The Cameron University Collegian: February 20, 2006

COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y

Monday, February 20 2006

News

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Volume 79 Issue 18

Operation renovation SOEA spearheads library make over

By Petulah Olibert Collegian Staff

CU faculty and staff honored for community service.

SEE PAGE 2

A&E

“Working”: Check out the theatre arts departments latest offering.

SEE PAGE 6.

Sports

Lorinda Rogers, faculty sponsor of the Cameron University’s Student Oklahoma Education Association (SOEA) described the proposed library makeover at Lawton’s Douglass Elementary as nerve-wracking.

The project, almost a year in the making, was exquisitely planned out and organized, but as the time toward completion loomed, and being unsure of an adequate number of volunteers, it was hard not to harbor notions about not making the date. Her fears were unfounded, however, because volunteers turned out in droves.

“We have been working on this project since last April when we came back from the state convention,” Rogers said.

“We brainstormed all different kinds of ideas and we met with all the librarians from Lawton public schools and presented our proposal. We thought that a library makeover was a good focus because all the children from the school could take advantage of it since they all use the library.”

In an effort to get the students involved, a class contest was organized where each class was to submit a phrase or saying pertaining to reading.

The phrase: “Reading takes you everywhere,” won. Librarian Gayle Anderson created a two-foot long floor plan of the proposed redone library so the

SOEA members and volunteers would have an idea where the murals and bookcases were to be placed.

Rogers said the months of planning culminated in the work completed last week.

“It’s been a long process,” she said, “and we’ve been working for the entire week. The library was closed, and we’ve been here every evening and all weekend.”

An influx of volunteers were on hand, including an artist who painted a mural.

“Ramona Brown, a former Cameron graduate and SOEA member, does beautiful artistic work,” Rogers said. “We wanted to have children painted on one of the walls which would be at eye level with the children. We thought they would get a kick out of that. So Ramona drew in the children and the figures.

Our other volunteers helped to paint. Curtains were made by students at Tomlinson Junior High, and the Junior League volunteered to provide lunch for all the volunteers.”

Cameron’s SOEA chapter was inspired to take on the project after attending the 2005 SOEA state convention. Project Coordinator and Education Senior Allison Turner said that, realizing that their small chapter was not able to do an entire school makeover, they decided to do something smaller.

See RENOVATION, Page 8

Photo courtesy of Anita Hernandez

CU students make a difference: SOEA members refurbish the library in Douglass Elementary School. One enhancement is a mural painted by artist and CU alumna Ramona Brown.

Tresa Hall wins Miss Black CU

By Joan Hagy

News Writing Student

Aggies fall 0 - 4.

SEE PAGE 7.

Voices

Five accomplished young women vied for the title of Miss Black Cameron University on Saturday night. Held at the university theatre, the 27th annual Dr. Valree Wynn Miss Black Cameron University pageant was presented by the Ebony Society. It was an evening full of song, dance and tributes.

The 2005 Miss Black Cameron University, Lisa Eddy, crowned nursing junior Tresa Hall the winner.

Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Hall’s talent was an

interpretive dance and her ambassadorial segment honored Aretha Franklin.

Hall received a tuition waiver for her accomplishment.

When asked how she felt to be crowned Miss Black Cameron University, Hall simply replied, “Surprised.”

The first runner-up, medical technology sophomore Claudina Marcia Prince, was crowned Miss Black Comanche County. Prince brought to life gospel singer Shirley Caesar in her ambassadorial routine. At the end of the evening Prince said she was excited and very happy.

Second runner-up was Miranda Sosa, a romance

languages freshman. Sosa won the talent segment, singing a selection from the movie “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” in English and Mandarin.

Two other contestants, Ashley Gardner, pre-nursing freshman, and Leillaninicole Wiggins, psychology sophomore, competed for the crown. Gardner’s ambassadorial selection was a display of the talents and accomplishments of Halle Berry. Wiggins honored Rosa Parks by detailing the activist’s life in a dramatic presentation.

Hall and Prince will both compete at the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant to be held in June.

Photo by Joan Hagy

McMahon donates $4 million to Cameron

By Kenny Scarle Feminist movement organizer leaves legacy for women’s rights.

SEE PAGE 3 Office: Nance Boyer 2060 Phone: 580•581•2261 E-mail us at : collegian@cameron.edu First Copy Free - $.25 for each additional copy Contents © The Collegian 2006

Collegian Staff

“It is an unprecedented day at Cameron University.”

President Cindy Ross spoke those words on Feb. 9 at the McMahon Center. On that day, Cameron University was presented with the single largest donation ever received from the McMahon Foundation: $4 million for the completion of the new student activities center.

In 2008, Cameron will turn 100 years old. From an agricultural high school, this institution of education has become a master’s level university. In keeping with that growth, Cameron has a five-part Master Plan to continue developing success: ensure an active, studentcentered learning environment, become the university of choice in southwest Oklahoma,

strengthen institutional resources, improve institutional management and organizational effectiveness and finally, observe Cameron’s centennial.

In conjunction with that plan, Cameron has begun the Changing Lives for 100 Years program. The program is designed to lay the foundation for Cameron’s second century, providing new students with enhanced learning and campus life. It calls for new scholarship programs, keeping area students closer to home.

It also provides endowed faculty positions, enabling the university to offer dedicated learning on specific subjects from new technology to the use of the English language.

The $8.5 million program also calls for a major change in Cameron’s grounds and facilities, including the Centennial Gardens, a retreat complete with quiet areas for study,

water features, and beautifully landscaped areas, and the construction of a new student activities center.

Enter the McMahon Foundation.

The McMahon Foundation has had a long affiliation with Cameron. They have been a major contributor to the university’s projects, from grants for the Fine Arts Complex in 1966 to the recent donation of the McMahon Center at Cameron Village.

“It’s a long-standing relationship,” Ross said. “We are so indebted to the McMahon Foundation for its generosity. Two years ago, the foundation gave us our largest gift, $1.25 million for the construction of the McMahon Center, the heart of the Cameron Village.”

See DONATION, Page 4

News

2

February 20, 2006

Members of CU’s staff earn recognition

By Danielle Murphree News Writing Student

Each year, the City of Lawton and the Lawton Arts and Humanities Council recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural life of the Lawton community.

This year, two Cameron University professors and one faculty member were honored with three of six prestigious awards.

Associate professor Matt Jenkins was named as the 2005 Educator in the Humanities, associate professor Kirsten Underwood was named 2005 Educator in the Arts, and Lucinda Poahway, secretary of the technology center, was named Citizen of the Humanities.

Jenkins teaches classes in television and film production in the Department of Communication. He has produced several award winning documentaries, and after partnering with Nancy Anderson, director of the Leslie Powell Gallery, has submitted student films to film festivals and public television stations to showcase their work.

Jenkins’ involvement in the humanities can be seen in the preservation of history through his lenses and those of his assigned student projects – documentaries about the S.S.

John W. Brown, the Oklahoma State Capital Publishing Museum in Guthrie, the U.S.S. Nautilus (first nuclear powered submarine), the Kathryn (a Skipjack ship), the City of Lawton and many others.

Jenkins is receiving this award based on his outstanding work as a documentary filmmaker, and as an outstanding mentor and supporter to students of this medium in our community.

According to the City of Lawton and the Lawton Arts and Humanities Council, Jenkins is “willing to go the extra mile to give his students the ‘real world’ professional experience.”

Kirsten Underwood has developed several new courses at Cameron, such as “Class Lessons in Guitar,” and has periodically offered courses in string quartet and guitar ensemble.

To help raise funds and perform outreach to area high schools for the department of music, she has organized and taught the Cameron Summer Strings Workshop.

She has also served as the conductor for the Cameron Civic Symphony. For three years, Underwood was single handedly responsible for the continuation of this because she believes the organization bridges a gap in the community for the community members.

The City of Lawton and the Lawton Arts and Humanities

Council recognized Underwood for her outstanding service to the students at Cameron University and to the community through her service in the Civic Symphony.

“The most exciting thing to me is watching the symphony grow in participant size and in audience size.” Underwood said.

“Seeing the growing enthusiasm in the community is very rewarding and satisfying to me.”

Underwood is also a cellist who has performed for CU musical theatre productions, the Wichita Falls Symphony, and other events throughout the state.

She is currently the president of the Lawton Philharmonic League.

Lucinda Poahway was selected because of her accomplishments and leadership in the community.

Poahway, a Kiowa Tribe member from Cache, is the president and founder of the Lawton Intertribal Women’s League.

She has directed and served as stage director for the Miss Indian Oklahoma and Junior Miss pageants in Anadarko and El Reno, the Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women (OIFW) awards ceremony, and CU’s Native American Youth Conference and Pow-Wow. She has also served as historian for the OFIW. “My goal is to teach people

Sigma Phi and the directors of the Miss Lawton Pageant held a crowning ceremony for Cassie Hill, who was initially named runner up to Ashley Pindley.

Hill discussed her reaction to winning the pageant.

“A lot of people have asked me if I feel like I missed my opportunity to shine because of the mistakes; I really don’t feel like I did,” she said. “I will have many opportunities

to do great things for kids this year.”

Hill said she looks forward to the opportunity to give the crown to next year’s winner. She said that the directors and all of her family members have made everything special for her and she is just ready to give back now.

Accompanied by the Beta Sigma Phi ladies and some of her family members, she met with pageant officials at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 at

the differences and meanings within the different tribes,” Poahway said. “But at the same time uniting with fellow Native Americans to better understand our culture.”

Poahway also formed the Oklahoma Native American Youth Choir, which performs Indian sign language. The group has represented the state’s Indian community in concerts across Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee, culminating with a performance at the 150th birthday celebration of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. “I do what I can to bridge the gap between the modern cultural world and Native American culture.” Poahway said.

More recently, she has won the title of Mrs. Oklahoma 2006, and is currently competing in the National Mrs. pageant.

Pictured from Top Left down: Associate professor Matt Jenkins, associate professor Kirsten Underwood, and Secretary of the technology center Lucinda Poahway.

Photos by Rhyan McGuire

Audit uncovers error in the crowning of Miss Lawton

By Regan Frizzelle Collegian Staff

Never in the history of the Miss Lawton pageant has there been a question in regard to who is entitled to wear the crown. That is, not until this year’s pageant when it was discovered during a routine audit that the votes had been miscounted.

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the McArthur Middle School, Beta

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43 Long periods 44 Betters oneself 45 Passageway 47 Dramatist Jonson 48 Greek letter 49 Reluctant 54 Accessory for stretching exercises 58 PC key 59 Ref. set member 60 Wrinkly citrus fruit 61 Travel option 64 Gung-ho 65 Holliday partner 66 Post-crucifixion depiction 67 On its way 68 Moral wrongs 69 Type of salts DOWN 1 Guiding philosophy 2 Madrid museum 3 Body of rules 4 Curious

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Kindergartner’s medium Maritime hazard Redding of soul Pairs Prevail upon Zoom by Long poem To boot One who’s sorry now Brand marker Branches out Official entanglements Belief system Socket insert Sloping walkways Clinging vines Acknowledge, in a way Sparkle Hearty laughs Pointed arch Secluded valley Siamese, now Big pot Criticize

the Oklahoma Blood Institute.

Pageant officials sat her down and explained the situation. Hill said she was so excited all she could do was cry.

“I was speechless, I just covered my mouth and eyes and I began to cry,” Hill said.

Cameron students at the crowning found the experience interesting.

Ashley Tate, elementary

education sophomore, was among the students who attended both of the pageants.

“What was most interesting to me about the crowning,” Tate said, “was if there were two auditors there counting and checking mistakes, shouldn’t they have caught the mistake in the score cards?”

Both Hill and Pindley will participate in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant.

Career opportunities with the CIA offered

President Ross hosts open door meetings CU students are welcome to visit with President Cindy Ross at an Open Door meeting scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m.

March 23. The meeting will be informal and may cover a wide range of topics. Call 581.2201 to reserve a time to meet with President Ross.

Recruiters from the CIA will be available to meet with interested students about career opportunities from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Language Learning Center, Nance-Boyer. Seating is limited, so only those students with serious career interests in the CIA should attend.

Recruiters will also be at the Red River Career Expo on Thursday. For additional information, contact Dr. George Stanley, Nance-Boyer Hall, room 2021, or call 581.2929.

Classifieds Tutoring: Reading, writing, algebra and more. Caring, certified teachers, positive reinforcement, mastery learning, diagnostic and prescriptive. Sylvan Learning Center, 351.9100.

Interested in placing a classified ad?

Contact the Collegian by email at collegian@cameron.edu or by phone at 581.2261.

Voices

February 20, 2006

3

Truth as a commodity: Should we buy it?

O

prah is not the center of the universe.

There is a lot happening outside the halcyon world of southwest Oklahoma.

However, judging from the response in one of my classes when students were discussing a couple of recent events, if Oprah isn’t somehow involved, it just isn’t news.

The first event we talked about was James Frey’s autobiographical account of his battle with drug addiction, an account that turned out to be largely fictional. Frey’s book was a bestseller, thanks in part to being selected by Oprah as worthy of reading. When it turned out that Oprah was “had,” she invited Frey back on her program to let him know just how thoroughly embarrassed she was by his duplicity.

While most of my classmates seemed familiar with this event, when discussion turned to the recent publication of images of the prophet Muhammad by a Danish newspaper, the response was limited to a couple of students.

To summarize the story, in

the Muslim faith it is absolutely forbidden to display images of the prophet Muhammad. Not only did the Danish newspaper publish multiple images, they were in the form of cartoons. When publication of the cartoons evoked outrage among Muslims, other European newspapers responded by publishing the images in a show of support for the Danish paper and freedom of the press.

Did I mention the class during which this discussion took place is a journalism course?

I understand that we cannot possibly absorb all of the information we have access to. However, the university setting provides us with ample opportunity to develop an awareness of more than just our immediate surroundings.

Not to take advantage of that is to shortchange both our classmates and ourselves. It isn’t much of a discussion if only a handful of students participate.

Students here have the opportunity to study under the tutelage of a number of excellent professors who consistently work to remind us that we live in a

global economy and that there classroom assistant professor are global issues that affect us.

Danny McGuire teaches us to Assistant professors Kimberly comprehend our world as a whole: Merritt in macroeconomics complex, tending to disorder, but and Mary Penick in production well worth the effort necessary to planning, and associate professor develop a basic understanding of Tom Russell in Cobol, to name how the parts work together. just a few of the faculty and This is but a sampling of the courses available to us, have level of instruction we are offered. addressed this very All have in common the issue. objective of teaching In journalism us how to gain the studies, associate knowledge and tools professor Gil required for continued Hernandez and success. assistant professor Communication is Christopher Keller a multi-layered tool. In strive to emphasize the best sense, it means the responsibility sharing is taking place. of the press and, Sharing implies give Kathleen Kelly and take. We cannot more importantly, the responsibility participate fully in of the citizen to know and the act of communication with develop some understanding others unless we take the time to of events that shape our learn something about those with world. Associate professor Jim whom we must interact.

Heflin’s course in interpersonal Beyond that, we are at war. communication touches on the To be naïve enough to think that concept that cultural differences those we are engaged with, both do impact on our ability to on the battlefield and on the dipcommunicate effectively with lomatic front, are as accommodatothers. In the physical science ing of differences as we are is both

Betty Friedan: her own mystique

If you believe that women should have equal rights, bow your head in honor of Betty Friedan, who died on Feb. 4, her 85th birthday.

Friedan’s 1963 best-seller, “The Feminine Mystique,” challenged the view that women could find fulfillment only in suburban domesticity: baking brownies, choosing color-coordinated curtains and keeping their husband’s dinner warm until all hours of the night.

In the 21st century, that may not seem revolutionary. But it’s easy to forget that in the 1950s, a woman’s place was in the home. Birth control was illegal, pregnant women were routinely fired from their jobs, and young girls who played sports were disparaged as “tomboys” – if they were allowed to play at all.

Friedan did more than write one of the century’s most influential books, however. She helped organize the major groups of the women’s movement: the National Organization for Women in 1966, the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws in 1969 (now called Naral Pro-Choice America) and the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971.

“I realized that it was not enough just to write a book,” she said in a PBS interview several years ago. “There had to be social change. There had to be organization, and there had to be a movement.”

She was no saint. She had a difficult personality, and she alienated lesbians and radical feminists with her attacks on sexual politics. But she was nonetheless a pioneer.

The passing of a pioneer is never a happy moment. It provides a chance, however, to tally victories and to renew one’s commitment to overcoming remaining challenges.

The successes are many. Despite the complexity surrounding the term “feminism,” there is little dispute that women should have the same political and legal rights as men.

Daycare, once a dirty word in America, is now an accepted part of life.

Women are senators, Supreme Court justices and brain surgeons.

Young fathers routinely share responsibilities, such as changing diapers and wiping runny noses.

For these victories, we should all be thankful.

Unfortunately, challenges abound.

The right to abortion, which Friedan believed was essential to securing women’s equality, may not last the decade.

Women still earn only about 77 cents for every dollar that men earn, and the figures are far worse for African-American and Latina women.

Above all, young women are increasingly being told that they cannot have it all, and that they must choose between a career and a family. The media, rather than exposing how the American workplace is loath to institute family-friendly policies that can benefit men and women alike, is again glamorizing housework and housewives.

Even from the grave, Friedan can offer advice – complete with a sense of humor. As she told an interviewer in 1963, “Some people think I’m saying, `Women of the world unite – you have nothing to lose but your men.’ It’s not true. You have nothing to lose but your vacuum cleaners.”

— Barbara Miner KRT News Wire

dangerous and foolish. To suggest, as some in the media have, that the violent reaction of some Muslims in response to the cartoons is just another example of the barbaric nature of followers of Islam is simplistic at best.

This particular event demands more than a knee-jerk reaction.

It requires informed decisionmaking. It means putting aside the idea that the freedoms we Americans take for granted are universally accepted throughout the world.

We may continue as we have, depending on Oprah to let us know what is worthwhile and what is not, remaining blissfully ignorant of those events which will surely – are surely – changing our world, or we can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to be more than what we were: to be educated in the fullest sense of the word.

Which do you choose?

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board

Managing Editor - Lisa Snider News Editor - Sarah Warren Copy Editor - Kathleen Kelly Assist. Copy Editor - David Bublitz A&E Editor - Joshua Rouse Sports Editor - Christina Frye

Newsroom Staff

Feds want standardized tests for college grads U-WIRE — In its nonstop march toward running the United States like a corporation, the Bush administration once again has shown its propensity toward the insidious “ownership” society by creating a commission to examine whether standardized testing should be expanded to colleges and universities across the country.

The commission, which was appointed by the Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings last fall, has until August to submit a formal report regarding the feasibility of using standardized tests for colleges and universities. The commission chairman already has stated that he believes a nationwide system using standard formats is “clearly lacking” in the higher education system.

It is lacking for good reason.

To mandate a uniform test would negate the entire purpose of going to a college or university. Rather than broadening one’s horizons or becoming a lifelong learner, a student would spend his or her academic career trying to cram for one big test.

If the tests were made voluntary, college students would know better than to lift one finger

in preparation for a test that was not at all beneficial to them.

Proponents of standardized testing in colleges and universities argue that more and more students are graduating with poor writing and critical reasoning skills, but these are prerequisites for college and need to be addressed during standard K-12 education. The nation already has seen how ineffective standardized testing is in that arena.

Examining the use of standardized tests in colleges and universities is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at pandering to big business.

It’s no surprise that the members of the commission are pro-business bureaucrats who would like nothing more than to push forward a standardized test that would essentially do all their human resource work for them. It is also no surprise that Jonathan Grayer, the chief executive of Kaplan Inc., a test-coaching company, promotes the idea of expanding standardized testing in college in his capacity as a member of the commission.

— Minnesota Daily KRT News Wire

Correction In the Feb. 6 Aggie Ambassadors story, admissions counselor Lindsay Nemec’s name was ommitted. The Collegian regrets the error.

Bus. Manager - Kenny Scarle Layout assistant - Kareem Guiste Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Financial Officer - Susan Hill Photographer - Rhyan McGuire Webmaster - Sheldon Rogers Staff Writers - Petulah Olibert, David Bublitz, Jessica Lane, Regan Frizzelle

Faculty Adviser

Christopher Keller

News Writing Students

Danielle Murphree, James Norris, Blake Red Elk, Joan Hagy

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 email 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.

4

News

February 20, 2006

Suicide Prevention Training Danielle Murphree

committing suicide. The program breaks down suicide warning signs News Writing Student into one basic phrase, which is repeatedly emphasized.

Ask a question, save a life.

“The course focuses on the basics That’s the motto of the QPR of suicide prevention,” Robey said.

Institute. “‘QPR is the key to our training. It’s According to www.qprinstitute. much like CPR.” com, QPR, which stands for Individuals who Question, attend the course Persuade, “The idea is to provide will receive Refer, “is a continuing multidisciplinary training and give skills to education units, training people who work with are used by organization those more traditionally which administrations whose primary subject to suicidal to ensure that goal is to counselors on thoughts, such as teens, provide suicide their staff are prevention children and students.” equipped with educational up-to-date services and — Courtney Hardin knowledge materials to professionals Director of Student on suicide and the general Activities prevention. The event is not public.” aimed at anyone Members of in particular, Robey said, and the Cameron University faculty could be helpful to a wide variety of recently completed QPR training in people. suicide prevention.

Director of Student Activities Courtney Hardin has been through the training. She said the class aims to expose people to the threats of suicide and how to prevent potential incidents before they happen.

“The idea is to provide training and give skills to people who work with those more traditionally subject to suicidal thoughts, such as teens, children and students,” she said.

Bob Robey, a Suicide Prevention trainer for the QPR Institute in Spokane and bereavement counselor for the Hospice in Owensboro, Ky. where he facilitates a ‘suicide survivors’ support group, said the class will teach people how to determine whether or not someone might consider

Robey, who has been a therapist for 13 years, said the suicide awareness and prevention class is designed to minimize the number of people who commit suicide in the Cameron community.

“Suicide affects thousands of people across America each year,” she said. “Three-hundred thousand deaths per year are the result of suicide. That’s one death every 17 minutes, and for every death there are 25 [suicide] attempts.”

Hardin said the hope is that this training will eventually be offered to Cameron students and other members of the Lawton community interested in suicide awareness and prevention.

In the meantime “We [the faculty] are here to help anyone who feels the need to talk or for people concerned about their roommates,” Hardin said.

For more information on QPR Suicide Prevention Training, go to www.qprinstitute.com.

DONATION continued from page 1 Dr. Charles Graybill, Chairman of the McMahon Foundation Trustees, was in agreement about the relationship between the foundation and Cameron.

“The $4 million grant is the largest that we’ve ever given from the McMahon foundation,” Graybill said. “But it was unanimous among the trustees.

We all want to help Cameron. Part of the purpose of the foundation is education, so we feel this is a worthy cause. We have formed a lasting partnership, changing the lives of students today and well into the next century.”

The $4 million grant from the McMahon Foundation has been dedicated to the new student activities complex. This new 37,000 square foot complex will provide students with common areas enhancing the collegiate experience and working toward the goal of making Cameron the university of choice for southwest Oklahoma.

“The student activities complex is an important component of that plan,” Ross said, “because this complex will provide students an area to gather, to dine, to study, to relax. It will also be a wonderful asset to the entire community.”

News

February 20, 2006

5

Smith’s book soon to hit the shelves

By David Bublitz Collegian Staff

The emergency room in a hospital is a hotbed of drama.

Doctors and nurses deal with life and death on regular basis.

Alice Smith, Cameron alumna and instructor in nursing, spent 30 years as a nurse and another 15 years teaching nursing to aspiring Cameron students.

On March 27, Smith’s first novel and first published work will hit the shelves. Entitled “Cutter,” the book draws on Smith’s extensive nursing experience.

“When I was working as an ER nurse I saw a lot,” she said.

“The opening line in the book is actually from something someone said to me when I was walking into work on the evening shift; ‘There’s a stiff in room one.’”

Smith said that her novel was the result of much contemplation mixed with a lot of free time and a general passion to write.

“I thought about writing for years, drawing on my experiences and using them to my advantage,” she said. “Then I came across some health issues and the doctor told me to take it easy for a while. After sewing everything I could think of to sew, I finally sat down to write, and in two

weeks I had the novel written and ready for submission to be published.”

Smith learned there are a number of ways to be published.

“There are plenty of ways to get published online if you want to pay for your book to get out there,” she said, “but I didn’t want to publish anything unless it had been selected. My two granddaughters, who also helped me edit the novel, helped me in my research when I was looking around for a good publishing company.”

Smith eventually came across a company on the Internet called Publish America, an online publishing company that accepts non-solicited manuscripts.

“I was considering the big publishing companies, but in order for your novel to even be considered, you have to have an agent,” she said. “Agents go to the companies and pitch your book, and then, after paying all this money to get an agent to keep him or her, you’re still not even ensured a publication.

“Publish America allowed me to submit a synopsis for consideration without all that time and money being spent.

After they had reviewed my synopsis, and they expressed interest in my work, they had me send in parts of my novel to be

read and considered. After three months, I had submitted all of my work. That was around June of last year. By August I had a contract with them.”

Smith did a lot of research, however, before she committed to anything.

“They listed some previous writers on the Publish America Web site with phone numbers,” she said, “so I contacted some of them to make sure the company was legit.”

Publish America gave Smith quite a bit of freedom in terms of marketing and editing. Although the publishing house had editors available, Smith was permitted to pass her manuscript around the members of her family to get the job done.

To market “Cutter,” Publish America has posted the novel on a variety of Web sites. In addition, Smith can take her novel to bookstores around the area and set up book signings.

Smith hopes that the public can relate to her novel in a real way, especially fellow nurses.

“Personally, I don’t think nurses get enough credit for their hard work,” she said. “The book speaks to that in a lot of ways. I hope every nurse will read it and feel proud.”

Photo by David Bublitz

Great things come in small packages: New author Alice Smith admires the proofing copy of her new book. As a child, Smith would dream entire adventures. With her new book in hand, those dreams have become reality.

Spring fashion, part two: women’s attire

By Blake Red Elk

News Writing Student

Skinny jeans: The 1980s are back in a big way. While hair is getting bigger and colors are getting brighter, the jeans are getting skinnier. It is time to throw away the ultra low rise jeans that threaten to expose everything, and get jeans that fit at the waist. Remember the waist?

The leg of the denim, as opposed to the trouser, is becoming narrower for a closer, retro feel.

Look to the denim experts at Levi’s for a huge variety of skinny jeans.

Bold patterns: Whether it is floral, striped or polka dots, bold patterns are a must have fashion statement. Large and in-yourface patterns look new again on blouses, skirts and accessories.

It is important to remember that sold patterns in bold colors should be used with discretion so as not to look like a circus has exploded on your body. For those who are unsure, try adding a bold scarf with two solid separates to test this new look out.

Just as spring signals the beginning of the flowers and the warm weather, let these new fashion trends helps start the season off right.

Try one trend at a time but let your personality shine through.

That’s always a good fashion statement.

KR T Ca m pu s

Bold yet understated.

Wide but narrow.

Vivid and pale.

Women’s spring fashion takes its cues from a variety of sources and gives shoppers an array of options.

These are the top 10 trends to look for this season.

White: Often overlooked, white has become the strongest color of the season. Designers are using the color for eye-catching color contrast or all alone. This season, the “little black dress” has become the “little white dress” thanks to designers such as Chloè and Mint. Shoes and accessories are also lighting up this season for a look that is sweet and simple.

Denim trousers: While jeans will never go out of style, some stores are carrying a new take on an old favorite. Using the same denim material, designers create a dress pants fit for a look that takes denim up a notch. The wider, the better as far as the pant leg goes. This look, when pared with a tee, is casual enough for class and stylish enough for work with a shrunken blazer.

Flat sandals: Just as everyone was getting used to walking in heels, shoe designers are bringing us back down to earth.

Ballet flats and sandals are the main story this season, with almost every designer displaying some form of a flat on this season’s

runways. Save a buck and get yourself to a Payless Shoe Source for fashionable and cheap flats that your feet will thank you for.

Embellishment: Touches of lace on shirts or pants and dresses made of eyelet fabric are perfect for this season’s fashion. Delicate stitching can add class and interest to any piece, from a lace blouse or embroidery on jeans.

Embellishment, however, does not mean sequins. It is time to retire the sequin-trimmed camisole and those horrible purses that look like disco balls.

Nautical: Coinciding with men’s fashion this season, designers are looking to the high seas for inspiration. Navy blue and white make an attractive pair in separates or in stripes.

To complete the look, add gold accessories to create a seaworthy style. Designers such as Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors offer exceptional examples of nautical at stores such as Dillard’s and Foley’s.

Espadrilles: This wedge sandal of Spanish descent has been worn for years but is making a strong presence in a season that favors a more natural feel.

With soles made of either rope or cork, this sandal will quickly become the most versatile shoe in the spring wardrobe. Pair them with a skirt or dress to make a feminine statement.

Shopper will find espadrilles in any store in a wide range of prices.

Sun block: Yes, sun block is one of this season’s must have items. If a tan is a must, try a spray tan that is offered at a local salon. Just proceed with caution because no one wants to have orange skin.

A&E

6

February 20, 2006

Comedian offers sound advice on alcohol abuse

By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff

Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious problems among young people, especially for those under 21, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. So, despite Brad Paisley’s song “Alcohol,” or Super Bowl drinking commercials, the subject must be faced seriously.

Or, must it?

At 7 p.m. Thursday the Programming Activities Council (PAC) will showcase comedian Bernie McGrenahan in Courtesy Photo the Shepler Towers Mezzanine.

His show, “Happy Hour Comedy – A comedy with a twist,” is an educational alcohol awareness comedy. McGrenahan’s objective is to inform and entertain the audience.

The idea for the show began when McGrenahan’s GPA from high school went from a perfect “A” to falling grades in college. According to McGrenahan, his behavior, especially the drinking behavior, was due to “partying.” But the negative effects of alcohol in his life did not stop there.

After missed classes, family problems and jobs losses, McGrenahan started to argue with his 19-year-old brother, Scott, about Scott’s excessive drinking behavior. One day, after a serious argument with Scott, Bernie left to go to a bar.

He never saw his brother again. When Bernie returned an hour later, he learned that his brother had committed suicide with a shotgun.

From that day on McGrenahan decided to never drink again.

In the thirteen years since his brother’s death, McGrenahan has found many opportunities to share his victorious experience with alcohol with college students. He has visited Rockland Community College in N.Y., Pennsylvania College, the State University of New York, Buffalo, and Miami University in Ohio, to name a few.

On his Web site, www.happyhourcomedy.com, McGrenahan speaks to students about drinking responsibly and explains that when a student may legally consume alcohol, he or she can achieve a level where responsible drinking is not a problem. He also shares tragic stories related to irresponsible alcohol consumption.

“Happy Hour is comedy … with a message. It inspires students to achieve their dreams by dealing with life’s obstacles in a positive way.

Happy Hour brings a motivating, uplifting and poignant message not only to students, but also to individuals in the community,” McGrenahan said.

Courtney Hardin, director of student activities, said some of the PAC members saw Bernie McGrenahan at a conference last November. They found his show personal and moving.

“We all agreed that Bernie’s show would be something that our students would appreciate,” Hardin said.

Admission to the show is free for Cameron students with an ID.

Photo by Christina Frye

Working 9 to 5: Theatre sophomore Shemika Phillips takes a break from long hours of waitressing for the CU production of ‘Working.’ The play will debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Production sets the work day to music

By Jessica Lane Collegian Staff

The musical comedy “Working” will open at the Cameron University Theatre Feb. 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 26 for a 2 p.m. matinee.

According to David Fennema, theatre arts professor, the musical is based on a book of interviews by Studs Terkel also titled “Working”.

Written in the late 1960s, the book is a series of interviews with “people you don’t think about, but who are vital to our structures,” Fennema said.

These important, but often forgotten, people include school teachers, gas men, housewives, firemen, mill workers, sailors and many more.

In the musical, these workers discuss not only their jobs but their personal goals as well.

Joey Roberts, who plays Rex the Business Man and Tom the Fireman, said he thinks the musical itself is “full of so much energy it’s unbelievable.”

“Working” examines the employment health issues during the average American workday.

This musical, according to Fennema, was chosen in light of Cameron’s academic Festival VI theme, “CU in Good Health.”

Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted the interviews into a script.

The script was then set to musical numbers

by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers, James Taylor and Susan Birkenhead.

Fennema said the music genres include rock, pop and ballads.

“The kind of music that makes you want to get up and dance,” he said.

Alyssa Hancock, theatre major freshman and the stage manager, said that it is going to be a unique musical, with the music leaning more toward rock music styles.

“It’s going to be a great show,” she said.

Tickets for the production are $15 for adults and $10 for military, seniors and students from other schools. Cameron students with CU ID will be admitted free.

To make reservations, call 580.581.2478.

James Frey’s ‘Million Little Pieces’ creates controversy Joan Hagy

News Writing Student An Internet news story at TheSmokingGun.com piqued my interest in James Frey’s, “A Million Little Pieces.” I had heard of the memoir, now being labeled as fiction by the media and even by Frey himself, but I had no desire to read it. These days I only read books that cost me a small fortune from the campus bookstore. My curiosity won out and I borrowed a copy of the book to read only because I felt there was a story in it for this news writing student.

“A Million Little Pieces,” published by Random House in 2003 and an Oprah book club pick, is an easy read once you get past the staccato style and the creative use of capital letters. It details Frey’s experience in a Minnesota rehab center in the early 1990s.

The rehab center’s treatment program is based on Alcoholics Anonymous’ (AA) 12-step program of recovery. Frey resists those steps for the four weeks he spends there. Instead he feels he alone can get and keep himself sober. He relies on a spiritual book from his brother and his simple faith in just holding on.

Last month, The Smoking Gun and other sources began to question whether certain details in the book were true and if characters had been fabricated. Frey admitted in a January 2006 interview with Oprah Winfrey the allegations were true.

For Frey, who maintains he is still sober, the fallout can be nothing short of a bad drug trip.

The controversy created a lot of questions for this reviewer. I wanted to know how people who had walked in Frey’s shoes felt about the book, AA, recovery and living a life of a million little lies. I needed to talk to drug addicts and alcoholics.

I found them through a friend, and it wasn’t easy. I promised to protect their anonymity and change their names.

Karen, a 2005 Cameron graduate, has been sober for nearly seven years. She went through

outpatient rehab for six weeks to kick her alcohol and methamphetamine addictions.

“My copy of ‘A Million Little Pieces’ is still on my nightstand with the bookmark on Page 124, where it was the night I heard about the controversy on CNN,” she said. “I don’t know why I haven’t picked it up again. I have to remember that after all he is just another alcoholic/ addict like I am, and one of the things we do best is lie, so I shouldn’t be surprised by it.”

The same friend introduced me to Gail and Sheila, two smart, funny, middle aged women I would expect to see at church or a social club, and not agreeing to talk to me about addiction and recovery. Both women spent 28 days in drug and alcohol treatment centers, and they credit the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, the program Frey mocks in his book, with their long-term sobriety.

“At times this (recovery) has been a difficult journey but in AA I have acquired the tools to deal with situations that used to baffle me,” Sheila said.

She has over 15 years of sobriety.

Gail read the book and felt the depiction of the rehab experience was quite truthful.

“I thought it seemed to mirror what I had found in treatment, including fights and heavy duty emotional ups and downs,” Gail said. “I was not surprised that there were many lies in the book, for the lack of honesty appeared to be one of the big stumbling blocks that the author had.”

WebMD.com and CNN.com both have health stories on their Web sites about college drinking and alcoholism.

The problem is increasing. Frey’s novel and his experiences as a young man can be a fair warning for students despite the questionable validity of his details.

The subjects I interviewed all agreed the experience of addiction Frey portrayed was compelling and all too familiar. The book is strong as a novel, disappointing as a memoir.

Courtesy Graphic

News travels fast.

Check out the Collegian on the web at http://collegian.cameron.edu

Sports

February 20, 2006

7

Offensive struggles hit Aggies in hard ball CU Sports Information Four times the Cameron baseball team loaded the bases in the Feb. 14 doubleheader with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at McCord Field. And four times the Aggies came away empty-handed.

The Aggies fell to 0-4 with losses of 6-1 and 51 to the Drovers keeping Coach Todd Holland’s squad winless. Cameron pitchers combined to allow just 15 hits and eight earned runs on the afternoon. Aggie hitters, meanwhile, registered just 13 hits, including just two extra-base knocks, and stranded 20 runners on base.

Blake Hughes and Ryan Whiteley each collected two hits in the opening game, while Matt Machinski plated Cameron’s only run for the Aggies with an RBI-double in the second inning.

B.J. Cole got the Aggies on the

Courtesy Photo

We need a hit, guys: Coach Holland looks on as the Aggies approaches a .226 batting average over the past four games.

board in the nightcap with a run-scoring double in the fourth and finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.

But those were the only highlights for the Aggie offense, which has stumbled to a .226 team batting average so far this season after establishing a new school record with a .352 team hitting mark last season.

“It’s frustrating right now because our pitchers have done a good job so far and we’re just not getting the hits when we need them,” Holland said. “But the good

Australia contributes to Cameron’s cause

By James Norris

News Writing Student When it comes to recruiting athletes, geography is no barrier.

Last year, Aggie baseball acquired Greg Patton, a native of Scullin, Australia. Although Australia is mostly know for cricket, tennis, golf, and soccer, according to Patton baseball is beginning to grow on Australians.

“Baseball is getting pretty big,” he said. “Larger cities have many clubs where the competition is tough. Even though baseball is not yet a major sport, it is still a part of the culture.”

Patton said that his involvement in baseball is due largely to the motivation of his peers.

“I started playing at age 13, when friends asked me to come out and play,” he said, “and after one season I decided to try out for the state team.”

Patton continued playing in Australia well into his teens, and even joined the A-league, which was composed of some of the best players in the country.

“I was in a men’s division after age 17 where I was in the toughest league, the A-league, which consisted of minor-leaguers,” Patton said. “The players in the Aleague where very smart when it came to playing the game; their mentality was tougher.”

After his stint with the A-league in Australia, Patton decided to see what he could in the United States. He joined the Chaparrals of Vernon Junior College in Vernon, Texas.

“My coach back home played ball in America and knew the coach in Vernon,” he said. “The year before I attended there were 4 other Australians on the team, which was kind of a gateway.”

After spending two years at Vernon, Patton

decided to pursue his career at Cameron, but if it wasn’t for a former Vernon (and now Cameron) teammate, Patton may not have even known about being an Aggie.

“I didn’t find out about Cameron until my Vernon teammate John Herbert told me about it,” he said.

Patton said having teammates at Cameron such as senior infielder John Herbert and junior infielder Blake Hughes, who also attended Vernon Junior College, has made his experience at Cameron less stressful.

“Having been with them your whole career, it makes you more comfortable. You don’t always have to start with a new team which takes pressure off,” he said. “Also, knowing guys on the team helps you adjust to the community you are in.”

Patton earned honorable mention All-American honors in his first year at Cameron as he led the Aggies in many offensive and defensive categories.

Head coach Todd Holland said the recognition benefits not only Patton, but the program as well.

“We’re starting to acquire better quality players, and the program is starting to gain recognition, “Holland said. “Patton is a great student and on the field he knows the game very well, and when he gets to the plate he has a goal every time.”

Being ready to play every day, setting and obtaining goals on the field and just having the passion for the game of baseball is something Patton hopes will carry over as he continues to build on his career in the gold and black of a Cameron Aggie baseball uniform.

“I don’t hold anything back,” he said. “Every day you have to come out ready to go. Baseball is an everyday sport, and you just have to be ready.”

thing is that it is very early in the season and when we get a couple of kids back in the lineup from injury we should be fine.”

Cameron trailed just 2-1 through five innings in Tuesday’s second contest before USAO scored a run on a wild pitch in the sixth and added two more on a two-RBI double down the left field line by Kyle Bradburry in the seventh.

The Aggies finished with more hits (7) than USAO (6), but left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings and managed just two hits off Drover starter Pat Bridges after that.

Cameron will look to collect its first win of the season on the road this weekend. The Aggies are scheduled to visit Angelo State for a four-game series beginning Saturday in San Angelo, Texas ,weather permitting. Next home action for Cameron is set for Feb. 24 and 25, against West Texas A&M.

Upcoming Events: The CU cross country team is preparing for the upcoming season by sponsoring the Cameron Cross Country 5 km. and One Mile Fun Run/Walk.

The event will take place at 9 a.m. on March 4 in the fields surrounding the Aggies’ McCord baseball field, adjacent to the intersection of 38th Street and Gore Boulevard.

Awards will be given to the first competitors to cross the finish line in male/female categories, and various age groups for the 5 km. run.

Runners need to register for the event before Feb. 25 in order to receive a discount. Runners may also register as late as the day of the run. Additional discounts will be given to CU faculty, staff, students and military personnel.

For more information about the Run/Walk, contact cross country coach Matt Aguero, 581.5456.

Cameron softball team gets down and dirty CU Sports Information

Coach Brent Shaw’s Cameron softball team remained undefeated in the West Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday, despite unfavorable conditions that led to the postponement of several games. The Lady Aggies moved to 3-0 in the event and 3-7 overall with an 8-7 win over Fort

Courtesy Photo

Casey Seabolt: Senior third

baseman digs in for the next play.

Hays.

Cameron was scheduled to face New Mexico Highlands on Saturday afternoon, but cold temperatures and high winds forced event organizers to halt play on Saturday. The Lady Aggies are now scheduled to play three games on Sunday, beginning with an 11 a.m. meeting with Colorado State-Pueblo. Cameron will take on Adams State College at 1 p.m. before concluding play with the New Mexico Highlands game at 3 p.m.

The Lady Aggies jumped out to a big lead on Saturday, getting a two-run triple by Melinda Farrow in the first and a three-run double

by Casey Seabolt in the fourth to build a 6-0 lead. Cameron made it 8-2 later in the sixth on a two-run single by Shelby Davis.

Fort Hays State staged a late rally against Cameron starter Bethany Stefinsky, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the bottom of the seventh. But with the tying run at second base with two outs, Jessica Hutton came on to strike out the only batter she faced to earn her first save of the season, preserving the Lady Aggie win.

U.S. Teeter takes the gold and Bleiler the silver on the halfpipe

By Charean Williams KRT News Wire Hannah Teter has spent her life trying to keep up with her three snowboarding brothers. On Monday, she quit following.

Teter, 19, won the gold medal in the halfpipe, while her U.S. teammate, Gretchen Bleiler took the silver. Only Norway’s Kjersti Buaas prevented an American sweep, stealing the bronze from defending Olympic champion Kelly Clark.

Snowboarding has been the best news for the U.S. Olympic team thus far. The U.S. won four of the six medals awarded in the all-American sport. Shaun White and Danny Kass won the gold and the silver respectively Sunday, with Mason Aguirre finishing fourth.

“We set some high goals,” U.S. coach Bud Keene said. “We wanted to sweep everything.

Our actual stated goals were two medals for men and two medals for women, which is exactly what we got. We’re stoked about that.”

Riders get two trips down the chute in the halfpipe final, with only their best score counting. On Clark’s final run, knowing she was in fourth place, she went for broke

with a go-big run. Clark had the gold medal until losing her balance on the landing of a 2-spin jump at the end.

It was Teter’s day from the start.

The Belmont, Vt., native had the gold medal won on her first run in the finals, with a frontside 900 scoring her a 44.6. But her victory lap was even better.

Teter turned “Strive Roots” on her iPod and put on a show.

Jumping into a crystal-clear blue sky, Teter hit a frontside 540 followed by a frontside 900 to wow an estimated crowd of 7,000 and the judges. She scored a 46.4.

Bleiler’s 43.4 on her final run allowed her to leapfrog Buaas.

The Snowmass Village, Colo., resident, had been in third place after Buaas, surprised even herself by knocking Clark off the medal stand with the run of her life.

“All of us were hoping for a (U.S.) sweep,” said Bleiler, who was kept out of the 2002 Olympics on a tiebreaker. “But Kjersti stepped it up. She rode an amazing race. She deserves it. It’s disappointing because Kelly and Elena (Hight) are amazing riders, too … On any given day, any of us could have gotten on the podium.”

KRT Campus

Gold and Silver: U.S. snowboarders, Hannah Teeter, left, and Gretchen Bleiler celebrate with the American flag, after the Halfpipe snowboard competition Feb. 13 in Bardeonecchia, Italy.

8

The Back Page

February 20, 2006

U. of Illinois student editors suspended for running controversial Muhammad cartoons

By David Mendell KRT News Wire

The editor in chief of a student-led newspaper serving the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign has been suspended after printing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad that, when published in Europe, enraged Muslims and led to violent protests in the Middle East and Asia.

Editor Acton Gorton and his opinions editor, Chuck Prochaska, were relieved of their duties at The Daily Illini while a task force investigates “the internal decision-making and communication” that led to the publishing of the cartoons, according to a statement by the newspaper’s publisher and general manager, Mary Cory.

Gorton said he expects to be fired at the conclusion of the investigation, which is anticipated to take two weeks.

“I pretty much have an idea how this is going to run, and this is a thinly veiled attempt to remove me from my position,” said Gorton, a University of Illinois senior who took the newspaper’s helm Jan. 1.

“I am feeling very betrayed, and I feel like the people who I thought were my friends and supporters didn’t back me up.”

Nearly every major U.S. newspaper has not published the cartoons. They were first published in late September by the Danish newspaper JyllandsPosten and reprinted in other European publications in recent weeks. The cartoons portray the prophet as a terrorist, including one that depicts Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb.

Gorton said he believes he made a sound journalistic decision in running six of the cartoons because the public has a right to judge their content.

He said he consulted with top staff members and journalism instructors before making the decision to publish them in newspaper.

“This is not a publicity stunt, and this wasn’t an easy decision,” said Gorton.

Gorton’s decision, however, caused an uproar in the local Muslim community and rankled other Illini staff members after the paper was deluged with negative letters and emails.

Gorton himself said he received 300 emails. Twothirds of the emails were supportive and a third were hateful, he said.

RENOVATION continued from page 1 “We decided to focus instead on one library in the community and Douglass was elected by the Board of Librarians,” Turner said. “Our goal was to provide an atmosphere that promoted the joy of reading in children.

Our theme is reading in the park, so everything in the library now looks like something you might see in the park.”

In the library, volunteers repainted, put up new curtains at the windows, reorganized the bookcases, increased the reading area and added murals. As the project coordinator, Turner also created assignments for students to proposition donations from local businesses.

“We are grateful for all the donations we received,” Turner said. “Sherwin Williams donated several hundreds of dollars worth of paint, and Lowe’s also contributed. We also received a class grant from the National Education Association (NEA).”

Anderson was ecstatic about the changes. New to Douglass, Anderson’s enthusiasm mirrors the keenness felt by the students.

“My job is to encourage, motivate and instill the love of reading in our students—that they can read at any level,” she said. “After we found out that we were chosen for the makeover, the light in their eyes have just really brightened. They have bought into it and they are really excited about it. Even if it was a nice library before, after the makeover it becomes like a new home. It just makes you proud.”

Principal Ora Fitzgerald was elated that Cameron students felt the need to give to the community and its children.

“I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity to collaborate with Cameron’s SOEA and I appreciate the students giving of their time to increase our students’ interest in reading through this makeover. They have worked hard for many days and I’m convinced it is going to be beautiful.”

Vice principal Anita Hernandez echoed her sentiments.

“It has been a pleasure working with Cameron students,” she said. “They have worked hard and it is amazing what they have been able to do. I am proud of those young people who come in and want to be educators because they will make a difference in the world.”

University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman also wrote a letter to the newspaper saying he was saddened by Gorton’s decision.

The paper ran an editorial apologizing for Gorton’s decision and called the move “a blatant abuse of power” by a “renegade editor who firmly believes that his will is also the will of the paper.”

The task force will study whether Gorton made his decision in a vacuum that was

improper according to the Illini’s journalistic standards, written in 1947.

The Daily Illini is an independent publication that serves the university community and is overseen by a board of directors that includes students and faculty.

“The board and publisher reaffirm that final decisions about content in The Daily Illini rest with the editor in chief,” Cory said in a written statement.

“But the board and publisher also recognize that journalistic norms regarding professional behavior dictate that it is the editor’s obligation to engage other student editors and student staff members in rigorous discussion and debate of sensitive content.”