The Cameron University Collegian: November 8, 2004

Tribute to courage

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

Newswriting Student

PLEASE SEE PAGE 3

A&E

ThinkFast game show allows students to flex brain power and win a cash prize.

Hidden away on the south end of the second floor of Nance Boyer is the Criminal Justice Department.

The department has been part of Cameron’s program since 1975. Karen Youngblood, an associate professor of criminal justice, has been at Cameron for 17 years.

“We are a combined department with Sociology,” she said.

The Criminal Justice Department offers two degree programs: a two-year Associate of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science .

According to Youngblood, the department offers many options for students pursuing criminal justice degrees.

“We offer both degrees on campus for day and night students,” she said. “The department also offers the bachelor’s degree in Oklahoma City through an agreement with Oklahoma State University. The associate’s degree is offered at Fort Sill and Duncan.”

Not only does the department offer degree opportunities, they also sponsor two student organizations, the CJ Club and the honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma.

“These student organizations participate in many campus activities such as intramural and homecoming,” Youngblood said.

According to Youngblood, the groups sponsor a lecture series.

“They have brought in speakers including the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the head of Homeland Security for Oklahoma,” she said.

Autumn Smedley, a criminal justice freshman, is a member of the CJ Club.

“We do things like visit jails and host Kids’n’Cops Day,” she said. “Kids’n’Cops Day is when the club hosts a barbecue at a local park and the kids around Lawton can come meet and talk to the cops of the community. We have various activities that the kids can participate in.”

Smedley says she enjoys the department because the professors are very hands-on and informative.

“Professors put in their own personal experience of the subjects we are learning about,” Smedley said. “Reality doesn’t always

Please see CJ, Page 8

For further information: Go to www.cameron.edu/cj_sociology or contact the Criminal Justice Department directly at 581.2490.

Respiratory Care courses offered to science majors

PLEASE SEE PAGE 6

Sports

By Angela Gradoz Features Editor

Courtesy Photo

Aggie Volleyball adds another win against Midwestern University as the season’s end nears.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 7

Voices

Learn from the Greek: Cameron students have the opportunity to attend a Greek university and study various fields while being emerged in another culture and receive an education with and within the classroom.

A cultural experience Greek program provides academic opportunities to Cameron students

By Scott Pratt Staff Writer

Smaller repairs overshadow larger projects on campus.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 2

Office: Nance Boyer 2060 Phone: 580•581•2261 E-mail us at : collegian@cameron.edu First Copy Free - $.25 for each additional copy Contents © The Collegian 2004

Volume 78 Issue 9

A glimpse behind the caution tape in the Criminal Justice Dept.

By Kari Lewis

Cameron receives new grant to aid in effort to boost retention on campus.

Please see Pages 4 & 5

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Monday,, November 8, 2004 Monday

News

Honoring those who serve

Going Greek usually means joining a fraternity or a sorority on a college campus.

However, for some students it could mean they are going to attend a unique university in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The American College of Thessaloniki is located in the second largest city in Greece. Thessaloniki lies in the Greek state of Macedonia, which is in Northern Greece. Dr. Ioannis Argyros, CU math professor originally from Greece, said, “The university is in a very beautiful part of the city. The sea is to the south and the other three sides of the university face mountains and valleys.”

The ACT is an American-style university where the classes are taught in English by American and British professors. Students who enroll in the school are recommended to take a Greek language course to better their experience.

The University is fully accredited with its courses. This means a student can earn hours and degrees that will transfer back to the United States. Student can earn a B.A., B.S. or an M.B.A. while at the ACT. Areas of study offer a wide variation for students who want to continue with their major but want to study abroad.

Courses in Greek language, history, art and culture are available. Business administration, CIS, computer science, English and literature, history and international relations, and psychology are all offered as degree tracks. There are also master’s programs in all eight disciplines.

Matthew Modeste, accounting senior, said, “I’d love to go if I could study accounting, and if I had the financial conditions.”

Please see GREEK Page 3

On Dec. 3, 1999, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved a cooperative agreement between Cameron University and what was then called Great Plains Area Vocational Technical School.

The agreement allows CU students who are undecided majors, or anyone else interested, the opportunity to enroll in a Respiratory Care program.

Although the cooperative agreement was established in 1999, the respiratory classes were not offered until January 2001.

“If a student has a degree or a certain amount of hours and is unsure of what they KRT Campus want to do, they should consider the respiratory care program as an alternative to revitalize their degree,” Jack Powers, programming director of Respiratory Care at GPTC, said.

Joseph Ralph was admitted into the program in January 2004 and believes that the program is a great opportunity.

“It’s a good program, because you get paid a good wage, and there are a lot of job opportunities,” he said.

Students who are accepted into the program can expect to spend a lot of time in the classroom and studying. Classes generally last from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continue through

the summer months.

“The classes are not just push-over classes; you have to study,” Ralph said. “If you can handle Mr. Gaines’ human anatomy class at Cameron, you can get through the Vo-tech classes.”

In order to be considered for the program, students must jointly enroll with GPTC and Cameron for the Associate of Applied Science Degree with an emphasis in Respiratory Care. At Cameron, students must complete 18 hours of general education and technical occupational requirements that include classes in anatomy, descriptive chemistry and physics.

In addition, students must possess CPR certification, complete an application, pass a physical exam and clear an OSBI background check.

According to Powers, the processing deadline to enroll in the Respiratory Care program was extended to Nov. 17, instead of Nov. 1. However, the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and the System for Assessment and Group Evaluation (SAGE) must be submitted by Nov. 15 to the Adult Admissions Building

Please see CARE, Page 8

Voices

2

November 8, 2004

OUR VOICE

Maintenance issues must be addressed on Cameron campus A leader has great power, but greater is the power of many leaders working together for one cause. Such is the situation at Cameron University, where many are working for the purpose of providing a useful education with a nurturing environment to those seeking a degree.

As Cameron expands, the Aggies stand with pride. Most of the students who began their academic journey at Cameron in 2000/2001 can see a remarkable difference in the growth the university has experienced and in the Aggie spirit that has been revived. At the moment, both Cameron and the local community await with great anticipation the completion of Cameron Village and the Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies. Undeniably, President Ross’ leadership, and the guidance and hard work of Cameron administrators and staff are to be commended for these projects and the benefits to the university that will be gained from them.

The projects that the university has undertaken are of extreme importance. However, small maintenance problems throughout the campus need to be addressed as well. Big, extensive projects are not as effective when the small things that make a building comfortable and convenient are not operating correctly. One cannot be fully happy in a beautiful, adorned house if the carpet is constantly flooded and if the commode does not flush right.

In order to bring an awareness of the maintenance issues that need to be worked on, the Collegian staff took the time to call different departments on campus and hear their concerns regarding the small troubles each encounter in their respective buildings daily. The purpose of such an inquiry was not to criticize the administration, but to urge leaders to pay attention to small details that make a huge difference in the everyday lives of the students, faculty and staff who want a simple but comfortable environment to foster their learning and working experiences. Certainly, a pleasant working environment will boost an increase of productivity.

The Business Building is one of the oldest constructions on campus, and its staff sees the need for an elevator to allow easier access for disabled students attending business classes. The Music Building has had problems with its rest room facilities for several months. The ladies’ room doors do not close well, and a few dispensers do not work properly. The table standing in front of Burch Hall needs to be cemented again or replaced by a brand new one, according to Mathematics Sciences Department staff. Rest room facilities in Nance Boyer need to be repaired so that the commodes flush properly. In the Collegian newsroom, the carpet has been flooded with toilet water from the next-door men’s rest room causing

Lett e r to th e Ed i to r

Do you think Cameron should close in honor of Veterans Day?

Bernard Pritchard Psychology freshman “Yes, because of respect for the veterans who fought in the war.”

Graphic by Leah Hicks

custodians to unplug our electrical equipment due to the substantial amount of water on the floor.

We realize the tedious nature of having to keep a large campus functioning smoothly. Our goal here is not to point fingers, but to remind our leaders and maintenance personnel that paying attention to the small issues is as necessary as looking to the future with larger projects.

Let’s strive for excellence in every aspect of the Cameron experience.

— The Editorial Board

Retiring volleyball coach evokes appreciation of Aggie spectator

Dear Editor: I write in appreciation of Coach Kim Vinson and the Cameron volleyball team. When this season concludes, Coach Vinson is stepping down after 15 years as head coach, and what a job she and her assistants have done over those years. They have slowly built the sort of team any college in America would love to have.

In the past eight years, the team has been consistently competitive in the tough Lone Star Conference, winning four North Division championships and one conference championship; two of those teams have competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 2 regional tournament.

Even more significant from my perspective as a professor, members of the team have been hard-working students and positive members of the campus community, good citizens all.

I have had the privilege of having had a number of these

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

athletes take my freshman English classes during these past eight years.

Prior to the start of the current season, I ran into Coach Vinson, and she thanked me for having made a financial contribution to the team. I told her that she had two members of the team who were students of mine in English 1113 a year ago to thank for that contribution.

She characteristically told me that the two were “good kids,” and I responded by saying that each volleyball player I have ever had in my classes was just as good a kid, among the harder-working students in the class she was in, turning work in on time, and missing class only on the two or three class days for which she had a volleyball trip. What I did not say, but was thinking, is that that fact says a lot about Coach Vinson, the players she recruits, student-athletes in fact as well as in name, and the way she runs her program.

As of this writing, Cameron has rebounded this season from a slow start in a brutal early-sea-

Editorial Board Managing Editor - Anna Politano News Editor - Jennie Hanna Copy Editor - Lisa Snider A&E Editor - Angela Sanders Sports Editor - Joshua Rouse Features Editor - Angela Gradoz Graphic Artist - Leah Hicks Newsroom Staff Business Manager - Rosana Navas Financial Officer - Susan Hill Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Webmaster - Ian Mitchell Staff Writers Laura Brady, Christina Frye, Petulah Olibert, Scott Pratt Faculty Adviser Christopher Keller

Cody Pennington Health/PE junior “Yes, because we have a large population of military people.”

son schedule against some of the top-ranked teams in Division 2 to win 11 straight matches and to claim the outright championship of the Lone Star Conference’s North Division for the fourth time. Because of that accomplishment, Cameron will be hosting the conference tournament from 11-13 November.

What I am urging members of the Cameron community to do is show up in large numbers and cheer the team on.

No, Cameron does not have a football team; we do have this team, though, and its members and its coaches deserve everybody’s support. I attended the home match recently in which Cameron played an excellent University of Central Oklahoma team, a team that has become Cameron’s biggest rival in the North Division, and won a splendidly played match in front of a crowd of perhaps 150 people at most.

I was also in the Cameron gym on a November night in 1998 when, playing perennial LSC and NCAA Division 2 powerhouse

Newswriting Students Emily Archer, Jillian Bassett, Sharicka Brackens, Kelli Colbenson, Krystal Deak, Daniel Evans, Cara Garza, Aaron M. Gilbee, Ekeama S.Goddard, Jennifer Hardy, Teri Hillier, Dawn Holt, Kathleen Kelly, Jessica P. Lane, Kari Lewis, Justin Liszeski, Ian Mitchell, Danielle Murphree, Sonya Ray, Ekayah Rosete, Lauren Slate, Tiffany Soto, Tauren Thompson, Bonnie Tomahsah, Sarah Warren About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron University Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.

West Texas A & M, Cameron rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the fourth game and then won the fifth going away to capture a conference championship in front of the largest crowd I have ever seen in the Cameron field house. It was one of the most exciting athletic events I have ever had the privilege to witness, and the house was rocking.

Come watch Cameron play.

This is a talented, hard-working, patient and gritty team that is peaking at just the right time. They’ve earned your support, and they have more special nights in them.

What a fitting send-off for Coach Vinson it would be if one of them turned out to be this coming Saturday night.

This team has class, and so does its coach. Thank you, Coach Vinson, for the past 15 years. Go Aggies.

Sincerely, John G. Morris Professor of English

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 via mail or e-mail, or they may be dropped off at our office.

Justin King Business sophomore “Yes. Itʼs for remembering.

I have family who served.”

Katie Alvin Pre-nursing junior “Yes, because so many military people go to school here.”

Tina Storm Elementary Ed. junior “Yes, because I have family who are veterans.”

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.

November 8th, 2004

SGA Notes Today’s meeting will begin with a presentation of the results of CamSIS Resolution 304004 student survey.

There will be a second reading of Resolution 304004 by Sens.

Morris and Lemley. The legislation is to propose extended CU library hours.

Bus tickets for the CU vs. OU basketball Exhibition game in Norman on Wednesday are available. Stop by North Shepler Room 324 for more information.

For additional SGA resources, log on to www.cameron.edu/sga.

GREEK

Continued from Page 1 Argyros said the university offers students a unique experience for school. The grave of Alexander the Great’s father, Phillip, is near the university where students can go and see the excavation of the site.

Argyros added that there are American companies there too. IBM, Goodyear and a branch of the Archaeological Society of the United States are located near by.

“The city is very cosmopolitan,” Argyros said.

The University itself is comprised of approximately 700 students. There are about 20 countries that are represented. Around 20 to 40 of those 700 students are American. Some are undergrads seeking a four-year degree and some are only there for one semester. Dr. Argyros said there are some American military students who are based in Greece who also attend the university.

The cost of the University is not as bad as one might think. The total cost for a semester is $6,150, which includes tuition, housing, and the admissions fee as well as a few other small fees. The class sizes are small and offer students the opportunity to work closely with their instructors.

There are usually no more than 19 students per class. The semesters begin in mid-September and run through December, and from January to June.

Thessaloniki is a safe city and students are welcome to travel if they like, live in the city if they are there for more than one semester, and are encouraged to get to know Greece and its culture.

Students who would like to get more information on this program can contact Maureen Fish at mfish@anatolia-act.org. Fish is based out of Boston.

News 3 Partnership offers enrichment for students and community

By Petulah Olibert Staff Writer It has long been known that education is the key to success.

Academic education notwithstanding, the stress has been on a well-rounded student body, where education nurtures both the intellect and the talent of an individual.

In keeping with this adage, Cameron University has sought to implement more diverse educational programs at CU-Duncan.

CU-Duncan, once the Duncan Higher Education Center, was founded in a joint venture by the Duncan community, Cameron University and the Red River Area Vo-Tech School to provide facilitated access to higher education for the Duncan community.

“This facility was opened 10 years ago,” said Susan Camp, director of the Duncan branch.

According to Camp, Cameron University has been part of the Duncan facility since before its inception. Prior to 1994, CU had already been delivering college courses to the Duncan community.

So the university has made its presence known for almost twenty years in the Duncan community.

To keep its efforts going, last year, Cameron University began a series of programs and workshops at Duncan’s Simmons Center for the benefit of the students and the community alike.

“We have hosted occasional shows over the past years, but last year was the first year we began a

Oklahoma Regents provide CU with grant for student retention Collegian Staff Cameron University will receive nearly $100,000 from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to assist efforts to keep students in college and earn their degrees, State Regents announced on Thursday.

The Oklahoma higher education system reported record enrollments this fall, which is great news for the state. But coupled with that growth is the task of making sure those students remain in college and complete their degrees.

To help increase retention and graduation rates, State Regents Photo by Scott Pratt awarded ten “Brain Gain” improvement grants totaling nearly The future grows before us: The students and faculty on cam$750,000. Cameron’s $98,500 pus are beginning to get a better vision of what the new Cameron grant is second only to the $105,134 Village will look like as the walls begin to take shape. The apartawarded to Oklahoma Panhandle ment-style dwellings are one of the major features on campus that State University in Goodwell. is already being used to help with student retention and will work Access to higher education and well with the new grant awarded by the Oklahoma State Regents for student success are Cameron’s Higher Education. highest priorities,” said Dr. Larry Kruse, CU’s Associate Vice PresiBefore awarding the ten grants, proposals from 21 dent for Enrollment Management and author of the higher education institutions totaling approximately grant proposal. “Frequently, our students are the first $1.7 million were reviewed. in their families to attempt a college education.

“We appreciate all of the efforts our institutions are This population historically includes students who putting forth to improve their retention and graduaare unprepared academically and require remediation tion rates, and we look forward to helping them meet in English, math, science or reading. These are charactheir goals and objectives,” said Dr. Paul G. Risser, teristics that sometimes prevent students from reachchancellor of the state’s higher education system. ing their full potential and goal of earning a college Two out-of-state experts with backgrounds in redegree,” Kruse said. search and planning reviewed the proposals and rated Cameron will use the State Regents grant to dethem according to criteria developed by State Regents. velop a longitudinal assessment of selected student Other institutions that will receive Brain Gain imgroups, enabling it to identify at-risk students as early provement grants are Oklahoma State University in as possible. The university will also create an “early Stillwater, $98,500; East Central University in Ada, alert system” to provide personalized intervention for $89,566; Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, students experiencing academic difficulties. Finally, it $75,000; Oklahoma City Community College, will establish direct and online training modules for $70,000; Connors State College in Warner, $68,500; academic advisers.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Kruse said these three steps would allow Cameron $64,000; Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilto establish a comprehensive student success model burton, $58,000; and Northwestern Oklahoma State that will help the university meet its retention and University in Alva, $22,200 graduation goals.

Photo by Lisa Snider

Hall of fame: Student artwork is displayed on the walls of the Simmons Center in Duncan. This exhibit is the first of many events that are scheduled throughout this year. steady program,” Camp said.

Oct. 25 marked the beginning of this year’s program — an art exhibition by CU art students was held at 7 p.m. in the Simmons Center. It was followed by a percussion performance by art and music majors at 8 p.m. Dr. James Lambert directed the ensemble, which included compositions like “Sabre Dance,” “Something for Riley” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”

On Nov. 22, Cameron’s 51member choir is set to perform.

Beginning Jan. 6, Assistant Professors Karin Dudash and Dan Ford will lead a two-day workshop informing participants about nonviolent crisis intervention.

“An Elegant Evening with Hyunsoon Whang” will feature the CU

professor in a piano concert Jan. 28.

Next spring, Professor Mark Spencer and Associate Professor Dr. Vivian Thomlinson will hold a series of writing workshops. The registration cost for the workshop is $10 per person.

Judging from last year’s showing, Camp predicts a favorable outcome for this season.

“We wanted to provide more than just classes,” she said. “We wanted to provide an incorporative and nurturing program, hence the ongoing medley of workshops, programs. Cameron University wanted to enhance educational outreach above and beyond basic academics for the Duncan community, and the responses have been promising.”

4

For local wounded soldier, integrity and dedication are more than just a punch line

By Jennie Hanna News Editor Specialist Nathan Short can no longer tap dance. But the truth is, he never could.

For Short, integrity is the strength on which he stands. Integrity allows him to complete the dance of life.

Short has been a good friend of my family’s for a long time now and is one of my husband’s closest friends. Whenever they are around each other,

they often revert to being children; playing together, competing with one another and having a good time.

Throughout Short’s entire life, he has been the life of the party and the one everyone always wanted to be around because the day would never be dull. Without a doubt, something exciting was going to happen, and it wasn’t to be missed.

“He is the same now as he was when we first met,” Courtney Short, his wife, said. “He’s still a big kid, a big ole baby, and I love him for it.”

A sense of honor and duty Charisma is not a skill to be learned; it

Courtesy Photo

is quality one already possesses. Short’s ability to charm, please, humor and care are just the beginning of the elements that make him such a special person and a good soldier.

With the War on Terror in full swing, Short’s company, the 15th Transportation Company on Fort Sill in January of 2003, was one of the first to be deployed to Iraq. He went overseas to fight but was sent home in March due to a problem with his ankle, which he had prior to the deployment.

This return allowed him to spend some time with his family and even attend Cameron for a semester as part of the Army’s College Option program, which allows soldiers to attend a semester of college while still receiving pay from the Army and maintaining status within the company.

Since the first deployment, there have been other occasions for which the 15th Transportation Company has had to send troops overseas, including an upcoming deployment after the New Year and several squad-size deployments since last January.

Short was one of the first soldiers to volunteer to return. He felt that he should go since he had come back so soon from the first mission and everyone else had just returned that summer from a long deployment.

He and several others from his company left for Iraq. In January of this year, Short, once again, returned from a tooshort trip.

On April 20, he was a co-driver in a mission into Iraq.

“We had just crossed the border back into Kuwait after a mission, and from what I have been told, a camel got into the road,” Short recalls. “A truck in front of the convoy hit it.”

According to the other people in the convoy, the camel was hit and it spun around and jumped back across the highway.

“The truck in front of us stopped in the middle of the highway, and we then slammed into their trailer and the driver turned to the left some so it hit directly on my side where I was sitting,” Short said. “The next thing I know, I’m hanging outside of the truck by my seat belt until someone in the truck behind us cut me down and started medically treating me.”

Road to Recovery As a result of the accident, the vehicle’s front end was completely smashed in. The inside components on that side, like the passenger seat, were extracted and slung around to the right side of the truck, looking like a version of a Picasso painting.

Short’s body was also is shambles: he suffered severe nerve damage in his lower body, severe internal damage, a broken

right heel, tibia, fibula and pelvis.

“It took me a while before I could get back to the states after the accident,” Short said. “I spent four days in Kuwait, four days in Germany and then made it to Walter Reed on April 28.”

Most of the first month was a large blur with all of the medical attention and pain medication he received.

“What I remember is going to sleep in Kuwait and waking up in Washington D.C.,” Short said.

In order to treat his injuries, Short underwent nine surgeries, including one in early October when the pins in his heel were removed. During the beginning of the recovery process, Short was able to have his mother and his wife with him at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he awoke from his ordeal.

“They were the first people I saw when I woke up,” Short said. “It was so much nicer to see them there with me, supporting me than to have the first person I see be a complete stranger.”

During his month-long stay at Walter Reed, Short was able to meet a lot of people, including Tom Hanks, who was making a visit to the hospital to meet some of the veterans who had been injured in Iraq.

“It was cool to meet him, and he made me feel like he was genuinely concerned about what had happened to me,” Short commented. “He wanted to know exactly how I had been injured and made sure he let me know how proud he was of me and of what all of us had sacrificed by serving in Iraq.”

Currently, he receives physical therapy three times a o h ot P y week. Recently, Short found out r tes Co u that because of the severe nerve damage to his right leg, he suffers from drop foot, which means that the muscles and nerves that allow him to operate his foot, including raising it and turning it from side to side, no longer work.

The light at the end of the tunnel When an event like Short’s accident happens, there is an adjustment that must be made on an emotional level in order get back to leading a normal life. Since returning, Short and his family have been faced with their fair amount of stress and problems concerning his injuries.

“I get frustrated easily since I can’t play with my son like I want to. I can’t go work on a car or even take care of my house,” Short said.

Courtney Short has taken over nearly all of the work around the home, including caring for Spencer, their three-year-old son, doing all the cleaning and cooking and handling any problems that arise in the house.

“I know she’s pretty stressed out because of it, and it makes me feel bad but she is such a caring wife and is nice to me even though I can’t help out,” Short explained.

There has also be an outpouring of support from the members of his company, especially his fellow soldiers.

“They’ve been really supportive, my friends in the company. They come and mow my yard and all that stuff,” Short said. “They haven’t been leaving me out of things just because I’m hurt. They still invite me everywhere.”

At his request, Short will be returning to work Nov. 15.

He was tired of sitting at home, playing video games and basically doing nothing all day. He is excited about getting to go back and see all of his friends at the company everyday again. Most of them feel the same way about him.

“He has always been a good soldier and a good friend,” Specialist Bud Minto, a fellow soldier in the 15th Transportation Company, said. “It was a terrible thing that happened to him, but he is still the same guy that he was when I first met him – him and his crazy demeanor.”

It is Short’s integrity and desire to honor his commitment to the choice he made when he joined the armed forces that make him a man of such definable quality and character. In fact, he is still debating whether or not he will ask for a medical discharge when he goes in front of the medical board in February, since he still enjoys being a part of the military.

In response to how he feels after all that has happened, Short feels relatively calm and is at peace with his accident.

“Of course I wish it wouldn’t have happened, but it could have always been worse,” Short said. “It helps that I have such good friends and family to help me out.”

Portrait of courage: Specialist Nathan Short, left, displays a great amount of intestinal fortitude since being wounded in the Iraqi War.

Spread Design

by Jennie Hanna

April 3, 2003 – U.S. Forces take control of the Saddam International Airport in southern Baghdad.

July 13, 2003 – Iraq’s interim governing council is formed of 25 major Iraqi leaders, but power is still in U.S. control.

September 7, 2003 – Bush announces an $87 billion bill to cover additional military and reconstruction costs in Iraq.

November 2, 2003 – Single deadliest strike since Iraqi War began with the striking down of an American helicopter, killing 16 soldiers and injuring 21.

TIME February 2, 2004 – President Bush calls for an independent commission to study the country’s intelligence failures.

March 31, 2004 – Iraqi mob kills, mutilates and drags four civilian contract workers through the streets of Fallujah in protest.

April 30, 2004 – Pictures of physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison are released to the public. Outrage is expressed all over the world as criminal charges are placed against seven soldiers.

June 28, 2004 – U.S. hands over power to Iraqi Council two days earlier, in effort to avoid possible attacks.

September 7, 2004 – Death toll in Iraq reaches over 1,000 soldiers and approximately 7,000 wounded.

September 15, 2004 – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that war in Iraq was illegal and violated UN charter.

U.S., UK and Australia disagree.

Above Left: Short receives medical treatment from fellow soldiers after an accident in Iraq earlier this year.

Photo by Jennie Hanna

March 20, 2003 – Operation Iraqi Freedom has officially begun.

Right: This is all that is left of the vehicle Short was co-driving when a lone camel twisted fate on April 20, 2004.

Courtesy Photo

January 15, 2003 — First group leaves Fort Sill for Iraq.

March 21, 2003 – “Shock and Awe” campaign begins in Baghdad and lasts for several days.

May 1, 2003 – U.S. declares an end to major combat operations in Iraq.

July 22, 2003 – Saddam Hussein’s sons, Uday and Qusay are killed in a fire fight in Mosol.

October 5, 2003 – Condoleezza Rice is placed in charge of organizing Iraqi reconstruction.

December 13, 2003 – On a tip, coalition forces are able to capture Saddam Hussein, hiding in a hole near his home in Tikrit.

LINE March 8, 2004 – Iraqi Governing Council signs interim constitution.

April 9, 2004 – Thomas Hamill, civilian contract worker, is taken hostage, and a videotape of demands is released.

June 16, 2004 – The 9/11 Commission concludes its investigation and reports ‘no credible evidence’ that Iraq and al-Qaeda cooperated on attacks against the U.S.

5 Camaraderie is the thread that ties soldiers together for duty

By Scott Pratt Staff Writer “I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings in the world.”

—Thomas A. Edison In a foxhole in the middle of the desert the wind can sometimes feel like it is slowly peeling away the skin one wishes to keep intact at all costs. Staying safe and keeping the skin intact are paramount concerns for soldiers. However, keeping the guy next to you safe is sometimes more of a concern.

Brotherhood, camaraderie, Photo by Scott Pratt friendships and life-long ties are Mapping it out: SFC McCoy, military science instructor for abundant in the military. Knowing freshmen, assists Genevieve Hughes, biology junior, in finding her that the person next to you is capapoint on the map during a recent land navigation exercise. ble of keeping you alive, and you are capable of doing the same is a code Mitchell. that is not written, but a code that is lived by.

“You have to Captain Kenneth Mitchell, assistant professor prove yourself in the military science department at Cameron and worthy.” an Infantry Company Commander in the National Proving Guard said, “When you are in a foxhole, you are not yourself worfighting for or against anything except to save your thy means hide as well as the guy to your left or right.” working with The bond a soldier shares with another soldier can your team sometimes override any other reasoning they have or just beto accomplish goals. Camaraderie is not taken for ing good at granted. Earning respect and gaining the confidence the job at of fellow soldiers is one of the most important things hand. When for soldiers to do according to Mitchell.

Mitchell was In Desert Storm, Mitchell was a specialist atin his foxhole tached to a 17-man team. He explained that his team in the desert “lived like desert nomads” moving in the desert and he wanted working long days together.

Photo by Scott Pratt to know that “We were loyal to each other. We formed a real the guy next tight bond,” Mitchell said.

I think I’ve found it: Richard to him was People do not have to be in a battle situation to Matthews, international busi“tactically and ness freshman, left, uses a map experience the feeling of camaraderie that they get technically from being in the military. Sometimes when unexto complete a land navigation sound.” pected things happen, there are people there to take exercise, while Richard Boothby, “I wanted care of their friends. psychology senior, looks on. to know that Sergeant Victor Ingraham, who works in the they could Military Science Department as a Supply Sergeant, shoot, move and communicate,” Mitchell said. told of when one of his friends was attacked after a Mitchell was also in Egypt, where he often had night out. Ingraham said he and his other friends did to go into cities and talk with local people. He felt not hesitate to help him out because he was part of much safer if he knew the guys backing him up. He the group and the group was stronger with him than knew members from other squads could do their jobs without him. For Ingraham, the feeling of camarabut he wanted the people he knew there to help him. derie comes from playing sports. He thinks the team He trusted them with his life, and they did the same concept transfers to the military ideals and manifests with him. as camaraderie with other soldiers.

Mitchell, Duff y and Ingraham all agreed that the Specialist Adam Duff y, political science junior military is like a family. There are tough times and agrees. people who are not liked all of the time, but in the “During basic and AIT you only get to associate end the family is there. The family protects its own with other soldiers,” Duff y said. and will kill or be killed for the sake of the safety of “You make friends with some of them and others other family members. you protect because that is your job. I knew if the Whether they are wearing overalls or crowns, guy next to me screwed up I was going to have to do friends protect each other. They fight and struggle to pushups too.” survive and try to keep the wind off of the skin that Helping someone else out because it is a job is anholds them together, while internalizing the thought: other way camaraderie exists in the military. “without you, I may not survive.”

“Your existence depends on their existence,” said

Writer pays homage to veterans

By Christina Frye Staff Writer

July 7, 2004 – Prime Minister Allawi signs law permitting him to impose martial law in Iraq.

August, 2004 – Highest monthly average attacks against coalition forces since the beginning of the war, with over 87 each day.

November 2, 2004 – President Bush is reelected for a second term as President.

If there is anything a person should know, it is the definition of “a Veteran.” The word in itself can mean different things to different people, but I see a veteran as a person who honorably served time in the military, or who is currently serving in the military.

Veterans Day is a day that has been labeled to honor our veterans, to show our gratitude toward their efforts in trying to make the United States a better place to live. Veterans Day is often seen as “ just another holiday,” but people shouldn’t treat it as such. Veterans should be honored on this day through parades, through conversations, through gratitude. Veterans have served us, and Veterans Day should be the day we serve them. Serve our veterans this day by showing them the true meaning of honor.

I witnessed a true honor to veterans while shopping at Wal-Mart the other day, and I think it should be shared with our readers. I was walking through the parking lot, and I heard the security guard tell a soldier in uniform, “Thank you.” At first I thought maybe the soldier had returned a shopping cart to its proper place, but then I heard the same security guard tell another soldier “Thank you.” It wasn’t until that second “Thank you” that I realized that the security guard was telling those soldiers “Thank You,” for wearing a military uni-

form. People often forget to tell our soldiers just how much their hard work is appreciated. Not only did that security guard make those soldiers feel better by showing them his appreciation with two simple words, but he also helped to remind the people around him that Christina is a math we should all recognize our and computer soldiers. science junior from Washington.

Our service members work extremely hard every day to enable Americans to live life to its fullest.

They do this by fighting for our freedom, fighting against our enemies and securing our homelands.

I am proud to be a veteran. Being a soldier gives a person a sense of pride, not only for yourself, but also for your country. Soldiers are taught to adapt and overcome any situation that is presented to them; they do that, and they do it well. It is our job as American citizens to support our soldiers and show our patriotism by recognizing our veterans for their efforts in making America a better place to live.

Please, let’s show our gratitude toward our veterans this year and give recognition where recognition is due Thursday. Make it a day that no veteran will forget; make a difference by telling our veterans “Thank you.”

A&E

6

November 8, 2004

Xbox game release worth the wait

By Josh Rouse Sports Editor “There are those who said this day would never come … what have they to say now?”

Such has been the case over the past three years since Halo: Combat Evolved first hit store shelves Nov. 14, 2001. Since its debut, Halo has revolutionized first-person shooting games. Its fast-paced game play and detailed story line have placed it in game lore with such classics as Super Mario Bros., Metroid and Grand Theft Auto. But there is the question that has been bugging everybody: When will Halo 2 be released?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, Master Chief, the savior of the human race against the unstoppable armies of the Covenant, has arrived back on Xbox in a highly advanced and graphically enhanced sequel. Halo 2 will hit the shelves tomorrow in stores across the world. Many stores are even holding special midnight events and tournaments for Halo 2.

Halo: Combat Evolved begins far in the future when Earth is overpopulated and humanity has spread across the galaxy. Little does Earth know, a massive army of aliens known only as the Covenant were doing the same. Humanity and the Covenant have been locked in an interstellar war for years.

Enter Master Chief, a cybernetic organism created as the last hope for mankind. Master Chief ’s ship crashes on a strange ring world known as Halo. There, he must gather the remaining human forces and stop the plans of the Covenant before they can harness the true power of Halo and destroy Earth.

Halo 2 picks up directly where

Graphic by Josh Rouse

Halo: Combat Evolved left off.

Master Chief arrives back on Earth to find it besieged by the Covenant who finally found the home world. Chief will have to fight off the Covenant in hopes of saving the home planet and defeating the Covenant once and for all.

Halo 2 sports some major changes other than its graphics.

The most obvious is its Xbox Live compatibility. Halo: Combat Evolved supported up to four players on one console or 16 players on a system link. Now, players can face anybody from across the globe. There are 11 massive multiplayer levels including such favorites as Blood Gulch (2) and Battlecreek (2). Each has its own advantages and attributes.

Chief also has the ability to wield double weapons now. Instead of blasting the Covenant with only one, Chief can use a number of combinations of different weapons throughout the game.

There have been new weapons added, as well as changes to original ones. The assault rifle from Halo: Combat Evolved has been replaced with the battle rifle. This is a semiautomatic weapon with a 2x scope on it. The pistol has been replaced with a magnum, which has more power and range. The Covenant Needler has also been upgraded with more potency, and the rocket launcher has a lock-on mode to take out moving vehicles. There is a Covenant sniper rifle this time as well as a new version of the

Covenant plasma rifle.

Perhaps the other obvious change is the vehicles: they can blow up. All vehicles are now fully destructible and have big enough explosions to take out surrounding enemies. There are also four different times of warthogs, the trusty ATV used by the Marines.

The Banshee has been revamped and can now do barrel roles and midair flips. Halo 2 has an assortment of new vehicles from the Covenant including Phantoms which are massive transport ships.

The Covenant has also brought in reinforcements for the ultimate attack on Planet Earth. The Halo favorites are back including the Grunts, Jackals, Elites and Hunters. There are some new

additions including Brutes (cross between Hunters and gorillas), Drones (flying Covenant which come in swarms) and Prophets (the leaders of the Covenant). Each has special attacks, and each is a true adversary.

The Marines are evolved through Halo 2. They can do things other than run in front of Chief and get shot. The Marines are now capable of driving the vehicles while Chief shoots from the cannon and can even work in groups against the Covenant.

Halo 2 has the big question of the infamous Flood. These nasty zombie-like creatures were in the first game and nearly destroyed Master Chief on many occasions.

Thought to be destroyed in Halo: Combat Evolved, there is a possibility of their return.

Halo 2 spans a large number of different battlegrounds and skirmishes ranging from the massive future city to the mines of the moon and to possibly the Covenant home world itself. The game dives headfirst into the Halo story line and gives more detail on the Covenant and their campaign and delves into the minds of the Elite, the workhorses of the Covenant army.

The story of the Halo universe is massive and rivals that of Star Wars. Four books have already been published bridging the story lines of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 as well as giving more insight into the Covenant and the Master Chief. A possible movie has been batted around Hollywood but nothing has been written in stone.

Look for Halo 2 tomorrow, that is, if there are copies available.

Overall Grade: A+

ThinkFast makes a return

Viva Flamenco!

3rd Annual event tests trivia knowledge of student for cash prizes

By Angela Sanders A&E Editor

Courtesy Photo

American Master of the guitar: Ronald Radford will put on “Viva Flamenco,” a concert of the soul-stirring gypsy music of Spain, at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the University Theatre. Tickets will be $8 for students, military and seniors, and $10 for general admission.

A&E Briefs Magic lantern Friendly Persuasion, a movie set in the Civil War, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Student Activities Building.

Juried art show “Oklahoma: Centerfold” will be on display at the Leslie Powell Gallery through Dec. 30. The gallery is open from noon until 4 p.m. The event is free.

Get your trigger fingers ready. It’s time for the ThinkFast Game Show.

Hosted by PAC, this trivia game will be coming to Cameron for the third year in a row. It will be held at 9 p.m. tonight in the Shepler Mezzanine.

The game show, which has a format similar to Jeopardy!, consists of two rounds of 20 questions. The audience will be divided into teams. Each team will get a remote that they can use to respond to the questions, which will come from a variety of categories. The faster the team answers, the more points it receives.

At the end of each round, the top four teams will send a representative to the contestant panel to determine the winner of that round. The third and final round is the speed round where the grand champion team will be crowned and $200 will be given away.

Frank Myers, PAC co-chair, encourages all students to attend the event.

“Who couldn’t use $200 at this time of the year?” he said.

The ThinkFast Game Show, which usually costs Cameron $2,500, is being offered free of charge by TjohnE Booking/Productions company this year. It is

Courtesy Photo

Buzz in. Students participate in last year’s ThinkFast game show. The event was a success, with a turnout of about 200 students. the perfect way for students to show off their knowledge.

“People on campus are full of useless trivia,” Myers said.

Sports

November 8, 2004

7

Aggie volleyball continues perfect run

By Ian Mitchell Newswriting Student Cameron’s Aggies volleyball team defeated Midwestern State University 3-1 in their last regular season home game Oct. 31.

Cameron dominated game one with a .400 hitting percentage while limiting MSU to .000 in that category. In game two, the Lady Indians evened the score with Kate Pence recording seven of her match-high 20 kills. Cameron took game three posting a match high .412 hitting percentage. Game four proved to be a battle. Cameron took a late lead of 27-21. However, MSU fought back, winning four straight points and adding two late blocks to bring their score to 28. In the end, Taran Turner put an end to their effort with a tipped kill to an open spot on the floor.

This win, by scores of 30-14, 29-31, 30-22, 30-28, improved Cameron’s record to 18-10 overall and extended their winning streak to 10 games and a perfect 9-0 in Lone Star Conference North Division play. As a result, the Aggies have earned their fifth LSC North title and their first outright league crown in four years.

According to Coach Kim Vinson, the team has grown in maturity and confidence over the last month, winning some big games.

Photo by Christina Frye

Wait for it: Cameron Aggies get set for another point in their game against Texas Woman’s University.

“I think our team has matured tremendously in the last month,” Vinson said. “We had a stretch there where we really stepped up our training, and as the girls got stronger, they got more confident because we won some big matches in that stretch.”

Cameron’s win was the result of a team effort. Sophomore Taran Turner tied a career high with 18 kills while senior Morgan Meyer posted 17 kills and 11 digs for her 16th double-double of the season.

Sophomore Taylor Turner contributed 22 digs and 10 kills and sophomore setter Vicki Ibarra matched her season high with 55 assists. Senior Jenny Head posted an impressive 19 digs.

Midwestern State got 20 kills and 20 digs from Kate Pence, while setter Whitney Johansen added 49 assists. MSU outblocked the Aggies 6-4 and had 85 total digs to Cameron’s 78. Coach Kim Vinson, who earlier in the fall announced her retirement,

coached her final regular season home game as Aggies head coach, offering praise and constructive criticism to her players and effectively using time-outs. The team members remained calm even during periods when they were down.

Again Vinson attributes this to their increased confidence.

“They just seem to have a calmness about them even when we are not executing as well as we want,” Vinson said.

In addition to the loss of Vin-

son, the Aggies will be losing three valuable senior players: Jenny Head, Morgan Meyer and Nicole Reinhart. Vinson recognizes the significant contribution these players make to the team.

“We will definitely miss the leadership and the athletic ability of our three seniors,” Vinson said.

“They have really stepped it up and are playing well right now.”

However, Vinson feels this impending loss will not inhibit the focus the girls are displaying right now.

“I think they know the challenges ahead and if they want to keep playing to the NCAA championships they will have to stay on course,” she said. “We talk a lot as a team about keeping focused on one match at a time, and I think that has been a big factor in our success.”

As the top seed from the North Division, Cameron will receive a first-round bye in this year’s conference tournament, which will be hosted at the Aggie Gym. Quarterfinal matches will be played Thursday, with the semifinal matches scheduled for the following evening. The 2004 Lone Star Conference championship will be decided at 7 p.m. Saturday. On Nov. 18 the NCAA Division II Southwest Regional Championships will be played at a location still to be determined.

Star basketball player strives for a chamipionshipfilled season in ‘05 Laura Brady Staff Writer

Courtesy Photo

sports action at www.goaggies.cameron.edu

Look for the Aggies

Cooksey the Great: Cooksey shows her skill on the court charging a player from Abilene University.

Brittney Cooksey is passionate for sports. Her passion started during grade school in Bristow, Okla., with basketball, and followed through high school where she also participated in tennis, track and cross-country. However, Cooksey’s desire to play basketball at the college level led her to Cameron where she received a full scholarship.

“When I came to visit the CU campus I really liked the girls, the team and the coach,” Cooksey said.

“I just felt like I fit in.”

Cooksey, a business junior, is confident this basketball season will be a promising one.

“I expect us to make it to the pro season,” Cooksey said. “We have some great recruits, and we’re all looking forward to a great season.”

Assistant Coach Stacia Crumbley agrees with Cooksey.

“Once our team gets used to playing with each other and ‘gelling’ together, we’ll be one of the best teams in the conference,”

Crumbley said.

Last year, Cooksey was moved to point guard but normally plays shooting guard. According to Cooksey, both positions are enjoyable because it involves shooting the ball a lot.

The Cameron Aggies’ basketball team is pumped up for the season, but especially ready to play against such teams as Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State.

“We are always excited to play basketball against the teams but especially those,” Cooksey said.

Crumbley is hopeful about the season and feels Cooksey adds leadership and experience to the team.

“Talent-wise, she is probably one of the more court-smart players,” Crumbley said. “She knows what needs to be done on the court and she has great shooting ability.”

Cooksey and the Lady Aggies basketball team will be able to show their spirit when the season begins Nov. 4 in Tulsa. The first official game is Central Missouri on Nov. 15.

The Back Page

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ACROSS 1 Plastic alternative 5 Vituperate

10 14 15 16

Land portion Kal Kan rival Wheel spokes Exam no-no

17 Amethyst, to Lincoln 19 Pro __ (in proportion) 20 Dispatch boat 21 Smelter inputs 22 Osbourne of rock 23 Map key 25 Churchill Downs event 27 Almost forever 30 Apt (to) 33 Faction 36 Criticizes harshly 38 Impassive 39 Sound of satisfaction 40 Whirlwind 42 Fin. neighbor

43 45 46 47 49 51 53 57 59 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 71

Visual aid Metric wt.

Server’s handout Greek letters Puccini opera Really enjoy Track obstacle Kind of flakes Boxing match Theatrical curtain Very much Sound converter Las Vegas competition Man and Capri Constantly Frost piece Asian evergreens Say it isn’t so

DOWN 1 Ring of plotters 2 Kicking partner?

3 Parsley unit 4 Stressful position 5 AARP members 6 Roman orator 7 Olfactory prod 8 Like some paper 9 Vin of Hollywood 10 Circus performer 11 Elbow’s sensitive spot 12 Put on the __ 13 Online auction site 18 Sharpen 24 Small boat 26 Greet the judge 28 Shaving mishap 29 Divide 31 Sphinx, mostly 32 Neutral tone 33 Heroic tale 34 Jurist Warren 35 Prom figure 37 Alone 40 Shoot the breeze 41 Snack 44 Will-o’-thewisp 46 Did a close-order drill 48 Hand in 50 Zodiac connection 52 Savoir faire 54 Herded 55 Flax product 56 Polishing material 57 Find fault 58 Butter’s bro 60 Bruins of football 61 Expedition 65 Forerunner of the CIA

Campus Round-up Give blood

System down for update

Student Activities will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Davis Student Union Reading Room.

The SBI/CamSIS system will be down beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday through 5 p.m. Friday. No access to CamSIS will be available during this time.

Cheer on the Aggies

Post Office announces closure

There will be a Pep Rally at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Aggie Gym to send off the men’s basketball team for their exhibition game against the Sooners.

All Post Offices, including Cameron’s, will be closed Thursday for Veteran’s Day. They will re-open Friday with regular hours.

CJ

Continued from Page 1 go by the book.”

Criminal justice professors are very involved with the field and they stay current with the activities going on in it.

“The faculty remains in close contact with the real world through professional activities like counseling weekly sessions with offenders, state and county boards for criminal justice agencies and law

enforcement training,” Youngblood said.

According to Youngblood, by having a criminal justice degree, students can pursue a wide variety of jobs.

“From law enforcement to correction agencies and human service positions to government jobs, our students have taken it all,” Youngblood said. “Our major is also unique since a significant number of CJ majors are already employed in the criminal justice field and are returning to school in order to earn more promotions.”

November 8, 2004

Courtesy Photo

Your left lung is attached to your...trachea: The Respiratory System in a human includes passages that connect the nose and mouth to the lungs. Oxygen is taken into the body through the airways, absorbed into the lungs, then transported through the body in the blood.

CARE

Continued from Page 1 111 at GPTC. Other required documents such as high school and college transcripts and letters of reference must be submitted by Nov. 16.

Once accepted into the 12-month program, students will begin their classes in January at GPTC. The classes include: Respiratory Sciences, Clinical I and II, Respiratory Pathology, Introduction to Respiratory Care and Respiratory Pharmacology.

Students who are accepted into the program are encouraged to drop

by Cameron if they ever have any questions or concerns.

“It’s not a let go type of thing; we are partners with GPTC,” Tom Sutherlin, director of Institutional Research and Support Services at Cameron, said. “That is why the term cooperative agreement is so applicable, because we cooperate to help the student get their education.”

After successfully completing all requirements, students will receive an associate’s degree in Applied Science with an emphasis in Respiratory Care from Cameron. However, to be considered employable in Oklahoma, students must take a certification test administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist.

Students who have concerns about finding a job after receiving their certification should not worry, according to Sutherlin.

“We need healthcare providers in a variety of disciplines,” he said.

“Nursing gets an awful lot of attention, and it should, but in both respiratory care and radiology we need people too.”

In fact, Ralph has already established a one-year contract with a local hospital for employment. Once he finishes the requirements this December and gets certified, he will begin working.

Students can expect to earn about $13 per hour locally, according to Powers. Statewide $10 to $20 per hour can be earned, depending on credentials and shift preferences.

Although there are only 12 slots available for the program this year, students who have met all credentials are not guaranteed a spot.

According to Powers, enrollment is competitive.

“Students who like science, math and have good communication skills and like to work with people would make good candidates,” Sutherlin said.

For more information about the program, call Debbie Crossland at 581.2280 or Jack Powers at 250.5572.