Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, September 28, 2026
Angelica Martinez
Managing Editor Cameron University continued its exploration of artificial intelligence with the third speaker of Academic Festival XII: Being Human in the Age of AI, Angus Fletcher, on Sept. 17. Fletcher presented “Primal Intelligence: What Distinguishes Us From AI.” His student session was at 3:30 p.m. in Ross Hall’s Johnson Auditorium, with his community session at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre. Fletcher is a researcher whose work heavily focuses on technology’s impact on the human brain and practical applications of literature. He has authored multiple books, including national bestseller “Primal Intelligence,” which details his research regarding how human intelligence cannot be matched by AI. Fletcher started his presentation by talking about his previous experience researching for the United States military. His study focused on why certain military operators are able to handle chaotic situations meanwhile others struggle. He found that most military operators who were able to handle chaotic situations used different parts of the brain than those who struggled. Soldiers who failed in volatility use the logical part of the brain that can solve math problems, the inferior parietal lobe,
in chaotic situations. Meanwhile, soldiers who succeeded in volatility used the creative part of the brain, the premotor cortex, and could handle uncertain situations. “It's the part of the brain used by children,” Fletcher said. “So the operators who are succeeding in volatility were not thinking like computers, they were thinking like children, and they were not thinking in probabilities, they were thinking in possibilities.” As Fletcher continued, he brought up a real example of an impossibility that became possible. In 1895, British mathematician Lord Kelvin, born William Thompson, provided mathematical proof that heavier-than-air flying machines were impossible. His claim was so trusted that the United States Navy used the proof to convince the government to provide them with more resources since air warfare would not be possible. It was less than eight years later that the Wright brothers created the first plane. “What’s really interesting about this case is they credited their imagination to the fact that their parents allowed them to skip school as long as they read
Volume 115 Issue 4
combination of these three colors.” He continued to talk about how 300 years later, Vincent Van Gogh brought a new color to the public consciousness through his work. “This young man took that color and he used it to create a revolution,” Fletcher said. “The color was yellow. The painting created? Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, the most important painting in modern art.” He used this point to illustrate how innovation and creativity carry through all types of creative media. “One of the things that is so valuable about studying the history of art, the history of literature, and the history stories,” Fletcher said. Fletcher talked more “They read Mark Twain about seeing possibilities of music is that one of and Charles Dickens; as the world changes. He those revolutions comes that is what allowed pulled up the example of along and somebody stops a possibility,” them to solve flight. It Titian's 1523 “Bacchus Fletcher said. allowed them to think and Ariadne” painting Fletcher shifted their way through the the focus of his problem.” presentation to Fletcher moved the “I'm not saying connection and conversation to the it’s improbable; the ability to find common concern of I’m saying it's exceptional people. AI taking jobs and “Artificial the dread people feel impossible — it is intelligence is great entering the workforce impossible for you in connecting you with AI as competition. to be replaced to people, you can He reassured the query it and you can audience that there by artificial go through thousands is no technological intelligence.” and thousands of replacement for human Angus Fletcher databases, but it’s intelligence. Practitioner of your brain that “Im not saying Story Science connects you with it’s improbable; I’m them,” Fletcher said. saying it's impossible,” “And why is that? Fletcher said. “It is impossible for you to and allowed the audience Because your brain allows you to spot what's be replaced by artificial to take in the piece. unique and exceptional intelligence. And that’s “The reason I want about people. What AI is because AI thinks in you to see this painting doing is seeing patterns.” probability. What it can is because this is the He used the example do is it can optimize most important and of Steve Jobs and Steve where the environment influential painting for Wozniak. Jobs noted is transparent and safe. 300 years,” Fletcher that Wozniak was more Which is why AI is a said. “So red, blue and boom in logistics - in of course you can see the knowledgeable about personal computing, so warehouses. Anywhere green above … These they both created to cothere is a ton of data, were the primary colors found Apple. library science, doing of art. If you go look at “This is the real story word searchers, all these any painting produced in of the original computer. areas, AI is canned.” the west, it's using some
What’s Inside
Steve Jobs spotted Woz, he said ‘hey, what can he do that I can’t do?’ What he could do is build personal computers.” “And this is the way a lot of human interactions work, even if you’re not the artist, even if you’re not the creator, even if you’re not the entrepreneur, you can spot someone with wits and say ‘I know that person is going to do something special. I should fund them, I should back them, I should support them.’” Fletcher continued his presentation by describing how, while AI can be more proficient in numerical processing, it is not possible for it to overtake the human mind. Overreliance on AI can lead to cognitive detriments for users. “You have less initiative,” Fletcher described. “You're dependent on the AI, you have less confidence because you’re always using it as an emotional support animal. You have less imagination because you're always using it.” According to Fleacher, idea generation that is kicked off by AI-generated ideas hurts users as they receive none of the benefits from the cognitive exercise of being creative. As Fletcher began to enter the end of his presentation, he once again reassured the audience that they will not be getting replaced by AI. “My main point is, lucky you, you're not getting replaced,” Fletcher said. “You get to be the one to solve all the problems. There’s not some computer out there that’s suddenly going to fix everything and create a utopia. It’s up to you.”
Photos and graphics by Angelica Martinez
CU Succeed workshop Page 2
Research, explore, connect Page 5
Aggies take stride Page 6
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News
Jake Thomas News Editor
At 9 a.m., Sept. 22, Cameron admissions partnered with GPACAC to host a college fair in the McCasland ballroom of the MCC. The event brought representatives from universities, colleges, military organizations and other educational facilities together for students exploring their options after high school. The fair was organized through the Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling, or GPACAC, an organization that coordinates college fairs throughout Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. GPACAC is one of 23 state and regional affiliates of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Kay Means, assistant director of admissions at Cameron, organized the Lawton-area fair. She said the event gives students an opportunity to speak directly with representatives from schools they may not otherwise visit. “The point or the motivation behind a college fair is to expose students to opportunities for their educational goals,” Means said. Representatives from nearly 40 organizations attended the Cameron fair, with universities and colleges offering students information about programs, admissions and potential career paths. Military organizations, including the National Guard and Air Force, also participated. The fair was one of several events
September 28, 2026 www.aggiecentral.com
Cameron admissions staff attend understanding of the university by seeing throughout the year. Means said Cameron it firsthand. expects to participate in at least 35 “We feel like one of our best recruiting GPACAC-sponsored college fairs, in tools is to get kids on campus,” Means addition to individual college and career said. fairs organized by high schools. During Old Kim Days, students can Cameron admissions counselors indicate which areas of study interest also travel to schools across the state, them, allowing Cameron staff to arrange including areas around Oklahoma City visits with departments such as biology, and Tulsa, to meet with students and high journalism and media, sports and exercise school counselors. science, and more. The visits are generally The university’s admissions aimed at juniors and seniors, although team consists of three admissions younger students can participate as well. counselors who serve as recruiters. Means said Cameron currently has about Their responsibilities include attending a dozen such visits scheduled. college fairs, visiting high schools and For students attending college fairs, maintaining relationships with counselors. Means said the goal is not necessarily to Means said those relationships are convince them to attend one particular important because high school counselors university. Instead, the events allow often serve as a primary resource for students to compare their options and find students navigating the college application programs that fit their individual goals. process. Beyond attending fairs, Cameron brings prospective students to campus through events known as “Old Kim Days.” High schools can bring groups of students to Cameron for campus tours, presentations and visits with academic departments. Means said the campus visits are an important part of Cameron’s recruitment efforts because students Photos by Jake Thomas can get a better
Emma Herring Staff Writer
Graphics by Jake Thomas
Steven Utter
Digital Content Editor “The Oklahoma Review” is an online literary magazine created by Cameron University students that is currently accepting open submissions until Oct 1. Senior History major Samantha Towell has been editing for “The Oklahoma Review” and “The Gold Mine” since 2023. Towell said it’s been a slow trickle in with submissions so far and they would like to see more by the deadline of Oct 1. “We accept submissions from everyone,” Towell said, “Not just Oklahoma residents. I think at one point it was just Oklahoma, but we have opened it up to the nation.” Junior English major Jacob Shaffer just started editing for “The Oklahoma Review” and has been enjoying reading the submissions so far. Shaffer said, “It’s gotten me into a lot more types of art … There’s always a constant want for more. We don’t have a limit on how many we can take, so I think getting as many as we can would be really nice.” The Oklahoma Review is open to submissions of everything from poetry to comic strips to non-fiction short sorties. Journalism and Media Production
At 2 p.m., on Sept. 16, in the Buddy Green room, the office of Student Development hosted a CU Succeed workshop led by Jennifer Pruchnicki titled True Colors. The workshop provided the opportunity for students to learn more about their personalities and why they act the way they do. Pruchnicki introduced a test that uses colors to represent certain personality characteristics, information processing habits, and communication methods. There are different categories that people fall into: gold, blue, orange or green. For example, the orange category
Junior Alana Yeager also just joined the editorial team for The Oklahoma Review this semester. Yeager said she has had a positive experience so far as well. “I think it’s really fun doing magazine editing. It’s a lot less work than I anticipated. I thought we would be like creating a lot more … It’s a bunch of making decisions, I guess. We do more decision-making than the creating,” Yeager said. “I find that it’s really fun to see others work and what they enjoy doing in their own time, submitting what they want to do art wise whether it be making comic strips or writing something.” So far most of the submissions have been poetry and fictional short stories, so other literary forms are being highly encouraged, especially any featuring visual artwork. Applicants may submit up to six poems, 2000 words of non-fiction or fiction, three single act plays, 15 pieces of digital art, and three comic strips (up to four panels). Each applicant should submit a short author’s biography with their work. No work created with AI, previously published material or Google docx files will be accepted. Email submissions to lellis@cameron. edu before the deadline of Oct 1.
“There’s really enough students for all of us,” Means said. “And we know that there’s a unique college fit for every student.” The variety of schools represented at the fair also gives students options beyond immediately attending a four-year university. Some students may choose to begin at a two-year college before transferring to a four-year institution, while others may be looking for graduate programs. Means said Cameron’s admissions staff continues working with students and schools throughout the academic year to help answer questions about admissions, financial aid and available programs. For students attending the fair, the event offered a chance to begin those conversations without having to travel to each institution individually.
includes personalities for people who enjoy ever-changing schedules, going with the flow, competition and whimsy. Pruchnicki said the goal of the event was to give students a better understanding of their own emotional intelligence. “In practical application, the real world, you are going to meet people who aren’t like you,” she said. “If you know your (personality) color, you will know your strengths in any situation.” This could help students when meeting new people, working on a group project and beginning employment after college. For more information about upcoming CU Succeed workshops, contact the office of Student Development at 580-581-2209 or email student_development@cameron.edu.
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Voices
Ask an Aggie
September 28, 2026 www.aggiecentral.com
How has the Aggie experience evolved for you?
“I find the campus to be overflowing with wonderful people. The vibe under Shane Hunt has shifted slightly. You know, the people haven’t changed, but the authority over campus has. The general vibe of campus has gotten brighter in some areas, and I would attribute that to the new president, President Shane Hunt. For the change in that, I would say the general sense of community.” Ian Surrency, Senior, Finance Major
“I would say the biggest change is probably more involvement ... In the beginning, especially when I was here two years ago, it was more just coming to school and going through just your day-to-day class rounds. But I feel now, there’s more of an atmosphere where students want to get involved on campus. Instead of just going to class and going home, people want to do things. They’re excited to go to certain school events like basketball and volleyball.” Graciela Gonzalez, Junior, Chemistry Major
“I think there’s a lot more of a sense of community on campus. These days, there’s been a lot more events occurring on campus, which is drawing in a lot more people on campus and giving us opportunities to network and form a sense of community. There has been more of a student-centered focus from administration.” Dr. Frye-Davies, Assistant Professor, Psychology
“Whenever I started as a freshman, there wasn’t many things to do or clubs that are really that active ... There was no eagerness of joining, being part of anything ... I really think because of the leadership changing, it’s enticed students and different organizations around school and campus to be more active and choose to do more important.” Juan Juarez, Graduate Student, Computer Science Major
“I’m a part of Cameron Track, crossing country, and you can definitely see he’s (Hunt) trying to improve athletics ... The way he’s engaging with the people and promoting himself, I feel like that’s definitely the biggest change.” Philipp David, Junior, Finance Major
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.
Letters Policy
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editors - Angelica Martinez News Editor - Jake Thomas Voices Editor - Jaley Melton-Wiley, Gabriela Villasenor A & E Editor - Makayla Flenoury Sports Editor - Matthew Hasley Community Outreach Editor - Fabiola Perez-Aponte Student Life Editor - Rachel Nunn Copy Editor - Rachel Nunn Digital Content Editor - Steven Utter
Newsroom Staff
Staff Writers - Steven Utter, Michael Evans, Alex Weaver, Daniel Zikan, Devlin Calley Photographers - Jones Baskett, Sean Greenwood, Billy Shane Peterson Graphic Design - Fabiola Perez-Aponte, Jaley Melton-Wiley 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. 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 e-mailed to aggiecentral@cameron.edu.
Accessibility
The Cameron Collegian is dedicated to ensuring all journalistic content is accessible to all readers. For access to PDF copies of The Cameron Collegian, contact Adviser David Bublitz at dbublitz@cameron.edu.
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A&E
September 28, 2026 www.aggiecentral.com Courtesy photo
‘Best of the Best’ Makayla Flenoury A&E Editor
On Sept. 18, Netflix released the new coming-of-age comedy, “Best of the Best,” set in a world of competitive Bollywood-fusion dance. I am a sucker for dance romance movies and college dramas, so I was super excited for this film’s release — a cultural dance movie fused with modern hip-hop; sign me up. Plus, the movie stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from one of my favorite shows, “Never Have I Ever.” “Best of the Best” isn’t actually a dance romance. It focuses on childhood best friends, Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia), as they transition into their first year at UCLA and a new cutthroat competitive dance team. As they juggle college life, a challenging team rivalry and their own personal issues, a huge fight forces them to face their past. There is a romance subplot; however, I don’t think it was needed in the story. “Best of the Best” starts with Maya and Anjali’s last semester of high school, when they perform in the senior talent show. They put on a show-stopping dance routine using drones as special effects,
but the drones malfunctioned and hit Maya in the face, making her the next trending video. Maya’s embarrassment follows her into UCLA as most of the students recognized her from the video. I don’t know how anyone could tell it was her because the video is quite dark, and you cannot see her face. This feeds into Maya’s insecurity about being considered the “weird girl” and constantly being compared to Anjali, which comes into play later. Anjali convinces Maya to try out for UCLA’s cutthroat dance team, both with different visions for how things will turn out. Anjali fantasizes about falling in love with the team’s leader, Ronak (Ankur Rathee), while Maya dreams of taking the dance team to victory in the “Best of the Best” championship competition. That’s exactly how things go, just not the way they expected. The two make the team, where we learn about the team’s rivalry with the USC team. UCLA planned to beat them with a Bollywood wedding choreography, though Maya thought the idea was cliché and predictable. Her ideas were dismissed, and
the team moved on to picking nominees for the two leads for the choreography. Both Maya and Anjali were nominated. Maya overhears Ronak and two others talk about how Maya won the votes for the female lead; however, they don’t want her as the lead. They called her “out of control” and said that Anjali has more “lead energy.” They find a loophole in how they can secretly change the winner without breaking the rules and do just that. Anjali becomes the lead, and Maya doesn’t have the heart to tell her the truth. This only strengthens Maya’s drive to prove herself. She’s always been driven, opinionated, and motivated, but people have handed Anjali everything she’s wanted because they admire her. Maya knows that if the team doesn’t add more flair, they will lose the competition. She tries to suggest different ideas that still include the Bollywood wedding, but they’re all shut down. She decides to take matters into her own hands. During the dance routine on stage in the preliminary rounds. She activates a fog machine hidden inside one of the props. Everything was fine at first, but it ended in absolute disaster. The team’s ranking
plummeted to 54th place, and Maya was kicked off the team. Fast forward, and Maya is back on the team (thanks to Anjali), but now Anjali quit because she’s on academic probation. With Anjali gone, Maya took the lead. Maya spends most of her time competing and changing the choreography’s theme while Anjali is stuck catching up on work. The team makes it back into the top ten by the skin of their teeth and moves on to the “Best of the Best” competition. As the team is celebrating and dancing together, there’s a video of Maya and Ronak that’s supposed to look romantic. Not only that, but a social media influencer interviews Maya with a live chat. Someone asks about Anjali, and Maya accidentally puts her on blast. Anjali watches both videos, and Maya comes home to find that Anjali moved out of their dorm. Maya goes to find Anjali, but they get into a huge fight in front of everyone. During the argument, Maya ends up quitting the team. After that, everyone is on fall break. Maya and Anjali don’t speak the entire break. When break is over, Maya is convinced to return to the team once again, and Anjali is finally off academic
probation. Maya shares her new idea for the “Best of the Best” choreography, and the team suggests that both Maya and Anjali are the leads. At the competition, the two are able to rekindle their friendship and take home the crown. I like this movie; however, there is a lot that goes on. I think the film would’ve been smoother if they just stuck to one plot, but it seems like they were trying to create four. With that being said, I can understand why they chose to write it this way. A lot happens in college, especially with extracurriculars. If I were to cut anything, it would be the romance. I don’t feel as if it added anything to the plot. In the part where Maya and Ronak are “dancing” together in the video, they tried to create some weird tension that just didn’t work. I do think Maya’s romance with Arjun (Chaneil Kular) worked well, so that can stay. There was a short section in the introduction that was very confusing. It was like they were supposed to portray the first few days of college, but it was done poorly. I couldn’t follow what was going on. Overall, I did like the film’s main plot. I think it was a good story. I’d give this film a 7/10.
Cameron art student field trip
Oklahoma Museum of Art Fabiola Perez-Aponte
Community Outreach Editor At 9 a.m. on Sept. 17, the Cameron Art Department brought students on a field trip to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. This trip allows the students to explore the creative processes and perspective of other artists. It shows their techniques and pieces that contribute to the world of art, whether that be from 2D to 3D, from historical to modern. The gallery featured a large exhibition by American glass artist Dale Chihuly, titled “Dale Chihuly: The Oklahoma Collection.” The exhibit featured vast and glass-blown sculptures often inspired by nature. Chihuly’s glass sculptures are significant to the art world due to utilizing
organic forms, pushing the boundaries of scale for massive art installations, by studying the power of translucency and light passing through color. One of the most significant art pieces in the collection is Chihuly’s “Oklahoma Persian Ceiling” as a part of his Persian series. The series is famous for its installations on walls, windows and overhead ceilings. The piece evokes an ancient sensibility and conjures notions of past civilizations, including the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Two notable exhibitions that were also featured were “From Pop to Minimalist Art” and “Thinking in 3D.” In the first feature, “From Pop to Minimalist Art”, the art that had been created during the postwar era. In the decades following World War II, many artists
redirected abstraction toward everyday imagery, sharing concerns shaped by the cultural and social changes of that era. The second feature, “Thinking in 3D” explores how various artists experiment with dimension, movement and light. It’s hanging wall sculptures, freestanding pieces, glass objects and kinetic works that blur the traditional boundaries of 3D thinking. The museum also featured an activity center for children and families to enjoy the experience of making art, whether it’s through reading or making simple drawings or sculptures from everyday objects. For more information and a new perspective on art and creation, especially Chihuly’s impressive execution of glass blowing, go visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art today. Photos by Fabiola Perez-Aponte
Student Life
September 28, 2026 www.aggiecentral.com
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The Cameron University Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts will present its first production of the season, “They Promised Her the Moon” by Laurel Ollstein, Oct. 1 - 4. The biographical play follows Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb, an Oklahoman who nearly became the first American woman in space. Assistant Professor Dr. Natalie McCabe directs the production, with fight direction by instructor Jean Tartière and technical direction by Associate Professor Ben Williams. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 - 3 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Cameron University Theatre. The show is recommended for audiences 18+.
Photos by Angelica Martinez
Gabriela Villaseñor Voices Editor
At 4 p.m., on Sept. 14, the Department of Engineering, Physics and Chemistry hosted an event in room 100 in the Science Complex to give students the opportunity to learn about the department’s involvement in academic and extracurricular activities. The department provided free drinks and pizza for students who participated, along with a raffle prize for those who signed up online. Throughout the evening, faculty members shared information about the benefits of being part of the department, like undergraduate research. Faculty explained how participating in research can help students build confidence, explore their interests and connect with other students and professors. The first feature in the event was demonstrations from student organizations. Those included students
Graphic by Fabiola Perez-Aponte
seeing projects from robotics and engineering clubs, and planning for the future. The second demonstration was from the chemistry club who performed a magic show by mixing several different chemicals together to create cool effects. Toward the end of the event, professors presented their current research projects, some faculty looking for assistants and others sharing their research. Chair of the Department of Engineering, Physics and Chemistry Dr. Kyle Moore explained that purpose of the event was to bring together information that students might otherwise have to find in different places. “My predecessor, Dan McGuire, was looking for a way to consolidate disparate pieces of information,” Moore said. “There is a thing at Cameron where we have the tendency to silo, which is when somebody is in charge of a really specific thing, they do that
thing very well, but it doesn’t really get communicated outside of their area.” Moore’s goal was to help students learn about several opportunities in one place, including where to apply for scholarships, how to get involved and what opportunities were available within the department. The department began planning the event during the last week of August. Moore said one of the challenges was getting faculty members to summarize their research in just a few minutes because they are excited about the work they do. “Getting them to distill it for a couple of minutes so everybody can talk about the piece they love most is one of the challenges,” Moore said. Despite his concerns about attendance, Moore said the event received its largest turnout yet. He explained that students often RSVP close to the day of an event. “Every year, I’m convinced that no one is going to show up, yet we had our biggest turnout yet,” Moore said.
“I get nervous going to bed Friday and checking the response and seeing that there are 10, but coming back on Monday and seeing that it’s 55.” For Moore, one of the most rewarding parts of the event was seeing students become interested in something new. He hopes that students left the event having discovered something they want to learn more about and encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities available through the department. Dr. K.D. Priyasantha, advisor for the Chemistry Club, also helped organize and run the event. His responsibilities included helping with setup, and overseeing the chemistry demonstration making sure activities run smoothly and helping keep the event on schedule. According to Priyasantha, one of the biggest challenges of hosting student events is getting students to attend. Students often have competing responsibilities, including work and other extracurricular activities. The event ultimately brought together faculty, students and department organizations in one location, giving students a chance to learn about research, scholarships, microcredentials, clubs and other opportunities available through the Department of Engineering, Physics and Chemistry.
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Sports
Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
The Lady Aggies crosscountry team located their stride coming into this 2026 season, opening with a pair of second place finishes and an individual championship from freshman Boglarka Kalman. The women’s cross-country team placed second at the Aggie Duels on Sept. 4 and matched that result at the Mustang Derby just two weeks later on Sept. 17. Kalman led the Lady Aggies in both meets, while senior Akaya Lightbourne and freshman Alyssa Buchan began the start of a potential trio of consistent top finishes. This strong start marks an improvement for the team when looking at the 2025 season, where Cameron finished in fourth at the Aggie Duels and third at the Mustang Derby. Cameron’s women’s crosscountry team opened this season at home in Lawton, Oklahoma at the Aggie Duels, capturing a second-place finish totaling 54 points. East Central University managed to snag first place, scoring 30 points, while the Aggies managed to stay ahead of Midwestern State University (MSU), Northwestern Oklahoma
State University and Amarillo College. Kalman led the team with a third-place finish in the women’s 5-kilometer run, finishing the race in 18 minutes, 25.3 seconds. Lightbourne crossed the finish line in fifth with a time of 18:57.1, while Buchan placed seventh in 19:06.2. With those times, the three Aggies gave Cameron three top seven finishes in their season opener. Daira Rojas-Vasquez came in 16th-place, finishing in 19:50.2 and Charlotte Glander rounded out Cameron’s scoring with a 20:10.0 time. The women’s cross-country team continued their early season success as they headed into the Mustang Derby in Wichita Fall, Texas on Sept. 17. Kalman took home the first-place win in the women’s 4K race with a time of 14:16.5, leaving the competition in the dust by a whopping 15.6 seconds. Lightbourne continued with a top three finish of her own, finishing third in 14:40.6. Buchan followed next with a time of 15:09.7, putting her in sixth. Freshman Ollie Gaston crossed in 15:23.8, giving her 11th place. With five teams in the pack, the Lady Aggies finished in
second with a total of 36 points. MSU took home the championship on their home field with Dallas Baptist University placing third with 74 points. The Lady Aggies performance at the Mustang Derby gave them two consecutive runner-up finishes and Kalman her first individual victory of her freshman season. Looking into the stats, Lightbourne’s time also improved from her previous outing at the 2025 Mustang Derby. She managed to place third in 2025 and 2026, but her 2026 time of 14:40.6 passes her 2025 time of 14:43.3, improving by 2.7 seconds. Both freshmen, Kalman and Buchan, finished among the top seven in both team’s opening meets. They each played significant roles in Cameron’s early success. Lightbourne has provided leadership and consistency alongside the two newcomers. Together, the trio has accounted for six of Cameron’s top seven finishes in the first two competitions of the season. Their start to the season gives the Lady Aggies a strong foundation to continue their fall schedule. Last season, the team finished sixth at the Lone
September 28, 2026 www.aggiecentral.com
Photo by Mireia Planesas
Star Conference Championship before going to the National Collegiate Athletic Association South Central Regional and playing 17th out of a 26-team
tournament. The women’s cross-country team is sure to build upon their opening results heading into their remaining schedule.
Matthew Hasley and Michael Evans Collegian Staff
The Lady Aggies volleyball team had a close opening set before responding with a third set victory but couldn’t complete the comeback against University of Texas at Tyler on Sept. 18 at Aggie Gym. UT Tyler won 3-1, taking the sets 27-25, 2518, 23-25, and 25-15. The loss leaves Cameron’s volleyball team still looking for their first win, while UT Tyler improved to 10-1 on the season. The Aggies tied the Patriots 11 times throughout the opening set. Cameron faced a set point late before Anastasija Andelic delivered a kill to tie the score at 25, but UT Tyler scored the next two points to take the set 27-25. UT Tyler carried their momentum moving into the next set and managed to take it 25-18. However, the Lady Aggies did not go down without a fight and came
Photos by Michael Evans
back in the third set. Opening with five straight points, Cameron continued scoring and extended the lead to 18-10. UT Tyler wouldn’t be denied, however, coming back to tie the set, Cameron managed to regain control down the stretch. Kayla Eggiman recorded a service ace, putting the Aggies ahead 22-21. Maria Osorio finished the set with a kill, giving the Aggies a 25-23
victory. The Patriots had answers though in the fourth. UT Tyler came out early, building a 15-8 lead, pushing it to 20-12 before closing out the match with a 25-15 victory. Osorio led the Lady Aggies offensively, scoring 11 kills on 34 attacks. She also recorded four digs and three block assists for a team-high 12.5 points. Taylor Silva followed that with 10 kills of her
own, and Ana Hrle added 5 more kills on 14 attacks and four block assists. Andelic put up numbers on both sides of the ball, getting 5 kills, 12 digs, and a service ace. Addison McClure led the Lady Aggies defensively with 16 digs of her own, while Sydney Walker recorded a team-high 17 assists in the match, adding 10 digs. Mavery Salisbury finished with 15 assists and four digs. UT Tyler held the statistical advantage offensively, finishing with 63 kills to Cameron’s 38 and hitting .245 percent to Cameron’s .140 percent. UT Tyler also had 76 digs and seven service aces while Cameron finished with 60 digs, three aces and six total blocks. While the Lady Aggies volleyball team continues searching for their first win of the season, the coaching staff has placed an emphasis on relationships, communication and attention to detail.
Head coach Danlynn Silva mentioned her role as a mother and her passion for volleyball as the reasons for how she approaches coaching. “It’s my sport that I always love and it’s my passion,” Silva said. “I just feel like having that motherly sense but also being able to share the different culture and type of play would just make it a stronger team.” Graduate assistant Kaci Watanabe also brought to light the similarities among Cameron’s coaching staff and the principles they teach the players. “We really believe in ball control, attention to detail, and focusing on
high energy level play,” Watanabe said. Watanabe also mentioned “pilina,” a Hawaiian word associated with connections and relationships, as part of the staff’s coaching philosophy. “Without pilina things don’t work on the court,” Watanabe said. “You need to have that trust with your teammates in order to be successful.” That emphasis on connection is what Silva brings for her first season leading the program. Cameron named Silva as head coach in April after she previously served as assistant coach at Florida Tech and coached the Mauna Lani Elite Volleyball Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the UT Tyler match, the Lady Aggies showed stretches of ball control and the energy their coaching staff speaks about, specifically in that third set where they build a point advantage and held off the UT Tyler comeback, forcing the fourth frame. The Cameron Aggies volleyball team continues their LSC schedule against Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 6 p.m., Sept. 29, in Weatherford, OK.