The Cameron University Collegian: November 25, 2008

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

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

News

Volume 83 Issue 12

CU displays picturesque history

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff

Student Housing and PAC host second annual CU Iron Chef Competition.

Photos courtesy of CU Archives

SEE PAGE 3

At bat: This photo features a member of the circa 1970s Aggie Baseball team. The photo has been hung on campus as part of the photo project.

A&E

What are you thankful for?

Cameron’s first 100 years are on display across the campus as the university enters a new century of changing lives.

Jim Horinek, a student worker and Aggie Ambassador, and Jonna Brown, Coordinator of Special Events, started an initiative to recover, restore and display numerous pictures that showcase Cameron’s first 100 years.

“I was contacted by the president’s office last year and was asked if I would like to help with a centennial project,” Horinek said. “I quickly replied that I would love to be part of something like that.”

Brown said the idea of hanging photos in the buildings on campus came from CU President Cindy Ross, the executive council and the Centennial Commission. The photos were part of the year-long celebration of the Cameron centennial.

“I began my research with the help of Jim (Horinek), who assisted me in the research part,” Brown said. “He got the pictures from a number of different sources, primarily the archives here at the university, and we set out on our quest to find the perfect pictures.”

Brown and Horinek sifted through hundreds of photos as they searched for those “perfect pictures.” Horinek searched through the archives with the help of one of the workers and picked out around 125 that would be suitable to hang around campus. Together, he and Brown decided on 87 photos that would be restored and mounted.

“I ran them all through Photoshop and wrote captions for them,” Horinek said. “From there, I took the photos to the print shop and had them printed.”

The process of restoring the photos was long and took the majority of the summer for him to complete. After the photos were restored, they were framed with captions engraved on metal plates. Horinek then teamed up with two carpenters from the Physical Facilities Department to mount the photos.

Under construction: This photo was taken during the construction of Howell Hall in 1966. The photo is now featured on campus as part of the photo project.

SEE PAGE 12

See PHOTOS Page 4

Sports

Cameron debuts Financial Aid TV

By Jim Horinek Collegian Staff

Aggie of the Week: Kristi Taylor.

SEE PAGE 9

Voices

Financial assistance can be a very confusing subject. There are many different types of aid and just as many, if not more, regulations and forms to go along with them. But for many students, financial assistance is an extremely important part of the process of getting a degree.

By launching Financial Aid TV, Cameron has taken action to help students and parents who are searching for answers concerning financial aid. The Financial Aid TV system offers students and parents answers to many of the frequently asked questions

regarding financial assistance. CU’s Office of Community Relations said the Financial Aid TV system provides brief informational videos concerning a wide array of topics including eligibility, FAFSA and grant programs.

According to Glen Pinkston, Vice President of Business and Finance, the system was created by a media firm out of California. The firm has pre-recorded numerous videos that address financial aid issues that are relevant at all higher education institutions.

See TV Page 4

Cameron Gold Scholarship complements OHLAP

By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff

Have fun and be safe during the holidays.

SEE PAGE 7

Cameron University will be offering the Cameron Gold Scholarship to incoming freshmen for the third year in a row in Fall 2009.

The Cameron Gold Scholarship works in conjunction with the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP). OHLAP covers the cost of tuition but does not cover student fees and funding for books. The Cameron Gold Scholarship helps to lift the burden of finding money to pay for books along with student fees.

The scholarship can make a big difference to incoming freshmen, especially when it comes down to deciding where to go to college. The Cameron Gold Scholarship is a unique financial aid package that is not available at other Oklahoma universities.

Cameron Gold provides a long term commitment,

promising to cover left-over tuition costs and mandatory fees, along with required books for a maximum of five years or up to the 128 credit hours needed to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship is flexible as well, allowing students to be enrolled in as few as 12 or as many as 18 hours a semester.

Combined with OHLAP, Cameron Gold is valued at more than $25,000 depending on the student’s individual circumstances.

Carol Claiborne, CU’s Interim Director of Financial Assistance, said that the new program will help entice incoming students into choosing Cameron by offering a unique advantage and showcasing CU’s commitment to its students.

See GOLD Page 4

News

2

November 25, 2008

Comm, CJ, IT areas of focus in Plan 2013

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff Expansion is on the way for three degree programs.

Students in the Communications Department, the Criminal Justice Department and the Information Technologies Department could expect increased funding as part of Plan 2013. Dr. John McArthur, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said the university is in the process of seeking external resources to help build these programs.

“We’re proud of all of our academic programs here at Cameron,” Dr. McArthur said.

“But we wanted to select specific programs based on regional and state demands and the strength of those programs.”

The goal of this new emphasis

is to promote distinction beyond southwest Oklahoma. Dr. McArthur said the administration wants to put these degree paths as a model for Cameron University in the United States. As the administration looked over the programs that were available on campus, McArthur said Communications, Criminal Justice and Information Technologies were chosen based on two.

“We certainly looked at the strength of all the programs on campus,” he said. “We looked at the employment demand for this area and for the state. And we wanted to emphasize programs where there was a demand for students with degrees fresh out of college.”

Cameron is still in the beginning stages of building the three programs. This year was primarily

geared toward gathering resources for the programs.

“We received over half a million [dollars] from the state regents of higher education to help us build the Information Technology program,” Dr. McArthur said.

“We’ve just received, in the past six months, $280,000 to build the Convergence Journalism program to help build Communication. In Criminal Justice, we’re moving them into an online format. We’ve started teaching courses and making them available not only here in Lawton, Duncan and Fort Sill, but we also have a site on Redland’s Community College campus in El Reno and we provide instruction at the Police Academy in Oklahoma City.”

Current students won’t see the benefits of this emphasis right away, but Dr. McArthur still wants to see improvements each year leading up to 2013.

“We’re going to get better each year,” he said.

“There will be improvements each year. We don’t want to wait five years and see changes.”

Dr. Photo courtesy of Community Relations McArthur

hopes future prospective students will see the improvements the university is making to these three degree programs and enroll at Cameron. The greater emphasis on these programs will open the door for a wider curriculum and an improved education.

“They should see the resources they will have available in the classroom, like the TV studio, the radio station and what’s available in journalism and they will have top-notch equipment to learn their chosen major,” Dr. McArthur said.

While the administration is focusing much of the emphasis on these three programs, Dr.

McArthur cautioned students in other degree paths against jumping to conclusions. There is more money being funneled into Communication, Criminal Justice and Information Technologies, but the additional resources are primarily from outside sources.

“I want people to know that we’re not taking away from other programs and we’re not ignoring those programs either,” Dr. McArthur said. “Right now, we’re building resources for these chosen programs to focus on. But we are not taking money or resources from any other program on campus.”

Military moms give their time to Girl Scouts program

By Jorie Palmer Newswriting Student

See page 4 for solutions.

Tara Payne and Tammy Smith, “Piglet” and “Pooh,” as their Girl ScoutsWestern Oklahoma troop affectionately calls them, have a goal to get more girls and adults from the military community involved in Girl Scouts.

Both leaders of Troop 25 have husbands in the U.S. Army, and all 13 juniors in the troop are from military families. Payne and Smith are new GS-West volunteers and they believe Girl Scouts gives military families an opportunity to connect.

“Lawton has really given me a chance to be in my child’s life,” Payne said.

“Girl Scouts-West is my support system. It is my home away from home.”

Payne was a Girl Scouts parent, and she saw the need for troop leaders. Once she joined, she invited her neighbor, Smith, to participate as well.

“I was overwhelmed leading this troop myself. That is how I got the nickname Piglet,” Payne said. “I needed a co-leader that the girls could trust and look up to.”

Cathy Stackpole, the CEO for GS-West, said that Girl Scouts is ideal for military families who move a great deal, and the organization allows the girl’s parents to become more involved with their daughter’s lives.

“We want to show military families that Girl Scouts is a great way for families to develop a sense of consistency in a girl’s life,” she said. “We understand that serving the country quite often means moving from city to city.

That is difficult for a young girl who is trying to find her own voice and her own interests.”

Payne is a relative newcomer to Lawton/Ft. Sill, and she said most of her new friends are involved with Girl Scouts in some way. Smith has lived in the area for awhile, but she was never very active in the community until she became a troop leader.

“Being a co-leader is a bonding experience,” Smith said. “I have also made friends with many of the parents. Once we get a person in the troop, they become family.”

Troop 25’s motto is “We’re all in this together,” from the movie “High School Musical.” Their goals for the next few months include increasing self-esteem, gaining a sense of ‘Girl Power,’ and participating in activities within the military.

“We also want to teach the girls that the military is not just about the military. It is about the whole community,” Payne said.

Payne and Smith are confident that the girls will meet the goals that the troop leaders have set for them.

“Our girls really set their own initiatives and challenges,” Payne said. “They want to be different from other people and make a stand.”

One example of Troop 25’s ability to exceed expectations was a new member challenge, in which troop members were encouraged to spread the word and swell the ranks of the troop. Within two days, the amount of girls in the troop had doubled. Smith said the girls did it all by word of mouth.

Payne and Smith asked their troop to describe how Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma has made an impact in their lives as military children. Several of the girls said Girl Scouts helped them make friends, and a few said the troop was comforting when a parent was deployed.

Charlene Caldwell, daughter of single mother Maj. Llena Caldwell, said she did not know what to expect when she was relocated to Lawton.

“Now I have a school, I have friends and I have Girl Scouts,” Caldwell said.

“I’m so happy and grateful I signed up or I would have missed all the fun we have.”

Payne and Smith have planned a trip to the soup kitchen, participation in the Frost Your Fanny Run, and a Thanksgiving party for November.

News

November 25, 2008

3

CU IRON Chef 2008

By Jim Horinek Collegian Staff On Nov. 13 the stoves were fired up as Student Housing and PAC hosted the second annual Cameron Iron Chef Competition.

The competition pitted two teams against each other in a culinary cook-off. The event is a spin-off of the popular television program “Iron Chef America” that in turn is a spin off of Japanese television show “Iron Chef.”

The teams consisted of three students each. Team Emeril was made up of Levi Pettijohn, Brandon Atkins and Jermey Ray. Their opponents were Team Delicious, which was made up of Whitney Jackson, Anquette Anderson and Milan Bimali.

Both teams were required to prepare a salad, entrée and dessert.

In addition, it was required that the secret ingredient, orange, be included in all of the dishes.

According the Krystal McCorgary, Womens’ Hall Director, the teams had a total of two hours to complete their meals.

“They had one hour to prepare and do things such as cleaning and cutting the vegetables or cutting meat,” McCorgary said. “Then they had one hour to actually

cook, blend and season and serve the food items.”

There was a panel of judges on hand to determine the winner of the competition. The panel consisted of Assistant Professor Dr. Justin Walton, Food Services Director Daniel Ghrayyeb, junior Amanda Finch and sophomore Justin Payne. The teams’ culinary creations were judged on four factors; creativity, presentation, use of the secret ingredient and overall taste. After the skillets had cooled and the dishes had been served, the judges made their observations and tallied up the scores of the teams.

In the end there was an overall tie between both teams. As a result, in accordance with CU Iron Chef rules the winner was determined to be the team with the highest score in the taste category. With tension in the air, the announcers relayed the judges’ decision and declared Team Emeril the winner of CU Iron Chef 2008.

Each of the members of the winning team received a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart. The members of the other team received $15 gift cards to Wal-Mart.

Aside from the work that the contestants put into the event, there was a lot of other work that had to be done to prepare for the event. Sodexo, the campus food services entity, did much of this work. Sodexo supplied the cooks

with stovetops, cooking utensils and many other necessary items.

Furthermore, two students, Ryan Faucett and Keaton Lamle, functioned as the hosts of the event. They worked throughout the night to keep the audience involved and up to date on what was going on in the kitchen.

The Office of Student Development put together a multi-cultural food etiquette quiz.

Periodically during the event, the audience, which was composed of approximately 80 people, was asked to answer the quiz questions. The audience members who answered a question correctly received a prize.

Student Housing and PAC had their own prizes to give away as well.

“We raffled off cookbooks, two toaster ovens and two blenders,” McCorgary said.

According to McCorgary, the event went extremely well.

“People were into it. The hosts did a great job of keeping everyone entertained and incorporating the audience. It was a much larger turn out than last year.

Overall, it was a very successful program,” McCorgary said.

Photos by Jim Horinek

The Teams (left to right): Team Delicious - Milan Bimali, Anquette Anderson and Whitney Jackson. Team Emeril - Jermey Ray Brandon Atkins and Levi Pettijohn.

The Judges (seated left to right): Daniel Ghrayyeb, Dr. Justin Walton, Amanda Finch and Justin Payne.

The Host: Junior Ryan Faucett calls out the winner of one of the prizes. Faucett was one of the hosts of CU Iron Chef.

ADHD - 1 p.m. on Jan. 6 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 Violence & - 1 p.m. on Jan. 13 Psyche 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 Dementia - 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 Substance - 1 p.m. on Jan. 27 Abuse 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 28

News

4

November 25, 2008

Former professor recalls defining moments

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff 1968 was a time of change for not only the country but also for Cameron University.

The school was changing from a junior college to a traditional university. More professors and students were attending than ever before. For the first time, women could actually wear pants, and Karen McPhellips was there to see it all.

“Both my husband and I thought it would be a good opportunity for us,” McPhellips said. “The school would be growing and expanding and it presented a nice place to spend our careers.”

What McPhellips wasn’t prepared for was the extreme conservative nature of the area.

The 28-year-old professor was fresh out of graduate school at Oklahoma State University and was ready to take on the world.

Looking back at that point in her life, she considered herself a hippy, though she didn’t dress the look.

So when McPhellips showed up to class one day wearing a pantsuit, things would never be the same.

“I didn’t wear dresses much, if at all. I certainly didn’t wear them to class when I was in grad school,” McPhellips said. “I was here for the first couple of weeks and wore little dresses like they wanted.

But looking over the situation, I thought I could wear a nice pantsuit and see what happened.”

Pantsuits in 1968 are considerably different than the pantsuits of today. McPhellips described them as “dresses over slacks.” She said her pantsuit was made out of a nice fabric and was tailored to her. It wasn’t too

jeans or short shorts or anything tight or revealing. If anything, like that.”

McPhellips said, it was more Changing decades of conservative than wearing a kneetradition didn’t happen without high dress. opposition. McPhellips was never “What we called pantsuits, reprimanded or threatened for the Taliban wouldn’t have had a wearing pants, but she heard of problem with,” she said. other women in other departments The first day she wore her across the campus that had been new pantsuit, McPhellips said told they could not wear pantsuits. female faculty and staff members Most followed the word of their were standing outside her office department chairs and continued door wanting to know who gave to wear dresses. her permission to wear the new “Looking back, I was never in clothes. When she told them no any real danger,” McPhellips said. one had given her permission, “No one in the administration she said they couldn’t believe it. really cared After all, she if the women was never wore pantsuits informed or not. But a lot of any of department regulations chairs were saying women conservative had to wear and didn’t want dresses. to allow it, and “The very the women next day, understood. there were They didn’t probably a want to lose dozen women their jobs over on campus something so wearing foolish and I pantsuits,” McPhellips Photo by Jim Horinek don’t blame them.” said. “One of Standing up for Mother It took a the women Nature: According to year or so for who taught in McPhellips, the old tree located the majority of the English outside the south entrance to the department department Nance Boyer was saved more chairs to lived in than 30 years ago after a English fi nally allow Duncan and professor and her students their female had a dress formed a ring around the faculty and staff shop. A lot of tree when the administration members to her colleagues requested it be cut down. There wear pantsuits. went over were only three trees on the By the and bought grounds during that time and the following year, conservative actions of Dr. Tise ensured there McPhellips pantsuits. It’s would be at least three trees for said the ultranot like we the future. conservative were trying department to wear blue

Photo courtesy of Michael D. Pope of the Lawton Constitution

Fond memories: Karen McPhellips began teaching at Cameron in 1968. She is now retired but has many remarkable stories. chairs were in the minority.

“They were the ones that looked weird for not allowing it,” she said.

“And they ultimately gave in.”

At the time, Lawton Public Schools still would not allow women to wear pants while they were teaching classes. McPhellips’ department chair in the teacher’s education department told her that his wife was a teacher in Lawton Public Schools and he supported the idea of wearing pantsuits. He saw it as common sense and logic because pantsuits were less revealing than dresses.

“He told me that he couldn’t understand why the teachers were made to wear dresses when they had to get on the floor a lot of times to pick up five yearolds having temper tantrums or if they had to break up a fight,” McPhellips said. “So he was behind me the entire way.”

Still, McPhellips never wore pants when she was going to work with student-teachers at any of the public schools. She respected the rules of the administration and

said it wasn’t her job to change the inner-workings of Lawton Public Schools.

“Any time that I came to class wearing a dress, it was because I was going to go to a school at some point during the day,” she said.

Looking back at the whole situation, McPhellips wasn’t sure it was such a big contribution to the college. She imagined the change would have happened in due time. The administration was changed the following year and the university was undergoing an evolution. Change was coming one way or another.

“One of the reasons I did it was because I thought it was prime time for a change at the university,” McPhellips said.

“I understand it was easier for some people to push things than for others. I was new, in my first year, and didn’t need the job security like a lot of people did.

My husband and I had other job opportunities at the time, so we could have gone somewhere else.

But it felt good to do what I did.”

Horinek said it could not have been done without the archivists. Brown said the workers in the archives had an uncanny knowledge of the photos.

“They have a lot of great knowledge of these photos that they can just call on instantly,” she said.

“They could look at a photo and tell you when it was taken, where and what buildings were in it.”

Brown has even more of an appreciation for Cameron’s history than she did when she started out on the project. She didn’t know about many of the buildings that have come

and gone on campus and wishes that a couple of them were still around to see. She said she hopes people will find the same enjoyment looking at the photos as she did when she was picking them out.

“Anyone likes to know where they came from and where they started,” Brown said. “Whether it be in your own family, and Cameron is our family now. I think it’s great to see how we started, and now students can see they’re part of an institution that’s strong for a hundred years.”

PHOTOS continued from page 1 “The three of us spent a solid week working from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. hanging the photos,” he said. “The two carpenters did a wonderful job. After roughly five days, we finished and the project was complete.”

More pictures were scanned than were finally printed and mounted across campus. Brown said it was easier to look through the photos and determine the better ones when they were digital copies. The alternative was looking through the photos individually with gloves. In

the end, she said she was satisfied with the photos that were chosen to be printed and she was proud of where they were ultimately mounted.

“We knew what photos we wanted to hang and a lot of the photos that are hanging up have relevance to the building they are in,” Brown said. “Some of the photos in Howell Hall feature computers that are as big as a small room, or close to it.”

A lot of hard work from a lot of people was put into the centennial photo project. Both Brown and

CU Archives

Program is just one of many different subjects that are universal.

According to Carol Claiborne, Interim Director of Financial Assistance, Cameron hopes that the program will help students and parents understand and deal with the intricacies of financial assistance.

“Financial assistance can be complex,” Claiborne said. “We launched this Web site in order to provide comprehensive and easy-to-find information about financial aid to students and prospective students. The videos are easy to follow and allow viewers to move from one topic to another at their own pace.”

Financial Aid TV is a Webbased video service that can be utilized, with no need for a password or username, by anyone

with access to the Internet. A link can be found on the Cameron Web site or the system can be accessed directly by going to www. cameron.financialaidtv.com.

The Assistant Director of Financial Assistance, Christine Crandon, views the service as a very useful tool for students and their parents. She hopes that the system will help ease the ordeal of getting information about financial assistance.

“Hopefully it will improve our customer service,” Crandon said. “You don’t have to come up here and stand in long lines. Your parents can get on there or your spouse. Whoever has questions about financial aid can utilize it.”

Crandon said Financial Aid TV has real potential to help higher education newcomers understand how the aid systems work.

“I hope parents can get a lot out of this. Sometimes it is hard because when you have a lot of first generation college students the parents don’t know about these things,” Crandon said. “So having a product like this, I think it can just be of so much benefit to a parent.”

Currently, the Financial Aid

TV continued from page 1 For example, questions regarding the PELL Grant Program have the same answers no matter what institution the student is attending. The PELL Grant

TV program does not cover state- the first school in the state to actually implement this program, or institution-specific financial to get it up live and get it going so aid information. However, that it can actually be viewed by Crandon said those subjects are prospective students. So we are being addressed. very excited,” Crandon said.

“Information about CameronFor more information on the specific scholarships and aid Financial Aid TV program visit will eventually be answered the Financial Assistance Web site through the Web site but they at www.cameron.edu/financialaid are not there yet,” Crandon said. or call 581.2293.

“The Oklahoma’s Promise and Cameron Gold, which is GOLD continued from page 1 the Cameron scholarship that goes ”Hopefully potential students will recognize this as along with not just a reason to come to Cameron, but will show Oklahoma’s them what we have to offer. Our recruiters are working Promise, will hard to inform high school seniors of the opportunity,” be posted Claiborne said. on there Claiborne also stressed that the application deadline eventually. is crucial.

Things “If the application has not been submitted by like OTAG April 1, 2009, the applicant will not be eligible for the will also be scholarship,” she said. available in the To apply for the scholarship, students must apply for future.” admission to Cameron University, submit a scholarship Cameron application to the office of admissions, submit a Free is to be the Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to first university financial assistance, and begin the Fall 2009 semester in Oklahoma at Cameron. The potential student must also be eligible to utilize the for OHLAP funding to qualify for Cameron Gold. All Financial Aid of these steps must be taken before April 1, 2009 for TV system. the applicant to be considered for funding.

“We are

News

November 25, 2008

5

Leigh Holmes Creative Creative Non-fiction Contest awards banquet.

“We recognize the winner at the annual English Collegian Staff banquet in the spring,” Dr. Kingsley said. “In the past, when he has been able to, Dr. Holmes has been there to Dr. Leigh Holmes, a retired English professor from present the award himself which has been really nice.”

Cameron University, is offering further opportunities for Dr. Kingsley said students entering the contest will have CU students to scratch the writing itch. the opportunity to expose their work to other’s opinions Dr. Margery Kingsley, Professor and Chair of CU’s and gain contest-writing experience.

Department of English and Foreign Languages, said Dr. “I think it is a great way, first of all, just to get some Holmes created and taught a course called Non-fiction experience in submitting work. The more stuff you send Prose that is still offered at CU and later established the out, if you’re interested in writing or being published and Leigh Holmes Creative Nonfiction Contest for students. recognized, the more used to the process you get,” Dr. “It was around the time Dr. Holmes retired or just Kingsley said. “I think submitting is always a good thing to before [his retirement.] He decided that we had prizes for do.” fiction writing, but nothing for nonfiction,” Dr. Kingsley Submitting contest pieces for a cash said. “He was really committed to prize is not the only benefit of good that genre and wanted to establish “Dr. Holmes wanted to writing skills, but a life-long skill. a prize and make it open to “It is a wonderful opportunity to recognize superior writing in anybody.” be recognized for a skill that is really Dr. Kingsley said that Dr. nonfiction and has continued useful in the workplace. We get a lot Holmes continues to support the to fund it every year since the of employers who say, ‘we want people contest even after his retirement. contest’s beginning in 2003.” who can write; we want students who “Dr. Holmes wanted to recognize superior writing in — Dr. Margery Kingsley can write.’” Dr. Kingsley said, “If you have a writing award in your past nonfiction and has continued Chair of Department of English and you can point to that, it’s really to fund it every year since the and Foreign Languages a plum when you go out to apply for contest’s beginning in 2003,” Dr. jobs. There is also the excitement that Kingsley said. submitting a piece that you’re really Unlike a university tuition proud of and want other people to be waiver, the $250 cash prize can proud of and get recognized as a superior piece of writing.” be used at the winning student’s leisure. Entry is not Dr. Kingsley said students are allowed to enter only one dependent upon classification or completed courses and is essay per contest. Essays need to be titled, an original work open to all CU students. of the student and consist of 1500 to 3000 words with “You do not need to be full-time; you only have to 12-point text and a double-spaced format. The essay must be enrolled. It’s open to all levels: freshmen, seniors and be accompanied with a completed entry form and three graduate students,” Dr. Kingsley said. “Obviously, the extra copies in addition to the original for submission. All more you know about writing the better your chances. submissions are blind; a student’s name should be written We have some very talented writers on campus who are in on the entry form only along with the title of the essay. disciplines other than English and we definitely want this to be open to everybody. There are people who like to write, Names should not be written on the contest piece. Contest but have other things they enjoy as well. There is no reason entry forms are located in Nance Boyer Room 2014.

Completed essays are due no later than Dec. 8. they shouldn’t be recognized.”

For more contest opportunities, contact the department After the CU faculty panel reviews each contest piece, office of English and Foreign Languages at 581.2331. a winner will be recognized during the annual department

By Alexis Del Ciello

Finals Schedule Normal Class Time

Exam Time

Tuesday, Dec. 9 7:30 a.m. R; 8 a.m. TR, R, 8:30 a.m. TR 11 a.m. TR, R, 11:30 R 2 p.m. TR, R, 2:30 p.m. TR, R

8 - 10 a.m.

10 a.m. - Noon 1 - 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec 12 8 a.m. Daily, MWF, MW 8 - 10 a.m.

10 a.m. Daily, MWF, MW 10 a.m. - Noon 12 p.m. Daily, MWF, MW, W, F 1 - 3 p.m.

2 p.m. Daily, MWF, MW, W, F 3 - 5 p.m.

4:30 p.m. MW, 5 p.m. MW, 5:05 p.m. MW, 5:10 p.m. MW, 5:15 p.m. MW, 5 p.m. MTWR, 3:40 p.m. W, 4:15 p.m. W, 4:25 W 5 - 7 p.m.

6:20 p.m. W, 6:30 p.m. W, MW (2nd 8-Weeks) 7 p.m. W, 7:05 W 7 - 9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 13 9:30 a.m. TR, R; 9 a.m. R Noon TR, R; 12:30 p.m. TR, R 1 p.m. TR, R; 1:30 p.m. TR, R 3 p.m. TR, R; 3:30 p.m. TR, R 4:30 p.m. TR, 5 p.m. TR, 5:05 p.m. TR, 5:10 p.m. TR, 3:40 p.m. R, 4:15 p.m .R, 4:25 p.m. R 6:20 p.m. R, 6:30 p.m. R, TR (2nd 8-Weeks) 7 p.m. R, 7:05 p.m. R

8 - 10 a.m.

10 a.m. - Noon 1 - 3 p.m.

3 - 5 p.m.

5 - 7 p.m.

7 - 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14 MCT Campus

9 a.m. Daily, MWF, MW; 9:30 a.m. MWF 8 - 10 a.m.

11 a.m. Daily, MWF, MW; 9:30 a.m. MWF 10 a.m. - Noon 1 p.m. Daily, MWF, MW, M, W, F; 1:30 p.m. Daily, W; 12:45 p.m. MWF 1 - 3 p.m.

3 p.m. Daily, MWF, MW, W; 3:30 p.m. MW 3 - 5 p.m.

Any class not listed

5 - 7 p.m.

5:30 p.m. MW at Ft. Sill, 5:30 p.m. TR at Ft. Sill and 11:40 a.m. MTWRF at Ft. Sill - Finals will be on the last scheduled day of class.

Classes which meet on Tuesdays only for 16 weeks will have their finals during their regular class meeting times on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Classes which meet on Thursdays only for 16 weeks will have their finals during their regular class meeting times on Thursday, Dec. 11. They will also meet on Tuesday, Dec. 9 as a regular class meeting.

2nd 8-week TR classes will have their final on Thursday, Dec. 11. Tuesday, Dec. 9 is a regular class meeting.

Distance education final exams will be taken at authorized testing centers.

Classes that meet on Mondays only will have their finals during their regular class meeting times on Monday, Dec. 8.

Cancer awareness, research benefit people of all walks of life

By Valerie Pennington Collegian Staff Many different battles are fought and won daily. Some of them happen in foreign countries while others are much closer to home, so close in fact that they are waged inside one’s own body.

The American Cancer Society is constantly seeking ways to raise awareness and funds to battle the insurgents that invade so many lives.

Although October was National Breast Cancer Awareness month, educating oneself on the forms of cancer, information about cancer prevention and organizations that deal with cancer should be a constant effort.

Tanja Williams and Jennifer Redman have been working diligently to increase the awareness and visibility of the American Cancer Society office here in Lawton.

“We hope to increase the awareness of the different types of cancer and continue helping those who are fighting currently,” Williams said.

The office provides services to clients in the local area that could help raise their spirits and provide comfort.

“We offer free wigs, hats, turbans and makeup tips,” Williams said.

“Survivors also volunteer their

time to visit with people who have recently been diagnosed with cancer to share their experience and offer comfort.”

Although being advocates for the education of the local community is a large responsibility, Williams and Redman also coordinate fundraising events for the American Cancer Society. They are open to suggestions and always accepting community volunteers, Williams said.

One of the most widely known activities that the American Cancer Society encourages involvement in is the Relay for Life. Many local businesses faithfully participate in the Relay for Life, but college students have gotten involved too.

The 2007 Relay for Life brochure states that more than 350 colleges and universities have joined the fight against cancer by establishing chapters of Colleges Against Cancer. It is also estimated that more that $18 million will be raised by those organizations.

Brochures are available through the office that detail the different types, tests and precautions that

one can take in the personal fight against cancer. Women, specifically, need to start preventative examinations as soon as they become sexually active or no later than the age of 21. Information is also available on the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.

Although many students have not had the misfortune of experiencing a battle with cancer first hand, a great deal have faced it second hand through family or friends. Educating oneself on the different types of cancer and the opportunities to serve ones community is important.

For more information on what CU students can do to promote education or help raise awareness, please contact Jennifer Redman or Tanya Williams via telephone at 353-8145 or visit the Lawton branch of the American Cancer Society at 1320 Northwest Homestead Dr., Ste. D.

MCT Campus

Voices

6

November 25, 2008

Time has come for America to move on

With election over, populace should rally behind Obama Sen. Barack Obama is destined to become the future 44th President of the United States of America.

Whether we agree with this or not matters little. It is a fact of life that McCain supporters must get over.

Throughout the past year, the campaign for the presidency was almost all that the media would talk about. Likewise, this very subject was the impetus for countless conversations and debates. I have found that those individuals who are very much into politics typically end up being strong supporters of one candidate while failing to acknowledge the good points that the other possesses. This exclusive sort of thinking doesn’t really help the process.

If you were a girl during my childhood, you either really loved the Backstreet Boys or you really loved N*Sync. You could not love both equally. You just had to choose a side.

The same ugly situation reared its head with the election, and it seems to me that that kind of thinking didn’t actually help solve the question of which candidate is more qualified. I compare this with childhood music groups to point out the insignificance of the whole debate. Why should a person exclusively support one candidate over the other? Can we not support both to a certain extent?

On MySpace and Facebook, I saw several supporters of both candidates. I don’t think it matters who you voted for or why you decided to favor one over the other. What I think does matter is the fact that Obama is now the President-elect and people need to just get over it. I participated in the live CUTV “Election Night Coverage ‘08” and helped fill any position that

individuals has been ridiculed for their decisions. I am not in any way stating that The Cameron Collegian staff is on some kind of pedestal. They can simply agree to disagree.

I am stating that in order for freedom of thought to apply to you, you must apply it to others as well.

MCT Campus I think that Bridging the gap: Sen. John McCain and President-Elect Barack Obama meet to the majority discuss matters of state. Both men have signaled that it’s time to come together as a of the past country. presidential was lacking manpower. It was really for a common cause that was directed campaign was an awesome experience to give live toward President-elect Obama and more or less a popularity contest coverage on such a groundbreaking openly publicized it, I’m sure he rather than a true evaluation of either event in U.S. history. It was also very would have to pay it some attention person’s ability to fulfill the job. To shocking when I heard several people eventually. Maybe if our views were an extent, popularity does play a the next day say that, “if McCain wins worded properly or if they were role. The final decision that goes on I’m moving to Canada. America will submitted in a proper manner, he a voting ballot should be based on be screwed.” just might listen. Nobody likes to the person’s experience, their loyalty, Personally, feel attacked when you do not agree dependability, knowledge, and what no matter which with his or her views. Why would they can do or try to do for the better candidate won, I feel the public attack such a well-known of the country. they both deserve political figure such as Obama? Even Recently there has been great respect. It is sheer if he was just some random guy I question about what President-elect ignorance to say you worked with, I would pay him the Obama will do during his first 100 will move to another same respect as if he were already days in office. I do not feel that country simply the president. Everyone deserves the the first 100 days of a presidency because someone opportunity to express what they are any more important than the was elected that think and how they feel. If you do very last day. I understand that for you did not vote for. not agree then that is your business, substantial changes to take place Not every person in but I do not think people should there is a process and that it does take the U.S. thinks the be ridiculed for having a different some time. If Obama, the public and same way, therefore opinion or belief on a given subject. members of our government work I find it ridiculous “The Cameron Collegian” had a together to achieve these goals, then that people would be so strongly meeting a few weeks ago and took a maybe there is a chance that things opposed to Obama’s victory. If he has vote on the decision of who we were could be accomplished at a greater different views on gun control or how going to endorse for the election. Out speed. things should work, he should not of 10 staff members who were present I highly encourage anyone who has lose the right to be accepted as our during that particular meeting, read this to think about where they next president. I think people should two of those members refused to stand in any debate from now on. be open-minded enough to agree to personally endorse Obama. Through Even if the conversation is as simple disagree once in awhile. the duration of the meeting and even as what is the best color in a crayon If enough people banded together up to this day, neither of those two box or as complicated as same-sex

Raven Weiss

Bipartisanship takes back-seat to party vendettas The word of the day for politics seems to be “change.”

After all, there is change on the horizon with a new president-elect and a revamped Capitol Hill.

But the same problems that faced the previous Congress and the previous president still remain. With all of this talk of bipartisanship and a new dawn of cooperation between Republican and Democrat, red and blue, cats and dog, the same old song and dance continues to be played out before a populace that’s yawning while standing in line at the unemployment office.

I’m amused and somewhat saddened by the latest conundrum that Congress faces in whether Joe Lieberman should lose his position as the Senate Homeland Security Chairman. We have millions of people out of work, three auto manufacturers facing bankruptcy and let’s not forget the story of the missing $700 billion in bailout money that has been spent, but no one knows where.

I’ll admit, I’m not a Lieberman fan.

I was a George W. Bush supporter, rather naively, in 2000 and my staunch hatred of everything Al Gore forced

me to ignore Lieberman. Since then, I’ve discovered he’s not that bad of a guy. We agree on a lot of policies, and disagree on others. But in this new era of change, there was honestly a vote to strip Lieberman of his committee chair because he supported John McCain over Barack Obama.

Why? That question baffles my mind. I cannot even come up with a word to describe the sheer absurdity of this premise. I thought Bill Clinton’s impeachment was asinine, but this is ludicrous. We’re supposedly going to move beyond party lines and begin anew, but not before cleaning out our closets of anyone who disagrees with us? Is that the message that our government wants to send the American people, but also the world?

Granted, Lieberman was exonerated and will be allowed to keep his chair. But it’s a slap in the face to him. We live in a country where we should be able to support whomever we want to run for president or any political office. If our own politicians have to be handcuffed and muzzled, what does that say to the American people? Can your boss now threaten to fire you simply because you wanted McCain to win over Obama? What if you’re a Ralph Nader supporter? Well

Joshua Rouse

you’re especially on your own there. You might as well pack your bags and start looking for a new job. People are still mad at him for supposedly costing Gore the election.

There is a façade where we all pretend it’s fine to like the other guy on the other side of party lines, but there’s a definite anger festering there. Don’t let anyone find out you’re a Bush supporter or you might end up in a political debate that will end with numerous stale jokes about how the president looks like a chimpanzee and has the IQ of one.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a politically charged climate with such hatred of the other side. I’m willing to extend Obama an olive branch and see what he can do with the country. We certainly need something done in place of the stagnation that is our government over the past year or so. But let’s throw bread to the masses and please them in the form of “stimulus checks” that will get our economy going in the right direction.

I see this example of Lieberman and how he was nearly crucified on the Hill because he spoke up against the opposition and it worries me. Though, it’s not like he’s even bound to the Democrats. He’s an Independent. But let’s not let the facts get in the way of

marriage, I think that people could be a little bit more open-minded and see what other people have to offer. Perhaps someone who is on the opposing side could change how you view a given topic. Any way you look at it, Obama is the next President and he deserves the same respect that you or I do, whether you agree with his views or not.

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Bira Vidal Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - John Robertson Video Editor - Kyle Luetters

Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kerry Myers Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Alexis Del Ciello, Raven Weiss, Valerie Pennington, Monica Garner

Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller

Newswriting Students Brooke Adams, Aduke Adesida, Kathryn Batule, Brandy Belew, Lauren Bennett, Greg Boxell, Taylor Brunwald, Justin Cliburn, Jeramy Eidson, Monica Garner, Anna Hataway, Kyle Luetters, Megan Mefford, Solitaire Merrill, Jorie Palmer, Nicole Roames, Chelsea Robertson, Melissa Rodgers, Saman Samii, Meagan Searcy, Rashmi Thapaliya, Raven Weiss, Brooke Whiteley, Nikki Yowell

About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Letters Policy Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.

The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words.

Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks.

All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used.

Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification.

Letters can be sent by regular mail or e-mail to collegian@cameron.edu, or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.

Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author.

The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board.

The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.

Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content.

Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.

MCT Campus

a good witch hunt. You like McCain, then get off our committees because you’re not good enough for the new regime.

Perhaps, one day, we will have bipartisanship. Democrat and Republican, blue and red and dog and cat will be able to live in harmony. We certainly have a long way to go to get there. Just ask Lieberman.

Voices

November 25, 2008

7

Be safe this holiday season Warm wishes to the Cameron family from the ‘Collegian’ staff During the final two weeks of the fall semester, vacation plans are being made, Christmas shopping is in high gear and we are getting prepared for the holidays.

Thanksgiving break is rapidly approaching, which signals the upcoming and much dreaded finals week. While we at “The Cameron Collegian” realize how stressful this time can be, we also encourage that faculty and students alike take time to truly enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Although most of this time is used to sleep in and spend time with family and loved ones,

MCT Campus

sometimes the dedication to school work has to come first.

On the web site studygs.net you can pick up tips on how to improve your study habits and also take a 10-question survey on where your study skills stand.

I found that the most helpful section of the web site discussed how the student should set a list of priorities and follow them.

It is also helpful if the student evaluates which time of the day or night she or he is most productive and also at what locations. Before the official start of finals week, I would highly encourage all students to visit this site, As we enjoy another Thanksgiving dinner this year, we cannot forget the Friday after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday, is the official start of the Christmas shopping season, which also means an

increased crime rate.

According to www.musc.edu, crime rates during the holiday season are more profound than at other times of the year.

The first thing that the website warns us about is maintaining safety in your own home. The suggestions for home safety are to keep all doors and windows locked and to not display gifts or valuable items in sight of windows or doorways. The site also suggested being on the look out for delivery personnel who “mistake your address for another.” These people posing as mail carriers could very well have rented a suit and are scoping out homes to steal from.

Another section that could be extremely helpful on this Web site was safety while you are shopping or out in public.

Men are advised to keep wallets in either a front pants pocket or an inside pocket on a jacket or coat. The site suggests that women keep their purses slung over one shoulder and let the bag rest under the opposite arm. Having the purse wrapped around your body prevents any suspecting thief from making off with your purse. Everyone is also

encouraged to park near bright lighting if possible and when exiting a store to have your keys out and ready. If you stop at your car to find them you are less aware of your surroundings and more susceptible to a robbery, kidnapping MCT Campus or automotive theft.

Paying for your Christmas gifts should also be something any consumer should help protect. The biggest issue some consumers have had is cash being stolen out of their wallets while making a purchase with a card or check. You should always keep your wallet closed and in your hand when waiting on a receipt or change.

No matter what background you come from or what holidays you celebrate, I wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

I hope that we can all start the new year with great expectations.

Keep in mind that it is close to the end, but finals are just a week away.

The staff at “The Cameron Collegian” would like to thank everyone for their continued loyalty in reading our weekly publication and those who invest in advertisements. Without the audience or funding we would not be able to produce a quality product.

GAMERS EMERGE FROM PARENTS’ BASEMENTS

f Bu n gie

for the most part, have a firm anchor in real world interests. They’re in your classes, and you won’t know it because most of them have the common sense not to wear a t-shirt with an elf or Master Chief on it.

At least, I hope they do.

It really only takes a commercial break to figure out just how huge the gaming industry has become.

While writing this article with the television going, I saw ads for “Gears of War 2,” “Spore” and a new addition to the “Crash Bandicoot” franchise in the span of about 30 minutes. It doesn’t sound like much, but it wasn’t so long ago that gaming releases relied solely on advertisements placed in magazines that catered to the gaming crowd. Now, and especially in our age group, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that, even if they didn’t play many games, wouldn’t have at least some idea of what you were talking about if you were overheard mentioning “Halo 3.”

It doesn’t stop with television tes y o

husbands and wives.

It turns out that at some point in the last few years gaming has gained a momentum that the boys at Atari and Nintendo wouldn’t have expected even 10 years ago.

In recent years, gaming has taken root in a way that has redefined the way that people view the entire industry.

Gone are the images of neckbearded youths sitting in a dark basement and arguing over MCT Campus whether or not they need to roll initiative or whether they have enough charisma to seduce that totally hot witch.

Today’s gamers, the ones that the industry markets to, are college-aged and older people.

They’re people who own houses, people who are putting themselves through college and people who,

Co u r

With the launch of Blizzard Entertainment’s most recent expansion to “World of Warcraft,” it’s becoming fairly obvious that gaming is no longer the sole territory of nerds.

I actually had a chance to go to the midnight release for the expansion, “Wrath of the Lich King,” on Nov. 14 and found that it wasn’t quite what I expected.

Sure, it was a bunch of gaming fanatics standing in a nearly empty mall waiting for the go-ahead to pick up a game, but the people in that line were surprisingly normal. I won’t lie and say that everyone there defied the stereotype of the gaming nerd, but most of these people were adults. They were fathers, mothers, grandparents,

John Robertson

though.

The gaming industry has managed to court the soft drink and snack companies as well. Any trip to the grocery store around a major release date is bound to turn up promotional items for the latest game, and with the gaming industry only gaining steam it’s only going to get more noticeable. For the release of “Halo 3,” Mountain Dew even came up with a new drink and dubbed it “Gamer Fuel.” While the idea of gamers needing a particular fuel, much less one that comes in a can, is preposterous, the industry knows its clientele, and it’s not above re-coloring the same drink

and marketing it to the same crowd they just sold a game to. If that sounds cynical, it’s merely because I wish I had come up with the idea first.

You’d literally have to be living in a cave or be Amish to miss the increased visibility of the gaming industry. The real draw is that games cater to almost every possible demographic. Fantasy, sports, action and horror genres are popular staples of the industry, and the smart money is on the next generation being even more into these things than the current one.

Franchises like Nintendo’s Mario are quickly getting young kids into the scene, and they’ll grow up to be just as entrenched in the video game industry as we are.

It’d be easy to see this as a bad thing if you were a total cynic, but today’s gamers are more socially acclimated than previous crops.

They have lives, jobs and families, and while they may be willing to sit in one place and shoot lasers at an alien’s head for a few hours, they don’t let that passion get in the way of their responsibilities. With the social stigma lifted, entire families are getting into it, and it’s only going to get more intense as the next decade pans out.

Sports

8

November 25, 2008

The ultimate top ten list

By Bennett Dewan

The best sports movies ever

Collegian Staff

The Short List of Big Talent 1) Field of Dreams (1989) 2) Raging Bull (1980) 3) Hoosiers (1986) 4) Rudy (1993) 5) The Natural (1984) 6) 61* (2001) 7) Remember the Titans (2000) 8) A League of Their Own (1992) 9) Miracle (2004) 10) Cool Runnings (1993) Honorable Mentions: The Sandlot, Bull Durham, Happy Gilmore, Slap Shot, Cinderella Man, Karate Kid and White Men Can’t Jump Sports seem to be a rather favoured subject of the Hollywood producers that make the good and bad films that populate the local theaters in the area. Maybe it is to capitalize on the ever-expanding market of 30-to 40-year-old males with little to do in the afternoons and evenings. Perhaps the producers wish to play to all of the old athletes that are seemingly stuck re-living their days of glory and wondering what might have been.

Or maybe, just maybe, sports is one of the universal languages that speak to people on many different levels. Some movies do it through laughter, others through tears, but there is no coincidence that some of the most beloved films of the last 30 years are centered around a sporting event, an athlete or a team. After much debate, both internal and external, the list of the top 10 sports films of all time are as follows: No. 10 Cool Runnings Take away the slapstick comedy and a few ridiculous scenes and what is left is a heartwarming tale of overcoming odds, smashing stereotypes and the meaning of team. One of the lines that sticks out from the movie takes place while the Jamaican Bobsled team is trying to qualify for the Olympics amidst the jeers of some of the other nations top competitors. “We’re different, people are always afraid of what’s different.” This is a sports movie that has a moral value about acceptance and perseverance. While some might argue the inclusion of a children’s movie on the list, few can argue that this is a lesson that the children of this world should learn.

No. 9 Miracle Sports movies are often about underdogs doing the impossible, so the inclusion of a biopic of the most unexpected victory of all time was a must. The film seeks to catalogue the events prior to and during the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey teams match with the vaunted U.S.S.R. team led by seemingly unbeatable goalie Vladislav Tretiak. The U.S. coached by Herb Brooks took a group of players that no one believed in and proceeded to outplay the Russian team that had beaten the NHL All Star team 6-0 in a game that has come to be known as the “Miracle on Ice.” The movie will make anyone believe that hard work and determination can beat all the odds.

No. 8 A League of Their Own “There’s no crying in baseball.” This film delivered iconic lines and iconic characters in handfuls. Lets start with the basics, at heart it is a movie about women seeking acceptance in a male dominated baseball and the machismo sporting society after the ‘fellas’ go off to war.

Throw in a washed up manager for comic relief, played by Tom Hanks who seemed to be born for the roll, and the product is a film that smashes preconceived notions of gender roles in the sporting world.

The movie even manages to turn emotional when Hanks is forced to deliver a letter to one of his players detailing her husbands death in the war. Most films based on over-the-top characters and funny happenings fall flat when it comes to expressing true emotions, but this movie is truly one with heart.

No. 7 Remember the Titans It is hard to argue with the addition of movies based on true events, especially when sporting events can effect change on a society in a positive way. “Remember the Titans” is about everything that makes sports great: beating the odds, toughness, heart, determination and perseverance; it also shows how games can break down the barriers between communities and teammates. The film also features one of the best motivational speeches by a coach when Denzel Washington’s character takes the team to Gettysburg, Pa. “I don’t care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe...

I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men,” Washington’s character said. This integration era film delivers all of the emotional turmoil and significance of the movement without being heavy handed and still delivering some great football action.

No. 6 61* A made for TV movie made the top ten for a reason, it is possibly better quality than most high budget sports flicks. With Yankee fan and Hollywood legend Billy Crystal behind the production, the movie felt as accurate a portrayal of the home run race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. The interesting section of the story the film portrays is the refusal of metropolitan New York fans to accept Maris the small town guy from Fargo, N.D. This rejection leads to an

internal struggle that manifests itself physically throughout the season as Maris nears the record breaking home run No. 61. Sometimes life is not fair and genuinely descent people are rejected for no apparent reason other than they represent some sort of change. By the end of the film it is hard not to feel bittersweet for Maris and his great accomplishment, which is a testament to great filmmaking and great acting turned in by a superb cast of relative no names. Barry Pepper who plays Maris and Thomas Jane who plays the immensely talented and larger-than-life Mantle turn in some of the best biographical portrayals in modern cinema.

No. 5 The Natural This is a unique sports film in that it is able to couple a quality telling of a baseball story while creating a character with mythical qualities about him and what can only be described as supernatural. The story centers around Roy Hobbs, played by the ageless Robert Redford, who is on the verge of stardom as a young ballplayer when he is beset by a tragedy. Flash forward to a much older ballplayer breaking into the minor leagues with the help us his “wonder bat” that he carved from a branch that was struck by lightening that it can be inferred holds all the power to his divine talent. Written out this movie sounds terrible, on screen the film is transcendent. The final scene features one of the most iconic images in sports history, rounding the bases as the lights explode in a cavalcade of sparkling streamers, beautiful.

No. 4 Rudy The ultimate David and Goliath story. A undersized young man, played by Sean Aston before he was a hobbit, with little natural athletic talent and poor grades does all he can to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing for Notre Dame’s football team. Daniel E. ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger, grew up in a mill town idolizing the Fighting Irish and even went to a junior college in his spare time to become academically eligible to play college football. With tremendous heart, courage and tenacity Rudy is able to make the practice squad and is repeatedly put through the gauntlet by the much more physically imposing players.

This film at its core is about the resiliency of the human spirit. Rudy is the poster child for the saying, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” The most impacting scene in the film that sums up the message of the entire movie takes place during a conversation between Rudy and his main source of motivation, a particularly deep grounds-keeper.

“You’re 5 foot nothin’, 100 and nothin’, and you have barely a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football players in the land for 2 years. And you’re gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame.” If someone can walk out of this movie without feeling inspired than they lack the ability to feel hope.

No. 3 Hoosiers Voted one of the most inspiring films of all time, Hoosiers is truly a story of redemption. A down on his luck coach, played by Gene Hackman, and the town drunk take a group of misfit players and together transform each other’s lives for the better. Based on the true story of the Milan Indians 1954 season, the movie delivers real emotional depth without ever sacrificing the story or the relevance.

Hackman delivers a mammoth performance as the sometimes leader and sometimes detractor of the unlikeliest success story in Indiana high school history. This movie shows that everyone has naysayers and issues that can serve as roadblocks, but that there are no excuses for failing. Nothing can replace hard work, toughness and teamwork, especially when they are encompassed into the best basketball movie ever made. The moral of this story is everyone has something to contribute despite of their past.

No. 2 Raging Bull The real life story of boxing legend and all around mess-of-aman Jake La Motta. The boxer La Motta, a former middleweight champion played by Robert DeNiro, is characterized by the inability to adjust to success outside of the ring, often displaying the same out of control violence in his interactions with everyday people.

The film revolutionized the way that sports movies were shot by placing a camera inside the ring to simulate the fighters vision. This technique was replicated in the movies “Cinderella Man” and “Million Dollar Baby” and provided audiences with the most realistic boxing experience without having their teeth punched in. This is one of the few movies that does not have any sort of moral value other than to serve as a cautionary tale to how maladjusted people can become towards fame and fortune. The biography comes to life with DeNiro in the lead and Joe Pesci as La Motta’s wildly unstable brother. Pesci is the star of a most bizarre scene where a mob boss’ slight leads him to repeatedly slam the man into a car door. This instability plagues the La Motta family and eventually leads to ruin in the ring for the lead character who suffers a rather devastating defeat at the hand of Sugar Ray Robinson. The characters portrayed are tragically flawed and terribly interesting and the sports sequences are perhaps the best scripted of any movie ever.

No. 1 Field of Dreams Kevin Costner is not a good actor, but he was made to play this role.

A film about unsettled baseball ghosts living in an Iowa corn field is not supposed to be this good, but it is. On the surface, the film is about a man who driven by a voice that says, “if you build it, he will come,” to cut out all of his cash crops and build a baseball field. The field is shortly thereafter visited by the ghosts of baseball past who are only visible to Costner’s character. In a search for the meaning to all of this Costner goes on a road trip and kidnaps a 1960’s era writer played by James Earl Jones and meets a ball player who played less than an inning in professional baseball and never even got to bat. All this takes place while his farm is teetering on foreclosure from the bank that is run by his brother in law. From a purely one dimensional viewing of this film the premise may be the dumbest sounding thing ever conceived, but with the complexities of the story lines and the universality of baseball it just works. At it’s very core the film is about second chances, taking risks, believing in the unbelievable and having one last chance to play catch with dad.

graphics courtesy MCT Campus

Sports

November 25, 2008

9

CU Athletics ‘Aggie of the Week’ Taylor rewarded for senior leadership, clutch shooting

By Bennett Dewan Collegian Staff Children dream often of being a hero.

Some choose to dream of being a superhero like Batman or Wonder Woman while others fantasize of a different type of heroism. They dream of adding their name to the list of sporting icons known for beating the odds over and over again, the ones to go to with the game on the line no matter what the odds.

While few achieve these childhood driveway dreams, Kristi Taylor the starting senior Point Guard for the Cameron University Aggies women’s basketball team had a chance to play the hero a few times in her first two games.

“We were down two and I got the ball and took it to the hoop, and got the foul,” Taylor said.

With no time left on the clock against highly respected the Truman State Bulldogs, Taylor was at the line facing two free throws to send the game into over time.

“I knew I was going to make

the shots, I was confident and the team believed in me,” Taylor said.

Without f linching she sunk the two shots and put the game into extra time. In overtime the Aggies found themselves in an all too familiar situation, down by two with the clock ticking down.

CU once again put the ball in the hands of their senior Point Guard and once again she put herself in harms way, was fouled and was back at the free-throw line with no time remaining.

“I just said, I made the first two, so I can make the second two,” Taylor.

Anyone who has ever played basketball knows that that is easier said than done, especially under that level of pressure; but Taylor, unfazed, repeated her earlier performance with two more made shots.

As if that was not enough excitement for one game, the second overtime proved to be a close battle of evenly matched competitors. With the game tied and the clock again ticking its way towards zero, it was, for a third time that night, Taylor time.

Taylor dribbled through the

Bulldog defenders, layed the ball high off the glass, and joyously watched the ball trickle through the hoop for the win.

Taylor deserves all the accolades in the world for her heroic play, but she is quick to spread the praise among her teammates.

“If Megan wouldn’t have gotten those rebounds or if Tera wouldn’t have hit her big shots, I wouldn’t have had a chance to make those shots at the end,” Taylor said. “The last shot doesn’t win or lose a game, the stuff in before it does.”

The very next night the Aggies faced a very tough Western State College Mountaineer team. The Aggies, who battled throughout the game again, found themselves down by two in the waning seconds of the ballgame.

“They went to the zone to try and keep me out of the middle, I broke through the zone and hit a mid range shot to go up by one,” Taylor said. “We then got a five-second call on the inbound, which was great. Then they intentionally fouled me.”

It was back to the line in

the final seconds of the game, and in an encore performance Taylor knocked down two.

Unfortunately a questionable last second three pointer by the other team was allowed sending the game into overtime. With the

momentum the Mountaineers pulled away in the extra time securing the victory and capping the tournament for the Aggies.

On top of her staggering display of last second heroics, Taylor averaged 20 points and six assists for the Texas Woman’s Pioneer Premiere tournament, she also recorded five steals in the game against the Bulldogs.

The impressive statline and the last second shots were all impressive athletic feats, but it was Taylor’s senior leadership that earned her the inaugural Aggie of the Week award.

“I consider myself a pass first Point Guard,” Taylor said, “but I will do whatever I have to get a win for the team.”

Players play for stats, teammates play to win. In the Texas Woman’s Pioneer Premiere tournament CU’s senior Point Guard opened the season with a statement as to the Aggies intention to play as one.

Photos by Bennett Dewan, portrait courtesy Craig Martin

None shall pass: Senior Point Guard Kristi Taylor defends during a fast break drill during a recent practice. On top of hitting multiple big shots in the teams double overtime win over Truman State and overtime loss against Western State, Taylor recorded seven steals in the two tournament games.

CU women’s basketball faster than a speeding bullet there is a lesson to be learned for the future.

Collegian Staff “We’ve had two close games, With a new coach and a new competitive games,” he said. beginning, the Cameron women’s “That’s great for our kids to learn basketball team is ready to take those situations early in the year.” on all comers this year with a Being a new head coach at reinvigorated attitude. an established program, Webb Head Coach Tom Webb joined came to Cameron with the goal the program last April in an of setting a high standard for the attempt to team. He jumpstart wants the a lagging “We want to play up and players to program. down. We want that ball to fly be dedicated The former to the sport around.”

Eastern and be the Washington best student University — Tom Webb athletes coach Coach CU Womens Basketball they can be. didn’t waste After that, any time Webb said breathing everything new life into the women’s else will fall into place. basketball team, getting them off “There’s no doubt we want to to a 1-1 start on the year. be at Bartlesville at the end of “We won our first game in the year. We want to be at the double-overtime and we got beat conference tournament,” he said. in our second game in overtime,” “And once we’re there, we’ll set a Webb said. new goal.”

The team started the season Webb understands qualifying against Truman State on Nov. for the conference tournament is 15 at the Texas Women’s Classic a tough task and that’s in Denton, Texas. The girls why he wants the won the game with a score team to be the of 77 to 76. fastest in the The team conference. followed He wants up their the victory Cameron with a Aggies to game against be the fastest team Western State the following day. from free-throw line to The Aggies lost by a score of 62 free-throw line, and conditioning to 71. Even in loss, Webb said is the name of the game.

By Joshua Rouse

“We want to play up and down.

We want that ball to f ly around,” Webb said. “And our kids have been conditioned really well.

Coach (Steve) Lowe has done a good job on the track during the fall. We’re getting there.”

Webb said he was impressed with the level of play from his team during the first games.

Every player stepped up when they were called upon and delivered a good performance. He said their performance will go a long way toward changing their mindset into a more positive light.

“We need to be a positive group that understands a committed team toward one goal can accomplish anything,” Webb said. “If we do that, we can accomplish a lot of things in life. Not just here while we’re at Cameron, but life in general.”

The only way to achieve that, Webb said, is for the players to work together as a team, both on the court and off. Earlier in the year, the team volunteered as part of United Way’s Youth Day of Caring. Webb said that day of working together for a self less goal brought them all closer together, which will help them on the court.

“There’s no doubt that any time you help something or a group and look for nothing in return, it always brings your kids more joy than you could ever ask for,” he said. “It was a great time for our kids. They learned a lot and became closer as a team. The whole experience was great.”

Sports

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November 25, 2008

Bump, set, spike Cameron Aggie style

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff The sun has set on another season of Cameron Women’s volleyball.

The team ended the season with a record of 14 and 13, but Head Coach Brianne Smedley said the record doesn’t tell the whole story of this year’s squad.

“Last year, they finished just under .500,” she said. “And this year, they finished just above .500, so there was improvement there.”

The one disappointment for the squad was missing the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

Smedley said the girls came up short in the end and looking back on the season, she said there were matches that could have had the chance to make or break the season.

“If we had won a few of those five set matches in the year, we would be there. But that will be a good lesson for our girls next year,” Smedley said. “Every match

is important and we have to work hard all year because any one of those matches can come back to bite us and keep us out of the tournament.”

Even though the squad missed the conference tournament, Lindsay Paziuk was selected for the LSC AllConference First Team.

The Junior Right-Side Hitter lead the team in kills over the course of the season.

Smedley said Paziuk had an excellent year and was proud the conference awarded her for it, but she also said there were other girls that stepped up and performed at another level.

“I think what was really good for the team this year was there were a lot of different girls stepping up,” Smedley said.

“We really didn’t just rely on

People let me tell you ‘bout my best friends: Lindsay Paziuk (back), Haley Hatch (right) and Laura Ellerbrock (left) collide in their ritualized pre-game belly bump.

The three did this before the beginning of each set during throughout the 2008 season.

The gesture characterized the teams mentality as being like a family and their feeling that the game should be enjoyed. It was also a fan favorite amongst the Aggie faithful.

one. Everyone did a good job of contributing this year and helping us.”

Smedley joined the Aggies as a new coach earlier in the year. One of her main goals was to establish consistency. She acknowledged that goal that would be hard to achieve within one year, but she sees good things in the future for the squad.

“This spring, we [will] work hard and do the things we’ve talked about,” she said. “Then next year, we get the new freshmen and transfers in and after that season, that goal will be accomplished.”

Smedley wasn’t sure what to expect with her first year as head coach of the Aggies. She said she wanted to transform the program into something the girls would love to participate in. While she couldn’t comment on whether the players enjoyed themselves, Smedley said she had a blast during her first year as head coach.

“All I can say is if the players had half as much fun as I did, I’ve accomplished a goal,” she said. “It’s been a great year for us.

And even though I wanted to make the conference tournament and we didn’t, there are still a lot of things to be proud of.”

Photos by Bennett Dewan

For those about to block: Whitney Long, No. 8, and Laura Ellerbrock, No. 13, leap to make a block during a game against Angelo State University at the Aggie Gym. In her senior season Long led the Aggies with 61 blocks and was named to the LSC Commissioners Honor Roll. Ellerbrock led the team with an astonishing 928 sets for the season which averages out to a little more than 34 per game.

A&E

November 25, 2008

11

Comedian B.J. Novak shakes up campus

By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff Comedian B.J. Novak turned the Aggie Gym into a comedy club on Nov. 18.

B.J. Novak is most widely known for his work as coproducer, writer and actor on NBC’s “The Office,” and for his work on MTV’s “Punk’d.”

Novak’s performance brought life and laughter to the Aggie Gym for a steady hour and a half.

Novak’s comedic style masters the art of post-joke self-condemnation, at times intentionally telling a bad joke just to get the attention of the audience, and it’s still hilarious.

During the performance, Novak told a story about a child detective by the name of Wikipedia Brown, poking fun at the popular Internet encyclopedia. In the story, Wikipedia Brown cannot ever find the information that he is looking for because he keeps getting distracted by other words that appear as hyperlinks. He follows the links, finds useless information and gets distracted from the topic that he was researching in the beginning.

Novak cleverly combined a

childhood story with today’s most popular Internet encyclopedia to conjure up a brilliant comedy routine.

Novak introduced the audience to a very nice friend that he brought with him to speak with everyone, but he couldn’t summon up the courage to say anything.

Novak’s little buddy was a green frog puppet by the name of “Shy Puppet.” Apparently Shy Puppet recently saw Kermit the Frog on TV and he had a really funny joke about him. He repeatedly said, “Come on Shy Puppet, tell them what you said,” with no response from the puppet. In the end, the puppet never said a word but received much kudos from the audience. Novak had originally requested that no photos be taken during the performance, but he was generous enough to let everyone pull out their cameras to get a few photos of Shy Puppet.

The highlight of the show came when Novak read random jokes from a stack of f lash cards, some intentionally bad, to get the audience’s reaction to the joke. If the audience didn’t like it, they yelled, “Trash it!” Novak would calmly toss the bad ones into a huge barrel garbage can embellished with the Cameron

logo. Every bad joke was intuitively designed to give Novak an opportunity to counter to the audience’s reaction, and he would toss the card with a sincere look of rejection on his face.

Novak ended his routine with an entertaining Q&A session from the audience. Fans asked silly questions about the show’s storyline and about Novak’s career. When Novak was asked how he transitioned so easily from writing stand-up to writing for sitcoms, he explained that Greg Daniels, a producer for “The Simpsons,” discovered him at a comedy club in Los Angeles.

During his f lash card routine, the first joke he read was, “I graduated from college with a double major. Psychology and reverse psychology.” This was the line that Greg Daniels appreciated so much that he approached Novak and asked him to be a writer on the show, making him the first official cast member of “The Office.”

Novak delighted the audience (by request) to do a few push-ups, mimicking last week’s episode of “The Office,” “Business Trip,” where Novak’s character Ryan Howard is trying to win back the affection of is old girlfriend,

Kelly Capoor, by doing pushups. The audience was impressed as well. Novak also did some of his signature lines from the show such as “Forget about it, brotha,” and he explained how his character Ryan started the fire during the episode that he wrote, “The Fire,” with his cheese pita.

B.J. Novak awed the audience with his witty jokes and selfcondescending facial expressions.

Hard-core “Office” fans are now satisfied, and Cameron University continues to celebrate its 100 th irthday with jaw-dropping performances of all types throughout the year.

MCT Campus

International club hosts fundraisers for Spring Fashion Show

By Raven Weiss Collegian Staff The Cameron University International Club is hosting a fashion show titled, “Colors of the World” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mar. 28, 2009 at the Cameron

MCT Campus

University Theatre.

Prior to the show, there will be several ways that the Lawton and Cameron communities can come together to help raise funds.

Merita Tyrell, a member of the International Club, is helping to organize the rapidly approaching event as well as the various fund raisers.

The first fundraiser will be a drawing by donation held on Dec. 8. Students, as well as faculty members, can purchase tickets that will be entered into the drawing.

There is no set price per ticket, but it would be greatly appreciated to receive a small sizeable donation for each one.

There will be three separate draws from the entries; the first will be for a chopper bicycle, the second for a $25 dollar

Wal-Mart gift card and the third for a $15 dollar CU gift card. More fundraisers will be scheduled at a later date.

Admission to the fashion show will be $10 dollars for students and $12 dollars for adults.

Funds raised from the admission tickets will be going towards scholarships, while funds from the drawing and other upcoming events will go towards the production of the show.

“The purpose of the fashion show is mainly to help raise funds for the scholarships,” Tyrell said. “We are trying to plan fun events to help raise more money so we can have a better show.”

The focus of the fund raising at this time is to be sure there is enough to have a makeup artist and to have the clothes, accessories and designers flown in for the show.

There are two major designers

that will be the focal point of the fashion show.

The first is Judith Rawlins whose clothing line is called “Brown Sugar.” Rawlins is from the Caribbean, and is CEO of Brown Sugar Designs.

BSD has been creating colorful, worldly designed clothing since 1994. Rawlins’ pieces can be viewed on BSD’s website at www. mybrownsugar.com.

The second designer featured in the show is Grethel Croft, a fashion designer and photographer originally from the Dominican Republic.

The focus of Croft’s display in the show will mostly be on her new line of vintage tees.

“Last years’ fashion show was not as big as we expected it to be. This year we planned and hopefully we will have a much bigger turn out,” Tyrell said.

Tyrell also said that last year she noticed that the majority of the crowd really enjoyed a segment of the show they call, “disturbia.”

During this part of the show, all of the models wore very dark, dramatic clothing, makeup and accessories.

In conjunction with the name, “Colors of the World,” the show will include many pieces of bright, traditional clothing of other countries.

While there was a casting call several months ago, the International club is still looking for models to wear the designs.

So far there are 18 models lined up, but extras and back-ups are always welcome just in case.

If you are interested in being a model in the show or if there are any additional questions, please contact Merita Tyrell or the International Club.

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff Only two movies into the franchise’s latest reboot, and it’s time for the producers to take James Bond back to the drawing board.

“Quantum of Solace” was the first film in Bond’s 22film run to be a direct sequel and it just goes to show why there was never one in the past. The character development is absent, the plot is razor-thin and everything that makes Bond a suave agent has been cast aside for an ongoing, unneeded love story.

After 2003’s “Die Another Day,” it was obvious the smooth-talking womanizing super agent needed a vacation. The movie was the biggest success of the franchise, but it was horrible. Looking back at “Quantum,” I’m sure many people will say the same thing.

The movie picks up directly after the ending of “Casino Royale.” It starts off at a kinetic pace with 007 eluding numerous assassins as he tries to deliver Mr. White to a safe house for interrogation. From there, Bond travels the globe, going from England to Italy to South America all in an attempt to uncover the truth behind a mysterious unnamed organization.

The plot is driven by Bond’s burning desire for revenge against the people who killed his true love, Vesper Lynd.

The whole concept is flawed considering she kills herself, but let’s not trouble ourselves with minor details like that.

The new villain for “Quantum of Solace” is a sniveling Frenchman who is out to control the world’s greatest resource. He’s doing so by exchanging dictators in different countries in return for rights to barren patches of land. Shockingly, his plans are complicated by everyone’s favorite MI:6 agent, as well as a new Bond-girl, Camille.

The plot, while already absurd, is underdeveloped and pushed aside just to see how much action can be

crammed into a tight 105-minute runtime with an occasional half-hearted look into Bond as he tries to hide his love for Lynd.

The whole film is a series of action set pieces chained together with no character development. None of the franchise trademarks appear in “Quantum.” The witty one-liners are gone, the fancy gadgets are gone and the famous innuendo scenes have been stripped.

Bond never beds the Bond-girl, unlike just about every other film in the 46-year franchise. The one woman he does go to bed with is on screen for a grand total of 10 minutes before she’s removed in a scene that plays homage to “Goldfinger.”

At its core, “Quantum of Solace” is not a James Bond movie. Sure, you have the renegade double-0 agent and a few recurring supporting characters, but the feel of the movie is nothing compared to the rest of the franchise.

Coming off the success that was “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” could be considered a major failure

by Barbara Broccoli and the producers.

The story is razor-thin and tries to push this idea of a large organization that no one knows anything about.

It sounds a lot like SPECTRE from many of the older Bond films, but is nowhere near as interesting nor as compelling. When you discover the one resource the group wants to control, it’s insultingly disappointing, and Bond’s tirades as he tries to track down the people responsible for Lynd’s death are unbelievable and boring.

The movie’s action is all it has going for it.

“Quantum of Solace” fails as being a credible Bond film. It takes a generic lackluster premise and tries to spice it up with some fancy action scenes, which will dazzle you as long as you can see what’s going on. None of the characters outside of Bond are even remotely interesting.

There’s just nothing captivating in “Quantum of Solace.”

MCT Campus

‘Bond’ sequel removes trademark 007 magic

A&E

12

November 25, 2008

What are you Thankful for?

Thanksgiving renews the forgotten thankful spirit…

By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff There is nothing like the holidays for families and the entertainment industry. And since its creation, Thanksgiving has become one of the most popular holidays of the year.

Putting the history books aside about the arrival of the pilgrims in the new world and the exchange of items such as corn, wild turkey and cheap European items between the newcomers and the natives, the Thanksgiving celebration has become a part of the entertainment industry in many aspects.

As the first holiday to kick off the holiday season, many holiday and non-holiday movies will start showing on Nov. 24. Movies such as “Australia,” “Four Christmases,” “Milk” and “Transporter 3” will open that weekend.

“The Day the

Earth Stood Still” and “Doubt” will open on Nov. 12. The former, remake of the 1951 classic, will bring Keanu Reeves forward as the alien Klaatu. The remake substituted the Cold War backstory for the political apprehension in today’s society.

On the other hand, “Doubt” shows sensitive topics related to religion and society. The movie, starring Meryl Streep, is already building an Oscar buzz and giving critics no doubt about its potential to receive a statue.

For movies that decided to beat the competition and open earlier in the holiday season came some good news. “Quantum of Solace,” the latest ‘Bond’ flick, led the box office for the past couple of weeks,

while “Twilight,” the smashing book adaptation from Stephenie Meyer, opened Nov. 21 and drew a major bloody frenzy to Hollywood and fans.

In the children’s department, “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” overcame its primary expectations drawing a good $36.1 million to DreamWorks’ accounts. No doubt it became this year’s king of the Hollywood jungle. In stores, “Kung Fu Panda” has reigned supreme over the multiple DVD releases, proving that cartoons are indeed a good pick for the holidays.

For the music industry, the holidays are always a bright opportunity to remix Christmas carols and sell them for

…especially for entertainers

market prices. But not only Christmas carols “dash through the snow.” Country music has mounted the charts with Taylor Swift’s album “Fearless.”

The musical battle between American Idol’s David Archuleta and David Cook made Archuleta’s self-entitled album victorious. The firstrunner up followed Swift in the chart, grasping the second MCT Campus spot, while Cook’s album “Judgment Day” did not make the cut.

The much-commented-on “Twilight” soundtrack took its position in the chart, showing that a soundtrack can indeed live past its comrade movie. It ranked fifth in the best selling chart. Another movie soundtrack accompanied “Twilight.” “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” stayed behind, but still

in a privileged position.

As for bookworms, variety is the word of the season. The “Twilight” four book series is still a good choice for those wanting to spend the holiday with enough quality material to read.

Other picks are “Divine Justice”

by David Baldacci and “Salvation in Death” by J.D. Robb. Both books have topped the chart for the past couple of weeks. “Divine Justice” shows the life of fugitive John Carr as Oliver Stone, showing the reader what living on a most-wanted list is like. “Salvation in Death” has the same principle of a thriller, but it shows the other side of death: the people that uses innovative investigation methods to apprehend a killer.

No matter what you plan to do on Thanksgiving, remember that the options for entertainment are unlimited. My way to enjoy Thanksgiving is to participate in family gatherings, eat typical food and enjoy all the spheres of the entertainment industry.

MCT Campus

M CT

Recipe for ‘Thanksgiving Pecan Pie’ Ca m

pu s

Ingredients: • 1 Cup White Corn Syrup • 1 Cup Brown Sugar • 1/3 Teaspoon Salt • 1/3 Cup Melted Butter • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla • 3 Eggs • 2 Cups Roasted Pecans • 1 Pie Crust

MCT Campus

Method: Mix all the ingredients in a medium container, but set aside the roasted pecans. Pour the mix in a crusted pie shell and pecans over the mix.

Put the pie in the over at 375o for about 45 minutes. Observe when the filling becomes thick and still. The roasted pecans will turn a darker when the pie is ready.

Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool down thoroughly.

A&E

November 25, 2008

13

CU Professor to launch book mid 2009

By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff Secrets and life challenges have always been common themes in books, but these themes are about to hit home next June when “Night Fires” hits the shelves nationwide.

“Night Fires” is the most recent book written by Dr. George Stanley, Professor of Foreign Languages. Dr. Stanley has been an avid contributor to the literature in southwest Oklahoma with his previous children’s collections and historical fiction books.

But “Night Fires” may take a different turn from the usual children’s literature. The book’s thick plot line explores the dark side of humanity and the inner desire for a deeper connection with another being. Dr. Stanley explained the book carries a special message about the history in Oklahoma as well as Lawton. “[The book] has a positive message, but it tells the truth.

There are a number of different revelations,” Dr. Stanley said. “I’m very excited about this book.”

The book tells the story of 13 year-old Woodrow Harper during 1923. Harper lost his father in a car accident and to escape the grief and pain of the accident, he and his mother decide to relocate to the father’s birthplace, Lawton, Okla.

When the mother-son duo arrive in Lawton, they are welcomed by a state senator who lives next door, George Crawford, who has lost a son in World War I. The senator and the boy then start to cultivate a friendship that would soon give Harper the desire to fill the emptiness caused by his father’s absence with the new neighbor.

“He’s very naïve. The boy at first just thinks this man wants a son.

But he really wants to use him to end his ways,” Dr. Stanley said.

The senator’s intentions toward Harper becomes clear when Harper finds out Crawford is a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and heads the Oklahoma KKK as the state’s Imperial Wizard. The story then reveals the true intentions of Crawford in relation to Harper’s future. “[The senator] really wants his son to be the next Imperial Wizard, but his son was killed,” Dr. Stanley said. “That’s not what [Harper] had in mind, but he wants to carry on.”

Harper’s struggle to try and please Crawford while setting him up to be his new father figure and doing the right thing carries the most important message of the book. The decisions in the book reveal that each one of the characters has the potential to do good actions, even though they choose the wrong path.

Harper’s longing to fulfill Crawford’s dream forces him to chase a darker side, but at the end he decides to seek redemption for his previous actions through mending the pain and suffering the Klan brought upon one of the characters.

The story and the “I think it’s storyteller: Dr. Stanley shares going to be his inspiration and life tales in his really good,” new book “Night Fires.”

Dr. Stanley said. ““[The writing it. book] ends very positively for race Because of the relations.” subject matter of The KKK activity in the book the book, some is extensively based on the real may find the activity Lawton experienced in its objectionable, early decades as a growing town . but Dr. Stanley does state that the According to Dr. Stanley, it was a book is purely based on the history chosen place for the KKK. of southwest Oklahoma.

“I was working on [the History “I hope some schools won’t ban collection] and the KKK kept the book,” Dr. Stanley said. “I think appearing. I told the editor in late we get in serious problems when we 2004 [about the book idea],” Dr. deny history.”

Stanley said.

“Night Fires” may raise some The idea for the book became eyebrows, but it does a great job in reality when the editor gave Dr. depicting the history of this area Stanley the green light to start

Photos courtesy of Dr. George Stanley

of the state in the 20’s. Due to the content of the book, it may even become the greatest book ever written by Dr. Stanley, with both historical and fictional aspects.

The hardcover of “Night Fires” will be out in stores by June 2009.

Simon & Schuster publishing will carry the book to the major stores.

Greek life attracts prospective, new greek members

By Nicole Roames Newswriting Student Mirroring the expansion and growth of the various new campus renovations and buildings, Greek life at Cameron University is growing in leaps and bounds.

Student Activities Specialist Robin Martin said that Student Activities is helping the Greek organizations become more active at CU. “I help connect them with student activities to increase their visibility on campus,” Martin said.

Martin said Cameron has four active Greek organizations; Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi, Phi Lambda Chi, and Sigma Tau Gamma. With Martin’s assistance, the Greek organizations have begun to hold interconnected events. They have held a mixer and are planning a potluck Thanksgiving dinner.

Next spring, one of CU’s sororities will celebrate a milestone achievement.

“The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority is celebrating 100 years as a sorority this year,” graduate adviser Patricia Jackson said.

“Our centennial is coinciding with Cameron’s centennial, which makes this a big year for Alpha Kappa Alpha.”

This fall, Alpha Kappa

Alpha volunteered with the Ebony Society to register students to vote.

It is also sponsoring a contestant in the Miss Black CU pageant. One famous alumnus of Alpha Kappa Alpha is Michelle Obama, the next first lady.

Jackson said that by becoming more closely connected to other organizations at CU, Alpha Kappa Alpha was more able to complete one of its primary objectives.

“By connecting with other Greek organizations on campus we can accomplish more things, especially community service, which fits in with one of our tenants; service to all mankind,” Jackson said.

Alpha Phi is another sorority at CU. Jenn Knapp, Alpha Phi Vice President of Chapter Development, said Alpha Phi is called a women’s fraternity, rather than a sorority.

“The word sorority did not exist yet when Alpha Phi was founded,” Knapp said. “Alpha Phi was started in 1872 at Syracuse University by a small group of women who were involved in the

Graphic by Bira Vidal

women’s movement.”

Alpha Phi was chartered at Cameron in 1994 with a group of about 30 women whose goal was to give women the chance to interact and get the most of their college experience.

“Our goal is to provide a social organization for young women that enhance leadership and academic success,” Knapp said.

Sigma Tau Gamma, one of the fraternities at CU, was founded in 1920 at Central Missouri State Teacher’s College by men returning from World War I. Brad Franks, president of Sigma Tau Gamma, said the organization was formed to foster memorable experiences and spur the growth of lifelong friendships.

“Sigma Tau Gamma was founded in the belief that all men are social creatures and the friendships made in college are lasting ones,” Franks said.

CU’s Gamma Rho chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma was founded at Cameron in 1968 by members of the basketball and football teams. The fraternity was refounded on campus in 1996.

Franks said that some of the philanthropic activities of Sigma Tau

Gamma are its participation in Boosting the Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of Undergraduate Students (BACCHUS), an alcohol awareness program and its efforts for Books for Kids, an elementary literature program.

“Sigma Tau Gamma is also responsible for the gazebo being built behind Nance Boyer,” Franks said.

It isn’t uncommon to hear members of these organizations discussing the meanings of words like friendship, brotherhood and sisterhood.

Dustin Plunkett, a Sigma Tau Gamma member, said he played pool with a friend in the fraternity and the two always talked about what those words mean.

“I couldn’t have wished for anything better than this; we’re like a close-knit family,” Plunkett said.

Stephen Jester, Sigma Tau Gamma’s Vice President of Finance, said he can always rely on his brothers.

“It was the best decision I made in my life,” Jester said.

Whitney Harstad, Alpha Phi’s Vice President of Marketing, said she wanted more opportunities to be involved on campus.

“I joined Alpha Phi because as soon as I met the girls I felt I could relate to them and saw a lot of potential for friendships,” Harstad said.

Justin McConnell, Sigma Tau Gamma’s Vice President of Programs, said he never intended to join a fraternity.

“By the time I was initiated I had made friends that I could count on for anything; they were like my friends back home but here,” McConnell said.

Amy Kruscavage, Alpha Phi Vice President of Chapter Operations, said joining a sorority was a surprise.

“In high school I knew everybody, here I wasn’t as involved.

A girl in my botany class invited me to a meeting and I’ve been there since,” Kruscavage said.

Martin said a spring rush week is planned for Jan. 19 through 25.

For more information on Greek life, contact Martin at 591.8086.

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Variety

November 25, 2008