Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, March 9, 2020
Volume 102 Issue 6
CU Research
and Scholarly Activities Day
Payton Williams
Mathematical Sciences major Yauheniya Shviadok presented research Managing Editor sponsored by Argyros. @YoureSoVanya Her research, which she presented under the title “Developments in the Semi-Local Convergence of Newton’s From 1 - 3 p.m. on Feb. 28, Cameron University’s School of Arts and Sciences Method,” has already been through High Impact Practices Committee hosted some very serious testing before being presented, which makes her presentation CU Research and Scholarly Activities particularly impressive, according to Day in the McMahon Centennial Argyros. Complex (MCC) Ballroom. “The presentation given by my student Students of various disciplines and was most impressive in the sense that backgrounds within the School of Arts whatever was on the poster is already and Sciences gathered in the MCC in a paper that was published,” Argyros Ballroom with posters showing their said. “So that carries more weight.” research, and students and faculty were Shviadok’s research has already led invited to ask questions, comment on and to her being accepted into a Graduate critique the work. program for a Ph.D in Applied The event was held in part to Mathematics at the University of give students preparing to present at Oklahoma Research Day on March 6 an Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, and she is still waiting to hear from several opportunity to practice presenting their other graduate programs. research. Argyros said that events like this are Dr. Ioannis K. Argyros was one of important in a school like Cameron, and the sponsors for research presented by the Mathematical Sciences Department, He hopes to see it grow. “You have to take into account that we and he said he was impressed with the are a very small school,” Argyros said. presentations from the students. “But that does not mean that we do not “The students successfully answered have students that excel at what they are my questions,” Argyros said. “I went doing. This event proves it. I hope that around almost through every poster and next year, the number of posters will at asked the students questions, and they least double.” seemed to know what they were doing, Another sponsor for research at the which was very nice.”
event was professor of Communication, English and Foreign Languages Dr. William Carney. Carney was a sponsor for three of the research presentations at the event, one dealing with food insecurity in Oklahoma, another on the subject of Socialism in pre-World War I Oklahoma, and a third on a service learning project that involves students revising the guide for the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Carney also said he was enthusiastic about the quality of research presented at the event. “I will tell you this, all the math posters, to me, are phenomenal,” Carney said. “What the math department is doing now in encouraging applied research, using math, is outstanding stuff.” Kimb Frey, a student of the Communication, English and Foreign Languages department, was one of the students presenting research at the event. Frey is one of the students involved in editing the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge Trail Guide, and she said the enthusiasm from the audience surprised her. “The first hour or so, we couldn’t really leave,” Frey said. “There was a pretty constant rotation, and amazingly enough, I even managed to reel some
people in for my Hyphens and Dashes presentation.” Frey presented research titled “Of Dashes and Hyphens: the Mysterious Dash Forms Three,” sponsored by Dr. Yingqin Liu. Frey said that it was Dr. Liu who first inspired her to get involved with presenting research for this event and for the Oklahoma Research Day event in Weatherford, Oklahoma. “Dr. Liu is a big advocate for Oklahoma Research Day,” Frey said, “and always tries to get her students involved in it. It’s really her thing.” This was the first time Cameron University has held CU Research and Scholarly Activities Day, and both Dr. Argyros and Dr. Carney hope that the event will grow exponentially in upcoming years. Carney said that the work he saw presented at this event was on par with work he has seen at larger universities. “These are the kinds of poster presentations you would see at larger institutions,” Carney said. “It may be surprising here, but it really shouldn’t be. We’ve got some excellent students.” For more information on CU Research and Scholarly Activities Day and other upcoming research events, contact the Cameron University Office of Academic Affairs at 580-581-2250.
Photos by Stacie Larsen
What’s Inside Extra Life charity event Page 3
Billie the Newsroom Dog Page 4
Vote ... or Don’t Page 5
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News
March 9, 2020
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1ST
ANNUAL STUDENT ART
Competition Madison Lyda
wasn’t big enough to contain all of the art. Managing Editor Pieces are hanging in @maddilinee the foyer along with the hallways to successfully On Feb. 28 in the showcase every artists’ Cameron University Art work. Teaching Gallery inside The award ceremony the campus Art Building, took place at the the first annual Student beginning of the event Art Competition exhibit where Professor Jack opened to the public. Bryan was introduced to The exhibit is organized by current and the audience by Professor Edna McMillan, and former art faculty as an assisting professors Kathy opportunity to showcase not only the Art Teaching Liontas-Warren and Monika Lineham. Gallery but also the Jack Bryan is a students who make up the Professor Emeritus who department. established the original The Student Art Cameron University art Competition featured program and served as work from students who chair of the department have completed or are from 1967 to 2000. enrolled in an art course He was aslo the in Fall 2019 or Spring juror of the Student Art 2020. Contest. Featured art consisted McMillan started of all a variety of different mediums, techniques and off the award ceremony by telling stories about styles. Bryan’s legacy and impact Twenty-four Cameron on students at Cameron University art students and how he served as a submitted a total of role model, a teacher and eighty-one individual family to the students in pieces created over the the art department during course of their years at his time here. the university. McMillan reminisced The pieces come from about Bryans’ impact inside and outside of the classroom to showcase not only scholarly excellence but also individual creativity. Students submitted so many pieces that the gallery
inside the classroom and his continuous motivation to encourage and provide for the students in the art department. Bryan began his award presentation by reflecting on his experience of selecting the winners for this year’s competition. “When judging each piece, it’s easy to remember a work, but I wanted to be able to see them for as they are not just a memory,” he said as he walked around the audience holding up his personal journal. In the journal, tiny square replicas of individual student works filled the page, each carefully painted and as vibrant as the ones that hung on the walls, “your art is so profound I was compelled to recreate it, to remember it, to have a memory of it.” “Every single artist created incredible works of art that I believe truly showcased the talent this department holds; it made my job difficult as I’m sure you can imagine.” Bryan judged awards for two categories: Two-
Dimensional Art and Three-Dimensional Art along with Honorable mentions. Bryan presented three awards from each category in the form of a certificate, a reflection of the artists’ winning pieces and cash awards ranging from $250 to $50. Bryan presented each recipient with commentary provided about their success as artists, future plans and highlighting either a particular aspect of the artists’ personalities or techniques. Attendees enjoyed complimentary snacks and beverages as well as an opportunity to socialize with the artistsultimately giving the artists the opportunity to defend, discuss and sell their artwork. The art department hosts events every year in order to help students showcase their work and develop professional experience in communicating with potential clients, advertising themselves and enhancing their
professional resumes. These events include PICTURED the Senior Art Show ABOVE which takes place every April, assistant teaching (LEFT TO RIGHT) in primary school art classes and single artist ASHLEIGH exhibits. MORRIS Senior Art Award winner and Fine Arts Major Austin Patterson “LADY OF THE said the department has WATER” greatly helped him in his development as an artist. “This department taught me in the AUSTIN traditional style and PATTERSON pushed me to apply my own imagination and even “DONUS OF THE rewrite my own rules in DEAD II” the process of making art,” he said. “The faculty here have supported, encouraged, and pushed ELIZABETH me to help me become the MCMAINS artist I am today.” Patterson offered “SERENITY” advice to student’s interested in pursuing careers in art. “Your best is enough. But you have to do it. GWENDOLYN You have to spend time PRICE on it, and give it your all,” he said. “Don’t treat “EGON AND I” everything you make as if it is precious or needs Students interested to be perfect. You have to in learning more about make mistakes to learn.” opportunities within the art department are encouraged to contact Scott Richard Klein by email at scottk@ cameron.edu or at (580)581-2346.
Three-Dimensional First: Rigoberto Miranda Second: Rigoberto Miranda Third: Krystal Solis
Two-Dimensional First: Tianna Hall Second: Elizabeth McMains Third: Gwendolyn Price
Honorable Mentions
Kourtney Rice
Margaret Hoff
Lanetta Davis
Senior art award Austin Patterson
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Sports
March 9, 2020
www.aggiecentral.com
Photos by Cam Alsbrook
Powering up: (Above) Smash team members Thomas Bishop (left) and Raymund Anongos (right) and (below) Rocket League team members Olivia Stone (left), Brad Winfree (center) and David Martinez (right) represented Cameron’s E-sports team, the Pickaxes, at the Extra Life charity event hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma at the Chesapeak Arena in Oklahoma City.
An Extra Life:
Pickaxes compete for charity Cam Alsbrook
Sports Editor IG: Forrest_Spirrit At 9 a.m. on Feb. 29, Cameron University’s esports team, the Pickaxes, attended the Extra Life charity tournament at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. The University of Central
Oklahoma (UCO) collaborated with Extra Life for a fundraising event centered on gaming. Donations went to the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, which partners with Extra Life. Competitors from other schools in the state such as UCO and independent players alike displayed skills in their game of
choice. The Pickaxes made their local debut in two games: Rocket League and Smash Bros. Ultimate. Rocket League is a soccer/ racing fusion game that requires team communication and intimate knowledge of the game’s physics engine. Since Rocket League matches
only use three members, the six members present from the Pickaxes separated into two teams to compete in the bracket. The bracket started in a best-of-three game format, but due to time constraints and event scheduling, later matches changed to a best-of-one, doubleelimination bracket. Both teams ended up facing off with this format; for the final results, the Pickaxes took tenth place in the Rocket League division. The Smash Bros. Ultimate division also saw two CU team members against each other in a one-on-one match, knocking one of the members out of the tournament. From the Pickaxes, Thomas “Steel” Bishop placed highest in the Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. He won tenth place and just barely missed the top eight bracket. The team experienced close calls throughout their individual matches, and all were eliminated through last hit situations in the preliminary pools. The event included several games spanning a few genres:
Tekken and Smash Bros. Ultimate as the fighting game representatives, Call of Duty and Fortnite as the shooting game representatives (Call of Duty being first-person, Fortnite being third-person) and Rocket League as the sole racing representative. Several live streams showcased matches across multiple setups, allowing remote attendees to watch and donate from home. The large number of observers and players built an atmosphere of community amongst diverse areas of gaming. The Pickaxes aimed to prove themselves with a strong start for their competitive careers, and it’s a sure thing that the Pickaxes will keep getting up again to play another game. Since the charity’s birth in 2008, Extra Life has raised over fifty million dollars for ill and injured kids through uniting gamers. For more information about Extra Life’s charity events, visit extra-life.org. For more information about CU esports, contact John Cunningham at 581-7944.
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Student Life
March 9, 2020
www.aggiecentral.com
Billie Jean: The JRMP dog
Carson started bringing Billie to Cameron during Carson’s sophomore year in 2018. “One of my professors said that she was okay with my bringing her [Billie] to class one day, and I had been wanting to bring Billie with me more places,” Carson said. “So, I brought her and decided to ask my other professors if it was okay. “Most of them said it was, so it became a regular thing.” Carson said that she continued to bring Billie because Billie seemed to make everyone happy. “I have only met one person that didn’t like her in the beginning but even they kind of like her now,” Carson said. “I knew she would be a great fit and make everyone happier.” Carson said that she can take Billie anywhere with her and everyone loves her. “I can take her to shows. I can also take her to work with me at the radio station and school,” Carson said. Photo by Adrianna “No one has ever been Finch upset with her being there or said anything.” Carson also said that Adrianna Finch people always say how smart of a dog she is. Student Life Editor “It is amazing because people are always in awe of some of the simplest tricks she knows,” Carson said. Journalism and Media Production (JRMP) Carson said that Billie has helped Carson through senior Danielle Carson is known for her musical a lot of tough times. performances at Cameron University and her work “I had a lot of things torn away from me being in with Cameron’s “CU News,” but she is also known as foster care,” Carson said. “I am lucky enough to have the dog owner of Billie Jean (Billie). my two biological brothers, but the majority of my Billie is a German and Australian Shepard mix who biological family is separated. She [Billie] is my form has become known as the JRMP dog. of what I wanted to happen. She is someone who I
Aggie
Ask an
know will be with me no matter what happens.” Billie came into Carson’s life while she was in high school. “Billie was two months old when I got her,” Carson said. “She came from my mom’s cousin’s neighbor’s dog. They were a super low income family. “They could barely afford to feed themselves let alone puppies. They didn’t have the money to surrender them [the puppies] to the shelter because of how much the fees were. They were going to dump them [the puppies] in the woods because they did not know what else to do.” Carson said that one day her mom’s cousin came over and had Billie with her. “I asked if I could play with her, and we just clicked.” Carson said. “I wasn’t really wanting another dog, but my mom decided that we could keep her. Ever since, she has been right by my side.” Carson said that she took Billie with her any time that she could. “Whenever I was working with the horses, she was with me,” Carson said. “Anytime I went outside, Billie came with me.” Carson said Billie has always listened well and that it made her easy to train. “After I finished the basics of crate training and sit and stay,” Carson said. “I started working with her on more advanced stuff I found on YouTube.” When Carson met her fiancée, Caulder Alford, she told him that she and Billie were a packaged deal. “Caulder wasn’t sure why she was such a big deal to me,” Carson said. “When we first got together, I told him that if he ever asked me to get rid of her that we would be done. There was no question about it.” Carson said that Alford has become more attached to Billie than she is in certain areas. “When its bath time, he is the one that blow dries her,” Carson said. “He insists on Billie sleeping with us even after I have bought expensive sheets and blankets. Billie used to sleep with me every night, but that was before I would spend $200 on a pair of nice sheets.” Carson said that she is interested in getting Billie trained as a therapy dog. “When I got Billie I never had the intention of making her a therapy dog,” Carson said. “But it seems like the right thing to do for us.” Carson has recently gotten her background check cleared to be licensed as a handler. Next up for this duo is to file the appropriate paper work and go through observations. “If we pass everything, Billie will be a therapy dog, and I will be her handler,” Carson said. Carson will be walking in May 2020 and she hopes that Billie can be there with her.
Q: How is this semester going? A: In a short summary, this semester has been stressful for me. It’s managable, but stressful. This semester I’m taking 16 credit hours. It’s also my first semester taking a 12 week class, and it’s a faster pace than what I’m used to.
-Carrie Abrell Sophomore Elementary Education major
A: It’s going ok; some classes are harder than others. Ready for spring break.
-Dava Battiest Junior Music Education major
A: It’s good. It’s been keeping me busy. I will hopefully be done with math after this semester.
-Lindsey Edwards Sophomore Journalism and Media Production major
A: Honestly, not bad ... but definitely could be better. Classes are going alright ... Working full time ain’t easy ... and I’m honestly burn out of school and struggling with school in general but pushing on through trying to make it across the finish line.
- Jonathan
Flint
Junior Criminal Justice major
Q: What are you looking forward to in the next eight weeks? A: I’ve been volunteering for Cameron events recently that involves working with students at different schools. So that’s something I’m looking forward to. Its going to give me opportunities to work with children that I’m going to be teaching.
-Carrie Abrell Sophomore Elementary Education major
A: The summer and my boyfriend flying to Oklahoma to meet my family for the first time!
-Dava Battiest Junior Music Education major
A: Passing my classes, taking summer classes and spending more time with my family.
-Lindsey Edwards Sophomore Journalism and Media Production major
A: I am looking forward to graduation and the student movie night at the Vaska Theater in April.
-Lea
Killian
Senior Journalism and Media Production major
Voices
March 9, 2020
GO VOTE
www.aggiecentral.com
5
...or don’t
Amanda King
Your rights are your rights. Your right to vote is just that — your right. What is the logic here? You have the right so you must use it? On March 3, several states held primary elections for You think about how your vote really only helps the 2020 presidential candidates. pick state delegates, or you don’t think you’re informed And if you have an account on any social media enough about the candidates, or, hey, maybe you just platform at all, you were probably exposed to several don’t want to be involved in politics in any capacity at posts encouraging you to “go vote!” all — whatever your reasoning, if you don’t exercise Even if you didn’t check Instagram or Snapchat on your right to vote, you can’t be a good citizen? You’re Tuesday, you likely encountered a person or two who putting the rights of future generations in danger? excitedly told you to go exercise your civic duty. You’re hurting other people? But whether or not you chose to “go vote!” or fulfill Listen, if there is some cause or some issue or any your “duty” in this primary election, is a decision that reason that you want to exercise your right to vote — go should be entirely up to you. for it! It’s astounding how American’s can base all political The content of a voting ballot is not limited to arguments around the exclusive freedoms that U.S. presidential elections; you might want to raise your citizens have and the necessity of preserving them — voice for innumerable other matters that are up for while at the same time, shaming you for choosing to debate. So if you want to, vote. Your decision to do so is exercise them. yours, and yours alone. There is no shortage of people who feel it is not only But, just the same, your decision not to vote is their “civic duty” to vote, but also to degrade people equally as righteous. who choose not to. It is your decision. You shouldn’t be disgraced According to civics-online.org, “exercising the right because you either don’t have reason or simply do not to vote is essential to being a good citizen,” and “failure want to vote. You should not be forced to endure public to vote constitutes implied consent to governance by debasement and derogatory remarks. incumbent public officeholders.” You have the right to exercise or not exercise your Or as PsychologyToday.com puts it, you must use this rights as you see fit. “right that future generations might envy you for having Sure, you have the right to bear arms — but if you had.” choose not to, does that mean gun owners should shame FEW.org, also known as the Federally Employed you into buying one? If you choose not to buy a gun, Women, asserts that “we cannot afford for you to stay does that give people who choose to own weapons the silent.” right to admonish you for not “fulfilling your obligation” What such organizations don’t understand is that to own a firearm? these statements are absolutely ludicrous. The very definition of “rights,” as per the MerriamYou are not a criminal if you don’t vote. You will not Webster dictionary, constitutes the “power or privilege eliminate future American’s voting rights by not voting. to which one is justly entitled.” The right to vote is You will not bring about the apocalypse if you don’t yours, you are entitled to it. But that doesn’t mean you vote. are required to exert it. Moreover, you do not lose the ability to agree or But, ah, entitlement. That’s where the problem lies disagree with policies if you don’t vote. Not voting on for “vote-shamers,” as USA Today calls them. The right a particular issue does not negate your ability to unto vote is a privilege that you are luckily afforded in hypocritically vocalize your opinion of the government. America.
Voices Editor @the_amandaking
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available twenty Mondays during the year. It is printed by the Norman Transcript. The first issue is provided for free. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
Our Views
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Voices” 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.
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN
Ignore that oxymoron for a second, and just consider the idea behind it: Because you have this unique privilege, it is vital that you use it since not everyone has that ability. This rationale is especially exploited if you’re an ethnic minority or a woman, and arguments are constantly recycled to make you feel guilty for not taking advantage of the rights your ancestors fought for. Moreover, how many other countries have conditions where only particular subsets of people are allowed to vote? Or, what about countries that don’t allow voting at all? So how dare you not use the privilege you are afforded here in America when others aren’t so lucky? This entire philosophy is inherently flawed, because it contradicts the very rights that you are shamed for not exercising. Exercise your right to vote the way you want to — whether you rush to be first in line at your polling location or decide to wait out the registration deadline. You should be thankful that you have the right to vote. You should be grateful for the rights you are afforded in this country that others aren’t so fortunate to have. But that doesn’t mean that people should shame you for exercising those same rights — by not voting. And when the presidential election comes up, and everyone you encounter in person or online tells you to exercise your “civic duty,” remind yourself that it is okay to exercise your voting rights in whichever way you choose. The right to vote is just that — a right. Not an obligation.
Letters Policy
Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.
Editorial Staff
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.
Managing Editor - Payton Williams and Madison Lyda A&E Editors - Lea Killian and Kimberly Frey Sports Editor - David Perkins Voices Editor - Amanda King Copy Editor - Brittany Otero Student Life Editors - Cambron Alsbrook, Adrianna Finch Social Media Editor - James Rowbottom Photographers - Katie Hall, Stacie Larsen
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Bryan Araujo, Katie Hall, Xavier McClure, Isabel Rosales-Aparicio Circulation Manager - Bryan Araujo Faculty Adviser - Prof. David Bublitz
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, by e-mail to aggiecentral@ cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www.aggiecentral.com.
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Graphic by Kimb Frey
A&E
March 9, 2020
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A moonlit evening:
CU’s annual soirée
of pianos that we can all play together.” Whang said that each Soirée — called so because of the intimate setting — has had a different theme, in the past doing all French music or all
duets. “So, this year, it had to do with all the music that is inspired by and Kimb Frey about the moon,” she said. “There A&E Editor is plenty of great music for that, @kimbfrey ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, ‘Clair de Lune,’ and also so many songs and arias.” Whang said she collaborated with At 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, in the the department’s vocal professors to McCutcheon Recital Hall, the choose the performance pieces and Department of Art, Music and pair them with their students. Theatre Arts presented Soirée XI: The evening started with Mozart, Moonstruck, an evening of piano and with vocalist Junior Music Education vocal performances. For the past eleven years, Cameron Major Mikayla Stephenson singing “Abendempfindug” and concurrent music professors and students have Cache High School Junior and put together an evening of music Cameron student Chelsea Mitchell on in order to give the piano students piano accompaniment. performance opportunities and “Abendempfindug” translates experience. Professor of Music and Piano, and from German to “Evening Thoughts” in English. Poet Joachim Heinrich the Louise D. McMahon Endowed Campe wrote the lyrics to the Mozart Chair in Music Dr. Hyunsoon music, which is a meditation on the Whang said piano students needed passing of time and life: performing experience not just “It is evening, the sun has to play solo but also to play vanished, / And the moon sheds its accompaniment. silver light; / So life’s sweetest hours “If you’re voice major, for speed by, / Flit by as in a dance!” example, then you have choir The evening continued with concerts to prepare for,” Whang said. Schumann’s “Mondnacht” (“Moonlit “If you’re a clarinetist, then you’re in a band, and a band plays concerts. Night”) and Brahms’ “Die Mainacht” For pianos, we don’t have a big group (“May Night”), with Junior
Vocal Performance Major Khalil Cabrera-Tosado performing both, and Freshman Piano Performance Major Gabe Willbourn and Junior Mathematics Major Malcolm Gehlbach on accompaniment respectively. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” came next with Willbourn, Sophomore Piano Performance Major Brittany Dabbs and Junior Social Studies Education and Music Major Jacob Austin each performing one movement of the popular Sonata. After the intermission, Sophomore Biology Major Thadyn Du Pont performed Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” (“Moonlight”). Du Pont said that Debussy based his piano piece off Paul Verlaine’s poem of the same name and that Debussy was an impressionist composer. “Whenever he wrote his music, he wanted the listeners to have some sort of idea for the piece,’ Du Pont said. “So, whenever you listen to ‘Claire de Lune,’ you should be able to hear the moon shimmering, the moonlight shimmering.” Verlaine’s moonlight poem also inspired Debussy’s contemporary, composer Gabriel Fauré, to write his version of “Clair de Lune” for piano and then orchestra with vocals. Sophomore Vocal Performance Major Heather Martin lent her ethereal soprano vocals to the piece with Austin on accompaniment. She sang in French the melancholic lyrics: “While singing in a minor key/ Of victorious love, and the pleasant life/ They seem not to believe in their
own happiness/ And their song blends with the moonlight,” Sophomore Music Education Major David Gracia then made his vocalist performance debut singing Bellini’s “Vega Luna” (“Beautiful Moon”). “It was great,” Gracia said. “It felt like this is what I’m meant to do, and I will forever thank Dr. Whang for giving me the opportunity.” Gracia had Dabbs for his accompanist. The penultimate song of the evening was “Song to the Moon” from Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka.” Originally written in the Czech language, Senior Vocal Performance Major Corbyn Nauman performed the soprano Aria in English with Du Pont accompanying. Du Pont said that he felt that Nauman’s performance in English made the piece more relatable to the audience and that she did an amazing job on her performance. “I think she’s probably one of my favorite vocalists,” Du Pont said. “She’s just got such a deep, robust voice.” Closing the evening’s homage to the hoary orb on the horizon, Senior Music Education Major Destiny Abila sang Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved poem “Good Night Moon” set to the music Eric Whitacre composed specifically for it, which Austin played. Abila sang good night to the moon and good night to the room — a projection of the great, green room with the telephone and the red balloon described in the song above her — and thereby released the audience from the evening’s spell.
Vaska Movie Night features local filmmaker Morgan Thompson Lea Killian
She said that the perseverance they showed in the face of their hardships inspired her throughout the A&E Editor filming process and in her personal life. @talkinglea In December, the Oklahoma Black Film Festival accepted “Hometown Hussle,” an important At 7 p.m. on March 3, the Vaska movie theater, achievement for Thompson and the people she owned and operated by Justin Hackney, hosted local interviewed for the film. filmmaker Morgan Thompson to showcase her film, “Minorities do not get the same attention and “Hometown Hussle,” a documentary that highlights recognition as somebody who isn’t a minority,” the stories and accomplishments of Lawton Thompson said. “I residents. wanted to show that Professor of Journalism and Media Production, there are people who Dr. Matt Jenkins, began showing student films at the Vaska from his independent production class in are just as talented the spring of 2019 in an effort to encourage students who are minorities and doing really to show their work. good things for the Shortly after, Jenkins began inviting local filmmakers to showcase their work at the Vaska, as community. I also wanted people to see well. Filmmakers like Anthony Brownrigg and Pat themselves in other Bishow have visited Lawton’s local retro theater, people. What we see drawing in crowds from both Cameron and the represented is not Lawton community. always what we look “I’m trying to bring different people in that like. I wanted people students can talk to and network with so they can see that they can do this, too,” Jenkins said. “It also to see someone that gives these filmmakers an opportunity to show their looks like them and see that they were work to an appreciative crowd.” doing really positive Thompson used her cell phone to film things.” “Hometown Hussle” and advocated for low budget She also said that films at the Q&A after the film, arguing that she would have no filmmakers do not have to use “million-dollar equipment” in order to film exceptional productions. idea how to do the things she is doing As for her initial inspiration behind her film, Thompson said she hoped to show the positive side now if it were not for her education at to Lawton. Cameron. “I wanted to show people that there are good “When I joined things going on here and good people living here,” Thompson said. “I wanted to uplift the community. this department,” Thompson said, We have a lot of people who view Lawton very “I felt really negatively, and that’s really not a way to live. You should try to be happy and find things that you love. comfortable. I worked That’s why I think it’s so important to show people on the television that it’s possible to do the same things here that you shows, produced the newscast and worked can do in bigger cities.” on a documentary Thompson interviewed people working in the with Dr. Jenkins. music industry, photography, church organizations After seeing the and a variety of other fields all based in Lawton.
Correction: In Vol. 102, on the front page of Issue 5, the “Cameron Collegian” failed to attribute the crown graphic to Victoria Orndorff. The “Cameron Collegian” deeply regrets this error.
process, it made me realize I could create my own things, too. I wouldn’t know how to do this, or even think that I could, if I hadn’t went to school here.” Movie nights at the Vaska will continue at 7 p.m. on April 14 with several student-made productions, including “On One’s Own,” by Bryan Araujo, “That’s Just Life…” by Brayden Milam and “Living With Kermit” by Luis Ramirez.
Photo by Lea Killian