COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Monday, March 23, 2009
News
Volume 83 Issue 18
Student takes jab at fame By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Professor hosts GRE, LSAT and FSE workshops. SEE PAGE 2
A&E
International Club to host fashion show.
For George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah, stepping into the squared circle for his next fight is the culmination of a life of hard work and determination. The former Cameron business major began his professional boxing career in 2004 after winning back-to-back Lawton Toughman competitions. After receiving money for winning the tournaments, he decided the squared circle was where he belonged. “When I entered Toughman, it felt like, for the first time in my life, I had a natural God-given ability and that was my speed, toughness and power,” Tahdooahnippah said. Tahdooahnippah had fought all of his life, even when he was in a child. He said he was always getting into trouble with other children. He turned that fury into a gift and started wrestling when he was 12 years old. He went on to college at Delaware State University, but later returned to Lawton in 2003. “My original goal was to be an all-American wrestler,” Tahdooanippah said. “I was always a tough fighter, but I wanted to do more fighting on my feet.” Tahdooahnippah began training in amateur kickboxing when he was 23 years old. He won the North Texas Light Heavyweight Title and was runner-up at the 2002 Sanshou-Kickboxing World Championships. But after the Toughman competitions, Tahdooahnippah said boxing was where he belonged. “I have a full-time job as an environmentalist with the Comanche Nation,” he said. “But my passion is to fight and it’s burning inside of me. Every day when I get up in the morning, I have two clouds over my head. One is to get my run out of the way and the other is to get out to the boxing gym.” Tahdooahnippah lacks six hours to get his business degree and he said it is something he plans on returning to Cameron for once his schedule slows down. His last fight was on March
Photo courtesy of Comancheboy.com
Tough-guy: George Tahdooahnippah throws a right hook during a shadow boxing session. 13 and he has another one planned in April and a third planned in May. Ever since he picked up a manager in 2007, Tahdooahnippah said he’s had a steady line of challengers. “I fought seven fights last year,” he said. “It’s really hectic, but I keep on grinding and keep on stepping. It’s hard on my body, but I give it my all.”
Parking lot to close due to construction
SEE PAGE 5
By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Sports
A section of the North Shepler parking lot will soon be torn out to make way for construction on the Bentley Gardens. A substantial amount of parking spaces will be lost on March 30 due to the construction, but a new parking area is already being planned. Glen Pinkston, Vice President of Business and Finance, said the lot south of the McMahon Center will be graveled so that students can park there if needed. He estimates gravelling the lot will create an area for around 100 parking spaces. “One of the issues is when all you do is put down gravel and don’t have many lines, you don’t get as many cars in a set of space as you would if you do parking in painted lines,” Pinkston said. “But the goal is to replace at least a hundred parking spaces and we’re going to put down barriers to direct traffic.” Nine handicap parking spots will be among the spots removed due to construction. However, there are plans to add an additional four spots to the faculty parking lot on the south side of West Hall and an additional three spots in the parking area west of the Shepler towers. Handicap parking areas are a priority to the university, Pinkston said.
CU Baseball: Homers hammer opposition. SEE PAGE 7
See BOXER Page 2
Photo by Jim Horinek
From barren to lush: A large number of parking spaces in the North Shelper parking lot will be closed on March 30. This closure is due to the Bentley Gardens project that will soon be fully underway.
See PARKING Page 3
Voices
Aggie OneCard offers new reimbursment system By Megan Mefford Collegian Staff
Video games are no joke. SEE PAGE 4
Cameron University has implemented a new way for students to receive refunds, causing long lines and paper checks to be on the way out. Cameron has partnered with Higher One, a financial service company, to electronically and almost immediately distribute refunds to students, via the new Aggie OneCard Glen Pinkston, Vice President for Business and Finance, said. According to Pinkston, there are two important things that the Cameron administration wants
students to know about their new Aggie OneCard. “One of the most important things for students to know is they need to get their address up-to-date, so they will be able to receive the new card,” Pinkston said. Students who update their address by April 2 will automatically be entered into a prize drawing for a $50 gift card from i-Tunes provided by Higher One, Janet Williams, Director of Media Relations, said. “The second most important thing is that when they get their card, even if they think they are not a Pell, OTAG or OHLAP
recipient, they need to keep it because this is now the only method by which Cameron will process refunds,” Pinkston said. “Students will need the Aggie OneCard should they receive a refund in the future. Students who discard the initial card and need one later will incur a replacement fee.” According to Pinkston, the Aggie OneCard will be used anytime the university owes a student money.
See CARD Page 3
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News
March 23, 2009
BOXER continued page 1 The 30-year-old Tahdooahnippah plans on retiring in five years. He has six children and a fiancée and wants to spend more time with the family. His three sons are already following in his footsteps and love to fight each other. Tahdooahnippah said he draws a lot of inspiration from them and wants to make them proud. “My fiancée’s support has helped me get through this,” he said. “With her behind me, I feel like I’m doing this for my kids. Every time they see boxing
on TV, they ask if that’s daddy.” Tahdooahnippah is on a pace to participate in 30 fights by the end of the year. He remains undefeated with 17 wins, no losses and one draw. Sixteen of those wins came by knockout. But he plans on slowing down at the end of the year and fighting in more prestigious fights for larger purses. At the moment, he’s still trying to get his name known on the national stage. “I’ll keep this pace for maybe one more year,” Tahdooahnippah said. “Starting next year, I’m going to slow it
down. I’ll have fewer fights, but for larger purses and against better competition. Right now, I’m just trying to get my product known and valuable.” Until then, Tahdooahnippah, The Wild Indian, will continue training and working hard. He said he learns something new each time he gets in the ring. Sometimes, he spars with renowned boxer Grady Brewer, which has helped him a lot in his career, but Tahdooahnippah wants to go beyond Oklahoma and the surrounding area. He wants to fight on the grandest
stage of them all so the world will know his name. “I’m most defi nitely going to shock someone on the world stage,” ‘Tahdooahnippah said. “I want to knock someone out on HBO and do my dance and celebration around the ring. And I want someone to say ‘hey, that’s The Wild Indian.’ People outside this area don’t know a lot about us. They think we’re a lost culture or aren’t even a race.” Tahdooahnippah carries that chip on his shoulder to every fight. He draws inspiration from
his grandfathers who boxed while they were in boarding schools. Tahdooahnippah said he has the pride of not only the Comanche people, but of many Native Americans across the area. His accomplishments in the ring make them feel proud and Tahdooahnippah said that makes him proud. “A lot of Native American casinos want me to come fight there because of the following I bring,” he said. “Native Americans, not just Comanche, all have pride in me and that helps me.”
Photo courtesy of Comanchboy.com
Professor hosting GRE, LSAT, FSE workshops By Rasmi Thapaliya Collegian Staff
See page 3 for solutions.
Dr. Melody Huckaby is helping students prepare themselves for graduate school. Dr. Huckaby is an Assistant Professor at Cameron’s Department of History and Government. She has been working as an Assistant Professor at Cameron for three years. For the last two years she has also been helping students to prepare for the exams on the GRE, the LSAT, and the FSE for free. The tutorials for each exam consist of teaching strategies for test taking, conducting practice exams and discussing how to study. In addition, Dr. Huckaby also helps students in their application process. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a general test required for applying to graduate schools. This test includes verbal and math sections, and serves as a sort of prerequisite for graduate school. There are some schools where the test for entering the graduate school is specific and different from the GRE. Law schools require that prospective students take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). While this test has no math section, it focuses heavily on logical and analytical thinking. The Foreign Service Exam (FSE) is a test for students who want to work for the state department. These positions include posts such as ambassadors, junior officers and work related to diplomacy. This test has two parts of exam, and students must score well in the first portion to even attempt the second. The second part of the exam observes how students react in real life situations and is famously difficult. “The second part of the FSE is the hardest job interview one will ever take,” Dr. Huckaby said. Dr. Huckaby has been coaching students every other weekend, but so far student participation is low. “Most of the students are not aware about this tutorial at Cameron,” Dr. Huckaby said. “The students have a concept that these test preparation classes are only for those students who are associated with law or politics, but it is open to the students of every faculty.” Dr. Huckaby said that once the students start taking these test preparation classes they get an idea of what they want to do next. “These classes help the students to be clear on what they really want to do and what their next step will be,” Dr. Huckaby said. Many students are unsure of what they want to do after the completion of their undergraduate degree. They need some guidance to be able to choose the right career for them. “The best part about these test preparation classes is that they are free,” Dr. Huckaby said. “The students lose nothing if they take part in these classes. They will at least know what they want to do.” There are currently four students in the GRE, five students in the LSAT and one student in the FSE preparation classes. Dr. Huckaby spends three to four hours with the students for the preparation of each course per weekend. There is also time for practice test taking. Students who are interested in these preparation classes can e-mail Dr. Huckaby at mhuckaby@ cameron.edu.
March 23, 2009
News
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PARKING continued from page 1 “A lot of people can’t find a parking spot close to the building they have to go to. So people drive around looking for a spot and take more time than they would just to park and walk. If you have that mindset to just park somewhere and walk to your destination, you will get there a whole lot faster.” — Glen Pinkston Vice President of Business and Finance “The required number of handicap spots aren’t based around the number of people on campus,” Pinkston said. “They’re based around the number of parking spots available in the area. And we’re fine there. But we recognize the need for handicap parking. We provide the service and are glad they are there and people can take advantage of them.” The second phase of construction on the Bentley Gardens doesn’t have a set date yet. Pinkston said the remaining North Shepler parking spots will be removed with the second phase of construction, but they’re still available for the time being. Pinkston wanted to quell the idea of a lack of parking on campus. On a tour of the campus on a Wednesday morning, he pointed out a significant number of parking spots in the different lots on campus. The lot in front of Nance-Boyer and the library was completely full and the majority of the spots in the South Shepler parking lot was also full. But Pinkston said these two circumstances are to be expected. “The parking lot in front of the library is
usually full because it’s so centrally located,” Pinkston said. “The only reason the South Shepler parking lot is full is because half of it is closed for work on the Shepler towers.” Even when the majority of students are on campus, which is usually in the mid-morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Pinkston said parking is still available. The problem people are having, he said, is finding a parking spot centrally located in relation to their classes. He said an average person can walk to class from one end of campus to the other in around 10 minutes, so finding a parking spot close enough to class shouldn’t be too difficult, but he does understand many students come to Cameron on tight schedules and need to get in and get out fast. “A lot of people can’t find a parking spot close to the building they have to go to,” Pinkston said. “So people drive around looking for a spot and take more time than they would just to park and walk. If you have that mindset to just park somewhere and walk to your destination, you will get there a whole lot faster.”
CARD continued from page 1 “Anytime the university ends up owing a student money back for any reason, this is how we are going to get the money back to them,” Pinkston said. Pinkston said, the days of a paper check are hopefully almost gone. “The days when students had to stand in line for a very long time to receive their refund check are over Pinkston said. Over the years, Cameron has tried to make the long lines easier to bear by providing snacks and drinks and also providing students with a single check,” Pinkston said. He stated that this new program will hopefully solve the problem. The new Aggie OneCard is not a credit card Pinkston said, but a debit card. Students will be given three choices as to how they will receive their refunds, Pinkston said. “One, students will be able to set up a Higher One Bank Internet bank account, where they will receive their refunds via direct deposit allowing them to receive their refunds the same day. Two, they can take their current bank account and have Higher One deposit it into that account, taking a few days longer. Finally, if they are just one of those people that wants to hold a paper check, they can have Higher One mail them a check, which will take seven to 10 business days,” Pinkston said. Pinkston said, regardless of which method students choose, they need to remember that their Aggie OneCard is required for all options. According to Pinkston, along with this new program, in early May an ATM will be installed in South Shepler from which students can withdraw funds from their Aggie OneCard with no fee; however, the card will work at other ATM machines but will carry applicable fees. Students can go to www.aggieonecard.com to find out more information about Cameron’s new refund system and the Aggie OneCard. Students who wish to update or check that their address is correct can log-on to their MyCU account and view the address the University has listed for them.
Classified Looking for a job? Duncan Job and Career Expo March 26 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Simmons Center. Companies, Interviews, Door Prizes, Seminars www.ok-duncan.com 580.255.9675.
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Voices
March 23, 2009
Cameron University a constant through one family tree Cameron has almost literally always been a part of my life. Now, I know that a lot of people are fans of a particular university, and therefore it is a part of their lives for that reason, but I have a somewhat different approach to my kinship with this university. In 1993 my father graduated from Cameron with his Masters in Business Administration. He had been attending night classes since the latter part of 1991. I was born in 1987, so by the time I was four years old my father was attending Cameron. At the time I can remember not really understanding what he was doing, but I did know that he was not home until late in the evening most of the time. It did not necessarily occur to me at the time that it was my first connection with this university in a series of events that would span my youth and early adulthood. However, it did provide me with my first true memory of Aggie Pride. On the night that my father finished his last final of his last class he needed to complete his degree my mother and brother and I set up a congratulatory event at our home
in Duncan that we planned to surprise him with when he got home that evening. It would be prudent to tell you that, although I thought at the time that I helped a large amount to prepare for the event, I realize now that I was only six years old and may have overestimated my role. Regardless of that fact, I distinctly remember preparing for the surprise. This may sound weird at first but bear with me. My mother had purchased large number of plastic cups. Oddly enough, the cups were similar to the ones I now associate with things like beer pong and hangovers. We then took those cups and strategically placed them into the chain link fence near the entrance to the house. They were placed in such
a way that they spelled out the word “congrats.” We then took white Christmas lights and strung them so that they were placed inside the cups that were in the chain link fence. As a result, the congratulatory statement was lit up brightly and could be seen from the road. I do not really remember what my father’s reaction was when he arrived. However, I can guess that it was not too spectacular considering he is a very reserved person, much like myself. After my father finished his degree at Cameron, there was an intersession period of about six years where the impact that Cameron had on my life was somewhat subdued. But, in 1999, CU resurfaced into my field of view. My brother graduated from high school and the following fall he started his college career
at none other than Cameron University. At this point you might expect me to go into some detailed explanation of how we celebrated my brother’s graduation in 2003. I will spare you that information not because I don’t want to tell you but because I don’t really remember. It is somewhat ironic that I actually remember an event that occurred when I was six years old better than I do one that occurred when I was 16. I can only contribute this to the fact that I was completely wrapped up in my life as a teenager and his graduation was not a big event to me at the time. Despite my lack of memory of my second major connection with CU, I can say that this event laid the foundations for my future plans. I watched my brother attend Cameron and excel. I saw how much he liked the atmosphere of the university and what it stood for. It is for this reason that I came into my third and most current connection to Cameron. After my graduation from high school in 2006, I was determined that I was going to
Jim Horinek
Video games more beneficial than thought By Monica Garner Collegian Staff Video games have come a long way since they were first created in 1971. Although I am not a gamer, I have great respect and great envy for those who are. When I was little, in the days of the original Nintendo and the Sega Genesis, I played Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario Brothers with my brother and his friends almost every weekend. We were well on our way to becoming future gamers. However, my parents told me that video games were a waste of time and would decrease our cognitive skills. It was believed in my house that if you couldn’t learn from something, it wasn’t worth having. We were excited when we were given our Nintendo and Sega consoles, but the feeling was shortlived because our parents were still against our playing video games and we were prevented from them as much as possible.
I have found that the later generations still do not believe in video games and think that the youth of this country are frying their brains in front of their televisions with a controller in their hands. However, recent studies have shown that video games do not diminish cognitive skills, but help improve them. Almost all video games are created to challenge the players to the edge of their abilities. EA Sports’ “Madden” and “NCAA” franchises can’t be played without a knowledge of football game plays and the abilities of each teams’ players. These types of games and other sports video games can help hone the individual skills of the players and improve their understanding of the sport. War-style games such as “Battlefield,” “Brothers in Arms” and “Call of Duty” test the players’ reaction skills and can help improve their motor skills and
coordination. These types of games also challenge stealth and navigational skills. “Halo Wars,” which was just released by Microsoft on March 3, requires players to build a base complete with soldiers, vehicles and air support and defend the base from attack. The players can also explore the map and expand their base by attacking and taking over other players’ bases. The skills of strategy in a hostile situation are tested. Even Rock Band and Guitar Hero, although not played with real instruments, help mold the coordination and understanding needed to play the instruments featured. The challenges that each video game features adds to the addiction that gamers most likely experience while playing them. I have experienced first-hand how addictive video games can be. I have known people who can play the same game for 24, 32 and 40 hours at a time. What is so appealing about playing something for so long? The challenges, the adrenaline rush of
accomplishing the tasks and being able to see your score rise higher on the leader boards help are all answers I’ve received. There are video games now that also get the players off the couch and involved in the game. The Nintendo Wii has been created to get the players active within its video games. With this feature, the players can move around and step inside the game by using a controller that detects motion. The Nintendo Wii Fit even helps improve the health of its participants. With the special balance board, players can check their Body Mass Index and the Fit features more than 40 exercises including yoga, strength training and aerobics. Children also benefit from this new generation of video games. They can learn phonics and mathematic skills by playing games like “Leap Frog,” “Fisher-Price” and “Vtech.” These games, designed especially for children between three and seven years-old, help increase cognitive abilities. No matter how you look at it, the video games of today are not only fun to play, but are also mentally enriching for a large part of the country’s population.
attend CU. The university had been a part of my life and my family since I was very young, and I guess you could say it was expected of me to follow in those footsteps. My parents really thought I should attend Cameron. At the time I kind of took offense to this decision being made for me, but I realize now that this decision was not just made by my parents, it was made throughout the course of my life. In my third year as a direct member of the Cameron family I must say that I do come about as close as you can to bleeding black and gold. I am proud to be a student at Cameron and am even more proud to see how it has advanced since I was that little six-year-old waiting for his father to come home.
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 Digital Editor - Kyle Luetters Circulation Manager - Katie Batule
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kerry Myers Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Raven Weiss, Monica Garner, Justin Cliburn, Jeramy Eidson, Megan Mefford, Cecilio Ramirez, Nicole Roames, Melissa Rogers, Jacob Russell, Saman Samii, Rashmi Thapaliya, Pamela Vaughan, Lauren Bennett, Solitaire Merrill and Jorie 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
March 23, 2009
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Fashion show to unite world cultures By Solitaire Merrill Collegian Staff The International Club is sponsoring their 2nd annual fashion show at 7 p.m. on Mar. 28, 2009, at the University Theatre. The profits will go to the International Club Scholarship Fund. Merita Tyrell-Mitchell, the organizer of the event, has planned the event to appeal to a wide variety of students. “It will be both educational and entertaining,” TyrellMitchell said. The entertainment will come from different dance numbers being performed by the Nepalese, Nigerian, and Caribbean participants. The fashion featured in the show will mostly contain
traditional costumes originating from the host countries. Th is unique display will offer the audience a chance to get an inside glimpse into the dress that many countries use to defi ne their cultures. The different cultures that will be represented in the show are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan, Korea, Nepal and the Caribbean Islands. Many of the authentic pieces of clothing worn by the models have been shipped over from the corresponding countries, and some of the proceeds made from the show will be used to cover the shipping costs. Another portion of the fashion show will include
an exhibit of fashion titled, “Disturbia.” Th is particular collection is unique to this show. “It will be black dresses with dramatic head pieces, hair and makeup,” TyrellMitchell said. Tradition and drama are not the only ideas being shown at this event. There will be some samples of nation-specific beachwear, sportswear, batik, and national wear. The student models are providing some of these garments, and others may be for sale. There will also be a special Nepalese section
featured. Th is array of different fashions promises to add to the originality of the show, and the money raised goes to a good cause. International Student Administration Coordinator Marcella Gustafson hopes that the International Club will continue to see more money being raised for scholarships. “The International Club has given away two scholarships already, each for $1000,” Gustafson said. According to the Cameron University Web site, The International Club represents over 45 nationalities at Cameron, is open to all students, and is intended on providing a platform for students looking to study and understand other cultures. The tickets will cost $10. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the International
Office located on the 2nd floor of North Shepler, Room 215, or by calling Marcella Gustafson at 591.8019. Advanced sales are preferred, but tickets may be available at the door.
MCT Campus
Aggie Showstoppers start new tradition By Nicole Roames Collegian Staff The Aggie Showstoppers are a new addition to student life at Cameron University. The Aggie Showstoppers are a dance team that was formed last October. Showstoppers co-captain Shanice Biggins said they have held several performances already and are setting up more. “We performed at halftime
of two of the Cameron basketball games,” Biggins said. Biggins said she would like to see the Showstoppers perform at volleyball games next season and other campus events, as well as the men’s and women’s basketball games. The Aggie Showstoppers come from all over campus, with members majoring in everything from Music to Early Childhood Education. They are also a young organization; all of
the members are freshmen and sophomores. Biggins said the Aggie Showstoppers want to get more involved in campus activities, which would lead more people to get involved with the program, and both would lead to more students attending CU sporting events. “The Showstoppers are a great way to give people a chance to become more involved on campus and increase school
spirit,” Biggins said. Cameron does not offer class in modern dance or dance choreography, but the Showstoppers fill that void by giving CU students that are dancers or would like to be dancers a chance to perform. Biggins said the Showstoppers have quite a few people interested in joining the dance team. “We see a lot of interest after performances. We even had
high school students talk to us after the basketball games,” Biggins said. The Showstoppers currently have nine members. They are having try-outs in April for the 2009-2010 academic year and would like to end up with 12 members. The requirements for being a member of the Aggie Showstoppers include being a full-time Cameron student and having a 2.0 GPA.
New music festival to close March music schedule By Katie Batule Collegian Staff Cameron’s McCutcheon Recital Hall will soon be humming with the tunes of award-winning performer Keith Kirchoff. On March 30, the Music Department is hosting the New Music Festival that will be featuring young, upcoming performer Keith Kirchoff. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Kirchoff is one of Cameron’s annual guests at the Music Department. The pianist will be playing some of his own modern works and also works by such composers as Becker, Lachenmann and Messiaen. Dr. Gregory Hoepfner, a CU Associate Professor of Music, is excited for students to see and hear the young musical guest. “He champions new music. He’s got a lot of energy and is going to bring a lot of life with his performance,” Dr. Hoepfner said. Kirchoff has spent his career composing and performing music and lecturing to students internationally, stressing the relevance of classical music and
importance of using modern techniques as well. Kirchoff is currently on a circuit traveling the country, visiting universities and talking to music students about appreciating both classical and modern music. Kirchoff will arrive Sunday night and spend Monday on campus, starting with a composition workshop around 1 p.m. This class will be for composition students but is open to anyone who would like to come. Dr. Hoepfner has students anxiously waiting to hear what life as a young performer and composer is like. “He will be talking about real life things, like what you do to get inspired,” Dr. Hoepfner said. Kirchoff attended school at the University of Oregon and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003. He then went on to receive a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in 2005. He has studied under Michael Gandolfi, Jeff rey Stolet and conducted with Richard Hoenich. Kirchoff will be releasing his first solo
album sometime this year that will feature piano works from Frederic Rzewksi. At the age of 27, Kirchoff has premiered over 100 new works and commissioned close to a dozen. Kirchoff has already visited some of the largest cities in the United States including New York, Boston, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. At the end of March, Kirchoff will be adding Lawton to his list of cities visited. Kirchoff has been a featured soloist in many music festivals. Some include the Performing Arts at the Chelsea Contemporary Art Museum, New York, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States, the Oregon Festival of American Music, the Norfolk New Music Workshop and The Extensible Toy Piano Project. Kirchoff has received the 2006 Steinway
MCT Campus
Society Piano Competition, the 2005 John Cage award, the Silver Lake International Piano Concerto Competition, the Saint Paul piano Teachers Association and the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.
The concert is offered free of charge thanks to the funding from the Cameron University Lectures and Concerts Committee. For more information, please call the CU Department of Music at 581.2440.
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Sports
March 23, 2009
Tennis team looks to rebound with win By Saman Samii Collegian Staff
Photo by Bennett Dewan
Life and limb on the line: Sophomore Thomas Peixoto dives to make a play against his East Central opponent.
The Aggie men’s tennis team (9-5) has had a rather tough opening to their season, but after their last set of home matches, the team is back on track as one of the top teams in the nation. On March 7, the Aggies took on the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University (SBU). The CU men won the match in decisive fashion, 7-2. After doubles play, Cameron was up 2-1 in the dual match. The Aggie #1 team of Daniel Pazos and Diego Troiano defeated the SBU duo of Marton Zsiga and Emilio El Alabi 8-4 in a well-played match. In singles play, Cameron dominated and won five out of the six matches. The feature match of the day came at the #2 spot where Senior Cristian Easton fought to defeat El Alabi 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 in a close and entertaining match. CU men’s assistant coach, Ignacio Murgier said he was pleased to see how well the men played.
“We played well against a very tough team,” Murgier said. “We simply took care of business today. This was a very important win for us and it gives us confidence for our upcoming matches.” On March 8, the Aggies dominated the East Central University (ECU) Tigers. The men fired things up and crushed their opponents and went undefeated in all doubles and singles matches to win 9-0. In doubles, the duo of Saman Samii and Easton defeated Andres Nunez and Dia Edwaredes-Evans 8-2 in the #2 spot. Freshman Daniel Bonamigo and Junior Carlos Viscarra, defeated Mitch Shulty and Carlos Muro 8-4 in the #3 spot. The surprise of the day came during the #1 doubles match in which Pazos and Troiano defeated East Central’s Cristobal Nunez and Camilo Munoz, 9-8 in a well played match. Assistant Coach Murgier said being up 3-0 after doubles is the key to victory in collegiate tennis. “When we win all the doubles matches, we are a very tough team to beat,” Murgier
said. “We have been working hard on our doubles play and that showed today. “ In singles play, all Cameron players used their momentum from doubles and went on to dominate in their matches. Easton recorded another important win in the #2 spot where he defeated Nunez, 5-7, 6-2 and 10-3. The Aggies routinely play one of the toughest schedules in the nation and the results from their latest matches have proved that fact. Murgier said he feels the team is on the right track. “We started our season playing a lot of tough teams and I feel we have done well even though we could have won some of the matches that we lost,” Murgier said. “The most important goal for us is to be able to finish the season strong.” The remainder of the season is looking promising. The team was on the road during spring break where they traveled to Springfield, Miss. to take on Northwest Missouri State University, Drury University and Washburn University.
Injury to potentially sideline Svajlen for rest of season By Jeramy Eidson Collegian Staff
Photo courtesy of Craig Martin
Peter Svajlen began playing golf in his home town of Bratislava, Slokia, when he was just nine-years-old. His excellence at golf and passion for the sport led him to America to attend Cameron University. Peter is now a senior and maintains a number one ranking in his home country. In Slovakia, he is the four time defending champion. He also has attained All-American status and Academic All-American status as well as CU Athlete of the Year and All-Conference honors. His golfing skills have taken him all through-out Europe, to South Africa and Australia to compete in tournaments. During his trip to South Africa, Peter placed fifteenth in the Annual World University Golf Championship. Last May, in the NCAA Division II National Championship, Peter finished 64th. Earlier in the season, Peter helped the Aggies finish second in the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate golf tournament in Abilene, Texas. Peter finished the tournament with a twoday score of 138, two shots behind tournament leader Colin Mayer of SEU. In October, CU finished seventh in the Territory Classic in Duncan, Oklahoma without Svajlen. Svajlen was absent as he was in Australia representing his home country, Slovakia, in the 2008 World Amateur Men’s Golf Team Championships. Peter believes his ball striking ability is second MCT Campus to none, yet
his short game needs slight improvement. “My short game isn’t bad; it’s just not as good as the people on the level I’m competing. My ball striking ability is my strong suit,” Svajlen said. Peter, sadly will have plenty of time to work on his putting and chipping. Peter recently visited a doctor about soreness in his right wrist. He was told that a bone in his right wrist had grown longer than the bone in his left wrist. Unfortunately, surgery is the only way to ensure that Peter will get to play golf again. If Peter follows through with the surgery, he still will not heal in time to play golf this semester. Peter will have to wait until his next fall before stepping on a golf course. He is devastated. “I’m getting depressed. I don’t get to play at all. I can only putt. It hurts my wrist like crazy if I hit any balls,” Peter said. Peter is scheduled to go back to his doctor on March 26. This visit will clarify whether the bone in his wrist is abnormally larger than the other. With Svajlen out, the Aggies are not panicking. Michael Lee, Joe Konieczny, Brett Leavell, Robbe Trout, Garret Smith and Chris Larremore are plenty ready to pick up the slack of the missing Slovakian. The tournament in Duncan is proof that one man does not make the team. However, the Aggie Men’s Golf Team would love to see Peter back on the course teeing off. Hopefully his visit to the doctor will clarify the problem, and it can be fixed immediately so Peter can be back on the course teeing off for the Black and Gold. If the injury does prove to be season ending Svajlen may be able to medically redshirt the spring ‘09 campaign and return to play for the Aggies next fall.
Sports
March 23, 2009
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Softball team hits their mid-season groove By Jacob Russell Collegian Staff
Photo by Bennett Dewan
Cameron University’s softball team is on the right track this season and boasts seven wins in a row after defeating nationally ranked St. Gregory’s on Feb. 27. Senior Giselle Gusman finished up the first game of the double-header for the victory, after a tough loss at the beginning of the season. Gusman has bounced back after a little more time on the field. In the second game, freshman Carrie Harvey took over. Harvey allowed only three base runners the entire game and had a total of seven strikeouts. Head Coach Beth Watson says the pitchers have done a good job. “We’re playing better now than when we had our first win. Our pitchers are team players
and they’re still building up their confidence,” Watson said. “Our team is in a good place, we just need to improve in certain areas and make better decisions defensively.” The team has changed the intensity of play and has improved after they lost at home to the Oklahoma City University Stars. Since the OCU defeat, the Aggies won the Henderson State Invitational Tournament and have swept teams like East Central and St. Gregory’s. “We changed our mentality after losing to Oklahoma City. It’s all about being productive at the plate and having a plan when you step into the box,” Watson said. “The players are not extending innings or giving the other team any extra outs when it comes to defense.” Compared to the rest of the
athletic teams at Cameron, the softball team plays many more road games than at home. Usually in sports, winning on the road can be much more difficult than having home field advantage. This year’s team has done well no matter where it plays, and only six more home games remain for this season. “The good thing about being on the road is that our kids aren’t distracted,” Watson said. “As a coach you have more control when you’re away from home.” The next two games on the schedule are against teams that the Aggies have already defeated this season. ECU is first, which Cameron dominated in a series recently week. Abilene Christian is the first opponent for the month of March, which CU defeated back in February at the Saint Mary’s Tournament. After the
series against Abilene, the team will be headed to the Missouri Southern Tournament. In this tournament, there will be plenty of non-conference and Lone Star Conference teams. The event will allow the players to get a feel for their conference competitors, and the non-conference games will give them better experience. “Our preseason preparation is working out for us, which is kind of a go-go-go method,” Watson said. “Non-conference games are just as important because they get us ready for what’s next. We have a lot of confidence in the Lone Star Conference, but we know there are no cakewalks.” Watson says she knows that in Division 2 “anybody can beat anybody.” CU’s schedule is not easy, but they are tied with Southeastern for number one in the LSC North Division.
Arevalo pushes Aggies into higher gear By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Photo by Bennett Dewan
Halfway through the season, the Aggie baseball team is performing strong, thanks in part to Nate Arevalo, the Diamond Hitter of the Week for the second week of the season. “Some of the players had a good week, but Nate really deserved it,” said head coach Todd Holland. “He’s probably one of the most consistent hitters I’ve ever had, through and through.” As of March 12, the team was 16-7 with a Lonestar Conference record of 106. Holland credits the team’s success to Arevalo’s performance, which includes six home runs and 40 RBIs, both of which are team-leading stats. “Last year, he went through a funk at the beginning of the year, but this year he’s
picked up where he left off last year,” Holland said. “He’s pretty much taken the team on his shoulders and got us to where we are now. Hopefully, there are other guys that can contribute sooner or later.” This is only Arevalo’s second season as second basemen on the team. The health and physical education senior said baseball has always been a passion of his since he was very young. Being recognized as the Lonestar Conference’s Diamond Hitter of the Week was a big honor for Arevalo, who really didn’t believe he had won it at first. “I didn’t know I was getting it until I showed up at practice that day,” he said. “Everyone else kind of knew, but I had no idea. I thought the team was just messing with me at first.” Arevalo said there are many great hitters in the league. While he was excited to win the honor, he couldn’t let that
distract him from striving to continue the team’s success through the rest of the season. While many of his stats are leading the team, Arevalo tends to ignore them and just wants to keep playing well. “I hope to stay in this groove for the rest of the year,” Arevalo said. “I don’t follow my stats, I like to stay away from them.” The team’s goal is to gain 40 wins this season. Arevalo doesn’t have any personal goals for the season, he just wants to help his team reach its main goal. Baseball is a passion of his, but he feels the team is more important to the player and by playing better, he feels the team can reach 40 wins. “The 40 wins is all I’m looking for this season,” he said. “I just want to keep working hard. All of those hits we’re hitting will start finding holes eventually. I’m just trying to play hard and come out here every day.”
Cameron baseball powered by big bats By Jacob Russell Collegian Staff With one month under their belt, the Aggie men find themselves seven games over 500 and have obtained a #11 national ranking. The hot start can be attributed to the steady offensive production that the Aggie men have been able to maintain. As a team, the Aggies are batting an astounding .345, and have already accumulated 25 home runs. They are coming off of a road trip against Eastern New Mexico, in which they posted 37 runs in a four-game trip. Head Coach Todd Holland is not surprised at his team’s hot start. “There is nothing special that we did in the off-season,” Holland said. “We just have a team of great
hitters, and when a couple get going it becomes contagious.” The players that Coach Holland looks toward to lead the offense are Senior Second Baseman Nate Arevalo and Senior Outfielder Josh Barnett. Arevalo, has had the most pop in his bat, hitting .480 with six home runs and 36 runs batted in. The week of February 19, Arevalo was named Lone Star Conference Diamond Player of the Week, the only Cameron player to receive this honor so far this season. Barnett is second on the team and batting .386 with three home runs this season. Coach Holland understands the importance of his players’ leadership and knows that their teammates are taking notes. “The players see what they are doing,” Holland said. “They see the numbers they are putting up and those players want to get on
the hit parade.” The Aggie Men will be coming off of a tough home stand against the #3 team in the Lonestar Conference, Southeastern Oklahoma, and will have the chance to leapfrog Southeastern and jump into number two in the conference. It is important that the team not get complacent or over confident in their offensive prowess and that is the message that Coach Holland has been delivering to his team. “It doesn’t matter how you start at this point,” Holland said. “You have to look forward and keep it going.” Holland boasts a line-up that is sprinkled with great hitters one through nine and also has very capable bats coming off the bench. As a team, they have an on base percentage of .426 and have already had 78 extra base hits. Holland is confident that his team has plenty left in the tank, and he is excited to progress through the season. “There are still more bats coming,” Holland said. “Some of the team is just now hitting like I know they can. It will be exciting to see us all firing on all cylinders.”
Photos by Bennett Dewan
Get outta town: Outfielder Chris Caves (Above and Left) crushes pitches thrown by the Bacone pitcher. The Aggie baseball team is riding high due to their blistering bats and high run totals.
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Variety
March 23. 2009