COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, March 31, 2008
News
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Bill could bring guns to campus By Jim Horinek Collegian Staff
Student Government Association election draws near. SEE PAGE 2
A&E
Books, pens, pencils, paper and guns. With the passage of HB 2513 this could be a common assortment of items that college students bring to campus. HB 2513 has been passed through the House and is currently in the senate. The bill will modify current state statutes that prohibit concealed weapons on college campuses. When the bill was first introduced it actually provided that all college students who posses a concealed weapon permit could legally carry a handgun on campus. After being amended HB 2513 only allows for CLEET certified or honorably discharged military personnel, who have a concealed handgun permit, to bring handguns on college campuses. Although he does not support this legislation John DeBoard, Director of the Office of Public Safety, believes that the creation of this bill may have been inf luenced by the recent acts of violence on college campuses throughout the nation. DeBoard is not the only person on campus who has
MCT Campus
The sound of music fills the air this week. SEE PAGE 6
Sports
Tennis star steps up to the net for last season. SEE PAGE 8
Voices
Long-time gamer harkens back to a simpler time. SEE PAGE 5
Volume 82 Issue 9
voiced a concern about HB 2513. All of the presidents from the 25 public colleges and universities have also expressed great concern over the implications of this bill. This group includes President Ross. “The solution is not more guns. Allowing the presence of concealed weapons on college campuses will be a severe detriment to efforts made to simultaneously prepare for and prevent such crisis situations,” President Ross said. Further disapproval of the bill has come from members of the Cameron University Student Government Association. President Ross went over several of the concerns that are associated with the passage of HB 2513. “There could be a misfiring of a weapon. There is the issue of theft. If someone is carrying a concealed weapon in his or her purse or backpack it could be stolen. There is also the issue, which I think is very real, if a concealed weapon is accidentally exposed in a class the students and the faculty member will rightfully be concerned,” President Ross said. President Ross went on to explain that
MCT Campus
even if there is no instance of the gun actually being fired there would be a great amount of resources that would be required to investigate simple misunderstandings as a result of a concealed weapon.
See GUN CONTROL Page 3
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ‘Changing Lives’ campaign surpasses original goal By John Robertson Collegian Staff After breaking records and turning heads, Cameron University’s Centennial Campaign, “Cameron University: Changing Lives for 100 Years, 1908-2008,” has drawn to a close after hitting its $10 million goal. Originally set into motion in 2006, the fundraiser, the largest ever launched by a regional university in Oklahoma and the first comprehensive campaign in Cameron’s history, had a goal of $8.5 million, but that mark was reached within the first two years of the three-year campaign. Although the progress was monumental, certain areas of the campaign still needed additional funding. “When we’d surpassed our original goal, we hadn’t quite reached the specific goals for the Bentley Gardens project or the new Student Activities Complex,” reported CU’s Office of Community Relations. In July of 2007, the decision was made to ask more of the community, and the “Dig Deeper Challenge” was launched, raising the final goal of the campaign to a staggering $10 million. In March of 2008, President Cindy Ross announced that the goal had not only been reached, but surpassed by an additional $1.5 million thanks to the contributions of regional businesses, foundations and CU’s own faculty. “The unprecedented success of the campaign ref lects the tremendous generosity and leadership of the community,” President Ross said. “The overwhelming support of the community is particularly meaningful as we stand on the brink of celebrating the Centennial Year.” The fundraiser itself was designed to address specific areas of the CU campus. In order to maintain CU’s status as one of the most affordable universities in the state, $1.3 million will be added to CU’s already strong scholarship program. In addition, endowed faculty positions, which support internships, student and faculty research and travel opportunities, will see a $2.3 million increase in funding and $490,000 will be applied to helping CU continue the phenomenal growth seen in recent years by providing funding for University Advancement. The biggest part of the campaign, is the
addition of a brand new and stateof-the-art Student Activities Complex. Located at the center of campus, the $6.5 million complex will house a student union, student activity areas, meeting rooms, an art gallery, dining areas, and even a ballroom on the second f loor overlooking the Bentley Gardens, a landscaping project intended to enhance the beauty of the CU campus by providing a lush scenic area for staff, students, and visitors to enjoy. As the centerpiece of the campaign, the Student Activities Complex is designed to serve the needs of students as well as reach out to the community that helped make the project possible. “The construction of a new Student Activities Complex continues our commitment to provide a complete collegiate experience for our students, offering a learning and recreational space unmatched by other regional
universities,” President Ross said. “In addition to serving students, we hope the gardens and the new complex will be equally popular locations for the community.”
See FUNDRAISER Page 3
News
2
March 31, 2008
Cameron students prepare to head to the polls for SGA elections By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff As the nation focuses on the presidential race, the Student Government Association (SGA) elections will be the focus for Cameron students next week. Students are able to choose which of the two tickets filed for the positions of Student Government Executive Officers for the next 2008-2009 academic year will prevail. Filing for SGA officers and senators ended on Mar. 26. Students from different academic schools and organizations received encouragement from Student Activities to file for the senate that will ultimately interpret legislation and adjudicate traffic violations. According to current Student Government President Jeff Wozencraft, this year’s election will be different and more exciting than last
year’s election. “Obviously it’s going to be different. Two tickets are running against each other; it’s gonna be like the other year [2006],” Wozencraft said. “It’s going to be a heated election.” Each team of three candidates is called a ticket. The ticket has a president, vice-president and treasurer candidates running together. Cameron students are allowed to vote for individual candidates instead of the complete ticket. The first ticket is composed of current SGA Treasurer Jessica Daoang, current Vice President Tobias Kuhn and Tammy Anderson. Each one is lined up for president, vice-president and treasurer respectively. Treasurer Daoang explains the election will give the ticket an extra opportunity to serve Cameron students. “The basis [of our campaign] is that we want to be here for the students,
because we represent them,” Daoang said. “I like helping people and helping all other organizations to know that Student Government is important.” Just as Daoang plans to help students through SGA, she wants to assist students who are not currently involved with the Cameron government life, giving them a chance to express their thoughts. “Everyone should have an opportunity to voice his or her opinion. The important thing is, if you’re not involved, how can your voice be heard?” Daoang said. “We do want to recruit more, not only in the departments, but also in all organizations on campus.” The second ticket is composed of current School of Education & Behavioral Sciences senator and chair of the Legislative committee Robert Sharp, Megan Mefford and current sergeant at arms Daniel Brown. They are running for president, vice-
In this corner: (Right to left) Tobias Kuhn, Jessica Daoang and Tammy Anderson. The three will be running on the same ticket in the upcoming SGA elections.
president and treasurer respectively. Senator Sharp states it is his wish to have other a ticket that includes candidates with previous SGA experience. The combination of experience and genuine interest in student government “I thought I could do good things for the University as SGA president. I’ve been in SGA for two years as a senator,” Sharp said. “I knew Megan through the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature and we thought it’d be good to run as a ticket.” Some modifications in current SGA procedures will be a priority for Sharp. He stated that a greater participation and involvement of freshmen students is fundamental for the success of the organization. “We’d choose leaders for freshmen in SGA, to help them,” Sharp said. “We’d also have a retreat for freshmen to break down the parliamentary procedure before the semester begins.”
Even with different point of views, both presidential candidates believe that the participation of Cameron students in the government process should be encouraged and reinforced. “We’d have a Public Relations person from the beginning,” Daoang said. “We’d encourage SGA to be more involved on campus, using Student Activities, CUTV, The Collegian, bulletin boards and e-mail.” “We’re doing legislation that really affects people, and we’re trying to get more out there,” Sharp said. “We want to make more students aware that we have an SGA. This is real stuff that is happening and if you wanna be a part of it, you should go out and vote.” Elections for executive officers and senators will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Reading Room in the Student Union on April 1-2. Cameron students are strongly encouraged to support their candidates and exercise their right to vote.
And in this corner: (Right to left) Robert Sharp, Megan Mefford and Daniel Brown. The group will be running against Kuhn, Daoang and Anderson in the SGA elections.
Future student activities complex officially named Office of Government and Community Relations The University of Oklahoma, Cameron University, and Rogers State University Board of Regents officially approved a recommendation from CU President Cindy Ross to name Cameron’s new student activities complex the McMahon Centennial Complex in honor of The McMahon Foundation’s $4 million contribution. The McMahon Foundation’s $4 million gift for the construction of the complex surpasses its own record as the largest, one-time donation in Cameron University history. In 2004, the foundation gave $1.25 million for the Cameron Village McMahon Center. Since 1963, The McMahon Foundation has contributed approximately $13.4 million to Cameron University, enabling the university to carry out its mission of changing students’ lives. “The McMahon Foundation has stepped forward time and time again to invest in Southwest Oklahoma and in Cameron University. From any vantage point on campus, one can see the evidence of the foundation’s support from scholarships to endowed faculty positions to the construction of the McMahon Learning Center at the heart of Cameron Village,” President Ross said. “The trustees of The McMahon Foundation are a group of gentlemen who understand the magic and power of education to transform individual lives and entire communities.” The McMahon Centennial Complex, a state-of-the-art student activities center, will include an art gallery, an attractive food court; a multi-use recreation room; student activity areas; selected student services; and a large, divisible multi-use ballroom, available to the community, which can seat 400 people for meals, meetings and conferences and expands onto a balcony which will overlook the lush Bentley Gardens. The original fundraising goal for the McMahon Centennial Complex was $6.5 million, and to date, over $6.6 million have been raised. The overall Centennial Changing Lives Campaign has raised an astonishing $11.5 million since its launch in January 2006. “The Changing Lives Campaign set ambitious goals for Cameron University,” President Ross said. “The individuals who first grasped this new vision and the promise of this aggressive agenda are the trustees of The McMahon Foundation.”
News
March 31, 2008
The Right Stuff?
3
GUN CONTROL continued from page 1 DeBoard also cited the possibility of collateral damage during a campus shooting situation as a cause for concern. “In many of these situations for the first few seconds even someone armed in the room could not take out the shooter because there was so many people between them and the active shooter. It is a scary thought that you would have someone in that room with a concealed weapon My fear is that more people are going to be injured than the shooter had originally
intended on shooting,” DeBoard said. According to DeBoard he has spoken with several students on campus, who have a concealed handgun license, about HB 2513. “They have no desire to bring their weapon on campus knowing that no one else is going to be carrying a weapon on campus. They do not see that this is going to help,” DeBoard said. “They said ‘we are here for the sanctity of the academic atmosphere, we do not want to be wearing our gun, we want to feel safe here’,” DeBoard
said. Although the outcome of HB 2513 remains to be seen it can be said that much of the collegiate community is in opposition to its passage. “We are the people who work and go to class and study and teach and every group has spoken, including the professionals in public safety. It is a unanimous voice and it is a loud voice that says ‘we are gravely concerned about this bill’s unintended consequences’,” President Ross said.
FUNDRAISER continued from page 1 Photo by Jim Horinek
From earth to the moon: Mike Sesland and many of the Electronic Design Technology students are headed to Alabama this week to enter their hand-built moonbuggy in NASA’s annual Great Moonbuggy Race. The team finished 11th last year, but hopes to place in the top 10 with this year’s entry.
President Ross related that the campaign’s success is a testament to the trust that the community has in Cameron and a sign that the community wants to see Cameron grow. Without the generous contributions of the community, none of this would have been possible. With their continued support, Cameron’s future as an increasingly valuable asset to Southwest Oklahoma looks bright.
“I am proud of the enormous success of this ambitious campaign,” President Ross said. “Cameron has been changing lives for 100 years, and the people of Southwest Oklahoma recognize the value of Cameron and have stepped forward to elevate Cameron to new and greater heights.”
‘Free Enterprise’ students present community outreach projects at Dallas competition By Brandi O’Daniel Collegian Staff On March 17, members of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) went to Dallas to present their community outreach projects to a panel of judges at the annual spring competition. CU students involved in the SIFE organization are given the chance to advance in the business world through entrepreneurial outreach projects. The organization creates opportunities for students to take what they have learned inside the classroom, think outside the box and apply those ideas to real world situations. Students are challenged with business projects that they work on throughout the school year and present at National Competitions. While SIFE is popular among Cameron students, it is just a branch of a much larger national organization. SIFE is currently active within 47 countries, at more than 1,500 universities with a membership of nearly 39,000 students. The Dallas competition showcased projects that students from universities throughout the southwest region had prepared for the two-day event. Cameron students gave presentations applying five educational criteria and discussed the impact made within their community. The students presented on financial leaders, market economy, entrepreneurship, business ethics and personal success skills. According to the SIFE Web site, students were required to write an annual report and show a live, audio-visual presentation as part of their proposal to top business leaders. CU senior and Finance major, Sonila Abdulla has been a member of SIFE for two years and attended the competition in Dallas to present her project encompassing her work in the field of finance. Abdulla said, “We are each
assigned different projects, but I usually work with the financial leaders topic.” Abdulla added that the CU group competed against other universities in all five areas in the two-day competition. “The competition is a league with five to six teams in each group,” Abdulla said. “Throughout the day we presented our topics and competed with the other teams in our separate groups.” SIFE members not only presented on their individual projects, but also on a particular business venture that one CU student conceived for the Governor’s Cup. According to Abdulla, the Governor’s Cup is an annual competition that gives students the opportunity to invent their own business plan and come up with a full layout on ways to make their business idea a successful, beneficial business enterprise. The business idea that receives the highest marks and meets all the required criteria is given money to carry out the project if they so choose. This year’s presenter for the Governor’s Cup was CU student Pierre Libure. Libure presented Modonis, a web-based social community that is dedicated to connecting unknown artists with music lovers. The Web site is designed to create an environment for artists to get coverage and develop a network that gives them more exposure among the music community. After all the business projects and proposals were presented and judged, CU came in second among the other universities with their presentations, but did not receive funding for their Modonis Web site marketing plan. Students interested in developing their own business plans and formulating proposals can join the SIFE organization at Cameron. While SIFE is most popular among business students, the organization is includes students across the campus and around the world. The CU organization currently has 17 members and has students participating from as far away as the Baltic’s in Cameron’s online MBA program. For more information go to www.cameron. edu/business/cusife or call SIFE advisor Shawn Carraher at 581.2367.
Voices
4
March 31, 2008
ARe guns the answer to on-campus violence? The answer to a problem is not background check will not pick up on more problems. This logic is being someone with anger issues or poor ignored in the issue of whether or not impulse control issues. Having no concealed weapons should be allowed history of mental illness or violence on college campuses for those with a does not mean the individual is concealed weapons permit. stable, only that they haven’t fallen The setting of a typical classroom under the radar. This is not to itself presents potential for disaster. say that citizens with permits are There is a greater risk for a fatality lunatics, but that the system is not with more people around. It may be flawless. argued that those with concealed It is also argued that those with weapons are trained individuals who concealed weapons permits must follow specific safety procedures, have a clean criminal record and thus thus preventing the danger. they are law-abiding citizens. First However, training is also required of all, having a clean criminal record to obtain a drivers license. This is not necessarily indicative of a lawdoesn’t prevent the numerous of abiding individual. Like the mental deaths resulting from car accidents health issue, it only means each year in the United States. The they have never been more cars around, the greater the arrested or convicted for s pu danger. The same is true of guns. criminal activity. am C As with all issues, there is Again, this is not CT M disinformation on both an argument against sides. However, a healthy concealed weapons, but fear of guns, or even against concealed weapons on an acute fear, campus. Students and faculty poses less risk with a concealed weapons to the lives permit, or those who support of students, the possession of concealed weapons faculty and permits have a greater responsibility everyone involved in saying no to guns on campus. in the Cameron While it may seem that the campus community. arguments against guns on One of the arguments campus are a series of “what-if ” for concealed weapons on situations, it is impossible that more campus is that guns will be in guns on campus would be free of the hands of the good guys with fatal consequences. This could put permits instead of just the bad guys. the entire issue of having a concealed While having a concealed weapon weapons permit under scrutiny. For is not indicative of violent behavior, instance: “If fatal shootings happen it isn’t a guarantee of a clean bill of on campus by permit holders, where mental health. Not everyone with else might they get trigger-happy?” a mental illness seeks the help of The media does jump to conclusions a professional. This means that a and those who value their right to
MCT Campus
bear arms should consider this. While Cameron is a relatively lowcrime university, thefts do happen on nearly every college campus. Someone who only wanted to steal another student’s iPod or laptop could get more than they bargained for. This works two ways. The thief could be getting a gun in addition to the laptop or a concealed weapons permit carrier may pull out a gun. People do not always think clearly in stressful situations. All the training in the world doesn’t prepare an individual for real-life violence. The fear and adrenaline that accompanies a life-threatening situation is likely to shake anyone’s expert aim. Concealed weapons on campus,
even only in the hands of the good guys with permits, present a myriad of problems for campus police. How is the officer supposed to tell who was originally doing the shooting and who is only defending themselves and others? An already confusing and frightening situation is made more bewildering for the police, who are there to protect. Taking down the wrong gunman or gunmen, and its mere possibility, would also increase the anxiety of the men and women who try to keep Cameron University a safe place. If the police have trouble distinguishing between the original shooter and the law-abiding citizen, how accurate is the judgment of someone with far less training?
Moreover, there are many students and faculty who would feel uneasy in class knowing there were more guns around. This creates a level of fear that is not conducive to the educational environment. Will bulletproof backpacks complete with matching holster become as common as backpacks and purses with a cell phone compartment? The appropriate response to the school-shooting predicament is not more guns because guns are not the basis of the original problem. However, throwing more guns in the mix, along with a heavy load of anxiety for all concerned can only create more problems.
Ask the Aggies:
Photos by Katie Batule
Krystal Chiddix Public Relations Freshman
Should students and faculty with concealed weapons permits be allowed to carry their guns on campus?
“I don’t think that would be very wise because you always have a few who aren’t very careful and there could be an accident. That’s why we have campus security.”
Bobby Wetzel Business Freshman
“ It’s dumb. You are trying to up the security. Bringing guns on campus doesn’t make sense.”
John Garvey Human Ecology Junior
Wayne White
Communications Freshman
“It’s stupid. If you don’t want a school shooting to happen, why are you going to give students weapons?”
“I’m undecided. If you have a permit and you go through the proper channels, it’s okay to a certain extent. I believe every couple of months you should be tested to make sure you’re not abusing the privilege.”
Kaetlyn Brennan Elementary Education Freshman
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. The wrong people may get a permit. They may use it to their advantage. They may use it for the wrong reasons.”
Voices
March 31, 2008
5
Reuniting with an old friend:
Spring break brings console nostalia It overtook me during Spring Break. Something from before. Something on the cusp of memory. Something nostalgic. A transition happened a couple of years ago, without my knowledge. Where once I was all about Nintendo, Sega and Sony, I had converted to PC games. Whether this was due to
Graphic by David R. Bublitz
fi nances (to fully outfit a console these days costs about as much as it would to buy a nice computer) or whether it was due to game selection, I found a kind of solace in computer gaming. Since the release of and my introduction to Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs), my gaming career has been all about honing my skills as a rogue (Myst) on World of Warcraft. Aside from the ability to network, communicate and conquer with my friends, I have come to appreciate and cherish the quiet grace with which Myst utterly destroyed her foes with a classic Shadowstep-AmbushBlind-Vanish-Ambush combo. In many ways Myst has even become a kind of release for me. After a hard day of work and classes, nothing beats going into a lower-
level zone and massacring swarms of level 35 horde on an epicedout level 70. It defi nitely makes depressurizing more of a kid-with-amagnifying-glassand-an-ant-hill kind of experience. Then during Spring Break, a friend of mine showed up on my doorstep. With a copy of Super Smash Brothers: Brawl for the Nintendo Wii in one hand, my friend said, “it is time.” The reintroduction of a console game in my life came with a feeling nothing short of first-date jitters. Would I know how to compose myself? Would I know when to address certain problems or situations at the right time? How will I relate to my fellow players? What about the Wii controller? Do I know how to perform a Smash Move anymore? Operate a D pad? Program button combinations? At the character selection screen, I fumbled aimlessly from
one character to another without form, balance, or the confidence to make a decision. And then, he was there. Pit, from my old, favorite, original Nintendo game, “Kid Icarus.” He was plated in gold, wielding a newly fashioned long bow, a weapon that could split into a pair of sun-lit short swords – should the need for close combat arise. Transformation came over me in a rush, a hubristic and familiar amalgamation of time, space, and 8-bit glory. I became the same little console loon I had been in my elementary and junior high school days, that short, annoyingly blonde, barelyteenage David grown arrogant of his gaming prowess from mindless hours of A, B, A, B, Left, Left, A, B, A, B . . . Two Meximelts, about a gallon of Mountain Dew Baja Blast, and 12 hours later, there was nothing
David R. Bublitz
Heavy celebrating lightens wallets Has anyone noticed their pockets have been empty since last Halloween? They have been in my case. I believe that holidays have become far too overrated. I first noticed this right after Thanksgiving when I visited a local WalMart and was bombarded with fiber optic Christmas trees and gigantic blowing snow globes. Is spending all of this money on holidays really necessary to celebrate and have a good time with your family and friends? I don’t think so. As soon as
Christmas is over, it’s time for New Years, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and then Easter. Will it ever end? So who is to blame for this holiday money spending fiasco? Do we blame the retailers for making these products so readily available to us? Not only do they make them “readily available,” they make sure that holiday decorations are the first thing that you see when you enter the store. I am not picking on Wal-Mart, most discount stores like K-Mart and Target also have unavoidable holiday displays at the entrance. According to www. unitymarketingonline. com, American’s spent a total of $2,643 on gift purchases in 2006. This Web site conducted a poll titled, “The Gift Giving Report.” This poll was presented to an equal amount of men and women with an average income of $63,000 a year, and the average age ranging from 40-45 years. The survey also revealed that the retailers are partly to blame—Wal-Mart was a favorite among shoppers with 42 percent of consumers purchasing
Kerry Myers
MCT Campus
seasonal items from the retail giant. Target finished a close second with 31 percent. I can’t put all of the blame on the retailers. Consumers certainly seem to enjoy it. I had a neighbor down the road who decorated their house for Easter like it was Christmas, with a six-foot tall bunny rabbit in their front yard. I am all about getting into the holiday spirit, but where do you draw the line? MCT Campus Some economists commitment to myself to not would argue that all of this “over-do it” on future holidays. spending is good for the economy, The purpose of these family when in reality, every major gatherings and holidays should holiday is pushing Americans be to spend time with friends and further into debt. The advertising family, not spending all of my industry and retailers “trick” us money. There is no reason to get into thinking that it is necessary in debt after every major holiday. to spend all of this money. Memorial Day…here I come. I am not proud to say that I am guilty of being an “over-doer” during the holidays, but it has been known to happen. It is a very easy trap to fall into. Recently, I made a trip to Wal-Mart to purchase a bag of plastic eggs and candy, and ended up coming out with much more. My cousin and I prepared a feast for Easter dinner, colored two dozen eggs, and filled 48 plastic ones full of candy, all this for three small children. MCT Campus I am making a
left of Super Smash Brothers: Brawl to beat. I left my friend’s house at around 10 a.m. the morning following the night I left home. Groggy, over-sugared and suffering the effects of poor blood circulation to my legs from sitting too long, I thought “perhaps there is a better way to spend a weekend than in front of the television playing Nintendo.” Then again, who else is going to restore Nindendo Land to its former glory?
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Jessica Lane News Editor - Josh Rouse Assistant News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Amanda Herrera Sports Editor - Kareem Guiste Variety Editor - Bira Vidal Assistant Editor - David R. Bublitz Copy Editor - Laura Batule
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kelley Burt Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Chris Allison, John Robertson, Alexis DelCiello, Kerry Meyers, Brandi O’Daniel, Ashley Wilkerson
Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller
Newswriting Students Jenifer Biles, Donnale Mann
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
6
March 31, 2008
Photo courtesy of the Music Department
Drumming around: The 2007-2008 Cameron University Percussion Ensemble show their silly side. The ensemble is hosting this year’s OK Percussion Festival on CU Campus.
Percussion Ensemble hosting festival on campus By Jessica Lane Collegian Staff The beat goes on as the Cameron University Percussion Ensemble will be hosting the 2008 Oklahoma Percussion Festival on April 4-5 in the Cameron University Theatre. The two-day festival will include performances from seven high schools and seven colleges in the region. The festival includes the CU Percussion Ensemble’s Spring Concert, which takes place at 8 p.m. on April 4. The guest artists include Mark Ford, percussion professor at the University of North Texas and John Simon. Dr. Jim Lambert, CU Music professor, explained some of the unique compositions that will be featured . He said that while there is not a specified theme,
the upcoming performance could be described as “new music for percussion.” Ford will be playing some of his own compositions as well al others such as “Pontis,” composed by Da Jeong Choi. A composition by Ford, aptly titled, “Head Talk,” demonstrates the potent communication skills of music. In this piece, five students sit in a semicircle and pretend to interact and speak to each other by beating on their drumheads. Dr. Lambert said this composition is unique in that it only utilizes percussion of the drumheads. “There is a lot of humor and theatre in it,” he said, “It’s become a standard in the percussion ensemble repertoire.” A second composition by Ford is titled, “Afta-Stuba.” This composition involves three
performers with Ford being the featured performer, on one marimba. The music has to be performed from memory. Dr. Lambert said that the performers use not only the bars of the marimba, but the sides and the resonators. “It’s very specific in its instructions. It’s a whimsical composition, Dr. Lambert said.” Also featured, will be CU alumnus, Simon who is currently a Xerox executive and a freelance drum set performer. He will be performing three concerti for drumset with the ensemble. They are titled: “Concerto for Drumset” by John Beck, “Solar Eclipse” by Tom Morgan and “With Joy in His Heart” by David Mancini. The CU Percussion Ensemble will also feature compositions arranged by former CU students.
“Bachianas Brasilieras” is a vocal piece originally accompanied by six celli, but CU alumnus, Stacy Loggins has scored the piece to be accompanied by four marimbas, synthesized percussion and a vibraphone. Guest soprano, Doris Lambert, will sing the vocals in Portuguese. “It’s very haunting,” Dr. Lambert said. “She hums the melody at the end. Her humming projects above the soothing marimbas.” Practicing since January, Dr. Lambert says he is proud of the dedicated, hard working CU Percussion Ensemble. They have trained during spring break and on Saturdays. “They initiate a lot rehearsals on their own and I admire that,” Dr. Lambert said. Tony Bertram, senior Music
major, said that percussion students learn to play many different kinds of instruments. “That’s what makes percussion students stand out, we have a large family of instruments,” Bertram said. Clint Williams, junior Music major, said he looks most forward to playing the steel drums. Dr. Lambert said the festival is designed to share information through the performance of new music. All of the performances at the festival are free. The percussion festival has been made possible through funding by the CU Lectures and Concerts Series as well as the Oklahoma Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Latest bloody-good Marshal film provides homages, dancing men in kilts By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff If you’re hungry, try a piece of your friend. “Doomsday” is the latest cinematic offering from Neil Marshal, director of the often underrated “Dog Soldiers” and “The Descent.” It certainly doesn’t do anything new with the science-fiction genre. Instead, “Doomsday” feels like it’s paying homage to some of the greatest post-apocalyptic movies of the 1980s. The movie starts out in modern-day Scotland where the Reaper virus, a deadly infection that spreads like the common cold, has completely devastated the country. The British government decides to rebuild Hadrian’s Wall to isolate the country and let the virus run its course. More than 30 years later, the virus returns. In the midst of political chess and backstabbing, a team is sent back through the wall to find survivors and a cure. They run into rejects that appear as if they have watched too many “Mad Max” movies. They also have a taste for human f lesh and love to burn people alive.
From the time the insertion team crosses the wall until the final credits roll, the whole movie does nothing but shock and amaze. Never has a movie combined so many genres and ideas from other movies to make something that actually appears competent and entertains. Any film buff can see inspirations from “Escape From New York” and “The Road Warrior” as well as some other subtle shout-outs to the greats of the 80s. Even though there’s nothing particularly new, “Doomsday” doesn’t disappoint. It’s a bloody mess and the body count rises considerably as the 90 minutes blow by. Many of the sub-plots are underdeveloped and leave you wondering: “what just happened?” But who watches a movie like this, especially a Marshal movie, for the plot? Some of the decisions made by the characters leave a lot to be desired, but it doesn’t detract from the sheer amount of brutal violence that you see onscreen. Make no mistake; this is not a movie for the faint of heart. There are people burned alive, heads run over with a faint sound of squishiness and crunching and
MCT Campus
Highway to nowhere: A helicopter carrying the last remnants of the British government arrives to attain a cure for the deadly Reaper virus in ‘Doomsday.’ The movie does nothing new with the genre, but provides enough excitement to keep it entertaining. even a line of fat men in kilts, dancing the can-can (possibly the most scarring moment of a movie you’ll ever see in your life). Malcolm McDowell, best known as a villain in just about any movie you’ve ever seen, plays an out-of-his-mind scientist who believes the world has reverted back to the Dark Ages. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love McDowell in these kinds of roles? His narration opens the movie and lays the ground for a very intense atmosphere.
The centerpiece of the movie is a nearly 20-minute car chase with shameless brand advertising. If you can look past that, you’ll see one of the best car chases since “The Road Warrior.” Heads will roll and a man with spiked hair will ride on top of a car screaming bloody murder. In fact, the absurdity is what makes “Doomsday” so enjoyable. It’s a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously. “Doomsday” is like the 21st century version of “Evil Dead.” There is so much violence
on screen that you can’t help but laugh at everything that’s going on. And it succeeds. My mouth was hanging open the entire movie and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen until it was over. “Doomsday” is definitely one of those movies that must be seen to truly appreciate its brilliance. It may be a knock-off of every previous science-fiction idea, but it does such a great job of injecting so much win into the formula that it sets itself apart from other movies.
A&E
March 31, 2008
7
Photo courtesy of the Music Department
Tuning up: The Cameron University Concert Band is preparing to give their annual spring concert. The performance will b at 7:30 p.m. on April 1 in the University Theatre.
CU Concert Band to give spring show By Chris Allison Collegian Staff Spring and music are in the air. The Cameron University Concert Band has scheduled its spring concert for 7:30 p.m. on April 1 at the University Theatre. The performance is under the direction of Dr. Daniel Sheridan, who is in his fourth year as Director of Bands. For this concert, Sheridan has chosen British and American themes, and the concert relies heavily on underlying themes from folk tunes. Sheridan has made it his goal to increase the level of difficulty both technically and musically each year. “The repertoire is certainly more demanding,” Sheridan said. “The piece the concert is closing with is probably the most difficult that we’ve performed since I’ve been here. We’re gradually upping our game for each
and every concert. I would say the level of sophistication in the music is at a much higher level than has been previously performed.” Among the numerous soloists featured during the evening will be John Moots, music professor and conductor of Cameron’s Jazz Band. An accomplished trumpet player, Moots will solo for Alan Hovhaness’ “Prayer of St. Gregory,” a piece written for an ensemble solo instrument. Hovhaness is an American composer of Armenian and Scottish descent. The “Prayer of St. Gregory,” taken from a religious opera, honors the saint who brought Christianity to Armenia around 300 A.D. The evening will open with Australian born composer Percy Grainger’s “Handel in the Strand.” Grainger served as an American army bandsman during World War I. During his stay in England he
collected and arranged folk songs and country dances. The title of this piece refers to The Strand, a street in London that is home to London’s musical comedy. The music reflects both Handel’s work and English musical comedy. American composer, David Gillingham draws his piece from an Irish hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.” The melody is based on an Irish folk song, “Slane,” which tells how St. Patrick defied Ireland’s pagan king by lighting candles on Slane Hill on Easter Eve in 433 A.D. Gustav Holst was commander of all English Army Bands during World War I. He wove numerous English folk songs into the melodies of “Second Suite for Military Band.” No concert featuring American and British music would be complete without a John Philip Sousa march. In addition to smaller works, Sousa
composed 136 marches, 15 operettas, 70 songs and 11 waltzes. Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is the official march of the United States. For the spring concert, Sheridan has chosen “Manhattan Beach March.” This piece imitates sounds of a stroll along the beach, such as the crashing surf and the strains of a band in the distance growing louder and then finally fading away. “Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli consists of two movements both based on Cajun folk songs. The final piece, referred to earlier by Sheridan as “very complex,” is William Schuman’s “Chester.” The tune of this composition is taken from music sung by troops during the American Revolution. “Chester” is the third movement of the “New England Triptych.” In addition to teaching Concert Band, Dr. Sheridan also teaches
Single Reeds, which is clarinet, saxophone, and music education courses. He has held positions at The University of Akron, The College of Wooster and The State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Sheridan has specific expectations for the April concert. “I hope they’ll enjoy the music just for the music’s sake,” Sheridan said. “I think people who have come to our concerts consistently will recognize how far the group has come over the past several years. Those are two things that I hope the audience might come away with.” The concert is free for CU students who present a Cameron ID. General admission tickets are $6 and $4 for senior citizens, military and students. For more information, contact the Music Department at 581.2440 or visit their Web site at www.cameron. edu/music.
Premium movie channel becoming new PBS By Aaron Barnhart MCT Campus It’s a new day at HBO, and right now nobody is more aware of that than Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth. The BloodworthThomasons were the go-to couple for CBS in the early 1990s, producing sitcom hits such as “Designing Women” and “Evening Shade.” But lately, these BFFs of Bill and Hillary Clinton have been having as much success as ... well, Bill and Hillary Clinton. So you can imagine their excitement when HBO decided to develop a one-hour comedy of theirs, “12 Miles of Bad Road,” starring Lily Tomlin as a tarttongued, high-powered real estate broker to the rich and spoiled of Texas. According to Thomason, HBO poured $25 million into the project, and several episodes were made. Then HBO’s longtime chief Chris Albrecht left last year, after an altercation with his girlfriend in Las Vegas made the news. And earlier this month, a stack of DVDs showed up in my mailbox, with a note from Harry. “We feel the current regime (at HBO) has been and remains uncomfortable with this new, inherited terrain,” Thomason wrote. “We are hoping that some critical reassurance might prompt them to reconsider their decision or at least help us move the show to a more receptive environment.” Translation: Our show is toast at HBO. Now, nobody knows for sure if “12 Miles of Bad Road” ever belonged on the same channel as “The Sopranos” and “The Wire,” but the recent string of series green lighted by HBO have not exactly inspired confidence that the folks over there know where Albrecht kept the recipe to the special sauce.
HBO’s entertainment chief Carolyn Strauss, who has been with the company 22 years, just left, which is being widely seen as a sign that times are changing over at the No. 1 pay cable channel, though the troubles started long before her departure. David Milch was allowed to stop doing “Deadwood” for no good reason and squander his talent on the bizarre surfer drama “John From Cincinnati.” David Chase was bribed to keep churning out new episodes of “The Sopranos,” even though it was clear by Season 5 that he was creatively tapped out. Two comedy programs I enjoyed, “Lucky Louie” and “Assume the Position,” were abandoned because they didn’t generate the kind of buzz among New York TV critics that HBO lives for. Meanwhile, the dreadful soft-porn drama “Tell Me You Love Me” was renewed for a second season, I suspect because it reminded these same Manhattanites of their own relationships. Perhaps nothing speaks more to these dual problems _ creative stagnation and obeisance to critics on the coasts _ than the news that HBO had renewed its over-the-hill, Hollywood-cameo-studded comedy “Entourage” ... for two years. In fairness, HBO has a new management team that was thrust into place rather abruptly. And there are a lot of basic-cable channels now willing to take on the kind of high-end series that only HBO was taking a chance on 10 years ago. But that doesn’t give HBO a free pass, nor does the fact that Time Warner is squeezing budgets company wide, including HBO’s, despite the fact that it generates $1 billion in annual profit for the mother ship. So, until the Next Big Thing comes along, HBO will try to generate short-run buzz by using Sunday nights to showcase events
produced by its films division. “John Adams” is currently playing, followed by “Recount” in May (about the Florida election in 2000, starring Kevin Spacey) and “Generation Kill” in July (an Iraq war miniseries from the creators of “The Wire”). I’m not objecting. I’ve felt for some time that HBO Films is unjustly overlooked by critics. But then, not everyone shares my view. “Boring” is a word I’m hearing tossed around a lot about “John
Adams.” Just the other day I was talking with a colleague of mine. I was describing some of the wonderful little stabs at authenticity throughout “John Adams”: the hideous tar-and-feather scene, or the doctor inoculating Abigail and her children from smallpox with pus from the boil of a sick patient, or Adams at Philadelphia, about to launch into an impassioned argument when he suddenly realizes he doesn’t have his wig on ... great stuff.
Unimpressed, my colleague said, “That’s what HBO has become these days. Edgy PBS.” Oooh. Harsh but, I’ve got to admit, true. The films and the documentaries, like this week’s “Autism: The Musical,” are what I love most about HBO. But that’s kind of what they make HBO ... an edgy PBS. Actually, they’re PBS if PBS made money. Lots of money. Twenty-five-million-to-blow-on-aHarry-and-Linda-pilot money.
Sports
8
March 31, 2008
Mullor serves in his last season By Ashley Wilkerson Collegian Staff Like many Cameron students who hit the open road to celebrate Spring Break, the Aggie Men’s Tennis team traveled to Florida to take part in the week long West Florida University Invitational. Elite teams from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the NAIA battled the Aggies all week long. When the chalk dust had settled, the Aggie men had tallied up an impressive 4-1 record over the week. After departing Florida, Cameron made a pit-stop in Alabama to take on the University of West Alabama. The Aggie men’s team once again took care of business and ended the trip on a great note. “Wins like these will really help us going into the second half of the season after spring break,” Coach Helvey said. “I’m seeing a high, high level of confidence from our players and hopefully that continues. It puts a different perspective on things when you come back and have knocked off national teams; you’re starting to feel pretty good about yourself.” Part of the team’s success is due to senior Jordi Mullor who is from Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. While in Florida, Mullor teamed up with Daniel Pazos, a junior Business Management major to win the doubles championship. As a senior, Mullor thinks about the outcome of the season and the possibility of stepping up to a new level in this year’s competition. “It has been an amazing experience playing college tennis in the United States, especially at Cameron University. I have met a lot of people here and it has been a very rewarding season, but it is not over yet, I still want to achieve more.” said Mullor. Mullor came to Cameron in 2004, and will graduate in May with a double major in Finance and Economics. Mullor says that after graduation, he would like to find
a job in the United States. As for his future and tennis, he wants to succeed in the professional world and realizes that his focus on tennis will more than likely be put on the back burner. Mullor said: “There is a lot of competition out there where professional tennis is concerned, so I am actually focusing on my career. I want to excel, but I realize tennis will be a very good hobby for me. I have played it for a lot of years. So far this season, a lot of strength has been added to the team with new players. Last year we fell short at nationals, but this year we are here again and we are expecting better things.” Mullor feels this year the men’s team started the season off strong and will finish strong as well. “We have a lot of players that often fall short of the final match, but we are real excited about nationals and conference, we are a strong team.” said Mullor. “We have a lot of experience that can give us the edge that we want.” The time required for student athletes to train, compete in home games and travel to away games can become a full time job. Mullor says the most difficult challenge at Cameron has been learning how manage his time between athletics and a busy school schedule. “It becomes real important to put your priorities in order, of course school comes first, we are students too, not just athletes,” said Mullor. He hopes that the educational departments will aide the athletes when they are not able to attend class due to an athletic function and help them iron out any conflicts that may result The Aggie roster is full of talent. The men’s team is currently ranked 11th and Coach Helvey expects the men to move into the top eight. The updated national tennis team rankings are scheduled to come out sometime around April 1-2.
Photo by Bennet Dewan
In his element: Cameron aggie tennis senior Jordi Mullor trains at the CU Tennis Center ahead of the team’s spring break Florida schedule. The team is on a winning streak so far, and has conference in sight.
CU softball maintains winning streak By Craig Martin Sports Information Director Make it eight wins in a row for the Cameron Aggie softball team (20-18, 3-5 LSC-North), who today swept the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State (11-7, 0-0 MIAA) at Cameron Field. The Aggies have now won nine of their last ten games and appear headed for the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament. Today CU won the first game in a run-rule, 10-1, and the second game 9-8 in the bottom of the final inning. “Good teams find ways to win, and today we showed we can be that team,” Head Coach Richie Nye said. “We are feeling pretty confident right now. The key is that we aren’t walking as many and we aren’t making as many errors. When we combine those two together with our hitting we have a chance to win. Our pitchers are doing much better.” The Aggies did a great job in nearly every facet of the game this afternoon. Cameron only committed 2 errors on the day and recorded an impressive 24 hits. The team also was able to rely on steady pitching throughout the double-header. In the afternoon’s opening game, Cameron got on the board early and put up a 5-0 lead after the first two innings. A grandslam homerun by junior Jenna Boren broke the game wide open for CU, who went on to put up another five runs in the final three innings. The Bearcats put up a
single run in the top of the sixth and final inning, but did not score enough to avoid a run-ruling. CU won the game 10-1 in only six innings. Boren, who played at first base, finished with a phenomenal 6 RBI to lead both teams. She went 2-3 from the plate with her aforementioned homerun and a single. She was also walked once. Sophomore pitcher Ashton McBride pitched a gem on the mound, going the distance for a complete game victory. She went all 6.0 innings and allowed only 1 run on a mere 4 hits. McBride faced a total of 22 batters and recorded 1 strikeout. Cameron continued the offensive onslaught in the afternoon’s nightcap, but Northwest Missouri State did everything they could to counter CU’s runs. The Bearcats opened up a 6-0 lead after their at-bats in the second inning, but Cameron scored 7 runs over the next two innings to go up 7-6. NWMSU regained the lead with a twospot in the fifth, and held the advantage until the seventh and final inning. The Aggies were able to manufacture enough runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game 9-8. With two runners in scoring position and two outs gone in the final frame, senior Whitney Richardson doubled to leftfield to tie the game at 8. On the next at-bat, sophomore Courtney Clifford singled to right field scoring the winning run and giving CU the victory.
“Offensively the team is showing a lot of character,” Coach Nye said. “It was good to see our team didn’t lie down and quit; they fought back. That is a credit to the girls and our good offseason training program.” Junior infielder Chelsey Jordan had a big day at the plate going 2-4 with a game-high 4 RBI. She hit an amazing 2 homeruns in the game and also scored 2 runs. Richardson had the most successful day at the plate after recording a hit in 3 of her 4 at-bats for a team-high .750 batting average. She led the game with 2 doubles and also recorded a single RBI McBride got her second win of the day to move to 14-11 on the season. She pitched the final 3.0 innings of the game and faced 15 batters. She allowed only
1
run on 6 hits and recorded 1 walk. “Ashton is doing better,” Coach Nye said. “One walk in nine innings is big time. She is keeping the ball down and getting a lot of ground balls. The key to winning is pitching and defensive improvements. Today we let our defense play and made big plays behind our pitchers.” The Cameron softball team takes part in the Lone Star Conference
Crossover tournament in Durant , Oklahoma , this weekend. The Aggies will play 7 LSC South Division teams in 3 days. The softball action can be followed via the Lone Star Conference website (lonestarconference.org). The live action can also be accessed by clicking on the link on the softball page of the Cameron Athletics website (goaggies.cameron.edu). “We’ve got a good win streak heading into the crossover tournament,” Coach Nye said. “That will be one huge test, and hopefully we keep on playing at this level.” In other Cameron softball news, junior outfielder Shareena Pulse was named the Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week today after her impressive play last week. Pulse had an absolutely phenomenal week offensively as she averaged a homerun in every 3.83 at bats this week and averaged at least a homerun every game. Her 13 RBI were also very inf luential, as was her walk-off, game-winning homerun versus Northeastern State . “Shareena really deserves the recognition,” Coach Nye said. “She hit really well and is a very good hitter. She sure put it together and seemed to win the games for us by herself.”
Sports
March 31, 2008
9
CU coach qualifies for Boston Marathon Donnale Mann Collegian Staff Head Coach Matt Aguero qualified for the Boston Marathon by finishing the Fort Worth 26.2 mile race in 2 hours, 37 minutes, 0 seconds. “Yeah, I ran 2:37:0,” Aguero said, “I can run faster, but this was a pretty tough course. But 2:37:0 is not bad, that’s about a six minute [per mile] pace.” Not everyone can run in the Boston Marathon, runners have to qualify for it Aguero explained. “The Boston Marathon is one of the only marathons that you have to qualify for and it’s different times for different age groups,” he said. “[In] my age group, you had to run under 3:10:0 to qualify.” Aguero added that it takes a lot of preparation to train for a marathon. His regimen consists of varying degrees of difficulty. “Well as far as my training, basically it’s broken down to hard days and easy days,” Aguero said. “My weekly mileage would be
anywhere between 100 to 115 miles a week. Usually, I like 16 weeks of solid training before a marathon.” Aguero pointed out that he ran his first of 11 marathons when he was a junior in high school. He holds the East Central University marathon record and was a threetime qualifier for the National Track and Field Championships. He also has received an esteemed award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). “This is actually an NAIA national championship ring in cross-country,” Aguero said. “When I was an assistant in Virginia, at a small school called Virginia Intermont College we won nationals in cross-country, in 2004.” Aguero became the CU men’s cross-country coach in 2005. His team has produced one All RegionAll Conference runner and he believes they have the potential to have a very successful season. “This is my third year; I started the program in 2005,” he said. “In the past two years we’ve had one all
region all conference guy and we have added a couple of new guys. I think that we have a good shot at qualifying for nationals, which would be pretty amazing for only our fourth year.” Recruiting is a key element in the continued success of college athletic programs and Aguero believes this year’s additions were some of the best in the country. “They don’t rank recruiting classes in cross-country like they do in football, but if they did this one would be right at the top,” Aguero said. “All of these guys can come in and make a huge impact and will push the guys we have already.” The Cameron University’s Men’s Cross-Country team has 13 runners and although their official season begins in the late summer and ends in November, these self-disciplined, self-motivated athletes run and train all year. “Cross-Country season starts in the fall and it’s our main season. It runs from August to November,” Aguero said. “But for a crosscountry runner you never really
have an off season, you train year round.” Aguero stated that cross-country is not like track and field. Crosscountry does not have a lot of individual events it consist of one event that is 10 or 8-kilometers. Eight kilometers is about five miles while a 10K is about six miles. “Well a lot of times people get cross-country confused with track. If you go to a track meet they will have a 100-meter, 10,000-meter or mile event,” He explained, “a crosscountry meet is just one race and everybody jumps in.” Aguero noted that he really loves helping people get in shape and meet their goals. He said that if someone was interested in running they should start with a 5K run. “I love helping people get in shape and meet their goals,” Aguero said, “running is probably the best way to burn calories. I would challenge someone if they are interested in running to run a 5K. And they have those all over the place, 5K road races.” Aguero pointed out that if
you can run, then you can run a marathon. “Anybody that is capable of putting one foot in front of the other can run and even run a marathon,” He said, “if they train for it and you give someone enough time to prepare for it they can do it.” Aguero added that the best way for new runners to get started is to run until they get tired. “If I was coaching someone who was just starting, I would say go out and run until you get tired and then when you get tired stop,” Aguero said, “then on the next day I would say go out and run until you get tired again, that is the best way to get started.” When asked if Cameron had a summer running camp to assist aspiring runners. Aguero commented that in the future he would like to have one. “I would love to have a camp and kind of gear it towards who ever wanted to show up,” he said, “we don’t have one but it is something I have been thinking about having in the future.”
CU men’s golf finishes 4th at UCO Craig Martin Sports Information Director With only one tournament to go before postseason play begins, the Aggie men’s golf team this week traveled northeast to take part in the KickingBird Classic tournament in Edmond, Oklahoma. After three rounds in two days, the Aggies took 4th place overall ahead of a number of fellow Lone Star Conference programs. “We played pretty good, and better than what it looks like,” Head Coach Jerry Hrnciar said. “I was pretty pleased with how after we finished strong after starting out struggling. It was good to see that. Everybody played pretty good golf, especially considering the greens, the wind, and the morning cold.” The event was hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma and was played at the KickingBird Golf Club (Par 70; 6,722 yards). A total of fifteen teams and eightyfour players participated in the tournament. The Aggies finished with a total team score of 883 (292-300-291). The host Bronchos of Central Oklahoma won the team title after winning a two-team playoff with the
Midwestern State Mustangs. Both is so important,” Coach Hrnciar UCO and MSU finished the event said. “We have been stumbling in with a team score of 870. UCO’s the last round for quite a while, and Colby Shrum won the individual it was good to get this one under our title with a belt.” three-round On another score of 870 positive note, (297-285the Aggies held 288). their ground Cameron regionally with was in 4th victories over place after Southwestern Monday’s Oklahoma first two State and rounds, Southeastern and wanted Oklahoma to avoid a State . third round A win over letdown Midwestern similar to State would what the have completed team had the three-team experienced regional sweep in the for CU. last few “I’m not Cade Lewis tournaments. happy we didn’t This time finish higher. the Aggies There were actually recorded their best round still some obstacles we couldn’t of the tournament in the third and overcome,” Coach Hrnciar said. final round, much to the delight of “We are on a road now to improving Coach Hrnciar. and that gives us a little bit of “The big thing was that we had breathing room. Now when we go our best round the last round, which to our next tournament it won’t be
such a life and death deal to win.” Junior Peter Svajlen had a great tournament and was the only Aggie to finish in the top ten. Svajlen, who won the last tournament Cameron competed in (Red River Intercollegiate), ended the event tied for 10th place overall with a final score of 218 (72-76-70). Svajlen also recorded the third-most eagles with 1, and the fourth-best par five scoring average (4.33, -6). Like Svajlen, sophomore Michael Lee also took off six strokes from his day one score on day two, and finished the tournament in a tie for 17th place overall. His three-round score was 220 (72-77-71). In the event Lee recorded the fourth-best par four scoring average (4.23, +7). Sophomore Brett Leavell, who led the Cameron men after the first two rounds, and senior Cane Shumaker both finished in the top 50 golfers overall. Leavell finished in a tie for 26th place with a two-day score of 223 (72-75-76). Shumaker ended in a tie for 35th place overall with an overall score of 225 (76-72-77). Another Aggie sophomore, Robbe Trout, finished the KickingBird Classic in a tie for 67th
place overall with a three-round score of 236 (83-79-74). A pair of Aggie men’s golfers competed as individual medalists in the tournament and put together very solid performances. Junior Cade Lewis and freshman Dave Young competed individually and finished in a tie for 57th place and 67th place, respectively. Lewis recorded a final score of 233 (74-81-78), while Young recorded a 236 (80-81-75). Lewis also recorded the second-most pars in the event with 34. The Aggie men’s golf team next travels to Pensacola , Florida , to participate in the Argonaut Invitational. The event is hosted by #1 West Florida University and will be played from April 7-8 at the Tiger Point Golf and Country Club. Some of the top teams in the nation will be competing in the tournament including Valdosta State , Delta State , and North Alabama . “There will be a lot of elite competition in that tournament,” Coach Hrnciar said. “If we can be competitive with the top teams it will give us a good indication of where we are and where we need to be. It will be like a mini regional tournament.”
Smedley heads volleyball squad Alexis Del Ceilo Collegian Staff On March 8, Cameron University welcomed new head women’s volleyball coach, Brianne Smedley to its staff. Smedley quickly put rubber to the road the first four days on the job when she met with CU volleyball players and helped coordinate a junior’s volleyball tournament. “It has been a whirlwind of meetings and signing papers,” Smedley said. “My first five minutes on campus I met the team and we had to work a junior’s tournament. It definitely started off running.” Though there was little opportunity to get acquainted, Smedley wasted no time learning about her players and began practices for the upcoming spring tournaments. “I feel I have gotten to know the girls, I don’t want to say well at this point, because there is so much to learn about them and for them to learn about me,” Smedley said. “Immediately starting with
practices has allowed us to start learning about each other pretty fast.” Smedley may be the new kid on the block in southwest Oklahoma, but she certainly is not new to the game. Before beginning her head coach position at CU, Smedley coached in Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. “I was at Berry College as a head coach for three years and before that I was an assistant coach at Centenary College in Louisiana for one year and assistant coach at St. Leo University in Florida.” The first task Smedley hopes to accomplish at CU is providing stability to a program that has seen multiple changes in past years. “The first thing I want to establish with this team is some consistency. I will be the fourth head coach in four years,” Smedley said. “My seniors have seen a different coach every year, have heard different ways to play the game and heard different ways to do skills.”
Most would shy away from accomplishing such a task— consistency, but Smedley plans to provide that stability and “go get ‘em” attitude by way of her love for the game and the women she coaches. “To establish that sort of intensity from your players is going to come from the way practices are structured and them knowing exactly what we expect. As long as we keep it consistent from our end - coaching, the players will be able to translate that into practices and then into matches,” Smedley said. “I want my program and my players to love it as much as I do. I never want to create a situation with my program when my players are dreading coming to practice and having to work hard. I want volleyball to be the best part of their day.” Putting aside the benefit of living closer to home, and moving into Division II volleyball, Smedley sees other advantages to coaching at Cameron University. “When I visited CU everyone
was very nice and had really positive things to say about the school, in the different projects they said had just been completed, and are in the works for the next few years, I can really tell the school is committed to making improvements and supporting the athletic department,” Smedley said. Though changes have become the norm in the CU program in recent years, Smedley does not see this as an excuse to put success on the back burner. Smedley said, producing a winning season, doing well in conference, making it to the conference Photo by Kareem Guiste tournament and to the Unified: The volleyball squad will vie for regional tournament are supremacy this year. all goals that she and the absolutely love coaching the players see within reach sport,” Smedley said. “As long as this season. the girls are ready to work hard “The athletes here are on the court, I think we are going passionate about the program. to accomplish a lot.” I am ready to work hard and
Variety
10
March 31, 2008
Easter bunny hops into PAC’s annual
Easter Egg Hunt
Ready, set, hunt: Children of different age groups get ready for the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by PAC.
By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff Spring is a time for flowers to bloom and animals to wake up from hibernation. One of these animals is the Easter bunny that also decided to show up at Cameron University for the seventh annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Programming Activities Council. The hunt occurred at 5 p.m. on Mar. 25 at the lawn south of the Student Activities Building. According to Laura Hidalgo, marketing senior and event chair, children had a different range of activities related to their age group. “[The kids had] games, coloring books, food, pictures with the Easter bunny and the Easter egg hunt,” Hidalgo said. The Criminal Justice and Sociology department helped PAC by providing special gifts for
drawings. Some of the items for the drawing were an Easter blanket, candy baskets and games. Children also had the chance to take a picture with the Easter bunny. PAC members then distributed the pictures to the children. The egg hunt happened right after the pictures. Children were divided in three age groups, zero to three, four to eight and nine to 12. Parents assisted the small kids while the big ones hunted away. Tanna Vu, a Cameron alumna, brought her 4-year-old son, Tai Vu, to the Easter Egg Hunt. To her, the hunt is a way of still being involved at Cameron. “This is our second year. He came with his little friend from school,” Vu said. “It’s a way to support Cameron as an alumna.” Following the premise of the
Hopping around: The Easter bunny shows up at the hunt and takes pictures with children. The Easter bunny was one of the main attractions.
Parents and relatives help children collect the eggs put by PAC members on the lawn next to the Student Activities Building. The annual egg hunt reached its seventh year. Halloween Carnival, the Easter Egg Hunt was a safe environment for children. “Students that are parents usually have no time, so they come and attend the event on campus,” Hidalgo said. “It gives the opportunity to them because they can feel good it’s a school event, and they know their kids will be safe coming here.”
Mother and son: Tai Vu and his mom, Tanna Vu,
show his bucket full of eggs. Students, faculty and alumni brought their children for the egg hunt.
Photos by Bira Vidal Photo Collage by Bira Vidal