Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, January 25, 2016
Volume 94 Issue 1
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President McArthur on the budget Interview by Vicky Smith Have you received any feedback from students and faculty, regarding the list of items for increased revenue and reduced services? I am very pleased with the campus feedback as we listened during the fall term from students, staff and faculty. We ended up with well over a hundred items that were suggested both for cost efficiencies or for revenue. Who has enagaged in the discussion about the list this semester? So far, it’s mainly employees. I presented that whole list to our employees on Tuesday morning, Jan. 5. I’m scheduled to speak to Student Government on Jan. 25, and then I’ll provide that list at that meeting so that our students have the opportunity to look at the same items and comment as well. When reviewing the list of items, what should students keep in mind? The main thing is looking at the items on that list and understanding the impact of making those changes, and if you reduce a service, who’s going to be affected [and] how are they affected. Why is it important for students to join the conversation? Student input is so important because the last thing we want to do is raise our prices to the point where students from Southwest Oklahoma can’t afford to come to Cameron. We want the campus conversation because
collectively, we’re a lot smarter than we are individually. I think we’re very creative, so we’ll find a way that we can continue to provide a great education at Cameron for our students while keeping it inexpensive and then helping us have quality teachers, too. How can students join in the conversation? The comment discussions – we are hosting a series of listening sessions ... We’ll have one a week through the middle of February, and I’ll host the last one. How can students support Cameron University during this time of fiscal challenges? I’m reluctant to ask our studnets to go lobby their legislatures ... We’re short of money across the board. I think for our students – it’s continuing to let people know their education increases their opportunities, so it’s worth that support. One of the messages I share over and over again is graduates from Cameron tend to stay in Oklahoma and work in Oklahoma, so the service that we provide is helping Oklahoma grow. In what ways do Cameron Univeristy graduates who stay in Oklahoma help the state grow? They’re staying right here raising families and helping Oklahoma. They’re providing our teachers. They’re providing the nurses and doctors we need for the health care for our citizens. We don’t tell people they can’t leave, but that really is part of Cameron’s duty: we have to help southwest Oklahoma grow, so help Duncan, Lawton and Altus.
Fiscal challenges in the new year Vicky Smith
replacing those positions,” McArthur said. about eight million dollars. “We’re holding off until July before we make “That’s our discussion list,” McArthur Managing Editor any new hiring decisions.” said. “By no means [are we] doing all those @pinkwritinglady On July 1, FY2017 will begin. things … We have three million dollars McArthur said the Oklahoma in candidates for review.” Cameron University faculty and staff Board of Equalization certified According to McArthur, the are continuing to prepare for not only state 6.0592 billion dollars to the suggested items fit under ten budget allocation deductions for FY2017 legislature for FY2017, which categories, some of which but also state tax revenue affecting current is 12.9 percent less than last are related to academic FY2016. year’s certification. programs, athletics, salary Cameron President John McArthur In response to the and benefits for employees, said near the end of December, he received state budget allocation facilities, changes in a letter from the Oklahoma Board of deduction, McArthur student support, travel Equalization, who reviews the state tax said Cameron’s budget is and revenue. revenue. expected to be reduced McArthur presented “They reviewed the amount of money by three million dollars. the list of items to coming in,” McArthur said, “and it was low In the fall, McArthur Cameron employees enough that they’ve asked each of the state began a planning list for on Jan. 5, and he is agencies to reduce and return some of the increased revenue and scheduled to speak in a money we received from the state.” reduced services, and meeting with the Student McArthur said the amount of money the he asked for suggestions Government Association board asked him to return is $579,217, and from faculty and (SGA) on Jan. 25. the university will return the money in six students. “I’ll provide that list equal payments from January through June. “I am very pleased at that meeting so that “How do we reduce our budget by $579, with the campus feedback our students have the 217?” McArthur asked. “We’re going to do as we listened during the opportunity to look at the a five percent reduction retroactive to the fall term,” McArthur said. same items and comment beginning of the year.” “We ended up with well as well,” McArthur said. According to McArthur, the university over a hundred items that “The main thing is looking has curtailed some out-state-travel, reduced were suggested both for at the items on that list materials purchases, which include paper cost efficiencies or for and understanding the and office supplies, and put in a soft hiring revenue.” impact of making those freeze for vacancies. McArthur said the - Dr. John McArthur changes.” “If anybody retired or resigned, unless McArthur said there’s something that affects the safety and sum of all the items Cameron President on the list add up to students, faculty and the security of campus, we have not been
“We will honor current agreements, so regardless of how we address the budget shortfall, we’re going to make sure to protect our current students.”
staff can visit http://www.cameron.edu/ fiscalyear2017 to make suggestions. “We want the campus conversation because collectively, we’re a lot smarter than we are individually,” he said. “There are a lot of bright people on this campus—students, staff, and faculty … We’ll find a way that we can continue to provide a great education at Cameron for our students while keeping it inexpensive and then helping us have quality teachers, too.” McArthur said he encourages students who have concerns to engage their professors and academic advisors. “We’re here to provide support for the education of our students,” he said. According to McArthur, a frequent topic of discussion among students is the elimination of degree programs. “No one in the middle of their degree program is going to be told, ‘You can’t study that anymore,’” he said. “All the problematic changes would be very gradual … It would be for high school students now who are applying to Cameron; we wouldn’t allow them to declare that major if we canceled something.” Another topic of concern among students has been the cancelation of scholarships. “We will honor current agreements,” McArthur said, “so regardless of how we address the budget shortfall, we’re going to make sure to protect our current students …. We will honor the scholarships through the term they’re committed to Cameron.”
What’s inside Talking about civil rights Page 3
Film Festival comes to Duncan
Aggie basketball double win
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Page 6
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News
January 25, 2016
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Zellner on social equality Zachary Zahniser
Zellner said a world free of racism benefits everyone. Staff Writer “Hatred is a poison that corrodes the container The Annual Cameron MLK banquet took place it’s carried in,” he said. At a panel before the banquet, Zellner, Police at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Aggie Rec Center. The Chief James Smith and 2015 Cameron University banquet featured a surprise guest speaker, Dr. Bob Miss Black CU Marissa Williams all had the Zellner, filling in for Morris Dees who fell ill. Zellner is a lifetime civil rights activist who grew opportunity to speak about the troubles facing modern America and what can be done to further up in Alabama with family members in the KKK. When he was in college, he joined civil rights groups civil rights and end racism. Smith, a veteran with over 30 years of law such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and organized sit-ins, freedom enforcement experience, strongly encouraged the younger generation to vote. rides and the 1963 March on Washington. “We have got to make our voice heard,” Smith Zellner described in detail when he was almost said. “[The] last election of [the] mayor, only 30 lynched for taking African Americans to register to percent of registered voters actually showed up.” vote. Zellner agreed, and encouraged those interested “They took me out to a tree with a rope, and they took some other people out also,” Zellner said. to look into the Poor People’s Campaign, a “They said, ‘We’re going to hang you from this rope campaign started by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to that limb,’ and I thought that was my last day on with the stated purpose of giving all people what they need to live and providing a voice for those earth.” below the poverty line. Fifty years later, Zellner continues to fight for Zellner’s message was to not simply think of the the civil liberties of marginalized groups, marching civil rights movement as a thing of the past and to with Black Lives Matter protesters and getting take a critical look at the prejudice that still exists arrested in 2013 for participating in a North today. Carolina protest against voting restrictions.
Courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Talking the talk: Dr. Bob Zellner (left) filled in to speak at Cameron’s annual MLK Banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 in the Aggie Rec Center.
Preparing for presidential elections Jacob Jardel
Whitman-Cobb said most any government office would have Sports Editor registration forms. @JJardel_Writing Voters will also decide who The start of 2016 means gains what Congressional seats one thing among others – the and, depending on the region, what culmination of months of different acts will go into effect. Presidential campaigns. However, the main attraction has All the talk comes to a head been the presidential campaigns, this November when citizens will which Whitman-Cobb has respond with their votes to elect equated to a reality show because a new President. However, the of Republican candidate Donald process starts soon, with Oklahoma Trump. primaries starting on Mar. 1. “He’s really changed the game In order to vote in these in the election this year,” she primaries, people must register said. “That’s probably the biggest by Feb. 5. According to Assistant difference this year – the hoopla Professor of Political Science Dr. surrounding Trump.” Wendy Whitman-Cobb there are She mentioned Trump’s many different ways to register. influence on revived hot button “Probably the easiest way to do issues such as illegal immigration. this … is Google ‘voter registration Other issues on the minds of voters Oklahoma,’” she said. “You can and candidates include health care, download one of their forms. It’s a terrorism, taxes, the environment simple one-page form. You fill it out, and the economy. and you can send it in.” Whitman-Cobb mentioned that For those who want to locate what issue matters most depends a physical copy of the form, on one’s party affiliation. She gave
a note of caution to balance news sources when researching various issues, since the decisions voters make can determine what policies go into place. “It’s what we base our government off of,” she said, “this idea that we are represented in the federal government by the people we elect. If you are not voting, arguably, you are not having your voice heard.” Associate Professor of Government Dr. Tony Wohlers added onto this statement, further emphasizing the gravity of the right to vote. “There are many ways to influence decision-making in a functioning democratic system,” he said. “However, voting is one of the most important ones. As informed citizens interested in a functioning democracy, we are called upon to take advantage of this political right.” Both Whitman-Cobb and Wohlers cited recent declines in
voter output in the 18-24 age range, emphasizing the need for student voting output. “The influence of the younger generation on election outcomes are diminishing and so are the policy issues that are important to them,” Wohlers said. “Hence, it is critical for students to remain active in politics and vote during elections.” Whitman-Cobb corroborated this statement. “If you want free college education, you have to be willing to support a candidate and be willing to show up to vote,” she said. “If you want a higher minimum wage, you have to show up to vote. “If you aren’t willing to do that, the candidates will not pay attention to your issues,” she said. Whitman-Cobb also addressed the common conception that individual votes will not count when all is said and done. She cited the 2000 election between Al Gore and George Bush, where the difference in Florida came down to 535 votes.
“Try telling 535 people in Florida that their vote didn’t count,” she said. “You’re never going to know if your vote really will count until it’s all over. So why take the chance and miss out on the opportunity?” She also mentioned voters need to not only take the opportunity but to make it count. “You’re fulfilling your democratic duty,” Whitman-Cobb said. “This is the fundamental cornerstone of what our government means and what our founding fathers fought for. Honor that in the act of voting and take it seriously.” Wohlers agreed, adding the privilege that comes with the right to vote. “Each voter can make a difference by just being part of the political community,” Wohlers said. “Exercise a political right that does not exist or is undermined in many other countries. “We should never take the right to vote as granted,” he said. “It is a civic responsibility and privilege.”
Students create database for CCMH Vicky Smith
Managing Editor
@pinkwritinglady Students participating in a spring interdisciplinary class are creating a searchable database application for Comanche County Memorial Hospital (CCMH). In its seventh year, the interdisciplinary class is a combination of Information Technology (IT) Capstone, Computer Science (CS) Capstone, Multimedia (MM) Capstone and an internship with the English department. Computing and technology instructor Dave Smith said he and the other professors run the class as though it is a software company. Smith is the CEO, Dr. Chao Zhao is the chief information officer (CIO), Dr. Abbas Johari is the chief knowledge officer (CKO) and Dr. William Carney is the chief data officer (CDO). The point of contact for the project’s client, CCMH, is Lillian Estep, the informatics manager of CCMH. Estep said the purpose of the project is to create a searchable database application that will store medical bone and tissue data. “The application will replace the current paper and excel spreadsheet process,” she said, “and [it] will eliminate employees from duplicating data entry.” Smith said the students will gain experience in their field when working on the project. The students will create the frontend, middleware and backend of the system. “They have to pull all their skills together to be able to do this,” Smith said. “It’s a huge undertaking.” According to Smith, the project is an all-around win for the students, the client, the professors and the university. “They [students] get letters of recommendation,” he said. “The clients win because they get anywhere from a $50,000- to a $100,000 piece of software [at no charge]. “It makes the professors successful as well and keeps us up to speed on what we’re doing. Cameron wins because we’re doing these experiential and service-learning projects.” Smith said the students work hard and fast to complete the project by the end of the semester. “The students put in an enormous amount of hours. Actual hours: we’re talking probably $40,000 to $50,000 dollars – if we were charging based on hours.” Smith said this year, the students must complete the project even faster than in previous years. “The client wants it done with two weeks to spare so [that] it can go through more testing … because of the nature of it and to make sure it’s going to work on their systems,” Smith said. “So, we have to actually compress it a little harder this time.” Smith said the project provides students with the opportunity to achieve success in their field before they even graduate. “[It gives] them confidence when they go out and get a job – that they can handle the big projects,” he said. “I really want them to succeed.” According to Smith, the project is fun for both the students and himself.
“This is a wild and crazy run,” he said. “It’s always interesting to me where minds are going to take different people. … I am always proud of them because of the efforts they put in.” Smith said the goal in his leadership role for the project is to help people get jobs – the best jobs he possibly can. “I want them to have much knowledge and much experience when they leave Cameron,” he said. “If I do that and they get jobs, then there’s a satisfaction in that.”
Graphic by Katy Dayhoff
January 25, 2016
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Student Life
Honoring MLK
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Panel discusses civil rights Williams believed education should not only be looked at on a state and federal level but also a local level. “I honestly believe since education varies between states, some things should be left to the states,” Williams said. “Although some of the major issues that are national should be handled by the government at a national level, I think … education differs between towns and rural and urban areas, so some things should just be taken care of even locally.” Zellner recalled his unique situation after receiving his bachelor’s degree in which his debt was paid off because of the work he had done for SNCC. He believes in a better option than high interest rates. “There is still a Department of Education,” he said. “There is a federal role for education. Of course one would be to work on these tremendous student debts that people Photo by Tyla Eakins come out of school now owing Civil Rights Today: In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Zellner, (Left) James Smith(Center) and Marissa Williams (Right) … and the incredible amount expressed their feelings toward different aspects of current social issues in front of an audience. Cameron University allowed audience of money in those interest members to ask the panelists questions at the free to the public event. [rates]. “I think those should be against black men. Smith said “That prosecutor depends confront.” educated to be able to get good Tyla Eakins interest free loans and there when shootings do happen, on those policemen to make Williams said she wasn’t jobs and you have to number Student Life Editor should be a certain kind of Lawton Police officers step his cases every day, so we aware of all the procedures one keep our young people out @Tyla_Eakins national service you could do back and let the Oklahoma have a lot of cases where the officers had to follow, and of the system. to alleviate that student debt.” Civil rights activist and State Bureau of Investigations prosecutor in front of the following orders would keep “And that may seem kind Zellner said, though there author Bob Zellner joined take over. However, he doesn’t grand jury becomes a defense the police from using excessive of strange coming from a has been progress, work needs Lawton police chief James believe black men are a target. lawyer for the cop who may force. police chief talking about to be done to combat racism, Smith and Miss Black “Really shooting or have been involved in an “I don’t know that its keeping people out of jail especially when it comes to Cameron University Marissa taking the life of any person incident and shot somebody.” necessarily a solution,” she and out of prison, but one of white privilege. Williams, a senior elementary is very traumatic,” he said. Zellner said police officers said, “but I do believe that the things that if you look “White people have a education major, during “If you look at the numbers, protect each other much like although it’s sad to say that on in our justice system, there special privilege,” said Zellner. a panel discussion which it may look like there is criminals protect each other, our behalf, we do need to be is a disproportional amount “If you’re in a dangerous focused on police brutality, a disproportion of police even when the evidence is aware of the situation and try of minorities that’s in the situation at night in a city and civil rights, Donald Trump shootings of black males but transparent. not to escalate the situation. system.” and education 2:30 p.m. overall those numbers do not “What I don’t understand If we do come into contact Zellner told the story of his feel threatened, you have no fear whatsoever of going to a Jan. 18 in the McMahon pan out that police are only and what a lot of other people with a police officer just follow colleague Herbert Lee who policeman on the corner under Centennial Complex shooting black males.” don’t understand is that code instructions and listen.” was killed in Mississippi by “I guess with dad being in Zellner said when police of silence – that blue line,” he Regarding the civil rights his next door neighbor, a state the light and saying, ‘I need help.’ A young black person the Klan and his dad being officers shoot citizens the said. “Just like in the criminal movement today, all panelists legislator, after registering to … may be in more danger in the Klan and them being case is handled by a local world, you don’t rat out people. agreed income equality is an vote. going and involving the police Christian fundamentalist’s, prosecutor. He said cases Those people need to be ratted issue. James said the way to “Now that didn’t frighten than they were with whatever I come from a long line of involving the police should out they really do; they don’t battle the economic divide us,” he said. “We had our danger they were faced with. fundamentalist terrorists,” have a prosecutor who isn’t belong in the police force. is to enforce education so SNCC meeting there in “White people have no Zellner said, “so I am uniquely local. “We see it on video, the that people will be able to get Macomb, Miss. The following sense of that. White people qualified to comment on some “Prosecutors should not person walking away and then higher paying jobs. month we said, ‘You’re no say all the time there’s no of the events that are occurring ever have to prosecute their gets shot 17 times and the “Economic power stems longer going to scare us into such thing as white privilege; today worldwide and here in own police people,” he said. officer says they either didn’t from a lot of things,” James giving up our rights,’ and we we have all kinds of white our United States.” “They can’t do that. It’s the see it or he was in danger of said. “Number one you have The panelists believed privilege, and we have to One of the issues discussed most direct conflict of interest his life. No, that’s not true, so to get people in the work force, education is a key in confront it.” was police brutality primarily there can be. these are things we need to you have to get people who are progressing as a society.
Organizations begin recruiting for Spring semester Erin Owens
Hayley Deighan, Vice President of Chapter Staff writer Organizations, said that Delta Sigma Pi was a great Students and faculty from all organization for building areas of campus came together Jan. networks that could be helpful 14 in the MCC for the Cameron after graduation when looking University Organization Fair. The for job placement. fair is held every semester and “We are a professional gives students the opportunity to business fraternity made up discover different organizations on of men and women who are campus. The types of organizations business majors,” she said. “Our represented varied but included purpose is to develop leaders cultural, social and academic within the community, connect associations. with our business community The fair provided students the and also to network. We have a opportunity to meet with members from each organization in attendance national network and we go to events all around.” and learn more about what the The fair makes joining an association had to offer. Chi Alpha organization easier for students. faculty advisor Dr. Clinton Bryan Sarah Downen, the SGA said that his organization focused representative for the Cameron on supporting students on campus with prayer, fellowship, discipleship, Psychology club said that the organization fair accounts for witness and worship. Photo by Jacob Jardel roughly 10 percent of their new Giving back to the community: Patrick Perez (Left) talks with John Hunan (Center) Robert Day “A lot of students are going off members each year. to college for the first time,” he said. (Right) about one of Cameron’s new organizations, “Circle K” whose members help many charities around “It’s great,” she said. “With the Lawton community. Circle K meets every Tuesday in the MCC Ballroom. “They lose their support system, everybody coming in and walking or their family network to some by we are able to talk to them and the computers and equipment in our Catholic Church and deliver gifts to degree, and they have perhaps Cameron Organizatinons that we’ve already had someone sign up.” multimedia department and that has families who can’t afford Christmas. more independence than they have want to spread the word about For smaller associations like the kind of driven people away before,” We also do photography retreats ever had before. We afford the their organization and how it can Cameron Multimedia Club, the fair she said. where we go hiking at Mt. Scott and benefit students and the surrounding opportunity where they can have provided Secretary Kaytlen Dayhoff Dayhoff added that the take pictures.” friends if they don’t know anybody community. the chance to speak with nonmultimedia club is more than just the The organization fair is a place for else on campus and they can have a Students wanting to get involved multimedia majors. use of equipment though. Cameron students looking to join an in an organization, but did not have community in which they can find “We’re a small club, so we are “We always like to do association to explore which would the chance to stop by the fair a full that network or support.” kind of just condensed within our homecoming, and we put a big focus be the best fit for them. The fair gives students the chance list of all campus organizations can department,” she said. “We can’t on that,” she said. “Also around For organizations interested in to become involved with a larger be located on Cameron’s webpage on allow non multimedia students to use Christmas time we connect with the recruiting it gives a platform for network of people. the student organizations homepage.
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Voices
January 25, 2016
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Photos courtesy of Tribune News Service
The Boy from Brixton: A David Bowie fan mourns the death of the music superstar in front of a mural in his hometown of Brixton, England. Bowie passed on Jan. 10, two days after the release of his final studio album and four days before actor Alan Rickman, famous for his role as Professor Snape in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise.
Creating and inspiring after all this time
“Death closes all: but rapper Kanye West tweeted. something ere the end, \ Some “[So] fearless, so creative, he work of noble note, may yet be gave us magic for a lifetime.” done, \ Not unbecoming men Even heads of state who strove with Gods.” expressed their grief over These words come from Bowie’s death. “Ulysses,” a poem by Alfred, “Musically, creatively, Lord Tennyson. The title artistically, David Bowie was a character speaks to the sailors genius,” British Prime Minister with whom he has traveled, David Cameron said. “He was declaring that he and they a master of reinvention.” still have the potential to do The world did not have something honorable, to “sail long before losing yet another beyond the sunset … until masterful talent. [they] die.” Actor Alan Rickman People like Ulyssess don’t succumbed to his battle with come often, even in scenarios cancer on Jan. 14 – four days far less grave than a Trojan after Bowie. He was 69-yearsWar. The work ethic to keep old. going, to keep doing, until one’s Though he made his “big final days break” relatively exemplifies late with his role the nobility in as Hans Gruber all of us. in “Die Hard,” Recently, Rickman dazzled the world the screen in his lost two of its numerous notable noblest. roles. On Jan. 10, However, the news of probably his most David Bowie’s famed role was as death sent Professor Severus shockwaves Snape in the film Jacob Jardel through the adaptations of Sports Editor entertainment the Harry Potter @JJardel_Writing industry. His books. Author J.K. 18-month battle with cancer Rowling expressed her sadness was far from public, and he at the actor’s death via Twitter. recently released his final “There are no words to studio album “Blackstar” two express how shocked and days prior on his 69th birthday. devastated I am to hear of Alan When news came through Rickman’s death,” Rowling the wire, fans and the media said. “He was a magnificent reacted as if it was a hoax. actor [and] a wonderful man.” A post on the star’s official His character shone Facebook unfortunately proved through in his interactions with otherwise. fellow actors. Royal Academy Many shared in the loss, of Dramatic Art (RADA) with celebrities and fans Director Edward Kemp talked expressing their condolences in depth about his kindness. and heartache on social media “He was generous with his in the days since his passing. time, his insight, his money, “David Bowie was one of my his experience,” Kemp said, most important inspirations,” “not only to RADA students About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday 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.
but to young actors and theatre makers across the spectrum.” The deaths of Bowie and Rickman had an impact in the entertainment industry, certainly. However, what makes these deaths so heavy to the general public? Neither have the impact of the great Achilles. They’re “just” celebrities. What makes these things so important, anyway? The piece “Catharsis with a swing of the bat” addressed a similar question in the context of sports, with athletic events providing distraction, unity and subsequent catharsis in times of national tragedy. It provides a common group around which to rally and support. Other forms of entertainment like music and visual media don’t necessarily have that sort of collective focal point to back. It’s less of an active effort and more of a passive and welcome distraction. But, in reality, isn’t that distraction one of the things that makes those media great? As great as life is, it can get mundane, sad or even unnerving. It isn’t always fun. It can get boring or even depressing. Many people likely don’t want to live a life of constant ennui. Enter music like “Moonage Daydream,” which showcases Bowie’s sterling vocals alongside space-sounding instrumentals. Enter movies like “Love Actually” with characters like Rickman’s Harry, a design manager with a dry humor and poor decisionmaking. Enter any form of entertainment that provides a hopefully healthy escape from the doldrums and frustrations
of non-entertainment life. Individuals like Bowie and Rickman gave fans more than that, though. They moved earth and heavens with the impacts they had on those they knew and entertained. In short, they provided – and still provide – inspiration. “I’m really sad to see him go, but I’m also glad that he left this world a better place,” SourceFed executive producer Jeremy Azevedo said of Bowie. “He did so with dignity, with love and with a positivity that we don’t expect of our idols anymore.” Fellow actor Sir Ian McKellen provided similar words of remembrance about Rickman in a heartfelt Facebook post. “Whether to institutions like RADA or to individuals and certainly to me, his advice was always spot-on,” McKellen said. “He put liberal philanthropy at the heart of his life … [He] was a super-active spirit, questing and achieving, a super-hero.” Truly, both Bowie and Rickman were super-human in the ways they approached their craft and the people with whom they interacted. They left indelible marks that will be around long after their passing. Most of all, they kept doing what they did best until they no longer had the ability. Embodying the spirits of Ulysses and his crew, Bowie and Rickman lived the fullest lives they could, and they will both live on in true Ulysses-like fashion: “One equal temper of heroic hearts, \ Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will \ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor - Vicky Smith Sports Editor - Jacob Jardel Student Life Editor - Tyla Eakins Copy Editor - Joel Frambes Aggie Central Editor- Jeff Larson
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Angela Jenkins, Erin Owens, Tarayn McMillan Eugene Patterson, Haley Berry, Makenzie Burk, Chidinma Chykugwa, Marry Ann Davis,Jonathon Good, Kailey Griffee, Zayna Halliburton,LaReece Osborne, Alexsis Page, Kerry Schoonaert,Cristina Soriano Garcia, George Weaver, Haley Wilson,Zachary Zahniser Advertising Managers - Vicky Smith, Tyla Eakins Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
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, by e-mail to aggiecentral@cameron. edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www.aggiecentral.com.
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A&E
January 25, 2016
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Media review: the best of 2015 Jacob Jardel Sports Editor
@JJardel_Writing
2015 showcased with blockbuster movies, seminal albums and gripping video games to keep fans entertained the whole year round. Compiling a year-end list of the bests proves difficult with the sheer volume of the media bestowed upon the public, but here are a couple of highlights of some of 2015’s best releases.
MUSIC
“To Pimp a Butterfly” – Kendrick Lamar. Three years after dropping his platinum-selling sophomore effort “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” the Compton rapper came out firing with his newest album. Critics almost universally loved it, and the record earned enough praise to garner Album of the Year and Best Rap Album nominations for the 2016 Grammy’s. Many other outlets, such as the Genius website, have included the album on year-end “best of ” lists. The ongoing theme throughout is the empowerment of black culture. Mixes of soul, rhythm and blues, jazz and rap molded together as a backdrop for Kendrick’s thoughtprovoking and well-crafted lyricism. Indeed, Lamar dropped his best effort to date. In truth, “To Pimp a Butterfly” is the quintessential hip-hop album of 2015 – perhaps even of the first half of the decade, depending on the source. With tracks like the Grammy-nominated “Alright” and the hit “King Kunta,” Kendrick dropped what is arguably the great American hip-hop record. “E-MO-TION” – Carly Rae Jepsen. What does one do to get out of the shadow of a viral music phenomenon? In the case of Carly Rae Jepsen, follow it up with a mainstream pop success. While some of the tracks still have the bubblegum pop sound of earlier tracks like the viral hit “Call Me Maybe,” the album as a whole digs deeper, with R&B and synth pop influences throughout. The tracks have a more sophisticated sound; and, while the subject matter is still very much in the pop realm, it has a much cleaner and refined delivery. It may seem like a stretch, but “E-MO-TION” is arguably the best pop album of 2015 – despite its exclusion from many year-end award nominations. It comes filled with numerous good tracks – particularly opening track “Run Away With Me” – and compiles them all into Jepsen’s springboard away from viral sensation into legitimate pop artist.
MOVIES
“Straight Outta Compton” – The late 1980s and early 1990s featured the rise and fall of gangsta rap and one of its biggest groups, N.W.A. No film has better depicted the story of the controversial group better than this biopic. The movie takes viewers through the lifespan of N.W.A.
Graphic by Vicky Smith
from development to dissolution and everywhere in between. Though not completely historically accurate according to firstperson accounts, the zeitgeist of the era and the foundations of the events told the gripping story of the hip-hop legends. Fittingly, the most prominent things in “Straight Outta Compton” are the audio and soundtrack. The sound design shone throughout, whether subtle or more overt. On top of that, the music selections featured classic cuts from the group and associated acts – all of which were seamlessly incorporated into the film. Overall, “Straight Outta Compton” proved to be one of the landmark movies of the summer and a sure candidate for many award nominations and wins. With a brilliant cast, great direction and fantastic technical work, this movie will please fans of the group and the genre. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – After what seems like long, long time ago since the last episodes, the “Star Wars” franchise returned to the big screen at the end of 2015 with “The Force Awakens.” Needless to say, few could escape the hype and buildup to this newest movie set in a galaxy far away. Under the direction of J.J. Abrams, “The Force Awakens” lived up to the substantial hype. It contains many plot parallels to the first film and makes many allusions to the series as a whole while still establishing its place in the new canon of the universe. Compelling characters like Rey, Finn, Poe and BB-8 shared the screen with many fan favorites to seamlessly integrate the stories while still leaving fans to theorize backstories and future angles of the series. Most importantly, though, it sets up the rising action for the next two films in the series, coming out in 2017 and 2019. “The Force Awakens” was fantastic for fans old and new. The score was brilliant and kept viewers glued to the beautiful
visuals and story on screen. New stars shined, new plots puzzled fans and a new hope arose for the storied franchise.
VIDEO GAMES
“Life Is Strange” – In a year filled with new installments to A-List series, a new title snapped up on the scene, blending scifi and supernatural elements with a well-written coming-of-age narrative. “Life is Strange” is an episodic game, functioning in a similar manner to the episodic decision-based storytelling of Telltale Games’ “The Walking Dead” series. However, Dontnod Entertainment and Square Enix bring a different feel to this game. Players control Max, a photography student who soon realizes she can rewind time. From then, chaos theory ensues. Holistically, the game is fantastic. It provides some of the best storytelling and some of the most gripping moments in gaming this year. Though the graphics can seem off-putting and the writing can lean heavily on cliché, “Life Is Strange” is a refreshing new angle to the snapshot of gaming today. “Rise of the Tomb Raider” – Despite releasing this sequel on the same day as two juggernauts in gaming, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix dropped one of the best – and arguably most underrated – games of the year. Coming roughly two years after the 2013 reboot to the series, “Rise” brings fans back to the world of Lara Croft, on a mission to redeem her late father’s legacy in search for the lost city of Kitezh. Stunning visuals, fantastic writing and amazing sound design bring the worlds and Lara to life on the screen. Any other year, this game would be a shoe-in for Game of the Year. However, with other blockbusters released in 2015, especially in November, “Rise” faded into the relative background. Regardless, this game is a must own for any fan of video games.
Trail Dance Film Festival comes to Duncan Collegian Staff
Courtesy of Matt Jenkins
Trail Dance, elaborated the selection process. “We judge films on a 110-point grading Films from Cameron scale that includes video and audio quality, professors and students acting, editing, directing, and entertainment will hit the screens at the value,” he said. tenth annual Trail Dance The student-produced documentary Film Festival, running “Street Art: More than Graffiti” will from Jan. 29-30. be shown at 6:45 p.m. on Jan. 29 . In a Located in Duncan, university press release, the film is described the festival will showcase as a “documentary highlight[ing] the over 130 films over the difference between graffiti and street art course of two days in while showcasing the evolution of an art form three different venues: from underground practice to mainstream the Simmons Center, acceptance.” Chisholm Trail Heritage Professor of Communication Dr. Matt Center and Palace Twin Jenkins was also the executive producer for Theatre. the student-produced documentary while it The goal of the Trail was made during an 8-week summer class. Dance Film Festival is to He commended the students on their efforts promote the growing film for the film. industry in Oklahoma, “Our talented students were dedicated encourage originality and to producing a professional caliber creativity, and provide a documentary,” Jenkins said, “and they media-arts scholarship. succeeded in that goal.” A screening committee Jenkins and Dejan Mraovic, associate selected these works professor of art, have also submitted personal from a pool of over 400 works alongside the student documentary. submissions. Anthony Jenkins has entered a film in nine of the ten Foreman, founder and previous Trail Dance Film Festival. executive producer for Jenkins’ movie “Veda” will play on the
big screen on Jan. 29 at 9 p.m. Jenkins, in his own plot summary on the IMDb page for “Veda,” describes the film as a story about former computer programmer Howie Ramirez and his sister, Marla – both of whom have fallen on hard times and are attempting to work their way out. The screening Mraovic’s fourth short film “My Girlfriend” will mark the professor’s Trail Dance debut. Screening at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, the work presents a love story in just under three and a half minutes. The festival concludes with a grand awards gala featuring live music where worthy filmmakers can win the coveted Golden Drover Award. One student will also win a scholarship toward a career in filmmaking. Awards aside, Foreman said moviegoers can expect an intimacy with the filmmakers at Trail Dance not usually seen in larger festivals. “People attending for the first time should expect to see great independent films and the opportunity to meet and discuss film with filmmakers and actors,” Foreman said. The passes range from $8-$40, and weekend pass holders are invited to a kick off party on Jan. 28th. There is a 15% discount offered for students, military and groups.
Sticking it out: new year’s resolutions Erin Owens Staff Writer
For many people, New Year’s Day welcomes a fresh start and an opportunity to leave detrimental behaviors in the past by way of a new year’s resolution – a pledge one takes in order to implement positive changes in their everyday life. In 1989 John C. Norcross of the University of Scranton conducted a study of 200 New Yorkers as they implemented their new year’s resolutions. This study found that roughly 77 percent of participants were able to maintain their resolutions throughout the first week. After the two year duration of
this study data showed that roughly 19 percent of participants had considered themselves successful in maintaining their resolves. Many people who make new year’s resolutions aim for short term success. Tina Johnson, a freshman music education major said she no longer makes resolutions. “I never complete my new year’s resolutions, so I don’t see the point in making them anymore,” she said. Despite her dismissal of resolutions, Johnson offered a few tips to be successful. “For people who are wanting to stick with resolutions, depending on the resolution, I recommend they keep a planner and set alarms for certain things,”
she said. “Planners will help you stay organized and do a better job keeping up with what you need to do.” Norcross followed up with his study in 2002 by comparing the rate of success between people who were making life changes as a new year’s resolution and those who were just interested in changing problematic behavior. His study found that the participants who had initiated
Graphic by Katy Dayhoff
change as a result of a new year’s resolution were more successful than those who had not. This study also found that after a six month period, roughly 46 percent of those who had made new year’s resolutions were still successful. Many factors contribute to a person’s inability to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Lack of motivation, lack of time, lack of support and burning out are some of the most common excuses given as to why a resolution was not successful. In his article “Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year’s Resolutions. Here’s How They Do It.” published by Forbes, Dan Diamond suggests a few tips to help aid those wanting
to succeed. These tips included selecting one or two resolutions in favor of a handful. The article also encouraged choosing feasible goals and sharing them with supportive friends. Cameron University has many tools to offer students looking for support in achieving their resolutions this year. The Aggie Rec Center provides a number of classes and equipment that can be utilized by students seeking to improve or maintain their fitness. For students who have made financial resolutions ,the graduation planner section of the Cameron webpage offers great advice on money matters such as creating a budget and learning to save money.
6
Sports
January 25, 2016
www.aggiecentral.com
Aggies rally late, sweep Angelo Jacob Jardel
with 15 seconds left in regulation. The game Sports Editor went into extra time @JJardel_Writing after the Aggies failed to convert on the final The Cameron basketball possession of the fourth. teams ended their homestand The teams traded with two wins against Angelo shots and the lead State on Jan. 20. throughout the overtime Both men’s and women’s period. Threatt drilled teams took their games to the two free throws with wire, sending Aggie fans home under a minute left to happy – but not without a little bring the score to 83-82, drama first. putting Cameron ahead Women’s Basketball for the remainder of the The Ags set up shop behind game. the arc to take down the The Aggies won the Rambelles 87-83 in overtime. battle of the boards, Cameron hoisted up 40 three roping in 45 rebounds pointers, sinking 13 in their to ASU’s 39. Threatt first overtime game since Feb. lead the team with her 8, 2014 against Tartleton. This dozen, while forward win stymied Angelo’s winning DJ Vallier came off streak at three games. the bench to add seven Head coach Tom Webb boards along with her commended the team on their six points. endurance and effort in the However, the extended matchup. Rambelles would shoot “Everyone on our team went five percent better than out and competed tonight,” he the Aggies from the said in a press release. “It was field. The difference for fun to coach tonight, and I’m Cameron was the three just proud of them.” point shooting, nailing Brandi Leal led the Aggie 13 from behind the arc charge, scoring 23 points in 33 compared to ASU’s minutes and going 7 for 19 from seven. behind the arc. The senior guard Cameron moves was one make away from tying to 9-6 overall and her record for threes in a game. 3-3 in the Lone Star Junior Dayla Threatt Conference, while contributed to the effort with Photo courtesy of Mike Mazzo Angelo drops to 10-5 her first career double-double. and 3-2. She finished with 21 points and Patrolling the paint: Forward DJ Vallier backs down a defender. She finished The women’s team with six points and seven rebounds in Cameron’s 87-83 overtime win against ASU. 12 boards. will be in action again Guards Brittany Hill and when they host Texas Gold ahead 23-20. The late spark third quarter. CU rallied to finish Charon Montgomery also finished Woman’ s University on Jan. 27. the period on a 6-0 run to hold onto with double-digit point totals, adding gave the team enough fuel to take Men’s Basketball the 42-35 despite a 7-for-21 shooting a 62-53 lead. 10 points each. Montgomery also performance for the quarter. Angelo clamped down on defense The Aggies continued their latedished out nine assists. The Belles charged back to start in the fourth frame, holding the game theatrics with a last-second win The game started close, with the second half, getting within three Aggies to 11 points en route to Leal’s 11 points and Hill’s buzzeragainst the #11 Rams. beating jumper putting the Black and with under a minute and a half in the tying up the game at 73 apiece Down 12 in the final five minutes
of the game, Cameron rallied to win 80-79 on senior Deondre Ray’s tip-in. Coach Nate Gamet was proud of the team and their resilience. “The guys did a really good job staying in there,” he said in a press release. “A lot of teams would have folded down ... but they just kept battling and chipped away.” Ray finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Forward Jamaal Brantley led the team with 20 points and contributed seven boards. Guards JV Long and Cameron Lee finished with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Brantley led the Aggie charge from the jump, scoring 12 of CU’s 14 points before going cold for the rest of the half. But the Black and Gold’s 11 turnovers led to 15 points for the Rams, who finished the half up 44-39. The Rams carried this momentum into the second half, scoring seven unanswered points before Cameron fought back to tie the game at 63 with just over 8 minutes left. The teams traded 12-0 runs, with ASU taking a 75-63 lead before CU knotted the score. The teams would continue to trade the lead for the remainder of the game, but Ray’s second-chance effort with six seconds left proved to be the decisive basket to seal the Aggie win. The Aggies also won the rebounding battle 45-34. They shot a 47.5 percent clip from the field, edging out ASU by three percentage points. The Aggies are now 11-7 on the season, 4-2 in LSC play. ASU dropped to 14-3 and 2-3. The Aggie men will hit the court next when both teams face off against Midwestern State on Jan. 30 in Wichita Falls.
Cooperstown Kid: Griffey by the numbers Jacob Jardel
Recently, Cal Ripken, Jr., missed out by eight votes Sports Editor with 98.53 percent of the @JJardel_Writing vote. Though he played 2,632 This summer, the Baseball consecutive games, Ripken also Hall of Fame will induct its played and retired in the midst two newest members into the of the growing Steroids Era of fraternity of baseball greats. baseball, potentially tainting Mike Piazza will enter some of the ballots. the Hall as arguably the best All-time strikeouts leader offensive catcher the game Nolan Ryan received 98.79 has seen since an Oklahoma percent of the vote in 1999. boy named Johnny Bench. Philadelphia Daily News However, there is one star who columnist Bill Conlin was will shine a little brighter this one of six voters who did not July. include Ryan on their ballots. Famed outfielder Ken His reasoning: Ryan did not Griffey, Jr., will also see win enough games. a plaque with his face in “I just think the greatest Cooperstown this summer. power pitcher since Billy Known simply as “Junior” or Graham should be more games “The Kid,” Griffey will be the above .500 than 324-292,” first Number One draft pick Conlin wrote in 1999. “I just selected for enshrinement, wish I could get rid of this getting in with a record 99.3 annoying little voice in my head percent of the vote from the that keeps repeating: ‘Winning Baseball Writers’ Association percentage is what gets you to of America (BBWAA). the World Series.’” To put this number in For 23 years, Mets great perspective, the minimum Tom Seaver previously held requirement for election into record with 98.84 percent the Baseball Hall of Fame is of the vote, five votes shy of 75 percent. Only 32 of the unanimity. David Whitley of BBWAA-elected members the Orlando Sentinel broke received 90 percent or more down how those five voters left of the vote. Even Babe Ruth Seaver off their barely cracked 95 percent. ballots. The Kid finished three Tom ballots shy of becoming the first Terrific unanimous inductee. When appeared asked about missing out on on the history, he responded in his ballot in typical humble fashion. 1992, “No, I’m not disappointed,” Griffey said. “I can’t be sad or upset. It’s truly an honor to be elected, and to have the highest percentage was definitely a shock.” Considering the caliber of legendary players before Junior who missed unanimity by slim margins, this achievement is Graphic by Jacob Jardel truly an honor.
the same year as Pete Rose, the hit king of Major League Baseball banned for gambling. Three writers sent in blank ballots to protest Rose’s omission from the ballot. One writer inadvertently left Seaver off in his preparation for an upcoming heart surgery. “A fifth writer was stuck in the old vortex,” Whitley said. “ ‘If Ruth, [Ted] Williams or [Ty] Cobb weren’t unanimous, nobody should be.” This reasoning is why Whitley thought The Kid would not get the coveted first unanimous vote. It is very likely that this – or the fact that Griffey never won a World Series in his career – kept him off those three ballots. But he still deserved it. In his stints with the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, the 13-time All-Star accumulated some of the best statistics in baseball history. He hit 630 home runs, sixth in Major League history. He batted in 1,836 runs, 15th all-time. His 2,781 hits are 50th all-time. Add onto that the 28 singleseason titles and a nomination onto the MLB All-Century Team in 1999, Junior had a legendary 22-year career, despite his proclivity toward injury at the turn of the millennium. According to
Sports Illustrated projections, if Junior stayed healthy enough to make around 631 plate appearances between 2001 and 2006, he would have hit 92 more home runs (722) and 353 more hits (3,134). Those totals would have been good enough to make him and Hank Aaron the only players with 700 home runs and 3,000 hits. Maybe they would have been good enough to earn an appearance on at least one of those three ballots. Regardless of why he missed unanimity, one thing is for certain: Ken Griffey, Jr., is a legend of Aaronian, maybe even Ruthian caliber. His voting percentage proves just that. His induction also marks a sort of changing of the guard in the ethos of baseball greatness. Since getting called up in 1989, he played through four decades, a player’s strike, the Steroids Era and a paradigm shift toward big arms on the mound and even bigger bats at the plate. In reality, Griffey represented the bridge between the two eras. He had the approach of Aaronian legend mixed with the youthful sprezzatura of the modern era. If ever there was a player for all seasons, it was Junior. If ever there was a unanimous Hall of Famer, it should have been Ken Griffey, Jr.
“It’s truly an honor to be elected.” - Ken Griffey, Jr.