The Cameron University Collegian: February 18, 2013

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Collegian T he Cameron University

Monday, February 18, 2013

www.aggiecentral.com

Volume 88 Issue 3

Photos by Kali Robinson

Connecting cultures: Professor Hengbi Xiao (left) teamed up with Unitarian Universalist Church member Charles Kolker (right) in an effort to teach Chinese calligraphy to audience members. The event was geared toward individuals wishing to learn calligraphy, as well as those wishing to expand their knowledge of the Chinese culture.

CU professor broadens horizons at intercultural communication event Kaylee Jones

newcomers, welcoming them with the words: “This is a liberal church. We don’t have a preacher; our talks are held to improve A&E Editor the quality of life.” Members participated in rituals such as the Intercultural communication was the discussion of the day ‘lighting of the chalice,’ recitations of affirmations and singing of when Charles Kolker and Professor Hengbi Xiao spoke at the hymns before the lecture began. Unitarian Universalist Church of Lawton on Feb. 3. Charles Kolker, a third-year member of the Universalist Citizens seeking a greater understanding of Chinese calligraphy church, taught at Shenzhen University in China for three years. or searching for a community of individuals joined by mutual Kolker invited Professor Xiao to join him in demonstrating the respect and support were encouraged to join members for the basic principles of Chinese calligraphy. 10:30 a.m. service. Xiao arrived at CU in August of 2012 to teach Beginning and Patsy Nixon, a member of the church, introduced herself to Intermediate Chinese for the 2012-2013 academic year. Xiao has

been practicing calligraphy since she was 10-years-old. Kolker opened by explaining, “The goal is not to make us Chinese calligraphers, but to learn about and appreciate the culture.” Kolker taught Intercultural Communication during his time in China. He said it was important to understand Intercultural Communication in a world that was continually growing smaller.

See INTERCULTURAL Page 2

Mayor Fred Fitch hosts annual Youth Summit Kali Robinson

brands of companies, retailers that this city has never seen. Citizens drive out of town to go to those stores. Staff Photographer Now, they’re going to be able to here.” Students were given about 15 minutes to answer and Students from high schools in Comanche County 15 minutes to discuss each question with their groups. gathered together on their day off to voice their opinions A majority of answers about how to reduce crime and about the community when Mayor Fred Fitch hosted the benefit the community came back to the same problems. Youth Summit conference at 11 a.m. on Feb. 6 in the “Teenagers from 14-19 have nothing to do,” a student McMahon Centennial Ballroom. from Comanche County said. “I think there’s stuff to do. This summit was the last of four hosted by Mayor It’s just aimed for younger kids.” Fitch. Whereas the first three included discussions with Another student at the same table suggested businesses, women and the elderly, the final summit consistency with local events. consisted of students who wanted to propose ways to “LOL had a teen night for middle schools and high make the Lawton/Ft. Sill community look more attractive schools; then all of a sudden, they didn’t have it anymore.” to their peers. The final concern was for safety. “These discussions,” Mayor Fitch said, “will give us a “It’s hard to get places where you feel safe having fun,” focus of what we need to do and where we need to spend a third student said. our dollars in this community.” Moderators and sponsors like Cheryl Crow from Fort Mayor Fitch said that the consensus with the summit Sill Federal Credit Union pitched in opinions after the for business was “more retail and better high-paying jobs.” summit ended. This coincides with future plans for the City of Lawton. “The youth is important to our community,” Crow One comment that Mayor Fitch said came from each said, “and we are very involved so we can serve them, we summit, regardless of the target audience, was that people know that those are upcoming members of our Credit from Lawton need to be the ones that love Lawton. Union and we want to be able to meet their financial “We will have, three years from now, close to a million needs.” square feet in new retail,” Mayor Fitch said. “We’ll have

Vice President Jennifer Holland honored at capitol Mentor Day 2013 Tyler Boydston

Asst. Managing Editor Vice President for Student Services Jennifer Holland was recently honored at the first Oklahoma Mentor Day on Jan. 16 at the state’s capitol. The event honored mentors throughout the state and included nearly 200 people, including representatives from the state mentoring organizations. Thirty-five people were nominated as outstanding mentors. According to Vice President Holland, the process to become honored involved a nomination

by officials at Cameron University. “You had to be nominated by your institution or organization,” Holland said, “and so President Ross also wrote a letter, Cody [Gardner] wrote a letter, and so essentially I was Cameron’s nominee for the award.” Vice President Holland said she was contacted by admissions counselor Cody Gardner and Director of Student Life Zeak Naifeh. The two let Holland know of her nomination to the Oklahoma Mentor Day.

“Cody Gardner is now an admissions counselor for Cameron but was Student Government President for two years, and I worked with her in that role and have known her since she started school here,” Holland said. “She nominated me. So she contacted me. She and Zeak Naifeh, who I believe helped with the process, came up to me one day and told me that I had gotten that recognition.” According to Holland, the nominees and those that nominated them went to the event and sat on the house f loor as speakers discussed the impact of mentors on those around them. “There were 35 people who were recognized, and they talked about how this is National Mentoring Month and the importance of mentors and the impact that mentors have, and then they started recognizing each of the recipients,” Vice President Holland said. “They would call our name and tell a little

Photo by Kali Robinson

Leading the community: Mayor Fred Fitch takes the podium in the MCC ballroom to address students that attended Youth Summit on Feb. 6. The event gathered students together to discuss the betterment of the Lawton community.

which I already ate, and a certificate and it was a nice event.” Holland said that she has a folder designated especially for thank you notes and letters she has acquired from past students throughout the course of her 12 years in higher education. The certificate she was attained at the Oklahoma Mentor Day is now in that folder. “I’ve worked in higher education for 12 years, and I have a folder that I keep in my drawer that includes thank you notes, and when students write a card after they’ve graduated to tell me how things are going. I cherish each one of those,” Holland said. “This will be a part of that.” Photo courtesy of Public Affairs Vice President Holland said these letters and her Major mentor: Jennifer Holland serves as current recent award hold the same Vice President of Student Services. She was recognized kind of personal value for as an Outstanding Mentor at Oklahoma Mentor Day on her. Jan. 16 in Oklahoma City. bit about us and what we do, and they would also announce the mentee

and brought us all up for pictures and it was really nice. We got chocolate,

See MENTOR Page 3


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