Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, October 14, 2013
Public safety releases report Sarah Brewer Staff Writer
In an effort to improve student and community safety awareness, the Cameron University Office of Public Safety has released the 2013 Annual Security, Fire and Safety Report. The document — emailed to the campus community by CU Director of Public Safety John DeBoard — describes current policies, provides resources and lists crime and fire statistics. Its release complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crimes Statistics Act, a federal statute that requires universities to publish crime and fire statistics from the past three years by Oct. 1 of each year. Maintaining its reputation as one of the safest institutions across the nation, Cameron University is reporting zeroes for several categories of serious offenses: forcible and non-forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, arson, weapon possession and hate crimes. DeBoard attributes this record to a series of initiatives. Several measures — like instating a curfew for student residents and installing student identification card readers — come as a direct result of evaluating the report. Regular lighting tours — walks that look at
Photo by Sarah Autry
Deep Roots: President John McArthur speaks at the 2013 Academic Convocation. The event was held on Oct. 4 in the Fine Arts courtyard, and is held annually on the Cameron University campus.
Traditions thrive at CU Sarah Autry Staff Writer
Cameron University’s 2013 Academic Convocation ceremony was held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4 in the Fine Arts courtyard. The ceremony has deep roots in tradition, from the garb worn by the professors, to the way the students march in to the event. The event celebrated approximately 1,000 students who are Honors Society members, scholarship recipients or both. The processional was led by the Platform Party, which consisted of the need for street lamps and other fixtures — and frequent training sessions with an increasing number of resident assistants also improves awareness of safety hazards on campus. “A lot of those don’t
CU President Dr. John McArthur, Vice President Dr. Ronna Vanderslice, Deans, Chair of Faculty Senate, Student Government Association (SGA) President Kevin Steib, as well as designated Regents, speakers and singers. Following the Platform Party was the faculty of Cameron, led by honor students holding gonfalons – large banners decorated with each department’s name and corresponding symbol. The Office of Public Affairs redesigned the gonfalons used in this year’s ceremony just last year. Vanderslice said she was happy with
receive perhaps the fanfare that they should,” DeBoard said. “As I say, it is not a grand as opening a new building or announcing a new program, but it is done in steps, and we have been
doing it for several years.” Taking a holistic approach and responding in a prompt manner remains crucial in ensuring the safety of students that lives on campus and the entire community that
this year’s ceremony. “SGA President Steib did a great job recognizing the students and so did the Banner carriers who had to fight the wind. Our singers did an outstanding job, and the band was awesome,” she said. More than 600 students followed the faculty, representing the various National Honor Societies recognized at Cameron. The students sat in the inner part of the courtyard with the faculty seated behind them on the outer circle.
See CONVOCATION Page 2
attends the university on a daily basis. “We try to do the majority of these things proactively before anything happens, so we’re not doing a kneejerk reaction to a safety issue,” he said.
“We’re evaluating it all of the time.” Deboard said better training of RAs leads to a higher number of crimes reported on campus as they become more aware of what to notice.
Volume 89 Issue 6 As the CU Police Department also reports these crime statistics to the FBI through the state of Oklahoma and makes these reports available through the Uniform Crime Report, DeBoard said he finds it especially frustrating to report these higher figures. In the report, Liquor Law Violations were the most prominent offenses. There were 11 cases resulting in disciplinary action that took place in student residence areas in the last year, compared with eight in 2011 and three in 2010. Four cases of Drug Law Violations also took place in CU housing — there were none on record for 2011, but there were three in 2010. Regarding drug and alcohol abuse, the report mentions that Cameron University “prohibits the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on universityowned or controlled premises, in the workplace, or as part of any university sponsored activities.” “Any student or employee who violates Cameron’s policy will be subject to severe disciplinary action along with punishments as mandated by state and federal laws,” the report continued. Most of these violations occur when students invite their friends to come over, DeBoard said, and within minutes, a gathering can escalate into a party. He said most students knowingly violate CU policies when this happens.
See SAFETY Page 2
Celebrating diversity in style Cameron’s International Club hosts Sixth Annual Student Scholarship Banquet Casey Brown Staff Writer
Cameron University’s Photo by Jacob Jardel International Club Smooth sailing: Dr. Joanni Sailor addresses her class. Sailor hosted a black tie event that featured is one of five transition team members for a new state board. traditional raiment from around the world instead of black ties. The club held Jacob Jardel its Sixth Annual Staff Writer Student Scholarship Banquet at 6 p.m. on Dr. Terry Cline, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department Oct. 5 in the MCC’s of Health, named Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. Joanni McCasland Ballroom. Sailor, as the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy representative The three-hour for the transition team for the new State Board of Behavioral Health event included Licensure. international cuisine Governor Mary Fallin required the formation of this state board as a from seven different new composite committee overseeing the licensure processes for mental countries, a guest health professionals in the LMFT field as well as the fields of Licensed speaker, dance Professional Counseling and Licensed Behavioral Practitioners. The five-person team was appointed to ensure that the board, which performances from three different become active Nov. 1, will have the needed resources and tools once it countries and music. starts operation. The purposes of “We’re creating and developing the entire new agency’s policies, this yearly event are to procedures and computer systems,” Sailor said. “It’s like making a celebrate the diversity whole new business, but it’s a state agency.” of Cameron’s campus
A healthy appointment
Photos by Casey Brown
Dancing queens: Cameron students perform at the Sixth Annual Student Scholarship Banquet. The event lasted three hours and had food from seven countries. and to raise money for the International scholarship fund. This year’s event was sold out, for the fourth year in a row. Over 250 guests— students, staff, parents and community members—were in
attendance. Throughout the event, attendees bid on items donated to the silent auction. The Lawton/Ft. Sill community donated a wide range of items to be used in the auction. Marcella Gustafson,
International Club adviser, said the silent auction is a critical component of the event because the money raised goes straight to the scholarship fund. “Our community is very supportive
and very generous. We could not have a successful event without those contributions,” Gustafson said.
See DIVERSITY Page 6
Inside this issue: Student Life Skee Week goes Pink for breast cancer awareness See Page 4
A&E A dynamic duo: Lawton High and the Civic Symphony See Page 5
Voices Exploring the struggles of college students today See Page 7