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

Monday, November 14, 2005

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

News

Volume 79 Issue 11

Once upon a time: Playing in an Anachronistic Society By Angela Sanders Features Editor

Cameron hosts 19th annual Beef Cattle Conference.

Nearly every weekend for the past seven years, Lord Gerhardt Pfister has been brought to life by studio art sophomore Thomas Pruitt. Pruitt plays the part of this German noble from the late 1300s-early 1400s for the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Pruitt is a member of the Barony of the Eldern Hills, Lawton’s own chapter of the SCA, which is a part of the Northern Texas and Oklahoma kingdom of Ansteorra. Anachronism is the representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than chronological, proper or historical order, and that is exactly what the SCA does. According to www.scademo.org, members have the opportunity to participate in activities from every aspect of the Middle Ages, ranging from beadwork to calligraphy to live weapons competitions. They choose the persona of an individual who lived between 600 to 1600 A.D. and then choose the activities in which they want to participate. Pruitt is involved with numerous activities within the Barony of the Eldern Hills. “I am a chivalric heavy weapons fighter, but I try to do a little bit of everything,” he said. “I do metal working and armory, book heraldry, woodworking and persona research.” Lady Thora Ottarsdottir, otherwise known as criminal justice senior Misty Sissom, is also a member of the Barony of the Eldern Hills. “I’ve been playing for about 9 years, so I do a lot,” she said. “[I participate in] calligraphy, illumination, embroidery and persona research. My husband and I call it (SCA) the hobby of 1,000 hobbies. “In all honesty, I have to say that is my favorite part. There is absolutely nothing that you can be interested in that doesn’t have its place somewhere. Everybody is good at something or has the potential to be good at something.”

PLEASE SEE PAGE 4

A&E

Editor ponders end of Star Wars trilogy. PLEASE SEE PAGE 6

Sports

Students introduce international sport of cricket to Cameron. PLEASE SEE PAGE 8

Voices

Courtesy Photo

Excellence earns CU educators Hackler Award By Amanda Rundle Staff Writer

Editorial expresses doubt about proposed amendments to the Patriot Act. PLEASE SEE PAGE 3

Next Issue Reporter looks into transition of student e-mail from SquirrelMail to Outlook.

Office: Nance Boyer 2060 Phone: 580•581•2261 E-mail us at : collegian@cameron.edu First Copy Free - $.25 for each additional copy Contents © The Collegian 2005

K. Patricia Cross, Professor Emeritus of Higher Education at the University of California-Berkeley said, “The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate ‘apparently ordinary’ people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners; it is in making winners out of ordinary people.” Two of Cameron University’s own excellent teachers were recognized at a reception to honor their outstanding contributions. In a ceremony held last Monday at 6 p.m. at Cameron’s Duncan campus, Drs. Suzanne Clinton and Karen Youngblood were awarded the 2005 Harold and Elizabeth Hackler Award for teaching excellence. In addition to their name being put on a plaque with other Hackler Award winners, these educators will receive grants to supplement their professional growth. The Hackler awards were created almost

Please see SOCIETY, page 2

10 years ago when Harold and Elizabeth Hackler, Cameron University alumni and retired Courtesy Photo employees of Award Winners: President Cindy Ross and this year’s Hackler Award Halliburton, recipients, Associate Professor Karen Youngblood and Professor Suzanne decided to use Clinton, are joined by Elizabeth and Harold Hackler, for whom the prestigious some of their award was named. retirement money to help evaluated by a selection committee of four support the university. They approached Don faculty members, all previous winners, and three Sullivan, former Vice President of University students. The award is made each November. Advancement, in 1996 to offer their assistance. It The Hackler’s initial gift to Cameron was was then that the Hackler Teaching Excellence matched dollar for dollar by the McCasland Awards were created. Dr. Lance Janda said that nominations are solicited annually in September. After Please see HACKLER, page 4 being reviewed by Janda, the nominations are

Native Oil: A Cultural Comparison By David Bublitz Staff Writer

It’s a strange phenomenon that under extreme amounts of pressure or during intense events, one can come to grips with the world around them and perhaps develop a new perspective on life, different from what was originally realized. Nic Ajimine, Cameron University alumni and former Wichita magazine graphic designer and Collegian cartoonist, has shown himself to be a beacon of such a philosophy.

Please see AJIMINE, page 7

Courtesy Photo

News

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November 14, 2005

Take a trip into cyber space @ CU By Jolene Price

News Writing Student A big, wide, wonderful world exists in what is commonly called “cyber space” and Cameron University is a part of that world. However, not every student who enters the hallowed halls of Cameron University is comfortable using the tools and equipment to navigate the cyber world. According to Margot Gregory, academic computer lab supervisor for information technology services (ITS), “Some students are terrified of computers and have no user experience.” Gregory, who has worked in ITS for the past 10 years, said that the percentage of students who do not use computers, nor avail themselves of the educational advantages, are far greater than the average person thinks. “I find that students’ computer usage can depend on their academic majors and personalities as to how computer savvy they are,” Gregory said. Gregory said, “A lot of students don’t know that they have a personal e-mail address.” Cameron ITS Student Resources include Student Web mail, Blackboard and CAMSIS. Students can access Student Web mail at http://studentmail. cameron.edu/. After logging in, students can send and receive e-mail and read campus announcements. Blackboard is accessible to all students. “More and more faculty members are using Blackboard to supplement their class lectures and as a tool in teaching online courses,” Gregory said. Many instructors post class schedules, course syllabi, and encourage class interaction by using the discussion board on Blackboard. Instructions to login to Blackboard can be found by reading the “Blackboard FAQs” at www.cameron.edu/online/ Blackboard_FAQs.html. Another helpful information source for Cameron students is CAMSIS located at https://

camsis.cameron.edu/. Students can access personal records, academic records, class openings and course catalogs. Whether students are computer literate or not, the Academic IT Center is ready and available with information to make Cameron students’ lives easier. Students can call, visit or access the CU Online Help Desk at http://www.cameron.edu/ online/helpdesk.html. Help line telephone numbers and center hours are posted online. “We want students to contact us,” Gregory said, “so we can help with login problems, password and setting changes, students’ accounts and web browser questions.” The IT Center also has a fully operating computer lab in Burch Hall, Room 104, with on-call personnel to assist anyone needing help. According to Margot Gregory, academic computer lab supervisor for information technology services (ITS), “There is something for everyone.” “We have a number of computer labs on campus,” Gregory said. “Each lab also has specialized programs such as multimedia programs in the multimedia labs, music software in the music labs and science applications in the science computer lab.” The AITC computer lab has 67 PCs and 14 Macs, all of which are loaded with standard office suite programs and Internet browsers. However, the AITC offers so much more. Students may take an interactive-online math course using the Academic Systems Corporation program and check out Mathmatica. Those enrolled in nutrition classes can use the Diet Analysis Plus program. Computer science and CIS students can click into Telnet. Mac software includes: Adobe PhotoShop CS and Illustrator CS, Adobe Go Live CS, In Design CS and Image Ready CS, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash MX 2004. Gregory said the computer lab also offers a number of nursing

software programs. Some of the topics covered are: respiratory, auscultation of breath sounds, transmission-based precaution, bloodborne pathogens and infection control. All nursing software programs are Photo by Sarah Warren accessible to WOSC and Early Morning: Students work on computers at the AITC computer lab located in Burch OU nursing Hall. Students can utilize the computer area or the adjacent study area to stay on top of homework and class work. students as well as know about the IT center until find that each lab is identified to any other interested Cameron I was taking an on-line algebra by building and room numbers, University member. class. I could stay and work on hours of operation, telephone “We are certainly interested my course because of the lab’s numbers, total PCs and Macs and to know of the nursing software extended hours. I worked a fulltypes of software loaded on the programs available at the time job and went to school in the computers. Academic IT Center,” said evenings, so for me, the IT center “We want to get the word out Heather Love, OU College was a good thing.” to Cameron students,” Gregory of Nursing administrative There are 13 computer labs said. “They need to know we’re coordinator. “The nursing available to students. Visitors to here and willing to answer their software programs can possibly www.cameron.edu/its_labs will questions and give assistance.” serve as supplemental resource tools for our nursing students.” The atmosphere at AITC is friendly and open. “The center is designed so students feel welcome,” Gregory said. “We have a study area where students can have a cup of coffee or tea.” The center is well lit and offers privacy for students using computers. The workstations and chairs are ergonomically situated and plants add a sense of comfort. Gregory said students are allowed to bring their own headphones or use the center’s headphones for music or audio course instruction. “We even have noise-canceling headphones, which can be checked out at the help desk,” she said. The AITC is open Sunday through Saturday and has the longest operating hours of any computer lab on campus. Communications student Elliott Newton said: “I didn’t

SOCIETY continued from page 1 SCA events involve large medieval campouts at which members dress in period garb and try to recreate the lives of their personas. These campouts also include a heavy weapons tournament as well as rapier fighting and other activities typical of the Middle Ages. “Everybody goes, and you try to emulate the Middle Ages as best as you can through your garb and what you do,” Sissom said. “The goal is to try and do it as historically accurately as possible whenever possible.” The real purpose of the SCA and its events, however, is educational. Members not only study their persona’s time period and learn from each other, they also perform demonstrations for others who are interested. “We do a lot of elementary school demos, and for the longest

time we were at the International Festival every year,” Sissom said. “We did the summer reading program this year.” Pruitt mentioned that there are a few things that set the SCA apart from other reenactment groups. “We have people from all walks of life that study this broad period. They will concentrate on one tiny area of history. We will study anything from the Vikings all the way up to the Renaissance,” he said. Sissom said that anyone is welcome to participate in the society. “There are absolutely no stipulations on who can and can’t do what,” she said. “600 to 1600 is the time period we focus on, and the only thing that I know of that we really stress is that you have to make an attempt to emulate that time frame in your garb.”

Sissom encourages those interested to attend a meeting or an event, or to talk to somebody already in the society to find out how to get involved. The Barony of the Eldern Hills meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at VFW Post 5263. They also have fighting practices on Sundays at 5 p.m. at Harmon Park, as well as guild meetings twice a month for those with specific interests. As for requirements, Sissom and Pruitt said that there aren’t any. “A good phrase that I’ve always told new people is that you get out of the SCA what you put in,” Pruitt said. “And the more you put in, the more other people will enjoy playing with and around you,” Sissom said.

Courtesy Photo

November 14, 2005

Our Voice

Voices

3

Patriot Act developing decidedly un-American tilt In the name of fighting terror, some lawmakers have gone overboard with amendments to the U.S.A. Patriot Act. For example, Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, would let federal prosecutors shop for another jury if the first panel deadlocked on a death sentence. The very notion is absurd – jury shopping for death – and the amendment should be stripped from the Patriot Act reauthorization bill. Carter’s measure would allow prosecutors to empanel a second jury and argue for death if at least one person on the original jury voted for the death penalty. Thus, an 11-1 vote recommending life in prison instead of death could be rejected in order to empanel another jury to give the prosecutor one more chance to win a death sentence. This measure would do little to actually help fight terrorism. Yet it would undermine a feature that strengthens U.S. jurisprudence and makes our system an international model. Under U.S. law, prosecutors must prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt; and federal

juries must reach unanimous consensus on imposing the death penalty. If some jurors object to imposing death, it means the case for death wasn’t demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt. After all, only jurors who support the death penalty are allowed to judge death cases. Other amendments also should be deleted from this bill. One would triple the number of terrorism-related crimes eligible for the death penalty. Another would authorize the death penalty for a person who gives money to an organization whose members kill someone, even if the contributor did not know that the organization or its members were planning to kill. Such measures increase the chances of executing the innocent. They weaken the U.S. fight against terror and give other countries reasons to stop supporting the anti-terror campaign. These amendments have no place in the Patriot Act and and should be removed. — The Miami Herald

Editor silenced, but not for long I caught a cold last week. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one; it is that time of year, after all. The worst part, I think, was losing my voice. I had things to say to people, and my words mostly came out as a whisper. In class, I had views I wanted to share, but was cut short when my voice refused to cooperate. I tried once or twice, but then held back after my first attempts weren’t particularly successful. Not everything I have to say is really all that note-worthy; some of it might even be wrong, but I missed being able to speak up. Conducting Collegian business was tricky as well. There I needed to communicate. When the phone rings, it must be answered. There were calls to return and staff members to be contacted about stories and photos. Lip-reading and gesticulating don’t work particularly well over the phone. Others stepped up and sports editor Aaron Gilbee even made a couple of calls for me, helpful soul that he is. However, he didn’t say exactly what I wanted to say, the way I wanted to say it. It’s frustrating to not be able to have your own voice heard. Eventually, on the advice of those around me whom I was torturing with my winded squeaks, I ceased talking. “Rest your voice,” they told me. “Go home and drink some tea.” So, I did. I woke early this morning – coughing – and began to wonder about others whose voices aren’t heard, and not for lack of trying. Do we stop listening because they’re not loud enough for us to make the effort? Do we shut them out because we don’t like what they have to say, because it goes against the grain of popular belief, or our own comfort zones? And what do folks do when they’re not heard? They try again and again; they gesticulate madly. Or they may try to speak through others; but is it their own message coming through? Some, I fear, give up. They go home and drink tea, and we never get to hear their profound – or not so profound – thoughts. The world should be an open forum, with a few rules and guidelines. That’s what we have here on the Voices page, an open forum with a few rules and guidelines. Would you like to share? We’re listening.

Lisa Snider

CORRECTION On last week’s The Back Page, the photo spread of art featured in the “Day of the Dead Art Exhibit” was incorrectly subtitled. It should have read, “El Dia de los Muertos.” The Collegian regrets the error.

Lisa is a creative writing senior and the managing editor for The Collegian. She hopes to have her voice back in full force in the near future and plans to exercise her First Amendment right to use it.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Collegian Editor, Recently I was told about a letter that was printed in the Cameron Collegian which stated that a very close friend of mine is a racist. Officer Porter, a police officer for Cameron, was having a conversation apparently and someone overheard some comments he made. I have known Officer Porter (or Porter as I refer to him) for three years now and I have never once felt uncomfortable around him. I think for one to automatically call someone something as harsh as racist is absurd. After reading the article I decided it was a good idea to write this letter in response. I met Porter my first semester attending Cameron. He is a very good friend of mine and I think it is incorrect to call him racist without knowing any of his

background. For three years now I have made jokes about different people, but no one has called me racist. He made a comment about someone “hitting the peace pipe a little too hard.” I have made this very same comment to people, even people of Indian Nationality, and never once have I been called a racist for it. It is ridiculous and even slanderous to call someone racist and have it printed for all to read. If you have an opinion about someone then you need to keep it to yourself or tell them; but to have it disbursed throughout a college campus, even one as small as Cameron, is absurd. I do not understand how one could say that a person is racist when there was never even a racist comment made. To say that one was “hitting the peace pipe a little too hard” and that one had “took too much Peyote” is not racist.

It is only making a comment. He never said anything like “All Indians do is smoke Peyote all day.” He didn’t say anything like that. The letter submitted to you by the Communication junior was derogatory and unnecessary. She states in her letter that Porter said “…what are we supposed to call them, injuns?” He didn’t call them that. He was clearly asking a question. I mean, come on, what would you call a mascot that is an Indian? If you’re not allowed to call them Indians then what do you call them? It’s a little ridiculous to have to say, or even hear, something like, “This week on Sports, it’s the Chicago Bears against the Altus Native Americans!” I mean, in all seriousness, does that sound like a good team name? I went to a school in Texas (High School) and their mascot was an Indian. Do they call them the Quanah Native

Americans now? No! They call them the Quanah Indians. When he asked the question he was being sarcastic! The question was about as dumb as the law banning the use of Indians as a mascot and he knew it! For the record, Porter is not a racist and this isn’t coming from someone of his race trying to protect him from your race. This is from a friend that is no where close to being his race and probably closer to being your race. If you don’t like to hear things like this and worse then lock yourself in your closet and be alone all day, because there is plenty worse for you to hear in the world. The best way for you to stop hearing this stuff is simple; stop eavesdropping. — Johnathan Lewis, Multimedia Design Junior

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board

Managing Editor - Lisa Snider News Editor - Sarah Warren Copy Editor - Kathleen Kelly A&E Editor - Joshua Rouse Sports Editor - Aaron Gilbee Features Editor - Angela Sanders Graphic Artist - Leah Hicks

Newsroom Staff

Bus. Manager - Jennifer Hardy Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Financial Officer - Susan Hill Photographer - Scott Pratt Layout Designer - Kareem Guiste Webmaster - Sheldon Rogers Staff Writers - Lauren Slate, Amanda Rundle, Jenny Tucker, Jessica Lane, Daniel Evans

Faculty Adviser

Christopher Keller

Newswriting Students

David Bublitz, Selby Bush, Joanne Caudle, Daniel Evans, Regan Frizzelle, Christina Frye, Cara Garza, Amanda Herrera, Lahoma Horse, Violet Justus, Shallon Kennedy, Danielle Murphree, James Norris, Petulah Olibert, Jolene Price, Blake Red Elk, Joshua Rouse, Kimberly Ryans, Kenneth Scarle, Jennifer Tucker, Amber Veit.

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.

News

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November 14 , 2005

Ranchers have an opportunity to learn new technology By Scott Pratt Staff Writer

Beef. Ranchers produce it. Consumers eat it. Cameron University’s agriculture department will hold the 19th annual Beef Cattle Conference on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Animal Science arena at 901 SW 38th St., next to the baseball field. The conference is geared toward ranchers and other members of the beef production industry. Assistant professor Frank White is working on his first conference this year. According to him the conference is a good place for people in the cattle production industry to come and learn about new technology in the industry and get to know one another. The conference draws around 100 to 150 people each year to a series of speakers, displays from industry representatives and a dinner. Jerry Dodd, chairman of the agriculture department, said, “The conference is designed to get and keep people up to speed in all aspects of cattle production.” This year, there are four lectures including one from White titled,

“Products to Maximize Growth and Profitability of Your Cattle.” The other lecturers include Bob Welling, the research support manager for Ridley Block Operations in Vaughn, Montana, speaking about the use of range blocks to improve grazing distribution and Fred Schmedt, speaking about the U.S. beef industry in a changing world. Schmedt is an agriculture economist, from the Noble Foundation in Ardmore. Also speaking is Bill Phillips, an animal nutritionist from the Grazing Lands Research Center and member of the United States Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Research Services. He will discuss building grazing systems to increase stocker calf productivity. White said the conference is primarily educational for members of the surrounding communities who work in the beef production industry. With state and national companies attending, there will be ample information for producers to gather and use in their own operations. “One of the most important things about the conference is that it gives us the opportunity to interact

KRT Newswire

Here’s looking at you: The agriculture department is hosting a conference Thursday in the animal science area, to share new developments and research with producers. with producers and for them to interact with us,” White said. “It also gives us a way to take our research into the field by sharing it with people in the industry.” Most of the people who attend the conference are from

communities in and around Comanche County. There are always a few alumni and several students who come as well. “This conference is really the only one of its kind around,” Dodd said. “It is made possible by the

By Petulah Olibert Staff Writer

It’s a win-win situation. Think about it. You’re being paid to improve your personal attributes and to help others. This summer, you can become the best person you’ve ever been. How? Project Transformation. Project Transformation was first established in Dallas in 1998. In 2002, it expanded to Oklahoma City. According to the Project Transformation Web site, during an eight-week long summer camp for kids, held at various church sites in the city, college interns will work with peer teams and the

children to encourage spiritual development, church involvement, and vocational exploration through a medley of activities like field trips, crafts, music and recreational activities. But not only will the interns help forge relationships and encourage the kids they work with, they will also benefit through their own spiritual development from their involvement with various churches, worship, Bible study and the experience of others. Last summer, music senior Sarah Jones and music sophomore Patrick Larsen participated in the project. Jones said working with Project Transformation has

been one of her most rewarding experiences. “I heard about Project Transformation last spring. Amy Curran, the director of the project came to CU to speak about it. It seemed very interesting so I decided to participate,” she said. “At the camp, we focused a lot on reading and improving the specific interests of the kids. There were five different church sites in Oklahoma City that hosted the camps and a few in Tulsa. Of the 45 interns hired, about five or six were placed at each church. Jones enjoyed the opportunity to work with children, although she said patience was required. “The interns need to be patient

HACKLER continued from page 1 Foundation and by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Elizabeth Hackler said she and her husband meet the winners every year at the awards ceremony and keep in touch with them. She said all of the people she has met have been very gracious. Clinton came to Cameron in 1994 and has served as the Graduate Coordinator and Dean of International Business Studies. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration in management from Mississippi State University. She teaches graduate courses and at least one undergraduate course each semester and is the associate dean of the school of business. This year she earned the David O’Keefe Academic Excellence and Motivation Award. Clinton said she advises her students to work hard and put all their efforts into whatever they do. “At the end of the day, they only have themselves to congratulate or to be disappointed in for the results that they have to show,” she said. Clinton’s teaching philosophy focuses on application of knowledge and the meaning her students derive from the material she teaches. “To be successful in almost any venue, we must be able to work together, be productive, conduct ourselves ethically, avoid and

solve conflict, give back and serve as leaders in areas in which our skills are strong,” Clinton said. “I try to ensure that my students obtain each of these skills from my teaching.” Her professional role models include her parents, Dr. Steve Taylor of Mississippi State University and Dr. Jack Amyx, retired Cameron faculty member. Business administration senior Jenny Jackson appreciates the guidance she has received from Clinton. “Dr. Clinton is a superb professor and mentor,” she said. “During my time at Cameron she has provided me and my classmates with tremendous support and guidance. I could not have asked for a more professional, caring individual.” Youngblood is an associate professor of criminal justice and sociology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma and practiced law in the private sector for 11 years. In 1981, she was appointed to a temporary position as the Judge of the Court of Appeals Temporary Division 87. Youngblood began her career at Cameron in 1987 as an associate professor of political science and criminal justice. She describes herself as an analytical person. “It is a blessing and a curse to be an analytical person; you can never

turn it off. I blame my father for my love of the law. He was a JAG (judge advocate general) officer in the Army as I grew up, so having legal discussions around the house seemed very natural to me.” Youngblood said her professional role models are those teachers who valued themselves first as teachers. “I truly value teaching and learning, and to receive an award that is dedicated solely to teaching is quite an honor,” she said. “To have my name added to the distinguished group of previous Hackler teachers is high praise.” Youngblood said the main point she tries to drive home to her students is that not all the answers are in the book. “If you think things through, you can confidently face all those unknowns awaiting you out there in the real world. In class, the students often hear me admonish them to ‘use the brain instead of the book’.” Taylor Crisp, a criminal justice senior, is one of Youngblood’s students. Crisp said, “Dr. Youngblood is extremely devoted to helping her students. She has made a positive impact on my life and I greatly appreciate her for it. She deserves this award because of all the students she has impacted at Cameron University.” Clinton and Youngblood are the twelfth and thirteenth recipients of the Hackler Awards.

Co u r

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CU students lend a helping hand

Joseph H. Mullins Endowed Chair, which promotes public education, and other sponsors.” The December graduates from the agriculture department will also be recognized at the dinner.

and to like working with young kids,” she said, “helping them out and letting them know that we care for them since most of them are inner city kids who don’t really get the attention at home. “My experience working with the kids was incredible. Being able to interact with them, work with them and observe their reaction Transformation to you was rewarding. Even after warns that while working with the you scold them for being loud or project, “time expectations can be naughty or disobedient, at the end great,” it stresses that the personal of the day they rewards gained are still run up to even greater. you and hug Brooke “For me, it was you and say: Glass, Project another aspect of ‘Miss Sarah, I Transformation love you. I can’t mission work and recruiter will visit wait to come church work that you Cameron University back tomorrow.’ on Nov. 17 in order don’t get to see and Things like that to enroll students experience everyday.” interested in the make all the hard work and project. the long hours Students eligible — Sarah Jones worthwhile. for the internship Music Senior should have “For me, it was another completed at least aspect of one year of college mission work and church work and possess strong interpersonal that you don’t get to see and skills. Recruited interns receive an experience everyday.” educational voucher and a living Although Project stipend.

News

November 14, 2005

5

Student government has big plans for CU By Kenny Scarle Staff Writer

Tuition is on the rise again. But this time, Cameron University students will have a choice in the matter. The Cameron University Student Government Association is hosting a new proposal. The Oklahoma Student Government Association (OSGA) is recommending a fee increase that will allow them to expand their activities across the state. This new budget increase will make it possible to present a larger OSGA presence on Oklahoma campuses. It will help reduce costs of the annual OSGA Congress, allow OSGA participation in national events, and many more activities aimed at giving all Oklahoma students access to national forums and exposure. The SGA was addressed this week by Oklahoma Student Government Association President Clay Pope. Pope gave a presentation regarding the proposed funding increase adjustment of 1 cent per credit hour, per semester. At this time, every student on every campus in Oklahoma is a member of the Oklahoma

Student Government, but they pay no dues for that membership. Campus governments pay the OSGA a $250 annual fee per school, which represents the total spending budget of the OSGA. If the funding proposal is passed, the Oklahoma Student Government Association could see an increase in its yearly budget from $9,000 to $48,000. President Pope shared some of the benefits of this proposal. “We want to tackle some issues that students have been addressing,” Pope said. “The rise of cost in textbooks is something that must be changed. Who wants to pay $200 for a biology text? We also want to see a more prominent presence of Oklahoma students at legislative events. This increase will provide an avenue for that.” Many other states are exploring such ideas.

CU concert band to perform At 8 p.m. tomorrow in the University Theatre, Cameron University’s Concert Band will perform music by Byrd, Coates, Ives, Strauss and Stamp. Dr. Daniel Sheehan will conduct. General admission tickets are $6. Tickets for military, seniors and students are $4. Proceeds will go toward music scholarships. For more information, call 581.2440.

Volunteers and ideas wanted Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers to assist with fund raising. Funding is needed to help prepare for next year’s building projects. Ideas are welcome. The “Collegiate Challenge” home at 1912 Irwin will be dedicated on Sunday. Contact Frank Oheltoint at 250.1700 for more information about that, or about the “Cameron Build” home at 1211 SW Texas.

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

Interested in placing a classified ad? Contact the Collegian by e-mail at collegian@cameron.edu or by phone 581.2261.

Interested in earning money? If you have design knowledge and would like to work on The Collegian, this is your opportunity. The Collegian is looking for an assistant business/ advertising manager to begin working immediately, with the possibility of moving into the manager’s position in spring 2006. If you are interested in applying for this position, please e-mail The Collegian at collegian@cameron.edu. and put “Business Manager” in the subject line, or call 581.2261.

As part of the research for this project, Pope has traveled to see the effects of such a proposal in other states. “We were able to travel to Minnesota and see how this program has affected them,” Pope said. “It was exciting to see the advances made. State legislators are coming to their SGA meetings to ask questions of them. This is just a small example of how far we can go.” There were concerns voiced about the increase in funding and whether or not rising costs will be a continual issue. President

Pope assured the SGA that there is legislation in place to avoid any problems. “The OSGA understands the need to remain accountable and maintain accurate records,” Pope said. “This fee proposal will have a cap to the amount it can increase. The Board of Directors has directed that the fee cannot increase more than 1-cent every 2 years, with a maximum of a 25-cent total. This will then be reevaluated by the board.” Students who are not eager for a raise in their tuition can elect to oppose the tuition increase.

There is a refund system in place so students can request their money back from the OSGA. The proposed fee increase, which would amount to a 12-cent raise in tuition if enrolled in 12 hours, will allow the OSGA to implement many new programs, such as trips to the state capital for more student representation and experience. “The students give us the authority to work,” Pope said. “Without their support, nothing beneficial can be accomplished. It is our job to work for you.”

A&E

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November 14, 2005

End of ‘Star Wars’ leaves fans with memories By Joshua Rouse A&E Editor

We dream of “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” We are “Star Wars” fans and we live by the code of the Jedi order. “Star Wars” first blasted onto the big screen in 1977 to big ratings and big box office dollars totaling over $460 million. The amazing special effects wowed and captivated viewers. But there was the story of Darth Vader’s origin yet to be explained. So we “Star Wars” fans rejoiced when Lucas announced in the late ‘90s he was busy working on a series of prequels explaining the downfall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. With such an exciting premise, the prequel trilogy failed to capture the magic of the original trilogy. “Star Wars” fans have repeatedly said Lucas went for splashy special effects instead

of quality filmmaking. Jar-Jar Binks, the eccentric Gungan from the planet Naboo, was the combination of all that was bad in the prequels, according to Assistant Professor Christopher Keller. “They hate Jar-Jar because he is the epitome of Lucas selling out,” Keller said. Keller’s first “Star Wars” experience came with “The Empire Strikes Back,” hailed by many fans as the best “Star Wars” film. He saw it with his parents when he was seven and has been a fan ever since. He has gone to every midnight showing of the prequels including the recently released “Revenge of the Sith,” the final chapter of the “Star Wars” saga. Assistant Professor Justin Walton is also an avid “Star Wars” fan. Walton was only three years old when the first “Star Wars” hit the big screen, but that does not mean he did not love it.

“When I was a kid, I was an avid collector,” Walton said. “I’m older now but I still collect things like posters.” Walton believes the final battle scene between Jedi ObiWan and Qui-Gonn Jinn against the Sith apprentice Darth Maul in “The Phantom Menace” was the best fight scene out of all of the movies. “This was the first time we were able to see two Jedi face off against a Sith Lord in full combat,” Walton said. Walton cites “Return of the Jedi,” the last movie in the original trilogy, as his favorite movie. Many “Star Wars” fans, including Keller, believe “Return of the Jedi” to be the downfall of the movie due to the Ewoks. The Ewoks were little teddy bear like animals that helped the Rebel Alliance defeat the Empyreal forces on the forest moon of Endor. According to liner notes on the DVD boxed set, George

Lucas said he wanted the setting to be on the Wookies’ home world of Kashyyk, but his daughters were getting old enough to understand “Star Wars” and he thought something a little tamer would be better. The mythology behind “Star Wars” is what has kept the universe going for more than 30 years. “Most people think it [‘Star Wars’] is a story about Luke Skywalker,” Walton said. “But it is a story of Anakin Skywalker.” Walton believes there is an underlying story to the entire saga. He sees “Star Wars” in a more philosophical light than a normal movie. “It makes us think about life,” Walton said. “The reality and the battle between good and evil.” Where do we Jedi padawans go now that our saga has finally reached a close? For Keller, there are no tears shed because there are still

comics, different fan fictions and even the Sci-Fi Channel series, “Battlestar Galactica.” Walton said he will watch the movies over again and cherish and enjoy them. There is a planned television show in the works that will bridge the 20 years between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope.” The show will include the rise of power of the Empire and the elimination of the final Jedi. Lucas has emphasized less reliance on special effects and more on character drama. Both Keller and Walton believe they will enjoy the series. “If it is ‘Battlestar Galactica’ quality, I will definitely enjoy it,” Keller said. And so the $2 billion saga has finally come to closure, at least at the theaters. And much like Master Yoda in “Revenge of the Sith,” we “Star Wars” fans must say, “goodbye…miss you, I will.” May the force be with you.

KRT Campus

The Boy you trained, gone he is...consumed by Darth Vader: Anakin and former mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi battle on the volcanic planet of Mos Dafar in “Revenge of the Sith.” Anakin Skywalker goes on to become the original man in black, Darth Vader.

Professor Hoepfner selected for participation in Vox Novus Project By Kenny Scarle Staff Writer

Assistant Professor of Music Greg Hoepfner has just completed another musical masterpiece, with an impressive total length of 60 seconds. Hoepfner has been selected to participate in the Vox Novus 60x60 Project. This is a joint endeavor containing 60 compositions from 60 different composers, with a composition of 60 seconds long each. These recorded pieces are then performed in succession without pause for a one-hour concert, played together with a synchronized analog clock. (http://www.voxnovus.com/ 60x60) “I am honored to be part of this project,” Hoepfner said. “Two things really intrigued me about it. First of all, it would be a challenge to write a piece of music for only a 60-second time period. And second, it is written electroacoustically. That is a completely new venture for me.” Electro-acoustic music is a type of music using a juxtaposition of natural sounds recorded to tape or disc. It is music recorded and performed through speakers, without a human performer. Electro-acoustic music is closely related to Electronica by technique and composition. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Electroacoustic_music)

“It took me about a week total to complete this piece,” Hoepfner said. “I took two stock sounds and used Cubase, a music sequencer and digital audio editing program to produce the sonic effect I was looking for.” Hoepfner’s composition is entitled Fibonacci, relating to something viewed on the Discovery Channel. “Fibonacci is an amazing concept,” Hoepfner said. “It in a mathematical equation which, when turned in on itself, generates spirals, flower petals, and even symmetry in human faces.’ The Fibonacci numbers, or the Golden Mean, are a sequence of numbers produced by adding two numbers together to create the third, and then adding the next two numbers in the succession to produce the fourth, and so on. In other words: one starts with 0 and 1, and then produces the next Fibonacci number by adding the two previous Fibonacci numbers, which would be a total of one, then two, then three and then five and so on. “The Fibonacci numbers appear everywhere,” Hoepfner said. “It appears in nature, art, and very definitely music. It is really an intriguing concept.” Vox Novus and the Electronic Music Midwest Organization have scheduled two concerts of the 60x60 Project. The first was on Oct. 21 in Kansas City. The upcoming concert is on Nov. 10 at the University of Illinois.

Whose Life is it Anyway?

Photo by Christina Frye

These are the doctor’s orders: Student actors recreate the Brian Clark play about a man who wants to die. The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Cameron Theatre. There will be an encore performance Sunday at 2 p.m. and a special performance the following Monday at 7:30 p.m. Following the Friday and Saturday performances, there will be panel discussions in conjunction with Festival VI. For reservations and tickets call 581.24778.

A&E

November 14, 2005

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Cameron professor’s art wins honors Jessica Lane Staff Writer

Associate Professor of Art Katherine Liontas-Warren sets high standards for herself as a professional artist. A resident of Oklahoma since 1984, LiontasWarren teaches all levels of drawing and printmaking at Cameron University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University. In the past 20 years she has exhibited in 16 solo shows and 179 national and regional juried competitive exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe and has received many purchase awards and juried awards. Liontas-Warren believes that entering art exhibits is essential to promoting herself as a professional artist. “I try to enter the ones that are more prestigious. Usually they reproduce a beautiful catalog in color that is sent to other galleries. So, if a gallery really likes your work, they’ll call you up. “It also helps you to get recognized by other artists if they see your name several times in different shows. If they are affiliated with a gallery, or with a museum, they’ll ask you to have a show there. “The more they see your name the more invitations you get,” she said. Her piece, “Awakened Boulders” was one of 40 selections chosen from a field of more than 200 to be a part of the 2005 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition. The exhibition is currently in progress at Arkansas State University’s

Photo by Jessica Lane

Walking in a winter wonderland: ‘Winter Forest’ placed third in the Seven State Biennial Exhibition. Bradbury Gallery. In addition, Liontas-Warren’s charcoal drawing, “Winter Forest,” was selected to be shown in the Seven State Biennial Exhibition at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Art Gallery. From a field of 240 pieces by 83 artists, only 36 were selected. The drawing placed third overall, winning a $500 prize. The drawing was inspired by the Wichita Mountains. “I go there quite a bit, and I do these sketches in my journal and then turn them into charcoal drawings. Mainly the reason they are black and white is because usually I go there in the winter months. “That’s when I really love it the most because it’s so pure and

spiritual looking,” she said. In her artist statement, LiontasWarren explained her use of charcoal in her drawings because it is suitable to the landscapes. “My choice of charcoal as the medium to capture these scenes allows for a detailed and naturalistic rendering, yet produces the same velvety surface as the snow, which softens an otherwise harsh and rugged environment,” she said. She also does a little “note taking” when sketching in her journal. “I’ll look at the texture and do a little section of texture so I can recall it when I do my actual drawing,” she said. Liontas-Warren said she was hesitant to enter the Seven State Biennial Exhibition because

much of the art in the gallery leaned towards the conceptual. She was pleased to have placed third in the exhibit. “Oh, I felt really good. I was actually really surprised with the show. I wasn’t sure about entering, so when found out I was selected I thought it was unbelievable. And then when I placed I thought, ‘I need to take my work up to [the] gallery and get some representation,’” she said. Liontas-Warren’s artwork is represented by both MGP Studio ARTS Gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania and JRB Art at the Elms in Oklahoma City. She was also featured in the Fall 2004 issue of American Artist Magazine. “Chickasha purchased one

of my pieces two or three years ago. They have one of my colored pencil drawings,” she said. Liontas-Warren also teaches her students the importance of entering exhibitions. “I encourage my printmaking students to enter national shows too, especially if they are going on to graduate schools,” she said. “It’s really important that whatever schools they’re going to know that they are dedicated to being a professional artist. Right now, I have two students who are graduating and they both have really wonderful resumes because they’ve entered shows. Not only are they being judged by me, but also by those outside the campus.” She said she is delighted to see her students commit to their own artistic ambitions. “I really believe that if they have the drive and the passion to make art they will be successful. And it’s not really measured by how much money you’re making,” she said. “It’s measured by how happy you are and what you want to do with the rest of your life. “And I really think with my students, when they have that drive, then art becomes part of their life. They live and breathe art all the time. And I really think that’s a very positive thing for students to be so dedicated like that. It will help foster their growth as an artist as they pursue their careers.” For those interested in viewing Liontas-Warren’s art locally, the Seven-State Biennial Exhibition will continue through Dec.12 at the USAO Art Gallery in Chickasha. The exhibition will later be transferred to the Leslie Powell Gallery in Lawton from Jan. 7 -Feb. 24.

AJIMINE, continued from page 1 “As a soldier in the Gulf War and Bosnia, I was troubled by the fragmented social conditions that existed in these areas. “This gave me a unique perspective on our own country and sensitized me to the importance of making connections on a fundamental level and not merely as groups or factions,” said Ajimine. In light of this revelation, he began work on several pieces of art, which would take twelve months to complete, in the time before and just after 9/11. These works will be on display in the Leslie Powell Gallery under what Ajimine has titled: “Native Oil: A Cultural Comparison.” “The title infers a comparison between the land of Native America and the oil of the Middle East,” said Ajimine. “Both land and oil were acquired by our government to satisfy the economic needs of the times, sometimes with little or no regard for the cultures that they affected.” By connecting the Native American culture with his experiences in the Middle East, Ajimine hopes to bring about a certain awareness of how American manifest destiny can perhaps be dangerous to those around us. Ajimine also described his emotions during the time of his evocation and expression through his art. “This series represents a grieving process. As a ceremonial act, I incorporated sand and dirt to connect the bloodstained soil of Bosnia and the Middle East

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An artful display: A visitor studies Nic Ajimine’s work at a local gallery. Ajimine’s paintings are an expression of his experiences with different cultures. The exhibit will continue through the last week of December. to our own native land. I also incorporated journal pages and sketches that I kept into the work.” Ajimine’s art is a recreation of dream, slivers of reality and chaos thrown amidst the actions of our ancestors, and through the images he has crafted, one may have the opportunity to share in his epiphany. The exhibit opened Saturday and will be hanging through the last week in December. The exhibits can be viewed Monday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. In addition to Ajimine’s work, three other artists will be featured and, as always, refreshments and gallery functions at the Leslie Powell Gallery are free of charge.

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Sports

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November 14, 2005

West Indies versus the world exists at CU As the semester winds down, international students look forward to settling a rivalry at cricket By Aaron Gilbee Sports Editor

This semester, tennis balls ended up on the roof of the Fitness Center in pursuit of a passion, cricket. Just within the last year, a movement appeared on campus among international students as they brought their love of cricket to Cameron. In a game held this semester, they substituted the normal hard, leather bound cricket ball, which is similar to a baseball, with tennis balls. The game ended when batsmen hit sixes, an equivalent to home runs, on to the Fitness Center’s roof. All their balls had flown out of reach by two stories. The movement started with an alumnus named Joackim George from Saint Lucia. Before attending Cameron, he contended internationally in competitive cricket. According to his friend

computer information systems senior Ashley Dickson, George played for the under-nineteen St. Lucian national cricket team and then the international Caribbean Windward Islands team. A buzz started with him about gathering people and the equipment to play cricket. First, they found the people including junior electronic engineering major Hatuey Campbell and physics freshman Gurmukh Singh. Then, they required the equipment, most importantly the cricket bat. According to Singh, as word spread, the players chanced upon health and physical education senior Arthur Trousdell. “Joackim is the one who really introduced the game of cricket over here, near the fitness center and said that we need a bat and ball,” Singh said. “A few weeks later, we found

Player profile: No. 4 Taran Turner By Lauren Slate Staff Writer

Until she moved to Lawton to attend Cameron University in her freshman year, Taran Turner, business junior, lived in Wichita Falls. Born and raised in Texas, Turner’s incentive to move to Oklahoma was purely sports. “I came here to play for Cameron’s great volleyball program,” she said. Turner is one of the four junior leaders on CU’s volleyball team. She believes that she leads more by example as a strong offensive and defensive player. Turner maintains her skills by training every day, except for game days, for a session of two to three hours. According to Turner, the team’s schedule was hectic this season due to 18 consecutive away games. Balancing a sports and school schedule can sometimes be difficult. Turner said that it is an advantage to have school paid for

and to have to strive to maintain acceptable grades to play. However, she misses many classes, which puts her behind in her school work. “And, you don’t have time for a job,” Turner said. Despite her busy schedule, Turner keeps her head clear so she can focus during a game. “I try and keep a happy medium by not letting myself get too high or low during the game,” she said. “I try not to think too much and just let myself play at the capability that I can.” Even when striving for a happy medium, there can be highs and lows during game time. Turner said that her most embarrassing incident was when she was hit in the face while playing defense against the University of Central Oklahoma. The greatest moment for her was when she got to play again after being hurt for the first two tournaments of the season. Turner has been playing volleyball for the past 10 years and she has always been involved in

sports. “When I was younger, I played volleyball, soccer and basketball,” she said. “Once I got to junior high and high school, I played volleyball, basketball and track.” When Turner is not playing sports and has some free time, although she said Courtesy Photo that rarely happens, she likes to relax and watch TV or a movie, shop with her friends or visit her home in Wichita Falls. Turner is undecided as to what she will do when she graduates, but she hopes to return to Texas and work in her home state. Right now, the most important things in her life are her family and school.

out some guy from New Zealand named Arthur had bats and a ball.” Trousdell contributed his equipment, and the first ever game of cricket happened last spring on the lawn in between North Shepler and the Fitness Center. Now, when the players gather to play social cricket, they will plan a date, often on the weekends, to compete. The games will not happen unless the day is sunny and warm with at most a slight breeze. Once they gather, team captains are chosen and teams selected. Cricket is similar to baseball in many respects; the features of the cricket ball are very similar to those of early baseball, with two seams circumventing its center. Pitchers are bowlers, and batters are batsman. Home runs are called sixes, and batsmen are outed. For example, a batsman is out if the bowler bowls the ball into a row of three stumps called a wicket, much like a base. Teams, according to Campbell, consist of 11 players. Here, teams have had up to eight. Even if numbers fall below eight, games will happen. Scores occur as batsmen hit a sixer or runs from one wicket to another without being outed. The points can easily surpass 50. Cameron cricket players wield the official bat, but use trees as wickets and a tennis ball in place of the official ball. Overall, it is safer and easier than the professional game, and the ball hits further and higher. One of the more memorable Cameron games, at least for Campbell, featured him bowling against Trousdell’s team. As usual, the teams were made up of students from many nations and cultures. According to Campbell and Singh, Pakistan, India, West Indies, Australia and New Zealand are regularly represented, and Americans are invited guests

learning the game. Spectators sit, watch and encourage the players to become more competitive, Campbell said. “People were passing by and ended up watching the game,” he said. “We pulled a crowd in front of the Fitness Center, and it felt good because it increased the excitement. When you have spectators, you want to prove to them whose team is obviously better. I did prove that my team was better.” In this multinational spread, Campbell bowled to Trousdell. When others bowled to him, Trousdell was a monster according to Campbell. His batting efficiency was impressive. However, Campbell proved to be challenge for the New Zealand giant. Trousdell described Campbell’s pitching as fast and hard to hit and suffered the wicket’s fall. In baseball terminology, Trousdell struck out. As the teams vied for the win, Trousdell’s team had an extra round of batting and was dominated their opposition in bowling and batting. “My team left with smiles and a sense of victory,” he said. “You could see it.” Trousdell admits that Campbell bowled well, but he said that his bowling delivery is questionable. “Whenever you bowl the ball, you have to have a straight arm,” he explained. “If you watch his delivery, it seems like he’s throwing the ball which gives him a lot more speed.” Campbell may have had a bend in his arm where there is not meant to be one. A bent arm is the difference between cricket’s bowling and baseball’s pitching. Campbell and Trousdell also added that cricket is best played on an open, level and wide playing field. Currently, a few students, including Campbell, Trousdell and Singh, want another game to occur in front of the Fitness Center. All three invite those who happen by to join the game or to seek them out for more information.

Sports

November 14, 2005

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Player Profile: Number 22, Tiffany Williams By Daniel Evans

News Writing Student Chemistry sophomore Tiffany Williams is a guard on the Cameron Lady Aggies’ basketball team. In 2003, she was the North Division Lone Star Conference freshman of the year. In the last game of 2003, Williams injured her foot. It turned out to be a stress fracture. She started the 2004 season but left to keep her injury from coming back and sat out the remainder of the season. Williams is a Lawton native and graduated from Eisenhower High School. She chose to attend Cameron University because of the academic and athletic appeal. Williams is a Chemistry major with a 3.2 grade point average. After being sidelined for medical reasons, she is a sophomore in NCAA eligibility and a junior academically. “Cameron is a good school with a good chemistry program,” says Williams. “I wanted to come here to show future students that it is OK to come here.” On the court, Williams helps pull the team together and complements other players. With

the team being solid this year, Williams believes that Cameron could go all the way to the national tournament. “We could go all the way and be in the top 16 nationally,” she said. Williams is an all-around team player with no single attribute that stands out. Senior guard Brittany Cooksey said Williams fits in well. “We complement each other. I have strengths where she has weaknesses,” Cooksey said. “And she has strengths where I have weaknesses. She is a good fit for the team.” “She is very athletic,” Head Coach Dick Halterman said. ”Tiffany is a great all around player.” Williams has tried not to focus on her injury, and has not let it affect her this year. “I am ready,” Williams said. ”It is like I never left the game. It was hard for me to watch the game from the bench. I haven’t sat out since I started and that was second grade.” Williams will start this season and she hopes the injury does not flare up. A leader on and off the court, Williams plans to go to radiology school after Cameron.

Photos by Daniel Evans

He understands the game: Coach Dick Halterman observes his players at practice last week. He glances at the Lady Aggie about to catch the pass.

High-fructose corn syrup detrimental to good health By Carolyn Poirot KRT Newswire

High-fructose corn syrup isn’t completely responsible for the nation’s six million overweight children – but Dr. George Bray says it’s a big part of the problem. Nurture trumps nature in the current childhood-obesity epidemic, says Bray. It’s the environment we’re creating for our kids that’s the problem, and that environment

includes increasing numbers of products high in high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS. Bray, who served as founding president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity and organized the first international congress on obesity in 1973, points out that between 1970 (when HFCS was introduced) and 2000 (when average yearly consumption of the ultra-sweet liquid sugar hit 73.5 pounds per person in this country),

KRT Newswire

Sweet tooth + snacking = freshman fifteen hundred: All these labels have one ingredient in common, corn syrup. Its low cost makes it an attractive sweetener in many products.

the prevalence of obesity more than doubled, from 15 percent to almost one-third of the adult population. And worse, much worse, obesity among children 12 to 19 – who consume a disproportionate amount of the soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and packaged cookies and other baked goods that are sweetened with HFCS – increased from 4.2 percent in 1970 to 15.3 percent in 2000. The implications for our children’s future are clear: “We know that if it’s not caught early, one in three of these overweight children will grow into overweight adults at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and early death,” Bray said at a presentation in Fort Worth last month. But there is hope. Obesity is largely preventable through changes in lifestyle, especially diet, says Bray, who called for removing soda machines from schools and reducing portion sizes of commercially available sodas in his now-famous commentary in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in April, 2004. Larger portions, more high-fat fast foods, less exercise of any kind, irregular sleep patterns, lower consumption of milk and other

high-calcium foods, and increased consumption of HFCS in beverages go a long way toward explaining the obesity epidemic, Bray says. “Genetic factors play an important role in the development of obesity, but given the rapidity with which the current epidemic of obesity has descended on the U.S. and many other countries, environmental factors are a more likely explanation,” he says. “Whatever its genetic and biochemical determinants, obesity in man is susceptible to an extraordinary degree of control of social factors. Environment is very important.” Bray says the problem with HFCS is not only that it is sweeter than other forms of sugar, but also that it does not affect appetite. Fructose adds to overeating because it does not trigger chemical messengers that tell the brain the stomach is full and no longer hungry, like food and drinks that contain regular refined sugar do. An internist whose pioneering research helped establish the connections between weight gain and the development of type 2 diabetes, Bray is a research professor and former director of the Pennington Center at Louisiana State University,

the largest nutritional research center in the world. He says consumers would be a lot better off without added sugar in any form, but that artificial sweeteners are much preferred over calorically sweetened drinks, even for children. “Children less than 5 probably shouldn’t have any sweetened drinks, and for older children, diet drinks are better than regular soft drinks and fruit drinks,” Bray said. “A lot of parents are concerned about the ‘chemicals’ added to sweeten diet soft drinks, but all forms of extra added sugar and artificial sweeteners are bad. We don’t need added sugar in our diet.” Bray says parents should be in charge of diets, children should be in charge of their own exercise activities, and perhaps government should regulate portion sizes. He is calling for improved packaging and labeling for food meant to be consumed as a single serving. Too many ready-to-eat foods and drinks are labeled as single servings but packaged as two or even three servings. “It’s hard to find a single-serving soft drink,” he said. “Portion size is something government (the Food and Drug Administration) can and should do something about.”

Aggie Runners fare well in NCAA II Regionals ABILENE- Cameron’s firstever trip to the NCAA Division II men’s cross country regional championships proved to be a learning experience on Saturday. Coach Matt Aguero’s Aggies finished 15th as No. 4-ranked Abilene Christian rolled to its sixth straight regional title. Marlow freshman Matt Moreno once again led the Aggies, finishing 80th with a time of 39:11.3 on the 10-kilometer course at Sherrod Residential Park. Frank Fleming was next for the

Aggies, posting a time of 42:21.45. Cameron’s other three runners - Bira Vidal, Andrew Braisier, and Bill Poland - each finished with times over 43 minutes. Abilene Christian dominated the competition, earning the top three individual places and placing all five runners among the top eight individuals. ACU All-American Nicodemus Naimadu won the event by 35 seconds over teammate Philip Bergen with a time of 31:13.9. The Wildcats, along with runner-up East Central, advance to the NCAA II National Championships in two weeks in Pomona, Calif.

Courtesy Photo

CU Sports Information

Courtesy Photo

Going that extra mile: (Back row) Coach Matt Aguero, Bill Poland, Andrew Braisier, Ibirajara Vidal, (Front row) John Masters, Matt Moreno, Frank Fleming.

The Back Page

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ROTC students face wood, rope and net at Fort Sill’s 40-foot high Treadwell Tower in preparation for Warrior Forge 2006.

November 14, 2005