COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, January 31, 2005
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
News
Volume 78 Issue 15
Fennema hits turbulent seas By Anna Politano Managing Editor
Computer world expands for some. Find out about blogging and personal Web sites. PLEASE SEE PAGE 3
A&E
Writer pays tribute to the Great Carnac himself, Johnny Carson. PLEASE SEE PAGE 7
Sports
Photo by Scott Pratt
This little piggy goes to market: Gertrude, the recently named sow that is a part of the hands-on training of the animal sciences department, eyes the camera while awaiting her dinner.
Animal science gives students market edge By Scott Pratt Staff Writer
Meet IZW, Lawton’s professional wrestling group, and find out why fans return again and again to see their favorite performers. PLEASE SEE PAGE 8
Voices
“Green Acres” is a long way from the real world of farming and ranching. Cameron University’s Agricultural Department, animal science concentration, offers students a way to learn the business of working with animals to produce a product. The agriculture department is on the second floor of South Shepler. The animal science concentration is one of the most important areas for an agriculture student, as well as to the public who depend on what animal science courses teach the students. Professor Ira Kennedy, who has taught animal science courses at Cameron for several years, explained that a student could concentrate in animal science for about 20 hours of credit. Kennedy said the courses start with an introduction to animal science and take students through to a course in the physiology of animals. The animal science courses are designed to teach students how to work with animals generally raised to produce food. Cattle, pigs and sheep are the main emphasis of the program. Kennedy said many of the students from Cameron go to work on farms, as livestock inspectors, in slaughterhouses, or for government agencies responsible for the quality of beef. “The end product of the business is a food product,” Kennedy said. The animal science program teaches students about the cattle diet and how to keep them at an optimal weight for sale, and how to achieve good bloodlines and a quality product through reproductive techniques. Kennedy said about 30 percent of the students who go through the program stay around Lawton to work. Most of them come from rural areas and have grown up around farming and ranching. The department has several labs and locations for students to practice what they are taught in the concentration. Across from campus on 38th Street are the animal science
Please see SCIENCE, Page 3
Columnist argues the physical and emotional health value of a grateful disposition. PLEASE SEE PAGE 2
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 2004
As Fennema prepared to embark on his academic voyage two weeks ago, he had not anticipated that he would find turbulent waters on his way. The music and theatre arts professor was the only Oklahoma professor on the spring voyage of Semester at Sea. The MV Explorer, carrying 990 passengers, was hit by a 50-foot wave last Wednesday. According to reports from Semester at Sea, there was damage to the navigational equipment on the ship’s bridge. Although the ship has four engines, it is currently working with two. Damage has also been done to furniture, office equipment, glass enclosures and miscellaneous areas. Reports indicate that repairs will be assessed as soon as the ship arrives at port. The ship was heading toward Korea, and had encountered severe weather conditions for a few days, according to an e-mail sent by Fennema, said Dr. Richard Klein, chair of the music and theatre arts department. The MV Explorer is a 24,300-ton motor vessel with a length of 590 feet. It was located 1,600 miles from Honolulu when the pacific wave hit the ship. Although two crew members were injured by the wave, reports indicate that classes have resumed and all efforts are being made to restore the normal schedule. According to daily updates on the Semester at Sea Web site, a Coast Guard plane remains in the vicinity of the ship in order to monitor it. Another Coast Guard vessel was dispatched from Alaska in case it is needed for support. Semester at Sea officials emphasize that the ship is not in an emergency situation and is not in need of rescue. It is still “seaworthy and navigable.” On Thursday reports indicated the ship is heading toward Midway Island or Hawaii. Although students who have satellite phones are sharing them with others so calls to home can be made,
Courtesy photo
internet, phone, and fax communications are still unavailable. Semester at Sea officials contacted Suzanna Fennema, Fennema’s wife, on Wednesday night to communicate the incident. Suzanna is calm and assured that her husband is safe. “He has not been able to call me or send an e-mail, but I know everything is fine,” she said. Suzanna hopes Fennema is still able to see the international plays and performances he desired to see in order to broaden his knowledge on multicultural theater. “I will be sorry if he has to miss any opportunities to see what he wanted to see. He was looking forward to this trip,” she said. The Theatre Department at Cameron has not heard anything from Fennema, said Klein. Like Suzanna, Klein hopes that Fennema will not miss any opportunity to explore the multiculturalism he enjoys teaching. “This was something he always wanted to do. It is unfortunate that this incident happened,” Klein said. “I hope he is able to explore the cultures he wanted to see.” According to recent e-mails sent by Fennema, his classes encompass a diverse body of students. Fennema indicated that he was enjoying the international cuisine served on the ship. He added that he admired the strength of the sea waters. “The sea is a wonderful and very powerful natural element and I have learned to enjoy its beauty and be in awe of its strength,” Fennema said.
Cameron SGA presents petition to persuade regents to veto fee proposal By Angela Gradoz Features Editor Students may sign a petition in opposition of a fee increase proposed by the Oklahoma Student Government Association. The pettion will be available for signing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 31 through Feb.1 in the Student Union. According to the proposal, OSGA wants Cameron and other Oklahoma universities to allocate more money to OSGA to increase the level of funding for the organization. The endorsement suggests the university either increase tuition by $0.01 per credit hour or that $42,000 be set aside from state funding. According to CU SGA President Jenny Jackson, OSGA’ s operating budget comes from
membership fees accrued from Oklahoma universities. In fact, this past year the fees increased from $100 to $250 per year. “The $42,000 is quite an increase in OSGA’s operating budget, which is currently only around $3,000,” Jackson said. “In addition, the organization does not seem to be running as effectively as it should and the fee proposal does not have a cap in place, which could lead to further increases.” While the petition states that the additional funds will be used for student leadership scholarships, campus collaboration sub-grants, travel and for the annual OSGA conference budget, Jackson feels the description is vague. “The petition that is listed on our Web page shows where the money will go, but it is not very
specific,” she said. “To me, the fee proposal was a sloppy first draft instead of a finished product.” So far, 75 students have signed the petition, but Jackson would like to see at least 500 or more signatures by the deadline. According to Jackson, not only will students get to voice their opinion by signing the petition, but also show that they will not take a fee increase lightly. While obtaining a sufficient amount of signatures would aid in SGA’s attempt to veto the proposal, regents will decide the outcome. “The Council of University Presidents will view the fee proposal, but the regents will ultimately have final say,” Jackson said. “As of right now, the proposal has not been scheduled to appear before the council, but should be expected.”