Volume 86 Issue 4
Monday, October 3, 2011
HOOH-RAH:
CU’s military friendliness honored for the second consecutive year
Informing Cameron Since 1926 Aggie News Financial Bootcamp
Courtesy of Military Science Department
Military: A group of Cameron University ROTC MS4’s pose for a photograph after a Fitness Training Exercise. The training helps the cadets refine their basic soldiering skills.
Elijah Morlett
Assistant Managing Editor G.I. Jobs Magazine, a national publication aimed at service members transitioning out of the military, has recognized Cameron University as a Military Friendly School for the second straight year. This honor places CU in the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that help veterans in their goal of seeking further education. Associate Vice President Jamie
Glover, CU’s spokesperson for this designation, said that the military community is a large part of Cameron’s history. “Because of the long standing history, there is a deep appreciation for the service that our members of the military provide,” Glover said. “When there is a major decision for the university, the military is taken into great consideration in what we do next.” According to Glover, research across the campus provided the necessary data for
the designation. Departments that helped include the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accountability, the Office of Veterans Affairs and Admissions. Each department provided separate information to highlight the overall view of the military presence at the university. “Twelve percent of our student population are active duty or military dependents,” Glover said. “That number does not include prior service
STUDENTS START NEW ORGANIZATION
personnel, so the number does not reflect the total military population at Cameron.” Glover said that number might not reflect soldiers who are currently serving in reserve components. The university has adopted several initiatives to help veterans while they are in school. Glover said one program helps the transfer of credits as service members move across the country.
See MILITARY Page 2
‘The Union’ plans to raise student awareness By Amber Lindsay Staff Writer
The Union, a new student organization on campus, is devoted to making a change and affecting students’ lives in a positive way. According to Brenna Welch, a senior Communications major and co-founder of the organization, The Union was created by a handful of students who wanted to bring awareness to issues on campus, develop effective ways to eliminate discrimination Courtesy photo and lend students a voice. She said, as an CUTV: Member of ‘The Union’ organization, they plan to Troy Flewellen is interviewed about the organization. The group’s listen to students, look for new legislation is expected to be solutions and aid in the presented on Oct. 3. implementation of solutions. Welch explained that her and fellow student, Troy Flewellen, often discussed critical issues on campus. She said that their discussions grew to involve more students and that was how the organization was developed. “Troy and I often discussed oppression and socially critical issues last spring,” she said. “Our discussions began to involve other
students who urged us to look into creating a student organization.” Instructor and faculty advisor of the organization Tanisha Billingslea said that Welch and Flewellen, among others, approached her at the end of the spring 2011 semester and asked if she would be the adviser for the organization. She said that The Union did not officially get started until the fall 2011 semester. Billingslea said that The Union is seeking to spread awareness of events and issues that affect student life in order to improve it. According to Bilingslea, the one issue that the organization is currently working on is student safety after evening classes. Billingslea said that the organization is trying to work with the campus police in order to get students who live near campus escorted to their homes, and students in evening classes escorted to their vehicles. She said that this was something that the campus police had previously been doing, but had quit. “One of the things that The Union is concentrating on now is a concern about students that attend late evening classes and students that live around the area and how they get home,” Billingslea said. “I think that campus police had been escorting them, but had to stop. The organization is trying to work with them to see if they can get that going again.” Welch noted that something else they are doing to improve student’s rights is working closely with the Student Government Association. She said that they also plan to host various events. Welch said the first of these events, an open mic night called “Uncut,” was held Tuesday, Sept. 20, and that students as well as individuals from the Lawton and Fort Sill community performed.
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Aggie A&E India & Nepali Night
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Aggie Sports Lone Star Runner
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CrossRoads Friendship Family
See THE UNION Page 2
CU Theatre professor receives recognition award James Meeks
Newswriting Student Cameron University’s Scott Richard Klein, Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, received the Jeanne Adams Wray Special Recognition Award for his service in the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association (OCTA). Bill Crawford, Jeanne Adams Wray, Curt Schwartz and Lil Williams established the organization in 1969. One of OCTA’s achievements helped establish a communication system with community theatres all over the state of Oklahoma. For example, if one theatre has done a play and another theatre is about to perform the same play, then they can see about borrowing a costume that may be needed. “That is one of the benefits of having an organization such as OCTA,” Klein said. The Jeanne Adams Wray Award, which was named
after one of the founders of the organization, is presented to individuals who have contributed significantly to the recognition of theatre to the state of Oklahoma. One of Klein’s contributions to OCTA was acting as a judge in play festivals competing to be part of AACTfest, a festival held every two years. “These competitions begin on the state level; Oklahoma’s state festival starts in July of 2012,” Klein said. “After the state festival it then goes to a regional competition and then a national competition.” Klein explained that in these competitions, community theatres put on a one hour play or a one hour act of a play. OCTA will sponsor the upcoming state festival. During this past summer Klein was a judge at AACTfest ’11, which was held in Rochester, New York. Klein explained that he was one of three judges to decide the best theatre in the country.
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Aggie Voices Making Memories
Photo by Megan Bristow
Dedication to the arts: The Cameron University Theatre is located on the east side of campus. Scott Richard Klein has been teaching Theatre Arts at Cameron University for 22 years.
Klein has been a Cameron University faculty member since 1989. He has also received numerous awards for his many contributions to community theatre. Klein directs two productions a year, one production per semester. “I’ve been lucky, fortunate and I’ve worked hard too,” Klein said. This semester’s production which he will be directing is
“The Great Game: Afghanistan.” Auditions will be held at October 10th and 11th in the studio theatre, located at the Cameron University theatre. Klein states that everyone no matter what major, are invited to audition for the production.
See AWARD Page 3
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For additional news and features, look the Collegian up at www.aggiecentral.com
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Aggie News
October 3, 2011
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CU establishes new Scholarship By Tiffany Martinez
six-years-old. At 20- years- old, he began to travel the country as part Staff Writer of his military career. He eventually Cameron University has chose to make Lawton, home for established a new endowed himself and his family in the early scholarship this semester 1950’s because he was so impressed in honor of the late C.P. with the friendly and hospitable Mercadente, Lawton resident and nature of the people who inhabited businessman. the Lawton area. Endowed scholarships Albert Johnson, Jr., Vice are monetary gifts given to President for University universities or colleges that are Advancement, oversees the Alumni used to fund students. Endowed Association, private incoming scholarships are renowned as funds to CU and businesses gifts that last indefinitely. The filtering through the Center granted sum of money is an of Emerging Technology and investment and the interest Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES). earned He feels that from the the C.P. donation Mercadente funds the Endowed scholarship. Scholarship A $10 is a great thousand contribution investment to the Funds: left to right: Dan Mullins, Chairman of the Foundation; John Mercadente, donor is the University. of the C.P. Endowed Scholarship; and Dr. Cindy Ross, President of CU. The scholarship is minimum “It is required to awarded to qualifying Business and international major students. private create an donations ones. the first recipient of the scholarship. endowed that allow the university “Endowed scholarships are “I am very pleased to have received the C.P. scholarship to benefit,” Vice President permanent and amazing gifts,” Mercadente Scholarship this year,” Thapa said. at CU. The Johnson said. “When private Vice President Johnson said. In late August, the CU Scholarship Selection generous donations like this are made “They also serve as the greatest of Committee awarded the scholarship to Thapa, $30 it means that people are compliments to administrators, which deducted 300 dollars from his student fees. thousand recognizing the great value because it lets us know that if Vice President Johnson helps organize and investment of Cameron University and Recipient: Business Major Sanpeople are willing to invest in this attends the Scholarship Appreciation Dinner at of the C.P. investing in it.” tosh Thapa is the first recipient of university, we are doing our jobs CU every two years. The dinner links recipients and Scholarship the endowed scholarhip. Thapa Vice President Johnson well.” donors of particular scholarships together. was allotted is an international student from understands the need for To qualify for the C.P. “There is no greater reward for a donor than to the such a contribution to the Nepal. Mercadente Endowed to be able to see a student receiving an education university university. Scholarship, a student must because of his or her investment,” Johnson said. “It by the son of “Lawton embraced Mr. Mercadente,” Vice be a Business Major and an is great to be able to witness that.” C.P. Mercadente. President Johnson said. “Now his scholarship is international student. Mercadente imigrated to the embracing students here.” Santosh Thapa, a 21-year-old northeastern part of the United Students may benefit monetarily through Business Major from Nepal, was States from Italy when he was endowed scholarships, but they are not the only
Crosswords Across
1 Minister’s home 6 Inst. that turns out lieutenants 9 Poker game similar to Texas Hold ‘em 14 Polynesian greeting 15 Rock music’s __ Fighters 16 Tied, as shoes 17 Crest dispensers 18 Ceremonial uniform 20 Turf grabbers 22 Yo-yo string feature 23 Necktie knot 25 Tidal return 28 Ample shoe width 29 Temple with a minaret 31 PC key for getting out of trouble 34 Way up 37 Emanation detected by psychics, so they say 38 NCAA Elite Eight team 42 __ no good 43 Kept secret 44 Faux __: blunder 45 Main thoroughfare 48 41-Down sound in the comic “B.C.” 49 __ of the land 50 Parent whose kids have moved out 57 Civil rights org. 58 Work that ridicules folly 59 Dashboard device, and a hint to the starts of 18-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across 64 Carryalls 65 Out of port 66 What to add when the 59-Across gets low 67 Create, as a statute 68 Back at the track 69 The USA’s 50 70 Takes in tenants
Down
1 Fire lighter 2 Gene Vincent’s “BeBop-__”
3 __ Prize 46 ‘80s Cold War leader 4 Grain bundle 47 Song spelled with arm motions 5 How latitude lines run 51 Spark providers 6 On vacation 52 Pull on 7 “This __ be the last time”: Stones 53 Rosetta __ lyric 54 Giant 8 Goes it alone 55 Standing upright 9 Rookie’s mentor 56 Concludes one’s court case 10 Make a dent in 11 Poker “bullet” 12 Bucks and rams 13 Commercials 19 Weaver’s machine 21 Seven, in Sinaloa 24 Approaches 25 Supply with gear 26 Sac between a bone and tendon 27 Cop’s rounds 30 Gal of song 31 The same 59 Detergent brand 32 Old sporty Toyota 60 Jeep or Land Rover, briefly 33 Spiteful, as gossip 61 Superlative suffix 35 “__ tree falls ...” 62 Lion sign 36 Swanky 63 Dollar sign shape 39 Fish eggs 40 High hours? 41 Threat to tiny workers Solution on Page 8
MILITARY continued from page 1
“Cameron is a member of the Serviceman’s Opportunity College,” Glover said. “Schools in this program work to make sure that service members minimize the loss credit hours and ensures the amount of credits being transferred during the transition of schools.” Another program offered by the university, Freedom to Learn, helps troops get laptops so they may access online courses through Cameron. If the student graduates through the program, the laptop is theirs to keep. “Freedom to Learn was launched in 2009 to address the issue of soldiers taking courses during deployment, but not having adequate technology,” Glover said. “Active Duty soldiers that are taking six or more online credit hours can receive a laptop from the university if they wish. Soldiers from any location enrolled at Cameron can request a laptop.” Another program that CU hosts comes from a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Yellow Ribbon program helps users of the Post 9/11 GI Bill completely cover the costs of the education as the students are using the benefits. The university has also played a role in helping students on post and aiding Fort Sill’s training needs. “Cameron has offered courses on post at the Harry S. Truman Education Center and provided computers to the building’s lab,” Glover said. “Also, there have been times that Fort Sill has requested the university to aid with language education.” Glover says that Cameron will continue to aid the military community and the needs that arise. “If there’s a problem, we want to hear about it,” Glover said. “Cameron is always looking to better serve all of our students and their unique needs.”
THE UNION continued from page 1 Billingslea said that a very diverse group attended the event and despite the differences, they were all supportive of one another. She said that the event was a success with approximately 50 people attending. The good thing about that event was that people from several different ethnic backgrounds came together and were supportive of each other.” Billingslea said that The Union is planning to host open mic night once a month, although currently no decision on the exact time and day of the month. Billingslea said she is proud of The Union as an organization and, although members may not agree on everything, they do agree that they can come together and make a difference on campus. “I’m just really proud of the organization and what they stand for, which is the whole idea of everyone having a voice,” she said. “They differ in opinion on things, but what they do agree on is that they can come together and listen to each other in order to effect change.”
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Aggie News
October 3, 2011
www.aggiecentral.com
Educating students on Leadership skills
Photos by Kerry Severin
SIFE: Cameron Students participate in a one-day workshop focusing on leadership and project management training. SIFE is an organization which provides assistance through education.
By Tahira Carter News Editor
The Cameron University chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) held a training workshop on Sept. 17, at the University of Texas in Dallas. All current officers and potential future officers of the organization attended the oneday workshop which focused on topics such as leadership training, project management, career building and SIFE Basics. Assistant Professor of Management and SIFE Adviser Dr. Dwight Hite said that the training seminar was designed to help students use the knowledge that they acquired in the classroom to help their fellow community members. “The SIFE mission is to provide assistance to people in need and the way that we do that is through education,” Hite said. “The idea is that students in any major, whether it be business or
psychology, take what they learn in the classroom and teach that to others to help them better their lives.” Although registered under the Business Department, the organization services to the community are not limited to business advice. Executive SIFE member and junior Multimedia major Kerry Severin said that the group membership needs diversity. “Right now SIFE is known on campus to be a business club, but although it’s under the Business Department, SIFE is for all students,” Severin said. “We need communications majors, we need the chemistry club, the chemistry majors and multimedia majors because we need skills from all these departments.” Severin said that in an effort to better fulfill
the organization’s ongoing commitment to community service, recruitment has been more aggressive this year. “SIFE has been on campus for a while, but for a few years it was not that active. What we’re trying to do, especially this year, is build the membership base because without a strong membership base we won’t be able to take advantage of many of the opportunities that are out there within the SIFE community,” Severin said. Participation in more community events and challenges, such as the Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge and the Campbell’s Let’s Can Hunger Challenge, would also increase the organization’s chances of success at the various regional and national competitions. “One of our main goals is to go to the national competition,” Severin said. “We start within our region and once we are in the top five or three we move onto the national competition. If we become the national winner, we go to the World Cup competition where we compete against schools from Africa, Europe and Australia.” Members of the organization also get the opportunity to meet with executives from various large corporations at these events. These encounters often result in future job offers. “SIFE has a network of connections with corporations across the country and beyond. SIFE is a worldwide network,” Hite said. “There are certain companies like Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart that go to SIFE events exclusively to recruit for jobs.“ In 2005, the Cameron University SIFE team won a $20,000 first place prize in the inaugural Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition. The statewide contest included 26 student teams from 14 Oklahoma universities. Cameron University is home to one of 1400 SIFE university chapters in 44 countries.
AWARDS continued from Page 1
“The Great Game: Afghanistan” is a series of plays exploring Afghanistan from British Colombia rule until the present day. This production contains three sets of four plays about Afghanistan. Klein states that with as huge as the play is, he is narrowing to where it can be performed in a night instead of a span of three nights. There will be one play from the British Colombia rule set, one play from the Soviet Union set, and three from the Enduring Freedom set. “We always in Theatre Arts try to complement the academic festival,” Klein said. The Theatre Department’s, upcoming production “Masterpieces” is directed by Dr. David Fennema. Klein explained the play is about the Bronte family from the novels such as “Jane Eyre” and “ Wuthering Heights.” The play, written by Arthur Bicknell revolves around Patrick Branwell’s perception of the family and his relationship with his sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne. The performance of this production will be held on October 6th through the 9th.
CU students get help with financial wellness
By Teewhy Dojutelegan Staff Writer
Cameron University recently introduced a series of seminars aimed at educating its student body about the importance of managing finances. Vice President for Student Services Jennifer Holland will be in charge of the program and will be assisted by three student facilitators: Barkley Kirk, Natasha Ruff and Rebecca Rodriguez. The program will be broken into five sessions. Sessions addressing an important financial lesson. The sessions
there,” she said. “We wanted to show them because it is a huge part of their college career.” Many college students graduate with a huge pile of debt to pay, immediately find jobs that will pay them enough to repay their student loans Photos by Ashleigh Fletcher and leave will teach topics ranging from the student budgeting to the credit trap, enough money with which to saving and identity protection. survive. For such students, the The last session will feature a first few years of working are money show where students many times devoted to paying who have attended four of off the loans. the five sessions will have the This can cause emotional opportunity of winning cash breakdowns for graduates rewards on game show. who might have been looking Senior Psychology major and forward to living comfortable one of the student facilitators lives and can psychologically Rebecca Rodriguez sais make them less productive at students should know about work. importance of financial aid. Barkley Kirk, a senior “A lot of students do not Accounting student and know that there are a lot of another student facilitator, scholarships available and said that most students start different types of loans out learning to budget when they
leave home. “Personal budgeting is something that a lot of students when they first get to college have never had to do before,” Kirk said. “It is the first time they have been away from home and have really been in control of their own expenses and finances.” Knowing financial responsibility and how to manage situations involving money helps students perform better because having organized plans to control financial problems gives them enough time to focus on school work. According to Vice President Holland, Oklahoma supports teaching financial literacy. “There has been a big push at our state level to make sure that our financial literacy programs reach out to all of
our students,” Vice President Holland said. “Also all of our students can have the opportunity to learn about money management.” Among others, professionals who will be involved in the program include: Tara Deavours, Arvest Bank manager who will discuss budgeting; Jeremy Peterson, assistant vice president for City National Bank and Josh Deavours, First National Bank branch manager. The seminars will begin at 7 p.m. every other Wednesday starting Sept. 14, in the Shepler Centennial room and will include dinner. Students are encouraged to attend. The shared information in these sessions will be useful to students even after graduation.
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Aggie Voices
October 3, 2011
www.aggiecentral.com
Making memories amidst imperfection
Amber Lindsay Staff Writer THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor - Megan Bristow Asst. Managing Editor - Elijah Morlett News Editors - Tahira Carter, Ishia Saltibus Crossroads Editor - Ashleigh Fletcher A&E Editor - Rashmi Thapiliya Sports Editor - Aaron Gill Copy Editor - Dianne Riddles Aggie Central Editors - Elijah Morlett, Mitch Watson,
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Tiffany Martinez, Teewhy Dojutelegan, Sarah Szabo, James Meeks, Amber Spurlin, Brandon Thompson, Brenna Welch Circulation Manager - Matt Thompson Advertising Manager - Megan Bristow Photographer - Kelsey Carter
Newswriting Students
James Meeks, Aaron Gill, Nicole Bucher, Cody Gardner, Scott Haney, Kelsey Carter, Teewhy Dojutelegan, Adrian Alexander, Megan Bell, Tyler Boydston, Leah Ellis, Troy Flewellen, Angela Goode, Simone Graves, Jack A. McGuire, Cassidy Morgan, Markita Nash, Lizzie Owoyemi, Miranda Raines, Dianne Riddles, Alexander Rosa-Figueroa, Thomas Smith, Lindsey Yeahquo
Faculty Adviser
Dr. Christopher Keller
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Edmond Sun via the Duncan Banner.
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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 collegian@cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060 or at www. aggiecentral.com.
I remember a handful of days with full clarity, such as the day that a high school friend of mine died or the day I had my first kiss — which, I might add, was an extremely awkward experience. I remember clearly the day that I met Jordan Lindsey at the PLUS retreat, the first time he told me he loved me, and the night he asked me to marry him. However, I have fragmented memories of my wedding day. I remember getting ready, having to re-curl my hair a million times, my throbbing feet and the point at which the picture taking was finally finished, but not much else. Many people told me that my wedding would be a blur and that I needed to make sure I had a good recording of it. In my mind, however, there was no way I would forget anything about that day. Nope, not me, but, as it often happens with people who are older and more experienced, they were right. After the wedding rehearsal, my bride’s maids and I made a food run to Sonic in Burkburnett. As we were sitting there, I realized that I had not hired a videographer, found a video camera or asked someone to record the most important day of my life. My Maid of Honor, Cody Gardner, immediately went to action in Sonic’s parking lot, calling people who might have a camera. “Don’t worry, Amber,” she had said, “we’ll get this wedding recorded, even if we have to use my camera.” True to her word, she recorded my wedding on her tiny red digital camera. A video that I have not seen and that I doubt is of very good recorded quality, but at least is something for when I finally decide to re-live the ceremony in full detail. The lack of a proper video camera is only one example of my horrible planning skills and tendency to procrastinate. The cake was not booked until less than a month before the wedding; the f lowers were not decided upon and ordered until about three weeks earlier and the slide show remained unfinished until 1 a.m. the night before. By the time everyone
left after the rehearsal, the only decorations that were completely finished were the arch and bridal cake table, and we did not have the unity candle or the tablecloths for most of the reception tables. The decorations were not completed until noon on the day of the wedding, which was only an hour and a half before the beginning of the wedding. The boutonnieres for the ushers and for those serving the cake ended up on the bridal cake instead of on the ushers’ and servers’ shirts. Looking back, I wish I had written everything down and dispersed a list among my helpers telling them what to do; maybe then we would have had some pictures done before the wedding rather than rushing to get them done afterward. The only things I remember about the ceremony are that I forgot my line and the pastor had to repeat it; the Best Man, Jordan’s brother Josh, went to the piano too early to sing, so when Jordan needed my ring, Josh was not there; and, in an attempt at comedy, Jordan was almost sprayed in the eye with peppermint spray before the big kiss. The week after the wedding, I kept thinking about how imperfect it was; I
had procrastinated at the one thing I should have spent the entirety of my engagement planning. My disorganized wedding included people — and me — making mistakes during the ceremony and with no microphone for the reception.
Photo Courtesy of Amber Lindsay
A happy couple: Amber Lindsay says she remembers her first kiss, the day she met her future husband Jordan Lindsay and the night she became a bride-to-be but the day of her wedding remains a blur. Although she wishes she remembers more, Amber’s wedding turned out to be intimate and fun for everyone who attended her special day.
Refusing to conform to stereotype Excited mother-to-be is not quite ready to accept traditional figure of a mom
Our Views
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Aggie 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.
Photo Courtesy of Amber Lindsay
Tying the Knot: Amber Lindsay may not remember all the details from her wedding but she remembers what matters about that day. The former Amber Spurlin married Jordan Lindsay over the summer break.
Later, however, I had several people tell me how fun and intimate they thought my wedding had been. When I mentioned how disorganized everything was, they all claimed, much to my surprise, that, if it was, they had not noticed. I realized then that my wedding, however disorganized, actually had been perfect in its own way. My wedding day was the day that the person who God put in my life and I were joined, and although I do not remember anything that we said or promised, I do remember the overwhelming love and joy I felt. I would advise anyone who is planning his or her own wedding to learn from my example. Write things down for those helping you and do not wait until the last minute to get things done; however, do not sweat the small stuff. As Cody said, all you really need is yourself, the person you love and a pastor, nothing else matters. Well, except for the video recording, take it from someone who knows, you will remember few details about that day.
Rachel Engel Staff Writer At the time of this writing, I have exactly eight days until I will no longer be responsible for just myself. No, I am not acquiring a husband; I have one of those, thanks, and he is quite capable of taking care of himself … for the most part. No, in eight days I will become one of those moms. You know, a mom. To feed the stereotype, I feel like I should run out (well, as much of a run as my current waddle will allow), buy a pair of Mom Jeans and get my hair cut into a bob. Oh, and buy a mini-van. Have to have the mini-van, with
the animal crackers and loose Cheerios covering the floor. Yes, that would be the classic stereotype, although, for me it is also known as my worst nightmare. I am only 24, and feel I am still perfectly within the appropriate age limit to continue wearing jeans with rips at the knees, and that give me an actual shape, if the precious being inside of me allows me to get my actual shape back through intense cardio work-outs over the next six months. Also, I cannot pull off the bob look. My face is too circular, and the thought of cutting my hair above my shoulders frightens me more than motherhood does. I blame my own mother for that insecurity — I wonder what tragic injustice my daughter will blame me for one day. The possibilities are endless. And, the mini-van is a nogo. I am not sure what the male fascination is with them, but my husband and I have already had that discussion (see: argument), and I won, which is why I drive a truck, and not some monstrosity where the doors open for you and you have enough vacant seats to
qualify as a bus. Limited space means limited inquiries for the car pool — just planning ahead. The rejection of this stereotype does not mean I am not excited to become a mom, quite the opposite. I cannot wait to look into the eyes of the tiny little person I have shared my body with for the last long, nine months. I am absolutely ready to be her mom. I just want to be my own kind of mom. Indefinable; no stereotype attached. I do not want to be a cool mom. If this little girl describes me as a cool mom when she is 14, I am clearly doing something wrong. My mom was a good parent, and there was nothing cool about her when I was a teenager. My mom became cool when I turned about 20, when I realized that she and I had a lot in common, and I really valued what she had to say. That is when she became a cool person, instead of a cool mom. She jokes that having my sister and me was like growing her best friends. It takes a while, but the good parents always make the best friends later in life. However, I also do not want to be the overprotective mom. The best way to learn is to
learn from mistakes, and if I shield her from everything bad in life, I am not doing her any favors. Unlike Phoebe’s mom on “Friends,” I will allow her to know that the artist did indeed stop drawing Bambi’s mom. Life is messy. No, a happy medium between cool and overprotective is where I plan to fall on the mom meter. Relaxed enough so she knows she can come to me if she finds herself in a mess she cannot get out of, and on top of things enough for her to know that mom knows and sees all and I will catch her. All of that comes later, though, when she starts to become her own little person and begins pushing against the boundaries we set for her. I am gearing up to enjoy the innocent times; the times when she is going to delight in just discovering the world around her, and I get to be the one who shows it to her. I do not have to act a certain way to make sure she stays out of trouble; I just get to be her mommy, which is what I am looking forward to the most. However, I can tell you what I am not looking forward to: toddler television. Is there anything worse in the world?
Aggie A&E 5 India and Nepali night: A weekend of cultural events October 3, 2011
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lecture. We have many local people who come. For the Indian Staff Writer people it is there and they come, but it is mainly local people,” Dr. Two cultural events are Ahmed said. coming to Cameron University. According to Dr. Ahmed, the The first of these events will be event will feature good Indian India Night which will be held food, music and a guest speaker on Friday, Oct. 7. as a way of sharing the culture Dr. Syed M. Ahmed, with the attendees. Professor of Economics and “We want to familiarize Director of the Business people here with the Indian Research Center, said that India culture and that will be reflected Night has been an opportunity in the food, the music, and the to share the Indian culture with lecture,” Dr. Ahmed said. the local citizens. Although new people attend “We want to familiarize each year, many people have people here with the Indian enjoyed the celebration in the culture and that will be reflected past and come back to attend the in the food, the music, and the event every year. “Some people like to come when they get a taste of the music and the food, so some people are always the same people who come, but there will always be new people,” Dr. Ahmed said. Ajanta, a restaurant in Oklahoma City, caters the food. The Photo Courtesy of CUNA menu lists both vegetarian and Nepali Cuisine: Guests enjoyed Nepali non-vegetarian cuisine during Dashain celebration last year. choices of Indian Nepali Food is one of the main attractions cuisine. of Nepali Night this year. Pandit
By Leah Chaffins
Tarun Bhattacharya and Subrata Bhattacharya are both international performers of Indian music who will provide the entertainment that night. Dr. T. K. Bhattacharya, Professor Emeritus of Cameron University, will deliver the lecture. His topic is “Reemergence of India and China. What this means for the United States.” Tickets for India Night are available for purchase in the School of Business, room 117. Ticket prices are $15 for General Admission and $5 for students with a CU ID. Anyone wanting to purchase a ticket may do so by contacting Brandy Scott at 580.581.2842 or by sending e-mail to bscott@cameron.edu. The second cultural event will be the CU Nepalese Organization’s annual Nepali Night from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. Ashok Pandey, President of CUNA, said that the event is this semester’s prime celebration. “We have two big events every semester. For Fall, this is our biggest event,” Pandey said. Pandey said that clarity was the reason for changing the name from “Dashain” in the past to “Nepali Night.” “We are calling it Nepali Night this time to make it simple. If we put Dashain, people do not know what we are saying,” Pandey said. According to Pandey,
Photo Courtesy of CUNA
Cultural Dance: CUNA members performed a cultural dance during Dashain Celebration last fall. This year CUNA is celebrating Nepali Night on Sunday, Oct. 9. Dashain is one of the longest Nepali holidays. “This is basically Dashain. That is one of our biggest events. It goes for 15 days back home and so we are actually celebrating that,” Pandey said. Like India Night, Nepali Night is a chance for students and local citizens to experience the food and music of a different culture. The members of CUNA cook all the food for the event themselves. “We cook our food. We don’t do any catering,” Pandey said. Several songs and dances will
be part of the festivities. While students of CUNA perform some of the entertainment, at least one of the performers is a guest. “We have seven to 10 songs and dances. Sometimes we have guests. This time we have one who is coming from Weatherford singing a couple of songs,” Pandey said. Tickets for Nepali Night are $10 and anyone wanting to purchase a ticket may do so by contacting Sarah Stroud, Assistant Director of Open Doors at 580.581.5598.
CU Art Professor continues to earn acclaim as an artist By Elijah Morlett
Assistant Managing Editor
and Teewhy Dojutelegan Staff Writer
Cameron University’s Professor of Art, Katherine Liontas-Warren continues to earn acclaim through her artwork with an invitation to participate in a portfolio exchange project hosted in Connecticut and Florida and to display her work at the Texas Tech Museum. For the portfolio exchange, Liontas-Warren was one of only three Oklahoma artists selected to participate in the exchange project, which features works from the eastern and western region of the United States. The project had an open theme with stipulations that the work of art had to be original and of a specific size. These flexible conditions inspired the creation of “The Decision,” a 16” X 20” lithograph. “The Decision,” according to Liontas-Warren, is a metaphor for her sons who are bonded together but must go apart.
“The birds represent my twin sons,” she said. “You can see the bird houses moving apart, yet still coming together. They are soon going to college, one goes one way and one goes the other, yet they still are going together.” A lithograph is an impression that is drawn on to a stone, usually limestone, on which the image to be printed is inkreceptive and the blank area inkrepellant. This ensures that all the images produced are original works of the artist. Liontas-Warren performs a specific procedure to create prints. She draws directly on to a stone and chemically etches the image with a solution of nitric acid and gum arabic. The image is treated several times with the solution, then ink is rolled onto the stone and adheres to the chemically treated fatty acids of the stone. A paper is placed on the top of the stone or matrix and is pressed through a manual press. “Original prints are drawn and pulled by hand,” LiontasWarren said. “They should be thought of as original works existing in multiple impressions and not as copies.” Liontas-Warren also received
an invitation to participate in the Artist Printmaker Research Collection (AP/ RC) at the Museum of Texas Tech University this past May. The AP/RC serves artists, curators, critics, art historians and students through in-depth collection and preservation of the art and achieves Graphic Courtesy of Katherine Liontas-Warren of individual The Decision: Professor Katherine Liontas-Warren created a 16”X20” printmakers. lithograph, “The Decision” for the portfolio exchange. The birds in the litho“The graph represent her twin sons who are bonded together but must go apart. accessibility of the collection and archives will facilitate present and future research and educational programming,” LiontasWarren said. “Each original print is an aesthetic expression and a historical resource for generations to come.” The museum’s Helen DeVitt Jones Curator of Art invited Liontas-Warren, a graduate of Texas Tech University. The professor says that it’s a
great and exciting feeling to be contributing to her alma mater. “Knowing that my prints will be a part of this collection in a university-based museum is an honor,” she said. In the past, Liontas-Warren has been invited to several portfolio exchanges and collections hosted by many locations across the country. She has also been included in international exchanges in
countries such as Argentina, Dubai, and Australia. Liontas-Warren, who has been a Cameron faculty member for 25 years, says that her goals are to continue evolving as a teacher and an artist for years to come. “I love what I do and I believe the outcome of my goals will be an enriching and rewarding experience for many years,” she said.
Inasmuch Foundation Art Gallery
On campus gallery displays works by Cameron students By Rashmi Thapaliya A & E Editor
Photo by Anjana Prasain
Art Speaks: Various pieces by Art students at Cameron are on display in Inasmuch Foundation Art Gallery located inside the east entrance of the McMahon Centennial Complex.Since its opening in April 2010, the art gallery has proved to be a great platform for the art students to show their finished product to the students, faculty, and visitors on campus. Inasmuch Foundation contributed for the establishment of the gallery.
Cameron University Art students have been displaying their artwork through the Inasmuch Foundation Gallery inside the east entrance of the McMahon Centennial Complex since it opened in April 2010. Monika Linehan, Associate Professor of Art Department, said that the gallery currently features oil paintings by students enrolled in Painting class during the spring 2011 semester. Linehan said that she assigned the students to paint either a still life or a self-portrait during the class. “The students who chose to do the still life had to paint it directly from their observation and make it look realistic,” Linehan said. “Those who chose to do their self-portrait were expected to be creative with the interpretation in their painting.” Linehan said that the gallery is a venue for the art students to show their works to people who would not see them otherwise. “It really provides good exposure to art works by CU students,” Linehan said. “It is a great opportunity for the art students to show their finished product to other students, faculty, and visitors on campus.” Every semester the art pieces displayed in the
gallery change. Before the Oil Paintings, abstract self-portraits and movie posters filled the art gallery. The freshmen enrolled in Drawing I and Drawing II classes created the portraits and movie posters. Katherine Liontas-Warren, Professor in the CU Art Department said that she assigned her students in the Drawing II class to recreate a movie poster that inspired them by featuring themselves as the lead actor or actress in the poster. “It was a great assignment for the students where they learned the technical skills on how to use pastels,” Liontas-Warren said. “The movie theme included horror, gangster, love story, and others.” Liontas-Warren said that seeing the art works by her students displayed in the gallery makes her feel proud of their creativity and accomplishments. “We try to put art pieces by as many students as possible in the gallery,” Liontas-Warren said. “If there is not enough space, then we rotate the works of students so that everyone’s work is included.” Edna McMillan, Chair of the Department of Art, said that during construction of McMahon Centennial Complex, the administration approached her regarding her thoughts on building an Art Gallery inside the complex. “The gallery has been named after Inasmuch Foundation,” McMillan said. “The foundation contributed for the establishment of the gallery.”
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Aggie Sports
October 3, 2011
www.aggiecentral.com
Women’s tennis has another great finish By Brandon Thompson Staff Writer
The Lady Aggies traveled to Wichita Falls on Sept. 23, to compete in the Midwestern State Tennis Tournament. According to Cameron University head tennis coach James Helvey, the Lady Aggies had a good showing at the tournament. Helvey said that he had expected the Aggies to play well considering they returned the entire squad from last year’s team. Last season, the Aggies won their regional and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Midwestern State Tournament was just another rung in the ladder for the Lady Aggies. Returning with all of his players from last year’s National Championship qualifiers, Helvey said that he had high expectations for his Aggies going into this season. “We got the whole team back from last year,” Helvey said, “so I like where we are sitting.” The Aggies made an appearance in the tournament finals losing to Tyler Junior College, which happens to be the top ranked junior college team in the nation. Helvey said he was happy with the Lady Aggies’ performance in the tournament. “My number one women’s team made it to the finals and got beat by Tyler Junior College,” Helvey said. “They are number one in the nation in ju-co, so I am really pleased with that.” According to Helvey, he
Photo by Kelsey Carter
What a backhand: Sophomore Antonia Moberg hustles into position at a recent match at the CU Tennis Complex against Oklahoma Baptist. The Women’s Aggie tennis team has been hard at work this fall season and have had three great matches. expects the success of the team to carry on into the Regional Tournament. Helvey said that he is happy with the progress of the team so far and their record ref lects the ability of this team. “We are 3-0,” Helvey said. “Where we are at looks good.” The Midwestern State Tournament gave the Aggies
a chance to face some tough competition before heading to the regional. Helvey said that tournaments like these only help the team get stronger. “The more competitive teams we play the better off we are,” Helvey said. As the Aggies head towards the ITA Regional Tournament and then onto the
ITA National Championship Tournament, Helvey is confident the experience of his squad will help them in the upcoming tournaments. “We won the regional, we were number one in the conference, we went to Nationals and everyone is back,” Helvey said. Helvey said that he thought
the team looked good going into the next tournament and thought they had an opportunity to do well in the regional. According to Helvey, the Aggies’ experience and the ability of the team to handle match-time situations is the cornerstone of the team’s success.
Photo by Kelsey Carter
Deuce: In a recent match at the CU Tennis Complex, junior Jorge Gerosi returns a serve from an opposing Oklahoma Baptist serve. The Aggie men’s tennis team has had a great start to their season as they had three solid performances in different venues during the month of September.
Men’s tennis finishes strong at MSU By Brandon Thompson Staff Writer
The Aggie men’s tennis team played in the Midwestern State University Tournament Sept. 23-24. The Aggies’ trip to Wichita Falls ended in success. Head coach James Helvey said that he was pleased with the performance of the Aggies this weekend. Helvey said that his doubles team won the tournament against some stiff competition. “The tournament went good,” Helvey said. “My number 1 doubles team won the whole thing.” The Aggies doubles team consisted of junior Duje Janjic and senior Thomas Peixoto. The team faced-off against Midwestern State in the finals. According to Helvey, the Aggie men won the doubles match in a dominant fashion. The Aggies rallied to take the match against Midwestern State. “Thomas Peixoto and Duje Janjic played Midwestern’s team,” Helvey said. “We won that 8-4.” Helvey said that the doubles win was a good accomplishment
for his double’s team due to the competition that attended the tournament. “My top doubles team won the tournament beating out Midwestern players, East Central players and some of the top junior college teams in the country,” Helvey said. The single’s side of the tournament proved to be successful for the Aggies as well. The top singles player for the Aggies finished second. Helvey said that he was pleased with how the top players on his team were playing so
far this season. He said he is confident in their ability to continue to play well throughout the remainder of the year despite their youth. The Aggies are a young team and the early success of the team could boost the confidence of the players and help them as they head towards Nationals. Helvey said that he thought they played in one of the toughest conferences in the nation and that the high level of competition is good for his young team. He said that his team has handled the pressure
well so far. “We have one of the toughest regions in the country; you have got to get up and go quick or you will get run over,” Helvey said. “I have two freshmen that are stepping up really well.” Helvey said that this team was still trying to figure out what they are really about. He said that the matches they have played this season have begun to give the team their own unique identity. “They are trying to carve out their own identity,” Helvey said. “I got some new faces and I am
pleased to see what I have been seeing.” According to Helvey, the team’s success in the tournament has set them up for the regional tournament. “It sets them up pretty good going into this next week,” Helvey said. Helvey said that the Aggie men are a hardworking group and that he could not ask for a better team to coach. “I have a good team, good people and great attitudes,” Helvey said. “It is all I could ever ask for.”
October 3, 2011
www.aggiecentral.com
Aggie Sports
7
Volleyball jumps to fourth in conference
Photo courtesy of Sports Information
Sideout Aggies: Freshman Rebecca Green (left) and Seniro Adrianne Lawson (right) rise above the net for an Aggie block in a recent game against Texas Woman’s University. The lady Aggies played hard throughout the month of September and finished out the month in fourth place in the Lonestar Conference despite pre season polls that placed them in last.
By Aaron Gill Sports Editor
The Aggie women’s volleyball team is off to a great start having a 5-4 record after their match against Tarleton State University. The Aggies have had their difficulties so far this season with many matches in which they were coming off wins to lose and vice-versa. Having hopes of improving on last year’s 9-18 record, Coach Doug Tabbert says his team still has a lot of work to do. “I think we are making progress but I realize we still have a lot of work to do,” Tabbert said. The Aggies previous fall
season was everything that they hoped it would not be. The team had a win-loss record of 9-18 and no hope for a conference championship. This year is a whole different ball game for the Aggies having only four losses after the Tarleton State match the team is already looking like its headed in a positive direction. Coach Tabbert is in his first season at Cameron University and would like to see his team improve compared to last season’s performance. “I feel good about some of the things we are doing,” Tabbert said. “I realize we still have some work to do though.” In a recent road trip to
Eastern New Mexico, the Aggies emerged victorious after winning 3-1. The first match was almost total domination after the Aggies set fire to the court with a 2511 victory. The team had some impressive stats in which they had a .355 hitting percentage, 3 blocks and an amazing 13 kills. The second match did not fare as well as the first in which the Aggies lost 25-20. Junior Julisa Ocasio displayed just how dominant the Aggies could be by showing in the last two sets that a good defense is what can win games. Ocasio finished out the night with 2 aces and 24 digs.
Coach Tabbert was impressed that the Aggies held it together and pulled out a solid win. “I think we were very consistent and there were times we were very dominant in that match,” Tabbert said. It was a different story when the Aggies came home to play Tarleton State University on Sept. 22. The Aggies had an amazing first set in which they won 25-17. Coach Tabbert was impressed with how efficient his team was in the first game. “They (Tarleton) hit negative the first game and we were pretty efficient,” Tabbert said. “We took care of the ball and hit over .200.”
The Aggies would go on to lose the next three matches ending the match at 1-3. Coach Tabbert said that Tarleton went on to win those three games in a row. “In set two they solved their issues offensively,” Tabbert said. “They had more firepower than we did.” The Aggies looked strong in the first match and had great offensive skills but the TexAnns came out in that second match and never looked back. “We just were not able to answer what they did offensively,” Tabbert said. “Once they fixed their offensive issues it became a different match.” The Aggies still have the bulk of their season coming up and with a team full of leaders; Tabbert is looking forward how his team ends the season. “I do not think it is coming from one individual,” Tabbert said. “I believe we all have the same mindset, we know that there is not a huge margin for error and we have embraced the idea that we just have to compete.” The Aggies are striving for excellence this year as they work hard to be a competing team in The Lonestar Conference. Coach Tabbert is pleased with his Aggies’ work ethic and he is ready to make some noise and show that they are competitors. “We have had some good performances at home where we have really demonstrated that we are willing to work hard and compete,” Tabbert said. “We are in it for the long haul and we will play until the match is over.”
Kirwa earns Lonestar Runner of the Week twice By Aaron Gill Sports Editor
Collegiate athletes strive to achieve many honors and for any athlete the biggest of those honors is the title, AllAmerican. There is a sense of nostalgia that comes with an award and for freshman Hillary Kirwa that sense of nostalgia has occurred twice this year when she received the Lonestar Conference Runner of the Week two weeks in a row. Head Cross Country Coach Matt Aguero said that Kirwa was deserving of this title. “Each school submits a runner each week and the conference office selects which runner is deserving of the title of Lonestar Conference Runner of the Week,” Aguero said. Coach Aguero is optimistic that Kirwa could possibly receive the title again this season. “He won it after the first two weeks he ran and hopefully he will get it again,” Aguero said. The other teams in the conference are starting to put in some more runners, which will give Kirwa a little more competition in his search for a third title. Coach Aguero is looking forward to seeing how Kirwa competes against some larger programs in bigger races. “I think he will do well,” Aguero said. “I’m excited to see because he has not run in a big race yet but he is a hard worker and as long as he can stay healthy I think he will perform well.” With the conference meet less than a month away, Aguero is ready to see how Kirwa runs. “I think he is one of the top five runners in the conference,”
Photo courtesy of Sports Information
Runners set: Freshman Hillary Kirwa jumps to the middle of the pack in a recent race. Kirwa has won one race this season. Aguero said. Aguero is working hard to see that Kirwa has everything he needs to perform well, to keep him healthy and to help him possibly earn the title of All-American. Coach Aguero said that a runner could make it to the national meet in order to become an All-American. “Only two teams out of each region go and we have four conferences in our region,” Aguero said. “Then they take the next two individuals unless you make the top five at the regional meet.” At the time of Kirwa’s honor, he had posted the two fastest times in the conference for both the 6k and 8k races. Kirwa ran 17:54:00 in the Midwestern State University Mustang Stampede in early
September. Kirwa not only set a new course record in the 6k but also set a new school record, shattering the previous record set by Julius Korir at 19:15. Kirwa’s second record was set at The Aggie Showdown on Sept. 10 where he ran the 8k in a time of 25:07:72. The Aggies still have a few meets left this season in which Kirwa has the opportunity to make some noise and set some more records. Kirwa will make his next appearance at 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 15, in Fayetteville, as the running Aggies get ready for the University of Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival. For more information about Kirwa or any of the other Aggie runners, students may visit www.cameronaggies.com
Photo courtesy of Sports Information
To your marks: Freshman Hillary Kirwa is making some serious noise on the Lonestar Conference cross country scene. Kirwa has been training hard throughout the first half of the Aggies cross country season and has helped the team to a second and fourth place finish during the month of September.
8
CROSSROADS
October 3, 2011
www.aggiecentral.com
Family fun with friendly families By Ashleigh Fletcher Crossroads Editor
The International Friendship Family Organization has seen increased enrollment; however, the program needs more volunteer families. The International Friendship Family Organization is a free program that offers international students the opportunity to befriend an American family and experience American culture and religion alongside that family. Patsy Sanders, the coordinator for the organization, said that the purpose of the program is to share and learn with one another. “The program is a learning experience,” Sanders said. “The students share, the families share and hopefully we all leave with a better understanding of one another.” Sanders said that the program has adopted the mission of The Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (ACMI). “We Belong to ACMI and adopt their mission statement that our purpose is to enhance ministry to international students in North America by providing networking, training, access to resources and encouragement for one another,” Sanders said. Sanders said that although The Friendship Family Organization maintains Christian values, the program’s goal is not to persuade students to become Christians. “I do not want the impression to be that this is a Christian group or that we are trying to coerce any student into becoming a Christian,” Sanders said. “We are just showing love and friendship like all Christians should do and then we let God and the Holy Spirit work and see what happens with that.” Sanders said that enrollment in the Friendship Family program was up 15.5 percent this semester, which created a need for volunteer families to get students off the program wait list. “This year, 35.5 percent of the international students at Cameron are part of our program and as it stands we have 11 students waiting to be placed with a family,” Sanders said. Sanders said that although the organization
is in great need of volunteer families not just anyone could take part in the Friendship Family program. “Only families who regularly attend a Christian church are eligible to participate in the program,” Sanders said. Sanders said that the families are required to live within 20 minutes of the Cameron campus. “When you get further than the 20 minutes from campus the logistics of traveling back and forth are just too much,” Sanders said. “It just does not work.” According to Sanders, the distance guideline does limit the number of churches the program can recruit families from and the program has not had great response when trying to recruit families at community churches. “The majority of people that are in churches will go on Sunday morning and they do not do anything else,” Sanders said. According to Sanders, only 15 to 20 percent of people in churches are actively involved and are often times over-committed, so she emphasizes that the Friendship Family program will not take up much of a family’s time. According to The Friendship Family organizations’ guidelines, families are only required to spend three to four hours a month with their students. “We encourage families to spend as much time with their students as they would like,” Sanders said. “However, Families are only required to spend three to four hours a month with their international students.” Sanders said that families are not expected to go out of there way for students and are simply asked to show international students American culture by doing what they would normally do. “We try to tell families this program is not going to take up your whole life,” Sanders said. “Just do with the students what you would normally do.” Anyone wanting more information regarding The Friendship Family Organization and family volunteer opportunities may call 580.583.0152.
Hang On Tight: Nami Dosso, Stephanie Tra, Erica David and Bob Robillard enjoy a roller coaster. Friendship Families hope to share American culture.
Photos courtesy of the Robillard family
VACATION: Nami Dosso, Stephanie Tra and Erica David pose for a photograph while on a Friendship Family summer vaction. Enrollment Friendship Family orginization has grown by 15.5 percent.
CU student BP Phillips releases mixtape Covers
By Adrian Alexander Newswriting Student
Cameron University Student Brian Phillips, stage name Bp, released his mixtape Covers on Sept. 30. Phillips said that Covers is different and that the mixtape represents his ability to showcase his growth as an artist and inspire people with his talents. The primary incentive behind his music is to help people with their life struggles. “Covers is real, inspiring and different,” Phillips said. “I do not think it will be the average mixtape.” Phillips feels that the mixtape exemplifies his versatility as an artist. According to Phillips, the project has the potential to appeal to a wide diversity of people and cultures regardless if one is strictly
into a particular genre of music. He said that he has a few collaborations with local artists, including Jacobi Isham from the Hunnid Boyz, but he did not want to have a lot of featured musicians on this project. Come Back for Me is one of 18 songs coming from the mixtape. Phillips shares that Deanna Dorta is featured on the soothing song and that this is his favorite track from Covers because it could potentially help people when they are feeling lost. ‘Come Back for Me’ is about asking out for God when feeling lost,” Phillips said. It is no secret that Phillips is a Christian in his everyday life. According to Phillips the project will not be Christian; however, religious ideas and beliefs will be present
Graphic courtesy of BP Music.
throughout some of the lyrical content. Phillips said it is hard to keep the mixtape exclusively clean cut and Christian-based. Phillips is currently an un-signed artist and believes he must play along with the industry while maintaining his own values and beliefs to further his career. “With the industry you have to learn how to confuse them while playing their own game,” Phillips said. “There will be profanity on the mixtape.” The CU musician was inspired to drop his mixtape on Sep. 30 because famous recording artist J Cole is releasing his album in the same week. J Cole is one of the few artists that inspires and reminds Phillips to work hard at his craft. “I am releasing the mixtape on Sept. 30 because it is a
Graphic courtesy of BP Music.
Photos courtesy of BP Music.
Rising Star: Brian Phillips sits and listens to music. Phillips is a Cameron University student hoping to further his music career with the realease of his mix tape Covers. personal reminder to work hard,” Phillips said. Phillips said it was not difficult to come up with the title of the mixtape and it came to him relatively easy. “I came up with the title Covers because the songs on the mixtape are songs that most people have already covered,” Phillips said. Phillips name and music is growing more popular day
by day. He was able to get DJ Messiah, a New York Dj, to host this mixtape. Covers is highly anticipated by some people and can be easily accessed online free of charge. The project will be released digitally for listener’s convenience and can be downloaded from various popular music websites including DatPiff.com and LiveMixtapes.com.