COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Monday, September 10, 2007
News
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Professor makes Cameron his home
Do you believe in magic? SEE PAGE 3 Photo by Jim Horinek
A&E
Volume 81 Issue 2
Taking cue: Dr. Paul Crandon joins students in a game of pool at Cameron Village. Crandon is the newest faculty member of the Public Relations program as well as a faculty in residence.
By Jessica Lane Collegian Staff Dr. Paul Crandon is beginning a new chapter of his life as he uses his teaching experience to shape the foundation for a new Public Relations program. Like so many others, upon finishing college, Crandon’s future was still unclear. “When I finished I was left with a feeling that I still had to prove myself,” Dr. Crandon, the new Assistant Professor of Public Relations said. Dr. Crandon grew up in Derby, a suburb
outside of Wichita Kansas, and later attended Pittsburgh State University where he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees, and later went to University of Tennessee in Knoxville to complete his PhD. He then taught at Northwest Missouri State University and University of North Alabama. He has a passion for teaching that spurred him on to get a Masters at the age of 23. ”I still wanted to learn more about my major. So a master’s degree gave me a blank slate and the opportunity to start over and to advance my studies in the field,” Dr. Crandon said.
He pursued his Masters the following year and eventually became an admissions counselor. It was during this time that he was granted the opportunity to try his hand at teaching. He taught three night classes a week as well as attending to his admissions counselor duties. He taught two classes in speech, and an additional class in news writing. “That’s when I started getting bitten by the bug. I couldn’t wait for each time the class met.” Education became a part of Dr. Crandon’s self-identity and a facet of his personality that he wanted to share with others. “When people asked me what I did, I so badly wanted to tell them that I taught college. I couldn’t even say ‘professor’ really because I was just an adjunct teaching one class at a time. And so I started to see that shift in my plans and selfperception.” Now working as a full time professor, Dr. Crandon is currently teaching three classes and developing a fourth online course, Principles of PR. He is designing the latter class with nontraditional students in mind. Dr. Crandon said this class is still in the developing phase and classes should be available during the spring ’08 semester. He sees a lot of opportunity and advancement for the PR department. “There was so much room for growth in this area, and after talking to the department chair, Tony Alison, there’s so much demand here and there are so many majors going through the program. But they needed a PR guy to come in and really bring some new areas. Fast forward a little bit and I’m here.”
See CRANDON Page 2
Public Relations creates award winning product By Kelley Burt Collegian Staff
Learn to cook like an Aggie.
Doug McAbee, Graphic Designer, and Jamie Glover, Director of Community Relations here at Cameron, presented their projects at this year’s annual Oklahoma College Public Relations Association (OCPRA) conference. The summer conference was held July 8-10 at the Tanglewood Resort near Lake Texoma and hosted nearly 50 Oklahoma college and
SEE PAGE 6
Sports
university PR offices. Of the 495 projects submitted for contest, Cameron took home four recognitions. Randy Talley, Director of Media Relations at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma and Awards Chair for OCPRA said: “Cameron really made a show this year. We look forward to seeing them place again in the future.” The OCPRA conference is open to both small colleges and large universities alike. “We are especially exited when a small college wins
awards because no distinctions or category separations are made between the sizes of the schools,” Talley said. “Judging is based solely on merit and design even if the bigger universities have more money to spend on projects.” Of the 31 categories, judged by a panel of out-of-state professionals at the conference, McAbee received first place.
See PUBLIC RELATIONS Page 2
Graphic courtesy of the Public Relations Department
Aggies meet competition at the net. SEE PAGE 8
Voices
Has America forgotten? SEE PAGE 5
Eye catching: The two graphics shown are part of the group of projects that the Public Relations Department won several awards for.
International Festival brings culture, tradition By Brandi O’Daniel Collegian Staff On Sept. 21-23, Lawton will host the 28th Annual International Festival. According to the Arts and Humanities Division, over 30,000 people attended last year’s festival and more are expected to attend this year’s event, which will present Lawton’s various heritages. The festival will begin with the “Naturalization Oath Ceremony,” which consists of prior residents taking an Oath of Allegiance to become new citizens and accept their “Certificates of Naturalization.” Entertainment following the opening ceremony includes performances from Kumaasi, a group specializing in African music and dance, the OSU Trombone Studio, which plays classical and jazz music, and The Red Dawn Blues Band, a unique band that plays American Indian blues. In addition to musical performances, the festival will showcase several dance groups. Desert Moon Dance will be presenting dance styles from the Middle East. Other dance groups include the Mexican Folkloric Dancers and the Ladies of Paradise with Men of Aloha & Touch of Samoa.
This eclectic group of entertainers and the opportunity to sample cuisine from many different countries attracts and appeals to the Lawton community and students at Cameron. Junior Communication major, Breanne Loving sees the event as an ongoing tradition to see numerous cultures represented. “I love to see the diversity here in Lawton,” Loving said. “One wouldn’t think that we have so many ethnicities here, but I’ve lived here for 13 years and I always see something new. Going to the festival has kind of become a tradition for me.” Other Cameron students are looking forward to the festival and learning more about other countries and cultures. Senior Biology major Angelica Rodriguez said: “I like sampling from the different countries and their cultures. I may not ever travel to those places so this may be as close as I get to experience their
Courtesy of LAHC
heritage.” Throughout the festival, students will be able to see worldwide entertainers, eat foods from over 25 vendors and buy international goods.
See FESTIVAL Page 2
News
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Sept. 10, 2007
CRANDON continued from page 1 “Having a faculty in residence is a nod to the past and the traditions when it was common to have faculty housing available in and among the university community.” — Dr. Paul Crandon Assistant Professor Allison said, “He is wanting to expand the curriculum and this is why we hired him. He comes to us with eight years of experience.”
According to Allison, some of these additions include arranging a student PR society and organizing PR competitions. “We’re excited
about getting some student activities like that,” Allison said. Dr. Crandon acknowledged that this was a unique opportunity. He said that Cameron’s departments are established and well known, yet he is a new professor with the opporotunity to lay his own groundwork. “Usually, they already have people occupying those roles. It’s thrilling and it’s an honor actually,” Dr. Crandon said. Currently, Dr. Crandon lives with his wife, Christina, and their
two sons, Colston and Thomas in the CU village. It is there that Dr. Crandon functions as a faculty in residence. Professors who are a part of the faculty in residence program are there to help students assimilate into college life as well as provide a more traditional atmosphere. “Having a faculty in residence is a nod to the past and the traditions when it was common to have faculty housing available in and among the university community. It also sends a message that this is
a learning community, that it’s a community of scholars,” he said. Dr. Crandon added that the faculty in residence program sends a personal message. “Cameron is my life too,” he said. “This is how I define myself, and I live among the students and on campus.” He hopes students will come to him for advice and guidance.
PUBLIC RELATIONS continued from page 1 His placing was in the Digitally Enhanced Photography/General category. His photographs, published in the fall 2006 edition of “Cameron Magazine,” were featured in the article “The Many Worlds of Gabriel Vidal.” “Although I took first place in one category, it really takes a whole group of people to put it all together,” McAbee said. “I’m glad to be a part of such a great team.” Along with Glover, McAbee also won third place in the Shoe-String Award category, which highlights “something impressive created on a small budget,” with their “CU Duncan Holiday Tree Lighting Candy Cane Flag.” McAbee also received two honorable mentions in the Print Advertising and Small Brochure/Flyer/Booklet categories. In addition to honoring achievement, OCPRA conferences provide networking opportunities for students. “This was my second year attending the conference,” McAbee said. “I had a really good time and got to meet up again with the people I met the year before. We were able to compare notes Graphic courtesy of the Public Relations and get fresh ideas for the future.” Department
Graphic courtesy of the Public Relations Department
FESTIVAL continued from page 1 “I love to purchase the inexpensive odds and ends from each booth,” Loving said, “but the bulgogi alone is enough to keep me coming back.” While CU students can take a class to learn more about other countries or pick up a book from the library, the International Festival offers them the chance to learn about other cultures in a more social setting. “I think that it is a good idea for Cameron students to attend the festival because it is an exchange of ideas and it helps the students to learn about other ways of life,” Loving said. “I also think that the festival helps to bridge the gap among the cultures.” Rodriguez added: “This festival is especially important for the diverse number of students at Cameron because it gives them the opportunity to meet with people from their culture as well as others that are from the area. For those that live in Lawton, they have the chance to maybe learn more about their friends’ cultures.” The International Festival will begin 6 p.m. on Friday and last through the weekend until 5 p.m. on Sunday. It will be held at Lawton Public Library’s Plaza, at of Fourth St. and B Ave. Volunteers are still needed for the festival. To help with the event e-mail LAHC@cityof.lawton.ok.us or call 581.3470 or 581.3471.
A few few things things to to see see at at the the A International Festival Festival International The 77th Army Band Polka Kings
Red Dawn Blues Band
Desert Moon Dance Troupe
Aislinn & Snake River Gang Mexican Folkloric Dancers
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Sept. 10, 2007
News
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Disney magic touches Cameron student By Alexis Del Ciello
Ever since I was a freshman [in college] I wanted to be involved in Guest Writer the Disney internship program, Castles are bigger than but I had other responsibilities. imagined. This past year I decided it was Somehow the stars shine time.” brighter and all eyes twinkle more After a difficult application than before. process with Disney, losing her Little girls love to dress in audition tape and needing to retheir favorite princess costume audition, Anderson was ready from their favorite Disney to report for duty on Jan. 9, film and dream 2007 for character training. of one day “Basic Character training is meeting, five days. The first day you sit or even in a classroom and go over becoming stuff that might happen,” their Anderson said. “The favorite second day you get into princess. costume For one just to see little girl, how it her dream feels. The came true. last three When days you she was eight go out years-old, Finance into the senior Mae park with Anderson trainers and and her they watch family and critique visited you. For Graphic courtesy of Alexis Del Ciello Disney Pocahontas World for a and Jasmine week-long family I did an vacation. additional “I was completely in two days of awe. You are not in the real world training per anymore,” Anderson said. “There character.” are so many bright colors and all Not only was the characters and rides. It’s just Anderson two fun.” character princesses, but she was Little did Anderson know, also Gideon from “Robin Hood,” more than ten years later, an Mr. Penguin from “Mary Poppins” afternoon of internet surfing and King Louis from “The Jungle would lead her to information Book.” about a Disney college internship. Even when dressing as the best “I was a senior in high school characters, sometimes things can and I was just playing around go wrong. on the Internet on the Disney “There was a point when I got Web site and happened upon the a chemical burn on my forehead,” college program,” Anderson said. Anderson said. “Jasmine’s wig was “I thought ‘I am going to college so heavy that I would have to put soon’ and wanted to check it out. double stick adhesive underneath it to make it stay on. Someone told me that it goes half on your skin and half on your wig cap, but she told me wrong; it doesn’t go on your skin.” Anderson had to deal with a blister on her forehead after the heat Photo courtesy of Alexis Del Ciello The magic begins: Mae Anderson poses with caused the Aladdin and Princess Jasmine when she was eight wig to burn years-old. Anderson participated in a Disney her head. She internship during the spring semester to fulfill her was given dream. modified
Photo courtesy of Alexis Del Ciello
A princess for a day: Mae Anderson, as Princess Jasmine from Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ stops for a picture with a young visitor at Disneyworld. Anderson dressed up as many mascots including Pocahontas and King Louis from ‘The Jungle Book.’
Photo courtesy of Alexis Del Ciello
Beauty and the beast: (Left) Mae Anderson entertains a child at Disney World while dressed as King Louis. (Above) Anderson stands in front of the Magic Kingdom during her internship. While on her internship, Anderson kept up with her classes online through the university’s online curriculum. Photo courtesy of Alexis Del Ciello
duty for a week. “I colored with kids all day for a week with this thing on my forehead,” Anderson said. Despite chemical burns and lost audition tapes, she found the best in every situation. “One of the best parts was smiling and making kids happy,”
Anderson said. “I remember this one time, this little girl was so excited that she ran up to me and I was on my knees because she was shorter and nearly knocked me over because she would not let go.” She had fun dressing like the famous characters. She said Disney is about the magic and
many people don’t realize the magic they work for the workers. “I can remember so many things were kids said something that just made my day,” Anderson said. Throughout the spring semester, Anderson took an online course and attended a weekly class at “Marketing U,” a class Disney offers for college interns. “The class was basically about marketing you, writing resumes and how to network better.” Anderson said. Jennifer Holland, Dean of Student Services, said real-world experiences like Andersons are a benefit to students. “They are important to help students understand what types of things their degree will help them do,” Holland said. “It also provides practical experiences to apply classroom knowledge and provides students with networks and professional contacts.
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News
September 10, 2007
Voices Mud, Glass and Choices:
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September 10, 2007
Coming to terms with Major Life Changes Whenever a portion of one’s life comes to an end, reflection is often important in preparing for the next stage in life. As I near graduation, I find myself reflecting on my years here at Cameron. I have made some big decisions and gone through some major events in my personal life that have affected me as a person. The first decision I made that had a large impact on my time here at Cameron was choosing my major. In the middle of my sophomore year, I finally decided that I felt God was leading me to become a high school English teacher.
Not only did this decision affect what kind of knowledge I gained, but on a larger scale it affected me personally through the other students and staff in the English Department. The friendships I have made in this department are very important to me, and I have no doubt that they have helped to shape the person I am today. The inspiration and encouragement given to me has been instrumental in both my academic and personal success. The first major life-change I had to deal with was the divorce of my parents. They had been married
for almost 24 years, and out of nowhere, or at least it appeared so to me, I found out that my father was leaving. I thought it might be easier since I was older, but I found just the opposite. Because I was older, I understood more, knew more, and hurt more. My parent’s divorce had ripple effects throughout my life. One of the hardest to deal with was losing the house I have lived in since I was four. My family (mom, brother, and sister) and I were forced to move into a house about one-third the size of our old house. We moved in the middle of the semester which added additional stress on top of the typical stresses of school. As a result of my parents divorce, I became depressed. My father had left. I found out about all of the lies I had been told and things that had been hidden from me. My mom began dating, and she, too, lied to me. I think having someone you love lie to you can possibly be the worst feeling in the world. Basically, my personal life and emotions were rapidly spiraling downward.
In my lowest points, between flowing tears and endless sobs, I had told God that I was ready to give up. I often prayed, “God, I can’t do this anymore. I’m tapping out. I can’t handle it. Take me now. Take me away from this pain and hurt. I’ll never make it through this.” The last day of finals in May 2006, I was driving home from work. I live about thirty-five minutes outside of Lawton so I had plenty of time to think and reflect on my life. I was about two miles from home, driving on the same road I had traveled for years. The speed limit on the highway was 65, but because it was raining I was going around 55. My car started to fishtail, I did a 360 degree turn, and landed upside down in the ditch on the opposite side of the road. I was uninjured, but momentarily trapped hanging upside down by my seatbelt because my hair was stuck in the mud and glass. As I reflected on this accident, I realized that God could have taken my life that night.
Jessica Frazier
Where is the American Unity? There are two types of defining events in every person’s life. There are the good events like a wedding, a birth or a reunion. We, naturally, want to remember these events and carry them with us the rest of our lives. Then, there are the bad events like a death, personal suffering or a darker tragedy. We, naturally, want to forget these events and wipe them from our memories forever. But, sometimes, it’s best to remember the darker parts of our lives. Why, you might ask? Events in our lives and how we handle them defines us. The same can be said for our country. America became the superpower it is today by taking charge when it was attacked at Pearl Harbor. Without mercy, without regret and without sympathy, America retaliated against those who attacked it. It took charge of a turbulent world when no other country would. If you flash forward 60 years, the pattern is repeating itself. America was attacked without warning and with utter malice. And like six decades prior, it retaliated without mercy, without regret and without sympathy. Only this time, the political climate has changed. There is no world war, there is no single country to label as evil, there is no true enemy. How many of us can remember where we were when the planes
crashed into the World Trade Towers? I know I can. I remember everything about that day from the time I woke up that morning until the time I went to sleep that night. How many people can say that? Not many. And that’s the problem. After 9/11 the country was united. United, that’s a word that few people seem to understand these days. We all flew the red, white and blue and we all said the Pledge of Allegiance with honor. Today, many burn the flag, many spit on it and desecrate it and many have forgotten the unity we once experienced only six years ago. Tuesday, we will mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks when over 2,000 people died. I will guarantee you more people will have remembered the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death than those who will remember the attacks. And that’s truly saddening. We have swept 9/11 under the rug. We’ve locked the memory away in the deepest, darkest and blackest hole of our minds. We have chosen to ignore it like the five year-old kid screaming in Wal-Mart. The only time we ever pull it out is to use it as a card in the political poker game. Barak Obama wants to invade Pakistan. He uses the 9/11 attacks as justification. Rudy
Josh Rouse
Giuliani is running for president. He uses his “leadership” during 9/11 as the central focus of his platform. President George W. Bush invades two countries and uses 9/11 as the reasoning. And what of the memories of those 2,000 people? Who cares about them? We haven’t even begun a construction on a memorial for them yet. The memorial for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing was dedicated on April 19, 2000, five years after the attack. We’re going on six years after the 9/11 attacks and we still haven’t even begun construction. What is wrong with this country? We have red states and blue states. We have democrat and republican. We have conservative and liberal. Where are the Americans? Where is our unity? Where is our humanity? As I said, after the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor, our country went into action. It wasn’t held back by political jockeying or foreplay. What happened to that mentality? What happened to that determination? What happened to that American spirit? I’ll tell you
It was a slap back into reality for me. He could have answered my prayers, but He did not. He has a plan for me. From the mud I rose with a renewed sense of purpose and desire to fulfill God’s plan for my life. This summer, I accepted a position at a church to direct the youth group. It has been a blessing in my life. I love ministering to the students, and cannot wait until I become a teacher so I can see them everyday. I know that I will not be able to share my faith with the students as openly as I would like, but I will do my best to live as an example. I say all of this to tell you that no matter what you are dealing with God has a plan for you, and will protect you if you give Him control. He will not force you to do anything. He will give you the choice. What will you choose?
what happened to it. We’ve been neutered. Our patriotism has been snatched from us by a thief in the night. We fight amongst ourselves and kick dirt over the memories of the fallen. We care more about weapons of mass destruction. We care more about how many mistakes our president can make in one speech. We care more about steroids in sports. We should be caring about remembering the fallen instead of using their memories in an eternal “I told you so” game on Capital Hill. The 2,000 people can’t speak for themselves; someone has to speak for them. Will you? Do you even remember where you were at on Sept. 11, 2001?
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Jessica Lane News Editor - Josh Rouse Assistant News Editor: Jim Horinek Copy Editor - Malinda Rust A&E Editor - Amanda Herrera Sports Editor - Kareem Guiste Variety Editor - Bira Vidal Assistant Editor - David R. Bublitz
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kelley Burt Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - David L. Bublitz, Jessica Frazier, Kyle Weatherly, Kerry Meyers, Brandi O’Daniel, Jacob Russell, Ashley Wilkerson, Elizabeth Yocham, Laura Batule
Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller
News Writing Students Chris Allison, Dewan Bennett, Henry Evans, Diana Harger, Erik Hurley, Tamra Mann, Danielle Murphree, Valerie Pennington, Adrienne Reid, Lauren Roberts, John Robertson, Danielle Rogers, Clayton Wright
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
Graphic by Joshua Rouse
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.
A&E
6
September 10, 2007
CU graduate to direct production for local theatre group By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff
The Duncan Little Theatre, with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Simmons Center Community Spirit Award, has announced a new season and patron membership drive. The Duncan Little Theatre will begin the 2007-08 season and celebrate our state’s centennial with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical tribute, “Oklahoma!” Cameron graduate Richard Johnson is the guest director for this performance. Johnson was born and raised in Lawton. He graduated from Cameron in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre. After graduation, Johnson was hired to work at The Berkshire Theater Festival in Stockbridge, Mass., where he served a six year tenure
as an artist-in-residence. This position allowed him to perform for, direct and teach children and adults alike. He currently works for Blue Moon Productions in Lawton. He directed his first show with Blue Moon in 2005: “Talking With” by Jane Martin. Richard currently resides in Texas. Johnson said he first knew that he wanted to be a director while working on his first show at Cameron University. “It was my senior project,” he said. “I was still focused on acting back then. While performing on the east coast and friend of mine asked me to direct a play that he had written. It was then when I realized that I could control many aspects of how a story is told to an audience. Even now as I am directing ‘Oklahoma!’ There are certain moments in the script that I am discovering and exploring that usually aren’t highlighted, at least not in any productions that I have seen.”
just after the turn of the century. The high spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides a colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Songs to be performed include: “People Will Say We’re In Love,”“Surrey with the Fringe on Top, “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No,” “The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends,” and, of course, our state song,“Oklahoma.” Oklahoma was first performed in 1991 by the Duncan Little Theatre in conjunction with the opening of the Simmons Center. This production of “Oklahoma!” has been recognized as an official Centennial Event by Governor Brad Henry. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, 15, 21 and 22, at the Simmons Center, as well as a special matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sept. 16. Tickets are available for purchase beginning Sept. 4 at the Simmons Center. The Simmons Center can be contacted at (580) 252.2900.
“Oklahoma!” is set in Western Indian Territory
Things to do at CU Sept. 11 - Tuesday Pursuits and pizza: 8 p.m. at Cameron Campus Ministries, 500 SW 27th. For more information, call 357.7226.
Sept. 13 - Free lunch: 12 - 1 p.m. at Cameron Campus Ministries, 500 SW 27th. For more information, call 357.7226.
Weekly Horoscopes For birthdays this week: Once you get your place whipped into shape, you can begin your study program. For part of the year, you’ll be doing both. That ought to be interesting. To get the advantage, check the week’s rating: 10 is the easiest week, 0 the most challenging.
Sept. 13 - Tailgating and t-shirt swap: 6 p.m. For more information, call PAC at 591.8086.
Aries (March 21-April 19) This week is a 6. It’s amazing how much you all have been able to accomplish. In a relatively short time, you’ve made the impossible look almost easy.
To have campus event printed in “Things to do at CU” e-mail information to collegian@cameron.edu or call 581.2260.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) This week is a 7. It’s getting easier to keep a secret, even when things go right. Nobody needs to know what you did to make the magic happen.
Quote of the Week “We have the best Congress that money can buy.” -Will Rogers-
Gemini (May 21-June 21) This week is a 7. You’re going from the planning phase into the difficult part. Actual work will be required, some of which you don’t know how to do. It’ll be an adventure. Cancer (June 22-July 22) This week is an 8. You might want to invite a special person for this week. If you don’t feel like cooking, have it delivered. The point is, the romance is at your place. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) This week is a 7. This weekend, the conditions are best for hanging out at home. You might have a few friends over, but mostly it’s all about family. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This week is a 7. Don’t need to tell anybody what you’re discovering. Wait until you’re sure before you invite criticism. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This week is a 6. You’ll have more interest now in making money, which is good. You do continue to have bills to pay. Take care of business. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This week is a 7. You’re great at getting rid of stuff that’s no longer useful. Don’t just throw it away, however. Sell, trade and recycle. That junk is worth a lot. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This week is a 6. The bad news is that you’ve forgotten a couple of important things. The good news is that they’ll be blatantly obvious. You can’t miss them this time. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This week is a 8. After another impressive performance, you can finally relax. Schedule a festive evening with friends. Start planning your next adventure. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7. There’s a test coming up, better be prepared. It looks like an older person will be asking you soon how you’ve been doing. Avoid impractical answers.
A&E
September 10, 2007
Action films continue latesummer draw By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff The days begin to grow shorter. The leaves begin to change colors. A cool wind begins to blow through. And with the changing times, the Hollywood box office changes shape for another season of movies. Only, instead of leading off with award season hopefuls, stylized action films like “Shoot ‘Em Up” and “3:10 to Yuma” lead the charge of action films. British superstar Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a lone gunman who saves a baby from being murdered by a crazed hitman, played by Paul Giamatti in “Shoot ‘Em Up.” With quick one-liners like “It’s a better investment than a crib” and “Is this guy that good or are we just that bad?” the actioneer looks to deliver the same fun thrills and big explosions combined with witty writing as some of its summer cousins. Don’t look for any Oscars to be handed to “Shoot ‘Em Up” come next year, but expect plenty of ammunition casings lying on the ground. The action film opened on Sept. 7. Riding a wave of hype and praise, the oft-delayed “3:10 to Yuma” finally hit theaters on Sept. 7. “The Dark Knight” star Christian Bale teams with Russell Crowe in the remake of the Glenn Ford western classic. A farmer (Bale) takes a job guarding an outlaw (Crowe) as he waits for his train, the 3:10 to Yuma. “Walk the Line” director James Mangold promises to deliver his best movie yet, which could be hard to do considering the quality of his last outing. If audiences can forget Jamie Foxx’s less-than-stellar performance in “Stealth” and move past the bore of “Miami Vice,” they might be in for a treat with Peter Berg’s latest film, “The Kingdom,” starring Foxx alongside Chris Cooper (“Breach”) and Jennifer Garner (“Elektra”). Not to be confused with the Ridley Scott epic “Kingdom of Heaven,” this political thriller follows three investigators in the Middle East who are looking for the culprits of a deadly bombing. Berg took a step away from his more humorous outing in “The Rundown” and is tackling a serious action-drama. With early screenings bringing in rave reviews, “The Kingdom” could be this year’s “The Departed.” “The Kingdom” will arrive in theaters on Sept. 28. Russell Crowe returns once more during the fall movie season, this time as Riche Roberts, a cop who’s out to bring down one of the most notorious gangsters in the 1970s in “American Gangster.” Crowe will, once again, team up with Ridley Scott and his old “Virtuosity” partner Denzel Washington, who will star as Frank Lucas, a drug runner and Harlem mob boss who smuggled dope in the coffins of dead soldiers during the Vietnam War. Scott looks to have another success story on hiss hands with this one. “American Gangster” hits on Nov. 2. Jessica Alba heats up the silver screen in her latest comedy, “Good Luck Chuck” alongside Dane Cook, who finds himself in a neverending cycle of bad girlfriends and relationships. Alba’s lack of acting skills will turn some moviegoers away, while others will come for the scenery. If you’re an action junkie counting down the days until your favorite summer movie hits, there are still some films hitting theaters that can help that wait seem more bearable.
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Cameron Iron Chef
PAC to host competition to help students with cooking skills By By Jessica Jessica Frazier Frazier Collegian Collegian Staff Staff
Tired of peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches or ramen noodles? There is help coming to campus. The Programming Activities Council (PAC) and Residence Life will hold Iron Chef Cooking classes Oct. 2-4. The idea for the cooking classes came from students, especially those living in The Village, who complained that they did not know how to cook. It was also inspired by Food Network’s Iron Chef television show. This is the first year for Cameron to offer cooking classes. According to Zeak Naifeh, PAC director, students complained because they have never lived away from home, they do not know how to cook, and are tired the same old junk. “There are three different nights of cooking classes,” he said. “They start at 6:30 p.m. in the Will Rogers Room.” The Will Rogers Room is located in the Shepler Mezzanine. Each night the students will cook something different. For example, one night they will cook a beef dish, and another night they will cook a chicken dish. According to Naifeh, Sodexho will host the cooking classes, and the students will be taught by Eric Everett, Executive Chef for Sodexho.
Graphic by David R. Bublitz
Each night, two students will be selected from the classes to participate in the Iron Chef competition. PAC and Residence
life will place these six students into two groups of three to compete at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 in the Mezzanine. Everyone is invited to come and watch these students put together their meals. “Earlier in the week we will give them the secret ingredient,” Naifeh said. “We want them to have some time to come up with ideas.” They will be provided with a few items to help them cook, such as a toaster oven, blender, a hot plate, hot water, and a few other basic items. PAC and Residence Life will also provide the three groups a small budget to buy any other items the competitors need for their meal. “They will have 45 minutes to fix three dishes,” Naifeh said. Students can sign up in the Student Activities office, located in the Student Activities Building. “It’s open to any Cameron student,” Naifeh said. There will be a limited number of students who can participate each night, so any interested students should sign up early. “We want to make sure that anyone who attends gets something out of it,” Naifeh said. Naifeh hopes this will be beneficial to the students who are away from home for the first time. It will also enable them to eat healthier instead of junk food all the time. “It’s the first year so there will definitely be some kinks, but we will make it as enjoyable as we can,” Naifeh said. “Hopefully, a lot of people will come out. It will be interesting the night of the contest to see what people come up with.”
Popular book releases for September
MCT Campus
“The View from Mount Joy,” by Lorna Landvik “You’ve Been Warned,” by James Patterson “Tomorrow,” by Graham Swift “Sundown, Yellow Moon,” by Larry Watson “The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,” by Alan Greenspan “Bridge of Sighs,” by Richard Russo “Fire in the Blood,” by Irene Nemirovsky “Playing for Pizza,” by John Grisham “The Choice,” by Nicholas Sparks
Can based-on-a-commercial `Cavemen’ survive? By Chuck Barney MCT Campus America has yet to lay eyes on “Cavemen,” the upcoming ABC sitcom about scraggly-haired CroMagnons struggling to assimilate in contemporary society. Already, though, it is one of the most mocked and derided television shows in recent memory. Jeering critics have ridiculed ABC for having the gall to a stretch a gimmicky ad campaign for Geico insurance into a weekly series. Skeptical media buyers have predicted it will be among the first shows to crash and burn. And comedian George Lopez, whose sitcom was axed by ABC, has expressed his utter dismay. “So a Chicano can’t be on TV, but a caveman can?” he asks incredulously. Despite all the derisive scorn, “Cavemen” could draw robust ratings _ at least in its initial outing on Oct. 2 because many Homo sapiens across the nation figure to be curious. Indeed, a recent online survey found that “Cavemen” leads all new network shows in terms of viewer buzz. “I will definitely watch it, if only to see if it can sustain the gag for a halfhour show,” says Sam Van Zandt, an ardent TV viewer from Walnut Creek, Calif. “The idea of turning those commercials into a sitcom made me laugh.” Even Tiffany Ramazetti, a Moraga, Calif., resident who doesn’t find the commercials the least bit funny, admits that there’s a chance she’ll take a peek at the show. “I might watch it once to see if it’s really as bad as I think it will be,” she says. In the rush to dump on “Cavemen,” it’s easy to forget that television history has featured a number of sitcoms that came into the world bearing weird, silly-sounding
concepts, only to turn into surprise hits. The off beat collection includes, among others, “Bewitched,” “The Munsters,” “My Favorite Martian,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Mork & Mindy” and “3rd Rock From the Sun.” Maybe there’s a lesson in this. Maybe it’s better to refrain from rolling our eyes until a show actually makes it to air. “Who would have thought that Ozzy Osbourne would make a great sitcom dad or that boat tourists stranded on an island would hold our interest for four years?” says television historian Tim Brooks, who co-wrote “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows.” “Having a show with an off-the-wall concept that can be described in one line attracts immediate attention. Even if it’s negative attention, that in itself is not necessarily a bad thing.” With that in mind, it becomes somewhat easier to understand why ABC programmers could possibly be drawn to “Cavemen.” Every fall, dozens of new TV shows flood the airwaves, and such a radical concept stands out in a crowd. And, thanks to the Geico ads, its characters come with a built-in fan base. ABC, like most other networks, hasn’t had a sitcom hit in years, so why not take a shot? “The good thing about comedies is that they’ve been broken for a few years, so people are willing to take chances,” says Steve McPherson, the head honcho of entertainment for ABC. As fluffed-out for prime time, “Cavemen” is meant to be a sendup of racial relations. Its prehistoric denizens battle prejudice in modern-day Atlanta, where fitting in is a constant struggle. Earlier this summer, TV critics mostly slammed the pilot episode, which was filled with broad humor and heavy- handed depictions of societal
MCT Campus
Not so primitive: “Cavemen” stars Bill English, Nick Kroll, and Sam Huntington (left-right) portray scraggly-haired Cro-Magnons struggling to assimilate in contemporary society. stereotypes. It is undergoing a makeover, including a cast change. Still, executive producer Will Speck, who worked on the ad spots, doesn’t believe it’s such a stretch to envision “Cavemen” as a series. “When we were making the commercials, we just felt like there were more stories to tell,” he says. “And I think it starts in the purest place, which is us feeling like there’s love and affection for these characters from us. And I think, if we do our jobs right, people will follow suit.” They have their work cut out for them, according to Brooks, who says the key is to deliver something unexpected. “You can only live off that title for the first 10 minutes or so,” he says. “But then you’ve got to throw the audience a curveball and/or be better than anticipated.” A good example of a high-concept show that pulled it off was “ALF,” which debuted on NBC in 1986 and was pegged to a furry little alien creature who crash-landed in the garage of a suburban family. Yes,
it sounded totally bizarre, but the curveball of “ALF” was the fact that the title character was not a cuddly puppet, but a gruff-voiced crank who commented with sarcastic wit on the foibles of earthlings. In its second season, “ALF” shot into the Nielsen Top 10. “It was so much more than just a kiddie show,” Brooks says. “And it underscored the fact that you need to reserve judgment about a show until you actually see it.” More recently, “3rd Rock From the Sun,” with a very different form of aliens, enjoyed a successful run on NBC (1996-2001), where it served as a dizzying allegorical analysis of human nature. On the drama side, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (19972003) is a great example of a clever, well-crafted show that proved to be so much more than a fanciful premise. “Off-the-wall concepts are tough to pull off,” says Brooks. “Once you get people into the tent, you’ve got to have characters. You’ve got to have a voice.”
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Sports
Aggies begins quest
Pandhandle beaten in straight sets
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Blocking Out: Limdsay Paziuk and Sydney Stewart keep their opponents at the net. The aggies maintained form to defeat Panhandle State 3-0 (30-17, 30-21, 30-15).
By Kyle Weatherly Newswriting Staff After spending the early portion of their season on the road, Cameron’s volleyball team finally got their chance to strut their stuff in front of the home crowd at the newly renovated Aggie Gymnasium. One might call it a successful debut as the Aggie women pounded Panhandle State 30-17, 30-21, and 30-15 in a three game sweep. “I thought we improved as the match progressed,” said Cameron coach John Haroun. In the first game, the Cameron women jumped out to a big lead and grabbed the early advantage. Game two was a little more difficult as Panhandle took an early lead, but was unable to hold off the surging Aggies. The short break between the second and third games did nothing to slow the Cameron momentum as the Aggies finished off the match in impressive fashion. “I thought we were a little sloppy at times on defensenot getting to our spots and not as precise as we needed to be, but by the third game we were more precise,” Haroun said. “But that’s to be expected being at home for the first time and having some jitters.” The home crowd seemed to really spark the Aggies. “I could definitely see that
they were a lot more enthused,” Haroun said. “It was just a big adrenaline rush.” Not only was this the first home match for the Cameron women, it was also their first chance to play in the Aggie Gym, which was renovated this summer. “We’ve just got to get used to the gym like we got used to the fitness center,” Haroun said. “Although we had the advantage of the fans, it didn’t seem like a real home court advantage just yet.” The Aggies, now 4-5 on the season, have had their struggles early on, which is something Haroun thinks can improve with hard work. “Overall we need to battle better-need the game maturity,” Haroun said. “We are a young team but we can’t play like a young team. We need to play with some maturity.” The Aggies hosted the Best Western Invitational here at home on Sept. 6-8, and will hosting Texas A&M Commerce on Sept. 13.
September 10, 2007
Sports
September 10, 2007
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Experience, youth, talent boost women’s basketball David L. Bublitz Collegian Staff It has been said that success comes from preparation and hard work. While Cameron University’s 2007-2008 women’s basketball team does not play their first game until Nov. 6, the Aggies’ secondyear head coach, Kevin Hackerott, and his staff have been hard at work recruiting new players in preparation for a new season and a new sports dynasty. Although graduation was a bit hard on this season’s squad, Hackerott believes this year could be the start of something special for the Aggies. “We’ve recruited seven new players to add to our five returning players from last year’s team,” Hackerott said. “Four players are junior college transfers and three are from high school programs. We are very excited about all our new players.” With only five returning Aggies and little desire to make this year a rebuilding year, Hackerott recruited players with both talent and experience from junior college programs all over the southwest. “We thought we need some experience and juco kids play that way,” Hackerott said. “One of those players is Jasmine Parr, a 5-foot-6-inch guard from Collin County Community College. She’s very quick and can play the point or the wing. A second is Kristi Taylor is a 5-foot-7-inch guard from Tyler Junior College. Kristi is very strong. I expect immediate things out of her.” Keindra Scott is another junior college transfer. She is 6 feet 1 inch tall, and Hackerott said “she is as athletic as anyone in the conference.”
Photo by Kareem Guiste
Cohessive by nature: (left to right) Rayne Barnes, Keindra Scott and Haley Dunn are just three of the seven new recruits who will debut this season. The aggies ended the 2006-2007 season with a low of four wins and 22 losses, but with this new squad, change seems imminent. “Keindra is from Houston and I’m really excited about watching her play,” Hackerott said. Rayne Barnes is a local girl who played at Eisenhower High School and spent the last two years playing at Western Oklahoma State. “She’s a physical, inside player that can add to our depth right away,” Hackerott said. In addition to experienced players, Hackerott was also seeking youth during the recruiting season. Since a dynasty is not created from only one good season, he brought in some talented freshmen to the 2007-08 squad.
“We are excited about the freshmen that we’ve added, and we are interested to see how quickly they develop,” Hackerott said. “Haley Dunn is from Winona High School in Tyler Texas, and CC Rundles played at Mansfield Summit High School down in the Dallas area, which has a very good program. Both have a good opportunity to see a lot of time on the court; it just depends on how quickly they adjust to the college game which is very different in terms of speed and strength. They are both very capable players.” “Also, we have Whitney
Null, a young lady from Duncan Oklahoma who played at Empire High School,” Hackerott added. “She’s a good spot up shooter and, again, it depends on how quick she adjusts to the college game.” Although the Aggies have the experience of returning players and recruited juniors, Hackerott knows success comes from a team effort that maximizes floor time for every player. “Our juco kids have an advantage because they have played at the collegiate level, and they are probably more ready to step right in and play,” Hackerott said, “but,
to be successful, we need all our kids to produce. We needed to take steps to improve our team and I believe this recruiting class did that.” With the mix of experience, youth, and talent, The 2007-08 Aggies need only an opportunity to excel, which will come their way in November with the start of the non-conference season. Until then, they will come together as a team under the leadership of a dedicated coach and staff as they work their way toward an Aggies basketball dynasty in the LSC.
Cheerleading squad makes changes for 2007-2008 season Kyle Weatherly Newswriting Staff
Photo by Kareem Guiste
CU AGGIES
Let’s go aggies!: Front row (left to right): Ole Kim, Leslie McClure, Miranda Josey, Karina Barrett, and Cindy Worth. Back row (left to right): Coach Robin Martin, Lataura Williams, Ron Perkins Jr., Kate Wolverton, and Tifane Robinson.
In past years, the Cameron cheerleading squad has often gone unnoticed- something new coach Robin Martin hopes to correct in her first season at the helm. Sept. 4 marked the season debut for the Aggie cheerleaders, and much like the volleyball team, it was widely considered a success. “I thought we did really well,” Martin said. “We have to get over some nerves, but they really stepped it up and performed well. The volleyball team won, so we had a good night.” Much like her squad, Martin was nervous to be in front of a crowd for the first time this season. “I was nervous, but once we got started and the smiles came out,
they really performed well and made me feel good as a coach,” Martin said. “We’ve got a couple of things we need to work on, like not talking as much in the middle of the game, but other than that, I felt really good.” Like the athletic teams they cheer for, the squad has been busy preparing for their season opener. “We’ve been having three hour practices twice a week, decorating the volleyball locker rooms, really getting out there and meeting people and also getting involved with community service,” Martin said, “so, we’ve been very busy.” According to Coach Martin, the team is looking forward to their community service projects. “We’re actually going to pair up with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.)
this year,” Martin said. “We’ve got a cancer run that we are going to be doing on Oct. 20 where we’re going to be cheerleaders for everyone involved with that.” Picking the members of the squad this summer proved to be a difficult process. “They had to come in and know the fight song cheer,” Martin said. “They had [to do] a cheer of their choice, three jumps, tumbling, and [I] even had a mini interview with them.” The ultimate goal for the squad is to get more fans to come out and enjoy games. It won’t be easy, but Coach Martin seems to have a plan. “I want to use my girls
for recruiting- go to class, pass out fl iers and also have theme nights, like a Hawaiian night or a costume night around Halloween and really get people pumped up to come to the games,” Martin said.
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Variety
September 10, 2007