeks continued involvement with the community. Page 3
CROSSROADS
Alternative Spring Break CU offers a different vacation for willing students. Page 8
Homecoming Week: campus becomes a circus by Sarah Holloway Cameron University is going to the circus in February. CU’s 2012 Homecoming Week is now upon the campus, and is packed with daily events. This year’s theme is “Under the Big Top.” According to Director of Campus Life Zeak Naifeh, the idea behind this theme was to have a theme that allows everyone to interact. “Every year we want a theme that is fun, interactive and gets everyone involved,” he said. “It needs to be something students, faculty, staff and alumni can understand and enjoy.” The Programming Activities Council (PAC), along with the alumni office, developed the homecoming theme. PAC was actively involved with planning an entire week’s worth of events that are geared towards CU students. The first event is to be held on Monday Feb. 20th. Musician Dr. Seahorse will be performing at 9 p.m. in the McCasland Ballroom. Tuesday, Feb. 21 will be a magical night, with selfproclaimed “Magician for Non-Believers” Peter Boie entertaining students in the McCasland Ballroom at 9 p.m. Elections will be held for Homecoming King and Queen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the McMahon Centennial Complex on Wednesday and Thursday. Along with voting on Wednesday, free pizza will be
Graphic courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Staff Writer
served in the MCC McCasland Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday night, students are invited are to dance the night away at the Homecoming Dance at 9 p.m. in the MCC McCasland Ballroom.
On Friday the Aggie Tennis team is playing at 1 p.m. at the Streih-Henry Family Courts. Also on Friday is the Bonfire Pep Rally and Social, where students are invited to keep warm and mingle with their fellow students. The pep
rally is 8:30 p.m. in the South Village Parking Lot. Homecoming week comes to a peak on Saturday with the Chuck Wagon Cook-Off at 12:30 p.m. on the Aggie Gym Lawn. The main events for
homecoming week will be the basketball games at 2 and 4 p.m. in the Aggie Gym, during which the Homecoming Queen and King will be crowned. In addition to the week’s student events, Friday and Saturday also pay host to events for alumni and parents. Each homecoming week at CU has been filled with fun and exciting events. Naifeh said that PAC worked hard to top last year’s homecoming week. “PAC worked very hard this year to make things even more over the top with the decorations and events,” he said. “Hopefully their hard work will show in the end and everyone will have a great time filled with memories.” According to Naifeh, PAC also worked to incorporate new events with homecoming events of the past. “Every year is a mix of old, new, and variations of events from prior years,” he said. “There are the classic events: homecoming dance, pep rally, bonfire, tailgate games and new ones like a magician and musician.” 2012 Homecoming Week t-shirts will be available for $5 in the Student Activities Office for anybody who would like to have a souvenir to remember their time under the big top. For more information about the student events and the alumni/parent events, visit www.cameron.edu/ homecoming or call the Student Activities Office at (580) 581-2217.
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News
February 20, 2012
www.aggiecentral.com
Job shadowing helps CU students learn about careers by Teewhy Dojutelegan News Editor
The fourth annual Take an Aggie to Work Day was Feb. 2. Jacob Johnson, the Career Services Coordinator at the Office of Student Development, said that the day is set aside for students to “Job Shadow,” going to work with professionals in their field of interest. “Job Shadowing is a time when a student will go to work with someone in a profession they are interested in,” he said. “The student will ‘shadow’ the professional to experience what a day in the life of that person is like.” This year, about 20 students applied to shadow professionals in fields such as Health, Financial, Higher Education and Law Enforcement. Johnson said students have been excited about the opportunity to participate in the event. “Students have really been pleased with the event and were very glad to have the opportunity,” he said. “It has even opened up doors for many students.” Temitope Buraimoh, a 17-year-old sophomore Biology major, found her experience informative. “I had an enlightening experience,” she said. “I was thinking about changing my major, but then the opportunity to check out life in another career presented itself and I took it.” Buraimoh said the experience is one that she will hold on to. “Meeting Lucy Laird at the Chamber of Commerce was great. She is exactly the kind of person I want to be like in the future,” she said. “Meeting her was an honor and I will always cherish the memories of that day.” According to Johnson, employers generally are thrilled at the prospect of being a part of the event. “Employers are usually very excited to be a part of it,” he said. “This year one particular employer agreed to hosting a shadow and said, ‘If it weren’t for people helping me open doors, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’” Johnson also said that impressing the professionals being shadowed could be beneficial.
Photo courtesty of MCT Campus
A peek into the career: Jennifer Wallace, a law student at the University of Pennsylvania, is a summer intern at Duane Morris L.L.P. CU students had the opportunity to experience how a day in their career chosen would be on Feb. 2. “I actually did find out that this year we had a student who shadowed a place, went back to apply for a job and was hired,” he said. “All because they made an impression on the manager during the job shadow event.” Cameron University is interested in student learning both inside and outside of the classroom, and events such as this help students confirm that they are making the right career choice. According to Johnson, the university does not want a student to go all the way through school, only to realize on the job that they had made a wrong career choice.
Johnson said to get into the Job Shadow program, students have to apply and write a short essay to verify serious applicants. “They are required to write a one page short essay explaining why they want to shadow and what they expect to get out of it,” he said. “We have to let the students know they are representing Cameron University, and the essay process usually verifies that students who apply are serious about the opportunity and understand how they need to act on the jobsite.” Johnson said that, in addition to Take
an Aggie to Work Day, CU also helps students get internships. Both programs help students get a look into what interests them. “We do offer internships here at Cameron University,” he said. “The way I compare job shadow versus internship is that they both give you a glimpse of what it is like to work in your field of study, but an internship is much more intensive.” For information about available opportunities, students are encouraged to contact Jacob Johnson through the Office of Student Development, North Shepler room 313, or call 580.581.2512.
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News
February 20, 2012
www.aggiecentral.com
Cameron student holds Key to the City by James Meeks A&E Editor
Cameron University’s Derrick E.D. Smith Jr., received a Key to the City of Lawton. Smith received the key to the city from Andrew Young, a friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and ally during the civil rights movement. Smith was honored to be given the task of introducing Young during the MLK day banquet. “It meant a lot more introducing Mr. Young than just an introduction, because of the civil rights movement and everything that he’s done are kind of the things I inspire to do,” he said. “He was right there with Dr. King. I spent a significant amount of time with him during the banquet.” Smith also won an essay contest on how Dr. King influenced his life, titled “Dr. King changed the reflection in my mirror.” According to Smith, his upbringing was from a tough neighborhood and both his experiences and what King went through had a lasting effect on his thinking. “Dr. King’s work with the civil rights movement and everything that he had done has made an impact on my life and allows me to see that I don’t have to be what society says I am supposed to be,” he said. Smith is involved in many organizations on and off campus. He is the public relations officer for the Ebony society and is a member of the MLK planning committee on campus. Off campus, Smith is involved with many committees such as the gang intervention steering committee with the city of Lawton and Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is partnered with the federal government and Disproportionate Minority Contact. He also sits on the MLK planning committee, and is one of the candidates in the running for Homecoming King. Smith is currently in the works for a new student organization called the Future Entertainment Industry Society (FEIS), a group he said he is excited to be a part of. “I know there are a lot of students that aspire to be in the entertainment industry whether it is music, film or radio,” he said. “Whatever field that they desire to study in, I want to give them the opportunity to come on board to a campus organization that can put everybody that is serious about it together.” Smith plans for the group to be a secure network in those fields, and to allow students to have access to the networks he has built in those areas. Smith is excited for FEIS and emphasized that the organization is about
Photo by James Meeks
Staying focused: Derek Smith poses with the key to the city. Smith has been involved in many campus organizations and community service events. experience, and the connections in the entertainment industries he has made and will pass on to other students. “I think it’s important you gain experience along with your degree so when you graduate and you come out not only do you have a bachelors, you also have a resume,” he said. Smith currently holds an Assistant Mayor internship in Tatums, Okla. The internship will count as credit towards his degree in Business Administration.
PRIMARY continued from Page 1 According to voting records, Oklahoma has been a “red” state, voting a Republican majority in the last 10 Presidential elections. This comes despite the fact that according to records show that Oklahoma has more registered Democrats than Republicans, 943,283 to 828,257. The last time Oklahoma went to the Democratic party was the election of the Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas when he defeated Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964. President Johnson won that election in a landslide, obtaining 61.1 percent of the popular vote and winning the electoral college votes of all but six states. Sentator Rick Santorum has been the latest Republican Presidential candidate to visit Oklahoma. The last Republican candidate to visit was Mitt Romney who appeared in Oklahoma City on campaign stop on Oct. 13. Senator Santorum’s Feb. 9 visit included stops in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Both visits have been arranged by the Oklahoma Republican Party in their series entitled “Party for a Victory 2012.” In a statement about Senator Santorum’s visit, Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party Matt Pinnell
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
A visit to Oklahoma: Senator Rick Santorum gives a speech in Detroit, Michigan. He visited Oklahoma on Feb. 9 to campaign for the primaries. wrote, “We are thrilled to welcome another Presidential candidate to the Reddest State in the Country! If you can win Oklahoma, you can win the conservative
vote nationwide.” At his visit, Senator Santorum praised Oklahoma’s values and politics. His address focused mostly on cutting back government
regulations on small businesses and energy production. Of the upcoming primary in Oklahoma, Senator Santorum said, “We need to do well here. We intend to win here.” The former Pennsylvania senator also vowed to return to Oklahoma before the primary. While most attention has been focused on the Republican primary race, Oklahoma remains one of the states where the Democratic party also has a primary on March 6. While incumbent President Barack Obama possesses the endorsement of the Oklahoma Democratic Party and of the national party, the President will have several challengers on the ballot in Oklahoma including Jim Rogers of Midwest City, OK. The primary also represents an important test for Oklahoma’s new voting machines, an upgrade from the optical scanner devices purchased by the Oklahoma State Election board roughly 20 years ago. Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said: “Voters won’t see much of a change in the process of voting. The new machines operate similarly to the old devices.” While the deadline for voter registration to vote in the primary on March 6 passed on Feb. 10, voters have until Friday, Oct. 12 to ensure they can vote in this year’s general Presidential election on Nov. 6.
Community support solicited as CU paints the town black and gold by Amber Lindsey Staff Writer
Local businesses continue to offer support and discounts to Cameron University students, faculty and staff through CU’s Paint the Town Black and Gold initiative. According to Vice President for Student Services Jennifer Holland, the Paint the Town Black and Gold initiative began in 2008, when members of the Student Government Association felt there was a lack of a “university” feel in the Lawton community. Vice President Holland said that in towns like Norman and Stillwater, university pride is evident because the communities display their schools’ colors. She said that a group of SGA students wanted to have that same effect here in Lawton. “When you go to some towns, it’s apparent that there is a university there,” she said. “A group of SGA students felt the absence of that in Lawton, so they came up with Paint the Town Black and Gold.” Vice President Holland said Paint the Town Black and Gold is a simple way to get the Lawton community to show their support for CU. She explained that this could be done in a number of ways, including displaying a CU window decal or offering discounts to students. Some of the businesses that offer
Photo courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Search for local support: The Paint the Town Black and Gold is a student-led innitiative designed to create community support for CU. The innitiative has led to discounts for CU students in several local businesses. discounts include Burger King, Orange Leaf and Taco Mayo, among others. Vice President Holland noted that, although there are several businesses involved with Paint the Town Black and Gold, she would like to see more student led solicitation of local businesses. “It’s not as much an active solicitation of partners as I had wanted or anticipated,” she said. “I would like to have groups of students go out into the community to meet with new businesses as well as with those we haven’t heard from in a while.” Vice President Holland feels that a student asking a business for support is more effective than her, as an employee
of CU, asking for support. She explained that businesses like to see the students personally and want to know that those students will visit their establishment. Vice President Holland believes that an effective way to solicit support from businesses is for students who work at the various businesses in town to talk to their employers. She said that if every student used what connections they have, the program could grow substantially. As part of the Paint the Town Black and Gold initiative, Cameron hosted the Paint the Town Partner Fair at the beginning of the fall semester. According to Vice President
Holland, CU-supporting businesses set up booths in the McMahon Centennial Complex’s breezeway, where they offered samples of their products and held drawings for students. “At the beginning of the fall semester we did our Paint the Town Partner Fair, where businesses were able to hand out samples and do drawings for prizes,” she said. “Since these partners are providing a service to our students, we wanted to allow them to have contact with them.” More information on the initiative, and a list of businesses offering discounts can be found at www. cameron.edu/paintthetown and at the SGA office on the second floor of the McMahon Centennial Complex.
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Voices
February 20 , 2012
www.aggiecentral.com
Lack of partisanship in American politics
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor - Elijah Morlett Asst. Managing Editor - Aaron Gill News Editor - Teewhy Dojutelegan Crossroads Editor - Dianne Riddles A&E Editor - James Meeks Sports Editor - Matt Berberea Copy Editor - Alex Rosa-Figueroa Aggie Central Editors - Aaron Gill, Mitch Watson Archivist - Mitch Watson
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Megan Bell, Tyler Boydston, Kelsey Carter, Fern Cepeda, Colin DuRant, Leah Ellis, Rachel Engel, Angela Goode, Jessica Goodman, Sarah Holloway, Tiffany Martinez, Lizzy Owoyemi, Miranda Raines Interns - Sarah Brewer Circulation Manager - Matt Thompson Advertising Manager - Elijah Morlett Photographer - Kelsey Carter
Newswriting Students
Valera Ainsworth, Adrian Alexander, Amanda Goemmer
Our Voice The Collegian Editorial Staff The “hope” that many Americans pinned on Barack Obama didn’t have much to do with the policies Americans hoped that the President would enact so much as it did with the bridges they hoped he would build. Perhaps President Obama could work to mend the gorges of partisanship that have divided the United States. Voters placed on President Obama not only the responsibilities of fulfilling his many campaign promises, but also doing so in such a way that moved American politics towards a more centrist view; a view more representative of the American people’s wants and needs, instead of one driven by party politics and partisan voting practices. However, overcoming these gaps seems to have become too much for the President. President Obama constantly struggles to find an identity that fits into a suitable paradigm: leaning too far to the left for the conservatives in the nation,
Dr. Christopher Keller
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Edmond Sun via the Duncan Banner.
Letters Policy
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. The first issue is free, every subsequent issue is $1.50
Don’t mistake this dissatisfaction of the lack of progress in Washington as an endorsement of quick-acting legislation and rampantly expanded government powers. The writers of the Constitution carefully designed the American political system to rely on slow, calculated changes rather than flippant changes focused on the political needs of each legislative session. What should be embraced, however, is the idea of progress and advancement of American interests on both a state and federal level. Effective legislation should be built upon cooperative governing based on mutual interests and ideals. These problems represent nothing new. From the inception of the United States, political disagreements have dominated American politics. While the methods and the parties may have changed, many practices remain the same. In comparison to the mud slinging of the Presidential election of 1824, many of today’s political maneuvers might seem relatively tame. The ability to exchanges now exists. We live in a new era of unprecedented access
to information and instant communication. Discussion and dissemination of knowledge, thanks to the Internet, now can exist on previously unfathomable scale. The Internet’s response the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act demonstrated that the power for a constituent to influence their Representative or Senators on individual issues now lies in the hands of every politically aware and active American. The responsibility now falls to every citizen to educate her or himself. Americans need to become politically conscious in order to affect the political change they would like to see. I am not saying we all need to agree, in fact to suggest so would be an attack on fundamental American ideals. But the time for complacency and relying on mainstream media to arm us with the information we need has passed. We need to embrace the American paragon that Abraham Lincoln expressed in his Gettysburg’s Address, of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Seize the opportunity, seize the day
Faculty Adviser
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 collegian@cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060 or at www. aggiecentral.com.
disappointing the moderates with political missteps and failing to rally his liberal base. President George Washington, in his farewell address, made prescient remarks about the dangers of factionalism in American politics. If President Washington could see the strict lines dividing much of America today, one cannot help but wonder if he would be disappointed. “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension ... is itself a frightful despotism,” he said. The reality that compromises are necessary in political dealings is undeniable. Unfortunately, rather than compromise based on the mutual goal of forwarding the interests of the citizenry, Congressional compromises revolve around trading votes for votes on legislation and ensuring party money and support for reelection. When politics becomes too focused on political ambition rather than civic responsibility, the tyranny of monarchy that the Founding Fathers cautioned against has the potential to manifest itself in the form of elected officials.
by Teewhy Dojutelegan News Editor Opportunities are one of those aspects of life that we have all taken for granted at some point or the other. Some do not need to do anything to advance in life, while others have to put in a little extra effort. Many of us, though, fail to realize that life isn’t a bed of roses, and that to get something, we oftentimes have to give something. To take advantage of those chances to do something in life, we have to be willing to sacrifice “something.” That “something” might be time away from what we like to do, effort to submit an application or just getting out of our comfort zones to find such opportunities in the first place. The big problem is that many of us do not really want to give to receive. We believe that we have a “right to have” and not a “right to work for.” Sadly, victory would not be sweet if there is no sweat. Success would not be rewarding without hard work. Today, many youths have ignored the opportunities in life. Many of them have taken the chance to have a good life — a life of satisfaction — and trampled upon it, smashed it and then burned it up, all because they do not want to put the barest effort to make a future. Many want a ready-made future, one they could just pick up
and run with. That kind of path is seldom possible, unless their families already have a nice future planned – and paid – for them. The unique aspect about opportunity is that it often presents itself multiple times, and in such ways that there is no chance to complain about not having a chance. In the few years I have spent at Cameron University, I have had more opportunities given me than the average international student. Nigeria built me, Nigeria shaped me, and Nigeria taught me to recognize opportunities. The United States gave me these opportunities. I have had the chance to travel to multiple states in the US. I have had the opportunity to represent a higher institution. I have had the chance to meet people I would definitely never meet. Through writing for the Collegian, I met the President of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, where I intern now. If I had decided to be passive and let opportunities such as serving in the Student Government Association, writing for the Cameron University Collegian and serving as a school ambassador pass me by, I can not imagine how life would be for me. Doing all these things gives me great joy and builds my confidence to do better in everything I do — to say nothing of the additional perks that I receive. It angers me that many people have the opportunity to go to school, to play sports, to work and make something of their lives, but they refuse. Many people hope for the opportunities that a lot of people have, but are not trying to find them. I know many people who would do 40 hours of volunteer hours per week and still keep a 4.0 GPA just to get part of their tuition paid for. Many people have that opportunity but don’t use it. I have seen students whose parents pay for everything they need, students
Photo courtesy of the MCT Campus
Suit up! Neil Patrick Harris poses during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Harris has been successful throughout his acting career on stage the silver and small screens. who do not have to work, but still make poor grades not because they are not smart but because they just cannot be bothered to study. While in college in Nigeria, I had a friend who was five times smarter than I was. He would have gotten into Medical school with a full ride if his parents could pay for him to take the SAT. Unfortunately, they couldn’t, so his opportunity to become the next Ben Carson died there. There are many people like him who only need the tiniest bit
of opportunity to make a great life for themselves in the fields they have chosen. There are even more people who have all the opportunity they need but do not use them. Remember, for people who have shoes but don’t wear them, there are people who have no shoes and, worse still, people who have no feet. Make use of the opportunities given to you, for there are many people who do not have that chance.
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Shutter Society
February 20, 2012
www.aggiecentral.com
First rule of composition: In the image above, the buffalo resides on the upper, right third of the picture plane, demonstrating the use of rule-of-thirds effectively. Rule-of-thirds is a term typically heard among both professionals and hobbyists alike. The compoisitional technique is used to create initial interest for a viewer. The idea is to divide up the picture seen inside of the view finder into nine equally spaced sections and to line up points of interest — in this case, the buffalo — on an intersecting point of the image.
The new society The Shutter Society, created by Kelsey Carter, is a bi-weekly publication new to the Cameron Collegian and Aggie Central. The publication will be primarily artbased, exploring broad aspects of photography that every shutter bug should know. Shutter Society topics will include technique, equipment, rules of composition and creativity.
Sure, we have only dipped our toes into year 2012, but with the rapid explosion of technology in the past 10 years I think it is fair to assume some great new products will be released later this year. Rumors of an announcement date for the new Canon 5D Mark III are already floating around the photography realm and as more advancements to digital photography equipment are produced the easier is it to establish yourself as a photographer, right? Wrong. As an aspiring photographer and journalist I have to believe that there is more to the art of photography than a 2 thousand dollar camera body and click of the shutter. As an innately tech-savvy
generation makes its way into the professional fields of the world a threat to once precious, skilled workers emergers. But before you let the heavy breathing and job insecurity ensue take a moment to consider the photographers of the past, the greats who established the ability to story tell and evoke emotion with zero text. I think it is important to honor their hard work by drawing some lines between the artist and the autoshooting entrepreneurs that manage to earn income by producing the same generic image for senior photo shoot after senior photo shoot. To be a [real] photographer, take the time to know the equipment, rules of composition, shutter
A spin on light: By tricking the light sensor inside of the camera the sky is correctly exposed, while the positive shapes are underexposed. A silhouette was created. speed, aperture, ISO, exposure and how to break the rules. In a time when almost anyone who owns a camera and Adobe Photoshop can convince others to consume their ‘work’ it is crucial to recognize how to separate photographers from those with an interest in shooting digital images.
For passion or profit, art is beautiful
by Kelsey Carter
Collegian Photographer Welcome to the time of the Hipster, Minimalist, or any other creativity driven, innovative-thirsty college-aged group not yet named. These sexually frustrated, raging contras are dictating the essence of “cool,” ripping their hair out every time they spot any over-played voice hitting the top charts — or making any money at all, really. But can we blame them for being so prestigious? It is not their fault they are socially and culturally mature. Really, we should embrace them, thank them for refusing to open their mouths and shovel in every piece of junk mainstream media has been feeding us since the birth of Yellow Journalism. Recently on an exam, a college professor asked how _ media might hurt/effect society, the blank being violent video games, pornography, certain types of music and so on. While contemplating that question, what I came up with is that American society will not be able to handle media in a way that is not degenerative. Society has been conditioned to receive bits of violent, sexual and sensational ‘news’ or ‘information’, and will always come back for more. If there is ever a shift in the way media is produced, we may just stop functioning as a society all
together. For example, just consider local news. How many viewers would continue watching if newscasters quit reporting on the “Heightened awareness at Cameron after VA Tech shooting” or the like? The question is, then, how will knowing that the general American populous is a cesspool of brain matter, letting every bit of crap information infect the area, apply to the arts and the way we produce and consume intellectual property? My concern, as a selfproclaimed artistically inclined individual and aspiring photographer, is whether or not I direct my workflow in order to appeal to the desperate needs of the culturally starved group of 20-some-year-olds, or if I produce carbon copy images and works of art that I know will be consumed by the large population of mainstream mindless consumers. I’ve learned the basics — design elements, design principles, shutter speed and aperture — and I’ve become stale. I am by no means a composition queen, but I want to extrapolate some of these ideas and be fresh and innovative like an up and coming photographer should be. From what I have heard, though, if I want to make money I had better stay within the lines of normalcy. Actually, I had better get on a new career path all together. But that’s just it, isn’t it? We are not striving to become journalists, artists, musicians and photographers for money. We are taking 15 plus credit hours a semester, writing dozens of papers with dozens of revisions and staring at that unholy white 8x11 Photoshop document until either our eyes bleed or we come up with a composition worthy of an art
A creative portrait: CU student, Jarod Grice, walks horizontally across the picture plane and glances downward. A portrait unlike many others is created by directing the subject to maintain a natural posture and avoid any typical poses and gazes directly toward the camera. professor’s meager “It’s okay,” because we are passionate about our work. That’s right, it is work, so should we really have to choose? Do I have to compromise my passion for creativity in order to make a living? I would like to think that one day someone will walk right into my adviser’s office and demand to see Kelsey Carter because they’ve got an offer she cannot refuse, and maybe they will come prepared with a $50,000 dollar check for a start to the unnamed position; I’m not holding my breath,
though. The reality is, some people get lucky and others get married to doctors and lawyers who can support their artistic endeavors. I want to appeal to the minds of the Millennial generation, I think I actually like what those erratic, fashion obsessed school mates of mine are scrounging around for. They are seeking newness, and if I’m completely honest that is what I want to be able to do as a photographer — be fresh and constantly create. I think that the majority of society cannot handle media that isn’t
what they have seen for the past thirty years; they might literally explode. I think you all should know I’m a bit of a risk taker. My plan is to create for the love of it. I’m banking on these crazy kids to pay my bills when, in all actuality maybe they just don’t know what “real” art is. So I will live off Pop Tarts and cereal for the next 10 years while I enjoy the hell out of my career. When I find a way to be both career happy and financially successful, I’ll let you all know how it is done.
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A&E
February 20, 2012
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The Academy Awards: preview by Tyler Boydston Staff Writer
The nominations have been announced, and the Oscars are ready to be handed out to their prospective winners. The 84th annual Academy Awards are set to be held at 7 p.m. Eastern standard time on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. 2012 marks 11 years that the event has taken place at the theater. This year’s hosting duties belong to Billy Crystal, who has hosted the show eight other times from 1990 to 2004. The hosting duties were originally Eddie Murphy’s, but he resigned after producer Brett Ratner left the show in November. This will be the first time since 2009 that the Academy Awards will have a single host, with previous years featuring co-host pairs. Nominations for this year’s categories were announced on Jan. 24 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The Best Picture category, which has been changing over the course of the past few years, has nine nominees in place of previous last year’s 10. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided that the category can have anywhere from five to 10 nominees each year, with no set number. The nine nominees are “The Artist,” “The
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
And the nominees are...: Billy Crystal will be hosting the 84th annual Academy Awards. This will be his ninth time hosting the awards; his last time as host was in 2004. Descendants,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” “The Help,” “Hugo,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life” and “War Horse.” Last year’s winner was director Tom Hooper’s “The King’s Speech”. As with previous years’ shows, a select few movies have multiple nominations throughout different categories. Director Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” is nominated
for five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing and Best Actor for George Clooney. 2012 is the first year at the Oscars for director Michel Hazanavicius, whose film “The Artist” is nominated for ten awards, including Best Picture, Director and Actor. The film previously won Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical at this year’s Golden Globes.
Director Martin Scorsese, winner of the Best Director award at this year’s Golden Globes for his film “Hugo,” is nominated for the same award at the Academy Awards. The film is also nominated for nine other awards, including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Visual Effects. Scorsese previously won Best Director for his 2006 film “The Departed,” which also won that year’s Best Picture award. The nominees for Best
Animated Film this year include “A Cat in Paris,” “Chico & Rita,” “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Puss in Boots” and “Rango.” This will be the first time since 2006 that a Disney and Pixar collaboration will not win the award, as Pixar’s “Cars 2” is their first film not nominated for Best Animated Film since the category’s inception in 2001. This year’s nominees for Best Documentary Feature include “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory,” which follows the release of the West Memphis Three, “Hell and Back Again,” “If a Tree Falls,” “Pina” and “Undefeated.” Previous winners include “An Inconvenient Truth,” “March of the Penguins” and “Bowling for Columbine.” 2012 is also a year of firsts for two acting veterans. 82-year-old Max Von Sydow, who has never received a nomination from the Academy Awards, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” Similarly, Gary Oldman’s first nomination is also this year, in the category of Best Actor for his role in “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.” The film is also nominated for Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay. For more information on this year’s Academy Awards, or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, visit www. oscars.org
Biology department celebrates Darwin Day by Sarah Brewer Collegian Intern
photo by Sarah Brewer
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin: CU Biology Honor Society and CU Biology Club, celebrated Darwin Day with cake.
To mark the birthday of the evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin, members of the CU biology honor society Tri Beta (BBB) and the CU Biology Club hosted a Darwin Day party on Feb. 10 in the CU Science Complex. Darwin Day, an international celebration held on or around Feb. 12, not only recognize the life and discoveries of Charles Darwin, but also celebrates the human curiosity and ingenuity which benefits the advancement of all sciences and humanity. Dr. Michael Husak, a CU Associate Professor who teaches courses like zoology and ecology, explained why the birthday of Charles Darwin was chosen as a day for celebration. “We could have picked any other day of the year to celebrate it, but Darwin is an iconic figure. You see him, and you think: Evolution. Everyone does,” Dr. Husak said. Dr. Husak went on to explain the importance of Darwin’s
achievements and discoveries. “By proposing natural selection, he gave us a mechanism that was testable hypothesis that has been demonstrated again and again,” he said. “He helped us build the one unifying theory we have for the discipline.” Guests who attended the event included students and faculty from various disciplines and departments, all honoring the legacy of Charles Darwin while participating in several party activities. First on the itinerary was a showing of “Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life,” a documentary that chronicled the life of the evolutionary biologist and focused on his numerous expeditions, his exhaustive research and his fascination for the diversity of life. Guests were then treated to a complimentary lunch and a slice of birthday cake and received party favors in the form of t-shirts. Guest speaker Dr. Loren Ammerman continued Darwin Day with a presentation entitled
“The Beauty and Mystery of Bats.” Ammerman, an Associate Professor from Angelo State University, outlined how the 1,200 existing species of bats are classified into either the Megachiroptera or the Microchiroptera suborders by comparing their visible physical attributes. Ammerman discussed how her research also involved the use of molecular systematics, a field in which DNA analysis is used to determine relationships among individual organisms and between entire species. During her presentation, Ammerman also took Darwin Day guests on a field trip, showing them her photos of sites related to Darwin, including his alma mater at Christ’s College at Cambridge University. In addition, Ammerman shared her personal photos of different species of bats she had studied and collected in Indonesia, South America and in the United States. Ammerman described the appearance and behaviors of several bat species and discussed
how their classification is part of an even greater work. “Darwin was an avid collector; I have collected mostly bats, but Darwin was interested by this great diversity of life that he had been trying to organize into some meaningful framework. This framework is the bio-genetic tree,” she said. The party concluded with a trivia game in which guests were challenged to answer a series of questions based on facts gleamed from the documentary shown earlier that day. Charles Bingham, who currently serves as President of both the CU chapter of BBB and the CU Biology Club, awarded points to the teams who answered each question correctly. Bingham, maintains that students who study any of the sciences often build upon the research and work done by their peers. “I would want students to know that even their contributions to science would be great.” he said.
Secular group brings different viewpoint by Jessica Goodman Staff Writer
A group of students are meeting on campus to discuss ideas neither pertaining nor connected to religion. Cameron University Secular Students (CUSS) is a group which allows their members to hold discussion on topics such as the death penalty and birth control. Daniel Billings, a 23-year-old Psychology major and CUSS President, explained the purpose of the organization. “CUSS provides a form of discussion for any atheists, nontheistic agnostics, secular humanists, and so on and so forth,” Billings said. “It provides a good discussion on secular topics and even some not necessarily anti-theist topics, ranging from the death penalty, birth control and polyamory.” CUSS does not impact campus alone. Together with
the Biology Club, the group celebrated evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin’s birthday, inviting a speaker to discuss the evolution of bats. On Feb. 14, CUSS came together with PRIDE to celebrate National Condom Day. On Feb. 16, the group held their first movie night of the semester, showing “For the Bible Tells Me So” and “Saved.” According to Brandon Atkins, a 21-year-old undeclared major, Students greatly benefit being a part of CUSS, if not for the feeling of unity. “CUSS provides a sense of community,” Atkins said. “It gives me the opportunity to provide different viewpoints, as well as letting me meet other atheists who think like me. It’s kind of like church. You like to meet with people that think like you, to get with people who share your same viewpoints and CUSS lets you do that.” Atkins also feels that
members give something back to the group; that discussion is a two way street. A person may gain an understanding of a viewpoint while being able to share their own views on a topic. “I like to think that I provide a different viewpoint,” he said. “Different topics that we like to discuss, like polyamory and the death penalty, I think that I have a unique viewpoint on them because of how I was raised.” Ashley Gormley, a 22-yearold Creative Writing major, believes that CUSS brings something to the Oklahoma area ordinarily lacks, being located in what many people claim to be the “Bible Belt.” “CUSS provides something for me that we don’t have enough of in this area of the country, this sort of Bible belt community, which is the freedom to speak on religion on an intellectual scale,” Gormley said. “The fact is, most people in our part of the country
photo by Jessica Goodman
Discussing ideas: Faculty Advisor Jennifer Castricone, expressesing ideas during the meeting. are Christians, have been raised Christian and will die Christian.” Gormley explained that CUSS allows a space for students who have ideas and thoughts about topics that are different from the normal and a group of people to discuss them with. “There is not a lot of openness
to other ways of thinking, other religions and other different ways to live your life,” she said. “I like the ability to sit with other people who intellectually stimulate me, who I can talk to about pretty much anything.” CUSS meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs. in the Science Complex room 103.
7
Sports
February 20, 2012
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Lady Aggies fight back at home by Megan Bell Sports Writer After a tough road trip resulting in back to back losses, the Cameron women’s basketball team got back on track in a recent game at home. The Black and Gold hit the road for on Feb. 9 to play West Texas A&M-Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas. The Lady Aggies went into the game confident, but left a little discouraged after losing to the Javelinas 86-65. Cameron struggled in the first half of the game, with Kingsville stealing an early lead and refusing to reduce their speed. The Javelinas out-rebounded the Lady Aggies 22-14, forcing the Black and Gold to search for a new game plan. Kingsville kept its foot on the gas pedal, leaving the Lady Aggies behind in the dust. The second half was consistent with the first, as the Javelinas jumped out to a quick start. They extended their lead and eventually out-rebounded the Black and Gold 47-31, including 20 offensive rebounds. Cameron was shocked that Kingsville was plowing through their top 10 defense, and the Javelinas came out triumphant, defeating the Aggies by 21 points. Head Coach Tom Webb said that his team needs to be stronger and stay determined. He explained that the referees were not calling many fouls and the Lady Aggies were not used to being so physical. “At the end of the day, we need to be tougher and continue to fight on the road,” Coach Webb said. “They (the referees) called three fouls the whole first half and allowed physical play. We have got to be ready for that.” Cameron loaded up and headed out to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word on Feb. 11. The Lady Aggies fought hard to regain their confidence after getting crushed earlier in the week, but after two overtimes they fell short, losing to the Cardinals 79-75. The Black and Gold came charging out in the first half, determined to claim victory, but Incarnate Word refused to let the Aggies keep the lead. The Cardinals pushed their way to the basket and grabbed the lead with force.
Cameron was able to sneak in and tie the game, however, as the halftime buzzer sounded. The Lady Aggies took advantage of the close score and came out firing in the second half, victory burning in their eyes. Unfortunately, every time the Black and Gold attempted to put away the Cardinals and cruise to a win, Incarnate Word would make a big shot to even out the momentum. The teams stayed neck and neck to the final buzzer, leaving the scoreboard reading 59-59, forcing the teams to continue to battle in overtime. After going into overtime twice, the Cardinals swiped a small lead and held on until the final overtime buzzer sounded, beating Cameron 79-75. Coach Webb was happy with the attitudes of his women’s team, but was not so proud of their execution of defense for the night. “It was energy (that gave us success offensively),” he said. “The team had good energy. They attacked and were confident in their abilities. However, (defensively) we did not execute. You have got to make plays to win, and they made plays too late.” While the loss hurt, Coach Webb said if his team shows the effort it displayed tonight, he has no worries about how the year will play out. “That is the hardest thing … everyone is evaluating the scoreboard,” he said. “But we played hard, played well together and we fought. You cannot fault us for that. If they (the team) compete like this the rest of year, it is going to be a great ending to a great year.” The Lady Aggies looked to rebound from the tough losses Feb. 15 against Texas Woman’s University at Aggie Gymnasium. From the opening tip off the game was played tight as neither team held a lead larger than two points until TWU pulled ahead in the final seconds of the first half. Knowing their defense would be the key, the Black and Gold clamped down and held TWU to 15 percent shooting in the final half. Coach Webb said that defense was the key to coming from behind in the second half.
Photo by Brandon Neris
Diata leads the way: Senior forward Sabelle Diata shoots a jumper for two of her team-leading 19 points Feb. 15 against TWU at home. The Lady Aggies got back in the win column with a 54-48 victory over the Pioneers. “We defended really well in second half,” he said. “It’s hard (to put away a team) when they go to the line a lot in the second half. But, we gave up three buckets the whole second half. If we continue to do that, we will be just
fine.” Ultimately the Lady Aggies came out on top with a final score of 54-48. The win set a new CU women’s basketball record for conference wins in a single season with 11.
CU men fall on Texas road trip by Megan Bell Sports Writer
The Cameron Men’s basketball team fought hard this past week in their two road games, but in the end failed to succeed. On Feb. 9, the Aggies headed to Kingsville, Texas, to face Texas A&M-Kingsville at Hampton Inn Court. The Black and Gold pushed for the win, but fell short, losing to the Javelinas 76-64. The Aggies came out strong in the beginning of the game, snatching an early lead. Cameron traded shots with Kingsville
throughout the first half. The Javelinas pulled within one point of the Black and Gold on a few occasions, but Cameron shut them down every time. The Aggies maintained the lead as they made their way into the locker room at half time, 31-30. The second half of the game was a complete turnaround from the first. The Javelinas outscored the Black and Gold throughout the half and refused to let up, beginning the second half on a 23-7 run. The Aggies battled but could only pull within 12 points of the Javelinas before the final
buzzer sounded. The Black and Gold then traveled to San Antonio to take on the Incarnate Word Cardinals. The Aggies struggled to claim victory, but failed to come up with the win, losing 68-65 in overtime. Incarnate Word started the first half with a bang. They took control of the ball and gave no mercy to the shocked Aggies, closing the half with consecutive baskets and clenching the lead. The teams headed into the locker room with Incarnate Word holding the lead over the Black and Gold 33-29. Head Coach Alexander was frustrated with the defense his team presented. “It was not our offense tonight,” he said. “It really came down to free throws, defense and rebounding. We have got to get better at those.” The second half proved rough for the Aggies, with Cameron fighting to remain in arms’ reach of Incarnate Word. The Black and Gold came close to obtaining the win, but ended regulation in a tie, forcing the teams to continue their battle in overtime.
Graphic courtesy of www.LSCchampionshipallen.com As soon as overtime began, Incarnate Word seized power and refused to let Cameron break away. The Aggies were able to pull ahead by one point, but failed to build on that momentum, allowing the Cardinals to regain the lead. Incarnate Word came out triumphant over the Black and Gold, 68-65. Coach Alexander said that if the Aggies had focused on the defensive side of the ball and
made free throws it would have helped to get those few points needed to take victory over the Cardinals. “We have got to make free throws,” Coach Alexander said. “We did not miss many, but one point would have won the game (in regulation). We made some defense mistakes, which came from not focusing in on timeouts.” Both losses drop Cameron into fifth place in the Lone Star Conference. The Aggies have two more games left in the conference to climb into a better position for post season play. Coach Alexander said that it is important that the Black and Gold focus and win these next two games. “We need to win these next two games for sure,” he said. “We need to win them for us mentally, just to get back on track. We also need to finish as high as we can in the conference to get a good draw (in the tournament).”
8
Crossroads
February 20, 2012
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Alternative Spring Break to provide relief in Joplin
Photo courtesy Relief Spark
by Miranda Raines Staff Writer
According to studentcity. com, the top spring break destinations include Cancun, Panama City Beach and Las Vegas. One city not commonly found on a spring break destination list, though, is Joplin, Mo. Cameron University has teamed with Relief Spark to give 15 students an alternative spring break trip option. Relief Spark is a nonprofit organization that started in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. After the May 2011 tornado disaster in Joplin, the organization started another relief effort. Student activities specialist Steve Sassaman joined with Relief Spark in an effort to
involve CU students in a different kind of spring break. Alternative spring breaks are becoming popular at educational institutions; it is a way for the students to do meaningful projects and services, Sassaman explained. “The purpose of the trip is to give students the opportunity to do something meaningful with their spring break,” Sassaman said. “Whereas traditionally people think of spring break as going to places like Cancun and the beach, or getting drunk and partying, alternative spring breaks take students out on different trips, and do meaningful projects and service work.” Sassaman added that another reason he wanted to involve students was to increase awareness of volunteerism and
community involvement. In addition to the volunteering and community outreach, students have the chance to make a more direct difference in someone else’s life, as well as their own. Sassaman told of the impact and benefits this trip could have on the students who get involved. “ The students will have fun, just like any spring break trip, but the difference is that they will experience something new they may not have done before,” he said. “ They will get to travel outside of Lawton and experience a new area, but most of all they will get to see the direct impact of the work.” Students will work to build one house from the ground up. Sassaman feels this will help to impact the students and
directly show what it is they are accomplishing. “We will be working with people who were directly affected by the disaster,” he said. “During the trip we will be working on one house the entire week, students will get to interact with the family that is going to move in once we have finished. The team will see the impact and happiness brought to the family, and that is probably the biggest benefit of the effort.” Sassaman also said that the CU team would take part in the Relief Spark effort of going green, including solar powered and Eco friendly additions to the home. “ The housing that Relief Spark builds is a new green technology,” he said. “So not only are you providing a
Photo courtesy Relief Spark
living space for a family that was displaced, but you are making a positive impact on the environment with the Eco friendly construction.” Despite all of the construction efforts, students will have some down time to enjoy themselves and relax. A bonfire, games and reflection activities will offer students the opportunity to get to know other volunteers. The alternative spring break trip will cost the 15 selected students a total of $100 dollars each. This will take care of transportation, food, and lodging. Sassaman said the fee also shows the students’ commitment to the cause. For more information about the spring break alternative trip contact Steve Sassaman at ssassama@cameron.edu.
Photo courtesy Relief Spark
Relief Spark is a non-profit organization helping to rebuild in Joplin: Several volunteers work together from start to finish in the construction of homes in tornado ravaged Joplin. Members of Relief Spark volunteered their time and efforts to give back to a community in need.
Goodwill Industries is more than retail stores by Dianne Riddles
at that point they could transition into the Adult Program,” Beets said. “My son is enjoying himself in Crossroads Editor the program and he loves it.” Many people are familiar with Goodwill Crews said that, since 1957, GISONT has Industries, albeit in a limited sense. Although recognized needs within the community and Goodwill is highly recognized for its retail stores and responded by adding services, which include Career donation centers, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Development, Youth Services, Adult Day Services, Oklahoma and North Texas (GISONT) provides Goodwill Village, Contract Services, Document care, concern, consideration and much needed Destruction/Shredding, Voucher Programs and the services for many in several communities. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. GISONT is a 501c3 non-profit organization that According to Crews, there are two important J.C. Kennedy established in Lawton in 1957. aspects about Goodwill. According to President and CEO Jimmy Crews, “Every donated item that comes in is inspected, and Kennedy recognized a need for a local Goodwill to if it is usable and can be put out for sale, we will sell serve the Lawton community rather than continued it,” he said. “All of the proceeds that come from those affiliation with the Oklahoma City Goodwill. sales are used to fund our organization and all of the “Since 1957, Goodwill services have grown from programs.” where they started in working primarily with people Crews explained that the Goodwill programs and services help people who have developmental disabilities earn a paycheck. “Goodwill is not a retail organization; Goodwill is an organization that helps people achieve maximum independence,” he said. “The retail program helps fund a lot of the programs that help the people in our community.” The Goodwill mission statement reads, “To help people with disabilities and disadvantages achieve maximum independence,” and Crews explained the statement’s importance. “The first three words are, ‘To help people,’” he said, “and that’s what we do.” One of the newest programs, Crews said, is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free preparation of income tax forms. “The VITA program is in its second year of providing free income tax assistance,” he said. “Last year, we were the second leading provider of free income tax assistance.” Cameron University will host a donation drive May 2-4 in order to bring in goods that can be processed and sold in the Goodwill stores. The proceeds from the sale of these donations will support the GISONT Photo courtesy Goodwill Industries offered programs. Adult Day Care client: One of the adults who participates in the Goodwill Industries of Southwest More information about all of the available Oklahoma and North Texas Adult Day Care program smiles with confidence and accomplishment. On programs, employment opportunities and how to this particular day, several clients participated and explored their own creativity during an art activity. make donations is available at www.goodwillsont.org. who have developmental disabilities,” he said. “Then we saw a need in the community for elderly care, so we purchased a church building and turned it into Goodwill Adult Day Services.” GISONT-provided services continued to grow as the need for particular services became apparent in the community. One need met came in the form of youth programs for the developmentally disabled, providing summer and before and after school programs. These programs provide care to developmentally disabled children whose parents would otherwise have to find someone to care for their child, allowing the parent to continue to work. According to Executive Assistant Melissa Beets, whose 15-year-old son is autistic, most daycare facilities end services at 12 or 13 years old making it difficult to find a place for any older child. “Our Youth Service Center goes up to 21 and even