Collegian T he Cameron University
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sports
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Summer olympian makes CU her new home
Volume 87 Issue 1
News
Cross-country Runner Cody Campbell leads the way for the Aggies at MSU. Page 7
Ice cream social President Ross invites CU freshmen to join her for a cold treat. Page 2
Fitness center Aggie Rec Center receives facelift along with a new name. Page 3
Greek life Phi Sigma Iota hosts summer food fest to kick off the semester. Page 5
News
A&E
Foam party Cameron throws foam dance party at the fine arts courtyard. Page 5
A&E
Photo courtesy of Karin Clashing O’Reilly
Going for gold: Karin Clashing O’Reilly spends time with US Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte (right) and Cullen Jones (left). O’Reilly competed in the 50-meter freestyle and won her first heat in the 2012 Summer Olympics. her heat, she did not make it Tiffany Martinez to the semi-finals. News Editor Nevertheless, the Hard work, dedication experience of it all was and positivity make enough for O’Reilly, as she dreams come true. This explained. sentiment proved true for “It was just amazing for Karin Clashing O’Reilly, a me to win my heat, it was sophomore Business major a dream,” O’Reilly said. “I of Cameron University wasn’t in the seed lane, which who competed in the 2012 is supposed to be the lane Summer Olympics in for the fastest swimmer, London. but I still won. That was Representing Antigua awesome.” and Barbuda, two small Swimming has been a islands in the Caribbean Sea, vital part of O’Reilly’s life O’Reilly competed in the for as far back as she can women’s 50-meter freestyle. remember. Though she placed first in “I’ve always swam,” she
said. “I started swimming competitively when I was twelve.” Swimming talent runs in O’Reilly’s family. Her sister, Christal Clashing O’Reilly, also competed in the women’s 50-meter freestyle in the Olympics of 2004. The sisters are three years apart, and regrettably so. “There is Venus and Serena on the tennis courts, I actually wanted us to be Karin and Christal in the pool,” O’Reilly said. “But because of the existing age categories in swim, we could never really do that.”
Her mother, Edith Clashing O’Reilly, is a founding member of Wadadli Aquatic Racers (WAR), an elite swim club in Antigua. She coached her daughter through the Olympics. “It was actually nice having my mother coach me,” O’Reilly said. “It’s good when you have your coach right there — but when you can call her ‘Mom’, it’s even better.” See OLYMPIAN Page 2
News
Health fair Student Wellness Center offers health tips for students, faculty and staff. Page 2
Renovations provide new feel for CU Tiffany Martinez News Editor
Cameron University has recently completed renovations to the Academic Commons. The remodeled student union is adjacent to the Cameron Exchange, located just off University Drive. It now houses several new classrooms, office space for Greek organizations, computer labs, as well as student newsrooms and a student television studio. President Cindy Ross has been overseeing recent changes to both the building and the rest of campus. “The construction of the Academic Commons has taken just over a year,” President Ross said. “While this is our most recent project, we have done over $60 million worth of construction in the past eight years. We try to maintain the Cameron blend of brick while creating or renovating these campus buildings, but we also strive to give it more of a university feel.” The idea of a university feel, according to President Ross, includes high ceilings, archways and peaked roofs. This proved to be quite the challenge, however, during the reconstruction of the Academic Commons. “It is easier to put high ceilings in a building that you are constructing from the ground up,” President Ross said. “It is obviously
more of a challenge to do so when you are renovating buildings that were constructed in 1961 — because they were built with flat rooftops.” With careful planning and skilled architects on the job, President Ross was pleased with the renovations of the building — and she is not the only one. “Our focus is always the students, and what we can do to enhance their collegiate experience, as well as the education they receive here at Cameron,” President Ross said. “And I’ve gotten very positive feedback on the renovations to the Academic Commons from the students.” One of those students is Mikaela Emmells-Greene, a Radio/Television sophomore who has found her new home in the Academic Commons. “I am a video nerd, so my favorite part of the Academic Commons is the new television studio that my colleagues and I are creating history in,” Emmells-Greene said. “It’s so up-to-date. It’s amazing.” Ten feet from the television studio is the entrance to the Convergence Newsroom, which has traditionally been the office space for students that study print journalism. For the first time, however, both groups of media students are utilizing the room: broadcast reporters and print reporters.
Photo by Tiffany Martinez
A new house for many: The recently completed Academic Commons houses classrooms, AggieCentral, Greek organizations and more. The remodeling was part of more than $60 million of renovations taking place at Cameron. “We are slowly merging, and learning from one another. I think we have some kinks to work out in different places but the building is new as well as the concept — we are still growing into it,” EmmellsGreene said. “I really love that the professors, equipment, newsroom and studio are finally near one another. It is very convenient for the
students.” President Ross said that the Academic Commons cost just over $4 million dollars to finance, most of which coming from private donations, and also discussed the upcoming dedication ceremony. “At Cameron when we do a groundbreaking or a building dedication or any event, we try to do something a little different.
We always have a theme and try to make it fun for the community and the students,” President Ross said. “When we did the groundbreaking for the Academic Commons last year, our theme was ‘Extreme Makeover,’ based on the television show. This time, it will be ‘Extreme Makeover: Part Two’. It will be the big reveal, so I think it will be a lot of fun.”
President Ross said university regents, community leaders and private donors will be in attendance for the dedication ceremony; students and faculty are encouraged to attend. The dedication ceremony for the Academic Commons will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 in the front patio of the building.