COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, February 16, 2009
News
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Volume 83 Issue 15
CETES II opens doors
Nepalese students come together in CUNA.
Photos by Jim Horinek
SEE PAGE 6
A&E Up and running: The CETES Conference Center brings the community to campus. The Center is now officially open for business
By Nicole Roames Collegian Staff The CETES Conference Center, Cameron University’s newest campus addition, opened on Feb. 5. The CETES Conference Center is attached to the existing Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES) building. The CETES Conference Center is a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting conferences, workshops, annual meetings, banquets and weddings. The center also has video conferencing
Celebrating a CenturyBuilding a Future: Homecoming 2009
capabilities. CU President Cindy Ross said that the CETES Conference Center is part of the second phase of Cameron’s economic development initiative. “The addition of the CETES Conference Center to the Cameron campus will further our mission of fostering economic development in southwest Oklahoma,” President Ross said. “It is not enough for Cameron to provide students a top quality education under caring faculty, which indeed we do. Cameron must also be a leader in generating
jobs to keep those graduates in southwest Oklahoma to live, work and raise a family.” The meeting space in the center is available as one large room or divisible into three smaller rooms. Three independent drop-down video screens and projection systems allow for showing presentations or slideshows and for speaker/audience interaction via cameras focusing on the full-sound podiums and the seating areas.
The CETES Conference Center amenities also include wireless Internet and an on-site catering kitchen. One of the first events held at the CETES Conference Center was the luncheon for the Miss Black CU pageant.
See CETES Page 3
Library hosts black towns exhibit By Katie Batule
SEE PAGE 6
Sports
Golf program to hold reunion. SEE PAGE 8
Voices
Collegian Staff In celebration of Black History Month, Cameron University is hosting the “All Black Towns of Oklahoma” exhibit. Th is exhibit is open through Feb. 25 and features 15 large, full-color graphic panels. It is in the process of around Oklahoma celebrating the history of the Oklahoma All-Black towns that are still around. The Cameron exhibit has already gotten attention from local news station KSWO and has been featured on OETA, an Oklahoma City station. Dr. Judy Neale, Library Sciences Professor introduced the exhibit to eager local church community members and students from Lawton schools. “I’m really proud of this, it has been so well received,” Dr. Neale said. “We are just bringing a little bit of the history closer to the community.” The Oklahoma History Center was able to create the exhibit through grant funds from the Oklahoma Humanities Council. The exhibit portrays the allblack towns that embody African-American history and the distinct history of the Sooner State. Some of the towns include Boley, home to the oldest community-based rodeo that still takes place every Memorial Day. The town of Summit features the W.E.B. Du Bois public school, and guests may already be familiar with the town of Tatums, which is just east of Duncan. Each town is home to artifacts and structures that are in the National Register of Historic Places. From the mid-1800s until 1920, there were as many as 50 individual All-Black towns and communities. Some towns lasted just a few years, but others have withstood the passage of time and are still thriving. It was just after the 1889 Land Run, which opened up the Oklahoma Territory to settlement,
Courtesy of Community Relations
that the black leaders began establishing open lands as a mecca for the suffering African Americans in the U.S. Oklahoma became a land where African Americans could come and live the dream of selfgovernment. Even through the times of the Jim Crow laws, the towns grew strong. The towns began as farming communities that supported schools, churches and businesses. As the towns started to publicize and grow, the businesses flourished. Large numbers of African Americans migrated to Oklahoma as a promised land and were welcomed into these all black communities.
See EXHIBIT Page 2
“I’m really proud of this, it has been so well received. We are just bringing a little bit of the history closer to the community.” — Dr. Judy Neale, Professor of Library Science
KCCU earns two national awards for coverage By Justin Cliburn Collegian Staff
Valentines Day under fire. SEE PAGE 4
Cameron University’s public radio station was honored recently by the Oklahoma chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). SPJ is a national organization consisting of journalists working across all fields of journalism. KCCU, which has served CU and southwest Oklahoma since 1979, garnered two
awards during the annual awards presentation Jan. 31 in Tulsa. KCCU General Manager Ted Riley was proud of the station’s achievements in the 18 months he has been with KCCU and the work of KCCU News Director David Meyer, who won second place in the Radio General News Reporting category for a story he produced about the aftermath of the straightline windstorm that devastated Altus
last Spring and the cleanup efforts that followed. “This truly is an honor,” Riley said. “This consisted of radio, television, newspaper and magazine journalists from all over the state. What David did was provide the type of in-depth reporting that listeners have come to expect from public radio.” Meyer also won an honorable mention for his piece about Lawton’s
2008 Chautauqua celebration in the Radio Features category. It was his first Oklahoma SPJ awards presentation as KCCU News Director since being hired last March 10.
See KCCU Page 3
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News
February 16, 2009
CUNA brings Nepalese culture to campus By Rasmi Thapaliya Collegian Staff The Cameron University Nepalese Association (CUNA) is an organization established by Nepalese students at Cameron. The clubs opening ceremony was held on Sept. 26, 2008. The club has been engaged in various activities since its establishment. The club celebrated Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival, on Oct. 11 at the Baptist Student Union. Dashain is the biggest festival in Hinduism. Since the majority of people in Nepal follow Hinduism, it is observed as a national festival. The celebration included cultural programs and Nepali food. The advisors of CUNA, Mr. Tony Allison and Dr. P.K Das, were present for the Dashain celebration. “The Nepalese Association at Cameron is an exciting organization that provides students with a great opportunity to meet new friends and become involved in Nepalese cultural events on campus,” Mr. Allison said.
The club also organized the Tihar Dance Nite on Nov. 1 at the Student Activities Building. Dance Nite was organized to celebrate the ceremony of Tihar, the festival of lights in Nepal. About 55 students attended the Dance Nite. CUNA had an election for the post of the board members during the end of the fall semester. The election elected the board members for the club. The board members of the club include Jeewan Raj Bhattari, President; Jinesh Niraula, Vice President; Sweta Shrestha, Secretary; Samata Prawah, SGA Representative; and Pawan Subedi, Public Relation Officer. The club holds general meetings at least once a month and board meetings at least twice a month. In the general meeting of the club held on Jan.1, it also formed different committees to conduct various programs in the future. The committees include cultural, sports, arts and music committee. At the meeting, Nirjwal Wasti, a freshman at Cameron presented the
slideshow on martyrs of Nepal on the occasion of Martyr’s Day in Nepal. “I prepared this slideshow in memory of the known and unknown martyrs of Nepal to pay due respect to them though we are far from our homeland,” Wasti said. During the meeting, Biswa Subedi, a Freshman at Cameron recited a poem in memory of martyrs of Nepal which he had created on the spot. CUNA was established with the aim of helping Nepalese students at Cameron. Nabin Dangol, a Freshman at Cameron, said that the Nepalese Club was a big help to students who needed a place to feel comfortable after arriving on campus for the first time. “When we first arrived here the Nepalese club helped us to find a place to live which is the biggest problem when you are in a completely new place,” he said. Bimala Shrestha, another Nepalese Freshman, said that the Nepalese Club made great efforts to
Photo by Rasmi Thapaliya
Music in the air: Nepalese students and members of CUNA perform their cultural song on the occasion of Dashain. make students feel at home from day one. “When we first arrived here this January the representatives of the Nepalese club picked us up from the airport and helped us to find an immediate residence,” Shrestha said. “I was very happy to know that there is a Nepalese club at Cameron to help us.” CUNA also takes part in cultural activities to help promote the culture of Nepal and also share the culture with other communities at Cameron. Dr. P.K. Das is an advisor for the CUNA. “I have had an opportunity to attend the performances by the members of CUNA during Dashain festival and International festival,” Dr. Das said. “I am thoroughly impressed by the interest and enthusiasm the students from Nepal show to present their art and culture in campus.” Samata Prawah, a Junior and SGA representative for CUNA, said that the club’s purpose was to aid the newly arrived students and help them adjust to American life. “We have founded this club to help
Nepalese students to get along with the American culture and provide them with the supportive platform to share their problems,” she said. Marcella Gustafson, CU’s International Student Admission Coordinator, said that CUNA serves a valuable role in helping new transfers cope with their new surroundings. “The work that CUNA does is wonderful. They organize themselves and help new students. They have really been helpful for me,” Gustafson said. Jeewan Raj Bhattarai, CUNA’s President, said that, despite the club’s relative newcomer status, the club is growing quickly and serving a valuable purpose. Bhattari said he hopes that the club will soon be able to organize more events. “Our club is a new club and we realized there was need of Nepalese club in Cameron as our number is increasing here,” Bhattarai said. “Our main goal is to help Nepalese students at Cameron and also organize different cultural programs and other events like sports and get together.”
EXHIBIT continued from page 1 In the 1920s and ‘30s, the Great Depression wiped almost all of the black communities out because almost all of their income was based on cotton revenue. Most residents were forced to travel west or north, and the towns ended up with extensive fi nancial troubles. When railroads began to fail in the ‘30s, towns that were reliant on them to keep their economies going were devastated. Today, fi fteen of the original towns have survived, and their economic legacy and political freedoms are being celebrated here at Cameron. Members of the community can come see the different towns, maps and photographs of school buildings and black leaders who have made an impact in African American history. Dr. Russell Graves, Assistant will be presenting at 2 p.m. on Feb. 20 next-door to the exhibit in room 118 in the CU Library. “I am going to be giving a presentation that will cover the Black Towns. I will be discussing things like how they came into existence and why they were set up,” Dr. Graves said. As part of the presentation, Dr. Graves will be showing some photos that he has taken of the towns. The exhibit is open every day to the public during normal Library hours.
See page 3 for solutions.
Photo courtesy of Community Relations
February 16, 2009
News
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CETES continued from page 1 Outside of the CETES Conference Center is the Charles S. Grabel, M.D. Courtyard. The courtyard has a gazebo, benches and a water garden. The CETES Conference Center is also the home to a back-up emergency operations center for the City of Lawton and the data disaster recovery system OneNet. The City of Lawton would be able to use the back-up facility if circumstances prevent the use of the primary emergency operations center for communication among emergency management personnel. OneNet is the State of Oklahoma’s official communications and information network for education and government. OneNet is a division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The CETES Conference Center was funded
through the City of Lawton’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and a federal grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. “I want to thank the citizens of Lawton/Fort Sill for making this facility possible,” President Ross said. “Due to the voter support of the city’s Capital Improvement Program in August 2004, the citizens of this community have contributed $1.5 million for this expansion. This funding represents a landmark gift as Cameron University is the first and the only university to receive property tax revenue for a university’s economic development efforts. The support of the Lawton/ Fort Sill community plays a significant role in the fulfillment of Cameron University’s mission as a leader in higher education and as an economic development catalyst for this region.”
Photos by Jim Horinek
KCCU continued from page1
Meyer, originally of Fall City, Neb., came to KCCU last Spring after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University, where he worked with future KCCU General Manager Ted Riley at radio station KXCV-KRNW. He credits the communal spirit of Oklahomans and the sounds of recovery for the second-place finish. “The sounds really described the story,” Meyer said. “People could hear the trucks and equipment cleaning up in the background, and the story of the local businessman describing how the winds had overturned a tractor-trailer was amazing. There were police, firefighters, ambulance workers, and neighbors all chipping in.” “This truly was about a community coming together and helping each other,” Meyer
added. Riley, a native Oklahoman, and Meyer both are excited about KCCU’s and CU’s futures and are glad to be on campus during CU’s Centennial year as well as KCCU’s twentieth year of broadcasting. “CU is really a school on the rise,” Meyer said. “This is an exciting year for me, seeing all the construction going up around me while living in a new place. Being in a military town has introduced me to a lot of new experiences.” For Riley, the experience is less new but just as exciting. “I jumped at the opportunity to move back to Oklahoma, and I am very excited about the future here,” Riley said. KCCU will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this April with a massive fundraising drive followed by a concert starring the Harry James Big Band. KCCU is a professionally-run public radio station that airs 17 hours of classical music Monday through Thursday as well as an NPR affiliate, carrying such programs as “All Things Considered,” “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” “Car Talk” and “Morning Edition.” The station can be heard in the Lawton area on FM 89.3 and online at www.kccu.org.
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Voices
February 16, 2009
Valentines Day: Is it worth it? V
standard. To men or women who find themselves in this scenario, a bad gift can ruin a relationship, while a good one is merely expected. By never having provided a Valentine’s gift in the first place though, one can increase the just because factor exponentially by providing a my advice. gift that may not even be half as good at some random point during Why is the post-Valentine’s period such a good time to begin a the year. relationship? Isn’t the romance of Valentine’s Day itself enough to As a general rule, it is inadvisable to begin a relationship in the warrant a pre-Valentine’s romantic genesis? Taking all subjective, three cold, dreary winter months of December, January and February. lovey-dovey minutiae out of the picture leaves us with many logical Those months are cold and dark for a reason: they are not conducive reasons leading to my very reasonable conclusion. to new beginnings and include the most relationship-pitfalls of any In these tough economic times, I would other three-month period. be remiss to not begin by discussing Any relationship started in December begins with a giant elephant the financial factor. Although it in the room in the form of Christmas. Should one give a Christmas may be in poor taste, this is of gift after one week of dating? Two weeks? Three weeks? If so, how big? upmost importance. According to How thought-out? How romantic? a February 2007 survey conducted Following Christmas comes New Year’s Eve, where a young by BIGresearch, the average man couple has to worry about how intoxicated and/or obnoxious they are spends $156.22 on his Valentine’s appearing to be in front of their new love interest. We all know how Day date, while the average woman difficult it is to have a good time on New Year’s Eve when you have the spends $85.08 on thought of your image to worry about all evening. hers. While most people If you do make it to February 14, the issues of finances in long-term committed and the pressure of finding the right gift make a relationships may enjoy winter romance too much of a hassle. Finally, there splurging on their partners, is a 25 percent chance that your new boyfriend or triple-digit Valentine’s Day girlfriend has a birthday in the December to February bills are not necessarily worth timeframe. Again, more pressure. it for those in new or developing Take my advice and wait until after Valentine’s Day relationships. to make your move on that special someone who has Even if one finds no problem been catching your eye. with being a big-spender on Remember, looking for dates just after Valentine’s her or his new love, however, the is like shopping the day after Christmas. While the pressure of what to surprise a partner MCT Campus pre-Valentine’s singles are still in the Valentine’s with can be overwhelming. The right spirit and feeling particularly amorous and vulnerable, Valentine’s gift in a young relationship can be the impetus towards there are also bound to be a high percentage of post-Valentine’s a fulfilling long-term relationship, but the wrong gift can doom a breakups. relationship before it begins. Who really needs that pressure these Because you played it cool and did not desperately find someone to days? date just before Valentine’s, you will look even more attractive when Even the most seasoned Valentine’s gift-giver, however, can you finally decide to make your move. Trust me sometimes fall victim to the idea that good Valentine’s gifts come alentine’s Day has again come and gone and the period that follows can be the most amorously successful time of the year for all the singles of the world… if they only take
Time becomes issue with procrastination I’m sitting here thinking of how to write this story – and as I do so, several menial tasks that I should accomplish come to mind. I get up and walk away from the computer and wash the dishes, or shampoo my hair. I come back, sit down and begin to write again – only to remember that I need to feed the dogs and cats. Does that scenario sound like something you do, as you try to begin a homework assignment? If so, then I have good news – you are not alone! You are suffering from procrastination! What, you say, but I am doing things that need to get done. Yes, but they are trivial when held up to the task of that ten page paper, or two page article. Procrastination takes many forms and there have been many papers written in an effort to aid those afflicted with this malady. One such paper comes from California Polytechnic State University and it flat out describes a procrastinator – at least by fault, if not by physical characteristics. One of the
points made in this paper was that procrastinators are made – not born! What! How did I make myself like this? Why can’t I blame my parents? Well, in my case, no, I cannot blame my parents. I was raised with a strict “You must do your homework before you can do anything else” atmosphere. That said, other tasks were not so important. As an only child (does spoiled come to mind?) I had no real household tasks to accomplish. I was able to pick and choose what chores I wanted to do – and most were outside. So, did I make myself a procrastinator? Obviously somewhere down the line I did. I think it was because I care nothing for housework (believe it or
Pamela Vaughan
not, there are people who love to clean!). Oh, sure, I like for everything to look good, have clean clothes, no MCT Campus “writable” dust, etc., but I don’t care enough to get it done this minute. But, as I have re-entered college, I find that the homework initiative instilled by my mother is still there. I feel that it is imperative that I have my homework done before the deadline, but I also find that without her “guidance,” it is much harder to accomplish. Add to my life these days a job, a husband, two children (although grown) and two grandchildren (treasures that only other grandparents understand), and my time schedule is brimming over! I am also an avid fan of high school and college football, basketball and baseball, and so these also must pull time allowances on my schedule. Those are my excuses, so what do they have to do with the procrastination issue? Hara Estroff Marano in a Psychology Today article states, “There are many ways to avoid success in life, but the most sure-
fire just might be procrastination. Procrastinators sabotage themselves. They put obstacles in their own path. They actually choose paths that hurt their performance.” Is that not what I do – put the many “things” in my life ahead of homework? (And really, any large venture that we must accomplish could be inserted here, but as college students, homework is the main ingredient in receiving a good grade and understanding the subject.) So, now that we have named our “disease”, what can we do about it? Currently, Cameron has a series of seminars, the CU Succeed Series, that cover many problems surrounding the subject of study skills. Procrastination falls under this category and thus, assistance could be found by attending the appropriate session. Another choice to consider is to Google procrastination and read up on the subject as I did in preparation for this article. There were many articles that gave great insight to the symptoms, and I readily identified the ones that I have. And, as is the case so many times, when the problem has been identified, a solution can be found so that the effects are minimized. Having said that, I think I will start on a plan to control my procrastination – tomorrow!
Justin Cliburn
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Bira Vidal Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - John Robertson
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kerry Myers Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Raven Weiss, Monica Garner, Greg Boxell, Justin Cliburn, Jeramy Eidson, Megan Mefford, Cecilio RamirezCobes, Nicole Roames, Melissa Rogers, Jacob Russell, Saman Samii, Rashmi Thapaliya, Pamela Vaughan, Lauren Bennett, Solitaire Merrill and Jory Palmer.
Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller
About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Letters Policy Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks. All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by regular mail or e-mail to collegian@ cameron.edu, or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.
Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma. Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.
A&E
February 16, 2009
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Grammy delivers musical, legal surprises By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff Once every year, the best musicians and professionals in the music industry gather to appreciate all talent that was dispensed into the past year. The talents found in 2008 were no exception, unless the audience paid close attention to the Grammy Awards, which happened on Feb. 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Grammys come with the assurance that new talent will be found and old talent will be affirmed. The telecast proved once more that musical talent will be constantly available for the world and the attentive ears of the public. For the past year, solo artists and bands fi lled the emptiness of the music scene in a strong way, confirming that there is no comeback too late or ambition too high. Ultimately, the music industry reinvented the term that anything with a beat is possible. But there was an uncomfortable presence in the Awards broadcast. The issue was the telecast itself. As in the past, the Grammy has brought pure entertainment to TV sets in the nation. But for its past edition, the Grammys missed the right spot in several occasions, which led the audience to wonder how far the telecast has come. The show started with a rendition of U2’s new song “Get On Your Boots.” The band from Dublin presented the new song that is already available online for the public as a single. The CD “No Line on the Horizon” will be released on Feb. 16. Following U2’s performance, Whitney Houston took the stage to present the first award of the night for
MCT Campus
And the award goes to: The 51st Grammy Awards telecasts the best in the music scene in 2008. The Feb. 8 event crowned winners Adele (far left) and Carrie Underwood (third from the left) in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, respectively. Some performers of the night included Al Green, featuring Justin Timberlake (second from the left) and Jennifer Hudson (far right) who sang “You Pulled Me Through.” Best R&B Album. Jennifer Hudson received the award and delivered a heartfelt speech, thanked her fans for the support after the tragedy that claimed her mother, brother and nephew. More performances fi lled the night, including Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus in a duet of the song “Fifteen,” and Jennifer Hudson with her song “You Pulled Me Through” from her debut album. Hudson brought the audience to a standing ovation while accompanied with a choir that sang backup to her song. The night presented some surprises as well. Blink 182 announced their comeback to the music scene, and introduced the Best Rock Album winner, which went to Coldplay. But the biggest revelation of the telecast was surprisingly two absences, singers and couple Chris Brown and Rihanna. They were scheduled to perform together at some part of the broadcast. However, according to
police reports, Brown attacked Rihanna some point before the Grammys, and turned himself into law enforcement officers. The awards show fi lled the spot with other performances, but the couple ultimately did not appear at the Staples Center. Returning to the pleasant aspect of the Grammys, Katy Perry performed her hit single “I Kissed a Girl,” while Estelle featured Kanye West in her song
“American Boy.” The ultimate award of the night for Album of the Year went to Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. The award for Record of the Year also went to Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and their record “Please Read the Letter.” Coldplay received their second award for Song of the Year with “Viva La Vida,” also the title of their latest album. Awards for
Best Male & Female Pop Vocal Performance went to John Mayer and Adele respectively, and Adele received her second award for Best New Artist. The night presented some surprises and some shocks. The talents from new and old artists overcame the fear of a lack of talent in the music industry in the future, making the Grammy Awards an event still slightly worth watching.
MCT Campus
Art department seeks models for class By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff The Cameron University Art Department is currently seeking Life Drawing Models for the Spring 2009 Figure Drawing Course. Life drawing models are essential for students to learn how to draw real people by focusing on muscular shapes and facial features. The Figure Drawing Course is a junior-
level course that is required for all Art majors. The body of the class is typically made up of more advanced art students. 19 students are currently enrolled. Professor Monika Linehan says that in this particular course the students traditionally draw from live models. “Many years ago students used to draw from a plaster cast,” Linehan said. “With live models, the students learn and understand the skeletal and muscular
structure of a person. You just can’t get that type of reality from drawing from a plaster cast.” Linehan explained that the class needs various types of models, nude and clothed, and that they are seeking all body types and ages to apply. “It’s not a beauty competition. The students are focused on the model as a still life, not as a live person,” Linehan said. Linehan said that the job can be more demanding than some
would expect. “The position is actually very physical,” Linehan said. “There are many action poses used for gesture drawing where the model is having to adjust their position every 30 seconds to a minute, constantly changing poses. Students must draw very rapidly to capture those poses.” Later on in the semester students begin working on portrait drawings where the models may have to hold a comfortable pose for an extended period of time in order to create more detailed drawings, where the students can draw intricate
features of the human body such as fi ngers and hands, muscular features, facial attributions and hair, which are traits that would never be seen in a gesture drawing. Linehan said that despite the demands of the job it can be a rewarding experience. The Art Department pays models $10 an hour, and the Spring 2009 Figure Drawing Course is being held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Students interested in modeling for the Figure Drawing Course please contact Monika Linehan at 581.2451.
Auditions for the spring musical are open to everyone. Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 17 at the McCutcheon Recital Hall. Please bring a memorized song from a Broadway Musical along with the sheet music or accompanying CD. Graphic Courtesy of Art department
For more information please contact 581.2346.
6 A&E Centennial Homecoming brings past, future together February 16, 2009
By Jorie Palmer Collegian Staff The Athletics Hall of Fame, Parents Weekend, Alumni Weekend, Centennial, and Homecoming festivities combine to bring a week of events to Cameron University Feb. 16-21 for “Celebrating a CenturyBuilding a Future: Homecoming 2009.” Director of Student Activities Zeak Naifeh said homecoming week is important to the university because it is a time to have people come together and celebrate school spirit mid-spring. “All year we have had increased attendance at our events due to quality programming across the board,” Naifeh said. “Homecoming week will serve to continue this increased spirit.” Naifeh said this is the second year all of the activities have been held during the same week. “It just made sense to combine everything,” Naifeh said. “It almost creates a university-wide Homecoming committee with one concentrated, consensus schedule.” Naifeh said the week kicks off on Monday with a concert by Natalie Stovall. Stovall is predominately a country singer, but she adds some hip-hop country remixes to her repertoire. Naifeh said Stovall was chosen during the Programming Activities Council’s (PAC) attendance at the National Association of Campus Activities retreat. Eight PAC students were present at the retreat to discuss the acts that were showcased. Naifeh said PAC chose artists who would appeal most to Cameron’s student body. On Tuesday, Naifeh said PAC is hosting a decades-themed dance for the unveiling of the
Graphic Courtesy of Student Activities
homecoming king and queen candidates. Students may come dressed in attire from their favorite decades. Naifeh said those who would rather dress semi-formal or in jeans are more than welcome as well. “It is good for students to come to the dance and meet the candidates before voting on Wednesday and Thursday,” Naifeh said. “In past years, before Cameron had a formal introduction of candidates,
students would show up to vote and might not recognize any of the names.” Elections for king and queen will take place Wednesday and Thursday of Homecoming Week at the Student Activities Building. Naifeh said each candidate is chosen by an organization or department on campus. The requirements for homecoming king and queen are 60 credit hours and a 2.5 GPA. Free pizza will be available for
voters from 11:30 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday. On Thursday, Cameron University will host Centennial Speaker George Will. Director of Community Relations Jana Gowan said the political commentator has been named the most influential writer in America. Will has a biweekly column in more than 480 newspapers. Gowan said Will has the publication of several books under his belt along with a
Pulitzer Prize. Students will have an opportunity to meet with the speaker on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the McCutcheon Recital Hall in the Music Building. Will is scheduled to speak in the Theatre at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in the Administration Building Room 150. Students do not need tickets for the interaction portion of the event. On Friday, Naifeh said students are encouraged to attend the Aggie Baseball game at one p.m. As long as Cameron is not under a burn-ban a bonfire peprally will follow the game at nine p.m. in the Football Fieldhouse. Naifeh said Ole’ Kim’s identity will be unveiled at the pep-rally, and refreshments such as hot chocolate will be available. “If we are under a burn-ban, we will still have a pep-rally, but a bonfire may not be possible,” Naifeh said. “Students will receive e-mails with details about the event.” Naifeh said Saturday will finally bring a spirited end to the week. A tailgate party will take place in the CETES Courtyard at 12:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Little Bobby Douglass Band. Diana Smith, Programming Assistant for Alumni Relations, said the band was chosen in August as a back-up for the Centennial Band. “We did not need the Little Bobby Douglass Band in August, but now they will have the chance to perform at Cameron,” Smith said. The Aggie baseball team will play at 1 p.m. in the McCord Field, and both men and women’s basketball teams will play at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday night.
Spring recruitment boosts greek life By Nicole Roames Collegian Staff Greek organizations at Cameron University held their first combined formal recruitment week Jan. 18 through 24. Greek Life adviser Robin Martin said she was not looking for big numbers during this recruitment, just experience, but the turnout was more than she expected. “We don’t usually see a lot of new members in the spring semester, but the girls really rocked this one. They had a lot of potential new members,” Martin said. CU also has one new sorority and one new fraternity on campus this semester. Both new organizations bring a nice diversity to Greek Life at CU, Martin said. The new sorority is Sigma Alpha Omega. Sigma Alpha
Omega is a Christian sorority. Maranda Bice, the Sigma Alpha Omega President, said the sorority will participate in weekly bible studies, retreats and service projects and that it was good to able to recruit for the first time. “This is the first semester Sigma Alpha Omega has been able to add new members since our founding,” Bice said. They received their new charter in December. During recruitment week, Sigma Alpha Omega held a bible study, an informational meeting at Starbucks and a photo scavenger hunt throughout Lawton. Martin said that this month also saw the birth of the Lambda Chi Alpha’s presence on campus. Lambda Chi Alpha, which stands for Leaders Called to Action, has a national representative coming to Cameron to initiate the founding
brothers and assist them with additional recruiting efforts. New organizations were not the only ones getting to business with the start of the new semester, however The Alpha Phi sorority held an activity every day of recruitment week. It participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and also Karaoke Night in the Student Activities Building. They also had a cookie decorating party, a candle ceremony and wrapped up the week with a pajama and movie night. Jennifer Knapp, Alpha Phi Vice-President of Chapter Development said it went
Graphic by Bira Vidal
well. “It was a good week. It was busy, and it was great for a spring recruitment,” Knapp said. Sigma Tau Gamma, another Cameron fraternity, went low-key with their recruitment efforts. They held two sports nights and a barbecue to bring in new
members. Sigma Tau Gamma President Doug Jones said the organization picked up a couple new members. “We are planning to start recruiting year round now,” Jones said. Former Sigma Tau Gamma President Brad Franks said that recruitment is always down this time of year. “The spring semester is always harder to recruit in,” Franks said. The next combined Greek Life event will be held during alumni week, Martin said. A combined All-Greek coffee is planned for Feb. 21. All Greek alumni are welcome, and the fraternity or sorority does not have to still be on campus to be eligible.
Sports
February 16, 2009
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Cameron softball season in full swing By Cecilio Ramirez Collegian Staff
Photo by Bennett Dewan
Locked and loaded: Senior Catcher / Outfielder Jenna Boren hits a line drive during practice. The Aggies will be making their season debut at home Tuesday.
The Aggie Softball Team is off to a great start after a stellar season last year. The talented group has their sights on another good season and a conference championship this year. Head Softball Coach Beth Watson has made a good transition as the new head coach and is glad to be back in the Midwest after receiving her undergraduate degree and graduate degrees from Kansas and Missouri. Watson was the former assistant coach at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She spent seven years at UCF and was the first assistant coach in the softball program’s existence. Her strategy of taking defense seriously has been the missing piece in the Aggie’s hardhitting offensive lineup. “At practice I want to put the players in pressure situations and create an atmosphere that allows them to take pride on defense,” Watson said. “As a coach, you have to have a good balance. I feel comfortable and confident with this team, we just have to make the right choices as far as preparation goes.” That preparation helped CU get
a big win against the #16 nationally ranked team in the country, St. Leo’s, at the Saint Mary’s Invitational. Cameron finished their first tournament of the season 1-1 after falling to a tough Incarnate World team. “We came right out of the gates and beat one of the toughest teams in the country. Our upperclassmen have set the tone early,” Coach Watson said. Five seniors have returned to the roster this year including, Chelsey Jordan, Jenna Boren, Shareena Pulse and Megan Young. Pulse, Boren and Young have a combined total of six homeruns so far. Young also led the league in RBI’s and total bases the previous year. “These are my meat-hitters and the key players on offense. They want to win,” Coach Watson said. Coach Watson also mentioned the importance of the pitching staff. “Offense isn’t our main concern, pitching is where it needs to be,” Coach Watson said. Four pitchers are healthy and on the roster including, Ashton Mcbride, who pitched most of the innings of the 2008 season. These pitchers are a complete group because they all bring different
strengths to the mound. “It helps having a full staff so we can continue to make sure our pitchers aren’t overusing their arms,” Coach Watson said. After five games, Aggie Softball holds a 2-3 record. The Aggies defeated Abilene Christian in their last performance with a final score of 4-3. Their next competitor, Tarleton State, is also from the Lone Star Conference South Division. Both of these LSC opponents allow Cameron to see where they stand in the conference. “Each game this early is a learning experience and we learn from every inning,” Watson said. “Expect us to play better in this double-header against Tarleton. We have worked on taking care of the ball better and are more than capable of making good decisions.” Cameron Athletic Director Jim Jackson says that head coach Beth Watson shares the same vision as the athletic department. The similarities in that vision have allowed her to fit right in to the program. “The team will continue to improve. We don’t want to play our best softball in February,” Coach Watson said.
League says goodbye to Favre for now By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Photo courtesy MCT Campus
After much debate and mixedmessages, one of the National Football League’s most polarizing athletes is finally calling it quits. No, I’m not talking about Terrell Owens, Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb; I’m talking about Brett Favre. The soon-to-be Hall-of-Famer announced told New York Jets officials that he’s retiring, again. But haven’t we all seen this same song and dance before? Is this going to be the second verse? I’ve been a fan of Favre ever since he went on to help the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XXXI. He beat the Carolina Panthers in the process, but I didn’t mind. Favre was a great quarterback then and will always go down as one of the best ever to play the game. After all, the man holds just about every career passing record, including interceptions. His final retirement announcement culminates one of the best NFL eras in recent memory. It seemed that some of the greatest players ever to handle pigskin played during the late 1980s and 1990s. Favre is the last in a line of great players including Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Emmitt Smith et all. But just like the Youngs, the Montannas, the Rices and
the Smiths before him, Favre just didn’t know when to quit. The aging quarterback had one of the best years of his career in 2007, breaking Dan Marino’s alltime touchdowns thrown record. That year, he passed for 4,155 yards including 28 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions. Favre’s career had been reborn like a phoenix. And at the end of the year, despite resurgence, he announced he would retire. Fans of all 32 teams in the NFL could agree on one thing for one day: Favre was one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game and the league will never be the same without him. Fan sentiment always has a way of changing on a whim. After all, Vick was once loved by Falcons fans and hailed as their franchise quarterback. Now, not even a team as desperate for a quality quarterback as the Chicago Bears will even whisper his name. Favre certainly burned a lot of bridges over the summer last year when he announced he wanted to come out of retirement and play again. The Packers had already moved on to new franchise golden boy Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy wanted nothing to do with Favre. It seems that every off-season has to be fi lled with some kind of controversy. T.O. was actually behaving himself in Dallas, so sports pundits spray painted a
white line on the turf. On one side, fans stood in favor of Favre returning; on the other side, fans stood opposed to Favre’s return and wanted the old geezer to hold up in Mississippi on a rocking chair. What was the NFL to do? No more than six months prior, people were singing praises of Favre and how he would live on forever in the halls of Canton, Ohio. In July, people spat on his name, called him selfish and felt betrayed. Looking back, I’m sure we would all loved to have seen Favre come out and have another great year. But everyone has to come to accept they’re not getting any younger. As most football fans know, Favre was traded to the New York Jets despite protests of head coach Eric Mangini. In a sign of the times, Mangini not only lost his job as coach of one of the most promising teams of 2008, but is now coaching the Cleveland Browns. You know, the team that has no mascot except a brown helmet and a random bulldog that looks like some people’s mothersin-law. I have no doubt the Jets only did as good as they did this season because of Favre. Chad Pennington was shipped off to Miami and took them to the playoffs, but that was nothing to be surprised by. Ricky Williams finally put down the pot and learned how to play football again.
Even Jake Delhomme could take a team to the playoffs with a running game like that. Oh wait. But as the season went on, you could tell Favre just didn’t have it in him anymore. He aired out too many long balls into double and triple coverage. He tried to force his trademark bullet through tight coverage. He tried to be the hero that we all remembered him as from the 90s and that man was long gone. In his place was a tired, nearly washed-up old man who loved to the play the game, but just didn’t have anything left. If this was baseball, it would make a perfect Kevin Costner fi lm. Oh wait, they already made that and called it “For Love of the Game.” Indeed, Favre played for love of the game, but it was time to go. That’s why his retirement is so bittersweet for many NFL fans. We all want to remember the great Favre that lead the Packers to the Super Bowl in 1997. But the most recent memory is the lonely man holding his head low as he walked to the locker room in the Meadowlands after blowing a game against the Dolphins. The NFL may never be the same. Some of the most iconic players in recent memory have retired and parted ways with the game. Favre may have been the last to officially retire, but the quarterback was already long gone. He’s still back in New Orleans celebrating Super Bowl XXXI.
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Sports
February 16, 2009
Homecoming game showdown countdown Jacob Russell Collegian Staff
Hangtime: Haley Hatch puts up a one-handed running jump shot over a defender.
Saturday afternoon in the Aggie Gym, the culmination of a week’s worth of special activities and festivities will take place on the hardwood as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams take on the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. The games Saturday afternoon against our conference rivals will cap off this year’s homecoming week. Going into this week, the Aggie men (11-11, 4-3) sit tied for the third place spot in the Lone Star Conference North with the Texas A&M Commerce Lions. Meanwhile, UCO (20-3, 7-1) is the number one seed in all of the Lone Star Conference as the season winds down. Head Coach Wade Alexander is comfortable in his team’s position and has been impressed with his players and the effort that has been put forth on the court. “The season is going better than expected,” Alexander said. “Coming
off of a six win season last year, we have been able to win ten games and still have six conference games left, not including the play-offs.” With a game still to play before we take on UCO, it’s not too early for head Alexander to make sure his team knows what they need to do to win. “We have to defend better. We have to play better defense, it’s that simple,” Alexander said. As with any homecoming game, there is a lot of added buzz and pressure, but our men are not feeling any. “No pressure on our guys, we have to go out there and play hard either way,” Alexander said. Women’s Coach Tom Webb feels a little differently about the buzz and excitement leading up to the game. “I hope they do get a little nervous,” Webb said. “I’d like to see them get a little nervous and take it to the court. No added pressure though, we still need to just show up and play.” The Lady Aggies (6-16, 1-8) are limping through a season plagued by
injuries and have even had to pick up a couple of Senior volleyball players to add depth to their bench. Since being picked up, both players have seen quality minutes and been impressive in their action. “I couldn’t be happier with either of them; Haley Hatch and Whitney Long have both been doing really well for us,” Webb said. As far as the game goes, Webb agrees with Alexander: it all falls back on the defense. He noted that the most important aspects for the Lady Aggies would be their ability to cover space in their transition defense and well as rotating to cover the open shooter as they run a zone defense. With homecoming starting this week, it will be the last chance for the men and women to focus on their opponent and really come out and impress the home crowd. Both coaches agreed that their teams could both pull an upset. “UCO is a top three team in the nation, but beatable,” Webb said. “We have to play close-to-perfect basketball.”
Photos by Bennett Dewan
Skywalker: Kallan Glasgow attacks the defenders on his way to an acrobatic layup.
Aggie Baseball team swings for the fences Cecilio Ramirez Collegian Staff
Photo by Bennett Dewan
We have lift off: Aggies Shortstop Thomas Dicker hits a towering three run home-run off of the Pitt. State Gorillas. CU boasts a powerful offensive team that has already put up double digit runs in two games.
Aggie baseball is back for the 2009 season. Last year the Aggies almost tied CU’s school record of 36 wins. They finished 35-22 overall and lost a total of ten seniors. This year Cameron is off to a 5-1 start after sweeping the Pittsburg State Gorillas in the annual series. Last year Cameron swept PSU in all four games. This year CU lost only the first game by one point. Coach Tom Holland says the team only has room to get better. “5-1 is a good start. There’s a lot of things you can get better at,” Holland said. “It’s still early in the season so we don’t know how good everybody is going to be.” One thing is for sure: the team is working with five position-player seniors and pitchers. Senior Pitcher Brad Bichel and Sophomore Logan Grimes helped in defeating Pittsburg State in the last half of the four-game series. Bichel pitched all seven innings in the third game and only gave up two earned runs. He also had four strikeouts against 31 batters. Grimes made his first
Division II start in the last game of the series and had an incredible six strikeouts on 18 batters. This impressive pitching is something that is necessary to win for CU in such a tough Lone Star Conference. Coach Holland said the team is fairly healthy and one of the main concerns is to stay that way throughout the season. “Our pitchers need to take extra care of their arms and do a lot more stretching to prevent injuries,” Holland said. With ten players from last year’s team, the Aggies are also much more experienced than they were in the previous year. Although the team has several senior leaders, the Aggies are consistent throughout their lineup. “We’re a well-balanced team and not one person sticks out,” Holland said. “We play as a team. These players go out and do their jobs every day.” Next for the Aggies are the Tarleton State Texans. With a new coach on staff, Coach Holland will be doing his research in the first game of the double-header. CU plays at McCord Field on Friday and will be spending Valentine’s
Day down in Stephenville, Texas on Saturday. “This will be our first game away from home this season,” said Holland. “You always have to be more aware of where the wind is blowing, and your positioning on the field because of the structure of the ground.” Tarleton will be the conference opener for Cameron University. Every year the same teams traditionally make it in to the conference tournament. These teams include conference rivals like Central Oklahoma, Abilene Christian and Angelo State. Coach Holland said that the best thing the Aggies can have is a positive attitude as they go into these match-ups. “Each year you hope you have a good season. There’s just an attitude you have to hold,” said Holland. The conference opener for the Aggies will begin at 1 pm on Friday. The game will also be streamed live on the Aggie Video Network at www.goaggies. cameron.edu. The live broadcast starts five minutes before the first pitch.
Aggies past and present meet at last Cameron to host Golf program reunion By Saman Samii Collegian Staff Cameron University is hosting a reunion ceremony for the Aggie Men and Women golf teams during Homecoming weekend. With many past teams and players to recognize, current Cameron golf players and coaches are looking forward to the event. The reunion is going to take place on Feb. 20 and 21, and is planned for every golf alumni at Cameron University to attend. Aggie Women’s golf coach, Rick Goodwin, said he has prepared for this upcoming event. “I think it is great to recognize our players from the past,” Goodwin said. “I am excited to see how many returning players will attend our reunion.” On Feb. 20, Cameron University is hosting a reception at Mike’s Sports Grill in Lawton for everyone involved in the Aggie golf program. At the reception, several teams and players are being honored for their outstanding achievements in the past. Most noticeable is Jason Jeter, a seven-time All-American and the 1983 Men’s golf team, who won the NAIA National Championship. Goodwin said he remains hopeful that some of these honored players can inspire our current players at Cameron. “I think this will motivate our current golfers,” Goodwin said. “Jason was an outstanding player
and I am glad that he will be there to share some of his memories with all of us.” On Feb. 21, all golfers are invited to Golf Max in Lawton for some minor daytime activities. The main purpose is for all past and current players to get a chance to share their stories and memories. In the afternoon, all players are going to attend the basketball games where some will be honored once again. Goodwin said it is an excellent way to recognize all golfers that have gone through Cameron. “This way people can see how great the golf program has been and still is at Cameron.” Goodwin said. All current Aggie golf players are invited and expected to attend the reunion. Cameron Women’s golf star, Megan Whan said she is eager to see the returning players. “I am very excited to meet all the returning golfers,” Whan said. “I am looking forward to hear some of their memories and hopefully it can motivate me to do better this season.” Cameron golf has quite a history. The Men’s Team did exceptionally well last season, culminating in Lone Star Conference Championship title. The women performed great as well. The ladies finished as the fifth best team in the Lone Star Conference Championships. In addition, Aggie golf star Peter Svajlen was named as an All-American for his outstanding performances on the golf course. Finally, both teams
received individual awards from the athletic department finishing this past academic year with the highest GPA’s out of all Cameron athletic teams. The reunion is not only a great opportunity for players to meet and share memories; it is also a way to find connections for possible recruiting. Goodwin said it is a great way to find new players. “As far as recruiting, opportunities like this do not come every day,” Goodwin said. “Many of the returning players are still involved with the sport and that can help us with the recruiting process.”
Photos by Bennett Dewan
Perfect form: 2008-2009 Women’s Golf Captain Renee Breeze swings through a practice shot during the first half of the season. Breeze will soon be joined by many other CU golfers, past and present, to celebrate the program’s history.
Sports
February 16, 2009
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CU Cheerleaders take homecoming head on
By Jacob Russell Collegian Staff Th is week marks the beginning of Cameron University’s centennial homecoming week, tagged with the slogan, “Celebrating a Century: Building the Future: Homecoming 2009”. It is a chance for students, faculty, and alumni alike to reminisce over the years that built Cameron’s tradition, as well as look forward towards our bright future. Th is will also mark the second year as a part of Cameron’s faculty for Cheerleading Coach Robin Martin. Since her introduction into a position designed specially for precise expertise, Coach
Martin has made her goal to get her cheerleaders noticed on campus. “Cheer hasn’t taken advantage of the opportunities in front of them,” Martin said. “We want to be popular. We need to be noticed around campus for who we are.” The cheerleaders have actively sought to foster relationship with PAC in order to put together the festivities and special events for this upcoming week. The ultimate goal is to increase student body participation in these activities and boost school spirit. The results so far have been encouraging. “The events I have been involved with are growing,
starting from eight to over forty people at the last one,” Martin said. “We try to plan a variety of activities, and try throw in a little something for everybody.” Martin believes that the cheerleaders’ involvement with PAC will really help build a larger fan base for current and future Cameron faculty, students and patrons. “If we continue to get great turn-outs at our PAC events then a buzz will be created,” Martin said. “If those people see us at these events, then we can in turn get them into the stands to support CU athletics. It’s all about building up support” Th is year will be one of the largest collaborative efforts
for multiple organizations on campus, not to mention the return of Greek organization involvement with campus events. “The Greeks are getting involved this year for the fi rst time in a while,” Martin said. “We have really been trying to get widespread participation from not only students, but faculty and organizations alike.” Events during the week range from a performance from upand-coming country recording artist, Natalie Stovall, to a bonfi re Friday night at the football field house. Homecoming candidates will be revealed on Tuesday at the dance taking place in the Shepler Ballroom. Voting for your king and queen will take
place in the Student Activities Building on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A tailgating party will also be taking place Saturday afternoon in the CETES courtyard, where a live band will be playing while students are served lunch. The Cameron Cheerleaders will not only be present at all of these events, but are an integral part of many of them. Martin has one event in particular she is excitedly looking awaiting. “The unveiling of our new mascot will take place at the bon fi re,” Martin said. “I am very excited for this student because they deserve all the recognition in the world for what they have done around this campus.”
CU Athletic Hall Of Fame welcomes elite ‘09 class By Jeramy Eidson Collegian Staff Cameron University will host its annual Hall of Fame banquet on Feb. 20, 2009, in which it will induct six new members. These six members include James “Bad News” Barnes, Lonnie Nichols, Joe Jones, Thomas O’Kelley, Jason Jeter and Donald “Smokey” Torbert, according to the Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee web page. Each inductee has contributed to CU in some way; as a player, as a coach, or an athletic supporter and contributor. Craig Martin, CU’s Sports Information Director, said that these figures have made an indelible mark on Cameron history. “Cameron has a long history of successful sports programs with a long line of deserving athletes, coaches and boosters that deserve recognition,” Martin said. James Barnes was an Aggie basketball player from 1960-1962, posting 28.8 points per game as a freshman and 30.6 points per game as a sophomore. Barnes was named to the NJCAA All-American team as a sophomore and scored 50 points against the Oklahoma Sooners freshman team. He was one of the biggest, most daunting players in school history standing at 6’9” and weighing 240 pounds. Barnes played seven seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the New York Knicks in 1964. He also played for the Bullets, Lakers, Bulls and Celtics where he averaged 8.8 points per game. While playing for the Celtics he won an NBA Championship, beating the Lakers on their home court in game 7 with a score of 108-106. “Barnes is one of the most successful Aggie athletes in the history of our institution because of both his professional and amateur careers,” Martin said. Lonnie Nichols spent eight seasons on the Cameron basketball
coaching staff, four years as an assistant coach under Raymond Miller (1973-1977) and four as a head coach (1977-1981). In 1979, Nichols received NAIA Coach of the Year honors after winning the NAIA District 9 Championship and advancing to the NAIA Quarterfinals. In 1980, Nichols coached the basketball team to its only National Championship in Cameron history after winning the District 9 Championship. He later received the Oklahoma Sports Headliner Award for his success. In 1976, Joe Jones became the first Aggie women’s tennis coach, a title in which he would hold for 23 years. During his tenure as head coach, Jones received Coach of the Year honors an astounding ten times. Jones would eventually coach four All-Americans and attend the NCAA National postseason tournaments 14 times in his 23 seasons. Jones has helped establish a high expectation and great prestige in the Cameron Tennis program, a status that is still held to this day. Thomas O’Kelley, defensive end for the Aggie football team, started in 44 consecutive games from 1984-1988. Brian Naber coached the All-Conference and NAIA All-
American defensive end, honors that O’Kelley received during the 19851987 seasons. O’Kelley helped his fellow Aggies win the NAIA 1987 National Championship against CarsonNewman in dominating fashion, 30-2. After his playing days at CU, where he was also named to the Small College All-Century Team of Oklahoma and conference player of the year from 1986-1988, he coached the defensive line for the Aggies football team. He later would coach football in the Lawton and Cache school districts. Three time All-American golfer Jason Jeter (1996, 1998, 1999), a Lawton native, could very well be the greatest Aggie golfer to ever tee off for the black and gold. If not for dislocating his shoulder in 1997, he would have been named an AllAmerican an unprecedented four times. Upon receiving the Division II National All-Freshman team honor, he was runner-up in the Freshman of the Year award in 1996. In 1998 and 1999, Jeter was named to the Academic All-American team. Other accomplishments, both golf related and non-golf related, were recognized with several Lone Star Conference awards.
Donald “Smokey” Torbert is the final member to be inducted into the 2009 Aggie Sports Hall of Fame. For 58 years, beginning in 1948, “Smokey” was an athletics booster that would leave a lasting impression on the Aggie Athletic Department. Torbert played football for the Aggies in the 40s and attended pharmacy school, the first ever at Cameron to do so. His passion for Cameron is shown through his gracious contributions to the University. It is said that he attended nearly every away basketball game that the Aggies played in. His actions have not been disregarded. Cameron University is very appreciative of him. These new members are
being hallowed for their great accomplishments and contributions to the University. Cameron is inducting them into its Hall of Fame as a show of appreciation. Jim Jackson, Cameron’s Athletics Director, said that this ceremony is extremely important to the University. “I believe this ceremony is very important. We need to know our sports history,” Jackson said. “As far as I can recall, our athletics date back to 1915. If we don’t recreate our history, we lose it. I’m a firm believer in knowing where you came from.” Cameron University will host an induction ceremony and banquet in which it will officially induct these Aggie Alumni into the Cameron University Sports Hall of Fame
Photos courtesy Craig Martin
Good company: CU Hall Of Fame inductee Donald “Smokey” Torbert chats with Major League Baseball Hall Of Famer and New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle.
Too big, too strong: James “Bad News” Barnes leaps above three opponents to take a shot. Barnes possessed unmatched skills as well as one of the best nicknames in school history.
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Variety
February 16, 2009
Miss Black CU crowns Centennial Queen
Acknowledging the past: The 51st Annual Miss Black CU peagent brings former winners to the stage to celebrate its 30th edition.
2009 Miss Black CU contestants 2009 Miss Black CU Constina McIntyre First Runner-up Candice Lewis Second Runner-up Kacie Burris Contestants demonstrates their talents and history heritage during 2009 Miss Black CU.
A legacy: Former Miss Black CU Taylor Thompson (left) hands the crown over to 2009 Miss Black CU Constina McIntyre (right).
Dr. Valree Wynn
Photos by Bennett Dewan Photo Collage by Bira Vidal