The Cameron University Collegian: March 9, 2009

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

Monday, March 9, 2009

News

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Volume 83 Issue 17

Students to travel to Greece

By Megan Mefford Collegian Staff The Law and Politics and History Clubs will travel to Greece over Spring Break.

Summer Hurley, a Senior Political Science major, said that the clubs decided to go to Greece because of its status as the birthplace of democracy.

“The whole point of going to Greece, specifically Athens, is because it is considered the birthplace of democracy,” Hurley said.

The organizations have many places they want to see while they are traveling outside of the United States Hurley said.

“We are going to Athens, Delphi and others,” Hurley said.

Delphi is an ancient town and site of the most important Greek temple and oracle of Apollo, and it is now a major archaeological site with wellpreserved ruins.

The Law and Politics and History Clubs are leaving the United States on March 16 and returning March 22.

See GREECE Page 2

CUTV offers revamped productions.

SEE PAGE 4

A&E

MCT Campus

“Slumdog Millionaire” performs well at the Oscars.

SEE PAGE 10

Sports

Summer will bring schedule change

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff A new scheduling system being implemented this summer could make future semesters easier for Cameron students.

“We’re trying to increase student opportunities,” said Dr. John McArthur, VicePresident of Academic Affairs. “We have a growing traditional student population, but also recognize that we continue to serve an adult population. Those people are trying to balance part time and full time jobs while trying to get an education.”

The new schedule will be based around a four-

Men’s basketball ends season with positive record.

SEE PAGE 7

“The best summary for the schedule is what Tuesday and Thursday [classes] are now is what most other classes will look like starting this summer.”

— Dr. John McArthur, Vice President of Academic Affairs

CU students must verify their current mailing address by March 26 in order to ensure their Aggie OneCard is not accidentally mailed to the wrong location. In order to verify their address, students should check their listed address on MyCU to ensure it is current.

Students who verify their address will qualify for a drawing for a $50 iTunes gift card provided by HigherOne.

SEE PAGE 5

See SCHEDULE Page 2

Aggie One Card

Voices

CU student studying abroad discovers new sport.

day academic week. Instead of having 50-minute classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with 75-minute classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, most three-hour classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“The best summary for the schedule is what Tuesday and Thursday [classes] are now is what most other classes will look like starting this summer,” Dr. McArthur said. “This will free up facilities for Fridays so that we can pair Friday and Saturday for additional courses.”

The Aggie OneCard will become the system used by Cameron University to provide students with their financial reimbursements. The system will allow students to have quicker access to their refunds. Each student will receive a OneCard and this card will be connected to an account where reimbursements will be deposited.

Cameron University

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News

March 9, 2009

GREECE continued from page 1 “We are leaving Oklahoma City on Mar. 16 and flying to Munich and then to Athens overnight. We will be staying there for a couple of days,” Hurley said.

The organizations plan to visit as many historic sites as possible during their stay, including the Parthenon, the chief temple of the Greek goddess, Athena.

“We will be going around taking tours, going to the Parthenon. Then we will hit the other two cities, and then we will hop back on the plane and make it back to the US. Hopefully, we will stay awake for the classes on Monday,” Hurley said.

About 10 students are going to Greece, with some taking their children or spouses, and Dr. Melody Huckaby, Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Government, will travel along with the group as a sponsor.

According to Hurley, much of the funds required to go to on the trip will be paid by the individuals themselves, but the group did raise money for the trip to help out with the cost. Hurley said that the rest of the money the group raised as part of a group effort with a garage sale.

Hurley said she is excited about the trip for many reasons.

“I’m excited about the Parthenon and going to Athens and all of that, and I’m excited about the food

and just even getting out of the country,” Hurley said.

The idea for the trip was brought up about a year ago, and the group has been planning it for about eight months.

The organizations will complete a scrapbook after the trip with pictures of all that they were able to see.

Hurley thinks that the realization of actually being in Greece will not hit until later, but she hopes to just enjoy the trip.

“I think a couple of years from now each of us will sit there and be like ‘wow, I was actually there,’” Hurley said.

MCT Campus

SCHEDULE continued from page 1 In addition to having classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dr. McArthur said many classes will also be offered on Friday and Saturdays. He feels this will allow working students an opportunity to continue their jobs while still being able to come to Cameron conveniently.

Cameron currently offers a small selection of Saturday classes, but this will be the first time in the university’s history that classes Friday and Saturday classes have been held.

“We’ve used the four-day schedule before, during the 1970s,” Dr. McArthur said. “But the addition of the Friday and Saturday schedule is completely new.”

Cameron’s current scheduling system has not change since 1982. However, Dr. McArthur and the current administration recognized the need for students to have more time outside of classes to work and continue their lives. Planning for a four-day week started as early as 2006, when the university

ran a pilot study over the summer. Dr. McArthur said the administration used the knowledge they learned from the pilot study and applied it to the new system, which they began formulating in 2008.

“We wanted to see what the student response was when we ran the pilot study,” Dr. McArthur said. “The number one response was not having classes on Friday in the summer.

They really appreciated having the three-day weekend. The other response was they liked

having the longer class periods.

They felt 50-minutes wasn’t long enough to learn, but they were comfortable with 75-minute classes.”

The administration is already preparing for any problems that might arise with the new scheduling system. The summer pilot study helped iron out many problems that could come up next semester, but Dr. McArthur said the department chairs have taken a proactive stance of anticipating any problems and coming up with

solutions.

“We understand there are going to be growing pains with the scheduling change,” he said. “If people have concerns, they need to talk with their department chairs in the area of their major. If people have concerns, we want to address them. The goal is to improve the learning environment of Cameron.”

The summer and fall 2009 semester schedules will be available by the time students return from spring break.

Forgotten history topic of Dr. Graves lecture

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff

See page 4 for solutions.

A near unknown aspect of Oklahoma’s history was the topic of discussion at the Cameron University library Friday afternoon.

Dr. Russell Graves, an Assistant Professor of Geography and History at Cameron, spoke to a crowded room at the library on the history of allblack towns in Oklahoma. The speech was part of the university’s celebration of Black History Month and was in cooperation with the “All-Black Towns of Oklahoma” exhibit, which is on display at the library through Wednesday.

“Dr. [Judy] Neale came to me about trying to get this exhibit here, I thought it was a great idea,” Dr. Graves said. “But I began to realize that I didn’t know much about all-black towns in Oklahoma. So I decided to do some research into it.”

More than a century ago, Oklahoma was viewed as a new beginning for freed black slaves from across the country.

Black leaders hoped the new lands would be a place where African-Americans could prosper. Dozens of all-black towns cropped up across the state. Today, there is only a handful left.

Dr. Graves spent months researching all-black towns throughout the state. Last year, he took a twoday road trip and traveled across central Oklahoma to many of the active all-black towns. Dr. Graves said he discovered many of the towns were run-down and were barely holding on. The populations of most of the cities only ranged between 50 and 100 people.

“One of the themes running through the towns I visited is the abandonment,” Dr. Graves said. “Outside of a couple of towns, business is actually non-existent.

There are many buildings that could be saved but have been left to fall apart.”

Dr. Graves spoke about the origins of many of the towns. Langston and Bolvey are the two most prominent active all-black towns left in Oklahoma.

The majority of the original residents of those towns came from Texas and the Deep South. Graves said they were trying to escape the persecution and oppression. But Jim Crow ultimately found its way into Oklahoma’s history as well.

“One of the first things that Oklahoma did as a new state was institute Jim Crow,” Dr. Graves said.

“So in a way, these all-black towns were great for the white people and the African-Americans didn’t mind the separation either.”

Even though many of the towns that Dr. Graves visited are in ruins now, he told the lecture attendants that they’re not beyond saving. He said the towns are an important, but forgotten, part of the state’s history.

“There is certainly a lot of work involved to preserve the cultural heritage and significance of these towns,” Dr. Graves said. “But there is a wealth of opportunities to preserve this knowledge for future generations.”

Funding for the exhibit was provided by The Oklahoma Humanities Council.

March 9, 2009

News

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News

March 9, 2009

CUTV offers revamped productions

By Justin Cliburn Collegian Staff With spring comes changes, and members of the CU Radio and Television department are excited about the changes coming this semester.

From a new set to a show now being broadcast live to a new producer to shooting on-location in Puerto Rico, the Radio and Television department is not resting on its laurels.

Film Geek, which has been produced since the spring of 2008, is getting a new set to place behind show host Kyle Luetters.

“The set is now blue with more of a ‘tech’ feel to it,” Luetters said. “I’ll be placed elsewhere on the set as well.

The whole look is going to be different.”

Luetters, a 20-year-old Radio and Television major from Garden City, Kan., has hosted 24 episodes of Film Geek in the past year. With a rating system all his own, Luetters rates all the top fi lms of the week every Monday.

“I write, produce and edit the

show every Monday,” Luetters said. “It’s placed on the YouTube channel here at Cameron, and run on the plasma screens across campus.”

While the episodes typically run about ten minutes long, Luetters spends much longer than that putting them together.

“It usually takes all Monday afternoon and night to shoot, edit and upload each episode,” Luetters said.

While Luetters spends hours every Monday putting together his show, another CU student will be having much less time get it right this semester.

CUTV’s Top of the Hour news program has already made a major change, and Cecilio Ramirez is excited about it.

“Top of the Hour went live this week,” Ramirez said. “It’s now going to be aired live every Thursday at 9 a.m. and should be

pretty exciting.”

Top of the Hour was broadcast live for the first time Thursday, Feb. 19 with anchors Ramirez and Brooke Whitely.

The episodes also run about ten minutes long and are aired on CUTV across campus as well as the CUTV YouTube channel.

Ramirez, a 21-year-old Radio and Television major from Cache, not only anchors Top of the Hour, but also is now producing Inside the Huddle for CUTV as well as writing, directing, and producing CUTV’s telenovela “Pasion Universitaria.”

“Pasion Universitaria” is a telenovela, or Spanishlanguage soap opera miniseries. The show is the brainchild of Ramirez and is cast entirely by CU students and faculty.

While every existing episode has been fi lmed on campus, the final episode will be fi lmed on-location in Puerto Rico, a

fact that Ramirez pointed out immediately.

“Pasion Universitaria is five chapters, or episodes, long, and it just worked out that we’ll be in Puerto Rico at the same time to fi lm the final episode,” Ramirez said.

“I cannot wait to get down there and put together the final chapter.”

“It’s been a lot of fun doing this. It’s been work, but it’s been fun,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said that hours go into writing, directing and fi lming each episode, but each episode is worth the work involved.

With plans to cover the May Commencement event live this year, CU’s Radio and Television department continues to look to the future.

Students can watch CUTV on the plasma screens on campus or on YouTube at CUinternetTV.

Aggie Ambassadors attend NODA

By Megan Mefford Collegian Staff Cameron University’s Aggie Ambassadors attended the annual National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) on Feb. 20-22, a conference for orientation leaders at college campuses.

Admissions Counselor and Aggie Ambassador Adviser Nate Todd said the conference offers the Aggie Ambassadors many new ideas for the Cameron Gold Rush for incoming freshmen.

“The conference keeps the Aggies Ambassadors informed on new strategies on how to run a more effective Gold Rush,” Todd said.

The conference was held at Arlington, Texas, and students from campuses all over Oklahoma and Texas attended.

“The conference keeps Del Ciello said that the Aggies Ambassadors Cameron University informed on new sent nine of their Aggie Ambassadors and the four strategies on how to run a Admissions Counselors to more effective Gold Rush.”

NODA. The conference holds forums and sessions over — Nate Todd many different aspects of Admissions Counselor the orientation process.

“NODA is a conference to share ideas, techniques and procedures that other universities have used.

Universities go in and they talk about how their school implemented something, and we try to take out of it what we can and fit it to our needs at Cameron,” Del Ciello said.

Cameron Ambassadors tried to attend as many forums as they could to get as much new information as possible.

“All of us broke up into different forums and sessions. We made sure there were Aggie Ambassadors in almost every session, so we could get as much out of them as possible,” Del Ciello said.

The sessions cover many topics, including icebreakers, recruitment for fellow ambassadors and how to actually talk to the incoming students.

The icebreaker session brought new ideas to Del Ciello, and she hopes to bring some of them back to Cameron.

“One of the sessions I attended was about ice breakers, and not the same old ones that everyone does, they had new different ideas that I hope to bring back to our campus,” Del Ciello said.

The students are also able to build skills that will not only help them here at Cameron as ambassadors, but also in their professional lives as well.

“Going to NODA Conference allows our Aggies Ambassadors to network and build professional skills,” Todd said.

Voices

March 9, 2009

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George Will speech a missed opportunity for Cameron students George Will, one of These are the the foremost political students who, by commentators of our time, the selection of spoke at Cameron University Political Science on Feb. 19 to a packed house as their major, inside the Cameron University would be most Theatre. While having Mr. challenged and Will on campus was a great entertained by boon for CU, the event was the knowledge of blemished by the fact that the Mr. Will. students, those who needed And these to hear his challenging words are the types of and ideas the most, were students who almost entirely shut out of the see the irony momentous occasion. in Mr. Will For the student body commenting to have faith that the core on how sevenof CU’s mission statement second sound is truthful, some serious bites are ruining questions need to be raised democracy at Photo by Jim Horinek and answered. For anyone an event hosted An ironic audience: Polical pundit and columnist George Will speaks to a who attended the event by the smiling packed Cameron Theatre about the need to cut elderly entitlements. that Thursday night, it was members of the to be obvious: this was a public quite clear that the quality Public Relations about the need for our country relations event and was in educational opportunity on department. to cut entitlements to the elderly no way student-centered or a stage was anything but studentCameron has a fine faculty in order to move forward. Time celebration of academic thought. in the History and Government centered. and again the ironically elderly As one of the most Rather than challenge a room audience met his propositions department with fine Political accomplished contemporary of young minds still developing Science professors who could with deafening silence. their political intellects, Mr. An accomplished CU student political commentators spoke on have certainly garnered some stage, a Public Will spoke to a room full of academic and a CU professor introduced Relations octogenarians, university donors Mr. Will at the beginning of knowledge professor and administrative elites from from such the evening. Both gestures moderated across the state amid adoring a renowned were important in keeping the the evening, applause as he reaffirmed the political figure university faculty and students and Public already-held beliefs of so many to take back to involved, but why is it that the Relations in attendance. the classroom. student was an Organizational students I was one of few students Political Leadership major and the ushered in the in attendance who were not a Science majors professor was a professional aisles while part of the production and was could have in Public Relations when the a Political given a dirty look by more than been fortunate university has a very capable Science one silver-haired attendee as enough to have Political Science department, professor was I politely made my way to my seen one of the very field within which Mr. just lucky to seat. Something is amiss when the giants of Will has made his career? get a ticket, the college student wearing a their field as an Of the two groups of students and all but baseball cap and an untucked undergraduate. that were helping the event in button-up shirt is made to be the one capacity or another, one was three Political Both Science outsider at a lecture on his own opportunities representing The Collegian. It students were campus. were wasted is always important for student left out in the cold.

I could not have been the when CU decided to market the press to be involved, but why These are the students who only one wondering to whom sizzle and not the steak. did the other group consist of are seeking the same degree, exactly the lecture was aimed, All majors and sub-disciplines members of the Public Relations as Mr. Will spoke continually aside, this was an opportunity department? The answer appears and perhaps career, as Mr. Will.

Justin Cliburn

Rugby a new, interesting sport for Cameron student to attend a rugby game. Unlike St. David’s Day, rugby is a game celebrated in 120 countries around the world. The teams squaring off in the match were the Llanelli Scarlets versus the Cross Keys.

I went into the Llanelli stadium knowing very little about how the game is actually played and tried to have it explained to me, mainly in reference to football.

There are 15 players on each side, and each game is composed of two halves of 40 minutes each, with a ten minute break in between. Their touchdown, called a try, is worth five points and the place kick afterwards is worth two. The field is 70 meters wide and

Lauren Bennett

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 Jory Palmer.

Dr. Christopher Keller

Cameron University provides a diverse and dynamic student body access to quality educational opportunities; fosters a student-centered academic environment that combines innovative classroom teaching with experiential learning; prepares students for professional success, responsible citizenship, life-long learning, and meaningful contributions to a rapidly changing world; and is a driving force in the cultural life and economic development of the region.

Swansea city center, there is a big fountain and on St. David’s Day they had turned the water red, which seems to be the color of many things associated with Wales.

Choirs were performing outdoors.

Many people were carrying flags, and children were running around with pinwheels and had Welsh dragons painted on their faces.

I was really glad I was able be a part of their holiday and to see everyone celebrating being Welsh.

Another thing I was able to do was

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Faculty Adviser

Cameron University Mission Statement:

After settling into somewhat of a routine and knowing when my free time is, I have been able to take part in some of the cultural activities around Wales.

Two of these include St. David’s Day and a rugby game.

St. David’s Day is celebrated every March 1 and is in honor of St. David, or Dewi Sant in Welsh, who is the Patron Saint of Wales.

According to cymru.org, St. David has had many miracles ascribed to him. One story says that when he was preaching at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi, he elevated the ground underneath him where he would be high enough so he could be seen and heard by everyone.

He was recognized as a Catholic saint in 1120, over 500 years after his death. The first St. David’s Day is recorded as being celebrated the year of his canonization and every year since. It is customary for people to wear either a leek or a daffodil, which are two emblems of Wales.

In the

for CU students to see a worldrenowned public figure on their own campus. I am thankful that it was not student fees that paid for Mr. Will’s trip. Even so, using the excuse that the event was paid for by Centennial funds to exclude students from an event on their own campus is unconvincing, especially in light of CU’s mission statement.

It is a shame that more students were not able to attend the evening, but, ultimately, the biggest shame is that such an academic opportunity was turned into a Public Relations event directed at everyone but the student body and presumedly aimed solely for CU to stick a public feather in its cap.

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100 meters long, which makes it slightly bigger than a football field. Unlike in football, the players have to pass the ball backwards, and if a player drops the ball forward, called a knock on, the play is stopped.

What I noticed is that the game very rarely stopped. When a player is tackled, times I am used to the play being stopped in football, he must release the ball so that both teams can try and take possession. So I would see one of them go down and the ball would be shoved out, and another player would grab it and keep running.

Of course it also seems to be a much rougher sport, not only because they wear no padding, but also when a player was injured and did not get up right away, the game would keep going even as the medics ran onto the field. Normally, the player would just limp back into the fray.

Though, as with anywhere in any sport, the referees seemed to take the brunt of the vocal lashes from the crowd. After two hours, the officials called the game: 25-20, with the Cross Keys winning.

I am really excited to see what other events are coming up in the spring, and hopefully they will be as lively as St. David’s Day and rugby are.

Until next time. Lauren

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Sports

March 9, 2009

Point Counter Point: Is NASCAR a sport?

Stock car racing is about much more than just driving

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff It seems in this day and age when people call everything from professional poker to MLG video games a sport that they would make a concession that NASCAR is a sport.

Instead, people hide their ignorance behind one-liners and quips that do nothing more than show how little they really know.

Over the past couple of weeks alone, I’ve heard jokes at the expense of NASCAR saying everything from cooking meth on a Dale Earnhardt spoon to taking sisters and mothers on a romantic date to the track to eating buckets of KFC fried chicken with greasy fingers. All of these “humorous” quips try to poke fun at NASCAR’s southern heritage.

That’s fine and dandy except for the simple fact that NASCAR has expanded beyond the South to the point where it’s not even a southern sport.

There are five drivers in the sport right now that are major fan favorites: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Only one of those guys was born in the south. Earnhardt Jr. was born in North Carolina and is the epitome of a southern boy, I’ll admit. He lives in a modular trailer when he’s got more money and fame than anyone else in the sport. He goes hunting and fishing for fun. Not to mention his southern draw sounds like something out of Gone With the Wind.

But both Johnson and Gordon were both born in California and are about as far from Southern as you can get. Just one look at them and you can tell they’re California boys. Stewart is from Indianapolis and Edwards is from Columbia, Mo. Both Max Papis and Juan Pablo Montoya are from Italy and race on a weekly basis.

Maybe 20 or 30 years ago when names like Richard Petty, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough dominated the sport, you make a case that it was Southern through and through. Then again, the sport was still in its infancy considering Yarborough and Allison had a fist fight in the middle of the Daytona 500 in 1979. But no one is arguing the sport has had its problems. But today, it’s a completely different beast. (Editor’s Note: Didn’t Tony Stewart go stone cold crazy and punch a guy after he lost a race?)

What other sport can sell out a stadium of more than 150,000 people on a weekly basis? Football can’t. Super Bowl XLIII barely sold out before the game started. The NFL had to offer discount tickets to sell out the Pro Bowl. And who knows how many teams struggled throughout the year to sell out their stadiums. Even in a recession, NASCAR still flourishes like no other sport. It has one of the most

passionate fan bases around. And let’s not even try to start attacking the fans.

People came to the Daytona 500 from all over the world, not just the United States. There were dozens of countries represented there. The Southern stereotype still humors me considering after the Daytona 500, the circuit doesn’t return to the South until three weeks later after passing through California and Las Vegas.

Another thing that I’ve never understood is why people only attack NASCAR. Perhaps it’s because of the sport’s popularity.

Why not attack Formula 1 racing?

That seems to be the more dignified of the racing sports. No race, short of the Daytona 500, draws the majesty and pride that the Indianapolis 500 does. What’s the difference between the two? They’re just cars driving really fast. That can’t take that much skill, can it?

I wonder then why it’s so hard to break into the business. Joey Lagano took over Tony Stewart’s #20 Home Depot this season.

Stewart has won two Sprint Cup Championships with that ride.

Three weeks into the season, Lagano can barely finish a race, let alone contend for a win and for a championship. There is a definite skill factor there and only someone ignorant of the sport would use that

of numerous people who, by some fluke, managed to pass on their genes before tragically losing their lives as a result of not being able to read warning labels or being kicked in the face by a mule.

Really, only the history of NASCAR’s origins should be enough to shame most sentient beings away from the mindless task of watching grungy beards fly around a track at 200 mph.

However, there are yet die-hard fans who claim that NASCAR is not only worth watching, but it’s also worth actually calling a sport.

When did sitting down become a sport? Was admitting Curling into the Olympic games really such a slippery slope moment?

We’ve got to have a meeting regarding our plummeting standards. I’ve been told that it isn’t just sitting; it’s sitting in a hot car while going fast. Really? Thousands of people with busted air conditioners do this every summer in Oklahoma alone, and I don’t see KFC asking them to help promote their latest culinary atrocity.

It really seems to be the speeds at which these drivers travel that is the major sticking point for fans.

But John, they say, look how fast they’re going. That takes a lot of skill, bro. They’re partially right,

at least. Driving fast takes skill but only when the other objects around you aren’t traveling just as fast as you are.

Imagine going down Gore Boulevard while traveling at 80 mph with no one else on the road.

Pretty easy right? Now imagine that there are other cars on the road, but they’re all going the same speed that you are. Other than stopping for traffic lights, which doesn’t happen in NASCAR anyway, it’s not really much more difficult than driving on a road with no traffic. The only difference is that in the event that something happens, the resulting accident is going to be far more traumatic.

Is that the real draw of NASCAR then? Is it the slim chance of a fiery accident that claims the life of one mustachioed robber baron and singes another’s well-manicured goatee? (Editor’s Note: It is not a requirement to have terrible facial hair or facial hair at all to be driver but that could change in the future.) That’s like paying to watch a man slam his head into a wall repeatedly and hoping that one of the collisions causes him to have a seizure. I could name a thousand ways to spend an afternoon that would be more productive, and to be honest I’d rather be the guy slamming my head into the wall than the guy watching NASCAR. Hold on, though. Don’t break your Dale Earnhardt collector plate in a rage just yet. I can’t put all the blame on NASCAR, even though calling it a sport will rank among mankind’s most heinous crimes.

Joshua Rouse

as an excuse to hate NASCAR or racing in itself.

At this year’s Daytona 500, all 43 cars on the track at the same time were within a second of each other. That means if the lead car stopped, it would only take, at most, one second for the car in the rear to pass him. Now imagine 43 cars crammed together that close.

Imagine them doing nearly 200 mph. I know people who struggle to drive down Interstate 44 doing 75 mph. And people are trying to tell me that it’s not that hard to drive 200 mph with 42 other cars within an arm’s length? If one car moved just slightly, it could cause a chain reaction that could take out half the field. But yeah, let’s plug our ears, rock back and forth and sing to ourselves because we think anyone can do that.

That’s almost as laughable as saying the drivers aren’t athletes.

Temperatures inside the cars can reach well over 100 degrees. The firesuits that they wear makes it even hotter. Once they climb in the car, they’re usually not of out of there until four or five hours later.

Just because a person is sitting down, doesn’t mean they’re not working. If a NASCAR driver isn’t an athlete because he sits on his rear for five hours inside a car, how can someone justify calling baseball players athletes? They stand in a field for a couple of hours waiting for a ball. Every once in a while they go up to bat and run the bases.

Sounds stupid, doesn’t it? Anything can be oversimplified. I would love for someone to go up to Gordon or

Earnhardt Jr. and try to tell them that they’re not athletes. It would be an interesting experiment.

In the end, there is an allure to NASCAR, which makes it appealing to the common person.

Short of the Steve Smith making a 69-yard touchdown catch against the St. Louis Rams to send the Carolina Panthers to the NFC Championship game in 2003, I haven’t had a moment in sports where I was on my feet clapping since Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500.

People might not understand the sport. They love to throw snarky one-liners out to make themselves look more intelligent than the Unabomber-looking fans in the stands each week. I’ve been told I’m stupid because I like watching cars drive in a circle for four hours. I love the irony of that coming from a person who rambles on for 30 minutes about how Earnhardt was an ignorant hillboy, how only meth heads love the sport and how you have to be married to your sister to truly understand it. In reality, you don’t have to be any of those things. Sit down and watch one race at Talladega, Daytona or even Atlanta. Watch the entire race and see some of the battles that these drivers have. When you see two drivers go neck and neck down the back straightaway to try to win the race, then you can say its boring.

Until then, stuff your age-old jokes in your pocket. I heard those things when I was elementary school.

Fifteen years later, it’s time to get some new material.

NASCAR is just lazy people making left turns

By John Robertson Collegian Staff

I like to think that I’m a learned individual with an open mind, but I just can’t wrap my mind around the allure of NASCAR. Perhaps it’s having a mind that makes me unqualified to enjoy the timehonored tradition of watching grown men ride around in circles really fast.

I’ve asked around, and there just isn’t really anything about NASCAR that seems to really grab one’s attention.

There’s an oval track and a fleet of men in cowboy hats with facial hair that belongs on a federal watch list, and they’re driving fast.

Where’s the entertainment?

For those not in the know, NASCAR’s origins date back to Prohibition and the Appalachia region of the United States.

In order to run illegal alcohol, bootleggers would modify their cars to carry more booze, weigh less and go faster than police vehicles. By the time Prohibition was over, stock car racing (as it was generously called) had already slipped its malformed and shameful hook into the mouths

John Robertson

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

No trophies, no flowers, no flashbulbs: A car sits on the infield after being wrecked. Rouse believes that NASCAR is accessible to everyone and that there is more to watch than just the crashes. Robertson believes that NASCAR is never worth watching regardless of crashes.

Whose argument will reign supreme, let your voice be heard details are below.

The advertising involved with NASCAR deserves ridicule as well. I know it must be NASCAR season when the KFC ads start playing every commercial break on every channel. We’re only years away from KFC dropping the pretense that their food is even intended for consumption by intelligent humans when they unveil their new Famous Bowl, the Hog Trough. It will be pureed chicken fat, gravy and creamed corn in a cup and will be consumed through a straw and promoted by one of NASCAR’s bearded speeddemons.

In the end, I think the worst part about NASCAR is that it gets the same unhealthy treatment that actual professional sports do.

It’s one thing to live vicariously through your favorite football player or your favorite soccer team.

Even though I don’t think any

professional sport is really worth dumping your hopes and dreams in to like some fans seem to do, at least the players in the actual sports are putting on a grueling performance. The players train relentlessly to be able to keep up with fan expectations.

The day I see a NASCAR driver sit out a race because he tore his butt while training to sit on it, maybe I’ll cut the organization some slack.

Even worse, in an increasingly Green and environmentally conscious world, is there really anything more ridiculous than neck-bearded troglodytes racing around a track burning as much fuel as possible? (Editor’s Note: What kind of a person compares someone to a prehistoric beetle?)

By now, there’s a hole in the Ozone in the shape of Dale Earnhardt’s big stupid cowboy hat.

Help the Collegian decide the great NASCAR debate We want your input. Who was more persuasive? Who made the better points? Were you mad, sad, or excited by one of the articles?

Sound off, congratulate an author on an excellent point or give one of the authors pointers on arguments they could have made or forgot.

To get involved email your thoughts to collegian @cameron.edu Please do not use profanity or explicit subject matter.

Sports

March 9, 2009

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Men’s basketball wraps up season on top Team qualifies for playoffs for first time in 11 years

By Jacob Russell & Bennett Dewan Collegian Staff With the season all wrapped up, it means the Lone Star Conference play-offs are here.

While the Cameron University Men’s Basketball team has found itself sitting at home dreaming what of might have been these past few seasons, the team has found itself in a place the program has never been before.

With two games left in the season, the Aggie men controlled their own playoff destiny.

Head Coach Wade Alexander knew the importance of being in control of their play-off hopes going into the teams final two home games.

“Well, we win two, and we are in, or if Northeastern loses two, then we are in,” said Alexander.

“The other way to get in would be for us to go one and one and Northeastern do the same.

Overall the most important thing is that we do control our own destiny. It is all in our own hands.”

Under Coach Alexander, the men had already had an exemplary season by setting a record for conference wins in a season, but it would be a mistake to be think this season was a fluke for the first-year coach.

“I’m not going to say that I am surprised about any of this,” Alexander said. “My goal coming in was to have a good year and make the play-offs. Our team goal was to make the play-offs.

We are right on track.”

Coach Alexander’s team would indeed be playoff-bound

thanks to the play of Senior Forward Mikaile Reed, who chipped in 23 points on the road against Southeastern Oklahoma State. With the win, and a loss by Northeastern, the Aggies could celebrate the birth of a postseason.

CU, fresh off of their huge road win returned home to celebrate the Seniors final home game of their career. With a playoff position already locked up, and injuries mounting it would not have been surprising to see the Aggies take their final regular season game lightly. But a loss was not the way the Seniors wanted to close out their final game at the Aggie Gym. The Aggies were on fire from the three point line from the outset of the game, looking to put their opponents from East Central University away early.

CU opened the game on a 30-7 run and never looked back. The players, energized by their success set out to leave a lasting marks on Cameron’s record books.

The Aggies seamed unable to miss as they poured in shot after shot. Senior Guard Dave Smith, taking full advantage of the special game, hoisted one shot after another. One jumper was made from midway between the three point line and half court. In the waning minutes of the game, Smith hit yet another three-pointer over a much larger defender to break the Aggies’ single-game-record for three point shots in a game with 10.

With the same shot, Smith put the team over the mark for three pointers in a game with 19.

The Aggies would finish the

game with a flurry including two dunks by Junior Jamaar Burke and an uncharacteristic long range shot by 6’7” Forward Terrance Welch; the team was shooting the lights out. The buzzer saved the ECU Tigers from an even worse beating, the final score was 93-65.

With the completion of the final game of the regular season, the Aggie coaching staff has become singularily focused on their future in Bartlesville.

Coach Alexander was excited for his team, especially for returning players from last season’s team, and the prospect of playing in Cameron University’s first post-season in men’s basketball.

“I am very excited. I am more happy for last years players who returned this year, to give them a chance to see the post-season,” Alexander said. “Its just a matter of the players buying in to what you are doing. As it turns out, this is a great thing for Cameron and something we hope to continue.”

The top three seeds in the tournament have been locked up for quite some time. The top four teams in each division (North and South) advance. As of right now, advancing out of the North will be the University of Central Oklahoma (9-1 in conference; 22-3 overall); who has maintained first place throughout the season and is the clear favorite heading into the playoffs, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma (7-3; 16-9) and Texas A&M (7-3; 16-9) who both share identical records. The fourth and final spot went to the Aggies

Graphic and photos by Bennett Dewan

who fought through injuries and a tough schedule to make the tournament.

In the south, Angelo State (8-2; 20-5) is sitting on top of the standings, followed by Midwestern State University (8-2; 19-6) and Texas A&M Kingsville (7-3; 17-8). The final spot went down to the wire between West Texas A&M (6-5; 16-10) and Tarleton State (5-5; 17-8). West Texas had to win their final game of the season to clinch a spot but were unable

to do so. Tarleton State, on the other hand, needed to win twice and have West Texas A&M lose their final game. All the scenarios worked out and Tarleton State is playoff bound for the south region.

The Lone Star Conference play-offs will feature the Cameron Aggies for the first time in 2009. With skilled players and committed coaches the Aggies may have fielded a strong enough team to upset a divisional powerhouse.

A-Rod makes transformation into A-Roids

By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff

Graphics courtesy MCT Campus

Baseball fans around the country have experienced shock and disappointment since Feb. 7, the day that Alex Rodriguez, the “good boy” of baseball, admitted to steroid use in 2003.

Rodriguez, the New York Yankee golden boy, has appeared on a list of 104 players who have failed tests for two kinds of anabolic steroids. In 2003, baseball did not have penalties for steroid use and drug test results remained sealed and anonymous. In 2004, federal agents apprehended the records from a lab in California.

During this era of American baseball, no one should be surprised to hear that their star player used performanceenhancing drugs to bump up their stats. Since the list appeared in 2004, it has been difficult to keep track of who has or hasn’t been tested positive for steroid use. The time that has passed since that list appeared is actually referred to as the “Steroid Era”. But the American public just “knew” that good ole A-Rod was an honest, sincere and talented player.

In a 2007 interview with Katie Couric, A-Rod denied “ever taking

steroids, human growth hormone, or any other performance enhancing substance.” He also stated that he never felt that he had a problem competing at any level.

Yankee fans, however, are outraged. Fans have called him a hypocrite and a liar, but I think that most of all baseball fans are let down that the one player who they thought was actually good “naturally” ended up on the list with all of the other admitted users. In an ESPN phone interview with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Cashman said that, “What he did was wrong. It’s our job to make the best of the situation.

If you think of it like Humpty Dumpty—Humpty Dumpty fell off a wall, and it’s our job to put it back together again.”

The Yankees’ manager has far more to worry about than mending a broken shell. The MLB is facing some major challenges. First of all, they have to “fix” the substance abuse problem in sports, and then attempt to repair the reputation of American baseball.

I do not think that the use of the performance enhancing drugs was right, but I believe that the American public should realize why there were so many Major

Leaguers using steroids. They were being paid more money, being offered longer contracts and, according to the players, they were always under pressure from their managers to perform better regardless of how good their stats got.

There has been controversy concerning whether or not Alex Rodriquez should remain a viable candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rodriguez permanently damaged his career and has hurt many fans that still had hope that maybe at least one future Hall of Famer wasn’t a cheater. I don’t think that he or any other of the players who are on that list should be rewarded for what they did.

If MLB really wants the use of performance enhancing drugs to stop, they can’t expect players who are not using drugs to do as well as those who did. The Baseball Writers Association, which is in charge of deciding who is worthy of baseball’s highest honor, issued a statement which said that “steroid cheats aren’t going to the Hall of Fame unless they’re visiting.”

Baseball is a poorer sport because of these incidents, however I can only hope that America’s uproar can restore one of our country’s most valuable pastimes.

Sports

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March 9, 2009

Photo by Bennett Dewan

CU Golf back in the swing of things

By Saman Samii Collegian Staff The Aggie men and women golf teams are starting their seasons this week. With great achievements last season, the teams are looking ahead and feel confident about this upcoming year.

The Aggie Women’s Golf team will start their season on March 1 at the St. Edwards Invite in Austin, Texas.

Last year, the women performed well and finished within the top five in the Lone Star Conference Championships.

Women’s Head Coach Rick Goodwin said he wants to remain one of the top teams in the

Conference.

“Our goal this season is to finish in the top three of the Lone Star Conference,” Goodwin said. “I feel we have the potential for it, we just need to continue working hard and executing.”

In addition to a great previous season for the ladies, a couple of noticeable awards were given to some of the talented golfers. Senior Renee Breeze and Junior Marrik Wooten were both given the LSC All-Academic award as well as the LSC All-Conference award.

This year’s Men’s Golf team is looking great as well. The men did exceptionally well last season with the claiming of the Lone Star Conference Championship

title. Aggie golf star, Peter Svajlen, made it to the national tournament and finished in 64th place. In addition, he was also named as an All-American for his outstanding performances on the golf course.

Men’s Head Coach Jerry Hrnciar said he was pleased with the way their previous season ended up.

“We finished strong last season and I anticipate playing just as well this year,” Hrnciar said. “Peter had a good season and is a Senior this year. I am looking forward to see how well he can finish his college career.”

The men will start their season at the Red River International on March 8 in Thackerville, Okla.

Coach Hrnciar said he wants to be

able to finish the season well and to remain as one of the top teams in the national rankings.

“Our goal this season is to be within the ten best teams in the nation,” Hrnciar said. “I think we have the potential for it and the key is to finish the season strong.”

Finally, both golf teams received individual awards from the athletic department, finishing this past academic year with the highest GPA’s out of all Cameron athletic teams. Coach Hrnciar said he is proud to be working with such great student athletes.

“If you are great in the classroom, you will perform well on the golf course as well,” Hrnciar said. “We take academic success

into serious consideration when we do our recruiting, and that is probably why we have such great student athletes in the golf program.”

Most of the competitions for the Aggie golfers will be on the road as both teams have fairly tough traveling schedules. The biggest highlights of the season come in the end when the teams compete in the Lone Star Conference Championship. Coach Hrnciar said he remains hopeful for another high-quality season.

“I am looking forward to start our season,” Hrnciar said. “We have a good group of golfers and I believe great things can come our way.”

Unsigned big names left in NFL free agency

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

By Jeramy Eidson Collegian Staff It’s Free Agency time in the NFL and time for many big-name players to test their prestige and see what offers they receive from the teams around the league.

Many of the top players in free agency have already been signed to long term deals such as Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth,

who signed on opening day of free agency, signed with the Washington Redskins to a seven year contract worth $100 million, $41 million guaranteed.

Standout Wide Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Cincinnati Bengals signed a fiveyear contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Long time Jaguar Fred Taylor signed a deal with the New

England Patriots.

Many other popular faces have found new homes since the free agency period began. Beloved Eagle Brian Dawkins left his Philly home to join the already stellar secondary of the Denver Broncos. Fellow Eagle Correll Buckhalter also signed a deal with the Broncos.

Keith Brooking, after just being released by the Falcons, signed a three year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

With the multiple free agency signings around the league, many teams are also trading players for picks for April’s NFL Draft and also to clear cap space. Other players that can’t be traded have been cut.

Like Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints. McAllister is the Saints’ all time leading rusher.

Fans all around New Orleans, and myself being a huge Saints fan, hate to see him go. But the Saints are willing to sign him back if he doesn’t like any offers that he receives around the league.

Defensive End Jason Taylor was cut by the Redskins after refusing

to sign a clause in his contract which would force him to attend 25 days of offseason work outs.

According to Taylor’s agent, he just wants to spend this offseason with his kids. A Miami reunion could be in store for Taylor.

The New England Patriots traded Tom Brady stand-in Matt Cassel and veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second round pick. Cassel finished his first season as a starter and shows the ability to be a starter in the NFL. He completed the season with 3,693 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Those are phenomenal numbers for someone who hasn’t started a game since high school.

Tampa Bay traded undisclosed draft picks for the dramatic Tight End Kellen Winslow of the Cleveland Browns. Winslow, who shows signs of greatness, has had off-field troubles with motorcycle crashes and contract issues that have done nothing but hold the Browns back.

The Eagles, among losing Dawkins and Buckhalter, traded

Lito Sheppard to the New York Jets for 2010 and 2011 draft picks.

Many of the free agents of this offseason found themselves signing with their former teams.

Wide receiver Michael Clayton resigned with the Buccaneers, Jon Stinchcomb resigned with the Saints and Jonathan Vilma also signed a five year contract with the Saints after leading the team in tackles with 132. The Raiders locked up their leading interceptor of last season, Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Many of the big names, however, are still out there. Feared Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is still looking around the league for a big contract. It has been speculated he could end up in Dallas. Kurt Warner, savior of the Cardinals and two-time NFL MVP is meeting with the 49ers about a contract.

Where these players fall will determine the entire NFL Draft in April. Whether they sign with their former teams or find new ones, it will lead for an exciting 2009-2010 season.

NBA: injuries slow some, propel others

By Cecilio Ramirez Collegian Staff Injuries abound this NBA season after the All Star Break and trade deadline. Some teams used trades to bring some role players in to cover for their missing superstars.

Kevin Garnett, Jameer Nelson, Tracy McGrady and Andrew Bynum are among the list of injured key players. After winning a championship last season, the Boston Celtics lost some of their roster with the retirement of P.J. Brown and the departure of James Posey to the Hornets. The Celtics have made a big move by acquiring Stephon Marbury. The New York Knicks have agreed to a buyout of Marbury’s contract, making him eligible to join the play-off contender. Few teams were jumping at the opportunity due to Marbury’s selfish antics in New York, but Boston brass were confident that they could control the outbursts. With the move the hope was to have obtained a high scorer off the bench and a solid backup to Point Guard Rajon

Rondo. The Celtics acquisition of Marbury may allow the once toptier guard the opportunity to help a franchise win a championship as well as give the Coney Island native a chance to repair his tarnished reputation. Starting point guard for the Orlando Magic, Jameer Nelson, is out for the remainder of the season. The Magic brought in street ball legend Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston from the Rockets to help run the high scoring offense in Orlando. Even without Alston the Houston Rockets have been on fire lately without McGrady on the roster thanks to the play of Yao Ming, Ron Artest and Aaron Brooks.

By far, the most successful trade of the season goes to the Denver Nuggets. The swap of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups from the Detroit Pistons added great perimeter defense and lots of play-off experience to a team that lacked leadership. The Nuggets are currently third in the Western Conference and the Pistons have fallen below .500 in the East.

However, the top three scorers in the league have been proving

exactly what it takes to make a play-off run. Those three scorers are Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Wade has found a way to score 28 points a game to lead his Miami Heat to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Bryant and the Lakers continue to dominate the Western Conference without the defensive presence of Center Andrew Bynum. The Los Angeles Lakers are sure to make it a repeat year to the NBA play-offs. The Eastern conference is still a toss-up between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. James is hungry for an NBA Championship as he continues to rack up tripledoubles and have 50 point games.

The Celtics will be the team to beat in the Eastern Co nference especially if Garnett returns to the lineup.

So what is the story with the fourth leading scorer in the NBA? Is Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant reaching NBA Elite credentials?

He has been well on his way after his 44 point performance in the Rookie/Sophomore Game. The only thing missing is a winning record.

Photos courtesy of MCT Campus

Gone in a flash: Shooting Guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat drives past Lebron James. This season Wade has enjoyed a career Rennaissance after injuries cut last years campaign short.

Given that the Thunder are in their first year of existence, there is much room for improvement. The Thunder almost brought in Tyson Chandler from New Orleans, but the Hornets center failed the physical examination. Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green are still three young players that are building a foundation for a bright future in the Thunder organization.

The Thunder have several picks in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Considering the draft is a lottery, there is no telling how high their picks will be. OU Sophomore Blake Griffin is undecided if he will remain a Sooner next season. If Griffin decides to enter the draft, he would be the dominant post player the Thunder have been missing. If this pans out, Griffin

March 9, 2009

Variety

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A&E

March 9, 2009

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ shines at Oscar night

By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff And the Oscar goes to… Hugh Jackman.

The biggest awards night of the year in film-making brought to the attention of the public that awards telecasts can entertain an audience and celebrate the best in the movie industry at the same time.

The 2009 Oscars took place on Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Choosing a non-American actor to host the telecast proved to be a good idea and was reflected in the ratings.

The opening act by Jackman was a humorous reenactment of the nominees for Best Picture and actress Anne Hathaway surprisingly pitched in for a vocal surprise in Jackman’s number, and it proved to be truly entertaining.

The biggest surprise of the night, however, was not Hathaway’s singing act, but a movie that started the Oscar race an underdog and finished a millionaire. “Slumdog Millionaire” stole the night’s spotlight and ended up winning eight Oscars.

The categories for Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscars were Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Film Editing, Original Song by A.R. Rahman, Sound Mixing, and Adapted Screenplay. All of these categories won Oscars, and the inspiring plot of the movie itself gave the movie enough buzz to become a blockbuster.

But the surprises weren’t over. Heath Ledger received a post-mortem Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Penelope Cruz received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

The telecast intertwined the awards presentation with musical performances that resembled Broadway numbers. Beyonce took over the stage with Jackman to sing the biggest performance of the night.

Even the actors presenting the awards got their chance to spice things up. Ben Stiller presented the award for Best Cinematography dressed as Joaquin Phoenix, and mocked Phoenix’s recent attitude over his role in Hollywood.

The Oscar for Best Actor and Actress went respectively to Sean Penn in his role of Harvey Milk in Milk and Kate Winslet in the movie “The Reader.”

Milk also received the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” received three awards in the categories of Art Direction, Makeup and Visual Effects. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was the movie that carried the most expectations for Oscar success.

Other winners included “Wall-E” for Best Animated Feature, and “The Duchess” as the Best Costume Design.

Also, this year’s show awarded a great number of international actors and filmmakers. Some of these professionals were Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, British actress Kate Winslet and British directors Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire.”

The Oscar telecast came this year to show that award programs, when planned with true and genuine humor, can prove to be entertaining and worth watching. The choice of an international actor to host the night was indeed risky, but Jackman did such a great job that no one would reject the idea of an encore of his hosting skill for next year’s awards.

MCT Campus

A&E

March 9, 2009

11

Art Guild’s festival selects best short film

By Jorie Palmer Collegian Staff The Cameron University Art Guild hosted a fi lm festival on Mar. 5 as part of the club’s outreach program, designed to unite students from different creative backgrounds and promote the arts.

Art Guild Sponsor and Assistant Professor Monika Linehan said the organization has been on campus for several years, although its prevalence at the university differs from year to year.

“This semester, we are lucky to have a very involved core group of members, and we have offered several activities throughout the year,” Linehan said.

Recently, Art Guild members have gone on educational trips, including the field trip to the King Tutankhamen exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. Linehan said the organization also participates in community service projects.

“We were invited to paint artistic scenery on elementary

school benches,” Linehan said.

“This type of activity is beneficial for the community, and it also gives the students a chance to showcase their talents.”

Linehan said this year the Art Guild is working to get students from different departments involved in the events. Some ideas to increase participation were the fi lm festival and the “Post Secret” project.

“We [were] holding the opening night of Post Secret on the same day as the fi lm screenings,” Linehan said. “We [hoped] scheduling the two events together [would] bring extra interest from several student groups.”

This is the first time the Art Guild hosted a fi lm festival.

There was no entrance fee.

Linehan said the deadline for fi lm submissions was Feb. 25. Movies were screened ahead of time, and the best fi lms were played at the festival. Linehan said the judges’ choice was announced on Mar. 5 at the screening.

“The winner [was] chosen

CU clubs serve students

By Megan Mefford Collegian Staff With so many campus organizations to choose from, it may be difficult for students to finally find something they like.

Zeak Naifeh, CU’s Student Activities Director, said that even if students don’t find what they’re looking for, they’re more than welcome to start their own organization.

“At Cameron, we have over 75 student organizations, and we’re adding new ones every semester,” Naifeh said. “So there are a lot of various things. Anything that anyone could be interested in, we have at Cameron and if we don’t have it, we always welcome new organizations for people to start.”

Being involved on campus can be a very rewarding experience for students and heightens the excitement of being a college student.

“It is important to be involved on campus because it gives you the college experience,” Naifeh said. “This is your opportunity to have fun and really enjoy college.”

Programming Activities Council Co-chair Amanda Finch agreed with Naifeh and said that the true benefit of extracurricular is that they enrich college life.

“It is important for students to get involved in extracurricular activities on campus because it enhances the college experience,” Finch said.

There are organizations on campus that can give students a voice about the future of their university, such as Student Government Association, Julianne Moini, SGA Secretary, said.

“By getting involved, you can make changes on your campus,” Moini said. “SGA is a great way to help make the changes you want to see happen. And on top of all of that, it is fun.”

“What makes Cameron so great about being involved is that you can, as PAC says, ‘control the action’. Cameron is small enough that you can really get involved and make a difference and bring what you want to bring to campus to see and have fun,” Naifeh said. “I know SGA and PAC both welcome suggestions from every student and invite students to their meetings so that if you’re not seeing something you’re interested in, you’re more than welcome to make suggestions to change things.”

No matter which organization a student may choose, Naifeh said that the biggest perk may be the introduction to life-long friends that often seems to come hand-in-hand with activity in campus events.

for originality above all else,” Linehan said. “I [did] not want students to be discouraged from joining if they lack production capabilities.”

The producer of the fi lm named “Judges’ First Place” received a $100 cash prize. There was also an award of $50 given to the audience’s favorite.

Linehan said everyone who participated was a winner.

“The best prize is the chance to show off hard work,” Linehan said. “The people who [participated were] able to screen their fi lms to a real audience, and entering a fi lm festival can be a good resume booster as well.”

Linehan said the Art Guild anticipated a large turnout of both fi lm entries and audience members.

The short “The Pink Diamond” received the ultimate prize of the night.

In addition to building campus moral through events and community service, Linehan said the Art Guild is important because it promotes an interest in various types of art and creative

outlets.

“Art is very multi-faceted,” Linehan said. “A given piece of art might display beauty, philosophical ideas, or make a political statement.”

She believes students should learn about the different branches of creativity because

no well rounded society exists without some type of art.

“Every culture needs music, dance, painting, and other outlets to thrive because humans have an innate need to create,” Linehan said. “Imagine a world without art and how boring it would be.”

MCT Campus

Annual Jazz Festival to feature Dave Zoller

By Justin Cliburn Collegian Staff

a big band made up by musicians from throughout the community.

The Cameron/Lawton Community Jazz Ensemble boasts a diverse mix of members, including an electronics and musical instrument repairman, a local store owner, a high school band director and a Lawton dentist.

“The Jazz Festival started in 1976 and was held at the McMahon Auditorium until 1985, when it was moved onto campus for good,” Dr. Moots said.

“They have been held in the University Theatre ever since and usually do not exceed 90 minutes.”

Jazz has a long and storied history in the United States and in Oklahoma and, in Dr. Moots’ estimation, Dave Zoller is the perfect artist to bring that spirit to Cameron University.

“Jazz is the quintessential American music. It was created here and was the most popular form throughout the 1920s and 1930s,” Dr. Moots said.

“Oklahoma City has served as a crossroads, thanks to the Interstates, for many jazz musicians.

“Dave Zoller, like many great jazz musicians before him, has lived and performed in cities such as Dallas and Kansas City,” Dr. Moots said. “Those cities bring these great artists through Oklahoma on the Interstate system and that is how some of the greatest jazz musicians came to and stayed in Oklahoma.”

The CU Jazz Festival is free to the public.

The Cameron University Department of Music is gearing up to host the 33rd annual Jazz Festival Concert this week. The festival has been bringing world-class jazz musicians to Cameron and bringing together musicians from throughout the community since 1976.

The Jazz Festival will take place at 8 p.m. on March 12 in the Cameron University Theatre. This year’s guest is piano composer and arranger Dave Zoller. Mr. Zoller is co-sponsored by a grant from the Cameron University Lectures and Concerts Series as well as Cameron University Foundation Inc. “Friends of Jazz”.

Dr. John Moots, Assistant Professor of Music and CU Musical Director, has been at CU since 1974, long enough to have seen every previous jazz festival, and is very excited about this year’s edition.

“We have a terrific lineup this year. Dave Zoller is not only a great performer,” Dr. Moots said. “But he writes a lot of music himself. We are very lucky to have him on campus for several days.”

Mr. Zoller will arrive on campus March 10 and spend until March 12 rehearsing, coaching, and lecturing to CU music students. While Dr. Moots is excited for Mr. Zoller’s performance, he is equally excited about the academic opportunity Mr. Zoller’s extended visit presents.

“He will not simply show up, play and go home,” Dr. Moots said. “In this day and age, it is imperative that we get more bang for the buck by having our guests educate students on top of performing for the community.”

Joining Mr. Zoller will be the Cameron University Jazz Ensemble, a 20-piece big band Photo Courtesy of Community Relations composed of CU music students, And all that Jazz: CU Jazz Ensemble prepares the ground and the Cameron/Lawton for the 33rd Annual Jazz Festival that will feature Dave Zoller.

Community Jazz Ensemble,

12

A&E

March 9, 2009

MCT Campus

Not your ordinary super heroes: The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Silk Spectre II (Malin Ackerman), Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) and Rorschach (Jackie Earl Haley) make up the second generation of the Minutemen in “Watchmen.”

For 20 years, “Watchmen” has been seen as the unfilmable graphic novel. With so many twists and turns, flashbacks and side-stories, how could a director ever fit it into a two-hour film without completely ruining it? Well, “Watchmen” fans, Zach Snyder failed.

He filmed the unfilmable graphic novel, but he didn’t cram it into a two-hour film. Instead, the “visionary” director behind “300” crammed the majority of “Watchmen” into a 165-minute film. And what a fine job he did.

“Watchmen” takes place in 1985 when Richard Nixon is still the president of the United States, the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight and a blue man with superhuman powers walks around completely nude. Obviously, Nixon still being president is the most absurd of these differences.

At the start of the film, Edward Blake, a.k.a. The Comedian, is violently murdered in his apartment.

When I say violently, the 225-pound man is picked up like a sack of potatoes and flung all over his apartment like a pillow. After an intense fight, he’s thrown out of his window and falls dozens of stories to his death.

This murder sparks an investigation by the sociopathic vigilante Rorschach which involves many fingers being broken, numerous people getting blown into bloody messes and the aforementioned naked blue man.

On the surface, “Watchmen” not only sounds absurd, but it sounds like something that would only belong on the pages of a graphic novel. Had anyone else tried to adapt the graphic novel, I would have agreed.

Alan Moore crafted a masterpiece of literature that no one will ever be able to touch. Names like Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and X-Men mean nothing in the face of “Watchmen.”

Sitting alone in the Carmike Theater, I felt nervous when the Warner Bros. logo flashed on screen in yellow and black. Everything had been against this film from Moore’s refusal to support it to multiple production misfires and 20th Century Fox trying to block its release. And here I was, sitting in the theater more than 12 hours before the official release, getting ready to see it for the first time.

When the final credits rolled and 70s rock filled the theater, I really didn’t know what to expect. Perhaps it was the bloody violence, perhaps it was seeing Silk Spectre II naked, and perhaps it was the blue guy walking around nude. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to think about it. But I eventually found myself trying not to clap out of embarrassment. I’ve never clapped at a film, but I had to restrain myself from doing so.

This is not only the best movie I have seen in months, if not years, but it is handedly the best graphic novel or comic book adaptation I have ever seen. Not only has the unfilmable graphic novel been filmed, but it has been done in such a way that it puts every other effort to shame.

Snyder’s movie captures the despair, the depression and the utter lack of humanity that is present in the graphic novel. This story beats you with ultra-violence, it maims you with its dark themes and it kicks you when you’re down with its complete lack of humanity.

Not one single person in the novel or in the movie are good. Everyone has their flaws and they’re so exaggerated that it makes you pity them.

The “hero” of the story, Rorschach is a violent sociopath who’s a complete right-wing nut job, and you can’t help but cheer for him when he kills child murderers and says “people get arrested, dogs get put

down.”

Nite Owl is the only decent human being in the whole story and even then, he’s no saint. The man lusts after another man’s girlfriend and then can’t seem to consummate the relationship without wearing an owl suit. He stands in front of the suit naked and talks to himself. Let’s not even get started on Silk Spectre, Sally Jupiter, and her daughter Laurie. Sally gets raped by The Comedian, but still loves him and Laurie carries around so much emotional baggage that she loves a blue superhuman who travels with no clothes on. This is like watching an episode of “Seinfeld” with superheroes.

The graphic novel and the movie revel in their grotesque nature. Snyder’s interpretation not only welcomes the brutality, it embraces it. Arms are cut off, people are blown up, faces are melted and every single scene is necessary. Snyder never threw in any sex, violence or gore that wasn’t necessary.

The film’s casting is definitely spot-on. Jackie Earle Haley not only looks like Walter Kovacs from the graphic novel, but he sounds exactly like the voice I made in my head when reading the graphic novel for the first time. Christian Bale should take note, Haley’s voice is how superhero voices should be done. His performance is haunting and disturbing.

You can’t tell where the actor stops and where the character begins. Haley is Rorschach.

There are two weak links in the production and for a 165-minute movie, that’s not bad. The origin story of Dr. Manhattan, the blue superhuman, draws on and on until it gets to the point where I was about to fall asleep. For all intents and purposes, Manhattan is a god. He can split molecules, he can make multiple versions of himself, he can see the future and he can blow people into bloody messes. Snyder meant for his voice to sound distant and inhuman and it works.

Manhattan sounds so out of touch with everything in the film, but when he talks, it’s so monotone and boring that nothing happening on screen seems exciting.

The other weak link is the acting of Malin Ackerman, who plays Laurie Jupiter. At times, she seems like she’s reading her script off-screen. Her acting is hollow and without feeling, which is made worse by the fact she’s one of the cruxes of the entire story. The rest of the cast carries her, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan who plays The Comedian.

The film is loyal to its source material almost to a fault. Some aspects, including the “Black Freighter,” were removed to trim the film down to a suitable length and there is a distinct lack of calamari. The constant flashbacks are fairly easy to keep up with, but can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the source material. One minute, the Comedian is dead, the next minute he’s alive and about to shoot a Vietnamese girl.

Even though there are slight changes, everything was done for the greater good of the film. It still keeps its dark message. This isn’t your ordinary comic book film. It’s a majestic exercise in brutality that not only manages to entertain, but makes you think. The good guys aren’t always good and the bad guys aren’t always bad. Even in such a colorful film, there are multiple shades of gray. Even with today’s problems, the world of “Watchmen” is without so much hope, that if you don’t get anything else out of the film, you can feel better about the world you live in today.

Review by Joshua Rouse