COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
News
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Volume 84 Issue 2
Cameron unveils Shepler Suites By Kyle Luetters Collegian Staff
Construction completion around corner. SEE PAGE 2
A&E
This semester, Cameron students have another style of campus living to consider. In addition to the Shepler dorm rooms and the Cameron Village, students will now option of suite-style living on the seventh f loor of North Shepler. The new living option was the brainchild of Student Housing Director Casey Case. “The idea came from a drawing I made back in 2005,” he said. “I was thinking of ways to improve Shepler and I put that on a piece of paper and gave it to Dr. [Larry] Kruse, who was the Vice President of Students Services at the time.” With the Business building moving their offices out of the seventh f loor of North Shepler, Case was given the opportunity to put his plan into action. Construction on the new suites began within weeks of the spring semester. Physical Facilities stepped in and helped to improve Case’s plans as construction moved along smoothly. Depending on the size of the suites, a full or twin size bed, desk
Three-Bedroom Suite
Photos by Jim Horinek
and chest of drawers populate the individual quarters while a living room connects the rooms together. “The best way to describe the seventh f loor is that it is a mix between the old Shepler dorms and the village apartments,” said Michael Faggett, the f loors Resident Assistant. Even before they were completed, the suites generated a great deal of interest. “There are a total of 37 spaces on the f loor and they filled up much faster than any of the other f loors in Shepler,” Case said. The 37 spaces are divided into two, three and four bedroom units. The four-bedroom unit is priced between the cost of a double room and a single room in the Shepler dorms. The two and three bedroom units are a little bit more expensive.
New digs: (Above) Shepler resident Josh Bernstein and RA Michael Faggett relax in the common area of a three bedroom suite. The suites are a new addition to campus housing this year.
See SUITES Page 3
Tuition unchanged despite state allocation cut
CU clubs make plans to go overseas. By Justin Cliburn SEE PAGE 5
Sports
Battle of octagon takes center stage. SEE PAGE 6
Voices
Collegian Staff
Cameron University’s fiscal year 2010 budget was approved by its governing board at the regularly scheduled meeting on June 22 in Ardmore. The operating budget, totaling $46,166,432, was approved by the board of regents for The University of Oklahoma, Cameron and Rogers State University. It will keep this academic year’s tuition and fees at the same rates as the 2008-2009 academic year. Among the initiatives included in the 2009-2010 budget is “Plan 2013: Choices for the Second Century,” which has four goals: to become the university of choice, offer the college experience of choice, be the location of choice and the partner of choice. “The momentum generated by the Centennial Celebration combined with ‘Plan 2013’ propels
Cameron forward into its second century and is the foundation for the fiscal year 2010 budget,” said Cameron University President Cindy Ross. “Building a budget that continues the Centennial momentum, moves forward on the ‘Plan 2013’ goals and maintains Cameron’s commitment to provide students a quality education at a reasonable cost is challenging.” The task of building that budget fell to Vice President of Financial Affairs Glenn Pinkston, who, along with the rest of the Cameron administration, had some last minute shuffling to do in order to balance the budget. “The 2009-2010 budget was due June 12,” Pinkston said, “and we were notified May 24 that our state allocation was being cut by approximately $1.7 million.” The state-allocated funds that Cameron receives every year has not grown at the rate of inflation, thereby resulting in a net loss for
Cameron. After the $1.7 million budget cut, there was some relief in the form of $799,000 allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The approximately $1 million shortfall is a cause for future concern as Oklahoma revenues continue to fall. “The state of Oklahoma had projected July 2009 collections to be down 18 percent from July 2008,” Pinkston said. “However, collections in July 2009 were actually down 26 percent.”
See BUDGET Page 3
Rush week ushers increased Greek life campus presence By Brad Franks
Newswriting Student
Documentary producer reminisces his need for speed. SEE PAGE 4
MCT Campus
Greek Rush begins this week as Cameron students interested in membership in one of the Greek fraternities or sororities attend sponsored events. Sorority Recruitment starts at 6 p.m. today with Fraternity Rush at 6 p.m. Friday. Alpha Phi International Fraternity, a woman’s organization, Sigma Alpha Omega Christian Sorority, Sigma Tau Gamma National Fraternity and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity are nationally recognized social Greek organizations chartered with Cameron University that participate in Rush. Students wishing to join one of the organizations need to fill out a Rush Registration form at the Office of Student Activities. There is no cost to enter Rush this year. Students attending Sorority Recruitment or Fraternity Rush will
participate in social events designed to form friendships and provide information about the organizations including philanthropies, leadership opportunities and networking. Greek Adviser Robin Martin says things look good for he future of Greek life at Cameron. Martin, the Head Cheerleading Coach, took the responsibility of Greek Advisor last year. “I have seen much improvement from the Greeks in my first year as Greek Adviser,” she said. “The Centennial Celebration helped us gain some great Greek Alumni support. We have a long way to go, but the recognition of the Centennial year will lend a hand.”
See GREEK Page 3