Monday, April 23, 2012
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Commencement
A&E
Volume 86 Issue 24
Sports
Toney Stricklin to give graduation speech
Film Previews Summer films are ready to hit the silverscreen and we cannot wait. Page 5
Softball Lady Aggies emerge victorious over rival MSU in final home game. Page 6
Crossroads
A&E
Photo courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Curefighters Lawtonians walk around McMahon Softball Complex for Cystic Fibrosis. Page 8
Sports
Baseball Aggie men split a home series with ACU after rain delays. Page 7
Congratulations grads: Three Cameron University grads pose for a photo at graduation. Photo 2011. by Matthew Berberea Cameron University had 999 students eligible to receive a diploma during spring
by Colin DuRant Staff Writer
Cameron University will hold its commencement ceremony for the class of 2012 at 7:30 p.m. on May 4 at Cameron Stadium. According the Office of the Registrar, approximately 1,030 graduates will be eligible to walk the stage as part of this year’s ceremony. The commencement speaker for this year will be Oklahoma State Regent for Higher Education Toney Stricklin, a Cameron alumni from the class of 1975 and retired Major General from the United States Army. State Regent Stricklin received the Distinguished Service Award from Cameron University in 2000, as well as being named a Distinguished Alumni by the Cameron University Alumni Association in 2008. In a press release, CU President Cindy Ross said the university was honored to feature State Regent Stricklin at commencement. “His exemplary leadership and service will encourage our graduates, while his extraordinary accomplishments will inspire them,” President
Ross said. The ceremony will feature a precommencement concert at 7 p.m. by the Cameron University Pan Express, conducted by Dr. James Lambert, Chair of the Department of Music. Commencement will conclude, as per Cameron tradition, with a fireworks display ending at approximately 9 p.m. Provost John McArthur said commencement is one of his favorite academic events. “It allows our campus community an opportunity to celebrate successes and accomplishments of our students with their families and our community,” Provost McArthur said. “I look forward to congratulating another wonderful class of Cameron Aggies.” Candidates for graduation participating in commencement should report to the east end zone of Cameron Stadium no later than 7 p.m. on May 4 with their card received in their “Graduation Times” mailer.
See Commencement Page 2
Greek Week After a week of grueling competition greek week comes to a close. Page 5
Sports
Groundbreaking CU holds a ceremony for new softball field and multipurpose facility. Page
Romney campaign strengthened with Santorum drop by Colin DuRant Staff Writer
With Rick Santorum’s April 10 announcement suspending his campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, former Governor Mitt Romney seems to be the choice to run against incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama in the 2012 election. According to the Associated Press, Romney currently holds 666 of the 1,149 delegates required to officially secure the nomination, but with Santorum — his closest competitor — dropping out, and both Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul trailing far behind in delegate count, Romney’s nomination seems all but guaranteed. The next round of primaries will take place on April 24 with five states voting: Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. In one of the first interviews following his withdrawal, Santorum told Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, that the decision to drop out was mostly a financial one. “When money goes away, you have to go out and compete with those staff and resources and media, and you simply don’t have the ability to do it,” Santorum said. “...We pushed this envelope as far as could.” The Washington Post reported that Santorum called Romney before his official withdrawal announcement to inform him of his decision. In a press release through his campaign, Romney acknowledged Santorum’s role in shaping the primaries. “Senator Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran,” Romney said. “He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and nation.” In a press release, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Santorum waged a remarkable campaign, and despite being 530 delegates behind, Gingrich will stay in the race. “I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice,” Gingrich said. However, during an interview on April 8 on Fox News Sunday, Gingrich confirmed that his campaign was close to $4.5 million in debt. “We owe much more than we wanted to,” Gingrich said. “Florida got to be a real brawl. And I think — unfortunately — our guys tried to match Romney. It turned out we didn’t have anything like his capacity to
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
Romney on the rise: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks at the closed National Gypsum drywall factory in Lorain, Ohio, on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Romney has made multiple stops across the United States with his “Obama Isn’t Working” campaign. raise money.” In a press briefing on April 11, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama did not have a specific or notable reaction to the fact that he now has a clear Republican challenger in Mitt Romney. “His position is the one that I’ve been expressing here; that the process in the other party will take care of itself,” Carney said. “We are essentially observers of that process from here, and when the time comes for him to engage with an opponent, then he will.” However, President Obama is not taking the reelection campaign lightly, and, as CBS news reported, the President held his first campaign events back in April 2011. In an April 10 campaign event at a private residence in Golden Beach, Florida, President Obama noted the divisive nature of this year’s election. “You’re probably going to have as big a contrast in this election as we’ve seen in a very long time,”
President Obama said. “And that means that we may have to work even harder than we did in 2008.” Speculation continues about who Romney will choose as a running mate for this year’s election with Politico, a Washington DC based political blog, guessing junior Senator from Ohio Rob Portman, junior Senator from Florida Marco Rubio, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Representative Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, among others. In a piece for the Washington Post, Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Romney would do well among more conservative voters to pick a vice-president farther to the right. “Romney would be wise to select a well-qualified running mate who can energize evangelicals, faithful Roman Catholics and conservatives, while also appealing to women and independents,” Reed said. “His choice will be subjected to an all-out assault.”
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News
April 23, 2012
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Agriculture department holds Interscholastic Meet By Angela Goode Staff Writer
The Cameron University Department of Agriculture held its annual Agriculture Interscholastic Meet on April 11. In the first part of the meet, more than 350 high school students were asked to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of topics, including Meat Judging, Field Crops/Agronomy/Seeds ID, Farm Business Management, Floriculture, Livestock Judging and Food Science/ Technology. The second part of the meet, which will include middle school students, is set to meet April 26. In this part of the meet, attendees will be asked to present a speech in areas such as Agribusiness, Agriculture Policy, Agricultural Science, Animal Sciences, Grade General Agriculture, Extemporaneous, FFA Creed, Natural Resources and many others. The event was created in part to help agriculture students practice their skills in a variety of agricultural fields. Dr. Leon Fischer, Agriculture Interscholastic Coordinator and Chair of the Cameron Department of Agriculture, said that such events are great at training students not only for the state competition but also to get students interested in Agriculture programs beyond the high school level. “In addition to allowing high school students to prepare for the state competition, it gives them the opportunity to get acquainted with the Cameron community and explore opportunities for their future education,”
Photo courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Future Farmers, Future Leaders: Students judge livestock at the Interscholastic meet on April 11. CU Department of Agriculture hosted the annual meet to get more students interested in Agricultural programs. he said, “We are pleased to carry on this outstanding tradition that serves the agriculture leaders of tomorrow.” According to Dr. Fischer, the first part of the Meet went well, with all teams being placed for all the contests. “First place team and high individual were named in all contests. The winning teams and individuals will be receiving plaques,” he said. “Students gained experience in competition and were prepared for the state competition to be
held at Oklahoma State University in two weeks.” Dr. Fischer said that the second meet will give competing students a chance to test their public speaking skills. “Second event will be held next Tuesday evening, April 24,” he said. “The students have to compete in local PI speaking contests to qualify to compete in our District Public Speaking Contest. The top two students in each of the speaking areas will qualify for the State
Public Speaking contest that will be held in two weeks. Areas for each speaking contest are set and determined by State FFA officials.” According to Dr. Fischer, the events were created to help students use the knowledge they have accumulated in Agriculture towards critical thinking. “The Interscholastic Events help students use their knowledge base to make critical thinking decisions and then defend them in written or oral communication,” he said. “The speaking contest helps them develop confidence in their public speaking abilities.” Dr. Fischer said that the Agriculture Department reaps the benefit of these events, as they also serve as a recruitment tool. “The department gains from hosting these events on campus in that it serves as a positive recruiting effort for the department and hopefully encourages students to attend Cameron University,” he said. Dr. Fischer said they have been running the contest for two years and have since added new groups. “We have added four new events in the Interscholastic Events during the past two years,” he said. “We added the Dairy Food and Food Science Technology Events last year, and this year we added an Entomology contest and an Agriculture Communications contest.” Students interested the Cameron University program can reach Dr. Fischer at 580.581.2882, or at leonf@cameron. edu.
Career Services ready to offer help during graduation season By Tiffany Martinez Staff Writer
Career Services, of the Student Development Center of Cameron University, is approaching its busiest time of the year: the end of the spring semester. As students prepare to receive their degrees in just a few short weeks, the staff of the Student Development Center is providing Aggies with the tips and tools to complete their graduation check lists. Director of Student Development, Dr. Jennifer Pruchnicki has been preparing students to enter the work force for the past six years. “Career Services helps students through pretty much every step of their career development,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. “We help with resume writing, interview techniques, and even networking.” According to Dr. Pruchnicki, Career Services is open to all current CU students, as well as alumni, at no cost. “President Ross has implemented the Cameron Guarantee Program, which is
great,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. “So if there is a Cameron graduate that’s not prepared for the job force, then they can have the remediation or extra classes that they need. I really think our Cameron grads are ahead of the game.” Located at the third floor of North Shepler, Career Services is open to Aggies all year round. “Spring is very busy for us, but we could always be busier,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. “We hope that students continue to come in. We know they are looking for summer jobs and internships and that is something we are glad to help them with.” Career Services is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. The staff encourages appointment making, but it is not required. “We recommend that students make an appointment so that we can give that one-on-one time to them,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. “We also have ‘Walk In Wednesdays.’ Every Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. we set aside time to help students.” The benefits of Career Services are available online as well, Dr. Pruchnicki explained.
“We recognize that students are very busy, and not all of them fit into an eight to five mold,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. “We have great tools that are available online. There are resume templates that can be completed by students and sent into our office for feedback.” In addition to providing students with books, DVD’s, magazines, online services, snacks and self-assessment tools, Dr. Pruchnicki said that Career Services holds a numbers of events each year for job-seeking Aggies. “We do an Exploring Major Series every year that offers students an opportunity to speak with a faculty member or someone working in their field of interest,” Dr. Prucknicki said. She said events such as the Exploring Major Series are beneficial because it gives students a closer look into the types of jobs they hope to pursue. “They are able to get advice, or find out how much money they could be making,” Dr. Pruchnicki said. Career Services aims reach any CU student that desires assistance in the workforce.
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
Getting ready for the labor force: Jacquelyn Pinto discusses with career counselors. The CU Career Services are ready to advice students on their career paths. “We have companies that contact us specifically to employ Cameron students and alumni,”
Computing and Technology Week a success By Fern Cepeda Staff Writer
Cameron University’s Department of Computing and Technology hosted Computing and Technology Week. The event took place April 11-13 in the CETES Conference Center with a variety of presentations featuring a broad range of topics. All presentations were open to the public at no charge. Dr. Deniz Eseryel, Assistant Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology, focused on “Ensuring Instructional Soundness in Educational Simulations and Games.” The presentation focused on different ways people engage and design in video games for the players. According to Dr. Eseryel, she has been focusing on this subject for a long time. “I have been doing this research since 1995. It’s my passion,” she said. “We need to nurture technological skills. Computers are becoming very advanced and technology is getting more powerful.” Dr. Eseryel said when people are gaming, inter activity makes the game experience work. That is why when people are trying to design the game itself, they have to look and find different variables in order to make sure the game is successful and enjoyable for the players. One of the requirements needed to design a game is navigation. Navigation in the game is how we react in real life, and designers work with navigation in order for the players to feel like they have a mission to accomplish.
Dr. Eseryel continued, discussing a list of criteria needed in a game. Sound, map, landmark, depth cue, signs of pathways and avatar perspective are the main categories and criteria that a game needs. However, narrative interaction lies at the heart of a complex game. That interaction is what gives the player a goal and task in the game; it’s the very story line of the game. When making a game, designers have to make sure that everything that they are doing will feel real to the player. They want the player to be in the state of “flow.” Dr. Eseryel explained that flow is when a player gets so involved in the game they forget how long they have been playing. Once a player has gotten to the stage of flow, then designers know that have a successful game. She also explained the different challenges when creating a game. “The game should be challenging, but not too challenging,” Dr. Eseryel said. “That way, people will play, and you are in the state of flow.” Dr. Eseryel said that for a designer, one has to have a mission in mind when creating a game. A backstory needs to be involved. She said that one of her favorite board games, “Civilization,” was turned into a video game. The goal is to dominate the world, but while in the process the players learn history. Dr. Eseryel emphasized that designing games is a very complex thing due of all the elements one has to think about. She presented information on game design that some may not have been aware of and opened a new light to people who love to play games.
Dr. Pruchnicki said. “And they should want them because they’re the best.”
Commencement continued from page 1 For students who earned their master’s degrees during the 2011-2012 ceremony, Cameron will conduct its Hooding Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on April 29 at the University Theatre. Oklahoma Secretary of Education Dr. Phyllis Hudecki will be the speaker. In a press release, President Ross praised the students receiving their master’s degrees for their dedication. “Attainment of a master’s degree is the culmination of many years of hard work, sacrifice and academic achievement,” President Ross said. In regards to the tradition of “hooding,” Provost McArthur said the ceremony was established to recognize scholarly and professional achievements beyond a bachelor’s degree. “Each university has a distinctive hood that joins the cap and gown to complete the academic regalia,” Provost McArthur said. “We are proud of our master’s-level graduates and look forward to their continued success.” Regalia for both graduation ceremonies can be purchased at the CU Bookstore in the McMahon Centennial Complex at a cost of $24 for undergraduate and associate candidate packages and $50 for graduate degree recipients, hood included. Further information regarding commencement can be found at www.cameron.edu/commencement and www.cameron.edu/hooding.
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News
April 23, 2012
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Pride of the Aggies Students and organizations that have impacted CU Cody Gardner
Oluwaseun Adenuga
By Oluwatoyin Dojutelegan News Editor
For over 100 years, Cameron University has been training students to become professionals and ultimately leaders of their communities. This year, the Cameron University Collegian will feature four students and two organizations that have made an impact on the campus. These are the stories of these students.
CUNSA
Photo courtesy of CU Public Affairs
Photo courtesy of AJ Adenuga
The office of the Student Government president is never an easy one. Cody Gardner, a senior majoring in Communication knows that. Gardner has been president since her junior year and had the opportunity to lead the student body for two years. For Gardner, her senior year in college was exciting. She was able to take classes she was genuinely interested in and met new people. “My last year at Cameron was interesting,” she said. “I actually took classes I was interested in, which in turn opened up new experiences I didn’t know I would enjoy. I got to meet and interact new faculty and staff members who soon became some of my favorites.” According to Gardner, many people have inspired her but Zeak Naifeh challenged and motivated her the most. He was with her through personal, scholastic and organizational issues and always listened to her. For Gardner, working in higher education is her goal in life. “I hope to be working in higher education on the student services aspect and hopefully having a family,” she said. “If I could be like VP Holland or AVP Glover I would call myself successful.”
The Cameron University Nigerian Students Association, CUNSA, is a four star student organization. The organization serves as a means of fostering unity among Nigerian students in CU and the community. The organization is led by Oluwaseun Adenuga and Yvette Unoarumhi both seniors majoring in Biology. According to Unoarumhi, the organization has helped the Lawton community this year in many service projects, volunteer services and by giving to associations that aid the less privileged due to the large number of members. Unoarumhi said she hopes that in the future, the CUNSA has a positive influence on the CU community. “In the future, I really hope it (CUNSA) will have a strong positive impact,” she said. “True service is what we owe our community and it should always be seen as something worth doing.
Oluwaseun AJ Adenuga is one of Cameron University’s student leaders. Adenuga, a senior majoring in Biology, is an international student from Nigeria and has served as the president of the CU Nigerian Students Association. Adenuga said he has appreciated getting inducted into different honor societies at Cameron University. My highest point at CU was getting into honors society for my hard work and community service,” he said. “The joy of walking on the stage as a graduate is very overwhelming too.” According to Adenuga, working with disabled children in the summer of 2010 is a memory he will always cherish. “The top on my memories of CU will have to be the camp for champs for disabled kids in the summer of 2010,” he said. “I had a life changing experience just working with the kids and having the best time of my life.” Adenuga advised students hoping to be successful in college to never give up while holding up to their faith. “Work hard and never give up,” he said. “Stay grounded in your faith and the sky will be the limit.”
Milton Garner
PAC
Barkley Kirk
Photo courtesy of CUNSA
Photo courtesy of PAC
Photo courtesy of CU Athletics
Athletics at Cameron University is gradually growing stronger, especially with the recent $1 million gift for a new athletics center. One student-athlete that stands out is Milton Garner. Garner has become synonymous with great athletic prowess at CU. Garner says his last year at CU has been great with him achieving many of his goals. “My last year at Cameron went great,” he said. “I’ve accomplished a lot of goals that I had set for myself and now the biggest goal is to graduate.” According to Garner, he will remember CU Eddie for all the support at every game. Garner said Coach Gamet inspired him the most. “Coach Gamet really inspired me to do better on and off the court,” he said. “He was always on me about my classes and kept pushing me to become a better person.” Garner advices student-athletes to always try hard in class and never give up. “My advice to student-athletes is to always work hard in their classes,” he said. They should also never let anyone tell them that they can’t do this or that because anything is possible.”
The Programming Activity Council, PAC, is a student-run organization responsible for meting the social needs of students by planning, organizing and executing exciting activities. This organization was led this year by co-chairs Melissa Flores, a senior majoring in Psychology and Barkley kirk, a senior majoring in Accounting. For them, this year has been busy and exciting with planning for events such as Grocery Bingo, Movie Nights and the popular Foam Dance party. Flores said this year has been her best at CU as she got to meet many people “This has been my best year at Cameron,” she said. “I really enjoyed meeting so many awesome people at each PAC event we hosted and later having people recognize me say hi. I regret not getting involved sooner.” According to Flores, she has gained a lot ore selfconfidence as PAC co-chair and is more willing to step up to challenges and to accomplish them. Flores advices students to get involved. “I recommend students, especially freshman to get involved,” she said. “I encourage students to not be afraid and come out of their comfort zone.”
Photo courtesy of CU Public Affairs
One student leader that stands out among others, with his smile and gentle demeanor is senior Accounting major, Barkley Kirk. Kirk has held student leader positions such as the SGA treasurer and the PAC cochair. Kirk said one of his highest points of his four years as a CU student was introducing Dr. Khaled Hosseini at the Academic Festival. “A highlight for me was getting to introduce Dr. Hosseini at the Afghan Symposium of the 2010-2011 school year,” he said. “He is one of my favorite authors, and it was an honor to be given the chance to meet him and introduce him. According to Kirk, although losing his mother just before he got into college was one of his worst moments, he had friends who helped him draw out of his shell and get the most of his college experience. Kirk said he hopes to attend graduate school for both an MBA and Law degree. “Upon graduating Cameron, I hope to attend graduate business school and pursue an MBA,” he said. “I am planning to apply Oklahoma University and enroll in their 4 year joint MBA and law program.”
SIFE to host 2012 Firefighters Appreciation Ball By Lizzy Owoyemi Staff Writer
The Cameron University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team, in cooperation with the Lawton Fire Department, will be hosting the 2012 Lawton Firefighter’s Appreciation Banquet on May 6 at the McMahon Ballroom. The invitation-only event will include catered meal for firefighters and guests. The distinguished guests expected at the event include Oklahoma State Senator Don Barrington, Mayor Fred Fitch, Fire Chief Bart Hadley, Lawton city
Council members Michael Tenis and Doug Wells and at least 100 of the firefighters. Lavonne Bynum, Business Management major and CU SIFE president, said that the organization is trying to fulfill the mission of mobilizing students. Showing appreciation to the firefighters is way of making them realize that the community is grateful for what they do. “The goal of SIFE is to mobilize students to make a difference in their communities,” Bynum said. “We decided this would be a good way for our SIFE team to show appreciation
to our firefighters for all they do for us.” According to Dr. Dwight M. Hite, Assistant Professor in the School of Business and SIFE adviser, there were numerous severe wildfires last summer and the firefighters helped save lives and homes. Because of their bravery, the CU SIFE teams were encouraged to put this event together to support the efforts of the firefighters. “Last summer, our community witnessed numerous severe wildfires,” Dr. Hite said. “Our local firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fires, save lives and homes. These brave
men and women are owed a debt of gratitude, not only for what they have done but for what they continue to do each and every day.” Dr. Hite said that after meeting with the fire chief, he found out that this will be the first time an organization will honor the firefighters. “As the faculty advisor for our SIFE team, I am proud of our student members and their desire to honor our local firefighters,” Dr. Hite said. “When I met with the fire chief Hadley to discuss details of the event, he told me that in the 30 years he has been with the Lawton Fire
Department, he cannot recall any organization hosting such an event to honor Lawton’s firefighters.” Community sponsors currently involved include BancFirst, Dan Mullins Nissan, Arvest Bank, EZ Go, Liberty National Bank, Billingsley Ford, Oak Ridge Animal Center, Kinslow Law Office, John & Cooks Real Pit BBQ, Gibson Meat Co., Olive Garden, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart. For more information, contact Bobby Conner, the SIFE project manager on 580.458.1466 or by email on Robert.conner@cameron. edu.
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Voices
April 23, 2012
www.aggiecentral.com
Laughter: a little a day keeps the blues away
by Tyler Boydston Staff Writer
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief - Elijah Morlett Asst. Managing Editor - Aaron Gill News Editor - Teewhy Dojutelegan Crossroads Editor - Dianne Riddles A&E Editor - James Meeks Sports Editor - Matt Berberea Copy Editor - Alex Rosa-Figueroa Aggie Central Editors - Aaron Gill, Mitch Watson Archivist - Mitch Watson
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Megan Bell, Sarah Brewer, Tyler Boydston, Kelsey Carter, Fern Cepeda, Colin DuRant, Leah Ellis, Rachel Engel, Angela Goode, Jessica Goodman, Sarah Holloway, Tiffany Martinez, Lizzy Owoyemi, Miranda Raines Circulation Manager - Matt Thompson Advertising Manager - Elijah Morlett Photographer - Kelsey Carter
Newswriting Students
Valera Ainsworth, Adrian Alexander, Amanda Goemmer
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. The first issue is provided free of charge. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
They say that laughter is the best medicine. I’ve been wondering over the past few years if ‘they’ are right. When I was a senior in high school, I was diagnosed with depression. Over the three years since my diagnosis, I’ve dealt with several situations in which I’ve tried to find a way to overcome it. Only recently have I discovered a way to tackle the situation. I’ve been a writer since I was a kid, but starting in high school I began writing only dramatic stories. Everything I wrote was overly dramatic and depressing. At the same time, I began to film videos for youtube with my friends, all of which were filled with random comedy. A few months ago, I decided to try my hand at writing comedy for the first time. The idea of using my writing to make fun of myself and depressing situations helped me to work out issues I’ve been dealing with for the past few years, and I finally understood the purpose of comedy. It’s an escape from reality. It’s an easy way to make a day better. It’s a chance to make of the world and to laugh in the face of terrible situations. So, why don’t we all laugh? During my time working in customer service over the past few years, I’ve seen so many angry people. I managed to find ways to get cursed at and made fun of during my times working service jobs, and once I finally managed my way out of working in the public, I looked back and laughed at the whole thing, starting with writing a story on facebook that was comparable to the situations I dealt with over the course of my years in customer service. When I stopped writing those stories, I began writing a script about life in general. The stories themselves are
Hype: seldom it is hard not to believe
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks. All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by regular mail, by e-mail to collegian@cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060 or at www. aggiecentral.com.
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.
Graphic courtesy of MCT Campus
of course not the only ways in which to laugh at life. The friends I’ve found over the past few years all have the same sense of humor that I do, and that’s something that I think more people need to have. I would like to go ahead and say that I’m not just writing all of this for some kind of sympathy vote, or to just blog. That’s not what this is. This is more or less a plea to the public to laugh. It makes life so much better. We can all find ways to be depressed or to be angry. When people are upset about their situations, it seems to only make things worse than they originally were. Being upset doesn’t add to a situation or make things any better. The opportunities to be upset present themselves all too often, and are much more evident to us. However, the opportunities to laugh are all over the place as well. Whenever someone comes up and is upset about something small and unimportant at a store that you work at, you can laugh about it after the fact. When you get rejected for a job or by a potential date, laugh at the situation and talk about how ridiculous it is that someone would pass by such a great person. So, is laughter really the best medicine? Of course it is. Every time I’ve been upset, I’ve called up friends. It took me the longest time to realize that I can’t just wallow in self-pity, and I really hope that I can share this idea to everyone else, too. When you feel down, laugh. If your friends are busy, or if they’re not funny, then watch a funny movie, or write a funny story. Make yourself laugh in some way, no matter the situation. There doesn’t seem to be much reason to be upset all the time. We can make things better, starting with a smile or a laugh. Why make things worse by being upset?
by Alexander RosaFigueroa Copy Editor The year was 2010, and I, a fresh faced and woefully idealistic college freshman, was driving back to North Shepler. This dormitory, the one that I called my home, was a domicile of peace. It was, for the time being, the one place where I could relax and vegetate, wiping off the sweat of my brow and entering a Zen-like state of sophomoric bliss. This night, this ninth night of February, I was especially excited to go home. Though it was a little past the witching hour, my unusual countenance was born not of the standard euphoric exaltation one feels coming home from a long evening’s work — though I would be remiss, dear reader, if I were even to imply that being away from my cushy IT-job
played only a small role in my evening’s reveries. No, I was positively giddy for the simple, though not inexpensive, package taking refuge in my passenger’s seat. The culmination of nearly a year’s worth of waiting was at last before me. My dreams, long tempered with time, were now fully ready to be fully realized. Anticipation bred faltering hesitation as I made my way to my room, and I made sure to lock my door so none would bear witness to the jubilation that was to take place over the next five hours. And when dawn had finally broken o’er the horizon of Cameron’s campus, the halls of the ninth floor echoed with my heartbroken, sorrow-laden cries: “This game sucks.” “Bioshock 2” was my first dip into the bitter pool of disappointing games. The sequel to one of the most lauded games of the decade— and certainly one of our few defenses in the “games are art, guys, really!” debate — and for it to be so underwhelming was a truly serious disappointment worth ranting about. And the worst part of the game had nothing to do with the game itself. A full year before the game
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came out, one yet-unnamed magazine known as Game Informer published a lengthy article detailing the inner workings and story of the freshly announced Bioshock sequel. Readers were teased with the prospect of a dark game with a story that dealt with its own issues as well as fallout from the previous game’s ending. The final product contained none of these promised features, instead opting to shoehorn in a multiplayer section and offer as tribute a lackluster skeleton of a story, a withered, pale imitation of the first game, right down to the last act “twist.” Understandably, people were upset, but were the game really all that bad? Well, yes, it was, but I don’t think people, myself included, would have been as mad had it not been for the article— had it not been for the form of advertising the game industry loves the most: hype. Just last year, eager viewers of the Electronic Entertainment Expo were treated to a very somber, moving trailer for a game called “Dead Island.” The trailer featured, among other things, a child being turned into a zombie and attacking her parents. It was heavy stuff, and the trailer set a very high dramatic bar for the game. Mercifully, people were savvy enough to realize that, hey,
maybe zombie-bashing game #413 wouldn’t exactly have the dramatic gravitas the hype suggested, so few were surprised when the fairly mindless game launched in early September. Unfortunately, falling prey to the hype machine is as much our fault as it is the companies that drive it. Now, here’s the part of the editorial where I give you, dear readers a rundown of media literacy. Instead, I’ll break it down for you quite simply: Stop getting over excited about the things you like. It’s just hurting you in the long run. Being enthusiastic about a thing, whether that thing be a movie or a sequel to a game you really liked and paid $60 for, is fine. But getting so excited that you start using words like “euphoric exultation,” or “sophomoric bliss?” You’re going to be disappointed. It will happen. Hey, remember how excited we were to see three all new “Star Wars” movies? How’d that turn out, anyway?
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WHAT’S COMING OUT THIS SUMMER?
The Avengers May 4
Men In Black III May 25
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A&E
April 23, 2012
The Walking Dead as of now by Tyler Boydston Staff Writer
With the second season of AMC’s TV show “The Walking Dead” at a close, fans of the post-apocalyptic show are now wondering what to expect from the show’s third season, set to premiere in the fall. The show, based on the comic series of the same name, focuses on Rick Grimes and his struggle to lead a group of survivors in the zombie apocalypse as they deal with their plight, going through daily chores and living in a different world. The comic debuted in October 2003 and is still releasing a new issue monthly. The TV series premiered on AMC in October 2010 . Frank Darabont, director of films “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile,” wrote and directed the first episode. During the second season, Frank Darabont was let go from his position of Executive Producer. The first season consisted of six episodes, and the show returned in October 2011 with a second season that featured a total of 13 episodes. The third season of the show was announced shortly after the second season’s premier, which set records with 7.3 million viewers during its first airing, garnering 11 million upon the encore presentation that aired immediately after. The finale of the show’s second season, which premiered on March 18, hinted at different aspects from the comics that are set to be appearing in the third season, including a new cast member and a new location for the cast.
One character from the comic series, Michonne, appeared in a brief cameo in this year’s finale, wielding swords and carrying two jawless and armless zombies behind her. The character, initially appearing in issue 19 of the comic, even has a prequel comic based on her that was featured in the March 2012 issue of Playboy magazine. Michonne, despite being portrayed by a standin actor in the season two finale, will be played by Danai Gurira upon the show’s return in the fall. Another aspect of the comics hinted at in the season two finale was the prison, a location that is featured in over 30 issues of the comic series, and introduced new characters, such as inmates Dexter, Andrew, Thomas and Axel, into the story. Within the story of the comics, the prison eventually led to the characters stumbling upon another community called Woodbury. Though it is not explicitly stated in the show, some online fans have speculated that the community mentioned in the latter half of season two may be the Woodbury from the comic series. In the comics, a character known to audiences as Phillip Blake, also referred to as the Governor, led Woodbury. The Governor first appeared in issue 27 of the comics, and has since been listed as IGN’s 86th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time. A novel based on the character’s origins, entitled “Rise of the Governor,” was released in October 2011.
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
Bringing the Dead to life: CEO of Valhalla Entertainment, Gale Anne Hurd. Before the close of the show’s second season, it was announced that British actor David Morrissey would portray the antagonist in the show’s third season. While the show is gearing up for its third season, the comic book series is still going strong, with its landmark 100th issue set to debut this July, featuring nine different covers from different comic book artists, including the series’ regular
artist Charlie Adlard, as well as artists Todd McFarlane, Sean Phillips, Marc Silvestri, Bryan Hitch, Frank Quitely and Ryan Ottley. The 16th trade paperback for the series, featuring issues 91 through 96, is also set to hit bookstores in June. The third season of “The Walking Dead” does not have a set date to return as of yet, but is expected back in the fall with a confirmed total of 16
Greek Week themed Beauty and a G(r)eek by Amanda Goemmer Newswriting Student
Brave June 22
The Amazing Spider-Man July 3
The Dark Knight Rises July 20
All photos courtesy of the Associated Press.
Tau Gamma member Colton Rancoure went home with the title “Greek God,” and said that he felt honored to have been nominated by his brothers. “It’s just an honor to feel this respected by my peers,” Rancoure said. Wagner and Rancoure each received points for winning the competition, but other organizations also received some credit for simply taking part in the event. Greek Week continued on Wednesday with Beauty and the G(r)eek theme day. Those who wished to participate simply dressed to represent their organization, or in another way that fit into the theme. “You could either dress up geeky or you could dress up in your badge attire which is a suit or a nice dress,” Sassaman said. On Thursday, “Greek Lifers” gathered to celebrate the “Greek Sing” event. Some participants choreographed dances, and the overall goal of the event was to promote group cohesian. Points from this event were earned based on the amount of
member participation, however points were also accumulated by members if they delivered an exceptional performance. The week reached its peak on Friday, when representatives from each organization competed in the “Greek Olympics.” According to Sassaman, the event was divided into three parts. First, contestants ran in a relay race, which, according to Sassaman, was the most difficult portion of the event. “The relay event was worth the most amount of points because it was the most intensive,” Sassaman said. After the relay race, contestants navigated through an obstacle course while blindfolded. Finally, contestants proceeded to the final event of the week, the Root Beer Chugging contest. After the chugging ended, the “Olympians” were told by judges which organization had earned the most points throughout the week. Sigma Tau Gamma came in first place, Alpha Phi placed
second, in third place was Sigma Alpha Omega, Sigma Romeo came in fourth place, and in fifth place was Alpha Sigma Phi. This is the second year that Greek week has been celebrated here at CU, although according to Sassaman, many colleges host Greek Week annually. “It’s done on a lot of campuses with active Greek communities,” Sassaman said. According to Sassman, the goal of Greek Week is to promote Greek pride, and unity, as well as encourage participants to make connections with other members of Greek organizations. “ Sassaman said that membership in a Greek organization can be beneficial to those who may be interested in joining. “It’s a great opportunity for students to get involved in something new and have fun while developing essential life skills,” Sassaman said. Individuals interested in learning more about Greek organizations can reach Steve Sassman at 580.581.2217.
Greek Week was in full swing at Cameron last week, when members from greek organizations on campus celebrated Greek life by participating in daily competitions that revolved around the theme, “Beauty and the G(r)eek.” The first key event, a barbecue, took place at on Monday, April 9. According to Student Activities Specialist (SAS) Steve Sassaman, participants received points for the number of people from their organizations that attended the event, but received even more points for contributing to the festivities by showing their pride in a “louder” fashion. “There was a certain amount of points per percentage of members that were present at the barbecue, then you would get 20 points if you would do a chant, or some type of performance that highlights pride in your organization,” Sassaman said. On Tuesday, individuals that were nominated by their respective organizations competed for the titles, “Greek God” and “Greek Goddess.” The competition was broken up into three parts: the first segment was a “Greek Wear” competition, after that was a question and answer session, and the third segment was a formal attire competition. After that, the contestants answered bonus questions from each of the panel of judges. Elementary Education major and Alpha Phi member Shelby Wagner was named Greek Goddess. She said that she was proud to have earned the title for her sorority. “It’s an honor, I’m happy to Photo by Amanda Goemmer represent Alpha Phi,” Wagner said. Biology major and Sigma The Greek God and Goddess: Colton Rancourt and Shelby Wagner, event winners.
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Sports
April 23, 2012
Building for the future
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Cameron unveils new McMachon Foundation Softball Field and Athletics Center by Mitch Watson Staff Writer
Cameron University held a groundbreaking ceremony April 17 for the new McMahon Foundation Softball Field and Athletics Center following a donation of $1 million from the McMahon Foundation. According to CU President Cindy Ross, the donation is the largest single gift in the history of Cameron University Athletics. Cameron’s softball team has qualified for post-season playoffs in three of the past four years, and is currently in position to qualify again this year. President Ross said the facility helps to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the University’s softball team. “This program is on the verge of being one of the top programs in the Lone Star Conference,” President Ross said. President Ross described a few traits of the forthcoming McMahon Field and Athletics Center. “Fast-forward with me one year and imagine…” President Ross said. “Imagine a pristine green field, and covered bleachers and landscaped patio spaces with sunshades from which to view the game.” The groundbreaking was held in a traditional ball game atmosphere. Vendors shouted out “chips,” and “get your fresh hot pretzels,” while the crowd sat in bleachers as President Ross led the event. To unveil the architect’s renderings, CU pitcher Kelsy Hebert threw a pitch to hit a target, which dropped a curtain to reveal the images. Junior Political Science Major Drew Wright, who plays third
Photo by Matthew Berberea
Giving thanks: Junior third baseman Drew Wright speaks to the crowd during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new McMahon Foundation Softball Field and Athletics Center on April 17. The new complex is expected to be completed Spring 2013. base for Cameron, said the playing conditions are rough right now and that a new field will be very rewarding. “Well we really don’t have a hitting facility at all, and we don’t have a locker room and our field is very hard to play on,” Wright said. “It’s hard to practice on, it’s hard to get your mind set on that type of facility. Our field is very hard and we have a bad lip, and the outfield is bad and everything.” At the groundbreaking ceremony, Wright spoke for the softball team and joked about the current field and facilities. “As much as my team will miss changing in our cars and as much our pitchers are going to
miss the wind blowing directly out and as much as all of our fans are going to miss our first class Porta-Potties, we are very excited for this opportunity,” Wright said. Total costs for the facility are estimated at $1.84 million and a proposed project schedule estimates completion in Spring 2013. The donation from the McMahon Foundation accounts for more than half of the project. Chairman of the McMahon Foundation Board, Kenneth Bridges, said he is sure the foundation will continue to support Cameron University. “This is just another step in Cameron’s goal of making this the university of choice
for Southwestern Oklahoma people,” Bridges said. “Of course it won’t hurt in recruiting either.” Bridges said he watches the softball games from his car, and that he is excited for the shaded bleachers next year. CU Athletic Director Jim Jackson said the new field would certainly serve as a recruiting tool for the team. He said it will allow Cameron to offer quality competition in recruiting to major programs like Oklahoma State University. Jackson also said the field could attract further development for the athletic program. “I think that when people see this they’ll look and they’ll go ‘why don’t we put up that rod
iron fence around the baseball field?’” Jackson said. “When you have nice things, it spurs people to get involved and to be active and to donate or come to the games.” Jackson said the facility’s benefits extend past those of the softball team. He said all athletes, students and the community will benefit from the addition. “The fact is we’re going to have something nice,” Jackson said. “The pride that you’ll sense in not only the students, and the faculty and the staff, but also in the people that live in Lawton and Fort Sill … this will be their field.”
CU Softball edges MSU in home finale by Miranda Raines Staff Writer
The Cameron Aggie softball team took on West Texas A&M on Saturday, April 14. The heavy hitting doubleheader resulted in a combined 52 runs with 11 homeruns, however the Lady Buff’s took the 20-17 victory in game one and 14-1 in the second. Head Coach Beth Watson explained that the wind was a factor in the series, from pitching to hitting. “The wind was a mess out there,” Coach Watson said. “If you didn’t keep the ball down, it was hit out. Even some that were down were still hit far. It’s one of those things. We were able to hit their pitching in game one, but in game two we just couldn’t get it together.” Sophomore Kelsy Hebert took the loss in game one dropping her record to 4-8 after allowing 15 hits and 16 runs over 4.1 innings. Junior Cheyenne Brown pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing four runs. Cameron (15-29, 6-17) although unable to take the lead at any point in the game, fought until the end, resulting in 17 hits. Freshmen Tara Martini and Tiffany Freeman stood out in game one with homeruns. In the first inning, Martini connected for a three-run bomb, while Freeman picked up a powerful grand slam resulting in a sevenrun third inning. Another strong performance in game one came from junior Amanda Karth, who went 3-4 with two singles, a double and four RBI. Completing the RBIs of game one, juniors Sonia Foutch and Leah Trousdale each picked up two apiece while
Photo by Brandon Neris
Going out on top: Senior pitcher Carrie Dilks delivers a pitch earlier this year against Incarnate Word. Dilks pitched a gem, going six scoreless innings to defeat the Mustangs in her final appearance at Cameron Field. sophomore Amy Garcia got one. Coach Watson said she was proud of the Black and Gold’s performance in game one, and wished it carried on to game two. “Our three through seven holes really connected well,” Coach Watson said. “It was good to see, but I wish it would have carried over to the next game.” Three homeruns in the first inning, resulted in the Lady Buffs (30-15, 14-9) taking an early 5-0 lead in game two. Hebert took over for Brown who lasted only .1 innings,
however, was unable to hold off West Texas, resulting in six hits and nine runs in 4.2 innings. Martini once again came through for the Aggies scoring the only hit of the game. Coach Watson said with the lack of games to come, these last contests become increasingly important. “We needed to win one of these games this weekend,” Coach Watson said. “There’s not many games left, so they are mean more and more.” Tuesday, April 17, the Aggies took on Midwestern State in
their final home game of the season. Cameron came out on top in a low scoring 2-1 game. The win was a great end to the home season on Cameron Field, and the final one for senior Carrie Dilks. Relieving Hebert in the second inning, Dilks gave a strong performance allowing four hits, four walks and no runs over six innings. Coach Watson said the final performance from Dilks was as good as it gets. “It was vintage Carrie,” Coach Watson said. “She was painting the corners and changing
speeds really well. Anytime she needed to make a pitch, she was able to. That’s what makes her dangerous.” Freshman Misty Dooley was the first to score in the game. Working from a single by Dooley, an error by MSU’s shortstop to get runners on first and second, a bunt sacrifice from junior Drew Wright and a grounder to first base by Martini, Cameron (16-29, 7-17) took the lead. A quick response from Midwestern (23-21, 13-11), tying the game in the second, came off a solo home-run off Hebert. After the run, Dilks was called in. Dilks allowed two singles and a walk, however she completed the inning with two strikeouts. Over the next several innings, both teams had trouble reaching base, but in the sixth Cameron took back the lead. Wright picked up a oneout single, then Sonia Foutch followed with a single putting two Aggies on base. Karth came in with a hit down the left field line, scoring Wright. The opportunity to score came in the seventh for the Mustangs (23-21, 13-11) with two runners on base, but Dilks was able to hold them off and finish the game with a 2-1 victory. Coach Watson said the win was a nice way to go out, and recognized some of the standout players. “It’s nice to go out with a win,” Coach Watson said. “We played well today and Carrie (Dilks) pitched a great game for us. Amanda (Karth) picked up a big hit when we needed it, so did Tara (Martini) in the first inning. It took a team effort, and we got one.”
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Sports
April 23, 2012
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Men’s Golf takes home LSC title by Colin DuRant Staff Writer
Cameron Aggie men’s golf won the Lone Star Conference Men’s Golf Championship title on April 17 during the Firestone-sponsored league event at the Trophy Club Country Club in Trophy Club, Texas in their eighth-ever conference win, the last being in 2008. The men won with a score of 863 on 54-holes, one stroke under par. The Aggie men were the only team to score under par overall at the event with the closest competitors being Abilene Christian in second place at three strokes over with a score of 867 and Midwestern State in third with a score of 873, nine strokes over par. Despite a somewhat disappointing fall season for the team, Head Coach Jerry Hrnciar said he believed in his team going into the tournament. “At the start of the tournament I told the men we had the most balance,” Hrnciar said. “It showed today. Everyone had a sub-par round. We put a lot of effort into it. A lot of people thought we were down this year. But, the most enjoyable part was to have three second team all-conference players to Abilene’s three. I told the men to go out and beat the first team this year. That’s what we did.” The men started off their first and second days strong with scores of 288 and 283 respectively, but faltered slightly in the third day of play with a score of 292. Cameron had the advantage going into the final day with a five stroke lead over Abilene Christian. Coach Hrnciar said the team had a tough time putting on the first day but fought back with the leadership of senior golfer
Photo courtesy of Sports Information
Striking it pure: Senior Garrett Smith hits a tee shot on a par-three earlier this season at Fighting Joes Golf Club in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Smith led the way for the Aggies in the LSC tournament shooting a one-under 215, good for third individually. Garrett Smith. “Garrett putted extremely well,” Coach Hrnciar said. “That’s something we did better today, but I still saw five little putts missed, which broke my heart.” Despite the adversity, Coach Hrnciar said in an interview with The Lawton Constitution his team fought a hard battle to secure the victory. “It was a battle all the way through and there were some times I thought we were really in trouble,” Hrnciar said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the way these guys fought off adversity and were able to bring it all home.”
Garrett Smith charted the course for his teammates finishing one shot under 215 (71-68-76) and third place overall in the tournament, as well as earning all-tournament honors. Other golfers for Cameron included junior Trey Lawson, also all-tournament, with a one-over par 217 (74-71-72), junior Brady Porter at 218 (73-74-71), sophomore Michael Kelly at 219 (76-70-73) and junior Kregg Wood at 231 (70-85-76). Lawson, Porter and Wood had previously received all-conference honors going into the championship. Coach Hrnciar said the win
reflects a determination in his team. “We had some things go bad for us early but somehow everyone was able to hang in there,” Coach Hrnciar said. “Golf is such a mental game and I think the guys really showed they have what it takes to get the job done.” The win secures the Cameron men a chance to extend their season with an entry into the regional tournament to be held at the Jefferson City Country Club in Jefferson City, Missouri on May 6-9. The women’s golf team also competed in the tournament
finishing in fourth place with a score of 629 after two rounds, 53 strokes over par. The women fell to Tarleton State, taking first place, Midwestern State, in second, Texas A&MCommerce, in third, and tying for fourth with Angelo State. Women’s Golf Head Coach Rick Goodwin said the team experienced growth this year, setting themselves up for future success. “We are still young, so we will all get to play together for a couple more years,” Goodwin said. “We need to keep improving but it’s nice to see how we’ve grown this season.”
Aggie Baseball splits against ACU Wildcats
Bringing the heat: Cameron University Aggie pitcher Clay Vanderlaan throws a picth to an opposing ACU Wildcat. Vanderlaan had a pitch count of 70 for the Aggies first game against ACU.
by Aaron Gill
Asst. Managing Editor The Cameron University Aggie baseball team has split a series yet again this month. On the first day of the series the Aggies split both games, winning the first game by a score of 3-0 and losing the second in a heated battle of the bats by a score of 13-17, Wildcats. In game one the Aggies did not get up and running until the third inning. Thomas Galvin started the inning with a blistering shot up the middle for a double. Taylor Lyons stepped into the box next and laid a solid
bunt down the third base line and made his way to first as Galvin advanced to third. Brad Blummer had a sacrifice RBI to first to score Galvin. Lyons came in for the Aggies as Josh Dawson singled up the middle. This brought the score to 2-0, Aggies. CU had its final run come across the plate in the bottom of the fifth as Benshell Garcia came in for the Aggies. Head Coach Todd Holland was impressed with starting pitcher Clay Vanderlaan’s performance. “Clay pitched really, really, really well. He worked really
hard and had a pitch count of just 70 in through seven innings,” Holland said. “I think this is the best outing I have seen him have in the three years he has been here.” Game two of the day started and was suspended in the bottom of the fifth due to inclement weather conditions. Play resumed the following day with the Wildcats up 9-4 but the Aggies came back to tie the game 9-9. The Wildcats answered by plating five more runs in the top of the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh. The Ags, on the other hand, came up short
scoring one in the sixth and three in the bottom of the eighth to come to a split in the series losing 17-13, wildcats. Game three was a different story, as the Aggies emerged victorious by a score of 7-2. CU earned its first run in the game when Lyons homered over the left field fence. Following a pattern the Aggies scored two more in the bottom of the fourth. Dawson scored in the bottom of the fifth as Smith hit a triple into center. The Aggies tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth as Lyons knocked a two run homer to kick off the inning. The final run of the game happened as Blumer came in for the Aggies off a Dawson sac fly to center, which permitted Blumer to cross the plate. James Rhodes, CU starter, pitched a great game according to Coach Holland. “Rhodes pitched really, really well. He only allowed four hits, which is really good considering how windy it was today,” Holland said. “Rhodes was great for us.” The last game of the series for the Aggies came out with a less than desired ending. The Aggies lost to the Wildcats, 13-10. The Wildcats
struck first claiming three runs in the top of the first. CU did not score until bottom of the third where Lum had a solo shot to leftfield to start the inning. Galvin also came in for the Aggies as Dawson grounded out to second. ACU tacked on two more runs in the fourth, but the Black and Gold answered with five runs of their own in the fifth. Cox collected the first RBI of the inning by singling through the right side, bringing Smith across home plate. Lyons then stepped up to bat and crushed a ball over the scoreboard in left field, pulling out his first grand slam of the season. The Aggies remained behind after the Wildcats posted their last few runs to bring the score to a final of 13-10. Coach Holland was impressed with the way Lyons played and specifically how he was at the plate, while he also commented that his Aggies should have taken the series. “We could have easily swept this weekend. We really wanted this home series, but just couldn’t do it. Taylor did well for us though. He had some big hits at key moments,” he said.
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Crossroads
April 23, 2012
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Curefighters combat against Cystic Fibrosis Image courtesy of The Curefighters
by James Meeks A&E Editor
On April 14, The Curefighters, a group consisting only of the James family, held a fundraiser at the McMahon Softball Complex. The fundraiser was held for their son, Seth James, who is suffering from Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Mandy and Kent James, Seth’s parents, have held this fundraiser for the past seven years to raise awareness and money to one day find a cure for cystic fibrosis. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website, CF is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. The foundation’s website also states that people living with cystic fibrosis must follow a regular treatment routine to stay healthy and maintain optimal lung function. Most often, treatment for the disease begins with techniques to trigger strong coughs that help loosen and clear thick mucus from the airways. Seth, a student at Eisenhower Junior High School, said that he is involved in many sports, such as football and wrestling. “Next year I’m probably not going to do football, I’m going to do wrestling again and also try to get back into baseball,” he said. Seth also explained his postgraduation ambitions.
“When I get into high school I want to focus on one, maybe two, sports try to get better at them so I can get a scholarship,” he said. “I want to get a scholarship to OU so I can be a brain surgeon.” He recently just returned from a trip to Hawaii provided by the Make a Wish Foundation where Seth did many activities. “We did a submarine tour and we also did a helicopter tour where we flied over the island going places and that was pretty cool,” he said. “There was a fun part where we were flying over the top of a mountain.” Seth also scuba dived with his dad, where they explored the sea floor, and he also got to watch a luau. “There was also a luau we went to and that was cool,” he said. “There was hula and fire dancing, and the food was pretty good.” Celia Palmer, Executive Director of the Sooner Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, comes to the fundraiser every year to notify supporters how the research is progressing. She also notifies supporters how the money that is raised is being spent, as well the progress on researching a cure. “On Jan. 31 the FDA approved a drug with the market name Kalydeco, Palmer said. “It began as a laboratory trial 13 years ago. It went through laboratory safety testing with
non CF patients, then safety and efficiency testing with CF patients.” According to Palmer, this drug helps cystic fibrosis patients with the G551D mutation of the disease to help improve lung function and lower sweat chloride levels. Palmer also said that
Kalydeco was funded through fundraisers like the Curefighter’s, rather than the government or a drug company. The CFF has other drugs going through testing to help other patients with different mutations. According to Mandy James, nearly $8,000 was raised to
go toward CF research to find a cure, in addition to funding other drugs such as Kalydeco. The Curefighters will continue to fight their son’s disease in hopes to one day find a cure for CF and will keep holding fundraisers for their son and other CF patients.
Photo by James Meeks
Walking for a cure: Supporters for Cystic Fibrosis take a walk around the McMahon Softball Complex for Seth James as well as other patients of the disease.
Relay for Life celebrates more birthdays in Lawton by Sarah Brewer Staff Writer
Comanche County will continue the fight against cancer and celebrate more birthdays during the 2012 Relay for Life beginning at 7:00 p.m. on June 8 at Ron Stephens Stadium. Participants will walk around the track throughout the twelvehour fundraising event. Every step taken and every dollar contributed goes toward ongoing research and patient treatments. Each participant has personal reasons for supporting the cause, and their motivation benefits the
cause. Most, if not all, have been touched by the disease, including longtime CU team member and Vice President of Student Services, Jennifer Holland. Vice President Holland shared the motivation for her involvement in Relay for Life. “You can offer loved ones who have cancer encouragement, but there is nothing you can do to help them beat it. Except, through Relay, we have the ability to fight back,” Vice President Holland said. “Through our efforts, those funds become research, and that research helps find new
medications and treatments with the hope that someday there will be a cure.” With this hope in mind, Holland has participated in Relay for Life for the past nine years. “I started doing Relay when I was a student at Cameron. I worked in the Public Affairs Office, and my first supervisor was diagnosed with breast cancer during my freshman year,” Vice President Holland said. “She beat it, but four years later when I was doing an internship in the same office, she was diagnosed again and
passed away. At that point, I felt helpless. The opportunity to Relay came up and I felt like ‘okay, I can do something’ and I joined the team.” Since then, raising cancer awareness has remained important to Vice President Holland. “A co-worker of ours had his mother pass away from cancer. A friend of ours is a widower because of cancer. But then, it was my sister. She’s fine now, but it was scary. She was diagnosed two years ago and the treatment that she had was not available to patients a couple
Photo courtesy of John Paul Miller
Running for a cure: Participants run the Survivor Lap during the 2010 Relay For Life “Race for the Cure” Event.
years before that,” Vice President Holland said. “The research and funds that made that treatment possible saved her life. Anything that is done to support the cause can save somebody’s life.” Vice President Holland described the series of events that occur during Relay for Life. “You start out at 7:30 and you feel fresh and feel strong and empowered. There are basket auctions and even a Drag Queen of the Relay competition. There are fundraising booths and you get a shish kabob or a snow cone. It’s a fun, festive environment,” Vice President Holland said. According to Vice President Holland, there are services following the first walk around the track—the Survivor’s Lap— that support patients and honor the memory of loved ones lost to cancer. “Around 10:00, we do the Luminaria Ceremony,” Vice President Holland said. “The track is lined with luminaries, and each represents someone who is either a cancer survivor or who has lost their battle to cancer.” Vice President Holland went on to explain how the subsequent phases in Relay for Life are meant to mirror the stages of the disease. “By 2:00 or 3:00 you’re tired because you’ve been walking all night long. When the sun comes up, you’re done. It’s supposed to picture the process that somebody battling cancer goes through,” Vice President Holland said. “By the middle of the night or treatment, you think there’s no hope but the sun comes up and there is hope.” Relay for Life is more than a walk around a track; it is a way to strike back against cancer. For more information on the Cameron University Relay for Life team, visit http:// main.acsevents.org/goto/ CameronUnivAggies.