The Cameron Collegian - October 24th, 2022

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35 th Anniversary

Brittney Payette Managing Editor

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Student Support Services (SSS) celebrated its thirty-fifth anniversary at Cameron with cake and punch with fellow SSS members and staff.

SSS is an organization on campus that provides a variety of services and assistance to students who are a part of the program.

Some of the services SSS provides include math and writing labs that are only for SSS members, cultural trips, workshops and even technical equipment such as smart pens that SSS students can check out.

Senior early childhood education major Destiny Hall said she loves the SSS program at Cameron.

“It’s like my second home,” Hall said. “I feel welcome. They give me anything I need. It just makes me feel like I belong. It helps me to focus on my stuff, what I need to do. It made me the person I am today.”

Hall said she had used several resources SSS provides for its members.

“I’ve used the writing lab, which is in Nance Boyer,” she said. “The math lab has also helped me.”

The thirty-fifth anniversary celebration is not the only celebration SSS had in October.

From 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 20 in the Shepler Ballroom, SSS had its Fall Fun Fest featuring a large variety of snacks, candy, pumpkins to decorate, a photo backdrop and bingo.

Members and staff alike could pick something from the prize box if they got a bingo.

Freshman guidance specialist Cathleen Dutton said SSS had undergone many changes over the years, especially regarding how the program presents its workshops.

“A lot of it is virtual now,” Dutton said. “We give opportunities

where students can now join in through Zoom for a workshop… A lot of the technology portion of SSS has changed.”

also started having some workshops on the weekend, which they used not to do. They also have many of their cultural trips on the weekend as well.

“A lot more students are available during that time to partake in that activity,” Dutton said. “Sometimes just giving that weekend is what they need.”

resource to have.”

Sophomore allied health major Denise Wilson said she benefited greatly from SSS.

“I think that SSS is a great place for students to come and interact

out paperwork for the government to continue receiving funding, and more.

Thomas said she has been working for SSS for 25 years and was a member of SSS when she was

Dutton and Thomas both said they

What’s

they’re in need, like laptops. We

Indigenous People’s Day at Cameron

Light and Darkness: CU Band

Frightful Fun Pumpkin Painting

Photos by Brittney Payette

Indigenous People’s Day

LaShae DeSelle Staff Writer

From 1-9 p.m. on Oct. 10 the Native American Student Association (NASA) hosted the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration in the McCasland ballroom of the McMahon Centennial Complex (MCC).

On the second floor were vendors selling handmade quilts, jewelry, purses and clothing. Skilled sewer and member of Comanche Tribe Jewel Tieyah displayed handmade men’s gourd dance shirts, ladies and girls’ shawls, keychains and tissue box holders.

Tieyah began attending pow wows to enjoy the rich culture and from there an interest began to become a vendor.

“After attending powwows,” Tieyah said, “I thought wow, I can do this.”

Contact Comanche nation member Tieyah via email at jewellcakes@tds.et or call 580-678-2052 to view more handmade pieces.

Self-taught Comanche Artist Tim Saupitty displayed his contemporary art at the event. His works are a visual interpretation of stories told to

him by tribal elders. The unique and high-spirited artwork covered the vendor table and drew crowds of viewers, who couldn’t take their eyes off his work.

Saupitty’s wife, Bobbi Saupitty also shares artistic talents as she handmakes decorative purses and handbags.

Within the celebration was a craft area for children to share their idea of visual arts by coloring and decorating.

The crafts room was open the entire celebration and filled with art materials and facts to enhance their understanding of Indigenous culture.

Children and attendees were encouraged to make Molas (decorative panels originally used to embellish the clothing of women and means “pretty.”)

Another table in the craft room contained all the materials needed to make a medicine pouch, bag or bundle which people have been making and using around the world for about 10,000 years.

The all-day affair held events in Ballrooms A, B, C and Room 212 which consisted of The Native American Student Association’s speech on cultural appropriateness.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) panel took place in Ballroom A, advocators discussed the devastating crisis of MMIP as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

MMIW organizations’ missions are to bring home and help the families of the murdered cope and support them through the process of grief.

The event was successfully put together by the Native American Student Association, an CU organization whose purpose is to unite and represent the Native American student body at Cameron University by preserving the customs and heritage of their members and advocating the advancement of Cameron students socially, culturally and academically.

There are no requirements to join, also students are not obligated to pay any mandatory dues or fees. The next upcoming event will be a concession stand located in Apache, Oklahoma on Oct. 22. CU students are encouraged to join NASA.

For more information contact the organization’s President, Cindy Famero, via email at cunativestudent@gmail.com.

CU YouTube: Tutoring online

Lindsey Edwards Staff Writer

With mid-terms over and finals quickly approaching, it may seem that everything is piling up all at once.

If want help keeping track of your assignments, but you are struggling to find the time to stop and visit the tutoring centers on campus, there is now another way for you to get some extra help from the tutoring centers without going there in-person. .

Rachel Mozingo, Director of the Center for Writers, and the Center for Academic Success said students

can now find new videos that can offer additional assistance.

“Go to the main YouTube page and search Cameron University,” Mozingo said. “Once you get to the Cameron University page, there is a playlist tab and under that playlist tab, you will see CU @ tutoring.”

While there are currently two videos in the tutoring playlist that can help with MLA and APA formatting, the staff at the Center for Academic Success has several ideas for future videos.

“We have created a list of videos that we are hoping to record and implement,” Mozingo said. “Such

as a how to plan your planner video, introductions to the tutoring labs, and workshops for APA, MLA, and Chicago writing style, which is a style of writing used in history courses.”

They have a lot of ideas for new content, but it might be a while before everything is made available to students.

“We have a lot of content, and we have to get it recorded,” Mozingo said. Even though the YouTube channel is a great way for students to get extra help, they would still like for students to come see them in-person at the tutoring centers on

campus or via Zoom.

“The YouTube channel is meant to be an addition to regular tutoring,” Mozingo said. “Please still come see us at our Nance Boyer location. That is our preference. This is an additional tool.”

If you happen to visit the tutoring lab for a session and feel that you still need more information, Monzingo suggests that students can access the YouTube channel as a refresher.

For more information about the CU on YouTube or the Tutoring centers on campus, please contact Rachel Mozingo at 580-581-2932.

Fun frugal fall activities

So, you’re a broke college student? I get it. Me too. But don’t let that keep you from enjoying all the great entertainment within the Lawton/Fort Sill area.

There are so many great activities in our area that you probably don’t even know about. Check out these local events happening in the October that are either free or low-cost. Grab a friend and go, or go solo and make a new friend!

Cameron Halloween Carnival

From 6-8 p.m. in the McMahon Centennial Complex (MCC) Cameron is having a Halloween Carnival complete with fun activities such as table games, prizes and treats.

Simultaneously, a Pie in the Face fundraiser will be happening on the Bently Garden Lawn outside of the MCC. The pies will be thrown at 7:30 p.m.

Cameron Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

From 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 27 in front of Howell Hall at Cameron, there will be a trunk-or-treat activity.

Marie Detty Youth & Family services is hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness trunkor-treat event. This event is free, open to the public and sponsored by the Cameron Student Enrichment Center.

Western Hills Fall Festival

From 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 29 the Western Hills Christian church, 1401 NW 82 Street, will host a Fall Festival. There will be carnival style games, a cake walk, photo booth, and food all for free!

With fall in the air, why not grab your canvas shopping bag and head to the Lawton Farmers Market? They have a new location 77 SW 4 Street, Lawton, OK. With year-round vendors, lots of handmade crafts and food trucks!

This is free to attend and happens from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. They have other free events, so check out their web page for more info; lawtonfarmersmarket.com.

Trail of Fear

If you can handle the fear, take a drive out to the Trail of Fear, located three miles east of Lawton at 11101 SE Lee Blvd. you will find the largest haunted attraction in Oklahoma.

Here, you can visit any number of haunted attractions with entry into an Escape Room for only $5. You can choose from themed escape rooms, Coppergrove’s Crypt or the Morgue.

There other other haunted attractions there for a larger fee and lots of fun hayrides and scary seasonal activities.

For more info on the Trail of Fear, visit: lawtontrailoffear.com

Vaska Film Festival

At 9 p.m. on Oct. 25 there is a film-festival at the Vaska theatre, 1902 NW Ferris Ave. Lawton, OK. This is an annual film event featuring local film-makers. If you’ve never been to the Vaska Theatre, it’s old-school cool.

The Vaska has great popcorn and low cost drinks and snacks. Tickets are reasonably priced. Crafters, vendors, games, music, dancing, facepainting and children’s events will be present.

Vaska Theatre Interactive show

For fun indoor Halloween activities, that won’t break the bank, try visiting the Vaska theatre at 1902 NW Ferris Ave. in Lawton. If you have never been to “The Vaska”, as locals call it, you should experience it at least once.

This old-timey theatre presents cinema for a discount price on one big screen. The Vaska is one of Lawton’s original movie theatres.

During Halloween, the Vaska takes it a step further and provides movies with interactive performances. One such local favorite it the Rocky Horror Picture Show, where people dress up as characters and show up to act out their favorite scenes.

For less than $20 you will see a movie, have great buttery popcorn and a very large drink or your choice.

At 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 28-29 at the Vaska Theatre there is the interactive showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult classic. This 1975 musical comedy film features upbeat music and a masterful cast.

Lawton cult followers of RHPS will arrive dressed to impress and act out their favorite scenes in a shadowcast.

The diverse performances will appeal to all generations as a story of love, hate, adventure and, well, sex.

This film depicts fluid sexuality during a time of division between generations and lack of sexual acceptance. It can help bridge cultural and diversity gaps while being entertaining.

Be creative and check out the happenings in Lawton this spooky season!

Lawton Farmers Market

T.N. Estes

Copy Editor

Photos by LaShae DeSelle

Opinion: Is Cameron Library Haunted?

Tereasa Neeley Voices Editor

If a student happens to be studying during open hours, they may have encountered the many ghosts at the Cameron Library. Certain library patrons and staff have reported unnatural, paranormal events occurring within the walls of the library.

William Poole, Access Services Supervisorevening and an experienced paranormal investigator, has worked at the library for around eight years and has personal experience with paranormal activity in the Cameron University Library.

“I first discovered the library was haunted within the first couple of months of working here,” Poole said, “but once I began working on the evening shift I was convinced.”

While working at the Cameron library, Poole has heard many unusual things.

“I’ve heard footsteps and there was no one else in the area,” Poole said. “I was tapped on the shoulder, someone called out my name, I saw books flying off the shelves, I heard maniacal laughter as well as phantom conversations, and the most chilling was an infant crying.”

Poole is convinced that the ghost in the serials and book section is the father of the little girl that is hiding in the circulation area. It appears that the little girl is afraid of the man and is hiding from him.

Student worker at the circulation desk and Sophomore, Kristin Marshall, has also experienced paranormal activity within the walls of the library.

Kristin has mainly worked at night and has heard the same things Poole has experienced. However, when she heard the infant or toddler crying it happened around noon on a Saturday when there was not very much activity in the library.

While working at the library, Poole has attempted to communicate with the ghosts several times, but he has not gotten any response.

“If I could communicate with the ghost,” Poole said. “I would like to know their name.”

Although Kristin has not tried to contact the ghosts, she would like to communicate with them.

“I would like to know why they are still here and ask if they need help.”

Without being able to communicate, as an experienced paranormal investigator, Poole has found alternate evidence of ghosts.

“I have taken several photos with a thermal imaging camera and a phone camera,” Poole said. “I have also gotten evidence through EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). An EVP is used to record sounds found on electronic recordings that are interpreted as spirit voices. This was popularized by Parapsychologist Konstantins Raudive in the 1970s.

Poole explained that

Administrators,

originally the Native Americans owned the land the library sits on.

“It was taken away from them,” Poole said. “Then it was developed into farmland before it was sold, and then the university was built. Because of the way the land was taken, there is bad blood on this land.”

It would make sense that lingering spirits would choose a library as a place of their residence. There is human interaction that causes energy both good and bad. People often feel that the presence of the things that go bump in the night, sudden drafts of cold air, and a spirit trying to make itself known.

Whatever one makes of these cases, there leaves little doubt that some bookcases and libraries appear to be ‘haunted’. We may view the events above as real communications from the dead, or the result of too much imagination. Although staff and patrons may be skeptical about the paranormal activities going on in the Cameron Library. Poole has a photo showing a little girl’s face behind the employee standing in front of room 201.

You decide. I will remain neutral on the subject and keep an open mind.

Correction:

In Vol. 107, Issue 5, the Cameron Collegian erroneously reported information about the women’s basketball team in a graphic for a photo collage for the men’s team.

The Collegian deeply regrets this error.

Photo by William Poole

A SYMPHONY OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS

By Blake Moren A&E Page Editor

At 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the Cameron University Theatre, the Cameron University Concert Band and the Cameron / Lawton Community Band presented a concert titled “Light and Darkness.”

The press release for the event on the Cameron University website said that all of the musical numbers for the concert were to portray light or darkness in some way.

The CU Concert Band includes students Mykayla Waller, Darien King, Morgan Chisholm, Alexis DavilaColon, Harlie Hardage, Matthew Hogg, Haylie Kousman, William Magee, Nicholas Raso, Michael Richard, Jamie Riha, Bellemarie Saucedo, Gina Staffieri, Nathan Timpson Whitlow and Matthew Young, Irmtraud Bryant, Ryley Balius, Brandi McCarley, Troy Spurlin and Owen Ellis.

The Cameron / Lawton Community Band consists of local music teachers,

Cameron students and high school students.

In the press release, Dr. Lucas Kasper, the conductor of the CU Concert Band and the Cameron / Lawton Community Band stressed the importance of having new music available for both the audience and musicians.

“As I wanted to present ‘Symphony of Light’ during this concert,” Kasper said, “I decided to feature music that focuses on light or darkness.”

After purchasing a ticket for the concert, audiences walking into the Cameron Theatre could see the CU Concert Band practicing and preparing for the concert. As the concert began, Kasper walked onto stage and took hold of his baton, and conducted the CU Concert Band.

The first song they performed was “Spirals of Light” by Sean O’Loughlin, which the press release described as a “high energy piece that features the brass section performing a fanfare style.”

After every movement or song was finished, Kasper stood aside and took a small bow as the audience applauded him and the Concert Band.

The next song was called “Symphony of Light” by Ed Huckeby. This song has four movements: “Daybreak”, “Reflections”, “Neon” and “The Dark Side of the Moon”. The latter movement featured Cameron piano students Gina Staffieri and Lillie Hodgson.

After “Symphony of Light”, the band performed Daniel Bukvich’s “Voodoo”, the closing song for the CU Concert Band. During “Voodoo”, the theatre’s lights turns off. The theatre remained lit only by a few lights from the stage. The sounds of rain and animal sounds were heard during the performance.

According to the press release, “Voodoo” is “not a typical concert band work; rather, it was to be highly theatrical and requires the musicians to play their instruments in atypical ways.”

Once the CU Concert Band concluded their performance, an intermission began. During the

intermission, members of the CU Concert Band left the stage, and members of the Cameron / Lawton Community Band walked onto the stage.

After the intermission ended, the first song they performed was “Light Vibrations” by Sammy Nestico. The Community Band then performed

“Moon by Night” by Jonathon Newman, “Ghost Walk” by Christopher Brubeck, “Dusk” by Steven Bryant and “Golden Star” by John Philip Sousa.

The last song the Community Band performed is “The Empire Strikes Back (Finale)” by John Williams. This song is a medley of musical themes from the 1980 film of the same name:

“Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.” Before the song began, Kasper thanked the audience for their attendance and went on to conduct the Community Band.

For more information about upcoming Cameron Theatre events, go to: https://www.cameron.edu/art-musicand-theatre/events/theatre-arts

Horror Revisit: ‘The Conjuring’

By Victoria White Staff Writer

This review contains spoilers.

“The Conjuring” tells the story of a family who moves into a new house, only to find that it is haunted.

By no means is this an avant-garde concept, the movie manages to subvert expectations while still paying homage to classic films of the genre.

The movie was released in 2013 to both box office and critical success.

According to Box Office Mojo, the movie earned $319.5 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $20 million.

The Rotten Tomatoes critical score is 89%, considered “Certified Fresh” by the website’s ratings standard.

The movie is directed by James Wan, who is no newbie to the world of horror.

Aside from creating “The Conjuring” franchise, he also cocreated the “Saw” and “Insidious” franchises.

His other works include “Furious 7” and “Aquaman”.

Vera Farmiga (“The Departed”) and Patrick Wilson (“Insidious”) lead the cast as Lorraine and Ed Warren, two demonologists who attempt to help the Perron family when the matriarch of the family Carolyn (Lili Taylor,

“Mystic Pizza”) begins experiencing strange things once she and her husband Roger (Ron Livingston, “Office Space”) move their family into the new home.

Part of what sets “The Conjuring” apart from other movies is its blend of fact and fiction.

The characters Ed and Lorraine Warren are based on real people who worked as paranormal investigators from the 1950s until the 1990s.

Before the events that inspired “The Conjuring”, the Warrens’ Amityville investigation inspired the movie “The Amityville Horror” and its subsequent sequels and remakes.

“The Conjuring” itself is based on two of the actual Warren investigations.

The first being a possessed doll named Annabelle, discovered in 1968.

The second being the Perron family and the haunting of their home in 1971.

The setting is quintessential late-1960s/ early-1970s, from the soundtrack to the haircuts and attire.

The acting is borderline corny at times, harkening back to the cheesiness of 1960s and 1970s horror cinema. The score evokes films like “The Amityville Horror” and “Poltergeist”.

The movie tells the story in chronological order, first explaining the

origins of Annabelle and how she came into the Warren’s possession.

The film then shifts three years ahead and the audience is formally introduced to the Warrens themselves, who are mentally tired from their investigations and seek a break to focus on family.

They have a daughter and want to be able to spend time with her. This all changes when the Perrons call on their services to help with their home.

The Perrons have just moved into their new home, and they are excited for a fresh start.

The parents, Carolyn and Roger are joined by their five daughters, each of whom begin noticing or experiencing strange phenomena upon moving into the new home.

The eldest daughter is woken up each night by the repetitive slamming of her wardrobe doors, while the youngest develops an imaginary friend named Rory.

Strangely, the clocks also seem to stop each day at 3:07 a.m.

Carolyn begins to wake up with new bruises and starts to hear voices in the house while her children are sleeping.

The Warrens empathize with the family and agree to help.

Though the plot itself is nothing new, James Wan manages to make this movie feel fresh and still elicit terror from the audience.

A beautifully executed plot device occurs during a game the children play with each other and Carolyn.

The game is “hide and clap,” a play on “hide and seek” where the seeker remains blindfolded and must find the hider(s) by asking for three claps, given over a period of time.

Each time the game is played in the movie, the plot is moved forward.

The first time the game is played, the children inadvertently find the house’s boardedup cellar.

The second time, Carolyn has her first encounter with a supernatural entity, though her blindfold inhibits her from seeing anything.

The third time, the entity forces Carolyn to play the game, temporarily forcing her into the cellar, thus leading them to call the

Warrens.

The most horrifying parts of the movie are not the jump scares, or the faces of the evil entities, or even the doll Annabelle, who is creepy enough in its own right.

The scariest moments are the excruciatingly long takes, the shots in which the suspense of the moment is breath taking.

What Wan does so well with this movie is he takes his time.

He lets the audience linger on a moment, often for so long it is uncomfortable. It creates a sense of unease because it forces the viewer to put themselves in the story, as if it’s happening in real-time.

Looking past the terror, one can also find two separate, equally moving sets of love stories.

Lorraine and Ed, as well as Carolyn and Roger, are still madly in love despite the many

years they have each been together.

Their love for their children is even stronger.

The movie particularly leans into motherly love, with Carolyn and her children and Lorraine and her daughter.

There is a humanity to the characters and their actions are always motivated by love for their family.

Be sure to add this movie to your spooky movie marathon on Halloween this year.

For horror fans old and new, “The Conjuring” is sure to provide something fresh and entertaining to an otherwise tired plot.

Those who are not keen on the genre may still find merit in the storytelling and elements of humanity, though they will likely wish to turn the movie off as soon as the doll Annabelle makes its first appearance, approximately 30 seconds into the movie.

Practice Makes Perfect: The CU Concert Band practicing and preparing for the “Light and Darkness” concert in the Cameron University Theatre.

Tribune News Network

Photo by Blake Moren

Cameron University - Gets Spooky -

Kemar Noel Staff Writer

At 6 p.m. on Oct. 11, the Programming Activities Council (PAC) started the week with a Spooktacular Pumpkin Painting event to help students get into the Halloween spirit.

The person in charge of the event was Alexandra Moya, a sophomore attending Cameron University. The event had lots of different pumpkins of various sizes to choose from depending on the piece that was submited.

There was a variety of paints and brushes to choose from as well as music to keep the event festive and lively. There was no lack of supplies or entertainment for the pumpkin artists who were participating, which made for an eventful evening. It was clear that there was a lot of careful thought and planning that went into the event.

PAC Member Alexander Moya was tasked with coming up with the idea

for and planning the event.

“So, we looked back on our previous events and during November last year we did a gingerbread house building competition,” Moya said, “and we hadn’t done a competition this semester so we wanted to see and try it out because it was really eventful last year, and as you can tell, there is plenty of people in there.”

The event had a two hour time limit, meaning that any pumpkins that were not submitted before the end of the event would not be considered for voting. Voting took place on PAC’s Facebook page, and the people with the top five votes took home a prize.

Likes and reactions for each pumpkin determined the winner and allowed students to vote on participants. Students were encouraged to share posts of their creations to help get more votes and increase their chances of winning.

PAC announced the winners on Oct. 12, the day after the event concluded. The top five winners of the

contest recieved a Squish-Mallow plushy and a Halloween candy bag.

To make sure that everyone had the same amount of time, the doors opened for everyone at 6 p.m. and only then were attendees allowed to start painting.

This was the first time PAC has done a pumpkin painting competition and there were a lot of students that came out. When asked why they didn’t do the traditional pumpkin carving, PAC members said it would be too messy to clean and not everyone may know how to carve but everyone can paint.

“Rotting pumpkins, you know, once you start to carve the pumpkins they rot and smell, and we don’t want to do that to campus,” Moya said. “I do plan on painting one. After this, I am going to go ahead and sit down and paint me a pumpkin.”

A majority of the students in attendence had never painted a pumpkin before but were down for the challenge and experience.

Rania Robles, a concurent Cameron student, enjoyed paticipating in the event and seeing the different art that students created.

“It was so much fun,” Robles said. “I love painting. I like looking at everybody doing something they like and having fun with it and not caring if it is really bad. Even if it is really bad, they are proud of it and still submitted it.”

There were over forty people who submitted entries and even more who participated in the activity.

To stay up to date with upcoming PAC events check their social media on either Facebook or Instagram and be sure to attend next event.

For more information about CU events or PAC events, visit the Cameron University page at www. cameron.edu/pac.

CU Students Spend A Day in the Park

Courtney McEunn Student Life Editor

At 9 a.m. on Oct. 8 at Elmer Thomas Park, the student organizations from Cameron University gathered for “A Day in the Park.”

This event was all about encouraging students to get out and provide community services within the city of Lawton.

Organizations such as Cameron Greek Life, the Programming Activities Council (PAC), Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, and the Aggie Rec Center came out on a cold Saturday morning to do their part in making Elmer Thomas Park a more appealing location.

Daniel McFadden, coordinator of campus life, encouraged the student organizations to sign up and participate in A Day in the Park. The members from the organizations who attended worked together to mix stain and paint it on the fence surrounding the playground.

“It took us about two hours to mix the stain, paint it, and make sure that everything was coated,” McFadden said.

“It was a simple day in the park but it was a really impactful day in the park.”

Elmer Thomas Park has a playground surrounded by an old wooden fence. Students were

tasked with cleaning the fence as well as mixing up primer to add a new coat of stain.

Although it was cold outside, students worked hard to create a better environment for children and other members of the community to better enjoy the park.

Junior and President of the Alpha Phi sorority, Viaja Dewberry-Fulner, came to the event with some of her sorority sisters. These women enjoyed taking the opportunity to help out the community and get involved.

“What I like most about doing things for my community,” Dewberry-Fulner said, “is the effort it takes; like, it takes little to no effort to be nice or to help and in the long run it’ll bring smiles to people’s faces.”

Dewberry-Fulner was also glad to see other organizations from Cameron University getting away off of campus to do something good for the community.

“What I enjoyed most,” DewberryFulner said, “was seeing all the other organizations out there, and I enjoyed

seeing my sisters out there other than being on campus.”

Elmer Thomas Park is located at 501 NW Ferris Ave in Lawton. It includes a playground, picnic areas, a small lake, a 1.8 mile track for running or walking and lots of natural areas for exploring. It is also used for big events, like the annual International Festival. It is open to the public and people are encouraged to utilize the area. For more information about CU events and if you’re interested in getting involved with campus activities, contact the Office of Campus Life via email at campuslife@cameron.edu.

“IT”

“It’s Free Real Estate”

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Time to get artsy: Students Micah Sweat and Allison Mendonsa show off their pumpkin paintings!

Photos by Kemar Noel

Photos by Daniel McFadden

Adjusting to change with Katie King and

B-ball Coach Jeff Mahoney

Rylan Stiles Staff Writer

The Cameron Aggies Women’s Basketball team looks to build on a successful 2021-22 campaign led by new head coach Jeff Mahoney and veteran guard Katie King.

The Cameron Aggies finished with a 17-11 record a year ago, going 11-5 within the prestigious Lone Star Conference. Winning 17 games was the most the Aggies have turned in during a single season in 20 years. The Black and Gold dominated at home, protecting the Aggie Gym to the tune of a 10-6 record which included a Lone Star Conference tournament home win over the 11th-ranked Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds before falling to 3rd-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce in the next round.

At season’s end, the Aggies saw head coach Emma Andrews depart from Cameron and take over as the bench boss for the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. Along with coach Andrews, the program’s alltime leading scorer, Maighan Hedge, graduated following the season; she is just one of four key contributors who are no longer with the Aggies.

CU only features four returners from last year’s squad, but Jeff Mahoney is excited about the new additions to the team.

Mahoney had an interesting path to get here, while he has been an assistant coach for the past three years, and even filled in as an interim bench boss for the men’s program mid-way through the 2021-22 campaign, this will be his first time leading a college program on a full-time basis. What has changed the most for the long-time assistant? “Paperwork,” Mahoney explained at Lone Star Conference Basketball Media Day.

The first-year head coach said they are trying to “take the next step” they are no longer “content” with a conference tournament or just simply

Looking for more: Point guard Katie King lines up for a free throw in a game against Lubbock Christian last season in the Aggie Gym. This year King and the rest of the squad will be looking to make big strides in their game as they get ready to attempt a deeper run in the Lonestar Conference tournament.

making a regional.

Katie King, one of just four returners from a year ago has spent the offseason focusing on her “Offensive game” understanding the Aggies have lost some of their top scorers from a year ago.

With the transfer rules loosened by the NCAA, I asked King why she elected to stay at Cameron, “I am big on loyalty. I am loyal to coach Mahoney, I love the way he coaches, that is 100 percent why I wanted to stay,” she said.

King, a veteran guard from Harrah,

Oklahoma took home All-Freshman team honors in 2020-21 and was named the Aggies Athletics department’s student-athlete freshman of the year. King played for Mahoney back at Harrah high school before they both eventually landed with the Aggies.

Despite the historic success a year ago, the Lone Star Conference preseason poll still pegs the Aggies for 8th.

“It doesn’t really surprise me,” Mahoney said. “Somewhere in the middle is about where we finished last

year, one thing about the Lone Star is anyone can beat you any night.”

Mahoney said the focus for this year’s team will be “More balanced. We have to be more consistent, we are not going to shoot the ball on the perimeter as much as we have in the past…we want to be able to score the ball inside a little more.”

King will play a big role in this team getting over the hump, the scrappy defensive guard when in detail about what she thinks has changed for her and the team.

“I want to try and set the tone in a positive way,” she said. “There has been a shift in our mindset, we have high hopes for this year and I think everyone is 100 percent in, and we all want a ring, to be conference champions.”

The Cameron Aggies brought in nine new players to this 2022-23 squad, including another Division-1 transfer Mikayla Peterson who comes to the Aggies via Weber State and marks the second Black and Gold player with DI experience along with Korie Allensworth who spent her freshman season at Louisiana Tech.

Claire Dodds, Alena Wilson, and Hallie Horton, all make the jump to the DII level here at Cameron from the JUCO ranks after putting together impressive careers.

The Cameron Aggies will start their season on Nov. 11, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a two-day stint at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Lone Star Conference crossover tournament as they play UC Colorado Springs on the 11th and Adams State on the 12th before returning to the friendly confines of the Aggie Gym on Nov. 15 to take on Harding University.

While the Aggies have a lot of new comers and visions of rings on their fingers at the end of the year, they can reach those expectations with the veteran leadership of Katie King and head coach Jeff Mahoney, both of whom were a part of the last Aggies squad to reach the DII NCAA March Madness tournament.

Photo by Jimm Alley

Graphic by Chris Maple