COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Monday, April 25, 2005
News
Services ease job market blues By Kathleen Kelly Copy Editor
The Collegian solutes Cameron’s administrative professionals and their integral part in campus operations. PLEASE SEE PAGE 6
A&E
The 544 members of Cameron University’s May 2005 graduating class won’t all be looking for jobs in the Lawton area, but those who are will join a workforce of about 110,680 (http://lawtonok.org/ workforce/). According to a study conducted by the University of Oklahoma, of that number almost 16,682 are underemployed, meaning they work in jobs for which they’re over-qualified at a pay lower than those at their level of skill and training might expect to earn. With these facts in mind, what steps should the job seeker take in order to ensure success in the local job market? And what if a job doesn’t work out? Student Development Specialist Tara Libertz took time from assisting May 2005 graduates with resume writing to explain what services are available to those who may be unhappy with their career choices. “Most of the time people in that situation are
looking to come back to school or to make a complete change,” Libertz said. “I talk with them to find out what they think would make them happier in a job, and I encourage them to look into our DISCOVER program. Through this program we offer a career inventory test online. It opens their eyes to different options.” Libertz said another service offered is the maintenance of a credential file. The file includes a resume, transcript, letters of recommendation, a data form and the credential file contract. Although career services does not provide students with jobs, the information collected in the packet is released to prospective employers as long as the student – or alumnus – chooses to remain on the active list, or for five years from the time the file is submitted. The file may be updated as needed with information provided by the alumnus, but it must be created while enrolled at CU. Those entering the local job market will find salaries here are significantly lower than wages paid in Oklahoma City. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Web site (http://stats.bls.
Softball team gets new skipper who is looking forward to the fall.
Photo by Scott Pratt
Japan bound By Jennifer Hardy Staff Writer
PLEASE SEE PAGE 2
Next Issue The Collegian is ceasing publication for the summer months. Look for the next issue in the fall. Office: Nance Boyer 2060 Phone: 580•581•2261 E-mail us at : collegian@cameron.edu First Copy Free - $.25 for each additional copy Contents © The Collegian 2005
gov/oes/2002/), in 2002, the median wage in the field of computer programming was $14.54 per hour in Lawton as compared to Oklahoma City’s median wage of $22.84. In addition, the selection of available jobs is rather limited when compared to Oklahoma City; however, graduates who choose to stay in the area may be trading potentially higher
Please see CAREER,page 4
Staff Writer
Sports
Columnist explains how anyone can be an A-student.
Contemplation: Kenny Scarle considers choices to be made, both in class and in career.
By Lauren Slate
PLEASE SEE PAGE 8
Voices
Photo by Kathleen Kelly
Management of stress key to well-being
Reviewer explores life lessons in CU’s production of “Our Town.”
PLEASE SEE PAGE 11
Volume 78 Issue 26
One of Cameron’s own has been selected for the honor of taking part in the 2005 Kyoto Student Exchange Program. Alison Turner, an elementary education junior, will join seven students selected for the program. They will stay in Kyoto from June 14-22, visiting educational facilities and businesses. Turner will represent not only Cameron University and Oklahoma, but also the United States in the exchange program. According to Director of Student Development Jennifer Holland, no other CU student has been awarded this honor in recent years. On March 7, the Collegian ran a story about applicants being sought for the exchange program. Turner was approached with the idea by her boss in the financial assistance office and decided to apply. Turner explained that 47 students from throughout the state applied for the program; 10 students applied from CU. Seventeen students were selected as semi-finalists. “The 17 students who were chosen as semi-finalists were taken through an application process,” Turner said. “The application process involved references, transcripts and a two-page essay explaining your interest in international studies.” Turner said the application deadline was March 14. The next step in the process was an interview in Oklahoma City as a semi-finalist on March 31. Then, on April 7, Turner was informed that she was one of the seven students chosen from across the state for the program. The State of Oklahoma has had a sister state relationship with the Prefecture of Kyoto since 1985 and has participated in the exchange program for 15 years. Turner explained the Kyoto Student Exchange Program is sponsored by the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Other students chosen for the exchange program are from the University of Tulsa, University of Central Oklahoma, Northeastern Oklahoma State University and Rose State College. Turner plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in December 2006. After that, she plans on attending graduate school at CU, specializing in reading. In the meantime, however, she is looking forward to visiting Japan. “I’m excited to go to Japan and visit different businesses and higher education institutions,” Turner said. “Plus, it’s free.”
As the end of another school year looms ahead, the stress of final exams may be weighing on many college students. Melissa Colin, public relations freshman, finds that school combined with her daily schedule is the cause of her stress. “Work, school, the debate team and volunteer work for PLUS all together makes me stressed,” Colin said. Stress can impact on one’s health and well being. However, there are many different ways that students can handle stress. According to Dr. Gregory Hall from Bentley College at www. campusblues.com, the key is stress management. First, students must assess their stress level. James Archer, Ph.D. and Christina Carroll, Ph.D. of the University of Florida Counseling Center Web site, said the physical symptoms of stress are muscular tension, colds or other illnesses, high blood pressure, indigestion, ulcers, difficulty sleeping and backaches. Emotional symptoms are irritability, depression, anger, fear or anxiety, feeling overwhelmed and mood swings. Cognitive symptoms are forgetfulness, unwanted or repetitive thoughts and difficulty concentrating. If students are aware that they are experiencing any of these symptoms, they can try relaxation techniques. Archer and Carroll believe that relaxation techniques are valuable tools in stress management.
“Your energy level and ability to cope with the external world are replenished,” said Archer and Carroll. Most of the techniques such as meditation, self-hypnosis, and deep muscle relaxation work in a similar fashion. According to Archer and Carroll, students can achieve relaxation by practicing sitting quietly for 15 minutes with no interruptions. They suggest relaxing by focusing on something peaceful because sometimes it is negative thoughts or worries that create tension. Students may also find that going for a walk, breathing deeply, calling a friend or putting on some favorite music can help them to relax. According to Toni Moser, sales leader at Bath and Bodyworks, aromatherapy is also helpful in aiding relaxation and relieving stress. “Aromatherapy scents connect to moods in your brain,” Moser said. Moser said that scents like lavender and eucalyptus help to aid relaxation. In addition, she said that eucalyptus spearmint is soothing and refreshing, the scent of blue lavender Palma Rosa can calm, balance and sooth one’s mind and lavender vanilla helps promote tranquility. The relaxation techniques suggested by Archer, Carroll, and Moser can be useful in easing stress, but stress management can prevent a stressful situation from taking its toll on the body and mind.
Please see STRESS, page 4
Photo by Anna Politano
All work and no play: Business seniors Nancy Meagley, Tammie Bell and Alley Jenkins work on a business policy paper as a group in a study room in the Library.
2
Voices
April 25, 2005
Editor says goodbye
This is it. My last semester. The last edition of The Collegian. The last late Wednesday night spent in the newsroom. It feels like a huge part of what constitutes me, Anna, is going away. At this year’s pep rally I was standing at the Aggie Gym and happened to see President Ross, who asked me how I was doing. I smiled and told her that I was doing well and that I was already missing being in this university and in The Collegian. She kindly told me, “Just remember that wherever you are, you will always be a part of us.” This sentence stayed in my heart, but it’s hard to manage my emotions as I leave this campus to be embraced by the real world. Becoming the managing editor of The Collegian was one of the biggest honors I have ever had. I struggled to get here. Not only did I have the normal struggles a student journalist faces such as developing the initiative to contact sources, learning the ethical guidelines of the media and learning how to apply the Associated Press style to my stories, I struggled with the language and with adapting to the American culture. The past year has been an awesome experience. It was a tremendous privilege to be the editor of the student voice of Cameron Univer-
sity. I will miss the late nights, the craziness of every week, the stress of having a story dropped at the last minute, the deadlines, the million phone calls, but, above all, the interaction and friendship with The Collegian staff. It was so rewarding to see how each individual played an important role in creating The Collegian. And I believe that’s what I will miss the most: the friendship, the jokes, the smiles, the frustrations and the camaraderie. Although being a part of The Collegian has taught me endless lessons, being a part of Cameron University has trained me for life in many ways. I have met extraordinary people who made a difference in my life, and I would like to acknowledge some of those people. I want to express my gratitude to Susan Hill, department secretary of foreign languages, who cared for me and counseled me with a motherly love throughout these years. I would also like to thank Adam Calaway, now assistant director of government and community relations, for always believing in me, and for giving me the opportunity to succeed in the world of journalism. I also thank former Cameron student Dana Attocknie, who showed me how to become passionate about each story that I write. Chelsey King Simpson, another Cameron graduate
and former Collegian managing editor, allowed me to spend many hours observing her laying out pages, and left me a “to do and not to do list;” I appreciate her for that. I also would like to thank former Cameron instructor Jane Godlove, who instilled in me the love for the Spanish language and became a lifelong friend. To June Rain, coordinator of international students, I want to send an extended “thank you” for all that she did to help me tackle the everincreasing immigration rules my family and I have to face. I would like to show my appreciation to Dr. Theresa Lubrano, who has done everything in her power to help me throughout these years. Also on my thank-you list are professors Gil Hernandez, who has helped me above and beyond and has cared for me with a fatherly affection, and Christopher Keller, who is not only my Collegian adviser, but also a faithful and true friend. To my Collegian staff, I just want to say a big THANK YOU! You have all been wonderful colleagues and friends, and I will remember
each of you fondly. I am also grateful to my American parents, Henry and Sally Herzig, who motivated me and invited me to remain in Lawton and attend Cameron. I thank my parents, Paulo and Leda Araujo, for their self-sacrificing love, for investing so much in my education and for loving me unconditionally. I thank my brothers, Josh, Paul and Gabriel who have always been there for me when I needed them. I thank my husband,
Graphic by Leah Hicks
Bruno, who is my best friend and who has supported me in every way through these years. Finally, I thank God, my Lord and Savior, who created me and gave me the ability to be a journalist. I recognize that my skills and talents come from Him, and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to graduate from this university. It is indeed a privilege that many throughout the world would like to have. So, in closing, I just want to remind you of two things: First, don’t take for granted the time you are at Cameron – it is a unique opportunity. Try to grasp as much as you can from it. Second, I would like to pass on a word of wisdom from Professor Keith Vitense, “Finals Week is like Christmas, it’s better to give than to receive.” I hope our professors will remember this commendable saying as they are grading us this semester. Good-bye, Cameron. I will definitely keep in touch. —Anna Politano, Managing Editor
Don’t settle for less Anyone can be an ‘A’ student
Editor’s Note: This is the last spring issue of the Collegian. Look for our paper to hit the stands next fall. We wish everyone a great summer, and we hope you do well on finals.
I’ve been a student here for three years now and during this time I’ve received countless compliments from my professors and classmates about my academic performance. I’ve heard many good things about my fellow Caribbean students’ academic performance as well. While I am flattered to receive such a vote of confidence in my intellectual ability from so many and I am very proud of the achievements of my Caribbean peers, I am also careful not to believe for one instant that me or my fellow Caribbean students’ capacity to perform is any greater than any other individual or group of students at this university. Yes we have high GPAs, but it isn’t because we are any more intelligent. I have found that many people just expect that we will do well. So many times I have listened to students talk as if a Cgrade is a reasonable grade. I have observed them spending more time complaining about the requirements of a course and the expectations of a professor than studying the course materials or at least having discussions about it before and after class. Students often tell me at the start of a course that they would be happy with Ian Mitchell a B. Now I am not saying that every student who tries hard in a class will receive an A. Some courses are harder for some than others. But if a student accepts the idea of not getting an A even before the first test, then that student has already made the course more difficult than it needs to be. I have taken courses with some very intelligent students who have no self-confidence. I remember one student who had performed marginally in several courses that we took together. However, there was one semester when we spent a lot of time in our department’s computer lab and found ourselves always discussing something to do with our assignments and critiquing each other’s work. He received a well-deserved A for that course at the end of the semester. All it took was for him to actually care about producing high quality work and to let himself believe that he could. That’s all. That’s the big secret to our success. An A-student is a student who believes that he or she is capable of getting an A in any course with sufficient effort. An A-student is one who shows his professor that learning is important and challenge is welcome. An A-student is a person who first looks inward for reasons for a low-test score rather than immediately blaming the instructor, though in some cases bad instruction is indeed at the root of bad performance. For those who have the burden of family responsibilities that get in the way of study time, I feel compassion for you. But you, too, can be A-students. You probably just need to take fewer courses, but you can do well if you believe in yourself and take responsibility for your courses just as you take responsibility for your families. So remember, those who consistently do well aren’t necessarily any more intelligent than those who don’t. They just care about doing well and believe they can.
It’s all about the money
Ian is a multimedia senior from St. Lucia. He is also a staff writer and the webmaster for The Collegian. Ian has no children, and has managed to keep a high GPA. Send comments to collegian@cameron.edu
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Managing Editor - Anna Politano News Editor - Jennie Hanna Copy Editor - Lisa Snider A&E Editor - Angela Sanders Sports Editor - Joshua Rouse Features Editor - Angela Gradoz Graphic Artist - Leah Hicks Newsroom Staff Business Manager - Rosana Navas Financial Officer - Susan Hill Cartoonist - Thomas Pruitt Webmaster - Ian Mitchell Staff Writers Laura Brady, Christina Frye, Petulah Olibert, Scott Pratt Faculty Adviser Christopher Keller
Like most things in life, there are two sides to everything: two sides to a story, two sides to a coin, and two sides to a newspaper. Here at The Collegian, we are no different. There is the news aspect of this publication, which, of course, deals with the content of the news story, the layout and so on. Then there is my side, the business side. As the business manager my main concern is money. I have to make sure The Collegian has enough advertisements to pay for the cost of its publication. That is not to say that I don’t take pride in the content of this news publication, because I do. I look forward to picking up a copy of this paper every Monday just like many of you. But instead of a deadline, I have a quota. This quota is set in the beginning of the year, which our publishing costs. So my job is to make this money. If I make the quota our newsroom gets new cameras, computers and the money even helps pay for scholarships. I usually come to the office way before many of you have even enrolled for the forthcoming semester to start building up my clientele. I also have to design the ads and work with clients and contracts. It is a challenging job that can be both exciting and tough at the same Rosana Navas time. I thoroughly enjoy my job and am grateful for the opportunity to have this experience. Yet, lately, I have encountered a few undesirable moments. For example, we had a few complaints about a certain insertion that I allowed to be included in our publication a few weeks back. The complaint was, in a nutshell, that the insertion was the last straw: The reader was aggravated by The Collegian’s perceived conservatism. So I figured I would write this editorial to all those who agree with this complaint. My job entitles me to work with clients whom I solicit to buy an ad but I also deal with clients who, as in this case, contact me to buy an ad. The insertion they contacted me to put in the issue a few weeks ago didn’t violate any of our rules, such as advertising alcohol, tobacco, pornography, etc., so with my editor’s advice, I decided it was acceptable to allow it in the newspaper. The only thing this insertion meant to me was that a third of my quota for the week was met. Nothing more, nothing less. To those of you who are insulted by this ad or any other that I have allowed to be placed in the paper, I want to take this opportunity to say I appreciate your opinion, but it’s like this: If the ad doesn’t violate our contract rules, the advertiser is good for their money and the ad is legitimate, then the ad is placed. It’s that simple. I am appreciative of the concerns because it is your job as readers to keep us on our toes if you have any problems. I also want to take this time to thank you for reading our paper. We have a wonderful award winning staff and adviser, and it has been a great experience that will serve as a stepping-stone to my future after I graduate. Rosana is a public relations senior from Puerto Rico. She is also the business manager for The Collegian. Rosana not only arranges contracts with advertisers but she also models for ads. Send comments to collegian@cameron.edu
Newswriting Students Emily Archer, Jillian Bassett, Sharicka Brackens, Kelli Colbenson, Krystal Deak, Daniel Evans, Cara Garza, Aaron M. Gilbee, Ekeama S.Goddard, Jennifer Hardy, Teri Hillier, Dawn Holt, Kathleen Kelly, Jessica P. Lane, Kari Lewis, Justin Liszeski, Ian Mitchell, Danielle Murphree, Sonya Ray, Ekayah Rosete, Lauren Slate, Tiffany Soto, Tauren Thompson, Bonnie Tomahsah, Sarah Warren About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron University Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.
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 via mail or e-mail, or they may be dropped off at our office.
Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” 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.
April 25, 2005
News
3
University service, retirements celebrated By Petulah Olibert Staff Writer
Photo by Petulah Olibert
Recognizing years of dedication: President Cindy Ross presents Professor Elizabeth Nalley with recognition for 35 years of service. Nalley was one of 76 staff and faculty members honored for years of service, along with 10 who will be retiring.
On April 15, 10 retirees and 75 members of the faculty were honored for outstanding service with a reception and banquet. Originally held on graduation day, with honoree faculty members being recognized along with graduating students, the event has become an annual late spring semester reception. This year, the banquet was held at the Shepler Mezzanine at 6:30 p.m., with President Cindy Ross giving the opening remarks. “It is an honor for me to be here this evening and to have the opportunity to address you on such a special occasion,” Ross said. “It is a special evening because each of you has contributed so much to making Cameron the university that it is. It is an honor for me to work with you all because you make me proud of the university and, most of all, the quality of education that you provide to Cameron students. It is absolutely second to none.” President Ross also had a few words for the retirees: “Please enjoy your retirement, do what you want to do – you have earned it. You deserve it. But as you leave, I want you all to remember that you are a critical part of this university and its history. Take pride in our accomplishments because you are part of the foundation that led to it. Your service, your commitment and your dedication in giving above and beyond what was required of you are greatly valued.” In total, five were awarded for over 35 years of service, two were awarded for 30 years of service, two were awarded for 25 years of service, 13 were awarded for 20 years of service, 17 were awarded for 15 years of service, 11 were awarded for 10
years of service and 26 were awarded for five years of service. The five faculty members recognized for over thirty years of service included Gail Jones, assistant professor of technology, who spoke of his experiences at Cameron University. “Throughout these years I have enjoyed being a teacher. Prior to my becoming one, however, I had vouched time and again, to many people that there were two things I would never be: a politician and a teacher,” Jones said. “However it is over these 38 years of teaching, through the association of students and my fellow faculty members that I came to value my stint here at Cameron University. I have grown to appreciate the people, the students and the many organizations that I have dealt with at Cameron over the years. Thank you.” Jones also thanked his wife who put up with him and his hectic work schedule, which required him to travel to and from Duncan on a daily basis. Professor of science Kurtis Koll was another long-standing faculty member, one of the few with more than 30 years of dedicated service under his belt. “I didn’t realize I had been working for 30 years here,” Koll said. “The years have sped by. Someone commented earlier that as we got up they noticed our gait slowed with the increasing years of service. I’m not sure if mine has slowed down yet,” he said. “Being honored for my years of service here has been very rewarding, as is being able to honor the contributions that everyone else has made. I think the appreciation showed to faculty members increases job satisfaction, which is an asset to staff as well as to the organization, to be recognized for the work they have done. My years here have been very fulfi lling and continue to be so. Cameron is a fantastic place to be.”
Staff Photo
Author, author: Professor George Stanley, noted children’s author, visits with Lincoln Elementary students Friday about his journey to becoming a writer and what is involved in the publishing of books.
Secrets of the trade By Dawn Holt Staff Writer
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How would you like to meet a famous writer from your own hometown? On April 18 at Lincoln Elementary, third through sixth grade students listened and interacted with George Stanley, author and professor of foreign languages. Stanley spoke for 45 minutes each to six classes about the enjoyment of writing, beginning his presentation by telling the children he started writing at their age and made the pages he wrote look like books. According to Anita Hernandez, assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary School, Stanley devoted his entire day to teaching the children. “Our main goal was for the children to realize they have a famous writer in their hometown, and they can use their own writing skills to be successful,” she said. During his visit, Stanley spoke of different aspects of his writing adventures. He told the children about his experience as a writer for the Nancy Drew detective series, shared ways to decipher codes and taught a few words in Russian and other languages. He also showed the children what a page copy sketch of a book looks like prior to publication, and then showed them the published book. “I love talking to children,” Stanley said. “Young people are always inspiring and I always come away with more from them than I think I gave to them.” Stanley is credited with writing not only children’s books such as “Cat Tales,” but also historical biographies. He is currently writing about the Ku Klux Klan in Lawton in the early 1920s, which is due to the publishers in the middle of August. Hernandez plans to have other Cameron professors from different fields of study interact with the children in the future. “The big focus was to help our students with reading and writing and encourage them to continue to be creative and not be intimidated about writing,” she said.
4 Campus Round-up Take a break from studies to eat breakfast From 10–11 p.m. May 4 Finals Breakfast will be served in the Shepler Student Cafeteria. A local band, “Harmful If Swallowed” will play during the breakfast. We need faculty and staff to assist in serving. If willing to help, please call Carole Wydur at x-2244 by May 2.
Student awaiting heart transplant Born with congenital heart disease, sophomore Jessica Figueroa is seeking a heart transplant. At a cost of $2.5 million, 80% of which will be covered by insurance, the family is responsible for the rest, as well as after-care medication costs. Those willing to help sponsor Figueroa may contact the family at 580.248.6397, visit www.COTA.org or make a contribution at the Bank of America on Cache Rd.
CAREER Continued from page 1 income for the lower cost of living and more relaxed lifestyle. With more students earning college degrees, Libertz said that career opportunities are fairly limited in the Lawton area. Jobs are available locally in business, broadcasting, criminal justice, the medical fields and education, with more options available to those looking in the Oklahoma City area. “At least half, if not more, of the graduates I see are looking to remain in the local area; the Lawton area and Oklahoma City,” she said. “The good thing is that the area (here) is building up; hopefully, that trend will continue. And employers here are interested in filling jobs with local people.” Altus resident and returning CU student Kenny Scarle plans on remaining in the Lawton area after he graduates in May 2006. Scarle, radio/television-broadcasting (R/TV) junior, postponed his education to marry and worked as an administrator for a surgical clinic for three years. “I was not satisfied with my job, so I quit,” Scarle said. “I heard about the awesome R/TV program offered at Cameron from a mentor I met through volunteer work with the mentorship program at Manitou (juvenile home).” The co-worker knew Scarle was “kicking the idea around of finishing my music degree,” but, aware he worked with audio-visual and PowerPoint presentations for his church, she encouraged him to consider an R/TV major. With his wife currently enrolled at Cameron as a multimedia major, the timing seemed perfect. “Dr. Jenkins filled me in, and he was able to transfer many of my (original) credits so I can concentrate on the fun classes,” Scarle said. “I just love what I’m doing — it’s a joy to me.” Scarle plans on staying in the Lawton area because of the job opportunities in his field and the low cost of living. He said there are as many radio stations here as in the Oklahoma City area. “The competition (for jobs) is less here, and so is the cost of living,” he said, “and Oklahoma City and Dallas are just an hour away. We considered Denver, which has a large radio market, but the cost of living there was outrageous.” The choice to stay or leave may be driven by factors other than the cost of living; Amanda Rundle, public relations senior, returned to Cameron after an 18-month absence during which she married and had a baby. After graduation next month, she will return to Stillwater where her husband is a retention officer for the Army Reserves. Rundle will seek employment in the fields of public relations and advertising. “I worked in an office as a secretary and in sales, and I worked in restaurants,” Rundle said. “I returned to school in order to finally finish my degree and get a better job.” Libertz, a 1999 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, is personally acquainted with the challenges of job-hunting in the Lawton area. It was her husband’s duty assignment at Fort Sill that brought them to Lawton, where she sought employment in the field of career services and counseling. “I was unemployed for five months before I took this position,” she said. She began her own career six years ago, working as a psychiatric technician for four months until she was promoted to the position of case manager. Moving on to a better job, she worked for Ceridian Corp., a company contracted by major corporations such as American Airlines and Morgan Stanley to provide employee assistance programs within those companies. She spent three years providing career services counseling to high school-aged children of employees and to employees interested in pursuing graduate-level studies. She is currently working on a master’s degree in education administration and human resources development from Texas A&M. Libertz advises job seekers to be realistic in their expectations; salary ranges differ depending on cost of living, so some flexibility is necessary. She also recommends not settling for “just anything,” but not to turn down a job that may lead to something better. Once a prospective employee has job experience, finding a better job is easier. “I encourage people not to settle for something less than what they are capable of,” Libertz said.
News STRESS Continued from page 1 Stress management is as simple as managing your time. Develop a schedule that provides for academic, social and physical time. Hall suggests finding 20 minutes of alone time each day to relax, take a walk, write in a journal, or meditate. Dallas Hellwig, multimedia design senior, finds meditation to be a useful technique for relieving or preventing stress. “Meditation clears out thoughts and concerns,” Hellwig said. Another stress management tool is adding a physical workout to your schedule at least every other day. History junior Matt Chambers agrees that working out is a good way to relieve stress. “I go to the fitness center to relieve stress. I jog, lift weights, walk, play basketball and racquetball,” Chambers said.
April 25, 2005
Even with careful management, stress cannot always be prevented. According to the General Nutrition Center’s (GNC) guide to reducing stress, there can be health risks and stress triggers. Acute stress is an immediate reaction to a threat. Noise, confined spaces, danger and even hunger can easily trigger it. That is why Colin studies quietly to prevent getting stressed over tests. “I study in my room, by myself, quietly,” she said, “I can’t have noise.” If students are having trouble managing their stress and would like to know what their stress level is and how to gain control of it, they can check out two of many Web sites. Psychologists Lyle H. Miller and Alma Dell Smith at Boston University Medical Center devised a test called “How vulnerable to stress are you?” Students can take the test at http://www.uhs. uga.edu/stress/vulnerability.html. To take a different stress test or pick up some tips on stress management, students can visit www.stresstips.com/stresstest.html.
News
April 25, 2005
5 I’ll be there for you: Alpha Phi members Danyel Edwards, Megan Dorman and Jennifer Jones kick back in their room in the Davis Student Union. Below, Sigma Sigma Sigma sisters Kristen Murphy, Jessica Whatley, Christina Dial and Sarah Oates promote their society by wearing their Greek letters.
Sororities provide bonds, memories By Kari Lewis Staff Writer Danyel Edwards, English freshman and member of Alpha Phi, remembers the cold night last October when she and her sorority sisters took a trip to the Trail of Fears, a haunted hayride. “Everyone was nervous about going through the haunted house, but screaming was the best part,” Edwards said. “We held hands the entire way through so we wouldn’t lose anyone.” Kristina Dial, an elementary education senior and the president of Sigma Sigma Sigma, recalls her most memorable moment with her sorority sisters. “Probably the most memorable for me was having my sorority sisters with me as we lined up on Fort Sill Boulevard when my husband came home from Iraq,” Dial said. “I wasn’t able to have family because they live so far away, but my sisters are just like family and helped so much when my husband was deployed.” Cameron’s Greek life consists of two fraternities and two sororities. Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Phi are the two sororities on campus. Both sororities have ‘sisterhoods,’ where the girls get together and do a variety of activities – such as going to the Trail of Fears. Dial enjoys being in Greek life because of the activities. “We go bowling, play mini-golf, have movie nights and dinners,” Dial said. “Sometimes we just enjoy hanging out with one another.” Sarah Oates, a criminal justice sophomore and member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, loves watching “The Bachelor” with her sisters. Alpha Phi also enjoys having sisterhoods. Jennifer Jones, biology freshman, a new member of Alpha Phi, loves going to all of her sorority’s sisterhoods.
“We go to movies, go out to eat, and have sleep overs,” Jones said. “We’ve also made Alpha Phi (tote) bags.” While the sororities enjoy having fun at sisterhoods and hanging out with each other, they also appreciate participating in activities for their philanthropy. This is an organization that each sorority hosts fund-raisers to donate money to. Alpha Phi as well as Sigma Sigma Sigma each sponsor one particular charity and also participate in other community services. Nicole Lovenburg-Bucher has been involved with Greek life for six years. She serves as the Alpha Phi chapter advisor. “Our philanthropy is Cardiac Care, the number one killer of women in the United States,” Bucher said. “We have done a dancea-thon, health screenings and just recently held a bake sale.” In addition to this, Alpha Phi has its own foundation. “The Alpha Phi Foundation helps with research to find cures,” Bucher said. Sigma Sigma Sigma’s philanthropy is the Robbie Page Memorial. “We have two hospitals that have a room for children with serious illnesses,” Dial said. “It provides a play therapy room they can go in and just be a kid.” The hospitals are located in Dallas and North Carolina. Sigma Sigma Sigma also adopts classrooms. “This semester we have adopted two classrooms in Lawton,” Dial said. “We collect school supplies for the students and donate to these classrooms.” Philanthropy activities and other Greek life happenings offer many memorable experiences according to the members of each sorority. Alpha Phi president, Jonique Ricard, psychology senior, has been involved with Greek life for four years. She has several memories
HOUSTON Continued from page 12 The students arranged with bus station personnel to change the bus tickets and took the next bus to Dallas, where they hoped to board the bus to Lawton. However, once in Dallas, Hirai and Marko found that they would have to wait another 10 hours for the Lawton bus. Still desperate, and wanting to do anything to get home, the students changed their tickets to Oklahoma City. They were hopeful they could find someone to pick them up there. “We were so hungry, and we just wanted to get home,” Hirai said. Marko asked Rain to call Peggy Carroll, a Lawton community member who had agreed to sponsor Marko and help her in her stay in the United States. Carroll and her husband went to Oklahoma City where they picked up the students. “We were really glad we could help them,” Carroll said. “They were very tired but very appreciative. We had a meal together and we felt blessed to be with them.”
Photos by Kari Lewis
including placing 2nd in intramural flag football and going on road trips with her Alpha Phi sisters. “We went to Sedona, Ariz., last spring break and New Orleans last October,” Ricard said. Another memorable experience for Ricard was in 2003. “I had a car accident in February of 2003. My Alpha Phi sisters met me at the emergency room and visited me every day,” Ricard said. “They even helped me celebrate my 21st birthday while I was recovering on the couch.” Being in a sorority leads to memorable experiences like these and life-changing friendships. Megan Dorman, criminal justice fresh-
man, is in Alpha Phi. “I have more friends that I don’t think I would’ve met otherwise,” Dorman said. “And no matter what you’re going through, someone is always there to help you.” Jessica Whatley, criminal justice sophomore, who is also known by her Sigma sisters as “JJW,” believes her life has changed for the better since joining a sorority. “I have life-long friends that will never leave me,” she said. All of these girls believe that everyone should be involved with Greek life. “I would encourage everyone to get involved in Greek life,” Dorman said. “We have so much fun hanging out and we get a sense of accomplishment when we help with our philanthropy. Greek life is great.”
Carroll is a member of the Comanche-Cotton Counties Association of Baptist Women. The organization volunteered to sponsor Cameron international students in an effort to help the students become better acquainted with the American culture, and to help make their stay smoother. Hirai and Marko said that while eating with the Carrolls, they were so hungry that they ate many platefuls of food from the buffet the restaurant provided. The students had spent nearly 24 hours without any food. “All we had eaten was McDonald’s a day before,” Marko said. Back on the familiar ground of Lawton, the students can now look at the situation as a good memory and something to laugh about. “It was hard, but it was funny,” Marko said. Rain said these types of incidents regularly happen with international students, especially during breaks. She advises the students to always take the proper documentation while traveling and to try to borrow a cell phone for emergency purposes. “In my three and a half years in the international office, I don’t think a Christmas break or spring break has passed without a crisis of some sort,” Rain said. “Many have ended with a relieved laugh like this one.”
collegian@cameron.edu
In Memoriam The funeral for Shannon Nicole “Nikki” Hardy, 33, Fletcher, was held last Wednesday in Chickasha. Nikki died on Saturday April 16, in Norman. Nikki was a Cameron student who recently was presented with her degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Animal Science by President Cindy Ross. She was born Feb. 9, 1972 in Chickasha to Leslie Dean and Dorothy Sue Chaney Dees. Nikki and her husband, David, lived in Fletcher on a farm where they raised and cared for animals. Nikki loved horses and one day wanted her own horse ranch. She attended Cameron as a student and as a friend to many. She will be missed as a part of our campus, as a student by her professors, and as a friend by those who knew her better because of her spirit. She is survived by her husband, her mother, her brother, and a sister and brother-in-law.
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Administrative Professionals’ Week By Ian Mitchell
“My career allows me to have first contact with students who have a dream and a desire for a better future. I have the pleasure of seeing those dreams come true!”
Staff Writer
Elaine Barber Business
Suzanne Baker Science
Elizabeth Cossette Library
This year’s Administrative Professionals’ Week,, formerly known as Professional Secretaries Week, will be observed in many parts of the world from April 24-30. Administrative Professionals’ Day is being observed on April 27. According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Web site, National Secretaries Week was begun in 1952 by the National Secretaries Association (now known as IAAP), in conjunction with public relations executive Harry Klemfuss and a consortium of office product manufacturers, in recognition of administrative professionals’ invaluable contributions to the functioning of businesses. In 2000, IAAP changed the title from professional secretaries to administrative professionals in order to keep pace with changing job titles and the expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative workforce. According to the IAAP Web site, the theme for the 2005 observance of Administrative Professionals’ Week is “Innovation Advances Administrative Professionals.” This theme, according to IAAP, signifies that administrative professionals have expanded their workplace roles dramatically in recent years, in response to innovations in technology and the changing needs of business. They said innovative thinking is also a key factor in administrative professionals’ efforts to streamline office procedures, provide efficient support to managers/supervisors, participate on work teams, manage multiple projects and acquire skills most in demand by employers. IAAP also suggests this time be used for opening the lines of communication between managers or employers and administrative professionals to discuss mutually beneficial objectives such as supporting professional development, setting up well-defined career paths, upgrading technological tools to enhance productivity and improving work processes. Cameron University will be honoring its many administrative professionals at a luncheon on April 27 at the Shepler Mezzanine. According to Kathleen B. Glenn, director of Educational Outreach, Institutional Research and Support Services and coordinator of the event, this has become a Cameron tradition of over 10 years. She said the event follows a traditional format. “There is a luncheon, buffet style, which begins at noon and then a speaker on a topic specific to that year’s theme. This year is ‘Thinking Outside the Box’,” Glenn said. “Dr. Carol Thomas is the guest speaker and she is an adjunct instructor with the Department of Psychology and Human Ecology.” In order to play its part in honoring Cameron’s administrative professionals, the Collegian asked administrative professionals from all departments how they felt about their jobs. These are their responses: Kathy Zerbe School of Science and Technology Department of Military Science “I have always enjoyed serving in the administrative field, both in civilian and military environments. Having worked in both of these environments gives me an added advantage in my current position in the military science department, being able to execute both university and military functions, which is greatly appreciated by the department staff and students.” Ruth Martin School of Graduate Studies Dean’s Office “I like the multifunctional and diverse facets involved in being an administrative professional today as opposed to even ten years ago. I like the interaction with the students and the office personnel camaraderie. The pay needs a serious overhaul but other than that, I’m happy.”
Tracy Davis Govt. & Comm. Relations
Linda Gibson Agriculture
Marcella Gustafon International
Suzanne Baker School of Sciences & Technology Department of Biological Sciences “I love being the secretary for the biological sciences department. The people I work for are just great! Plus I have learned more about the different fields of biology.” Betty Franklin School of Liberal Arts Department of History & Government “I have been a secretary for 20 years and have enjoyed being in this field. There are many rewards to being a secretary, and one is the interaction with the students. This is one of the most important job functions a secretary has, as we are the first contact that students usually have by phone or in person. Without a secretary, an office would not be able to function. I feel that being a secretary I am not commended enough for my job duties and, most importantly, the salary that comes with that title. Despite the short-comings,
Susan Hill English & Foreign Languages
Terri Hodge Psychology
Christina Rash Department of Psychology and Human Ecology “I am a department secretary and I really like it. I am very appreciated and that helps a lot.” Cindy Johnson School of Business “I love being the secretary for Dean Burgess at the School of Business. I have learned many skills that will make me marketable for hundreds of jobs outside of the academic world. (If my brain were to ever desert me, and cause me to leave the best boss any secretary could have.) I have made friends with co-workers and students that I hope will be lifelong relationships. Some days feel too long, but others seem to f ly by because I’m enjoying myself so much. Even though the actual work is trying at times, the rewards come from the people we associate with on a daily basis.” Elaine Barber School of Business “I enjoy the new challenges that I face each day while working in the School of Business. The people that I work with are exceptional, and the advantages of my job far outweigh the disadvantages.”
Carol Wydur Office of the Vice President for Student Services
Elizabeth Cossette Cameron Library “A secretary is the glue that holds an office together. It is a joy to work with so many wonderful people.” Dianna Pollock School of Business “I feel fortunate to be the division secretary because I work with a fantastic group of faculty and students, plus it has greatly expanded my knowledge in the business field. I look forward to a successful future at CU.”
Collage by Ian Mitchell
being a secretary allows me to help students with the every day challenges of life.” Linda Gibson School of Science and Technology Department of Agriculture “I very much enjoy working in academia - and particularly in CU’s agriculture department - I love being with the students and watching them mature, better themselves and prepare themselves for their life’s vocation. It is very rewarding to work in the agriculture department at Cameron. I love the students - they are my second family.” Cindy Meadows Cameron University, Duncan Branch “Attending the front desk at the Duncan branch of Cameron has many rewards. This job entails more than secretarial responsibilities. I get to know the students on a more personal level because I see them on a daily basis; when they are applying for admissions, enrolling, needing financial help, attending class, and even taking exams. It is a pleasure to work with the staff of Cameron University-Duncan. I consider my fellow workers as an extended family.” Ruth Tahah Student Development “I love it! We have such a wide variety of students and others who visit our office daily that we never have a dull day.”
Pat Vondissen Residence Life “I have worked at Cameron University for almost 10 years in Residence Life and really enjoy working with all the great staff and being able to help students and parents with their questions concerning our Residence Halls. I look forward to many more years at Cameron and also the upcoming new Cameron Village Apartment Complex!” Tracy Davis Government and Community Relations
Cindy Johnson Business
“I began working in the music department in August 2004. I transferred to Government and Community Relations in March 2005. I graduated with a BS in sociology in December 2004. I am currently working on an MA in teaching. I love working in higher education and with everyone at Cameron. There are some wonderful people here.” Carole V. Wydur Office of the Vice President for Student Services “I love being a secretary at CU; it’s where the action is. Nothing happens at Cameron until a secretary answers a phone, greets a student, types and copies an exam, organizes a committee meeting, plans a travel itinerary, enters a enrollment schedule, or offers encouragement and a smile to a student/ coworker/boss/faculty member. Although entry-level secretarial salaries are the lowest on campus, it’s still a great place to work because of the benefits and educational opportunities. I have learned so much in my 16 years here.” Cathy Callen OU College of Nursing “Being a secretary is a second career for me and I enjoy it. I love working with people and thrive on the interaction between faculty, staff and students. There’s a new challenge everyday!” Terri Hodge School of Education and Behavioral Sciences “It’s not how I feel about being a secretary in general, but rather being Dr. Neale’s secretary. That is what makes my job unprecedented. Because of my respect for her, I love coming to work everyday, and will gladly take on new responsibilities to ease her load. She is my inspiration to be considerate and beneficial to all faculty and students.” Melissa Miller Cameron University, Duncan Branch “My favorite part of my job is when a prospective student walks into our office, excited about starting their college career and I am able to help him or her take that first step.”
Chinju Kelly Office of the Registrar “I love being a secretary! It’s such a great place to work due to the awesome staff and the two best supervisors, Linda Phillips and Renee Roach. Life is never boring in the Registrar’s office!” Jaclyn Mizell Department of Athletics “I enjoy working as a division secretary in athletics because the athletic director (best boss in the world), assistant athletic director and 11 coaches make it a daily challenge to work every day.” Lora Young Southwest Area Health Education Center (SWAHEC) “I believe I have one of the best jobs on campus. SWAHEC’s mission to improve healthcare for Southwest Oklahoma allows me to be creative, challenged, motivated, and rewarded while working with great students and health professionals. I love my job!”
Chinju Kelly Registrar
Cindy Meadows CU-Duncan
Pat Vondiessen Residence Life
Norma Schmall Department of Communications “To me it is the easiest and most enjoyable job I have ever had and in the best department on campus, with the best professors and the best students. Kimberly Johnson Department of Multimedia Design “It is a pleasure coming to work each day. I find the interaction with the staff and students on campus a wonderful experience. Playing a small part in shaping a student’s future is rewarding.”
Norma Schmall Communications
Marcella Gustafson International Office “I’ve been in the International Office since November. I really enjoy working here. I find it interesting interacting with the CU international students, and learning about their cultures and homelands.” Liz Robertson Student Support Services/McNair Scholars “It’s a rewarding challenge coordinating between staff, students and other departments. One of the challenges of my position is helping students reach their academic goals, and I share in the students’ excitement when I help them find resources and solve problems.
Susan Hill Department of English and Foreign Languages
Kimberly Johnson Multimedia Design
Ruth Tahah Student Development
Spread design by Sarah Warren
Jaclyn Mizell Athletics
Dianna Pollock Business
Liz Roberston Student Support Services/McNair Scholars
Christian Rash Psychology and Human Ecology
A&E Senior art student teaches Renaissance workshop
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April 25, 2005
CU’s rendition of ‘Our Town’ concludes season
taken as that whole, but there are more romantic elements which infuse the characters’ lives and are intended to teach the audience to appreciate their own. “People are meant to go through life two by two, ‘Tain’t natural to be lonesome,” Mrs. Courtesy Photo Gibbs says to her husband on the Now, you listen, here: The Stage Manager, portraying Mr. morning of her Morgan, has a talk with Emily and George in this scene from the son’s marriage famous play “Our Town.” to Emily. Foreshadowing the events set in motion by the By Justin Liszeski relationship that is to be established later that Staff Writer day, Mrs. Gibbs brings out the importance of not just the romantic relationships but the The theater department ended its season last Sunday with Thornton Wilder’s play “Our non-romantic ones as well. The interactions that take place among the townspeople are just Town.” as important as the intimate dealings of family. Set between 1901 and 1913 in the small As the dialogue drives the play, the actor’s town of Grover’s Corner, the play follows the delivery is critical to making Wilder’s messages lives of some of the townspeople. The Gibbs and Webb families make up the majority of the come across. It was evident that each of the actors rehearsed their lines and motions until play’s characters. Particular attention is paid they not only knew them but also could deliver to a child from each: George Gibbs, the son of them with an intentional effect. Theatre local physician Dr. Gibbs, and Emily Webb, senior Arline Vazquez-Morales played the daughter of Wally Webb, Grover’s Corner’s traditionally male role of Stage Manager well, newspaper editor. adopting the mannerisms that come with age These two young characters drive the and delivering her lines in a tone of casual narrative and illustrate the story’s lesson with wisdom as she comfortably milled about the their lives – happy for the most part, though stage. touched with tragedy. David Downey, as George Gibbs, looked The Stage Manager, a more omniscient young enough to portray the teenager character within the play, guides the audience struggling with algebra, avoiding his chores, throughout Emily and George’s lives. She and wondering what he’d like to do after delivers lines such as “This is the way we were; he finishes school. He conveyed the meek in our growing up and in our marrying, and confidence one would expect from a small in our living and in our dying.” This sentence town boy interested in baseball and a certain sums up the idea of what is going to take place girl. Downey did a great job of acting out within the story. But considering the line is George’s amusing bout of cold feet just before delivered in the context of history usually the wedding. focusing on extraordinary people rather Theatre freshman Alicia Adams played than the average person, it impresses on the Emily Webb, one of the more important audience the importance of the ordinary or roles in “Our Town.” Adams had the part of mundane lives of all people. the older, and, eventually. deceased mother Indeed, the lives of George and Emily, their down, but I just could not see her as the families and neighbors are just that: mediocre naive teenager sharing a shake with George. existences which follow the Stage Manager’s At least, that is, until there was something curt directions, maturing into marriage and to compare to, which came with a painful carrying on until death. Depressing when lesson that Emily learns when she revisits her 12th birthday with the assistance of the Stage Manager. In those few moments Emily realizes the folly of the living; appreciation for the moment, the minute lived and experienced, is not common enough. Instead, the emphasis is on ceremonies and rights of passage, a fault that Wilder knew everyone was guilty of. All these events took place on a small stage with four areas, not the elaborate mechanics one would expect to represent a town. But Wilder intended the set to be simple, emphasizing the interactions of characters, which the lack of distracting details and props certainly did. It’s doubtful the play instilled a new lease on life in anyone, but it did present another perspective on living for those who could catch the subtle cues. Those who had no clue of Wilder’s intentions most likely enjoyed the Courtesy Photo more amusing moments between Emily and George and the banter among the townsfolk. Think happy thoughts: The Stage Regardless of what anyone took from the play, Manager, played by theatre senior Arline it was a good close to the theater department’s Vasquez-Morales, reflects on life in season. Grover’s Corner.
PAC sponsors finals relief From 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, the Student Activities Building will be the location for finals relief activities, sponsored by PAC. Free massages, stress balls, food and key chains will be given to students.
By Lauren Slate
“When they were drawing, they never thought about the “final product,”’ Pena said. Staff Writer “All they focused on was the ‘process.’” On April 23, Alex Pena, studio art senior, Anyone over the age of 16 was invited to taught a workshop on Renaissance drawing attend the workshop to learn the techniques at the Museum of the Great Plains. of the masters. Pena said they could expect an Pena enjoyed the opportunity to choose intense day of drawing in a professional-level the subject matter of his most recent workclass that focused on attuning their own skills, shop; he said that Jana Brown, curator of while teaching new techniques. education at the museum, contacted him to The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. day consisted of a brief do the workshop, but that he was at liberty lecture from Pena, drawing demonstration, to choose the guide drawing exercises and subject. Accordpersonal critique of each stuing to Pena, he dent’s work. According to Pena, chose Renaisthe students drew on-site at the sance drawing museum. He planned for them as his focus to draw something mechanibecause the cal because the museum has Renaissance era machines, cars and a fire engine cemented the with many of the working parts arts as a legitiexposed. mate discipline Pena hoped students left the and some of the workshop with a better underCourtesy Graphic most important standing of the drawing process, draftsman came out of as a visual record and examination of that period. what he or she sees. “Renaissance artists used drawing as a Amy Curtin, art freshman, agreed that art critical exercise in which they could explore workshops help to develop one’s artistic skills. and, most importantly, readjust to ac“I think a workshop would help define my curately translate what they see to paper,” skills as an artist, or any other person interPena said. “Much of what we know about ested in fine tuning their artistic ability,” Curdrawing, perception and linear perspective tin said. “If a workshop on water color is ever can be attributed to the Renaissance masters available, I will take it.” such as Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo, Pena’s art credentials include acceptance Raphael and Massac.” into a national juried art exhibition at MurPena loved that the Renaissance masters ray State College, as well as at a regional art thrived on learning and were never afraid exhibit at Southwestern Missouri State Unito make mistakes but rather left their misversity. Recently, he also won first place and takes visible, showing a change of mind. Ac- honorable mention at “Market Fest,” a Native cording to him, the drawings were a visible American art exhibition at the Museum of dialogue with the subject, a data log of what the Great Plains. He plans on teaching at the they were seeing and thinking. Omega Fine Arts Summer Institute in June.
A&E
April 25, 2005
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Options soon available to shoppers By Sarah Warren Staff Writer A new retail center is making its way to Lawton. A 400,000plus square- foot retail project, developers are planning to open Wolf Creek Town Center in summer 2006. Newton Oldacre McDonald, LLC (NOM), a retail development and management company, builds to suit the client and has developed retail centers for many national companies.
According to the NOM Web site, the architect and contractor for this project have yet to be chosen. The new retail center will be located on the west side of Lawton, at Quanah Parker Trailway across from Billingsley Ford on an 80-acre site; the phase I and phase II tenants are currently leasing. According to Court Newkirk, Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director, the names of the stores planning
to open in Wolf that the Chamber of Commerce is Creek Town Center cannot be released working with three at this time. different developers “It’s strictly looking at other confidential. sites around Lawton. The companies prefer to make the The City of announcement to Lawton also the public, or they doesn’t have any tell us when we confirmations Courtesy Graphic can,” Newkirk said. about which Wolf Creek Town Center isn’t retailers are planning to open in the only project in the planning Lawton. stage at this time. Newkirk said According to a source in the
City of Lawton license and permits department, until a permit is filed with them, their department has no information on which shops will be opening here. Often, that occurs right before or during construction. For more information about Wolf Creek Town Center visit the Newton Oldacre McDonald Web site: http://www.nomllc.com/ projects/wolf_creek/wolf_ creek.htm.
Horror not worth time Mariah Carey’s By Josh Rouse comeback not evident in CD Sports Editor
If there was any hope that Ryan Reynolds could act in something outside of a comedy, “The Amityville Horror” crushed those hopes with a large explosion. Michael Bay needs to stick with action movies, paired with Jerry Bruckheimer, because the horror industry is not being friendly to him. Or is it the other way around? Unlike Bay’s previous horror outing, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Amityville Horror” is based on the actual events in the Long Island home. In 1974, Ronnie DeFeo went on a murder spree inside his home. Using a rifle, he went from room to room and shot each of his family members in the face. After the spree was over, his parents, two younger brothers and two sisters were dead. DeFeo claimed he heard voices telling him to kill them, and even claimed that a figure with black hands handed him the gun. The question remains: How did the family stay asleep with gunshots inside the house? One year later, the Lutz family moved into the home. Twentyeight days later, they fled and left everything in the house due to unexplained and unconfirmed events. The original movie by the same name, made in 1979, starred James Brolin as George Lutz. The movie became a cult classic and taut thriller, even though the things mentioned in the movie were more fiction that fact. The story of what
really happened has yet to be made into a movie. Michael Bay (“Armageddon”) joined director Andrew Douglas to remake the ‘79 thriller. Much like the remake of “Psycho,” this new adaptation of the book was nearly frame-by-frame identical to the original movie. The only difference is it is about 30 minutes shorter, meaning that George Lutz has less time to go insane. Ryan Reynolds stars as George Lutz. But, as he proved in “Blade: Trinity,” Reynolds cannot act unless it is in a comedy movie. He is best known for the college comedy “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.” Reynolds has yet to make a decent movie in his career, which started in 1993. Michael Bay started out in Hollywood in 1995 with the popular action-comedy “Bad Boys,” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Bay also directed and produced the disaster flick “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor.” In 2003, he produced “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” about a group of teenagers stalked by a chainsaw wielding mad man. If anyone has already seen the original “The Amityville Horror,” do not waste any money or time going to see this movie. The film is poor, the acting is poor and the overall feel of the movie is enough to make somebody never want to enter a movie theater again. Instead of the suspenseful frights of the original, this adaptation relies more on shock value than anything else. Overall Grade: C-
By Rosana Navas Staff Writer Mariah Carey has released her eighth studio album entitled “The Emancipation of Mimi” (Mimi being her childhood nickname). It is projected to sell well over 350,000 copies in its first week. This is due in part to the sales on the release date and to her endless promotion efforts, including appearances on “Good Morning America,” “David Letterman” and “Regis and Kelly.” She hasn’t had a No. 1 album since “Butterfly,” which was released in 1997, and the “Emancipation of Mimi” is expected by some to accomplish the same. Carey collaborated with hip-hop greats such as Snoop Dogg, Twista, Nelly, The Neptunes and Jermaine Dupri, who co-produced her first hit single from this album, “It’s Like That.” “It’s Like That” has been moving up in the countdowns and has been receiving heavy airplay since its release. Carey began climbing the charts in 1990 with her self-titled debut album. Throughout the 90s, Carey was hailed as the best-selling female artist of the decade. Her first four albums reached No. 1 and spun out more than 10 number one hit singles. During the last seven years, she has met her career lows with projects like the movie “Glitter” and its soundtrack and her last album “Charm Bracelet,” which barely managed to get a dent in record sales in comparison to her past albums. “The Emancipation of Mimi” definitely has the potential to bring Carey out of her seven-year slump. Carey’s new CD is an easy listening R&B album with a hint of Hip-Hop and Funk. Carey, like usual, co-produced and co-wrote the entire album. Carey challenges her vocals and shows off her eight-octave voice range throughout the
Courtesy Photo
CD with songs like “We Belong Together,” “Say Something,” and “One and Only.” It is also worth mentioning that Carey does a decent job of keeping up with speed rapper Twista in the song “One and Only.” The album itself is definitely the best work she has done in years. Unfortunately, that doesn’t say much when you think about the options she has given us in these past seven years. Glitter: need I say more? Her first four albums were hit-making machines that this new CD just doesn’t come close to. This album is missing pop ballads and uptempo songs that were her trademark during the early- and mid-90s. Although she definitely has one of the best voices in R&B, she was at the peak of her career when she did more pop songs such as “Hero” and “Honey.” As I see it, there are two schools of thought when it comes to Mariah Carey: there are those critics who believe she is a has-been and that she can never be as good as she once was, and there are others who believe Carey can be as good as she used to be, and they are still waiting for her comeback. The latter might have to wait a little longer, because “The Emancipation of Mimi” is nowhere near her greatest work. It is, however, a good quality album that surpasses the bar set by her endeavors of the past seven years. Overall Grade: B
Sports
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April 25, 2005
Lady Aggie softball split final double-header By Sonya Ray Staff Writer The Lady Aggies softball team played their final game of the season in a double-header on April 16 against their Lone Star North Division rival, East Central. In the first inning of the series opener, Cameron scored their first run when Casey Seabolt was batted in on Melinda Farrow’s hit that doubled down the left line. Cameron held up defensively and did not allow the Lady Tigers to score any runs in the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Seabolt homered to the left field bringing the score to 2-0. Seabolt added two runs to the scoreboard, with two hits and one RBI. East Central countered in the bottom of the fifth, when Marcy Brewer singled up the middle, which landed Amanda Judson on home, and brought the score to 2-1. The Lady Tiger’s had eight hits and no errors. Cameron had four hits and one error. In the sixth inning, CU gathered their second homer in the game when Nicole Fleming knocked one to the left field. Fleming added one run, one hit and one RBI. Jessica Hutton allowed one run and eight hits while striking out one. CU won game one of the series 3-1.
Photo by Christina Frye
Double play: Senior Lindsay Williams of Lawton executes a double play, about to tag out East Central’s #5 at their game on April 12. The Aggies lost the first game but came back and won the second of the double-header. In game two, East Central defeated Cameron 2-0. In the second inning, Shonda Cheshier doubled to the left center, contributing two RBI’s. Amanda
Judson and Jennifer Wells scored. Head Coach Brent Shaw feels that the Lady Aggies had the opportunity to win but let the
Football great dies
The Cameron men’s tennis team completed its impressive run through the regular season this week at the annual UCO Broncho Invitational. Coach James Helvey’s squad, ranked 17th in the latest NCAA Division II poll, knocked off three nationally ranked teams to run its record to 20-2 for the season. Next up for the Aggies is this week’s trip to the Lone Star Conference Championships. Cameron’s 34th-ranked women’s team also came away with a good showing at the Broncho Invitational, winning four of five matches to improve to 21-5 on the year. The Aggie men were also scheduled to play five matches in the event, but after Cameron’s three impressive wins on Friday, two matches on Saturday against Incarnate Word and Northwest Missouri State were not played. Friday’s action for the Aggie men began with a 5-2 win over No. 30 Rockhurst. Cameron won two of three doubles matches before closing out the match with Jordi Mullor’s 6-2, 7-6 win over Paul Ravkin at the No. 3 singles slot. Against No. 28 Southwest Baptist, Cameron
Sports Editor
KRT Campus
In memory of #51: A makeshift memorial is erected around Sam Mills’ statue outside of Bank of America Stadium According to the Web site Panthers.com, Panther kicker John Kasay, who played with Mills from 1996 through 1997, said, “Sam has always been the complete leader, both as a player and as a coach. The impact he has had on me personally is extremely profound. He’s been a
very good friend for a very long time. This is a very sad day for my family and me.” According to Kasay, Mills has always been a leader for the Panthers. Going into the 2005 season with a lot of hopes, his memory looks to drive them even more.
Shaw said. The Lady Aggies ended the season with a record of 11-31 for the season and 7-17 in Lone Star Conference North Division play.
Men’s tennis continues success at invitational CU Sports Information
By Josh Rouse For those with cancer, Sam Mills could be classified as a man among men. On April 18 Mills died from his bout with cancer. Mills was a linebacker in the NFL for twelve seasons, played with the New Orleans Saints for nine years, finishing up his last three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. After his retirement from playing, Mills stayed on with the Panthers as their linebacker coach. In 2003, he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer but still continued coaching, many times during the same week as his chemotherapy. Mills was a key figure in the Panthers’ run for the Superbowl in 2003-04. Along with linebacker Mark Fields, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease around the same time, Mills fought along side his teammates and coached them to the top of their game. “We were able to draw a lot more from him than he did from us,” Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme told “The Charlotte Observer” last Monday. Mills joined the Carolina Panthers in 1996 and was already seen as the “old man” of the team. In 1996, the Panthers went to the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, but were defeated. In his 12 seasons in the NFL, Mills registered 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns. In his entire career, Mills started 173 of the 181 games he participated in. Mills was inducted in the Panther Hall of Fame and a bronze statue of him was erected in front of Bank of America stadium in Charlotte. In March 2005 he accepted the first ever Ed Block Courage Foundation’s Johnny Unitas Tops in Courage Award for his fight against cancer. Mills will be buried in New Jersey but memorial services are being held across the Carolinas.
game slip through their fingers. “I thought we should’ve won. I felt like we let it get away by not hitting the ball. We have a lot of work to do before next year,”
fell behind 2-1 after doubles action, but rallied with four singles wins to get the victory. Oscar Guerra notched a hardfought win in the No. 5 singles match, outlasting SBU’s Johan Nortje, 6-7, 6-3, 10-7. Cameron completed the sweep with a 5-3 win over 25th-ranked Barton College. The Aggies again took a 2-1 lead after doubles play and Rafael Zurita capped the win with a 3-6, 7-5, 10-5 win over Robert Jenner at No. 4 singles. On the women’s side, the Lady Aggies cruised to 5-0 wins over Rockhurst and 37th-ranked Northwest Missouri State. Cameron also posted a convincing 5-1 win over No. 31 Barton College and earned a 5-4 win over Drury. Cameron’s lone loss in the multi-team event came as a 5-3 setback to 39th-ranked Midwestern State. Both Cameron teams will open play in the 2005 Lone Star Conference championships beginning Thursday in Abilene. NCAA postseason play begins with regional competition on May 67, with the Division II national championships scheduled for May 12-15, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Sports
April 25, 2005
11
Hrnciar’s golf team places second at championship
Coach Shaw brings hope to softball
By Josh Rouse
Coach Brent Shaw was added to the athletic staff directory as head coach for the Lady Aggies softball team. He came to Cameron on April 1 and has had the opportunity to coach approximately five games. Shaw grew up in Antlers and graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he earned a master’s degree in health and physical education in 2004. While working toward his master’s degree, Shaw took a coaching position at Durant Junior High. “Coaching junior high is different from coaching college,” Shaw said. “With coaching junior high school, you have to teach the basics; here, they already know the basics.” Shaw has over three years of coaching experience. He worked as a graduate assistant last season for Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas. His contributions to the team helped lead Angelo State’s softball team to a win in the national championship last May against Florida Southern in the Lone Star South Division II Championship. “I got into coaching when I couldn’t play anymore after participating on a men’s fast pitch team,” Shaw said “I enjoy being around the kids, teaching them and being able to make them better.” The Lady Aggies ended the season with 11-31 and 7-17 in
Sports Editor While Coach Jerry Hrnciar’s Aggie golf team did not win their second Lone Star championship in a row, Hrnciar said they put up a hard fight against tournament winner Northeastern State University. Falling three shots off the pace, the Aggies clinched a second place finish against a formidable opponent. Cameron finished the opening rounds with a 580 total (+4), one shot back of Northeastern State University. Sophomore Owen Mahaffey led with a two round total of 141 (-3) at the Hogan Course of the Trophy Club Country Club. Mahaffey was only one of four players to play below par for the opening two rounds. Junior Travis Lovins posted a two-round total of 145 (+1) while juniors Brian Adams and Ryan King both finished with 147. Junior Scott Watson shot a tworound total of 161, in his first competitive play of the 2004-05 season. The Aggies’ main competition, Northeastern, shot a 292, three over par. East Central came in third, eight shots behind the Aggies, with Central Oklahoma in fifth place with a total of 595. During the final round on Tuesday, Cameron battled back to the overall team lead halfway through play, shooting a two over par 290 on the tournament. But
it was not enough to stop the Northeastern Redmen, who posted an even par on the tournament 288 to take home their first Lone Star Conference championship. “It certainly wasn’t what we had planned on,” Coach Hrnciar said, “We had it in good shape with five holes to go. We slipped just a little bit. The other team had two chip-ins that made a good turnaround. Mahaffey, the defending individual champion, finished second in the tournament. Mahaffey tied with Northeastern player Kevin King at 214 after he shot a one-over par round on Tuesday. East Central’s Andrew Bishop took top honors by a single stroke. King and Lovins both finished in the top ten. King, the medalist of the 2003 championships, shot a 219 for the tournament. Brian Adams finished in 11 with a three-round total of 220. Watson finished the tournament with a 234 (+8). East Central finished third with a total of 880 (+16), followed by Central Oklahoma at 889 (+25). On April 17, the members of the All-Lone Star Conference team were announced. CU’s Lovins and Mahaffey both earned first team honors. King was named to the second allconference team. “They are ranked in the top 50 (players) in the nation,” said Hrnciar. “So obviously they deserve to be considered for allconference.”
Show support for all the Aggie athletes at
http://goaggies. cameron.edu
By Sonya Ray Staff Writer
Photo by Scott Pratt
Walking the mile: Coach Shaw walks the baseline at the Lady Aggies’ recent game against East Central University. the Lone Star Conference. Shaw looks forward to next year in that he will have the chance to coach for a full year with the Cameron University Softball team.
“I look forward to having the opportunity to coach the team for a full year,” he said. “Coaching from fall to fall is something I am most looking forward to.”
Editor pays tribute to Aggie athletes By Josh Rouse Sports Editor Each May, school staffs across Oklahoma and the nation will begin to hold graduation ceremonies and say goodbye to students they have come to know and love over the previous four years. Colleges and universities are no different than any high school. Professors and advisers grow attached to their students each year. But one aspect of high school and college is often overlooked. The student-athlete is an integral part of the school. High school and college athletes become local celebrities when they go out each week and put their bodies on the line for their schools. While Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University dominate the media coverage with their Division I play, Cameron University is sometimes overlooked in the media. But that does not mean our athletes have to be overlooked. They put themselves at the same risks as players from any other school. The only difference is Cameron is a closer college. We see our athletes in the halls each week. We see them in the Student Union talking and hanging out. We walk by the practice fields and see them out there working toward winning another Lone Star Conference Championship. Cameron University has had a successful sports program and this year was no exception. The Cameron golf team placed second at the Lone Star Conference Championships and looks to place for the national tournament at the regional tournament. Three players, Travis Lovins, Owen Mahaffey and Ryan King, were selected to AllLone Star Conference teams. Both men and women’s tennis teams have been successful this year with a combined record of 41-7 on the year.
Tennis coach James Helvey earned his 100th win earlier this year. The Lady Aggies volleyball team sent senior Jenny Head to the 2004 Daktronics All-Southwest Region volleyball team. Eric Moore and Brittany Cooksey were both named to the Lone Star Conference All-Conference team this year from their respective basketball teams. Cameron has also sent players into the big leagues. CU graduate Avery Johnson made his way into the NBA and won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs. He is now the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Most people have never heard of Cameron University. Many people from Oklahoma have never heard of Cameron. But a college does not need to be popular to be a good place. Cameron has always been the little engine that could. But on the basketball court, baseball and softball fields, the tennis courts and every other sporting event, Cameron has always been well respected and feared among other schools. The Aggie sports program has some good coaches, some of the best in the state. Helvey earned his 100th win earlier this year and is still racking them up with his star tennis teams. Golf coach Jerry Hrcniar coached his team to the Lone Star Conference championships two years in a row and won a championship last year. Baseball coach Todd Holland still holds the records for total hits (80) and doubles (25) when he played with the Aggies. In 2004, Holland coached the baseball team to their first winning record in a decade and looks to send the team to their championships this year. The Aggie athletes are a strong and proud group. The seniors will be missed next year, but more will come. We here at The Collegian wanted to say thank you to all athletes for your contributions.
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April 25, 2005
International students stranded in Houston By Anna Politano Managing Editor Imagine yourself stranded in downtown Tokyo. It’s dark and cold, and you have no money with you; worse yet, you don’t have a family member or a loved one to call to your rescue. Although this situation may be hypothetical to you, it was a reality to international students Ayumi Hirai, marketing senior from Japan, and Angjeliqi Marko, business freshman from Albania. The only difference in Hirai and Marko’s situation was that they were trapped not in Tokyo, but in Houston. Their adventure began when the two students went to the Lawton bus station at 11:30 p.m. on March 17 to catch a bus to Houston. Although they were on spring break, Hirai and Marko were not traveling to Houston to have fun; Hirai had to go to the Japanese Consulate to renew her visa, and she invited Marko to come along. The students knew the first stop was in Wichita Falls; what they did not know was that the isolated bus station was closed. “We got there at 1:30 a.m, and it was freezing because the temperature was down to the 30’s. We did not know that we would have to wait for two hours at a closed bus station,” Hirai said. Feeling helpless, and unsure of what to do, Hirai and Marko walked to a nearby convenience store to seek shelter until their bus arrived. To their disappointment, the manager of the store told them that they could not stay in the store. The women continued walking until 2 a.m. when they finally found a hotel. They stayed in the hotel’s lounge for the remainder of their wait. The worst was yet to come. “It was a disappointment, but that was not the worst part,” Hirai said. Hirai and Marko arrived finally in Houston at 1:30 p.m. With Hirai’s appointment at the Japanese Consulate scheduled for 2 p.m., the women walked through downtown Houston until they finally found the Consulate. Three hours later, at 5 p.m., having obtained the ACROSS 1 Describe vividly 5 Anti-DUI org. 9 Flowed back 14 Kind of rug 15 Sheltered from the wind 16 Arledge of TV sports 17 Drifts 20 Tenarmed mollusks 21 Indochinese republic 22 Yale grad 23 Rhine tributary 25 Lunges toward 27 With 48A, drifts 31 __ League 32 Apart from this 33 Assorted by dimension 37 California wine valley 39 Knickknack spot 42 Petty rival Yarborough 43 Sleep noisily 45 Chimney sweepings 47 Collar 48 See 27A 52 Split 55 Mixed bag 56 Helping hand 57 Repast remnants 59 Takeoffs 63 Drifts 66 Up and at ‘em 67 Italian bread 68 Napoleon’s isle of exile 69 Waldorf or Caesar 70 Med. sch. subj. 71 Carpenter’s fi le DOWN 1 Hard and fast
rules 2 Babylonia, today 3 Diner’s card 4 Low points 5 Old West lawmen 6 Gore and D’Amato 7 Pass out cards 8 Break off 9 Renaissance religious reformer 10 Half a candy? 11 Portends 12 First name of a plane 13 Relinquish 18 Construe 19 Plant anchor 24 Hurry it up 26 Larger-than life 27 Tonic mixers 28 Bayh or Hunter 29 Proof goof 30 Formation flyers 34 Western author Grey 35 Spirited self assurance 36 Red ink 38 Dry as the desert 40 Batty 41 Shaq’s one pointer 44 Funded 46 Mumbo jumbo 49 Spelling or Amos 50 Chinese restaurant offering 51 Man with shingles? 52 Heroic tales 53 Plains tribe 54 Just right 58 Steer clear of 60 Big pot of stew 61 Watch pockets 62 Give and take 64 Jamaican music 65 La-la intro
passport with a new visa and knowing they had a fivehour wait before they could catch the next bus to return to Lawton, they decided to once again walk through downtown Houston. By this time, Hirai and Marko had already spent the little money they brought for the trip – $10 each. Although passersby warned them that it was dangerous to walk in downtown Houston in the evening, the students said they did not know what else to do or where to go, so they went ahead with their decision to walk through the streets. Upon returning to the Houston bus station Hirai and Marko found out that the bus they were scheduled to take at 10 p.m. was already full. A bus station employee told them the next available bus to Lawton wouldn’t be for another 16 hours. At this point, Hirai and Marko became desperate: They were in a foreign land, with no money, nowhere to go and with no family members to call. “We were so angry, we tried to call everybody who we could think of, and we called June Rain,” Marko said. June Rain, Cameron’s international coordinator, said that the students were scared when they called her late that evening. “First, I just made sure that both of them were okay, and I assured them that I would not leave my phone until they were home safely,” Rain said. “We started assessing their situation. They were scared, but who wouldn’t be? If I was sleepy and hungry in a big city in a foreign country, I would be calling whoever I knew that could talk me through the steps to get back home.” Rain said that getting lost in one’s home country happens frequently, and in most cases, the situation can be easily solved. However, Rain added, being in a foreign land with a different culture increased the gravity of Hirai’s and Marko’s situation. “We are probably all more vulnerable when we are not on ‘home ground’ and functioning within our native, familiar culture,” Rain said. Hirai and Marko felt helpless, and they did not want to wait in Houston for 16 more hours.
Please see HOUSTON, Page 5
Photo by Scott Pratt
I wanna go home: Ayumi Hirai, marketing senior from Japan and Angjeliqi Marko, business freshman from Albania, traveled to Houston during spring break in order to renew a visa in the Japanese Consulate. The women missed the bus returning to Lawton and found themselves stuck in Houston.