The Cameron University Collegian: September 21, 2009

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

Monday, September 21, 2009

News

Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

Volume 84 Issue 4

CU History Book:

Dr. Sarah Janda nearing completion of project

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff

Community Garden sees major growth.

SEE PAGE 3

A&E

Cameron’s century of history will soon be available for the world to see in Dr. Sarah Janda’s new book.

“I just sent the first draft to the press in September,” she said. “We should finally have it ready to print some time in the early spring semester.”

“Pride of the Wichitas: A History of Cameron University” is the culmination of hundreds of hours worth of research. Janda was asked to start the project by several prominent members in the university administration including John McArthur, the Vice President of Academic Affairs. When she was first approached about the project, Janda, a history professor, didn’t know much about the university’s past.

“I learned a lot from the research I put into this book,” she said. “The reason it’s titled ‘Pride of the Wichitas’ is because early Cameron students considered it to be the pride of the Wichitas. They came from all over the area, many from meager backgrounds, and this was a big deal to them.”

The book will cover Cameron’s entire history, from its humble beginnings in the basement of a bank to becoming a prominent university in Southwest Oklahoma. Janda said Cameron’s expansion over the past century is a testament to not only the faculty and staff, but to the students who continued to support it.

While she said Cameron was a big thing in the area, it was comparatively bare.

“The first dorm that was completed was the girl’s dorm,” Janda said. “The male students who stayed on campus had to sleep in tents. Even when the dorms were complete, there was an inadequate amount of rooms and students were sleeping in the halls, in barns or anywhere they could. And they were still happy to be at Cameron.”

Photo by Jim Horinek

Final revisions: Dr. Sarah Janda looks over one of the final drafts of “Pride of the Wichitas: The History of Cameron University.” The book will cover the entire history of Cameron and will include over 130 historic photos.

See BOOK Page 2

Summer documentary course sheds light on the world of Dirt Track Racing.

SEE PAGE 8

Sports

Snapshots of Cameron history Cameron Village Grand Opening 2005 1987 NAIA National Football Champions

Photos courtesy CU Archives

Financial Aid offers several ways to reduce costs for students

By Megan Carothers Collegian Staff Cameron University’s Financial Aid office has a number of ways for students to receive financial assistance. This semester alone, the office has awarded $4,228,857 of scholarships and tuition waivers.

Students can apply for scholarships, grants, loans and student work-study positions, Interim Director of Financial Aid Carol Claiborne said.

Claiborne said that the number one thing students can do to help make getting financial aid easier is to enroll early and apply early for everything.

“Enroll early for the spring semester, and that way your aid

will be ready the week before school starts,” Claiborne said.

Claiborne also said that if a student has not filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for this academic year, they need to do so immediately.

Students can start thinking about next year’s FAFSA after January 1, Claiborne said.

“After the first of January after you have your taxes done, do your FAFSA for the school year 20102011, which is next academic year,” Claiborne said.

Claiborne said that there are added benefits to filling out your FAFSA early.

“For Oklahoma residents, if you get your FAFSA completed and submitted, and it is processed by the processor by the 30 of

April, then you get your name in for eligibility for OTAG, which is the Oklahoma grant,” Claiborne said.

Claiborne said that the FAFSA applications are available completely online now, saving paper and time.

Students have many questions when it comes to financial aid, Claiborne said, but the most asked is “when will I get my money?”

Claiborne said that there is no simple answer, but the sooner a student gets their application in for financial aid, the sooner they can receive their money.

Cameron University’s financial aid Web site has added a new way for students to learn about financial aid, which has been in

place around a year.

Students can log on to www. cameron.financialaidtv.com and watch videos answering many frequently asked questions about financial aid.

Claiborne said that sometimes students become overwhelmed and cannot find answers about financial aid on their own, but that is not a problem.

Students can call the Financial Aid office and make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to help with any problems a student may be having while filling out the FAFSA form.

For more information, students can contact the Financial Aid office at (580) 581-2293 or visit their Web site at ://www. cameron.edu/financial_aid.

H1N1 virus reaches campus, preparations in place Cameron hosts its first Cross Country Meet.

SEE PAGE 6

Voices Photos Courtesy CDC.gov

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff

Military wife deals with second deployment.

SEE PAGE 5

“Education is important when it comes to preventing this. The more students know, the more they can do to avoid it.”

— Jennifer Holland Dean of Student Services

The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as “swine flu,” has reached the Cameron University campus, but officials do not want students to panic.

Jennifer Holland, Dean of Student Services, said medical outbreaks have been a key topic for higher education institutions for several years, and H1N1 is the latest threat in a long line.

“We have been preparing for four or five years,” Holland said. “The Avian Flu outbreak several years ago put us on guard and we developed a pandemic flu plan then.”

Prevention and education are the two best weapons to use against an H1N1 outbreak.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the best way to avoid catching H1N1, or any other form of the flu, is to maintain good hygiene by washing hands regularly. The CDC also

suggests avoiding physical contact with anyone who is exhibiting flu-like symptoms. In the event a possible infection is detected, the CDC advises staying home for at least 24 hours, to make sure the symptoms pass. Holland said following these simple guidelines should cut down on the chances of contracting the virus.

“Education is important when it comes to preventing this,” she said. “The more students know, the more they can do to avoid it.”

At least six cases have been reported in the Lawton Public Schools and two cases have been confirmed at Cameron. Holland sent an e-mail to all faculty, staff and students Monday, confirming that H1N1 has been reported on campus.

See H1N1 Page 2

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News

September 21, 2009

H1N1 continued from page 1 “Two cases of the new H1N1 inf leunza virus have been identified among our campus community,” Holland said in the e-mail. “We expect that additional cases will occur, and we are carefully monitoring the f lu situation as it develops, and will keep you informed of any changes.”

With eight confirmed cases in the Lawton area, fears are beginning to rise.. Holland wants to quell those concerns.

She said Cameron students are in no more danger than anyone else in the area of contracting the virus.

“We have had other individuals who have reported f lu-like symptoms, but the health department has told us that it’s not enough of a concern here to start worrying about f lu-like symptoms,” Holland said. “We’re not a major hub, so I don’t see us being as much at risk since only 10 percent of our campus lives in close

quarters. We’re not as at risk as some higher populated schools might be.

In the event of an H1N1 outbreak in campus housing, Holland said the administration has a plan. Any sick students will be isolated,

so they don’t have a chance to inadvertently infect any other students.

The spread of H1N1 is something the administration is following carefully and will react to accordingly.

“As the need arises, we’ll

incorporate different measures in our plan as we have to,” Holland said. “We have to continue business here and we will do so. But if there was an outbreak on campus, that would be a decision we would have to talk about then. But most schools feel pretty confident about the plan in place. What we plan to do is take a rough outline and plan for what we know from there.”

In the meantime, hand sanitizer dispensers have

been placed at areas students frequent, like water fountains.

Using a little sanitizer could go a long way to preventing any widespread infection.

Each year, Cameron offers f lu shots for faculty and staff and Holland said the administration is talking with the Comanche County Health Department about offering f lu shots for students as well.

There isn’t a vaccine for H1N1 yet, but the f lu shots will help inoculate students against the seasonal f lu, which is actually more deadly than H1N1.

“We want our prevention to be very visible,” Holland said.

“We’re not very susceptible here, but we want people to know we’re helping. We want to make sure people have accurate and timely information.”

To help get the word out about any future reports on H1N1, the administration has set up a Web site at www. cameron.edu/f lu.

BOOK continued from page 1 The book will contain six chapters, with each one complimented by an essay from present Cameron history students. Janda tasked the students in one of her classes to write an essay about an aspect of Cameron’s history that appealed to them. She said they spent much time in the archives, researching the university’s history to come up with a topic that was relatable. She chose several of the best essays and added them into the book.

“I think the students were happy when they found out,” she said. “The great thing about the whole project was the students had a chance to go to the archive and have a real archival experience, which many history students don’t get.”

“Pride of the Wichitas” will contain more than 130 photographs from throughout Cameron’s history. Janda collaborated with students to restore the photos and prepare them for publication. She said the hardest part about

Student Success Workshops Time Management

writing the book wasn’t getting the photos or piecing the history together, it was finding sources that dated back to Cameron’s beginnings.

“I spent countless hours in the archives trying to find what I could,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of sources from early campus history. The first yearbook we had wasn’t published until 1914. The newspaper wasn’t started until 1928. It was a challenge to get information from the early, formative years.”

Janda faced another challenge with keeping the book short enough that people would remain interested, but long enough that it would still entail the school’s long history. She feels she struck a happy balance between the two, making sure she maintained her focus on the students throughout the century.

“You’re dealing with a hundred years of history,” she said. “I tried to focus on broad things, especially with student life. The fact that this institution continues to remain the university of choice says a lot.”

President Howell

Photos courtesy CU Archives

9-21-09

7 p.m. in Centennial Room Contact: 581.2440 Basic Relaxation 9-22-09 5:30 p.m. in Centennial Room Contact: 581.2402 Personal Responsibility 9-28-09 2 p.m. in Centennial Room Contact: 581.2939 Every workshop is free and students are encouraged to attend.

The Agricultural College Years

See page 4 for solutions.

News

September 21, 2009

3

CU plants first Community Garden

By Melissa Rogers Collegian Staff

I

Cameron gold: A flowering plant in the Community Garden shows its school spirit.

The Community Garden is a plot of land located on the Western side of campus. The garden is open for students, faculty and staff.

n an effort to create a healthier atmosphere, and to educate public awareness on eating better, Cameron University has teamed with the Southwest Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition to plant a community garden on campus.

The idea of a community garden was approved during the winter of 2008 and broke ground with 60 plots. Cameron partnered with Comanche County Memorial Hospital, as well as with Dr. Micky Cooper and Dr. Legako assisting.

Six loads of compost were delivered from a donor in Chattanooga to go along with 3,000 pounds of chicken manure from a donor in Altus. Water is readily available on-site with risers placed in the center of plots. Notices were posted inviting Cameron alumni, current and retired faculty and staff, students and Cameron donors to participate in the educational nature of the garden.

Dr. Leon Fischer, Chair and Associate Professor of Agronomy, wants to re-establish the connection of how food actually gets to your plate, which he says is an association that has diminished in most households.

“We live in “We live in a generation a generation where being where being raised on a farm raised on a farm and growing our own food is and growing something our grandparents our own food is something our or great-grandparents did. grandparents Our society is constantly or greateating fast food. My main grandparents did. Our society goal is to educate and raise is constantly awareness on eating better.” eating fast food,” Dr. Fischer said.

—Dr. Leon Fischer “My main goal Agriculture is to educate and raise awareness Department Chair on eating better.”

With Cameron committed to promoting a healthier campus it is also important to know that the garden is implemented and maintained in accordance with organic practices. There are currently 40 gardeners participating with room for many more.

“I would like to see more students and student groups get involved, with a future plan of expanding the plot area,” Fischer said. “I would also like to see how-to advice offered for those who are inexperienced but want to learn.”

Fischer hopes other communities in Lawton notice what is going on at Cameron and start establishing other gardens around town.

For more information on Cameron’s community garden and ways to begin a healthier eating habit, contact the Department of Agriculture in South Shepler Room 205 or call 581.2275.

Photos by Jim Horinek

Fresh picked: Krystal McCorgary, Women’s Hall Director, tends to her patch of okra.

McCorgary teamed up with Pearl Nunley, a CU Public Saftey Officer, and planted several different vegetables in the first annual Community Garden.

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News

September 21, 2009

CU hosts Reach Higher conference

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff Cameron University played host last Thursday and Friday to representatives from several state universities.

The representative met for a two-day conference in the CETES Conference Center for a discussion on the Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education’s Reach Higher program, which makes it easier for adults to return to college and finish their degree.

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins was in attendance Thursday as a guest speaker and told the representatives that the Reach Higher program will help Oklahoma’s economy weather the current storm.

“When we were recruiting businesses to come to our state, we had to convince them there would be employees able to fill those jobs,” Askins said. “What they would look at . . . college education, how many college degrees do we have? How many people have not stopped at high school? We know that business and industry leaders across the country are not just looking at what the state offers for tax benefits...they are looking at a lot of different quality of life issues, and quality of work issues.”

The Reach Higher program was formed in 2006 by the Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education. Tim McElroy, director of the statewide Reach Higher Program, said the program allows students who completed at least 72 hours to return to class and finish up their degree. Many of the courses are offered online, to help program participants who might not be able to attend regular classes.

“Adults are out working and it’s hard for them to complete a college degree with families and jobs,” he said. “ We felt there was an opportunity in Oklahoma and we felt we needed to help the state with something like this.”

Each major class costs about $150 a credit hour, which is a flat rate across the eight participating education institutions in the state. McElroy said a similar program has been offered for some time by

private institutions, but costs have always been a hurdle to widespread success.

“We thought state institutions could handle the program at a lower cost and that’s what we’ve been able to achieve,” McElroy said. “We want to keep costs as low as possible for the students.”

The Lt . Governor said she was thrilled when she first heard about the plans for the Reach Higher program. She said there are many people in Oklahoma who reach the last leg of their college education at around 72 hours, and can’t quite make it. The Reach Higher program, she said, is their ticket to a better life.

“There are a lot of people here that can make a big difference. This is about self confidence to step out and apply for jobs that perhaps were always what they wanted, but they never had the confidence to take that step,” Askins said. “They knew that lack of degree would hold them back, or they thought it would. That lack of confidence keeps them from reaching a little higher. There are so many people you’ve helped through this program that have taken advantage of that degree completion.”

After her speech, Askins took a moment to explain how the program can help advance not only Cameron University, but Southwest Oklahoma as a region.

“Ultimately, that helps us recruit jobs, jobs that we hope will be high paying jobs and jobs that will certainly require college degrees,” she said. “Having more college graduates in this region significantly changes the focus of the kinds of jobs we can try to recruit to this region.”

According to Lorrie Garrison, the Reach Higher program coordinator at Cameron, the university has pledged its full support since the program began in Spring 2007. The first student to graduate under the Reach Higher program did so from Cameron. Since then, Garrison said more people have decided to return and finish their education.

“We had nine students graduate last spring and we’ll have another nine students this spring,” Garrison said.

“Cameron actually continues to be one of the leaders of the pack with its student totals.”

Photos by Jim Horinek

Strong support: Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins speaks of the importance of the Reach Higher program. Askins expressed that Reach Higher can have a large impact on students’ lives.

The Director: Tim McElroy, director of the statewide Reach Higher Program

Vested interest: Askins speaks with a group of attendees of the conference.

Exploring Majors Series works to help students make that tough decision

By Rashmi Thapaliya Collegian Staff If students have no idea what degree plan they want to seek, if they are uncertain about their current major, or if they are thinking about changing their major, then they can obtain important ideas, suggestions and all necessary information in the monthly sessions of the “Exploring the Major” series.

“Exploring the Major” is a series of meetings on-campus that take place once a month, three meetings every semester. This is a chance for students to learn about the different

majors available at Cameron University, allowing students with undecided majors to take advantage of the series to decide what major will be their best choice. At the meetings, they can discuss their interests with faculty members with the hope of finding the right major for each student.

Students who are in doubt about their current major can also find the faculty to be a great help in determining what degree plan fits them best. For example, a student with a major in Business may wish to know about the job availability in that discipline after graduation.

This student can attend the meeting

to discuss the matter with the faculty and find out about the career opportunities in the field of business, as opposed to other career fields.

“Exploring the Major” started in the fall of 2007, and there have been 13 sessions of the series since then. According to Chase Massie, Student Development Specialist, attendance in the meetings has been increasing continuously.

The discipline explored this month was Psychology. The major focus of the discussion included options for graduate school, the license Cameron has to offer and opportunities for Psychology

minors. Massie said Psychology is a broad major that includes elements of other disciplines, such as law enforcement and social work.

For the next month, Student Development is planning to talk about Business. Business being one of the major schools at Cameron, it has been a part of the series twice already. The meeting is scheduled to take place at noon on Oct. 3 in the Student Activities Building, and students will be provided free pizza during the meeting.

“This time, two local employers are also attending the meeting who are looking for capable employees,” Massie said.

At the end of every meeting, students are asked to fill out a survey, which helps the organizers get an idea of what the students would like to learn about in upcoming sessions.Massie said that they are planning to schedule the meetings in the later part of the afternoon this semester to take advantage of the new four-dayschedule on-campus.

Massie urged the students to use the resources available on campus.

“We have an online site for the students called ‘Discover’ which is a self assessment test,” Massie said.

“The program is very helpful for the students.”

Second annual part-time job fair brings opportunities to campus

By Rachel Engel Collegian Staff Students looking for a parttime job that fits in with their school schedule will soon have an opportunity to do just that.

Cameron University will be hosting the second annual part-time job fair from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m this Thursday in the Shepler Ballroom.

“It will be companies that are looking for part-time workers,” Student Development Specialist Chase Massie said.

“They understand that students

are looking for jobs that will work with their class schedule, and this is a great way to help students fi nd work in the local area.”

The event will be comprised of nearly 30 companies looking to hire, up from 20 at last year’s job fair.

“With the economy the way it is right now, more companies are looking for part-time

workers,” Massie said. “Also, with enrollment increasing we tried to make more companies aware of the event.”

Many different types of vendors located in the community will be present.

“There is such a diverse group of companies participating this year,” Massie said. “Both hospitals, Stanley, Hastings, Verizon, JC Penney and many

more. It covers a lot of different majors and there is something for everybody.”

By inviting local companies, students are able to fi nd employment in close proximity to CU. “Say a student gets a job a Comanche County Memorial Hospital,” Massie said. “You can’t get much closer to the school than that.”

In preparation for the event, students are encouraged to go by the Student Development Center to receive help in resume building and to dress in business attire for the event.

Something we push students

to do is to have a resume with them when they attend the job-fair,” Massie said. “Some companies might just be taking applications, some might immediately hire a student on the spot and some might want to do an interview. Students should act as if they are walking into the company and asking for a job and that means dressing for success.”

Even students not looking for employment are encouraged to attend the event.

“Just talking to the different companies might help fi nd a possible career opportunity,” Massie said.

Voices

September 21, 2009

5

Return to normalcy

A wife waits for her military husband Two weeks ago I was a normal, stressedout college kid—then my husband, Justin, left on a deployment to Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq.

This is his second tour, his first being to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2008.

I thought I was more prepared for this one since we had already been through a deployment before. Sure, a piece of cake.

I was wrong.

Without my support system and best friend, this semester has already proven to be a challenge.

Going home to an empty house day after day gets old in a hurry, especially when you are used to being greeted at the door with a kiss. I still receive kisses at the front door, but these days they are from my Chihuahua/ Pomeranian puppy, Oliver.

This is my first semester at Cameron after transferring from Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, and the transition, along with the many changes in my routine since

Justin deployed, are taking some time to get used to. I have to remember that the dog needs food and water more than once a week, trash goes out on Monday and Thursday nights and to lock the doors and shut the lights off before I go to bed—all things he used to remember for me.

Football season also doesn’t seem to hold the allure without him here to yell for our beloved Dallas Cowboys together, and I miss arguing with him over the fact that I refuse to watch FOX News.

However, there are some perks to living alone. The remote is all mine, and hoarding all the covers onto my side of the bed is a treat. Groceries tend to stay in the cabinets a lot longer than if he was here, and I know that if the house is a mess it’s because of me.

Of course, this also means that all household chores fall to me, and as much as I like the house staying clean for longer, I’d rather live in a mess with him

Rachel Engel

than in a spotless house without him.

At 22-years-old, I resent the fact that I have to deal with all of this, and yet, at the same time, I am extremely proud of my husband. He enjoys knowing that he is serving his country, and that someday he will have a firsthand account of what is written in history books. Well, he might not have an account of all the exciting details, since, being an Airman, he is stuck on a base, to my delight. Nevertheless, he was there.

I have had many people thank me for sacrificing so much for our country, and while I understand the sentiment, I really don’t feel like I deserve the appreciation. I feel selfish because I wish he didn’t have to be where he is, because I want him home with me.

But, being a military spouse, I’ve learned that sometimes you have to just keep your head up and push past whatever you’re going through. Communication is less than stellar where he is, but I’ve written him letters

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Rachel Engel Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - Justin Cliburn Back Page Editor - Monica Garner Digital Editor - Kyle Luetters

Newsroom Staff

Tune in next week to see more celebrities make fools of themselves

An ancient proverb wishes that we live in interesting times; well, mission accomplished. The times are, if nothing else, interesting . . . for better or for worse. Here are a few things that have me interested for the wrong reasons: selfishness; lack of self-control and situationalawareness and, most of all, false apologies.

During the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift’s reaction to her victory for “Best Female Video” is exactly what people tune in to awards shows to see. She looked surprised, ecstatic and humbled. Kanye West’s reaction is exactly why I do not watch awards shows. West was petty, selfish and misguided as he stole the spotlight and declared that Beyonce Knowles should have won the award.

What West did is typical Kanye at this point, but it is galling nonetheless. West is one of the greatest hip-hop producers of the last decade, to be sure. His work on Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” alone gave him the cred capital he needed to launch a solo career, and “The College Dropout” was an epic premiere for a truly talented individual. The longer Kanye is in the public eye, however, the more he appears to love nothing more than a spotlight, whether it is for good or bad. Everything revolves him in way that apparently made him oblivious to the enormity of the social gaffe he made when he cut short the acceptance speech of a young, breakout performer, like he once was.

The excuses made for Kanye West are vast but baseless. West grew up the affluent son of two university professors. He knows what is socially acceptable and what is not, and yet he continues to act like a feral child with little to no socialization. About the only thing that West did with societal standards of respect in mind was to later offer an apology to Swift over the phone, one that I would not have accepted had I been in her shoes.

False apologies are the newest fad these days. People find so many

ways to apologize without truly apologizing that the act is now nothing more than a formality.

Look at the apology issued by tennis superstar Serena Williams after she pitched a fit at the U.S. Open and publicly threatened the line judge. Rather than simply apologize for the dreadful way she behaved, she prefaced the apology with declarations about her pride, love for the game and emotional personality in order to provide quasi-excuses for her behavior.

Through all of this, however, I remain a fan of Kanye West, and I respect Serena Williams as much as I can any athlete. Rude behavior sometimes happens. Dumb behavior happens. We can either own up to the mistakes and make a

and have sent him copies of the newspaper to show him what I have been doing while he is away.

I try not to let him see how hard it is for me being alone, because that is added stress he doesn’t need.

While he’s gone, I continue to go on with life — working towards my goals and keeping things up and running the home front. Every evening before I go to bed, I cross another date off the calendar. Each day we are a little bit closer to normalcy and being together again.

sincere apology, or we can be honest when we do not believe the behavior to be either rude or stupid. There really isn’t an in-between. For all their mistakes over the past couple weeks, at least two public figures have chosen one of the two and moved on, saving us all the headache of another false apology.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) infamously shouted “You lie!” at President Obama during the president’s Sept. 9 speech to a joint session of Congress. Afterwards, Wilson apologized for his lack of civility. He did not apologize for believing that the president is a liar; he apologized for the time and manner in which he displayed his displeasure. Not long afterwards, Wilson said that he would no longer issue apologies and would move on. Well done.

In the final moments of the Sept.

Justin Cliburn

14 Monday Night Football game in Foxboro, Mass, Buffalo Bills defensive back Leodis McKelvin waited in his own endzone to field a kick from the New England Patriots, who were losing 24-19.

With a five-point lead, McKelvin fielded the kick two yards deep in his endzone and returned the ball beyond the 30-yard-line before fumbling and giving New England an opportunity to come back and win the game.

Buffalo fans were incensed, and NFL fans were perplexed as to why he chose to return the kick out of the endzone with a five-point lead.

Still, McKelvin has not made an apology for the decision. He merely stated that that is how he plays the game, and he would do it again if given the opportunity. While I disagree with the decision, I respect the man for sticking to his guns and resisting the urge to satisfy the public with an apology that isn’t sincere.

Awkward moments, rude outbursts and dumb decisions will happen as long as humans still populate the Earth; it’s what we do.

False apologies and wishy-washy excuses, however, don’t have to.

Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Jeramy Edison, Saman Samii, Megan Carothers, Andrew Osbourne, Rashmi Thapaliya, Jacob Russell, Melissa Rogers.

Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller

Newswriting Students Brad Franks, Amanda Finch, Michael Faggett, Codye Watson, Rachel Engel, Amanda Phillips, Gabe Crawford, Alyssa Knerr, Nicole Grzecki, Anjana Prasain, Tammy Anderson, Hannah Muirhead, Tori Strecker, Taylor Thompson, Osanife, Anthony Foreman, Jessica Martinez, Jennifer Knapp, Tanesha Wilson, Stacy Hill, Aduke Adesida.

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

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

The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length.

Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks.

All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification.

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

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

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

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

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

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Sports

September 21, 2009

Cross Country wins first ‘Aggie Showdown’

By Jeramy Eidson Collegian Staff

First is the fastest: Sophomore Julius Korir holds up the first place trophy after outpacing his competition in a race contested almost entirely in the rain

In the first ever Aggie Showdown, the number 8 Aggies cross-country team came away victorious in a downpour that smothered the city of Lawton.

The rain, which lasted for hours and was quite chilly, did not stop the Aggies from what they set out to accomplish.

“We run through anything, as long as there’s not lightning,” Head Coach Matt Aguero said.

Despite the rain, the turnout was better than expected. Also participating in the run were many local teams, including Lawton High School and Cache High School.

The Aggies, in hosting their first ever cross-country meet, defeated the Midwestern State University Mustangs and the East Central University Tigers.

“I was so proud of our guys today. They came out, ran hard in the rain, and took care of business. It felt great to be able to host a meet; we are already looking forward to next year’s Cameron Aggie Showdown,” Aguero said.

Cameron had three runners finish in the top five as sophomore Julius Korir was the first runner to cross the line followed by fellow Aggie Senior Josh Stewart. Following Stewart, fifth overall and third for the Aggies, was Junior Mohamed Khelalfa.

Julius Korir also finished first in the race at the Midwestern State Mustang Stampede. However, his place did not count as he ran the race unattached.

Cameron had not yet received his final paperwork from the NCAA Clearinghouse, according to Aguero. Had Cameron had Korir cleared to run, Cameron would’ve placed much better than five out of

seven.

“He didn’t count for us. Not having Julius run officially took about 50 points off of our score.

We would’ve finished second or third probably,” Aguero said.

Cameron has run well in its first two meets thus far, and they do not plan on slowing down as they head into Stillwater.

On Oct. 3, Cameron, along with 30 other teams, will participate in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. OSU is ranked nationally in the top five collectively as a crosscountry team.

“There are two divisions, one for bigger universities and the other for smaller universities. I haven’t decided yet which one we’ll run in but I’m leaning towards the smaller university run. If we run in the bigger division we’ll most likely finish in the middle of the pack. If we run in the smaller division we’ll most likely win,” Aguero said.

Cameron will also see itself at another big meet, the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival. Cameron will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas to compete against the best cross-country teams in the nation. Many teams there will be Division-I schools.

Arkansas, host of the meet, is ranked 5 nationally among men’s cross-country.

Following the meet in Fayetteville, the number 8 Aggies will compete in the Lone Star Conference Championship meet in Canyon, TX. If the Aggies advance, they will qualify for the Regional Championships in Abilene, TX for a chance to advance to the National Championships to be held in Evansville, IN. With the exceptional runs so far by the Cameron crosscountry team, the national championships are just around the corner.

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Feelin’ the burn: Cameron Senior Josh Stewart, trailed

by Junior Mohamad Khelalfa, enters the second of three laps during the inaugural Aggie Showdown at the Big Green Soccer Complex. Stewart, who ran near the front for most of the race, finished in second place. With strong finishes from all of it’s runners, Cameron secured the overall win.

No slowing down for Volleyball team

By Saman Samii Collegian Staff The Cameron University Aggie volleyball team continues to play well. The weekend of Sept. 11, the Aggies traveled to Omaha, Neb. to participate in the 2009 Maverick Volleyball Classic Tournament hosted by University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO). The ladies finished the tournament with three victories and one loss. Head Coach Brianne Smedley said she was extremely pleased with the results.

“We played great this weekend and I am proud to see that the girls are able to play as a team at all times,” Smedley said. “They are really showing maturity which has been the key to our success so far.”

The Aggies opened up the tournament by taking on the Dragons of Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Fri Sep. 11. After a rough start to the match and losing the first set, the Aggies were unable to overcome the early mistakes as the Dragons proved to be the stronger team that day.

“We didn’t start the match that well and they kept their level of intensity up,” Smedley said. “However, I was pleased to see how well the girls fought considering the outcome of the match.”

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Heart: Senior Right Side Hitter Lindsay Paziuk goes for a kill at the Aggie gym last season.

Paziuk led the team in kills last season.

The Aggies bounced back immediately, however, as they crushed Southern Indiana University in the tournament’s second match. The final score was 25-19, 25-17, 25-21.

“We came out and wanted revenge from our earlier loss that day, and we stuck to our game plan,” Smedley said.

Soul: Senior Setter Laura Ellerbrock sets up the teams offense last season. Ellerbrock has already been named LSC Setter of the Week.

Backbone: Sophomore Outside Hitter Malyssa Acton slams home a spike in 2008.

Acton is the reigning LSC Player of the Week.

“The girls fought hard, and everybody contributed to the outcome of this match.”

On Sat Sep. 12, the Aggies opened up by taking on the Panthers of Drury University.

Like many times earlier this season, the Aggies were able to bounce back from an early-set loss to capture the match 3-1 in

sets. The final score was 18-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23. Smedley said this was a dramatic match.

“We started out a little slow, but we were able to fight back and win the match which was huge for us,” Smedley said.

“Drury is known for their great volleyball program, so this was a very emotional win for us.”

In the final match of the tournament, the Aggie women faced Missouri S&T University. This match went the distance, and Cameron picked up the win in a deciding fifth set. The final score was 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 25-27, 1715.

“This was definitely the most emotional match of the weekend,” Smedley said. “The girls fought extremely well, and I was pleased to see us coming out on top in the end. This was a battle, and a lot of emotions were mixed in which made this victory even more important.

Everyone contributed once again, and I was pleased to see how well the girls can play.”

Cameron currently sits on an impressive 10-2 winning record for the season. For the past three weekends, the Aggies have been playing teams outside of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). Many of the upcoming matches are going to be against LSC opponents, something that Smedley said they are ready to do.

“I think these past three tournaments have really helped us prepare for conference play,“ Smedley said. “We just need to continue working hard on and off the volleyball court.

If we keep up the work from these tournaments, things will definitely go our way.”

Sports

September 21, 2009

7

Aggies Tennis wins tough home opener

By Saman Samii Collegian Staff The Aggie men and women’s tennis teams officially started their season this past week.

Things could have not started better for the Aggies after both teams captured two straight victories to open up their seasons.

Both tennis teams took on the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU). This particular dual match had a unique set up where both teams played one match in the morning following with another one in the afternoon. Head men’s and women’s tennis coach James Helvey said this was a great way to start the season.

“We had some good matches out there and it was a nice way to start our season,” Helvey said.

“It was a great experience for our new players. I am already looking forward to the ITA-Regional tournaments in October.”

The women opened up the day by winning their first dual match by the score of 7-2 in matches.

The ladies started strong and swept all the doubles matches and saw themselves to a quick 3-0 lead in the dual match. In singles play, Swedish newcomer Amanda Moberg recorded her first-ever college tennis win when she defeated OBU’s Paola Costa by the score of 6-2, 6-4.

Assistant women’s coach Agustin Criado said he was pleased to see how well everybody played considering it was the opening match of the season.

“The girls played well and they

College tennis, no problem: Freshman Amanda Moberg hits a backhand shot down the line during her first match-play as an Aggie. Moberg, who had won her first doubles match earlier in the day, went on to win in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. got things done,” Criado said. “I was pleased to see how well we played in doubles which is always a key factor in college tennis.”

The men started strong as well, getting out to a quick 2-1 lead after doubles play. In singles, sophomore Thomas

Working out the jitters: Freshman Manuel Barroetavena returns a serve as he competes in his first match as a collegiate athlete. Barroetavena went on to win his first ever singles match. The Aggies went on to sweep OBU 7-2.

Peixoto won his first match of the season at the #1 spot after defeating OBU’s Sergey Babic in a well-played match. At the no. 4 and no. 5 spots, freshmen Manuel Barroetavena and Jorge Gerosi both won their firstever collegiate tennis matches

after two solid performances.

Barroetavena defeated Gustavo Schaefer in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1 and Gerosi beat Connor Tebow, 6-2, 6-0.

Cameron’s only loss in singles play came at the #2 position where CU’s Daniel Bonamigo

lost to Bruno Scacalossi, 6-0, 6-1. Men’s Assistant Coach Ignacio Murgier said he was glad the season start off with solid efforts.

“We played well today, but I think we can do even better,” Murgier said. “First matches of the season are always tough so I think that we handled it well.

The guys took care of business which was nice to see.”

In the afternoon, both teams switched up their lineups to try things out. Once again, both Aggie teams came out on top as the men won the match by the score of 7-2 and the women 5-4.

The women repeated their tough doubles play and won all three matches to position themselves in the driver’s seat once again.

In singles play, the Bison gave the Aggies a battle. Moberg kept her momentum from her earlier win and took care of business with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Camber Robinett. The men stepped up and once again and got a 2-1 lead after the doubles matches.

In singles, the Aggie men won five out of the six matches played. Like earlier in the day, Barroetavena and Gerosi played solid and recorded their second wins for the season. CU’s only loss in the afternoon came at the #2 spot where Peixoto lost to Scacalossi in a tough match. The final score was 7-5, 6-3. Helvey said he was pleased overall with today’s outcome.

“I feel that everybody played good tennis and contributed to the team,” Helvey said. “We need to continue working hard and the results will come.”

Cameron Athletics expands digital presence

By Jacob Russell Collegian Staff

Screenshots from Facebook and Twitter Logos courtesy Twitter, Facebook and Go Aggies

Reaching out to the masses: Cameron Universities Facebook and Twitter pages which will bring updates and insights into the inner-workings of the Athletic Dept. The sites feature current news and thoughts from Dept. faculty, coaches and players as well as links to coaches blogs and press releases. The overseer the project is Sports Information Director Craig Martin.

The Cameron University sports information department has grown to global proportions. On Aug. 28, the CU sports information department rolled out a new social communications campaign.

As a result of this campaign, aggie fans can now get their fix worldwide through Facebook or Twitter.

In addition to the previously mentioned accounts, each of the 11 athletics programs will be keeping a weekly blog.

Over the past year, the number of fans nationwide following the goaggies.cameron. edu webpage continued to grow.

Naturally, sports information director Craig Martin sought out to find a way to reach the growing audience.

“You know I really don’t understand why, but Twitter and Facebook is the norm these days,” Martin said. “The technology is always changing, and we have to keep up with the times. Plus, it allows us to reach a larger fan base.”

The department as a whole has aspirations of making goaggies.cameron.edu not only the best home page in the Lone Star Conference, but in the NCAA as a whole.

The page will contain video inspired by the success of of current Cameron athletic a coach’s personal blog last events including interviews season. with coaches and players. The “Our head women’s website will also house links to basketball coach, Tom Webb, each of the 11 blogs updated had a blog last season that he weekly by each athletic team. updated weekly,” explained Martin said Martin. “We noticed that a lot the transition of people were following it and has been an easy knew it was something that we one, and there is all could do. It gives us another a positive attitude extension out to the fans to be regarding the a part of Cameron University globalization athletics and we are ready to get of the GoAggie things going.” network.

The Aggies did not have “It’s been a to wait long to get started. great atmosphere Cameron hosted its first crossso far, everyone country meet on Sept. 12, has been looking and the forward to “The technology is GoAggies everything,” said team, always changing, and Martin. “I think the consisting we have to keep up part everybody is of Craig most excited about with the times. Plus, Martin and ready to check interns it allows us to reach a and out is the blog.”

Stacy larger fan base.”

Each link to Carden the blogs contains and Clint — Craig Martin a clever title and Gee, was a picture of the Sports Information at the coach for the race to get corresponding blog. video and The coaches will be the ones interviews to post on the updating website. the blogs for “Stacy and Clint did a great every team job of shooting the video and except one: editing it on the f ly,” Martin women’s golf. said. “This was their first “Women’s time really doing these kinds golf chose of things, and I could not be to do things happier with the way things a little turned out.” different; The cross-country meet they will have was the first of many events a player in charge of the weekly that will be covered for the blogging, Marrick Wooten,” revamped GoAggies homepage explained Martin. “Wooten located at goaggies.cameron. will do a great job in her role, edu. and you will still see blogs from The “Aggie Communication time to time from head coach 2.0” campaign is aiming to be a Rick Goodwin.” major milestone in CU’s reach This movement to become to be accessible to alumni and more tech-savvy was partially fans all over the world.

8

A&E

September 21, 2009

Documentary crew enjoys success the premier because he didn’t know how people would react.

Collegian Staff “I was standing in the back, paying attention to reactions, as The lights have been shut off, well as making notes of what I the cameras have stopped rolling, needed to change, add or cut,” he but the action is still ongoing for said. “It’s very nerve racking to much of the fi lm crew of “One put your fi lm at the mercy of an Dream: Dirt Track Racing.” audience for the first time.”

“We’ve had two screenings The premier was an intense so far,” said ‘One Dream’ night for the entire fi lm crew. A producer Kyle Luetters. “One rough cut was screened to the in Knoxville, Iowa, on the final crew the Tuesday before and day of the Knoxville Nationals at Luetters said it needed much the National Sprint Car Hall of work. He and Cecilio Ramirez, Fame. We also premiered at the the “One Dream” director, Ellis County, Kan. Fairgrounds took turns in the editing room a few hours before a United Wednesday and Thursday, Rebel Spring Series. And so far, making sure the final cut would the reactions have exceeded my be satisfactory. expectations.”

When Luetters Production left Thursday “Seeing how much of the afternoon to documentary this means to some prepare for the began during people is often premier, he found the final weeks his truck missing the most gratifying of the spring from the parking semester as part of the entire lot. part of Dr. process.”

“Come to find Matt Jenkins’ out, my truck had “Filming the — Kyle Luetters been stolen while I Documentary” Producer had been working summer class. inside,” he said.

Luetters “Two hours later, approached it was found and I barely made it Dr. Jenkins about fi lming a back in time for the start of the documentary on dirt track festivities.” racing, which has become Red Dirt band Arbuckle a popular sport not only in Xpress opened the evening Oklahoma, but also across the with a concert that primed the country. Dr. Jenkins liked the audience. After the concert idea and a crew was assembled. was completed, Dr. Jenkins From there, the documentary took the stage and introduced has taken on a feel of its own. some of the fi lm crew before the “There was an enormous documentary was screened. amount of travel on this “The university premier was documentary,” said Dr. Jenkins, a success,” Dr. Jenkins said.

Filming the Documentary class “However, it was not without its professor and “One Dream” problems. There was a problem executive producer. “Certainly copying the documentary from the production process has its the editor to a videotape so it high moments and low moments, could be showed. In the end, it but overall the production was copied, but halfway through, process for the summer people’s mouths and voices were documentary went as well as any not in the proper sync. This, of professional production could.” course, had to be fi xed. But it The goal of the class was turned out well.” to fi lm, produce and premier Since the premier, Luetters a professional documentary and other members of the fi lm within eight weeks. Dr. Jenkins crew ironed out minor flaws in said the class succeeded, which the final cut. Luetters said there was extremely important. “One is still a lot of interest in “One Dream” premiered on July 23 Dream,” with people e-mailing in the Cameron Theatre with the documentary’s official e-mail standing room only. Luetters account for DVD copies. Other said he was nervous throughout screenings are being discussed

By Joshua Rouse

Photos by Jim Horinek

Strapped in: ‘One Dream’ Director Cecillo Ramirez attaches an in-car camera to a racecar at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City.

Road Rage: A modified race car takes the track at Lawton Speedway to help with track preparations. and the documentary will be screened weekly at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. Luetters said he’s been overwhelmed at the support the documentary has received.

“We were at the screening in Knoxville, and people were laughing and crying,” he said.

“It was a very wide range of emotional responses that were very amazing to see. It still gets me to this day to see these emotions play out. Seeing how much this means to some people is often the most gratifying part of the entire process.”

Luetters always dreamed of

being a racecar driver and grew up idolizing many of the drivers featured in the documentary. He said having the chance to meet many of his childhood heroes and talk to them face-to-face was amazing.

“It was pretty much like a dream project,” Luetters said.

“Any time you get to meet your heroes, it’s an amazing feeling.

But to get to tell their story as well? It’s a feeling that you get deep down inside your gut that makes you feel great all over.”

“One Dream: Dirt Track Racing” will be screened Saturday in Garden City, Kan., Luetters’ hometown. He said

he’s nervous about screening the documentary where he grew up, but is still looking forward to it.

Looking back on the production, Luetters said there were tough times, but he thinks it brought everyone involved closer together.

“The project turned into something much larger than I ever anticipated,” he said. “I wondered to myself, ‘will I ever get this done?’ Fortunately, I had a great crew around me who all pitched and helped get us to the finish line. I took this class and learned a whole lot, and almost none of it was about how to make a video.”

Take two: Documentary crew members Kyle Luetters, Alexis Del Ciello, and Director Ashley Del Ciello meet after a night of filming at Lawton Speedway.

Buckle up: Driver Joseph Horn climbs into his car before a heat race.

Up close: Crew members Kyle Luetters and Cecillo Ramirez discuss a film shot.

A&E

September 21, 2009

9

New hero prepares to drop

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff “Halo” has always been a special breed of video game.

Ever since “Halo Combat Evolved” launched with the original Xbox in 2001, the franchise has become a f lagship for Microsoft’s gaming ambitions. No other game, short of “Grand Theft Auto,” gets gamers as excited as the next Bungie “Halo” title and “Halo 3: ODST” is no exception.

“ODST” treads new ground for the “Halo” franchise, which has centered around the Master Chief, a cybernetic-enhanced super soldier who fights for the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) against an alliance of fanatical aliens known as the Covenant. This time, gamers will get a chance to play as someone a little less super. The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) are seen throughout “Halo 2” and “Halo 3” as adept allies of the Chief.

The ODSTs are akin to special forces operatives, but have not been genetically enhanced in any way.

“ODST” takes place between the events of “Halo 2” and “Halo 3.” During the “Halo 2” campaign, the Prophet of Regret invaded Earth, but quickly retreated because he didn’t know humans were on the planet. His exit all but destroyed the fictional African city of New Mombassa. After

Regret leaves, a squad of ODSTs are dropped into the city to eliminate remaining Covenant forces.

Gamers will get to play as the Rookie, an unnamed ODST who just joined the squad. The drop goes horribly wrong and he’s stuck alone at night in New Mombassa.

The game follows the Rookie as he navigates the city, looking for clues to the whereabouts of his fellow squad mates. Each time he happens onto a piece of evidence, a f lashback occurs where players take control of the other ODSTs to find out what happened.

“ODST” started out as a three to five hour expansion pack to “Halo 3.”

It was planned as a stop-gap between “Halo 3” and Bungie’s next full “Halo” title, “Halo

Reach.” But over time, the game has evolved and is now a full title with a campaign estimated to take up to 10 hours to complete, making it longer than “Halo 3.”

The gameplay varies slightly from “Halo 3.”

This time, gamers aren’t playing as the Master Chief, which puts them at a slight disadvantage.

Fall damage is back, which means if a player jumps from too high of a distance, they’ll die.

The Rookie runs slower than his Spartan ally and can’t dual wield weapons either.

Instead, he carries a silenced sub-machine gun, which is used for stealth. He also has a night vision view mode that allows him to see enemies and assess their danger without getting into direct combat.

“ODST” is still a “Halo” title, but it will play a little slower compared to the rest of the games in the original trilogy.

The changes are welcome after “Halo 3” was obviously becoming very stale. The

noir style used for the game’s visuals and music are also a welcome change. “ODST” is much darker compared to the other games and has a more relatable cast compared to a faceless soldier and a wisecracking sergeant.

The campaign isn’t the only thing offered in the “ODST” package. “Gears of War 2” players will no doubt recognize similarities to the latest “Halo” gameplay mode, Firefight. Up to four players fight waves of incoming Covenant enemies on 10 different maps. Each wave is capped with the arrival of several Brute Chieftans. If you thought they were tough in “Halo 3,” imagine fighting them as a weaker ODST. “ODST” will also come with a second disc featuring “Halo 3” multiplayer. Every map Bungie has made for the game, along with three never-beforereleased maps, will be included in the package. For anyone who hasn’t bought the maps on Xbox LIVE, this is the perfect opportunity to get back into the multiplayer.

“ODST” looks to be a departure from the “Halo” formula and a welcome one.

It may be considered an “expansion pack,” but it has enough content to warrant its $60 price tag. “Halo 3 ODST” drops at midnight tonight.

It is rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and is available exclusively on the Xbox 360.

Campus literary journal open to Cameron students

By Bennett Dewan Collegian Staff For years the faculty of the English department encouraged students to submit their original works for publication far outside the walls of Cameron University.

That was until Dr. Hardy Jones created a publication meant to exhibit the best work of Cameron students.

“This publication is for students to gain exposure and to have an outlet for publication,” Dr. Jones said.

Publication is more than a simple resume builder; it is the mark of a professional in the arts.

“Being published gives students a track record. It is a true acknowledgement of talent,” Dr. Jones said.

In his desire to give students an

MCT Campus

input into the process of creating a print publication, as well as critical editing experience, Jones has created an editorial staff to oversee the selection of pieces and design.

“I wanted to help students when they apply for masters programs or for editing positions so they can have real-world practical

experience,” Dr. Jones said.

If it’s all in a name then Dr. Jones and his editorial staff are taking their time to select a fitting moniker. While the journal has yet to be officially named, the genres that will be published within its pages has been finalized.

“We will be accepting

their work was determined long submissions in fiction, non-fiction, ago. Dr. Jones has always intended poetry, one act plays, art and that the journal photography,” Dr. Jones said. be inclusive of all Cameron The project “Being published students who does not have gives students are producing confirmed dates publishable works as of yet, but that a track record. has not stopped in their discipline.

It is a true “You can be editorial staff acknowledgement a first semester from setting up a freshman with a tentative schedule. of talent.” good poem and “I hope the first an equal journal will be out — Dr. Hardy Jones have chance of making by next April,” Assistant Professor it in the journal Dr. Jones said.

“Then I want to as a Senior,” Jones said. focus on making Interested students should the journal a part of the Cameron watch for the call for submissions culture.” with details on the criteria for The requirements for entries to Cameron University’s submission, such as file type, first publication made up entirely applicant deadlines and a of student’s works in the creative maximum word count are still being discussed. Who may submit arts.

Film club garners student interest

By Kyle Luetters Collegian Staff In today’s global world, the ability to adapt to and understand many different cultures is quickly becoming an important tool for college students. Food, styles of dress and language are just some of the ways that cultures differ from others. A new club on campus is hoping to help raise awareness about other cultures through a popular way: film.

“Cameron University is a very diverse place and what could be more fun for the students and faculty to learn about all these different cultures and languages than getting together and watching a film,” Marie-Ginette Baillargeon, Assistant Professor and Director of the Language Learning Center, said.

The International Film Club started out as a small screening that Baillaergeon put on last year. While the attendance for the first film was scarce, the second film attracted over 20 people.

“It was interesting to see the people linger after the movie and

share their thoughts on the film,” Baillaergeon said. “I could tell that this was something people could enjoy a great deal, gathering and sharing idea’s and thoughts about films.”

This semester has already seen one meeting where interest was strong enough to merit a second meeting to elect club officials.

Ultimately, Baillargeon would like to see the students take over the management of the club.

“I am completely fine with being a sponsor and just enjoying the films with everyone else,” Baillargeon said.

Student involvement will be key as the club has planned to show eight films through out the course of the year. The first screening will be held on Sept. 24 with the Spanish film “Pan’s Labyrinth” as the movie of choice.

“We have a different film for each culture and language,” graduate student Juliana Bucher said.

“Representing as many languages and cultures as we can is one of the main things we want to achieve.”

The films will be shown at the lounge in the Student Activities

Building on Thursday evenings.

The decision to place the events on Thursday nights was partially done because of people’s hectic schedules.

“We run from one event to another it seems like,” Baillaergeon said. “We realized that by showing the films on Thursday night, we might be able to get more people to stay as opposed to having them come by and then be on their way to another event.”

While getting the club up and running is the top priority, Baillaergon and Bucher also have other aspirations for international films on campus. Plans are under way to turn a portion of the Language Learning Center into a Paris style café. Inside the café area, students will have a collection of international films at their disposal to watch and enjoy in a leisurely setting.

There will also be refreshments for the students to enjoy as well.

“Our Language Lab has come a very long way in just a short amount of time and it is really being seen as a resource now,” Baillaergeon said.

“It will be very helpful to have all of these films available to the students to watch and learn from on their

MCT Campus

Movie Night: Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero, consults the Pale Man, played by Doug Jones in the movie ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’ the first movie to be screened by the International Film Club on Sept. 24. own time.”

With 243 international students living on campus for the school year, a touch of home is sometimes a welcome relief to the rigors of adjusting to life in a new country. While the schedule doesn’t permit the club to show a film for every culture, Baillaergeon and Bucher feel as though the schedule covers a wide variety of languages and cultures. Also, the fans of the films may not always

be those from another country or culture.

“I used to live in Los Angeles and there were four theater houses within walking distance of my apartment, two of which showed foreign films,” Bulcher said. “We don’t really have that here in Lawton and it is my hope that this club can become an outlet for fans of foreign film to come and enjoy these films with us.”

10

Variety

September 21, 2009