Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, December 3, 2018
Volume 99 Issue 10
Coffee with the President A reflection of the fall semester
Madison Lyda
enrollment for the spring semester and an understanding Student Life Editor of the students who work As the fall semester is coming through obstacles to come back every semester. to a rapid close, Cameron “More students are students and faculty are gearing continuing their education, up for finals, the holidays and which is something I really another semester. continue to work on and With every semester that strive for,” he said. “We want comes and goes, the university students to get those degrees. welcomes new opportunities, I understand that so many of hardships and student our students are working two experiences to look forward to. to three jobs; they’re caregivers On Nov. 19, President John for other human beings, and it McArthur hosted Coffee with can be so hard for them to get the President in the McMahon through school. Centennial Complex to discuss “So we are working to Cameron with any students. improve things for them to get McArthur discussed his them on track to graduate which thoughts on the ending of the fall semester and what lies ahead is so very important for them and the university.” for Cameron. This semester, Cameron “Where did the time go? has received many awards How can it be November and accreditation reviews for already? I’ve still got things academic programs, such as on my desk from September,” the music department, biology he said with a smile. “I look program and the respiratory care at the semester and at all the program. things we’ve accomplished McArthur said Cameron with excitement, but look at it completed many achievements wistfully in terms of ‘Oh, boy, during the fall semester, we’ve still got so much more to particularly in ways where do.’ students were given more “We have so much more opportunities for academic I know we are going to achievement, scholarship and accomplish. We’re never done, representation. we keep pushing forward.” McArthur said he loved the McArthur expressed opening of the CU Duncan excitement for the increased
campus Biology laboratories shortly after Labor Day weekend. “The excitement for those students to finally have their own laboratory and be able to pursue a biology degree, chemistry degree, allied health and nursing in the Duncan location has been so great and special for us here,” he said. “The excitement on the students’ faces when they realized they could pursue their dreams from home really filled us with so much joy.” Along with the opening of the new biology labs at CU Duncan, the Lawton campus has also experienced a milestone: this semester the university initiated the start of a new seasonal sport: the women’s cross country and track team. “I have enjoyed learning about and getting to know the young women who are members of the new cross country and track team,” McArthur said. “It’s a new sport for us, and they have had astounding success in their first term. “The excitement they hold, it’s contagious, and I love watching students who love what they do and have a want to be here. It’s that hidden Aggie gold that lives in their joy and want to accomplish their goals that makes us who we are.”
Another achievement McArthur said made him excited was the introduction of the new associate’s degree in Strategic Communication, which will offer students another route for success as they make their way through college. “The faculty worked really hard to put together a package of classes for a two-year version of the Communication degree so that they can see public relations, marketing, media and writing in a short amount of time,” he said. “We’re hoping that what comes out of this is that students will get a taste of that success and continue on to get a bachelor’s degree.” McArthur said last, but not least, that his favorite achievement from the semester was the representation of not only the student body, but also of a student organization through a special event held to honor the memory and history of Indigenous Peoples through the first annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “This was Lawton’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” he said. “We made a presentation to the City of Lawton, and they agreed to create that. I am really proud of the members of the student association with no help and no precedent and still doing
it all on their own. “They did a fantastic job bringing in the speakers, the dancers, the artists and the other events they’ve done to help the general population be a little more aware of the Native American population.” With there being no short in student and organizational achievements at the university, McArthur said Cameron wants to enhance the approachability and knowledge of the university through prospective students, so students can continue to be successful in their own ways here. “We are working on the functionality of the university,” he said. “We’re working on changing out our website to make that more approachable by prospective and continuing students. “Years now, we’ve heard ‘Cameron is a hidden gem’ or that we are ‘Oklahoma’s best kept secret,’ and we would like to be a little bit less of a best kept secret. We want more people to know about the wonderful education opportunities here.”
See COFFEE Page 2
Photos by Stacie Larsen
What’s inside Bringing history to CU
The process of “Living Together”
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Magic Lantern final showing Page 5