The Cameron Collegian - April 10th, 2023

At 5:20 p.m. on April 6 in the McCasland Ballroom, Cameron’s engineering club hosted the Empowering Women in Leadership and STEM conference, which was funded through CU Lectures and Concerts and CU Home Savings Bank Endowed Lectureship in Organizational Leadership.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Angela Sivadon, Chief academic officer at Tulsa Community College.

“Tonight, I’m going to share a little bit of information with you that’s going to change your life,” Sivadon said. “We’re going to figure out how to connect with different personalities.”

One topic Sivadon covered was about a person’s temperament, which she defined as part of an individual’s personality that is genetically based.

“Our behavior is based on our unmet needs,” she said. “I’m going to talk about needs versus wants. I’m going to describe different core needs for each one of the temperaments.”

Sivadon said there are four temperaments: the promoter, the planner, the ponderer, and the performer. Each kind of temperament has a key value.

The key value for the promoter is relationships, the planner’s key value is responsibility, the ponderer’s key value is competence, and the performer’s key value is freedom.

“We’re a combination of all four of them,” Sivadon said. “The promoter, planner, ponderer and performer.”

There were also female leaders in the community who were introduced as honorees at the conference.

These honorees included Lieutenant Colonel Adia H. Terry, Command Sergeant Jeanette Clement and Sergeant First Class Jacqueline Wells.

Additional honorees include Staff Sergeant Maria Tina Rogriguez,

What’s Inside

Army Veteran Specialist Silvia E. Qualls, Army Veteran Captain Regina DeLoach and Lieutenant Colonel Sherene L. Williams.

After the keynote speaker finished, participants were able to enjoy appetizers and network with other attendees and local female leaders.

Next, there was a panel discussion featuring Sivadon, CU Veterans Affairs Coordinator Vicki Henson and the President of the Lawton Chapter of Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization Una "Lisa" Williams. Williams said she has faced various obstacles over the years, especially as a soldier. She said her biggest challenge was trying to be there for her son while being a soldier and a single mom.

“When you know a lot, and you want to do the right thing, a lot of people will try to question you and challenge you with that,” Williams said. “You have to know, no matter what, doing the right thing is always the right thing to do.”

Williams said people should not be afraid to take the lead.

“I like a challenge,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to take challenges… (and) ask questions because a closed mouth won’t get fed.”

Sivadon said she became the Chief Academic Officer at the Tulsa Community College during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a challenge.

“Everyone was affected in some manner or another,” Sivadon said. “For someone like me, who’s a very positive and extroverted kind of person, it was hard

to replicate that. You know, with the remote stuff and everything and not being in person.”

Henson said that she finds teamwork to be extremely important and helpful when it comes to overcoming formidable problems in one’s life.

“If you get to know people in your community, you’ll be amazed (by) all their talents and their abilities,” Henson said. “The fun thing is to be able to enable somebody else to contribute back and to help you to do

something amazing.”

One of the attendees was sophomore engineering major Quinton Mendes said he came to this event because it was hosted by the engineering club, which he is a part of.

“I thought it was very nice,” Mendes said. “It was an insight for guys and girls to see the struggles of women in the workforce.”

For more information, contact Faculty in Residence Christopher Sauer at csauer@cameron.edu.

"If you get to know people in your community, you’ll be amazed (by) all their talents and their abilities."

Vicki Henson -Veteran Affairs Coordinator

Brittney Payette Managing Editor

Leading Ladies: Dr. Sheila Youngblood, Professor Bernadette Lonzanida, Vice President for Academic Affairs Ronna Vanderslice, and Veteran Affairs Coordinator Vicki Henson enjoy Cameron's Empowering Women in Leadership and STEM conference together.

Photos by Brittney Payette

Patriotic Pride

Neal Kirmer Staff Writer

On April 5-6 the Cameron University Veterans Affairs office held its annual Vet Fest in the McMahon Centennial Complex (MCC). The Vet Fest coincided with the Military Veterans Resource Fair also held in the MCC.

The two-day event saw several speakers give presentations that covered a wide range of topics. Topics presented included “Women Warriors: A Fort Sill Legacy” and an overview of The Pact Act, a new law that expands VA health care.

A former collections specialist for the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Mark Megehee presented

“Women Warriors: A Fort Sill Legacy.”

Attendees learned about local women warriors who served at Fort Sill and their exemplary service.

VA military services coordinator Kimberly Wendel spoke about The Pact Act. This new law expands VA health benefits for those former service members who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.

Vicki Henson, Assistant Director of Financial Assistance Services and Coordinator of Veterans Affairs, spoke about who could attend the event.

“We welcome community members throughout southwest Oklahoma to learn about veterans who are

making a difference in Lawton/Fort Sill and the surrounding area,” Henson said. “Vet Fest also offers tips and resources for military service members, veterans and dependents.”

The Military Veterans Resource Fair saw organizations set up booths in the MCC to provide resources for veterans and their dependents. The Comanche County Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs were just a few of those in attendance.

“The fair is designed to benefit veterans, active duty and dependents, and will help ensure that they are familiar with the vast array of resources

that are available to them,” Henson said.

According to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, only about four percent for college students are veterans. Citing the VA, the website collegefactual.com said that Cameron University has 892 students enrolled who use the GI Bill in some fashion. This equates to 23% of those who attend Cameron. In a 2021 article in the Military Times: “Best for Vets,” Cameron ranked third in the state.

“Veterans are a treasure,” Henson said. “We want to take care of our veterans and provide them with services that are outstanding. They need to be aware of the services that are

provided for them, and the fair provides that opportunity.”

This year will also mark the 75th year since the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed, which authorized the regular, permanent enlistment of women in all four branches of the military.

Several female veterans were honored at Cameron’s Empowering Women in Leadership and STEM Conference at 5:20 p.m. on April 6. in the McCasland Ballroom.

Faculty in Residence

Christopher Sauer said there are a multitude of distinguished veterans in Lawton.

“One of the big things you’re going to notice about many of our veterans here is that they’ve done a lot of community outreach,”

Sauer said.

One of the panelists at the leadership conference was Una Lisa Williams. Williams is a Cameron alumna and president of the first local chartered Women Veterans Organization. She also serves on the Mayor’s Commissioner on the Status of Women as the first Women Veteran Commisisioner.

One honoree at the conference was Lieutenant Colonel Adia H. Terry, who is on active duty. She has received military awards and medals such as three Meritorious Service medals, six Army Commendation Medals and the Army Achievement Medal among others. For more information, contact Henson at vickih@ cameron.edu.

OK SENATE BILL 397:

UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DANGEROUS

Victoria White A&E Editor

A book ban by any other name still reeks of governmental control.

On March 7, The Oklahoma Senate passed OK SB 397. This bill, authored by Senator Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain) and Representative Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle), aims to force schools and public libraries to separate books into different age groups and apply strict guidelines to students and patrons. Those age groups are: “elementary” (pre-k through fifth grade), “junior high” (sixth through eighth grade), “under 16” and “juniors and seniors.”

Any books designated as “juniors and seniors” must be kept in an area accessible only by librarians and other staff. All students or patrons will be required to present a written parental consent form to check out these books.

The bill does not stop at restricting minors’s access to materials.

“Beginning July 1, 2024, no print or nonprint material or media in a school district library, charter school library, or public library shall include content that the average person age eighteen (18) or older applying contemporary community standards would find has a predominant tendency to appeal to a

prurient interest in sex,” the bill said.

What does that mean, you may ask? No sex in literature! Even in public libraries patronized by adults.

Well, in accordance with your contemporary community, of course. I hope you have brushed up on your “average” community members and their standards, because there will be a quiz afterwards.

This is a ludicrous provision in an already laughable bill. Actually, it’s hard to laugh about something so dangerous.

But according to Hamilton, this is not an outright ban.

“This bill is not an attempt to ban books,” Warren said. “It’s certain things you can’t get at school.”

Warren goes on to say it is merely a method for encouraging a community to be in control of their own literature.

“School boards, you ain’t exactly been hitting it out of the park lately,” Hamilton said.

“Maybe you could use a little help from some community involvement, some community empowerment.”

This all lies on the assumption that lawmakers and other members of the community are better equipped to raise someone’s child than their own parent or guardian. This is saying one person’s needs should represent the entire community.

The measure is also harmful to growth. How will this affect children’s reading levels? Reading ahead of grade level is not uncommon for students. Should improving comprehension skills be discouraged? Should students be forced to stay in step with their peers if they have the capability and interest in advancing?

The reality is the brunt of the work will be put on librarians, not community members. Librarians who are already working in environments with increasingly greater threats of violence. Efforts to establish and maintain libraries as safe and accepting environments have resulted in acts of discrimination all around the country.

From Hawaii to New York City, libraries have been fielding threats from members of their community and others. These typically occur when libraries provide safe spaces for marginalized members of the community (such as LGBTQ+ individuals or drag queens) to openly celebrate or lead events.

In March, the American Library Association made a formal disownment of said individuals threatening violence.

“Libraries are committed to upholding and defending the core values of inclusion and free and equal

access to ideas and information, which are essential to an informed democratic society,” the release stated. “The freedom to read is a constitutionally protected right, and reading choices must be left to the reader, and in case of children, their parents.”

The purpose of a library is to house knowledge. Why should government officials be able to take that knowledge away?

Hamilton’s goal for this measure is to prevent children from being exposed to pornographic material.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that would argue that there are some things that younger children are exposed to that maybe they shouldn’t be,” Hamilton said, “and so we can organize those things into the appropriate time for them.”

In a time of Conservative contempt for LGBTQ+ individuals in the form of congressional measures like the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill), this statement reads more like, “I don’t want children to be exposed to themes with which I don’t agree.”

When the history books are written about society in the 21st century, what will they say about the book bans?

Will we even be able to read them?

Follow-up: CU Housing

Brittney Payette Managing Editor

The housing situation at Cameron has recently received a significant amount of interest after a housing article I wrote titled “Disaster in the Dorms.”

After the article was released, it was read on campus and online and shared on social media.

Many people who have been or currently are living on campus came forward with their own experiences in the dorms. It was an amazing feeling to see how advocating for my fellow residents helped the discourse about the living situation on campus gain momentum.

Now the questions people are asking include: what has changed, and what is Cameron doing to maintain these positive changes in order to improve living conditions?

On March 8, Cameron housing sent workers to the dorms to fix the plumbing issues, which made me inexplicably happy. The cleaning crew also did a deep clean in the bathrooms after the plumbing was worked on. Change was finally happening.

After the article was published, I was blown away by the amount of support I received from students, faculty and staff at Cameron.

The initial responses included a lot of sharing the article with other people, past and current residents commenting their negative experiences living in the dorms, and people demanding change.

The Faculty Senate also adopted a unanimous resolution to support the residents on campus.

“The Cameron University Faculty Senate is appalled by the conditions described in the March 6, 2023, Collegian article entitled, ‘Disaster in the Dorms.’ Residential life students have the full support of Faculty Senate in their call to have the bathroom problems resolved in a timely and transparent manner.”

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Cameron were quick to offer their support to the residents living on campus. At 7 p.m. on March 27 in the Wichita Room, SGA hosted an open forum on housing concerns.

Administrators and staff such as Vice President

and Dean of Students for Enrollment Management & Student Success Jerrett Phillips, Director of Campus Life and SGA advisor Leslie Cothren, Faculty in Residence Christopher Sauer, Housing Coordinator Christina Willoughby, etc.

There were numerous residents who showed up to the housing forum eager to make their voices heard. Some of the complaints were that there was mold growing on the bottom of some of the shower curtains, the laundry rooms were not being adequately cleaned, and paper towels were taken away and have not been returned to the bathrooms.

“We want to have open communication,” Phillips said. “We want to have future forums like this, but, at the same time, you are welcome to email any of our direct offices.”

Strategic Communications major Tawny Vanover said she was impressed with the student turnout at the forum.

“The housing forum was a great opportunity for students to express their concerns directly to faculty representatives without any barriers,” Vanover said. “I would love to see this era of undivided attention to our standards regarding students’ health and wellbeing continue unconditionally here at Cameron.”

Vanover said she has noticed recent changes in the dorms.

“The cleanliness of our dorm restrooms have improved since the meeting just a few days ago,” Vanover said. “The shower curtains have been replaced, and the previous concern for uncleanliness in the showers has been reduced

significantly. I have also noticed housing staff around all areas on North and South Shepler inspecting the different areas.”

Vanover also said she hopes the plumbing issues will be fixed and residents will get their paper towels back in the bathrooms. She also said she was glad this forum was held.

“I am grateful for our Student Government Association for giving students this opportunity to voice their concerns so that change may be facilitated,” Vanover said.

For more information contact housing at housing@cameron.edu.

Photo by Brittney Payette

‘AVATAR’ SEQUEL MAKES A SPLASH

Victoria White A&E Editor

Released on Dec. 16, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is the long-awaited sequel to the 2009 movie “Avatar.”

Set over a decade after the events of the original, Jake Sully and Neytiri now have a family of their own, and Sully has been named the chief of the Omatikaya tribe.

However, their comfort does not last, and old foes return to attempt colonization of Pandora once again.

Sully and his family must try to save their home and when things don’t go according to plan, they seek refuge with the oceanic Metkayina tribe.

Director James Cameron’s decision to move the story to the water was a brilliant choice.

For all the splendor of the forest in the first movie, the ocean provided for even more breathtaking visuals.

To not mention the beauty of this movie would be a disservice to the 13 years of work put into it. The imagery was so stunning, it provided the ultimate escapism.

During my second viewing, I noticed subtle details I did not pick up on the first time around because I was fixated on the aesthetic.

As with the first “Avatar” movie, Cameron applied revolutionized technology for “The Way of Water.”

Through performance capture, all of the movie’s underwater scenes were actually shot underwater, a feat never before accomplished.

The actors were all trained in freediving, and new motion capture technology had to be created to film the shots.

The development of these technologies is the predominant reason for the extensive lapse in time between the two movies.

“We’ve thrown a lot of horsepower, innovation,

imagination and new technology at the problem,” Cameron said in 2017. “It’s taken us about a year and a half now to work out how we’re going to do it.”

One technological feat of the original was the revolutionizing of 3D filming technology. While Cameron intended to further these advances with glasses-free 3D (or autostereoscopy) for the sequel, this did not come to fruition for “The Way of Water.”

As a person with glasses, I have never enjoyed seeing movies in 3D. The 3D glasses are often too big and cumbersome to wear over my own.

That being said, I was not dissapointed to see this movie in 3D. The visuals, coupled with the lifelike framerate of 48 frames per second, made for an entirely immersive viewing experience.

The Avatar franchise is rooted in themes of personal adaptability and the journey of discovering harmony with nature.

Many of the same elements from the first movie made their way into “The Way of Water.” Though inspiring, those elements felt a bit stale the second time around.

A common complaint of the first movie was its clunky dialogue. Though by no means worthy of a Best Screenplay nomination at the Academy Awards, “The Way of Water’’ is an improvement, likely thanks to the addition of co-writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

There are some moving moments of exposition, such as a line from Tsireya, a daughter of the Metkayina tribe.

“The way of water has no beginning and no end,” Tsireya said. “Our hearts beat in the womb of the world. Water connects all things, life to death, darkness to light. The sea gives and the sea takes.”

Where the plot is lacking, Cameron makes up for it with character development. The story feels primarily character-driven with plot coming second.

The character of Kiri (whose interesting origins will

likely be explored throughout the franchise) and Sully’s youngest son Lo’ak are first introduced at the beginning of the movie and experience astonishing growth throughout the runtime.

Another prevalent theme is that of family, both blood and chosen.

Kiri and a new human character Spider are not directly part of the Sully family, but they have all developed a strong bond with each other. The members of the Metkayina tribe are exciting new additions to the dynamic as well.

While “The Way of Water ‘’ improved upon elements from the original, one character criminally underused compared to the original is Neytiri.

Though she and Sully both take a backseat to their children’s stories and development, Neytiri is even more so underutilized.

She is relegated from fierce warrior to a sideline character who is only utilized when an action scene or emotional levity is needed.

Given that this is a franchise, it is more forgiving, and hopefully she will play a larger role in the upcoming sequels.

The underrecognized beauty of franchises is that they allow for life to imitate art in an interesting way.

As the stories play out over the years, the audience watches characters grow, while also growing themselves. In the unique case of this sequel, 13 years have passed since the original.

In the film’s prologue, we see the growth the characters have undergone in our time away from Pandora, and anyone who saw the first movie in 2009 can also reflect on their growth during that time.

The same can be said for the six years between now and the release date for “Avatar 5.”

Rating: 4.5 / 5

‘SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL’

Best friends forever: Patrick (Shayson Lenee’) and Spongebob (Shalyn Bowles) perform a happy dance. “Spongebob The Musical” opens at 7:30 p.m. on April 20. Tickets are free for CU students and can be purchased online, at the box office or via the HomeTown Fan app.

Photos by Neal Kirmer

Campus Life Swag Giveaway

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 29, the Office of Campus

Life held a baseball t-shirt giveaway event outside the north entrance of Nance Boyer.

To win the prize, students had to toss at least one of two beanbags onto the pick-axe of the Cameron University logo. Students had to get it specifically on the axe to win the t-shirt. If they were not able to win the shirt, they were given a Cameron University magnet and phone wallet. The Office of Campus life puts on these fun events specifically for Cameron students to enjoy.

Alannah MeyersYoung is the administrative assistant for the Office of Campus Life, and was at the event to invite students to play.

“We want students to feel connected to Cameron,” MeyersYoung said, “and what better way than to win free swag; we even got more t-shirts.”

The design that is currently used for this

t-shirt is similar to one that was used previously; a graphic designer intern for the art department designed the t-shirt for the event.

“It’s more of like a limited edition,” MeyersYoung said, “so we wanted it to feel like it’s different because our other t-shirts are homecoming and spirit week versus this is like an extra cool t-shirt.”

This is the first time in a couple of years that the Office of Campus Life is giving away a threequarter sleeved t-shirt. There was a good turnout with many students stopping by to try and win their free Cameron items throughout the morning.

A student who attended the event, Marshall Sadler, tries to attend every event he

can, especially those that Campus Life hosts.

“I like these events, well because I paid for them, and just because they help bolster the Cameron community as far as having things to do on campus,” Sadler said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to have, to help show our school spirit and just be a part of something bigger than us.”

Since not everyone was able to win the t-shirt or make it to the event, students are able to buy the t-shirts for just five dollars. There are plenty of shirts left so all students have to do is go to the Campus Life Office, on the second floor of the McMahon Centennial Complex, and show their student ID.

Supplies are limited, though, so students

should get one while they still last. Although the t-shirts will not be for sale to faculty and staff until the following week. If students missed the t-shirt giveaway event or are interested in participating in future giveaways, be sure to check the Campus Life University Calendar online at https://www. cameron.edu/universitycalendar.

CU Saves & Earns

LaShea DeSelle Staff Writer

Cameron University is looking for ways to save money by encouraging students and faculty to submit ideas through an online forum or by leaving a written form at locations on campus.

CU is a non-profit organization (NPO), and according to the Urban Institute, many public universities respond to the needs of communities and states they serve.

Public colleges and universities rely primarily on state and local governments’ appropriations to support the cost of education for students.

Colleges and universities typically make money from a number of sources, including endowments or gifts, tuition and fees, athletics and grants.

Universities spend money on salaries, physical facilities, support service and staff, and by offering grants and scholarships to students.

CU’s public services supports many programs such as the ROTC federal training program, the Radiologic Technology program (where students can work under radiologist physicians),

and Engineering programs.

With diversity in career options, CU provides employees to respond to the needs of communities they serve. Cameron also hosts career-oriented public events like career fairs, the community garden, workshops and student art exhibitions.

Cameron research not only helps organizations obtain money from grants and contracts, but it also helps students gain practical work experience while simultaneously strengthening their comprehension of research and research methods.

Cameron has its own research committee that serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and is responsible for encouraging and assisting faculty and students research activities.

A research committee is the first step to having a research university or a research-intensive university.

The International Alliance of Research Universities mentions that research creates value for societies, and it is clear that research-intensive universities bring substantial economic benefit to society in multiple ways. Such universities provide

production and distribution of new knowledge through articles, publication and access to research, educates the knowledge and “soft skills” of candidates and collaborates with the outside world which raises the value of the university.

Research-led education produces high quality graduates who are attractive to employers, organizations and graduates of research-intensive universities.

Another advantage of conducting research as an undergraduate student is that it is great for a student’s resumé. It hones critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This inquirybased learning involves practicing a discipline and not just being told about it.

Besides generating ways to make money, CU looks for ways to save money. This could mean implementing more cost-effective ways to become environmentally friendly such as swapping out all sales of refreshments in foam and plastic to biodegradable and compostable containers, cups and straws.

The campus community garden could store tumblers that collect dried leaves from grass cutting, paper and

wood, plant-based food waste such as leftovers, or plant materials such as soil and decaying flowers during the fall semester in compost bins located outside, near places students eat.

Senior Director of Public Affairs Keith Mitchell said that Cameron University is open to any suggestions from the campus community about ways the university can better serve that community.

“This is especially true in the areas of saving operational funds and creating new sources of revenue in every area of campus operation,” Mitchell said. “All suggestions are collected and will be evaluated by the administration on their feasibility.”

CU Saves ideas can be submitted on the CU website www.cameron.edu/ cusaves.

Revenue-generating ideas can be submitted through a tab that will take you to “CU Earns” suggestions form.

Although forms include options to provide a name and contact information, suggestions can be submitted anonymously.

Any questions students or faculty have can be directed to the Public Affairs office by email or calling 580581-2211.

Staff Writer

Photos by Jaci Hernandez

Aggie AthleteQ and A With Baseball’s

Drew Henderson

Drew henderson is a fifth-year senior from fort worth, texas, who plays pitcher for the aggie baseball team. henderson finished his bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science and is now continuing his education at cameron by pursuing a master’s degree in psychology

Why did you choose to come to Cameron?

My senior year, i didn’t really have any offers, so my friend who was already playing here asked me if i had anywhere to go, i told him no, and he talked to the coach about me and so he’s really the one that got me here.

How did you first get into baseball?

I STARTED PLAYING IN FIRST GRADE, AND WE WERE STILL DOING COACH PITCH, BUT IN THIRD GRADE WE STARTED PLAYING WITH KIDS PITCHING. I HAD NEVER PITCHED BEFORE, BUT MY COACH JUST THRew ME OUT THERE, AND I ENDED UP THROWING MORE STRIKES THAN ALL THE OTHER KIDS, SO I JUST STUCK WITH IT.

What made you want to stick with baseball for so long?

It’s probably my favorite thing to do. I just love throwing, i like getting better, and i know a lot about pitching and i try to learn as much as i possibly can. the more i learn, the more i wanna keep trying new things, so i really just never lost that love for playing, and i dont think i’m going to.

Do you have a favorite team, or any players who inspire you?

My favorite team is the texas rangers, because they’re like 25 minutes away from me, but i never had a favorite player; i just enjoyed watching all of it. whenever i watch the rangers, i kinda just watch whoever is pitching to see if i can take anything from that. i don’t have a favorite player because i really like watching a lot of different players, so it’s kinda hard to choose.

What are some of your favorite things about Cameron?

Just all my teamates. i don’t think i’ve ever been as close with my team as i have in my five years here. i enjoy being around all of them, and everyone really gets along with each other.

What do you want to do after Cameron?

I’m not exactly sure what i wanna do with my degree just yet. after this year i’m definitely still gonna keep trying to go play. i wanna check out some of the independent baseball leagues so i can get the chance to get paid and keep on playing for as long as i can, but before that i think i also wanna look into some coaching jobs.

Photo by Deb Todd

Graphics by Jimm Alley