Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, November 17, 2025
Volume 113 Issue 8
By Serenity Clark
Digital Content Editor I was seven years old, in the passenger seat of my dad’s green Chevy pickup truck when I heard the song “Dirty Laundry” for the first time. Unlike my mother’s 1968 Mustang, the Chevy’s radio was rarely on, but when it was, each song I heard was undiscovered dadlore, similar to him telling a story about something from thirty years ago, then never mentioning it again. This is how I was introduced to groups like Def Leppard, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. A different perspective from what the Mustang introduced me to — Metallica, Tesla, and The Rolling Stones. At seven years old, I didn’t remember the song by its title, but rather by its entrancing synth-bass introduction that could even make anxious little me shimmy my shoulders. By 2010, the only other song that had made me feel the way "Dirty Laundry" had, was “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga — their massive sonic productions and clever mixing of instrumentation moved me in a way I didn't know was possible. That is when I discovered the supernaturality of music, the magical intersection of soundwaves and human imagination. When the green Chevy got traded in, "Dirty Laundry" no longer frequented my dad’s radio like before, but I made sure to seek it out after getting my first iPod. I remember trying to recall the lyrics in an effort to find the song, which, to my fortune, proved rather easy. Since the days of that first iPod, "Dirty Laundry" has stayed in my musical rotation. Now, as a 22-year-old journalism student, "Dirty Laundry" has come to mean something entirely different to me than it did in 2010. Before “Dirty Laundry” could change my seven-year-old life, several things had to be set into motion. In 1971 Los Angeles, a group of four musicians came together to form one of the most legendary rock groups in history: the Eagles. Throughout the band’s lifetime, they created five numberone singles and six number-one albums, becoming six-time Grammy Award winners, and five-time American Music Award winners. The Eagles’ most recognizable album is Hotel California, the title track of which is also their best known song. This album
has since been ranked one of the Top 100 Best Albums by Apple Music, and songs like “Witchy Woman” and “Take It Easy” always resurface across the internet around Halloween and springtime, respectively. Like Led Zeppelin, the Eagles burned bright for about ten years before falling apart. By 1980, the Eagles broke up and all five members headed into their solo careers. Even after breaking up, their influence remained strong. Of their individual careers, Don Henley’s is the most successful. The Eagles’ former drummer and co-lead vocalist released his debut solo album, I Can’t Stand Still, in August of 1982. “Dirty Laundry,” the sixth track on the record, skyrocketed to the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 just a few months later, in early 1983. The single was nominated for a Grammy and remains Henley’s most successful solo single. In 1983, my dad was about 15 years old, a Don Henley-listener even if he didn’t really pay attention to the message behind the music. The Vietnam War had finally ended, but the Cold War was still raging; nuclear destruction loomed over the globe. The 80s were also famously the final decade before the entire world became irreversibly connected via the World Wide Web. No one in 1983 could’ve predicted the state that news media would be in by 2025, but everyone had theories. There was an increased accessibility in media for the masses, and decreased regulation allowed for more available channels and less content restrictions. This dysregulation led to the creation of more businesses, and with all these new mega media companies cropping up, their interests rested primarily on profit. Because of this, news media shifted from prioritizing public interest to competition: who can get the story out the fastest, which story can draw in the most viewers, which story can hold viewers’ attention the longest. Henley recognized this, and thus, “Dirty Laundry” was born. The song’s primary message lies within its first verse: “I make my livin’ off the evenin’ news, Just give me somethin’, Somethin’ I can use, People love it when you lose,
Photo by Serenity Clark
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They love dirty laundry…” Henley wrote the lyrics from the perspective of a journalist, someone in the business of news rather than music. Everyone working in that fresh news station needs to get paid somehow. How else to bring in revenue, than to provide all the juiciest, foulest stories? Forget the consequences of broadcasting tragedy all 24 hours of the day! In verse two, Henley’s journalist-character claims he “could’ve been an actor,” that he “just has to look good, I don’t have to be clear,” openly acknowledging and telling the listener that the goal is not to tell them the truth, but rather to be the shiniest, most attractive attention-grabber on screen. He invites anyone listening to whisper in his ear, to share some of that dirty laundry, so that his news station can be the first to blast it. This is followed by a killer chorus, most memorable for its brevity and repetition: “Kick ’em when they’re down / Kick ’em when they’re up / Kick ’em all around.” Regardless of what the story is (uplifting, devastating, useless), sensationalizing it will always lead to profit. To me, the chorus has a similar beat to the hyenas in The Lion King performing, “Be Prepared,” after Scar rallies them together — powerful, synchronized and threatening, just like a march. Verse three maintains the song’s satirical edge, with Henley sharing that they’ve got a “bobble-headed bleach blonde” on staff, here to tell you “about a plane crash with a gleam in her eye.” Henley paints an apathetic newslandscape, full of white-toothed actors with infallible smiles and unwrinkled faces. There is no devastation for the victims of the plane crash; only excitement, because the news station finally has a story to tell. The “gleam in her eye” that Henley talks about cannot be anything other than nefarious. Verse four throws ethics to the wind without shame, Henley singing in his charming voice, “can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?” He understands that the more gruesome and jarring a story is, the more viewers it will draw in. In that same verse, Henley states that the boys in the newsroom all have a “running bet,” as if the victims of such horrors aren’t real to them, but rather subjects of fantasy with something to profit off. After all, it’s easy to be detached when telling a story rather than living it. The only break in character lies in verse five, in which Henley demands that the viewer “just leave well enough alone,” because “you don’t really wanna know just how far it’s gone.” When reporters desensitize themselves from reality, they encourage viewers to do the same, even if unintentionally. The constant stream of news demands that the viewer walk away or get used to it, and news media makes tragedy look so attractive that it is often impossible to achieve the former. People adjusted to calamity, and then began to crave more of it–a symptom still present today. The media gives society never-ending anxiety, and even after recognizing that, we proceed to feed it all day long. We demand catastrophe as something to talk about. Verse six emphasizes this with
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the line, “we got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pie.” Suddenly, the whole world’s business became your business, and my business too — and by making it our business, media companies can maintain an influx of profit. Perhaps the most crucial (and alarming) part of the song lies in its final verse: “...we can dance and sing / when it’s said and done, we haven’t told you a thing.” Making a performance of tragedy is still present in our news media today, four decades later. Even as a famous musician with likely no experience in the world of journalism, Henley adds one final scathing lyric before the instrumental outro, leaning ever further into his satirical yet critical attitude: “We all know that craft is king, give us dirty laundry.” Saying that “craft is king” above all else–including content or context–is admitting that the sharing of information and how it will be received depends on the way that message is crafted. Give us your dirty laundry and we’ll dress it up real nice, Henley is saying. We’ll twist it whichever way necessary to make it more entertaining — or polarizing, or rage-inducing, or anxietyinducing, or whatever specific emotion they’re trying to evoke among viewers and listeners. “Dirty Laundry” to Don Henley, and my dad’s generation, is not unlike the song “Hey Ya!” to my generation. When I hear the former’s minute-and-a-half long guitar outro, backed by a chorus chanting, “kick ‘em when they’re up, kick ‘em when they’re down,” I can also hear OutKast saying, “y’all don’t want to hear me, you just want to dance.” Even back in 1982, people could see what was happening to the news media, a shift, impactful and obvious enough to create a song as groovy and merciless as “Dirty Laundry.” The song also indicates that those working for the news media make no efforts to hide their collective apathy, but wear it plainly. Henley has painted a vacuous image, depicting news media as a hungry thing that can never be satisfied. And while the message still feels like a threat, and emotes a sense of dread, I can’t help but turn it up every time it comes on shuffle. I can’t help but dance to the groove of the keys, the bass, the guitars. I’ll be chanting right alongside Henley, kickin’ ‘em when they’re stiff, kickin’ ‘em all around.
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News
Novemeber 17, 2025 www.aggiecentral.com
Cameron Theater presents “Antigone” A Greek tragedy Ciera Terry Staff Editor
Starting at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 20, through at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, the Cameron University Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts will present its “Resilience and Reverie,” with Ian Johnston’s 2005 translation of “Antigone,” the classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles. Dr. Natalie McCabe is one of three professors who decide what plays the theater performs. “We do four plays a year, usually a contemporary, a classical, a musical and lately a student-driven or student-written production, like a festival of new plays that they’ve written. The three of us usually bring ideas for productions that we’re interested in, ones that the students have expressed interest in, and ones that we feel like would benefit student learning,” she said. The students hadn’t previously gotten the opportunity to do a Greek adaptation. “So that’s why we’re doing Greek this year. We try to consider the manpower, basically so we have enough students to reasonably do the production,” she said. “Antigone” is a play that speaks truth to injustice. “It’s the ancient Ancient Greek play. She’s (Antigone) the daughter of Oedipus. And so still dealing with that, the curse, essentially, of them
trying to avoid self-fulfilling that prophecy,” she said. “This play begins right when Antigone’s brothers have fought against each other. One is allowed to be buried with ceremonial rights, and one is not. And in a world where gods are nearby and real for these people in this mythological story, that doesn’t sit well with Antigone, because it goes against what the gods say to do for your family,” she said. The production of the play has been promising. “It’s a large cast, larger than normally I would do for what we call a straight play, meaning it’s not a musical. But it doesn’t require a large run crew or anything like that, so we’re able to be more inclusive of students who aren’t theater majors,” McCabe said. BK Hidalgo, a part of the chorus for “Antigone,” only recently stepped into the theater scene. “I’ve been in theater for like, three months now. I honestly came in, like just happy to just be here, but it’s been a lot of fun getting into my role and everything,” Hidalgo said. The cast of “Antigone” have worked hard on rehearsal the past couple months. “There were a lot of monologues and a lot of complicated words because it was translated, but it’s been a lot of hard work, and we would appreciate that kind of recognition,” she said.
Wheel of Scholarship: Trivia Game Show hosted & produced by Cameron student media
Who: We need students for our live studio audience and contestants What: All contestants receive a gift card and the winner gets a $500 Scholarship Where: Be at the Studio (Academic Commons) When: At 5:15 p.m. on Thurs. Nov. 20
For questions reach out to aggiecentral@cameron.edu or Dr. Jenkins at mattj@cameron.edu
Cameron hosts Souper Bowl
Ask a
What did you enjoy most about the event? “I absolutely loved it (the event), I prepared Zuppa. An Olive Garden copy cat. It took not even an hour to make.”
- Cheri Mannien
Photos by Ciera Terry
Graphic by Ciera Terry
Chef
“I really enjoyed the event, just going around and getting the different soups. There were great options here. I made mild taco soup.”
- Tiffany Nolen
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Voices
Novermber 17, 2025 www.aggiecentral.com
OKLAHOMA HOMELESS POLICY
A lack of compassion Ciera Terry News Editor
The discussion of the homelessness crisis in Oklahoma often lacks nuance. It’s always either “the homeless are evil” or “ the homeless are good” but rarely (if ever) is it the latter. Recently, Lawton Mayor Stan Booker implemented a Homelessness Reduction plan — a plan generated through the use of AI. The plan is a step by step guide on how to stabilize and reduce local homelessness without expanding capacity in a way that could inadvertently draw in non-residents. This plan sounds good in theory but after reading the document, and following along with his other policies, the Reduction Plan is harmful. For example, one policy that states that a homeless person must have written permission to stay in a public place or they will be escorted from the premises. It all leaves me wondering just how often government officials have interacted with those affected by homelessness. Public officials consistently converse about the homeless community in locked council rooms, full of people who refuse to acknowledge the true economic reasons on why the homeless community exists in the first place, most if not all claiming it is a personal failing, or out of laziness providing less than helpful advice like
“just get a job.” According to a KOSU article, in a council meeting Mayor Booker said, “The City of Lawton does not have a responsibility to house people, but rather should be focusing on maintaining public safety. The council discussed possible ways to confirm an individual’s connection to Lawton before providing support with federal grant funds but did not land on a final conclusion. Suggestions included determining whether someone went to school in the area, had a previous address or family in the city or whether they were registered to vote in Lawton.” The inherent questioning and doubt that a homeless person is subjected to in order to live or gain resources, can be incredibly degrading, and if the responsibility to house people does not fall within the government’s hands, whose responsibility is it to fix? Are homeless people not part of the public? Are they not citizens who also deserve public safety? Homeless communities are disproportionately vulnerable to the exact same harm and violence that government officials are trying to protect individuals from. It seems even with the effort to help just local Lawton residents, that the plan is quite flawed, something that even the public officials recognize themselves.While government officials sit in rooms consulting with each other on how to solve the
homelessness crisis, those who are unhoused, remain that way. Booker isn’t the only government official with these views. In an interview with KOCO’s anchor Evan Ontot, Governor Kevin Stitt spoke about Operation SAFE (which is an initiative that is to clean up state property by removing homeless camps, picking up trash and restoring safety). Stitt said, “I am not solving the homelessness issue here in Oklahoma, that’s up to the nonprofits, the mental health providers, the rehab facilities, but I will enforce the law, and we are not gonna allow people to live under bridges. That’s not compassion either and so I’ve instructed them to work with the nonprofits here in Oklahoma City.” Both Mayor Booker and Governor Stitt expressed that solving the homeless crisis will mainly be up to the nonprofits. However, nonprofits and rehabs facilities are actively being defunded under Trump’s budget plan. What does compassion mean to Oklahoma government officials? From these interviews, it’s clearly not valued. Those who are homeless aren’t just struggling with mental health issues, they are struggling with unjust laws and regulations that fail to consider their circumstances. Not every homeless person is mentally ill or drug addicts. According to the National Insitute of Health, most people who are homeless
develop those issues after enough time on the streets essentially begging for scraps. We have individualized struggle — claiming that when a person becomes homeless it is that person’s own personal failing but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In today’s society, a person has to make twice as much money. A middle class individual has to experience just one bad week, with just the right amount of circumstances to end up homeless. For example a person could experience a life or death crisis the week that rent is due and now has to decide to either pay the hospital bill or their rent. According to investopedia, 67% of all Americans continue to live paycheck to paycheck and with just the right amount of inconvenience from a late car insurance payment, to accidents — a person’s life can be fundamentally changed. The world doesn’t stop for the people; it just keeps going leaving the rest who can’t keep up, behind. When monetary value trumps everything else, where do government officials draw the line between this loose-leafed idea of fairness and public safety? The truth is that the value of a human life has always been tied down to how able our bodies are but with our economy and the ever growing hustle culture — that is no longer enough. The thing is, life could be forgiving, but the economy is not and using Stitt’s words — that’s not compassion either.
Live from the Swamp:
Doechii deserves better Makayla Flenoury Voices Editor
Musical artists often perform for their fans but attending those shows can feel like a luxury. Ticket prices tend to be as high as their ego, and the cheap tickets are sketchy or have a terrible view of the stage. Doechii kicked off her “Live from the Swamp” tour on Oct. 14 in Chicago, Illinois. Her ticket prices were affordable, and she put on a great show for her fans. Yet, Doechii still experienced a lot of hate. No matter what someone is famous for, not everyone will be a fan. It’s one thing not to enjoy someone’s music; it’s another ballgame when people are punishing artists for making that music. The level of hate Doechii has faced since she gained mainstream attention feels unfair. There was an uproar on social media, especially TikTok, about the Chicago show. Fans complained about everything. From the venue to the lines and even the time Doechii appeared on stage. Doechii herself felt she had to address the complaints. It is easy to tell that Doechii puts in a lot of effort to make her fans happy. She explained that she and her team decided to push the show back so that people in line didn’t miss the beginning of the show. Long lines are not the responsibility of the artist. Attendees’ own punctuality, along with the number of guests is to blame. It’s not difficult to infer that there are going to be many people attending, and maybe arriving early would be a good idea. Another example, Doechii brings a select few fans on stage while she performs during each show. This is a About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available twenty Mondays during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution. 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.
rare gesture that turns a concert into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of Doechii’s unreleased songs, “Anxiety” became extremely popular, and fans begged her to release it, so
courtesy photo
she did. After the song was released, those same fans turned and constantly bashed the song. Compared to other musical artists, including those who have committed heinous crimes, Doechii receives an extreme amount of hate. Much of it appears to be rooted in colorism and sexism. As a dark-skinned woman in rap, she’s fighting against an industry and audience that often shuns Black women for expressing their art loudly. Just recently, it was discovered that the artist D4vd was with an underage girl. According to a New York
Post article, on Sept. 8, the same girl was later found dead in the trunk of D4vd’s abandoned Tesla. The article said D4vd was only able to face minor charges for the case. Yet the outrage surrounding this case is nothing in comparison to Doechii haters. Through all the hate and scrutiny, Doechii put on an amazing performance. She kept up the energy for an entire hour and thirty minutes. Doechii mainly performed by herself; her two backup dancers rarely appeared on stage. Doechii’s DJ Miss Milan was there to assist Doechii and allow her to catch her breath. Other than bringing fans on stage, Doechii created an original experience with some special remixes she created for the show. Including an “American Has a Problem” freestyle and a rock version of her song “Anxiety.” The way Doechii can take the hate she received and turn it into something better is admirable. She made references to hate throughout the show and used them as transitions into her songs. There are not many artists who can handle the pressure they get, let alone use it for their shows. It shows how strong-willed Doechii is. One could say I’m biased because I am a fan of Doechii, which is true. However, I’m no die-hard defender trying to convert someone into a fan. It’s easy to recognize when some receives an unnecessary amount of hate just because they’re a woman in rap. There is a difference between disliking music and punishing someone for making that music. Letters Policy
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor - Amanda Purser News Editor - Ciera Terry Voices Editor - Makayla Flenoury A & E Editor - Amelia Lozano Student Life - Angelica Martinez Sports & Outreach - Jake Thomas and Matthew Hasley Copy Editor - Rachel Nunn
Newsroom Staff
Staff Writers - Serenity Clark, Julian Ebacher, Steven Utter, Elizabeth Lehman Faculty Adviser - Prof. David Bublitz
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. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@ cameron.edu or they may be dropped off to the Academic Commons 101.
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Student Life
November 17, 2025
www.aggiecentral.com
Student Government Association Constitutional Amendment Passed
Angelica Martinez Student Life Editor
On Nov. 5, the Student Government Association (SGA) passed its first constitutional amendment in eight years through the student body. The vote also marked the first campuswide election since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendment revises how the SGA Senate operates and fills its seats. Previously, each academic department could have one senator and six at-large seats were open to students with undeclared majors. Because the constitution did not include a clear appointment process, most students learned about openings only through word of mouth. As a result, fewer than 10 senators served during the
past decade, even though nearly 150 seats were available. Under the revised constitution, each academic department will continue to have one senator. The amendment adds a seat for a student from the CU–Duncan campus and expands the number of at-large seats from six to 12. It also establishes a formal appointment process. Department chairs—or the CU–Duncan director— will nominate two or three students. The SGA Election Committee will review the nominees and select one from each department and the Duncan campus. Each nominee must then receive a majority confirmation vote from SGA members before serving for the academic year. Senators will be up for reappointment each year. If a senator resigns or declines reappointment, the department will submit new nominations. At-large seats are now open to any student, including those with undeclared majors, students not nominated by their departments, or
nominees not selected by the election committee. An SGA committee drafted the amendment and presented it to the full body. Members voted Oct. 20 to send it to a campuswide vote, with 77.3 percent of SGA members in favor. After a two-week moratorium period, SGA opened voting to the student body. During that time, SGA President Connor Holt released videos on social media explaining the amendment and encouraging participation. Voting ran from 9 a.m., Nov. 4, through 7 p.m., Nov. 5. On the first day, Holt set up a table in the MCC to answer questions about the amendment. SGA Advisor Alannah MeyersYoung, SGA Election Committee Chair Andrew Cervantes and Holt, as a member of the elections committee, certified the results, verifying valid votes after removing duplicates and ballots lacking student information. Of those,the amendment passed with 92.7 percent of voters in favor. The amendment now moves to Cameron University President Shane Hunt for review and approval or denial. Holt said he prioritized this amendment because it strengthens
SGA’s foundation. “SGA was in relative disrepair when my team took over at the end of last school year,” Holt said. “This year has all been about rebuilding and establishing a greater, more functional base for all future SGA leaders… Having twelve senators nominated by their professors, those who know their hardest-working students, shall ensure that those new senators will be the hardest-working, most reliable, most diligent SGA members of all; that is why we chose to tackle fixing the Senate first.” Holt said SGA still has significant work ahead. “Essentially, every piece of SGA is being looked at and revamped. I expect to see at least three more amendments this school year. We will redo our election rules. We just redid our organization fund application form. We will redo our webpage…we are doing a complete remodel of SGA.” For updates, follow the official SGA Facebook page or Instagram @ cameron_sga. Students with questions, comments or concerns can email cusga@cameron.edu, call (580) 5812444 or contact their organization’s representative.
Milk, Murder and Munchies
Graphics by Angelica Martinez
Jake Thomas
explaining what drives our societies fascination with crime and horror. Assistant Editor “It’s that controlled fear,” she said. “Like being on a rollercoaster in the comfort of your own home – you’re At 6 p.m on Nov. 6, the Ross Hall auditorium able to get this fear and adrenaline, even though you was the meeting place for a discussion surrounding can stop at any time.” the psychological studies behind serial killers. It Beyond that Culbert delved further into the was Milk, Murder and Munchies, a psychology club different typologies of serial killers, their event where three distinct speakers gave their own reasoning, background or plan of action. perspectives on the disturbingly intriguing Perhaps more importantly, she also was topic of true crime. Former Lawton interested in asking “why?” Some Police lieutenant, murderers have a background of abuse or Charlie Martin, was isolation. A lot of killers they listed were featured as a guest also linked by similar personality traits speaker. Over or disorders. 120 students Although Culbert still thinks it is attended the important to mention that although occasion, there may be similarities, it is including impossible to predict a person’s over a dozen future. who attended through “Pop culture Zoom, and any number media really conflates of them were also able antisocial to help themselves from personality an assortment of various disorders cereals. with serial as Professor Casey Fryem killers for o h ke T Davies and instructor Megan a J example,” she by to s Culbert from the psychology o said. “But it’s not h P department, who both serve as like every person co-advisers for the psychology who has antisocial personality club, organized the event. The idea, disorder is violent.” as stated by Frye-Davies, started By opening up a discussion, it when the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee encourages students to become more (SAFAC) sent out a request for any organization involved and interested in psychology. interested in a grant opportunity. “So instructor On the other hand Professor Culbert and I thought, ‘we should totally do this.’” Frye-Davies explained Frye-Davies said. When Frye-Davies asked the potential connections in the psychology club what kind of event they would like to brain or biological factors. be funded, everyone had the same idea for discussion: “I think the reason I focused on The psychology of serial killers. the bio psych aspect is just because From there, both advisors got to work at that’s my area of expertise,” he said. researching how serial killers are created, both “Well really it would be psychology of biologically and psychologically. What started as a learning– but psychobiology of addiction is breakfast pun with a hint of curiosity, quickly turned really all of my research, and so I’ve gotten into the into a mini research project. Culbert in particular, topic pretty heavily.” mentioned that researching a topic like this was a Frye-Davies provided several examples during good outlet for her to immerse herself into. his segment, from brain activity differences to “I think for me, I was almost itching a scratch for my personal interest too,” Culbet said. “I do find the stuff really interesting, and so I was excited to talk about it and dive further into research.” But as Frye-Davies puts it, there isn’t as much research on serial killers as one might think. “Nobodys chopped up a serial killer’s brain and told us how it’s different than other people,” Frye-Davies said. “And then a month before the event starts, we make the decision – ‘okay we’ll talk about serial killers, but there’s no clear data on them.’” Despite that fact, by pivoting more to the brain chemistry of murderers, Frye-Davies and Culbert put together a memorable presentation for their club. Instructor Culbert began the showcase by
different cases of murderers having a similar background of traumatic head injuries, and while all of it made for good theoretical talking points, sometimes you can’t out do real experience. The final presenter of the night, was former Lawton police lieutenant Charlie Martin. His job was to tell the audience his first hand experience with homicide out on the field. Martin was brought into the event through his daughter, who happens to be a member of the psychology club. “We were really happy to have gotten him, since he has so much experience,” Frye-Davis said. Instructor Culbert added as well, “To have him end the night by telling his own stories, it almost had the audience leave with a certain feeling,” she said. “It was interesting to have his perspective, especially with it being crime in Lawton – I think it provided a lot of interesting material.” Martin also has roots in Cameron as well, originally being in the ROTC, before transferring to the Collegiate officer program, where he got his certifications to become a police officer. While telling his own stories of gruesome crimes, Martin thought it was important to mention that the job requires a tough skin, dedication and a good support system. While the job is to protect, that does not mean officers can’t expect to see horrific things in the line of work. “Find people to talk to and share that with,” he said. “Suicide rates are unfortunately high due to the stuff we see, so its important to have an outlet.” While the topic was dark, the event’s goal was to bring like-minded students together. Frye-Davies thinks that under the guise of true crime discussion, there is really an opportunity for kinship. “My goal is to make students talk to each other,” he said. “Make new connections that they otherwise wouldn’t make, so we can get a sense of community on campus.” “Seeing students in the hallways say hi to each other – knowing each of their names because of that common space,” Culbert said. “That camaraderie is where we feel accomplished.” Both co-advisors were thrilled to see the reception from not only the psychology club, but from several other departments as well. The psychology club is open to all majors, not just psychology students, and they are always open to a new perspective. For more information about the club, contact Casey Frye-Davies at cfrye@ cameron.edu or Megan Culbert at mculbert@ cameron.edu.
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A&E
November 17, 2025
www.aggiecentral.com
movie review Courtesy photo
Amelia Lozano A&E Editor
If you are at all concerned with the current state of the world, you should watch “Bugonia.” Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest film is a sci-fi dark comedy about two men, Teddy and Don (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbi, respectively) who have suffered at the hands of a pharmaceutical company’s interference. The pair target the company’s CEO, Michelle (Emma Stone), fully convinced that she is an extraterrestrial sent to terrorize humankind. The men kidnap her and spend the film’s runtime interrogating the alleged alien. As I’ve learned since watching, “Bugonia” is actually an English-language remake of the South Korean film “Save The Green Planet!” from 2003. The original film maintains the same overall plotline but with different characters and motivations. The premise itself is deliberately extreme. Aliens posing as humans is one thing, but the interesting thing about “Bugonia” is that the audience doesn’t really know whether Michelle is an alien or not. Her humanity is questioned in light of her negligent actions towards the patients of her pharmaceutical company’s failures, as well as her crass treatment of Teddy and Don when they
eventually explain their emotional burdens. Teddy is the captain of the whole alien-exposing operation, complete with detailed diagrams of alien spaceships and a concerning amount of knowledge about extraterrestrial biology. But even as Teddy shares his repertoire of alien knowledge, the film frames it as if even Teddy himself is unsure of Michelle’s true identity. His cousin and only friend, Don, is the emotional center of the film who questions Teddy’s actions and the authenticity of his claims. What sets this adaptation apart from its predecessor is the dilemma of the main characters. Michelle is a woman — a capable, intelligent, strong woman — but she’s kidnapped, tortured and locked in the basement of two strange men. Michelle herself comments on the optics of the situation at one point — she may be a powerful woman, but she’s still a woman. Society will see what happened to her and she will go down as yet another victim of male violence. The change in dynamics adds an extra layer to the storyline. On the other hand, Michelle is incredibly selfish and disingenuous. Teddy’s mother is in a coma after taking experimental drugs from Michelle’s pharmaceutical company. He’s poor and psychologically suffering from the emotional and financial burdens of caring for his
comatose mother. Teddy maintains a bee colony with Don, but even the colony is facing a decline as the bee population dies out. “Bugonia” is full of questions about our humanity, our morals and the effects of the choices we make. Much of the change that we wish to see in our world doesn’t actually happen because people don’t know how to move past the “talking stage” of a plan — as evidenced by the humorous way Michelle tries to “start a dialogue” with her captors. The truth is, you cannot simply talk your way out of a crisis. You also can’t kidnap a CEO without a solid plan or evidence that they’re an Earth-killing alien from outer space. Both captor and victim seem to be at fault here — neither side has an intact moral compass. No matter how you spin it, they’re on the extreme sides of things, unwilling to compromise or seek to understand the other. There is no real empathy. “Bugonia” lays this out from the start, and the audience must feel the constant tug of war between which side to believe. In the future, I’d love to give “Bugonia” another watch to get a better grasp on its themes and the hints it leaves along the way. I rate “Bugonia” at 4 out of 5 (extraterrestrial) stars.
AMELIA’S HIDDEN GEMS There is an endless supply of films that hit streaming services or find their way into the world without ever truly getting the spotlight they deserve. As a devoted cinephile, here are some of the films I’ve discovered and loved that I feel deserve more recognition. Bad Education An excellent crime drama (and it features journalism students). The main cast is insanely good — Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan — but somehow, this went under my radar. I love a film that keeps me on my toes.
Lean On Pete If you have ever been deeply emotionally attached to an animal, you will probably cry during this. Heartbreaking but beautiful comingof-age drama that I wish I knew existed earlier.
Rye Lane I love a good romantic comedy, and I’m sad that this one didn’t make its rounds as it deserves. David Jonsson and Vivian Oprah’s dynamic is silly and sweet. The film is so colorful and full of life in a way that’s hard to find lately. Courtesy photos
Graphic by Amelia Lozano
Attention readers! This semester “The Collegian” is giving a “thank you” to a special reader. For your chance to win a FREE gift basket, play along! Solve the crossword puzzle below and write down the letter in the gold box. Collect all 8 gold letters from the next issue’s puzzles to spell a secret word. That word is your entry into the drawing at the end of the semester! Combine the letters together and submit the 8-letter word to aggiecentral@cameron.edu with your phone number included. Stay tuned for our drawing at the end of the Fall 2025 semester, and thanks for playing! Gift basket includes: Cameron swag, gift cards, snacks and essentials. THEME: HOLIDAYS DOWN: 1. Festive door decor (plural). 2. Your annual holiday; one year older. 3. A common holiday drink; served cold. 4. A sweet end to a meal (i.e. pie, cake, cookies). 5. ___log or ___tide. 6. Mashed potatoes and ___ (also used on turkey). 7. A golden color of fall leaves (yellowish brown). ACROSS: 1. “We’re ___ the tree with ornaments and lights.” 2. Let’s ___ carols or hymns. 3. Where Santa is said to enter on Christmas. 4. Topping for cakes or cookies (whipped or buttercream). 5. Make a ___ when you blow out the candles. 6. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner meal; the centerpiece, a bird. 7. A holiday on December 25. 8. A wrapped gift under the tree.
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A&E
November 17, 2025
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‘Happy of the End’ Review Ciera Terry Voices Editor
“Happy of the End” is a manga created by Ogeretsu Tanaka that was later adapted into a series in Japan directed by Furumaya Tomoyuki. The live action television drama broadcasted on Fuji TV from Sept. 3-24, 2024. “Happy of the End” covers mature themes such as homelessness, rape, sexual assault, child sex trafficing, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the reality of living as a gay man in Japan. Combined with its stunning visuals and wellcrafted storylines around trauma, “Happy of the End” created a solemn atmosphere for its audience. The director nor the actors held back in terms of realistically showing what it’s like to survive a traumatic childhood and what it’s like for that trauma to influence a person into adulthood. “Happy of the End” captures the horrific truth of children sentenced to a life they did not ask for, then as an adult, forever trying to find the traces of themselves untouched by that violence. These conflicting identities all blend together, causing an infinite loop of almost catching up to some form of contentment with what happened to them, but ultimately never being able to accept who they truly are, causing the shame from that trauma to claim not only their body but their mind as well. The storyline revolves around Keito and Chihiro, two men who meet in a basement bar. Chihiro is recently homeless, there to seek comfort while still grappling with his long-term boyfriend breaking up with him to marry a woman. Keito is there to target Chihiro, who has stolen a wallet from a brothel he’d stayed in. Chihiro approached Keito attempting to spend the night with him, but unbeknownst to Chihiro, Keito planned to regain what was stolen and beat Chihiro up for his actions. The next morning, Chihiro awakes on a pile of garbage with Keito standing above him. As Keito realizes the wallet is long gone, he planned to leave Chihiro behind, but Chihiro, desperate for some sort of stability and temporary comfort, begged Keito to
keep his promise of sleeping with him, even if Keito’s earlier advances were ill-intended. This began the start of a conditional relationship between the two: Keito keeping Chihiro around as long as he’s useful, and Chihiro intent on staying as long as Keito allowed it, both of them with deep and traumatic pasts, learning to experience life through each other. Keito, whose real name is later revealed as Haoran, was a victim of a child sex trafficking ring, abandoned by his mother at a young age and Chihiro has struggled homelessness since his teenage years, after being kicked out of his house after his father discovered he was gay. Neither Chihiro or Keito are perfect; both grew up under terrible conditions that left them flawed, but I found Haoran’s childhood in particular incredibly disturbing. As the series goes on, the audience learns more about Keito’s past after Chihiro sees him give money to an older woman. This woman turns out to be Keito’s mother, a woman who no longer remembers Keito after being physically beaten and left mentally impaired. The audience learns that for the past couple of months, after they reunited, Keito routinely gives her money in order for her to act like she remembers him, his value hanging on to the one and only memory in which she protected him as a child. His story is tragic. The older he got, the less value he had–which means the more disposable he became. As an older teen, he began to be used for aggressive “customers.” Because of this, he would repeatedly end up in a run-down clinic, and by this time, all of the other children had either run away or were sold off. Alone and disposable, Keito watched as his life became just as insignificant as he had felt his whole life. It was only after almost dying for a second time that he ran away. Alternatively, Chihiro grew up surrounded by family, but was kicked out when they discovered his sexuality and lived in unstable conditions, working odd jobs to survive.
‘HIM’: Dominic Mann Staff Writer
The 2025 film “Him” opens with the quiet intensity of an underdog story but quickly reveals itself to be something stranger, darker and far more unsettling. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced under Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions banner, the movie presents itself at first as a sports drama about ambition and greatness, but slowly shifts into a psychological horror film. The film stars Tyriq Withers as Cam Cade, a rising football prospect who is invited to train under retired quarterback Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans. It is one of Wayans’s most serious and strict performances, far removed from his comedic roots, and it gives the film surprising emotional gravity. Wayans’ role in the film is unforgettable, and a highlight within the movie. Justin Tipping directed “Him,” a new and fresh face in Hollywood, approaching this movie with bold and new ideas — represented by Jordan Peele and his production company. As Tipping is new, it’s hard to tell yet just how much influence Peele had on
After the incident with his ex-boyfriend, Chihiro wanted one thing: love. He didn’t seem to care in what ways he got it, whether that meant being used or bought, as long as he had someone next to him. That’s why he had stayed with his ex-boyfriend for so long; even with his complicated relationship with Keito, Chihiro stayed. But Chihiro saw something inside Keito when he met him: he saw something tragic but something beautiful. He had wanted to get close to him, even if that meant getting hurt. Two people who are far from perfect found some form of solace within each other, in ways that society might not deem healthy or stable. but in a way that kept them both alive. And being alive, but with each other, was the only way either of them could find value or purpose in this lifetime.
A Jordan Peele production that couldn’t figure itself out
the movie, as at certain points, “Him” feels straight out of Peele’s filmography instead. The music, composed by newcomers Leikeli47 and Colin Stetson, was well matched next to Kira Kelly’s unique and bold cinematography. At its core, “Him” tells the story of a young man’s pursuit of perfection. Cam Cade’s invitation to Isaiah White’s private compound seems like an opportunity of a lifetime. But as he trains under White’s intense and unorthodox methods, the experience becomes psychologically and physically consuming. The compound, cut off from the outside world, begins to feel more like a cult than a training camp. Every drill, every piece of advice from White begins to twist in meaning. The film uses this tension to explore how modern sports culture deifies its heroes and sacrifices individuality at the altar of success. Without revealing key twists, “Him” builds on this dynamic until the line between mentor and manipulator vanishes, forcing both characters into a confrontation neither fully understands. The film’s general
premise, a sports prodigy discovering that greatness comes with monstrous expectations, is both familiar and refreshing. What makes “Him” unique is how it filters that idea through horror. The movie doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore. Instead, it creates discomfort through repetition, silence and the inhuman perfection demanded of its characters. The artistic choices are the film’s greatest strength. “Him” looks and sounds extraordinary. The sound design and visuals pull the viewer into the athlete’s headspace, into the blur between pain and obsession. The performances, especially from Wayans and Withers, are compelling, balancing discipline and vulnerability. The first half of the film promises something bold; a hybrid of “Whiplash” and “Get Out,” a story about identity, control and the horror of human excellence. Even if its story doesn’t entirely hold together, the craft behind it is undeniable. Where “Him” falters, is in its second half. As the film goes deeper into its surreal elements, it begins to lose track of its own ideas. The psychological tension that once
felt precise becomes muddled, replaced by confusing symbolism and a story that tries to be both myth and metaphor. What started as a sharp critique of sports culture and toxic mentorship becomes scattered by the film’s need to shock. Critics have noted that “Him” seems unsure of what it wants to be: part sports thriller, part supernatural allegory and part social satire. As a result, it never fully commits to any of them. The ending, instead of landing with emotional or thematic clarity, feels more like a visual experiment that abandons the story’s earlier discipline. Viewers leave with the sense that they watched something visually seizing but narratively unfinished. In the end, “Him” is a film that looks like greatness but doesn’t quite reach it. It has the ingredients of something iconic: a unique story, one of Marlon Wayans’ best performances, and brilliant minds behind this project like Jordan Peele, but sadly still falls flat towards the end. I would still recommend this movie to anyone pulled in by the plot or the visuals of a Jordan Peele movie, as it does indeed still deliver a memorable watch. Graphics by Serenity Clark
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Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
If you told me a year ago that we’d be kicking off the 2025-26 season with the Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder hoisting championship banners, I’d have told you to stop getting me excited. But here we are, two weeks into this NBA season, and the league feels electric. As a diehard NBA fan who bleeds blue and orange for the Thunder, I root for chaos everywhere else. The defending champs are flexing, young players are showing out, and even the old heads are making noise that could mean one last ride for them. Let’s take a look at the swishes and the heartbreaks from the season thus far. Starting with OKC, because how could I not? The Thunder aren’t just champions; they’re the blueprint for what a superteam looks like without the drama. After beating the Pacers in a seven-game thriller last June and Shai GilgeousAlexander (SGA) slicing through defenses for Finals MVP honors, they’ve wasted zero time reminding everyone why they won. Sitting pretty at 12-1 – the current best record in the league despite Jalen Williams still being sidelined with a wrist injury, OKC’s start feels
auspicious. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart. They’ve got the league’s best defense (holding opponents to under 100 points per game) and SGA’s averaging 32.5 and 6.6 assists already. As a fan, it makes me jump for joy. Now there are talks of a possible dynasty in OKC. Here’s my hot take that might not be too hot: I think they can win another championship this season. Down in San Antonio, some real science fiction is popping off. Victor Wembanyama isn’t just playing, he is rewriting the alien invasion script altogether. Wemby is 7’4”, and every bit of a unicorn in this league. His 26.2 points, 13 boards, and 3.6 swats speak for themselves. These are numbers that have analysts saying he is the early favorite for MVP, pushing him past everyone except SGA. The Spurs are 6-4, hovering in the West’s playoff mix, but Wemby’s the story. “He can dunk without jumping,” Spurs head coach Jason Kidd said to NBA.com, “he is different.” Wemby made history as the youngest player to post 30-10-5 in a win. At just 21 years old, he’s got the efficiency (50% from the field), the flair (step-back threes over other seven-footers), and now some wins
Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
At 2 p.m., Nov. 15, in Aggie Gym, Senior Night begins for the Cameron University volleyball team, as five seniors are shown love on the court one last time. Rachael White, Kayla Quintana, Jennifer Valdez, Shelby Rusch and Clarissa Galindo will be taking their final bows on the Aggies home court. The stakes couldn’t be higher for these five ladies. The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds have haunted our record books for the last decade. As a junior here at Cameron, grinding through my comms classes, and making coffee runs constantly, I’ve learned one thing about Aggie sports, it can be hard out there. Our all-time record against Eastern NM, reads 22 wins to their 29, dating back to Oct. 15, 1988. We’ve held our own in the early 2000s, pulling ahead in the volleyball match up until Eastern NM took back the lead in the head-to-head.
Photos by Matthew Hasley
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Sports
November 17, 2025
to back it. If he stays healthy, and that’s what Spur fans are hoping, this could be the season he surpasses Jokić and SGA for the hardware. As someone who has seen too many hyped rookies fizzle out, I think Wemby’s got that Durantesque inevitability. I am rooting for him to at least stay healthy, although I’m not a Spurs fan. Speaking of legacies, let’s tip the cap to LeBron James, because at 40 years of age, he is still the ghost haunting every defender’s nightmares. Paired now with Luka Dončić in L.A. after that insane blockbuster trade last season – Dallas received Anthony Davis (AD), and the Lakers got Luka, the King’s future hangs in the balance. LeBron’s been sidelined early with sciatica, but analysts are buzzing about his return alongside Luka. James could potentially make the Lakers offense even better, which currently sits at 116.3 points per 100 possessions. Off the court, the whispers are louder however, with an expiring contract, Bronny’s (Lebron’s son who also plays on the Lakers) NBA dreams fulfilled, and that vague “last dance” vibe he gave during his summer interviews. “We’ll see what happens going forward, but I don’t know,” Lebron
said back in 2023. “I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest.” This seems to be happening again, as he continues to hint at what he might do post Lakers uniform. I could see Lebron getting into coaching, or even ownership. My heart, however, aches as a fan. LeBron carried the league on his back for two decades! I view him as the best player ever! If this is truly his encore, and it is with Luka, I’m sure they can make it epic. Currently, the Lakers are 7-4 without Lebron in the lineup. With him though, they could easily be heading to the West Finals. Speaking of Luka, the man’s scoring lightsout, nightly. Traded to the Lakers in what will probably go down as the most shocking trade of all time, the Mavs’ most missed player has erupted for 34.9 points per game on 48% shooting. It’s poetic when you think about it. Luka, the guy who dragged Dallas to the ‘24 Finals, traded away and now thriving in the purple and gold of Los Angeles, while the Mavericks limp around at a lowly 3-8. Nico Harrison’s firing as GM was inevitable, how could they continue having him as GM when everyone in Dallas hates the guy? AD, who Dallas traded
I’m sure that stung like a bad serve into the net. We are currently on a 1-9 drought, but we did win the last match on Oct. 9. Will the Aggie seniors be able to flip the script? On a night dedicated to White, Quintana, Valdez, Rusch and Galindo, these five will be the backbone through it all. Our longest win streak against the Greyhounds comes in at six matches, and we did it twice. The first time was from 1997 to 2000 and the second time from 2003 to 2009. If ever there was a group to channel some winning magic, it’s our senior atheletes, who can turn the Aggie Gym into a slew of sideline screamers. Expect the Greyhounds to make it no easy feat. Since 2021, they are 4-1 against Cameron, of the most recent head-to-heads. That lone Aggie “W” was a hard-fought match, and we can make it two in a row on Saturday with a win. Home-court advantage has a chance to influence the match, with the student section ready and the seniors’ families in town, this could help seal a win. Will we start a streak on Saturday, and send these five seniors off with a bang? Or, will it be another chapter in the rivalry’s long, winding tale? One thing’s for sure: the energy will be electric, the blocks thunderous, and the post-game hugs lasting memories.
Luka for, is already banged up. The young core of the Mavs is raw, and that No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, well… he is at least getting 15 a game and shooting 82% from the line. Dallas fans deserve better though. Trading Luka was like a shot in the heart, and Nico was to blame. Let’s head up north and check in on the Warriors, because Steph Curry at 37 years old is still bending basketball physics to his will. Golden State sitting at 7-6 is ninth in the West. Curry is splashing 27 and 6.5 assists a game, hitting shots from the logo like it’s 2016. The real question is, can this older core of Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler (35 and 36 years respectively) sustain a deep run? The defense is top 5, based on ESPN’s BPI (Basketball Power Index), but Curry is the ultimate X-factor for the team. Can he pull this team along, and stay healthy enough? Can he take this team on another run to the Championship? Dream big, Dub Nation. Then there’s Kevin Durant (KD), his shot is like a dagger from an assassin, even as he ages. Traded to Houston during the offseason chaos, having KD next to Alperen Sengun gives the Rockets a double whammy. The Rockets are 7-3, slightly behind
OKC and nipping at their heels. KD’s start of 26 points a game on 55% from deep continues to feel like a sniper shot from the 37-year-old. For the rest of the league, in the East, the Pistons are 10-2 with Cade Cunningham having a breakout start to the season, averaging 27.5 from the field. The Knicks are rolling 7-4 behind Brunson’s 28 a night. How’s the West doing? Memphis is 4-9, Ja Morant leads the team with 18.9 points. The Nuggets, at 9-2 are finding their rhythm again, and Aaron Gordon has been balling. I am betting on him having a breakout year for himself. The Clippers? They are 3-8, but Kawhi is injured. The NBA season is off to a good start thus far. It’s been unpredictable, full of highlights, and has a fan like me begging for more. As someone who has spent countless nights yelling at my screen, this feels like the NBA I’ve always known it as. From Thunder’s dominance to Wemby’s alien-like abilities, LeBron’s last year(s) to Luka’s first year in L.A. – this season will continue to be poetry in motion. Here’s to all the dunks, the endless debates, and whatever craziness this year’s playoffs will bring. NBA, don’t disappoint.
Wear your gold and hit the stands on Saturday night and celebrate Senior Night for volleyball. Let’s make some history, Cam Fam. Go Aggies!
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Community Outreach
November 17, 2025
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BRINGING LEADERSHIP TO LAWTON Angelica Martinez Student Life Editor
From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nov. 4, at the FISTA Innovation Park in Central Plaza, the Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute held its annual Live 2 Lead. The event featured several guest speakers through virtual presentations and a keynote from an expert in emerging technology. Community leaders, professionals and students from Cameron University and Lawton High Schools attended the event. Guests first walked through the new lobby of FISTA’s latest addition, the STEM Lab and Maker Studio, which held its grand opening later that afternoon. Lawton Mayor Stan Booker opened the day by encouraging attendees to embrace the lessons from the four speakers as well as to welcome new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), which he said would play a major role in the FISTA’s future. The first speaker, John C. Maxwell, is widely recognized as one of the leading experts on leadership. He has sold more than 21 million books, including “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” “Developing the Leader Within You” and “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.” Maxwell began by encouraging the audience to take notes using his “A-C-T” method: mark “A” next to lessons they can apply, “C” next to things they need to change and “T” next to lessons they can take home and teach others. Throughout his presentation, Maxwell emphasized the importance of teamwork. He shared a story about former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who once asked him for advice on improving his leadership and team performance. Maxwell said that teams, not individuals, drive success. “I think we overrate our dream, and I think we underrate our team,” he said. He went on to share his six key traits of a winning team, each beginning with the letter C. The first was communication; leaders should not lead by assumption but instead connect directly with those around them. The second was creation; leaders must build environments that help their teams grow and encourage emerging leaders to develop their skills and bring them back to contribute. The third was collaboration; team members must work together and combine their strengths to make progress. The fourth was concentration; a team must identify its strengths and focus on them to expand ideas and performance. The fifth was consecration; trust and accountability are required for a team to succeed. The sixth and final trait was celebration, which Maxwell said was vital for honoring accomplishments together, as no goal is achieved alone. The second speaker, Tiffani Bova, focused on personal growth and self-improvement. She spoke about her own leadership journey, including her early struggles and the time and effort it took to grow as a leader.
Bova shared how, after her first keynote speech, she carefully analyzed her tone and mannerisms to identify areas for improvement. She continues to seek feedback to this day, asking what she does well and where she can improve. She introduced the 1 Percent Rule, which encourages small, daily improvements that lead to long-term success through steady momentum. She explained that this approach helps people avoid feeling overwhelmed by change and instead focus on gradual progress. Bova encouraged attendees to surround themselves with people who promote positive growth. To close her presentation, she led the audience in a self-reflection activity. Attendees completed an inventory of their personal and professional development, identifying where they are now and where they hope to be in 12 months. They sealed their reflections in envelopes to be mailed back to themselves a year later as a reminder of their progress. The third speaker, Anthony Trucks, a former NFL player, delivered an emotional and motivational message centered on his phrase “Own Your Shift.” His presentation encouraged attendees to take responsibility for change in their lives. Trucks shared his story of growing up in foster care and refusing to let that experience define him. He described how he fell into a dark period after his football career ended, facing divorce and financial struggles. He said he chose to “own his shift,” rebuild his life, and take control of his direction. Over time, he remarried his exwife and built a stronger, happier life. “Leadership starts with leading yourself,” Trucks said, urging attendees to recognize that their proudest accomplishments often come from difficult times. The final speaker of the morning Daniel Burrus, a technology futurist and New York Times bestselling author, shifted the focus to innovation and the future. Burrus emphasized developing what he called an “anticipatory mindset,” which he said helps leaders prepare for rapid technological change rather than react to it. Much of Burrus’s presentation focused on artificial intelligence and how it can be implemented Photo by Angelica Martinez
responsibly in business and everyday life. He defined AI’s limits, explaining that while it can process information quickly, it cannot anticipate, adapt, build relationships and provide empathy as humans can. Burrus outlined a set of guidelines for responsible AI use. He advised leaders to use AI only for good purposes, treat its outputs as first drafts rather than finished products, verify all information before using it and maintain confidentiality and data privacy. He demonstrated how AI tools can help create podcasts, training videos and marketing content without extensive equipment. Burrus highlighted several AI applications, including ChatGPT by OpenAI, Copilot by Microsoft, and Gemini by Google. He also discussed specialized tools such as Beautiful.ai for creating slide decks, Synthesia for generating videos, Midjourney for producing images, ElevenLabs for voice synthesis, AIVA for composing music, Jasper for marketing, and Codex for programming. Burrus also explained best practices for writing effective AI prompts, such as specifying the target audience, tone, and purpose, and providing examples to refine results. He noted that many major search engines already incorporate AI into their platforms. He closed by acknowledging AI’s current limitations, including its potential for misinformation and its high energy and water use. Despite these challenges, Burrus emphasized that understanding and responsibly adapting to AI will be essential for leaders navigating the future. As the morning came to an end, attendees were left with a shared message across all four presentations: leadership begins with self-awareness and grows through collaboration, consistency and adaptability. Whether through personal reflection, teamwork or emerging technology, each speaker encouraged participants to continue learning and leading in their own communities.
Angelica Martinez
FISTA Innovation Park. Ratliff emphasized that the creation of the new area would not have been possible without collaboration. “Every detail, from the layout of the rooms to the equipment inside the facility, was thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, inspire learning and support collaboration,” Ratliff said. “It stands as a testament to what can happen when so many people work together with a shared purpose and a belief in possibility.” After the presentations, event leaders invited guests inside for a reception. Event leaders also invited local elementary and middle schools, with any of the visitors able to observe students engaging in real time STEM activities led by the FISTA STEM team. One member of that team is Cameron University student Russell Simington, a mechanical engineering major who also serves as the Computer Specialist and Makerspace Coordinator. “I was originally setting up the main groundwork for the maker space, like setting plans for tools, pricing, and tech workshops,” Simington said. “My responsibility on the team now that the STEM Lab is open is to make sure that technology like 3D printers,
CNCs and our industry machines in the maker space are fully operational and safe for customers … I also help with STEM activities for the STEM team and run technology workshops.” Simington said his work at FISTA has been deeply rewarding. “My experience at FISTA has been absolutely enlightening for me,” he said. “It definitely put my skills to the test, especially in my first few CAD projects. But those projects made my skills in CAD and 3D modeling even better. And writing documents, organizing the future maker space at the time, helped me be a more organized person overall in my life … And not to mention the wonderful individuals who are in the FISTA team. Especially my fellow members in the STEM team who are basically a second family for me. All those people have helped me turn into the leader that I should be.” As the STEM Lab and Makerspace officially open their doors, FISTA continues to strengthen connections between education, innovation and community growth. With each project and partnership, the facility aims to inspire the next generation of innovators in southwest Oklahoma and beyond.
Student Life Editor
At 12:30 p.m., Nov. 4, the FISTA Innovation Park held an opening ceremony for its newest addition, the STEM Lab and Makerspace. The new facility aims to connect students and educators across the region while investing in the next generation through hands-on STEM education. The expansion offers youth in southwest Oklahoma access to state-of-the-art resources, including dozens of 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking and metal fabrication shops, and open labs for interactive learning. The facility’s resources are expected to make a significant impact on rural communities that often lack access to advanced STEM tools. Students who previously did not have these opportunities can now explore new projects, develop technical skills and discover potential careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The opening day featured multiple speakers who helped make the STEM Lab and Makerspace possible, including Dr. Krista Ratliff, president and CEO of
Photos by Angelica Martinez, Graphics by Jake Thomas