The Cameron University Collegian: April 12, 2010

COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Event Wednesday 2-3 p.m.

MCC:: MCC

Volume 84 Issue 21

New student activities complex opens, begins making memories

By Jim Horinek Collegian Staff

Book Signing: With Dr. Sarah Eppler Janda, author of “Pride of the Wichitas: A History of Cameron University”

Well-manicured: To top off the beautiful new building, the grounds surrounding the MCC have been intricately landscaped.

Location: The Buddy Green Family Room on the second floor of the MCC.

A&E

It has finally arrived.

After two years of watching what was once a bleak piece of asphalt transform into a new stateof-the-art building, the McMahon Centennial Complex (MCC) is up and running. Although the building has been seeing heavy use since its opening at the end of last month, the official dedication ceremony was held last Thursday.

On a large stage just south of the MCC in the Bentley Gardens, being viewed by an audience which numbered in the hundreds, President Ross, Regents Larry Wade and Bill Burgess, CU senior Amanda Finch and other dignitaries came together to officially dedicate the building as the newest addition to the ever-changing campus.

“Two years ago we dreamed of this building and what it would mean to our students and community,” President Ross said. “Today we start making memories in this building. The MCC is not just brick and mortar. Starting today, this building comes alive. In this building people will meet and become friends. In this building people will celebrate life’s momentous events. In this building students will grow, and the future will be molded. And, in this building, life-long memories will be made.”

Speaking on behalf of the entire Cameron family, President Ross continued by expressing gratitude toward the over 250 different corporations and individuals whose generous donations made the building possible.

“Without the extraordinary generosity of our donors, we would not be here today to celebrate the opening of this magnificent building,” President Ross said. “We are truly appreciative of all of our donors who made the dream of a student activities complex come true.”

Finch spoke about how much this building means to students and faculty as well as how grateful Cameron is to the donors who made the completion of the MCC possible.

Pyro: Daytime fireworks fired from the balcony capped the ceremony with a bang.

SEE PAGE 5

Sports

Softball says farewell to senior.

SEE PAGE 7

Voices

Freedom of Speech: Needing a statute of limitations?

SEE PAGE 4

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Photos by Jim Horinek

Memories: SGA President Daniel Brown was one of four speakers who gave the audience a glimpse into the memories that he will make at the MCC.

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Professor co-authors two textbooks

By Rachel Engel Collegian Staff Cameron University Professor of Mathematics Dr. Ioannis K. Argyros recently co-authored two textbooks, “Efficient Methods for Solving Equations and Variational Inequalities” and “Aspects of Computational Theory for Certain Iterative Methods,” with Dr. Said Hilout of Poitiers University in Poitiers, France.

Dr. Argyros explains computational science as dealing with the issues of everyday life through mathematical equations.

“In real life we confront many problems, like the starting motion of a rocket, the growth or decay of bacteria on skin and cancer treatment,” Dr. Argyros said. “All these problems translate into equations. A biologist or a physicist has a problem; he tells me about it, and I translate it into an equation. I provide the theoretical background for solving the equation, and then I come up with a result.”

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MCC to host student formal.

— See MCC Page 8

Realizing a dream: President Ross spoke of the changes that have occurred in the past two years. Those changes turned a bleak parking lot into the MCC.

See BOOKS Page 2

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Grounds prepared for second annual community garden

By Rashmi Thapaliya Collegian Staff The Community Garden project started at Cameron last year is continuing to grow this year.

Dr. Leon Fischer, chair of the Agricultural Department, said that last year a group of Lawton businessmen, teachers, physicians and community members gathered to address childhood obesity, which is common in Southwest Oklahoma. The university is a part of a committee that promotes home gardening and locally grown vegetables and is doing its part by hosting the community garden. The garden is located near the tennis court, south of Ole-Kim Lane.

“Last year we had 60 individual plots, where 40 people signed-up to

work in the gardens,” Dr. Fischer said. “This year, we have doubled the area of the garden, and more than 60 people have signed up already.”

Last year the main crops and vegetables grown in the garden were tomatoes, okra, squash, black-eyed peas, beans, corn, sweet corn, pumpkins, herbs, egg plant and others. Dr. Fischer said that the gardeners are responsible for seeds, fertilizers and maintenance of the garden. However, Cameron will provide the irrigation facility to the gardeners. Ed Burris, Engineer of the Physical Facilities Department is in charge of the facility. Bob Hanefield, interim director of Physical Facilities, is helping to manage the garden.

Only the individuals and groups who are connected to Cameron in

Photo by Jim Horinek

Green thumbs: Due to the popularity of last year’s community garden, the garden space is being enlarged this year. some way are allowed to use the land for agriculture. Students, alumni, faculty members, staff, professors and donors can receive permission from the Agriculture Department on campus to use the plots.

Dr. Fischer said that the garden

is not supposed to be used for commercial purposes.

See GARDEN Page 2

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News

April 12, 2010

BOOKS continued from page 1 Senior Mathematics and Computer Science major Jingshu Zhao assisted in the required research for the project as a stepping stone for graduate school and will begin her Ph. D studies at Clemson University in South Carolina in the fall.

Zhao learned about the research opportunity when Dr. Argyros announced he was looking for an assistant on the project during his Calculus II class.

“At first I was really scared to take his class because everyone said Dr. Argyros is a genius. His class only has four questions for the exam, so either you do really well, or you fail the class,” Zhao said. “After he made the announcement about

the project, all I was thinking about was bonus points.

He said ‘It’s not going to help you get bonus points, but it will definitely help you with the math stuff because the project will be really hard, and it will look really good on your resume. But you will have to work hard on it.’”

Zhao presented her research at three separate conferences from November 2009 to February 2010. Her first presentation was at Oklahoma Research Day hosted

by Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow on Nov. 13, 2009. Initially, her presentation consisted of a poster detailing her research, but two weeks before the presentation, Zhao was notified

she had been upgraded to an oral presentation.

“If certain projects have a value that separates them from the rest, then a committee upgrades them from a poster presentation to a regular talk,” Dr. Argyros said.

“That’s what happened at the first conference.”

Zhao used the two weeks notice to practice her presentation in front of her professors and fellow students.

“I was totally freaked out thinking I hadn’t practiced enough,” she said. “But all my math professors helped me practice. Dr. Argyros had me practice it once for him and also in front of the Math Club, so that made me feel a little

better.”

Zhao also presented her research at the sixth annual Texas Oklahoma Regional Undergraduate Symposium (TORUS) at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls on Feb. 27, 2010 and at the 72nd annual Oklahoma-Arkansas meeting of the Mathematical Association of America.

Beyond the co-authoring of the two textbooks is the importance for Cameron University in regards to undergraduate research, Dr. Argyros said.

“The most important aspect for the university is the involvement of the undergraduate students,” he said. “I worked with Ms. Zhao and we tried to promote the undergraduate research at this university. Part of that endeavor was the cooperation with Ms. Zhao and the presentation at the three undergraduate conferences.”

In addition to promoting CU undergraduate research, Dr. Argyros also serves on the editorial board of 21 mathematical journals, published 19 additional booksmonographs and over 600 peerreviewed articles in Computational Mathematics and has recently been accepted into the Round Table Group’s expert network.

According to www. roundtablegroup.com, The Round Table Group is an organization that “connects litigators with top industry experts, corporate

Photo by Rachel Engel

2 + 2: Dr. Argyros displays the fruits of his labor. Dr. Argyros recently co-authored two mathematics textbooks. executives and academics,” who are chosen based on their reputations and academic credentials. Dr. Argyros said he will be used to express an opinion on mathematical and other related matters.

Dr. Argyros earned his B.S. from the University of Athens in Greece and received both his M.S. and Ph. D from the University of Georgia at a record pace of two years before relocating to Lawton.

“I wanted to see what this country looked like, and I chose this place because it is a nice place to raise a family,” he said. “I was born and raised in a cosmopolitan city like Athens, Greece, so I wanted to find a place where I could raise a family without worrying too much about what goes on in a big city.”

GARDEN continued from page 1 The gardeners can consume or donate the crops but cannot sell them because the land is the property of the state. The university donated some food from the garden to the food bank last year, he said.

“As we will get more and more people involved, they will start knowing the difference between the consumption of fresh food and the canned or fast food,” Dr. Fischer said. “This is going to require a continual education process by the community.”

According to Dr. Fischer, the Agriculture Department has already plotted the land and assigned the numbers for the plots. Interested gardeners may go to the office of the department and register for the plots.

Those who used the garden last year have the option of reusing their old plot or being assigned a new one.

The community garden is an organic practice of production. The university even provided some poultry litter last year to be used as fertilizer. Dr. Fischer said that no illegal crops are allowed in the garden like marijuana or weeds.

For those who do not know much about gardening, the Agriculture Department is planning to conduct a seminar in the near future for interested parties. There, they can participate and learn about different aspects of the production and consumption of locally produced food.

“We are excited that the community garden was successful last year, which has encouraged us to double the land area for the agriculture,” Dr. Fischer said. “I hope more students will be interested in participating this year.”

Photos by Jim Horinek

Last year’s growth: Last year was the first time that Cameron had a community garden.

It was a big hit and many different crops were raised.

See page 5 for solutions.

April 12, 2010

News

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Voices

April 12, 2010

Blu-ray a gift from Tech gods I feel that I owe it to our readers to inform them of a new technology that has become very popular but still remains foreign to many. The technological gift known as the Blu-ray is so wonderful that I feel that everyone should benefit from knowing about its excellence.

Until recently, I too was one of the unenlightened ones who was still clinging to the decaying DVD media format, unaware of what I was missing. My movement into the wonderful world of Blu-ray came with the purchase of my new high definition television, once I bit the bullet and replaced my old CRT. I had trouble convincing myself to spend the money on a new TV since my old one didn’t really have anything wrong with it.

I guess the biggest factor that pushed me towards buying the new TV was the incentive of

playing my Playstation 3 on a larger, high definition screen.

At first, I was totally satisfied with watching any of the many DVDs in my collection on the new TV. I was happy with the improvements in the picture quality that simply the new screen gave me. So I went on for a few weeks until I finally broke down and rented my first Blu-ray.

I will be the first to say that I was as skeptical as the next person because I was of the opinion that there couldn’t possibly be that much difference between a DVD and a Blu-ray. However, I will also be the first to say that I could not have been more wrong.

I put in the rented Blu-ray and was astonished when I noticed how much better the picture quality was. What was more amazing was that I had seen the improvement in the opening credits.

The specific improvements

in picture quality are massive.

Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of the high quality picture that Blu-rays offer can be found in the details of the characters and scenes that are in the video.

Specifically, one of the things that I find amazing is the clarity of things like the texture of clothing and the miniscule features of the characters’ faces.

While these are just a few of the things that are drastically improved by Blu-ray, they are definitely not the only ones.

One of the more striking elements of Blu-ray is the clarity that fast moving objects have. For example, when an on-screen explosion occurs, the small debris and flying objects are clear enough to be indentified.

Another great, yet less talked about, aspect of Blu-ray is the improved sound quality.

Blu-rays take the impressive sound of 5.1 surround sound and add two more audio outputs. As a result, Bluray videos boast the impressive 7.1 surround sound feature. This new option leads to a much more immersive and thrilling viewing experience.

Since I saw the blue light, I have MCT Campus personally been the disciple

Jim Horinek

of the Blu-ray gospel to six different people. In order to help them understand the virtues of the new format I have held several different movie nights where we watched their favorite movies in Bluray. These movie nights helped them to see right away that Blu-rays are the only real way to watch a video.

I can understand why some people are hesitant to make the switch from DVDs to Blu-rays.

I mean, after all, it seems like just a few years ago we were having to make the switch from VHS to DVD. What I can tell you is that the reasons that people were drawn to make the change to DVDs are present in the DVD to Blu-ray process.

I could go on and on about the different things that are better about Blu-ray video, but the simple fact is that the only real way to understand why Blu-rays are so much better than DVDs is to watch one.

Accordingly, I urge you to take the leap and go out and seize the power of the Blu-ray.

First Amendment Rights

Should there be a statute of limitations?

Should there be a statute of limitations on the First Amendment?

It seems like an odd question coming from someone whose chosen profession is protected solely by it. But there is reasoning behind my quandary. There should never be absolutes in anything. No matter how just or well-meaning a decision is, there will always be circumstances where it is the wrong course of action.

Albert Snyder’s son was killed in Iraq in 2006.

When the funeral was held, members of the Kansas Westboro Baptist Church traveled all the way to Maine to protest at the man’s funeral. They sported signs that said “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “God Hates You” while the man was being buried. It is quite possibly the worst form of humanity I have ever seen. It’s disturbing, immoral and insulting to every person who is fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, obviously, Snyder sues because of the ridiculousness of their protest. But instead of having the lawsuit thrown out in the courts, or awarding him with some kind of compensation, a judge orders that he has to pay more than $16,000 to the church. Why? This just makes no sense whatsoever. The grieving father is the one who has to pay these people who don’t even deserve to step foot near a cemetery with those signs. Right after the decision was made, the lawyer in charge of the case for the church was proud that Snyder was going to be “financing more protests.”

It’s absolutely despicable.

I’ve always been a staunch backer of a person’s right to say what they want. Racists can be racists, and bigots can be bigots. I don’t have to like what they say, but at least they have a right to say it. But I just cannot see how anyone can justify not only protesting at a soldier’s funeral, but sporting signs that say “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” The only reason the church does it is because they’re protesting how the government hasn’t cracked down on homosexuality.

I don’t understand the logic of the whole situation.

The church believes that God is punishing American soldiers because, while the federal government doesn’t necessarily support homosexuality, it hasn’t spoken out against it either. That seems like some very backward logic. But their opinion is their opinion, and I’m not going to deny them that. But there needs to be some type of limitation put on what a group can do at funerals or other similar gatherings.

It doesn’t matter that this man was a soldier. He could be some random guy off the street no one has heard of. He could be the bum on the sidewalk that

you hand some change to on your way to work or the executive making more than $1 million a year. No one deserves to have protestors mar and desecrate their funeral. There are certain things that should not be allowed.

I feel terrible for poor Snyder, who is struggling to come up with enough money to file a brief in the Supreme Court in hopes of the justices hearing the case. The whole situation has gone too far.

The church is out to promote “God’s will” or spread the word of God. This has become personal and spiteful.

This seems very un-Christian of the church.

There are plenty of ways to protest the government’s policies. There are plenty of things I don’t like the government doing. That doesn’t mean I’m going to go to the next funeral at Post Cemetery and start shouting “thank God for dead soldiers.” If I did, I would hope someone would punch me in the face, because that is what I would deserve.

I’m no legal expert, and I’m not sure if there is even any grounds for the protestors being removed from the funeral. I’m sure it would lead to a very slippery slope of defining what constitutes free speech and what doesn’t.

But there needs to be some decency exercised in this case. Even if the protestors are allowed to continue their disgusting act, at least nullify the ruling that forces Snyder to pay the church court costs and other fees. What kind of judge would honestly think that’s fair? It goes beyond the letter of the law. It’s downright deplorable.

Josh Rouse

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Rachel Engel Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - Justin Cliburn Back Page Editor - Monica Garner Digital Editors - Kyle Luetters and Michael Faggett

Newsroom Staff Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Rashmi Thapaliya, Amanda Finch, Alyssa Knerr, Tori Strecker, Tatiana Isis and Amanda Phillips.

Circulation Manager - Matthew Penick

Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller

About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Letters Policy Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.

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.

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 or e-mail to collegian@cameron.edu, or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.

Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author.

The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” 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.

A&E

April 12, 2010

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Student formal to be held in MCC

By Amanda Finch Collegian Staff The Student Housing Association and the Program Activities Council will host the CU Student Formal on Thursday, April 15 in the new McMahon Centennial Complex Ballroom.

The event is open to all Cameron students and will run from 9 p.m. to midnight and feature a live band and food.

Student Housing Graduate Assistant Whitney Long says that hosting a student formal is a good opportunity to show off the new ballroom and connect students to the building.

“We want to offer the students something that is a step up from the regular dances that PAC and SHA host throughout the school year. Hosting a formal where students can dress up and kick off the opening of the new MCC in a big way gives the students something to be excited about,” Long said.

The student formal is loosely modeled after the Centennial Ball that the administration hosted last year for students, faculty and staff.

“Hosting a formal in the new MCC that focuses directly on the students is important because this building is for the students. It offers a more

traditional campus feel that is located in a central location on campus on a bigger scale than the old student union, and it is something to be proud of and show off,” Long said.

In addition to the fact that the formal will be held in the MCC Ballroom, students can get excited about The Stars Band, which is scheduled to perform at the event.

“We decided to have a live band instead of a DJ because we want to provide a special aspect that will set this formal apart from other dances,” Long said.

Women’s Hall Director Krystle McCorgary booked the band to perform because of their extensive playlist, upbeat energy and enthusiasm to play on a college campus.

“While searching for and reviewing bands I looked for one that offered a variety of music that students would enjoy. The Stars Band plays music from artists such as Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and Bon Jovi to Flo Rida, Justin Timberlake and Akon,” McCorgary said.

The Stars Band is based out of Oklahoma City and performs regularly at proms, clubs and casinos in the area as well as the Hard Rock Café in Tulsa.

“The Stars Band is really excited to play at our formal because this is the first big

event that will be held for Cameron students in the new MCC, and they want to be a part of the celebration. They even cancelled a performance in the Tulsa area to come here,” McCorgary said.

The Student Housing Association teamed up with the Programming Activities Council to host the formal in order to make it a big event for students.

“We teamed up with PAC because they are a great campus resource, and they are the fun experts. They have the ability and energy to market to the whole campus whereas SHA is used to targeting only students who live on campus and, by pooling our funds, we can provide a better experience than one organization could do alone,” McCorgary said.

Director of Student Activities and PAC adviser Zeak Naifeh is excited to work with SHA to host a student formal.

“This will be the first official event where Cameron students can commemorate the new MCC Ballroom and balcony by dressing up, enjoying themselves and having a good time. It is important because it gets the students and organizations involved and sets the tone for future events that will be held in the MCC,”

Photo by Jim Horinek

Dressed to the nines: The joint formal dance hosted by the Student Housing Association and the Program Activities Council will be held in the new McCasland Foundation Ballroom in the McMahon Centennial Complex.

Naifeh said.

Students will be allowed to enter the formal through the main entrance inside the building on the north side.

Students must show a Cameron student ID at the time of entry and are allowed to bring guests.

Long is anticipating the event and the opportunity to

highlight the new facility.

“The RAs and PAC members always get excited when planning programs for students because they want them to be successful. In this case, we want the students to enjoy celebrating the McMahon Centennial Complex in style,” Long said.

‘Clash of the Titans’ remake resembles original

By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff Perseus is just a man.

He may be the son of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, but he’s just a man. Or so he tells everyone time after time.

The angst-ridden demigod is at the center of the problems in the latest in a string of Hollywood remakes and reboots.

Director Louis Letterier brought “Clash of the Titans” to a whole new audience — one that values special effects over a good script and doesn’t care about the large number of plot holes.

Still, despite its many f laws, it still manages to be a fun

and enjoyable 105-minute ride.

It just needed an additional 15 minutes to actually develop something resembling a third act.

“Titans” is based on the story of Perseus, a Greek mythological mortal hero, who defies the gods to save the island kingdom of Argos.

Zeus has lost all faith in humanity, which he created to worship him. So he sends his younger brother, Hades, the god of the underworld, to exact revenge. After Hades kills Perseus’ family, he vows revenge and joins a ragtag group of Argos soldiers to find and kill Medusa to stop the Kraken. The unlikely band of brothers is lead by Draco, played by a criminally underrated Mads Mickelson, who keeps trying to remind Perseus, who thinks he’s just a man, that he is still part god.

The story doesn’t deviate much from the original 1981 version, which featured Harry Hamlin as the hero. It follows the original so much that it’s a detriment to the new vision. Calibos, the horned creature punished by Zeus for hunting his winged horses, is now a jealous king looking for revenge. He has no reason to call himself Calibos, except as an homage to the original film.

Many of the original’s set pieces are back, including the battle with the giant scorpions and the encounter with Medusa. Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion special effects brought the creatures to life with a charming, albeit campy, method. Thirty years later, CGI is used to upgrade the battle against giant scorpions and the gorgon queen, but it’s not necessarily for the better.

The CGI falls into that evergrowing uncanny valley where the creatures look somewhat real but are still fake enough to be distracting. The animation could have definitely been improved, which breaks the already fragile illusion of a 10-story tall insect tromping through ancient Greece.

Perhaps the best aspect of the “Titans” production is its stellar cast. Liam Neeson, arguably the best actor in Hollywood right now, delivers a commanding performance as Zeus. Ralph Fiennes plays brother Hades, reviving their on-screen rivalry from “Schindler’s List.” The two veterans, alongside Mickelson, pull what would be an extremely forgettable movie out of the gutter and make it somewhat respectable.

For the past year, everyone has been eyeing Australian

star Sam Worthington as the next big Hollywood action star, but he has yet to show he has range beyond an angry outsider. Apart from his role in “Avatar,” Worthington is generic and forgettable. He plays the same role in “Titans” as he does in “Terminator Salvation.” He’s an outsider with no knowledge of his past trying to fit in with the rest of the world. The man with no name image doesn’t fit well with Worthington, and his version of Perseus, who is just a man, was weak at best.

“Clash of the Titans” isn’t without its high moments.

The sheer majesty of seeing some of the greatest creatures in Greek mythology brought to life on the big screen is amazing. With the advances in special effects technology over the past 20 years, it’s shocking that more movies of this type haven’t been made already.

But “Titans” is a movie that would best be enjoyed for its visual splendor and epic feel rather than its story and acting, outside of Neeson and Fiennes. It’s an event motion picture that can provide a visual distraction for about two hours, but is ultimately forgettable in the long run.

Don’t forget — Perseus is just a man.

MCT Campus

The clash: The recently released remake of the 1981 film “Clash of the Titans” doesn’t deviate much from the original under director Louis Letterier.

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A&E

April 12, 2010

Students featured at senior exhibit

By Alyssa Knerr Collegian Staff School is nearing the end of the year, and the anticipation of starting a new career is lingering on many students’ minds. That is why the annual senior art exhibit kicked off Saturday April 3 at the Museum of the Great Plains for the public to see what Cameron art students have done professionally and to show potential employers the variety of artwork each student can create.

Cameron University Department of Art Chair Edna McMillan was at the senior art exhibition to celebrate each artist’s professional debut.

The exhibit was titled “Grand Finale,” which McMillan felt was very appropriate for the 2010 graduating student artists.

“It is a requirement for graduation that they mount a professional exhibition. They were in charge of organizing the show, hanging their own work, professionally preparing it, organizing a professional

Smile: Art student En-Hai Lee poses for a picture next to his artwork at the senior exhibit at the Museum of the Great Plains on April 3.

Photos by Alyssa Knerr

Featured: An aerial shot of the senior exhibit inside the Museum of the Great Plains.

reception, advertisement and the mail-outs. So they are very much in charge of all that, and we are just happy that this evening has come. They have all worked hard on this show and are ready.”

Twelve students showcased their work at the “Grand Finale,” with nine concentrating in Graphic Design, one emphasizing on painting, and two other students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and minoring in other areas.

CU student artist Jeris Jefferies is a senior from Chickasha receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Graphic Design. Incorporating his passion with sports and art, Jefferies combined these two areas to emphasize his interest in sports advertisement.

“I really love graphic design,” Jefferies said.

“Anywhere I can develop On display: Senior art student Jeris Jeffries poses next to his this kind of career will display, which combines his interests of sports and art. be welcomed by me. I am not looking to just purpose.”

The last two artists were go into sports. You can The other graduating Elizabeth Hirdler from Lawton start out small and just have an artists who showcased their and Kass McGrath from Tulsa, introductory career where you artwork with a Bachelor in Fine who is earning a Bachelors of can build a job resume that can Arts with a concentration in Arts concentrating in art. help get you into that next level Graphic Design were: Cheri Hirdler’s artworks focused and into something you can Doyle from Cache; Moises on inspiration from her family really enjoy. That is what I am Rivera from Duncan; En-Hai and friends, Hirdler said. basically going with. This is the Lee from Jhonge City, Taiwan; “My favorite piece is very start here.” and Lawton natives James ‘The Worker’ because it Another graphic designer Formica, Elizabeth Jung, is of my boyfriend’s hands showcasing her artwork was Keosha Norman and Adrian working,” Hirdler said.

Brenda Leyra from Lawton.

Watkins.

These artworks displayed The last painting she finished, Lawtonian Katherine the different symbols of a the “Guajir, Guantanamera,” Kinsey was the only graduating artist’s life. Some is the most meaningful for her student graduating with a are moved by their inspirations, because Leyra is Cuban and concentration in painting. Her some are evoked by their her parents are from Cuba, so theme focused on the f laws of heritage and some express the she understands the meaning humankind and how we do not artist’s feelings toward the behind everything in the piece, work hard in our relationships, way the world is seen. The Leyra said.

Kinsey said. artists will walk across the “[Graphic design] is my “The whole wall is all about stage at this May’s graduation passion,” Leyra said. “I love the satire of our society and ceremony, and their “Grand to communicate visually and just kind of making fun of the Finale” at CU will have graphic design not only evokes way our society is,” Kinsey prepared them for life after art an emotion but it targets an said. school. audience. It has a goal and a

Family artwork chosen for permanent collection

By Rachel Engel Collegian Staff In 2002, Professor of Art Dr. Katherine Liontas-Warren was engaged in a collaborative effort with her twin sons, Austin and Colton, in creating original artwork that ref lected their heritage.

Fast forward to the present and “A Greek Story”, one of seven in a series the trio created over the years, has been added to the Wichita Falls Museum of Art’s permanent collection.

Dr. Liontas-Warren provided most of the background for the work and let her sons create the foreground images.

“The two houses you see with tornadoes coming out of them are my sons because they’re twins,” Dr. LiontasWarren said. “They were really young, and I called them little tornadoes because they were always running in and out of the house.”

The drawing ref lects the family’s Greek heritage and their fanciful journey abroad.

“It is supposed to be about this travel we’re taking, except we haven’t been to these places,” Dr. Liontas-Warren said. “They always talked about taking trips, and I told them we could take a trip with our drawings. I have a drawing where we visited Egypt and one where we went underwater in the ocean.”

The concept for a collaborative work of art grew out of the quality time spent together between Dr. LiontasWarren and her sons in her art studio.

“They would always come down and watch me draw at a very young age, and they always wanted to draw with me,” she said. “I had this crazy idea when they were five, thinking it would be kind of nice to do a drawing based upon their method of drawing and also the way they think and see.”

The first drawing of the series is ref lective of their life in Oklahoma and is more indicative of her style, Dr. LiontasWarren said.

“The first one looks more like my work; it has that kind of Americanregional look to it,” she said. “It wasn’t until after we finished Courtesy Photo that one that Brush stroke: “A Greek Story,” a collaboration effort between Professor I said, ‘Okay, of Art Dr. Katherine Liontas-Warren and her twin sons was chosen for the let’s try to permanent collection at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art. get these drawings to and, while she wishes they to art have made them welllook more like you and less rounded individuals, she said. like me, so that it ref lects your had continued, she feels the “If kids are not around art, personalities and your vision.’” experience was a positive one they’re not really sure what it From that point on, she gave for her and her sons.

“We stopped for a while, is,” Dr. Liontas-Warren said. her sons the creative license and now I feel like we should “It’s not just black and white; to conjure up the story behind have continued it, because there’s conceptual thinking their design and to see it everyone who looks at these involved, not just making through. pretty pictures.”

“I thought that was the best drawings loves them,” Dr. Liontas-Warren said. “It’s “There’s a lot of research thing for them because they a great concept and really involved with creating a work were at a time in their life unique. It’s something you did of art, so they see that. They when they really wanted to be together as a family, and that’s see how I make decisions, creative,” she said. “I didn’t really nice to have.” how things don’t go right or want to put stipulations on Even though her children, when I’m struggling with a them.” now teenagers, have come to particular piece. It’s good for After a few years, her view art as a hobby, the lessons them to see that.” sons wanted to discontinue that come from their exposure their collaborative artwork,

Sports

April 12, 2010

7

Softball career closing for senior Schlatter

By Tori Strecker

had great things to say about the staff, program and school.”

According to Schlatter, the decision to become an Aggie came fairly easy for a number of reasons.

“I always knew I wanted to attend college out of state, and Cameron was a perfect fit,” Schlatter said.

“I loved the small student body, they had a major that suited my needs and my family and I saw a lot of potential for success.”

Schlatter has worn the black and gold uniform for the entirety of her collegiate career. Despite being originally recruited as an outfielder, she has spent most of her time behind the plate and at first base.

“I have been a catcher since I was 12, and I feel that it is the position I am best at,” Schlatter said. “This year, however, the team needed a first baseman, and with some sweat and tears, I was able to step into that position.”

Young also feels that Schlatter has demonstrated her skills well at both of these positions but agrees that her strongest asset is catching.

This is due to not only her experience but also to her keen ability to relate to and work with the team’s primary pitchers, Young said.

“The pitcher and catcher have to have a good relationship,” Young said. “Callie does an excellent job at this, and the team really relies on her in that role.

She knows all of our pitchers very well and treats each one differently based on their varying personalities.”

During her time at Cameron, Schlatter has served as a member of the Hall of Fame Committee as well as the President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Through these organizations, she has had the chance to see the athletic program at Cameron grow and improve.

“It is clear to me that the Athletic Department at Cameron is never content and is constantly looking for ways to improve all aspects of Cameron athletics,” Schlatter said. “That could be a never-ending challenge, and I look forward to watching the progress as an alumnus.”

While athletics have always been at the top of Schlatter’s priority list, academics were not far behind. As an underclassman, though, she struggled with balancing school and softball.

This was eventually ironed out with the help of Cameron’s dependable teaching staff, she said.

“The teaching staff in both the Science Department and the Health and Physical Education Department have exceeded my expectations as far as being flexible and catering to the demanding schedule of a student athlete,” Schlatter said. “Without the patience and guidance of my professors and coaches, my four years at Cameron would have been completely different.”

Just as her parents had projected, Schlatter has seen

That was the time when I started dreaming,” Troiano said.

Collegian Staff Troiano described his style The Cameron men’s tennis of play as well rounded, which is team has had much success this similar to Guga’s. season, and senior Diego Troiano “I like to play solid at the has been critical in helping baseline and play most of the the team bolster their many points with my forehand. I like to achievements. get to the net as fast as I can, and Troiano, I try to win a native of as many “Diego is a good guy to Dracena, points as Brazil, has I can with have on the team. He been playing my serve,” brings leadership and for CU for Troiano experience, and he also nearly two said. years but Tennis brings stability.” has had a coach James racket in Helvey — James Helvey agreed with his hand for 11. Like Men’s Tennis Head Coach Troiano’s many South selfAmerican analysis. tennis players, Troiano was “Diego is really an all-court inspired to play by the Brazilian player. He has good ground tennis phenomenon Gustavo strokes, and he likes to serve and Kuerten, who may be better volley,” Helvey said. known by his nickname Guga.

Helvey also said that Troiano “I like Guga’s style. In Brazil, is a quality athlete who brings a lot tennis is not that popular, so, for to the team. a Brazilian to be number one in “Diego is a good guy to have on the world, he has to be really good. the team,” Helvey said. “He brings What Guga did is really big. He leadership and experience, and he was number one when I was 13. also brings stability.”

Before coming to Cameron, Troiano attended Laredo Community College, where he helped lead his team to win two national championships. Since becoming an Aggie, Troiano has been playing at the no. 1 doubles position, and his on-court talents have earned him the no.

1 position in singles this season.

Transitioning from the level of play at the junior college level to the NCAA Division II level has been quite an experience for Troiano.

“At Laredo I played at no.

5, and it was easy. I was always winning. It’s a lot tougher here though because the schools are a lot better,” Troiano said.

Getting used to the high level of play the no. 1 position demands has required some adjusting on the part of the Brazilian as well.

“Playing at no. 1 is tough. I know it’s going to be a close match every time I play,” Troiano said.

“I always expect a good match, a tough match, and I know I’m going to be on the court for at least two hours. It’s good though because I am improving my game. I’m playing more aggressively, and I am feeling more confident.”

This season, Troiano has a new doubles partner since his former partner, Daniel Pazos, graduated.

He now plays with fellow senior Carlos Viscarra. The change of partners has also required some adjusting.

“When I played with Daniel, he always motivated me and helped me stay positive.

Collegian Staff The Cameron softball team has seen their fair share of ups and downs this season, and, with over half their scheduled games in the books, the end is quickly approaching.

In less than one month, the Aggies will hopefully find themselves in the midst of the conference tournament, marking not only the commencement of the 2010 season, but also the end of the road for a long-time member of the Aggie family.

Senior Callie Schlatter will say goodbye to the softball diamond in May, as she graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Graduate assistant coach Megan Young has had the opportunity to know Schlatter as both a teammate and now her player and can account for the qualities she brings to the team.

“Callie brings great maturity to the team,” Young said. “She has been at Cameron for four years, so she knows how this game works.

She always plays and practices hard, has a good attitude and is a very vocal leader for the team.”

Schlatter grew up in Dripping Springs, Texas where she began playing softball at a very young age. Her first encounters with Cameron University came during her senior year of high school, thanks to both her summer league coach and a fellow teammate.

“My summer league coach introduced me to Cameron’s head coach at the time, who initially invited me to come visit the campus,” Schlatter said. “I also played summer ball with a girl who attended Cameron, and she

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Reliving senior memories: (Top) Senior Callie Schlatter prepares to bunt in a recent game. (Bottom) Schlatter covers first base as a runner makes a break. She switched to the first base position this year and has proven successful. much success as an Aggie. Despite the fact that her senior year did not quite begin as she had hoped, she said she is still very confident in the team’s ability to compete.

“We have oodles of talent and potential, but we lack the ability to consistently play to the best of our skills offensively and

defensively,” Schlatter said. “On the other hand, we have come out and played some phenomenal games this year, which assures me that we can beat any team out there and will end this season on a successful note.”

Troiano one key to men’s tennis current success

By Amanda Phillips

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Float like a butterfly: Diego Troiano attacks the net in a recent practice session. The senior has become one of the keys to success for the men’s tennis team with his balanced game.

With Carlos, I think I am the one who keeps him motivated,” Troiano said.

For some players, playing at the no. 1 spot may come with a certain amount of pressure, but for Troiano that is not the case.

“I’m cool with playing no. 1. I can handle the pressure. It’s my senior year, and I am just trying to enjoy the moment. I like to work hard every day, and its nice to be recognized. I’m just going to try to keep it up until the end of the semester because I really like

having this opportunity,” Troiano said. “It’s nice to play no.1. I feel honored.”

As for the remainder of the season, Troiano is confident in his team and is excited to see what the rest of the year has in store.

“I hope we can win regionals and then have a good day at conference and make it to nationals,” Troiano said.

Troiano and the rest of the men’s and women’s tennis teams will next be in action Tuesday at the CU Tennis Complex.

8

Variety

April 12, 2010

MCC continued from page 1

Crowd support: The MCC dedication

ceremony was attended by over 100 guests.

The audience’s cheers testified to the support that Cameron has in the community.

“I know exactly how much this building means to us,” Finch said. “Now that Student Activities has moved into this building along with the bookstore, food court and much more it will become the center of student life. For that, I sincerely thank each and every one of you who made this possible.”

Now that the complex is open for use it will undoubtedly see many different types of events and occasions. For example, one of the focal points of the new facility is the McCasland Foundation Ballroom. The ballroom, which can house up to 400 guests, is outfitted to handle a whole host of different types of events. In fact, even before the MCC opened its doors, the ballroom was already booked to house several different events. Those events include nine wedding receptions and five area high school proms.

The culmination of the dedication ceremony featured four different individuals who expressed how they were going to make memories in the MCC. These four took to the Cleo L. Craig Foundation balcony and explained how the MCC would affect them.

One of the individuals was current SGA President Daniel Brown.

“I can see it now, a room full of students eager to make important changes on campus, to brainstorm on legislation, to debate the issues and make decisions on behalf of the student body,” Brown said. “And now the forum for these great debates is forever changed, I am Daniel Brown the current SGA president and I will always treasure the memories of our meetings here at the MCC.” Now that it is up and running, it is undeniable that the MCC has changed the face of campus.

While speaking during the ceremony, State Regent Larry Wade explained that Cameron has come a long way in recent years.

“Cameron University has come from a sleepy regional college here in Lawton to a great public regional university,” Wade said. “You have this great edifice [the MCC] — hub of campus life. It offers a place where students can socialize, study and play. It is a place where the university can connect students and faculty.”

SGA: SGA President Daniel Brown is a member of one of the student organizations which is now housed in the MCC.

Smooth sounds: As a part of the musical performance in the McCasland Ballroom there were several solos.

Heartfelt thanks: Senior Amanda Finch expressed how much the MCC means to the students and how appreciative they are to those who helped make it possible.

Page Design by Monica Garner Photos by Jim Horinek

Band aid: The McCasland Ballroom was filled with music courtesy of a large group of Cameron student musicians.

Memory banners: Four different banners were hung on the balcony to help represent some of the ways that memories are going to be made in the MCC.

Letters to the future: As part of the 50 year time capsule guests were asked to write notes to the future. The notes will be included in the capsule, which will be housed in the MCC.

Choco-fountain: After the ceremony many different hors d’oeuvres and treats were served. One of the more popular treats was the chocolate fountain.