COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, October 11 11,, 2004
News
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Local youth gather to celebrate faith at rally By Laura Brady Staff Writer
Political candidates face off in attempt to sway new voters to pick their side Nov. 2 PLEASE SEE PAGE 4
A&E
Visiting poet brings everyday experiences to life and shares them with others Thursday PLEASE SEE PAGE 7
Sports
Volume 78 Issue 6
“One Day, with One Message, and One Stand,” was the goal for the Fields of Faith rally held last week at Cameron. The rally encouraged local junior high and high school students to attend and participate in Fields of Faith. However, Cameron wasn’t the only location of the rally; many communities throughout Oklahoma and Texas also held rallies. According to Patrick Morford, the Youth Director for First United Methodist Church of Lawton, the rallies started a few years ago. Now they are really expanding. The idea for Fields of Faith began after the success of Jesus T-Shirt Day. In 2000, a coach and youth pastor in Lawton decided to organize a day where everyone wore the same T-shirt that carried one message. After students and faculty from local junior high and high schools repeatedly sported the Tshirt for three years, the idea for Fields of Faith was sparked. Currently, the strategies of the rally include: promoting the event with area churches, wearing the known T-shirts on the day of the rally, and gathering at a local athletic field for the rally.
The community gathering was held at Cameron because it is a familiar location, and provided a neutral rally point. Local junior high and high school students joined together and wore the T-shirt on the day of the rally, encouraging other teens to attend the event by using the powerful visual tool. The T-shirt was also a natural invitation to the rally that night. The premise of the event was to bring people together at one time in a no-nonsense setting, read selected scripture and challenge those present to renew their commitment to God. According to Morford, it was an opportunity for students to join together and make a statement. The basic parts of the rally included testimonies from “impact students” and “impact adults.” The “impact students” were leaders from their campuses who shared a message about the power of the scriptures in their lives. The “impact adults” were members from the community who followed up with a short word of encouragement, a brief invitation and a Twenty-One Days with God challenge. The rally came to a conclusion after everyone received a contemporary version of scripture entitled The Message from Navpress.
Photo by Angela Sanders
Speaking out: Katrina Littau, Central Junior High student, speaks at the Fields of Faith Youth Rally Oct. 6.
Library implements new security for books By Scott Pratt Staff Writer
Violence in sports: common necessity for entertainment or vulgar attempt to gather an audience? PLEASE SEE PAGE 9
Voices
Growing debt for college students raises concerns for understanding the impact of credit cards 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
The new radio frequency in the Cameron Library cannot be heard, but that doesn’t mean there are no benefits to it. The Cameron Library has a new security and cataloging system. Radio Frequency Identity is new to CU this semester. The system is in place to allow for a better cataloging system as well as to provide an update to the current security system at the library. The RFID system revolves around a small computer chip which is placed inside the book. The chip allows library staff to quickly KRT Campus scan books at check out, make sure the books are in correct order in the stacks and be secure that a good system is in place to prevent theft. On Sept. 28, Assistant Professor M. Afzal, head of collection services, led the inauguration of the new system. “This system will help us to protect and secure our library material,” Afzal said. “This process will also ensure equal access to our print collection for all library users.” The new system has many features the current system does not have. Workers at the circulation desk will be able to check out more than one book at a time by placing the books in a stack where the all of the chips in them can be read at one time. Eventually, self-checkout for library books and materials will be an option. The
Please see SECURITY, Page 5
Photo by Aaron Gilbee
You got somethin’ to say? Members of the Speech and Debate Team take a break from preparing for their next round of competitions to pose for a shot together. Many students juggle work, home and school in addition to being a part of the team.
Talkative natures go a long way for speech students By Petulah Olibert Staff Writer Cameron University’s speech and debate team is ready to tackle the competition. A few weeks ago at a speech debate held in Wyoming, Sarah Collins, speech communications junior, won first place in Communication Analysis. It was a ten-minute speech, which required her to critique a persuasive artifact. She chose to assess a baseball memorial. Collins also placed third in the persuasive speaking division of the debate. Collins said she was always very vocal. She competed frequently at debates in high school and thought of doing nothing else since she entered college. According to Collins, her participation in debates has greatly improved her critical thinking skills as well as her ability to speak articulately, to listen inventively, to persuade,
and most importantly, to study. Within the debate forum, Collins has secured a number of first place wins. She wants to coach speech and debate — to be “another Mr. Allison,” she said. But speech is no easy road. Besides a twohour practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Collins schedules time to research topics and to practice every evening in addition to her course study load. “In essence, I put in about 40 hours of speech time weekly,” she said. “But it pays off. I love it.” Zach Fort is another aspiring speaker, currently a speech education junior. Fort placed fourth in a dramatic interpretation of a literary play. This year’s debate team is made up of
Please see SPEECH, Page 5