COLLEGIAN THE CA M ERON U N I V ER SIT Y
Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926
Monday, September 29, 2008
News
Volume 83 Issue 5
Trading Rooms By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff
During the 2008 election some polling is becoming instantaneous. SEE PAGE 2
A&E
Cameron’s Programming Activities Council and Student Housing recently gave students the chance to liven up their dorm experience by taking part in Trading Rooms, a dorm-room decoration program inspired by The Learning Channel’s “Trading Spaces.” The program, in its second year and headed by Krystle McCorgary, Student Housing Women’s Hall Director and the Director of Student Activities Zeak Naifeh recently chose four students to participate in a program designed to breathe new life into stale dorm décor. The students selected for the program included business management freshman Malita Charles, health and PE freshman Afiya Cameron, accounting freshman Kenley Maynard and sports and fitness management sophomore Chris Morris. Through an application process that included photo submissions and an explanation of why they should be chosen it was determined that these students rooms needed the help of Trading Rooms. On Sept. 17th, McCorgary and Naifeh met up with designer Cheri Harrison and hit the dorms, inspecting rooms, taking measurements and getting a feel for what kind of décor the students would likely enjoy.
Pretty in pink: The dorm room of freshman Afiya Cameron was decked out in pastel colors.
Photos courtesy of Zeak Naifeh
See ROOMS Page 3 Shopping spree: From rugs to lights to towels, the contestants of Trading Rooms received a whole new look for their rooms.
CU celebrates education during 2008 Convocation Twilight book series offers a bloody good read. SEE PAGE 5
Sports Photos by Jim Horinek
Honoring students: SGA President Jessica Daoang gave recognition to the Cameron honor students.
Smart colors: Each of the academic disciplines at Cameron are represented by a flag. During the Convocation ceremony the flags are carried by student representatives.
Proud Alumus: Oklahoma State Rep. T. W. Shannon, a graduate of Cameron, spoke about his CU experience during the ceremony.
Students offered gas relief through Aggie Carpool By Joshua Rouse Collegian Staff
Cameron student impressed after first experience with volleyball. SEE PAGE 6
Voices
Metallica’s time has come and gone. SEE PAGE 4
Cameron students can share a ride and save some gas thanks to the new Aggie Carpool Web site. When gas prices climbed to $4 a gallon, many students began sweating and chewing fingernails. They crunched numbers and gas mileage statistics hoping to balance a budget that would allow them to attend classes and put gas in the car without breaking the bank.
Jennifer Holland, Dean of Student Services, understands high gas prices can be a problem for college students. “As gas prices went up this summer, we started thinking about ways we could help our students,” she said. “When gas gets to $4 a gallon, or more than that, it certainly impacts our students and especially those who are commuting.” Around 5,500 students are enrolled at Cameron for the fall semester. Of that amount, only 480 are living on campus. When gas hits record-high prices, Holland said
Cameron students are affected especially hard. That’s why the administration formed Aggie Carpool. “We wanted to create an online tool where students could go and virtually meet other students who are traveling from the same areas,” she said. “They can make arrangements to carpool with other students. We know a lot of our students travel several miles to school from outlying communities and we wanted to provide them with an opportunity to be able to ride with other students who might be traveling on those same days.”
See CARPOOL Page 2
News
2
September 29, 2008
New professor brings history to life at Cameron By Kerry Myers Collegian Staff Cameron University’s History Department gained a brilliant new addition to their staff this year. Travis Childs, a Clay County native, has joined the staff teaching U.S History before 1865. Childs has always been intrigued by history, particularly U.S. and Texas History. Childs earned his first Bachelor’s degree in History from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, after which he went on to become a middle school and high school teacher. Childs taught at Berry Middle School in Mesquite, Texas, where he coached 7th grade football and boy’s basketball, as well as 7th and 8th grade track. “I loved coaching,” Child said. “But I decided to go on to earn my masters degree and teach at the collegiate level.” It wasn’t long after Childs started teaching high school that he enrolled at the University of Texas in Arlington to further his education. It was there that he earned his Masters Degree in U.S. History and completed his thesis work, “In Liberating Strife:
American Filibusters in the Texas Revolution 18351836 and the Canadian Rebellion 1837-1839.” Childs is presently completing his dissertation at Texas Tech University. Childs said his teachers who inspired him to be where he is today. “Two history teachers motivated me to become a teacher,” Childs said. “I appreciate the opportunity to do the same for others.” Coming from Clay County, Childs is a small town, down to earth type of guy. He graduated with a class of 21 from Midway I.S.D., which Childs described to be “more of a community than a town.” Midway I.S.D. is located near Blue Grove, Texas. Childs has a great sense of humor and he says he feels like he can really identify with college students. Childs said that he was attracted to Cameron because of its great location and its variety of students. “As a kid, my parents always brought me to the Wichita Mountains, and it’s great being so close to home,” Childs said. “Being from a small town myself, here I feel like I am teaching students who are just like me.” Photo by Jim Horinek
Real-time polling system tracks viewers’ debate opinions instantaneously By David Spett MCT Campus Among the millions of Americans who watched Friday’s first presidential debate were 2,000 with cell phones or computer mice in hand. Those viewers are part of a new system that embraces text messages and Web questions as a way of polling voters on the fly. Traditional polls are conducted by telephone interviews and are more accurate but take several days. These results are instant, registered long before spinmeisters start shaping public opinion.
“America’s opinion should be America’s opinion, and it should be developed based on what Americans saw, not based on what pundits tell them they saw,” said Glenn Kessler, president and chief executive officer of HCD Research Inc., which is conducting the study. The Flemington, N.J.-based firm is working with Muhlenberg College in Allentown. Here’s how it works: Paid participants will receive several text messages or pop-ups on their computers asking them to evaluate each candidate’s response to debate questions. Their opinions will be
published at mediacurves.com immediately after each question is asked. Christopher Borick, a pollster at Muhlenberg who’s working with Kessler, said the technology offers advantages over traditional polling methods, including the capacity for surveying vast numbers of people at once, even from the comfort of their homes. “Individuals have access from multiple locations,” Borick said. G. Terry Madonna, professor of public affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, said text message and Web polls have improvement
before they replace traditional polling methods. “It probably is the way forward,” Madonna said, “but the difficulty is making sure that you’ve got a representative sample” that reflects voters’ views with scientific certainty. Kessler also studies the effects of campaign television advertisements on voters’ impressions of candidates. In these studies, participants move their mouse from left to right on a continuum to register their opinion of an ad’s believability. So far this year, Obama’s ads have outscored McCain’s slightly in terms of perceived believability. Kessler said Howard Dean’s infamous scream after losing the 2004 Iowa caucus inspired him to develop the real-time mouse and cell technology. He watched the speech live on television and, based on what TV analysts said immediately afterward, had no idea how the viewing public would respond. “Polling has not changed since 1950,” Kessler said, “yet technology has changed.” If his technology is adopted widely, the role of pundits might change. “Instead of interpreting how people should have responded,” Kessler said, “the pundits can interpret why they responded the way they did.”
Madonna defended the craft of instant-interpretation, saying pundits play an important role in democracy. He referenced a 1976 presidential debate between Democrat Jimmy Carter and Republican Gerald Ford in which Ford said, “There is no Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe.” The statement was inaccurate, but most viewers did not realize it until pundits said so, Madonna said. Immediate polls showed the debate a tie; subsequent polls, after news of Ford’s gaffe circulated, showed Carter ahead. Instant polls relying on computers and cell phones are not without shortcomings. About 20 percent of Americans do not use the Internet, and even more do not use text messages. Software running the poll could fail during the debate, or viewers could give up on participating before the debate ends. But traditional polling has its own shortcomings. Phone-based polls often do not reach voters with cell phones, and some voters always refuse to participate. “This new platform presents challenges, but it also opens opportunities for researchers,” Borick said. “We’re hoping everything works well, but we always have an eye open to possible problems.”
CARPOOL continued from page 1
See page 4 for solutions.
Aggie Carpool is simple and easy for students to use. It’s an online discussion board at www.cameron.edu/carpool. Forums are set up for different areas in Southwest Oklahoma where students can exchange information on commute schedules. “Students can leave a message or read the other messages there,” Holland said. “Then, all you need to do is contact the student who may be traveling from the same area on the same days and you can make arrangements to carpool with them.” General Business sophomore Scott Stuckey has commuted to Cameron his entire college career. Higher gas prices have put the pinch on Stuckey, but he’s had help. “I have a friend who I’ve known for a long time and we commute together every week,” he said. “We alternate driving to Cameron, which allows us to save gas.” Stuckey started carpooling before Aggie Carpool was formed, but he said the Web site is a great idea for people who don’t have friends to drive with. “Gas prices have become really high over the past couple of years,” he said. “I can’t imagine what someone is going through who doesn’t have someone to commute with. It’s saved me a lot of money.” The Aggie Carpool Web site is a mechanism for students to connect and interact. Gas prices have receded from the record highs over the summer, but Holland said as long as there is a need for carpooling, the Web site will be maintained. “I certainly encourage students who are traveling to campus to look that up,” she said. “Even if they’re only traveling one day a week, that will save a significant amount of gas and a lot of wear and tear on the car.”
News
September 29, 2008
3
ROOMS continued from page 1
Before and after: On the left is the before shot of sophomore Chris Morris’s room before the event. On the left is a shot of what the room looked like when the rooms were finished. Once they felt they had all the were not allowed to help decorate information they needed, the three their own room. Part of the surprise of them spent the next four hours is in the students’ reaction to the scouring Lawton stores for the finished product. items they would need to finish off “The reactions were fantastic,” preparations McCorgary for the next said. “Everyone day’s rush to who took part “The reactions were completely in this event was fantastic. Everyone who redecorate the very thankful. took part in this event four rooms. One of the girls Bright and was very thankful. One of called her mom early on the immediately the girls called her mom Sept. 19th, after she immediately after she teams comprised squealed with squealed with joy.” of McCorgary, joy.” Naifeh, In the end, — Krystle McCorgary the redecorated Harrison and the selected Women’s Hall Director rooms reflected students spent the personalities all day traveling of the from room to room to make sure participants. The women decided everything got accomplished. The that they wanted bright vibrant only stipulation was that students colors that would help them feel
more at home, while the males asked to stay with neutral colors such as browns, blacks, blues and greens. All of the participants received new towels, a rug, new curtains and other small items. Together the changes made a big difference in the appearance of their rooms. As a final bonus, the students also were given something special that they needed or wanted. One of the first rooms that were done requested a fish, and one of the males received a new television stand. The students also received lamps and small modern art pieces in order to add that personal touch. McCorgary stressed that the Trading Rooms program is open to all students who live on campus, and that the application process favors those who are most in need of a room makeover. “When we look through the
applicants, we decide what rooms need the makeover the most.” McCorgary said. “Then we look at the students and try to determine which individuals would benefit the most from a dorm room makeover.” With the program’s success,
McCorgary urged that students interested in Trading Rooms should get involved and that Student Housing and PAC are looking forward to seeing more students for next year’s edition of Trading Rooms.
Photos courtesy of Zeak Naifeh
Vibrant: Colors were everywhere to be found in the redecorated room of freshman Malita Charles.
• Now Leasing Studios • 1 and 2 Bedrooms from $450 • Swimming Pool • Clubroom • 50/75 Laundry • Microwaves • 24-Hour • Storage Room Maintenance • Furnished/Unfurnished Units Phone: 580-536-9575
Improvements: Freshman Kenley Maynard was extremely pleased with the new and improved look of his bedroom in the Cameron Village.
News
4
September 29, 2008
Time has come for Metallica to turn the page The 1980’s are back with a vengeance. The problem is that things are never as good the second time. Michael Jackson never made another Bennett album like “Thriller,” he just got weird. Although Pacman was reintroduced several times in 3-D, it always managed to be less fun than the original. So when it was rumored that an 80s metal band was releasing a brand new album I was less than thrilled. When I found out the culprit was Metallica I laughed until my spleen hurt. After all, who could take a
Dewan
bunch of 40 year-olds thrash metal players seriously? They look like they should be working at Pier 1, not making albums. I will fully admit that Metallica had its place and its time to shine, but that time has long past. “Enter Sandman” and “One” were great songs that made every little kid in the 80s play air
guitar solos. But now Metallica is producing songs like “All Nightmare Long” which should be the theme for my life as long as Metallica is producing new albums. They have become like a boxer that is far past his prime searching for previous glories, but instead blemishes his career with a string of defeats at the hand of lesser competition. When you hold on too long you become irrelevant. Metallica as a
band has become a shell of its former self. The band that formerly held captive audiences of screaming fans in stadiums should now be playing county fairs like all the other respectable formerly famous super groups. The once kings of metal have lost their edge. It is hard for the foursome to look tough when they have turned in their long, dirty-haired leather clad looks for clean cut ensembles that resemble the collectors on the Antiques Roadshow. While appearances cannot affect the sound of a band, which is good because if they did Metallica’s MCT Campus drummer,
Lars Ulrich, would produce a sound like a Keebler cookieproducing treedwelling elf, it does nothing for the image the band is trying to project. With the band’s image feeling so controlled and contrived, it is hard to feel positive about the music they produce. It MCT Campus feels like the band is in it for the fame and money regardless of what the music sounds like. That would explain the last few albums, the inclusion in the advertising for “Mission Impossible II” and the awkwardly hilarious documentary “Some Kind of Monster.” In the documentary, the band goes through couples counseling for bands in order to work out there extremely whiny problems in order to keep the group together. Counseling is a wonderful and effective thing to work through issues in a safe and private way, but it feels a little like you have sold your soul for money to film all of your problems, package them in a special edition DVD and sell it for profit. The new album “Death Magnetic” feels like one gigantic money making falsehood. This is an effort by a band that either no longer has its heart in the music they produce, or maybe even doesn’t have a heart at all. This is evident by the lack of surefire hit music off this album. In the past, Metallica produced albums with one or two clear cut classic tracks. Now they produce albums
leading a devotion time during cheerleading practices in the middle of a local Baptist gym, but again, it wasn’t my idea. Sometimes doing our best doesn’t mean that we should only do it for ourselves, but when we do our best it should be for others too. The title you hold doesn’t matter: child, student, worker, employee, manager, professor or professional. What matters is your willingness to realize that service is rent we pay for life. We are here to serve not ourselves,
but to serve others as well. Serving others means there are investments being made. A Christian music artist, Nichole Nordeman, sings “I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?” I want to be that child of “mercy and grace” Nordeman sings about that will bless His name “unapologetically” (christianlyricsonline.com). This is what Upward calls the “discipline of excellence.” The discipline of excellence is based on the scripture Colossians 3:17. “And in whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This is a life we have been given by Him, may we use it effectively to ref lect Him.
Do your best to help less fortunate others “Do your best.” “Service is rent we pay for life.” I heard these simple but profound statements many years ago; each stuck with me. The first is a statement from my parents; the second, a statement from a community service newsletter. I grew up with parents lovingly reminding me to always do my best before I left for school each morning. At first, the little verbal message spouted off before school was merely a tradition. That is, until my sophomore year in high school, when I realized that doing my best meant doing my best in anything I attempted. Every aspect of my life needed to be ref lected in the statement “do your best.” It didn’t matter if it was as simple a task as wrapping gifts for mom at Christmas or as complex as completing a graded project for school. Doing my best meant taking action as well. I grew up taking action, but the meaning finally hit when I looked back at decorating for a company’s family holiday parties, serving with my dad in a service organization and serving Christ on mission trips with my youth group. My sophomore year in high school was that epiphany moment when I realized that there was another level to that statement. That year doing my best evolved to include doing my best for others too. Continuing to take action, I had the opportunity to serve my church and community as a cheerleading coach for Upward two years ago. Upward is a non-profit ministry that hosts basketball, cheerleading, f lag football and soccer events. Upward’s mission statement is “to introduce children to Jesus Christ
by creating opportunities to serve through sports.” Amazing. Sometimes my ideas can be the complicated ones. God had another plan when He gave Caz McCaslin, Upward President and Founder, the vision to introduce kids to Christ through sports. I never thought that something as simple as sports could be used as such a powerful tool, but then again, it wasn’t my idea. I had the opportunity to once again serve Him through Upward cheerleading and basketball at First Baptist Church, Lawton. I never imagined I would be
Alexis Del Ciello
with songs that are indistinguishable from the previous one. I know that “Transformers” made a successful return to prominence by reinventing the franchise and drawing on legions of nostalgic fans, but the current Metallica is not about reinvention; they’re ruining themselves. If they want to play all their classic songs in order to entertain ever-aging fans, that is fine by me, but they need to stop producing new albums. While the fans are faithful, they are only interested in listening to the pre-2000 incarnations of the band. Metallica and their management may be the only two sets of people who can really take them seriously anymore. THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief - Joshua Rouse News Editor - Jim Horinek A&E Editor - Bira Vidal Sports Editor - Bennett Dewan Copy Editor - John Robertson
Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kerry Myers Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Alexis Del Ciello
Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller
Newswriting Students Brooke Adams, Aduke Adesida, Kathryn Batule, Brandy Belew, Lauren Bennett, Greg Boxell, Taylor Brunwald, Justin Cliburn, Jeramy Eidson, Monica Garner, Anna Hataway, Jennifer Knapp, Kyle Luetters, Diana Lujan, Megan Mefford, Solitaire Merrill, Mary Oliver, Kyndle Palmer, Nicole Roames, Chelsea Robertson, Melissa Rodgers, Saman Samii, Meagan Searcy, Rashmi Thapaliya, Raven Weiss, Brooke Whiteley, Nikki Yowell
About Us The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron 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 by regular mail or e-mail to collegian@cameron.edu, or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.
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. 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.
A&E
September 29, 2008
5
Piano recital tunes in to fall rhythms By Bira Vidal Collegian Staff Few words can describe the precision and skill of talented fi ngers on a piano keyboard. At Cameron University there are three words that exemplify this dexterity: Dr. Hynsoon Whang. This first concert of the season at the Music Department will feature the talent of pianist Dr. Whang, professor of Music, and bring to the audience some famous pieces from a diversity of musicians, from Wolfgang Mozart to Frederic Chopin. The recital will also bring to the audience a share of classical pieces, and it will take place at 8 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the University Theatre. According to Dr. Whang, the first concert of the fall is always a special personal realization because of the setting of the season. “First concert of the season is always exciting. I love the fall weather and it is a pleasure to give a gift of music to Lawton/Fort Sill community in this setting,” Dr. Whang said. As for her musical background, Dr. Whang started her studies in piano after reaching the
age of four. With training and perseverance, she began performing to the public at age twelve. Her heritage traces back to Korea, where she was born, but extends to a variety of countries because of her diverse musical contribution. Some of Dr. Whang’s international
involvement has been seeing in more than 450 concerts throughout the United States, Korea, Canada, Japan, and Europe. As for her academic background, Dr. Whang attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she pursued her bachelor’s degree. For her doctorate degree, Dr. Whang attended the Indiana University School of Music. While she attended NCARTS and IUMUSIC, she studied the harpsichord and chamber music. With the progression of the semester, Dr. Whang will engage in some special contributions in local and abroad concerts. She will participate in a concert with the Lawton Philharmonic
Orchestra and she is scheduled to performance a solo recital in Seoul, Korea in the near future. Past achievements have also been a reason for musical excellence in Dr. Whang’s career. She has performed in the Aspen Music festival and Canada’s Victoria Music Festival. Together with her husband, Thomas Labe, she has recently recorded two special piano arrangements of Bach’s sacred music. Both pieces will be available on iTunes for purchase and on YouTube. But with the early start in the fall semester, Dr. Whang will be considerably busy with the schedule ahead past the first piano recital. When it comes to the selection of the composers at the piano recital on Oct. 2, Dr. Whang reveals that the explanation will come within the concert context. “I will touch on some of the composers and why I have selected to
perform some of these pieces,” Dr. Whang said. “I try to address general audience, not just the music students/classical music connoisseurs when I speak to the audience.” After joining the Music Department at CU in 1993, Dr. Whang has brought plenty talent and uniqueness with her music abilities to the halls of the Music building. But Dr. Whang has much held for the future and next concerts on and off campus. The piano recital is free to all Cameron students in possession of their Cameron ID. For the public, tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 to seniors, military and students. For more information on tickets or concerts schedule, please call 581.2440.
MCT Campus
Vampires take center stage in book series “Twilight” is the first book of her newest series and “New Collegian Staff Moon,” “Eclipse” and the recently released “Breaking Dawn” follow This summer there was a new it. series of glossy, black paperback The books feature humans, books on the front shelves in vampires and werewolves. Each bookstores all around the world. race finds themselves in epic You can find them if you look for battles over age-old legends, and the mysterious covers featuring the main character, Isabella Swan, an apple, a large red f lower, a is engulfed in the drama that ribbon and a chess piece. follows such mythical creatures. The author of the Twilight Twilight was published in Oct. series is Stephanie Meyer. She is 2005 but became popular early also known for her other work, this summer. The book is sold “The Host.” worldwide and has been translated into over 20 different languages. The book was also pronounced a New York Times Best Seller. Meyer’s story is geared MCT Campus toward a Twilight zone: The soon-to-be movie will be based on the first book of the series from Stephanie Meyer.
By Katie Batule
MCT Campus
younger audience and she uses her appealing descriptions of the characters and forbidden situations wisely, luring the reader in. Twilight is a fictional romance about a young girl, Isabella Swan, who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen, in the rainy town of Forks, Washington. Isabella, or Bella, finds herself wrapped up with the issues of being the new girl in town, dealing with her distant father, a hot and heavy romance with an immortal creature and other rogue vampires who are out to off her. Bella visits Forks every summer but this year she decides to stay for a year of school. Bella discovers Edwards’s incredible beauty and
mystery on her very first day of her junior year, and he later saves Bella’s life in the school parking lot, sparking off their relationship. Edward has two sisters and two brothers who are also vampires. The Cullen family feeds on animals instead of humans. They are considered “good” vampires. They live in the community of Forks like normal people and Bella is one of the very few people who know their secret. Soon after, the two of them begin to date and they fall in love. Edward brings Bella to his home where a pack of “bad” vampires discovers her. The leader of the pack is James, who wants to hunt her because of Bella’s scent is especially alluring to vampires. When James decides he wants to go after Bella, Edward and his family must protect her and kill him. Twilight is a fantasy romance and is told through the eyes
of Bella. She starts off as a huge danger to Edward, but as the story enfolds they become inseparable. As a vampire, Edward finds himself saving Bella’s life on more than one occasion throughout the first book. In the story, Bella longs to be a vampire so that she can stay with Edward forever. The theme of the story is temptation. The apple on the front cover represents original sin, something Bella experiences by giving in to the love of a vampire. Both Edward and Bella struggle to understand one another and it almost seems that they can’t ever know what each other is thinking. Don’t be fooled by the obscure location and the unbelievable idea of vampires and werewolves. This story slowly introduces these characters then quickly grabs the reader’s heart and mind, sucking them into page turning delight.
6
Sports
September 29, 2008
College football season provides few answers By Bennett Dewan Collegian Staff College football is well underway and already the favorites to play for a national championship are becoming apparent. Some of the teams who opened the season expecting greatness have fallen by the wayside. The top 25 teams have dramatically changed since the preseason rankings were released as unheralded teams have found holes in the perennial powerhouses. A few things have become all too apparent even this early in the season. Firstly, fans will not have to suffer through watching Ohio State make the BCS Championship Game only to get absolutely blown out like the last two season finales. All of that destruction could have been spared had the Big Ten instituted a conference title game which would have exposed OSU as less than stellar. Secondly, Notre Dame is not a good team and maybe won’t be for a long time. Furthermore their coach, Charlie Weiss, is not a genius as he appears to barely understand the game of football. Finally, USC may have the most depth of any team ever. There are five quality running backs that could start anywhere else in the country on the roster, but they also play one of the weakest schedules. That being said, the USC Trojans are entrenched in the no. 1 ranking, for now. If the schedule for USC is examined, a theme quickly emerges; they play zero teams with any talent for the rest of the season. The only ranked opponent faced by the Trojans was the OSU Buckeyes, who seemed wildly overrated before the game and more like a high school team after their 33 point destruction. While USC may be arguably the most talented team in college football, the lack of competitive talent in their schedule leaves an opening for the BCS to leave them out of the championship picture without ever losing a game. The scenario could only play out if a Big 12 and an SEC team both go undefeated and decisively win their conference title. In the Big 12, really only three teams could fit the bill of the caliber of squad to leapfrog USC. Those teams are the University of Oklahoma Sooners, the Missouri University Tigers and the University of Texas, Austin Longhorns. While an OU vs. MU game could only occur at the Big 12 conference title game, both teams have marquee matchups with UT. If any one of these three teams can remain undefeated through the season their strength of schedule alone could make them the #1 or #2 team in the country and will position them to play for the national championship. MU will face three opponents within the top 20 rankings this season while both OU and UT will face four members of college football’s upper echelon.
With the Longhorns having to play OU on Oct. 11 and then MU on Oct. 18 it seems that they are unlikely to survive their brutal schedule and are bound to drop at least one of the games against ranked opponents. The Tigers will be facing much less talented teams during the regular season and are almost assured a spot in the Big 12 title game. The Sooners will have an equally tough time remaining unblemished given the amazing number of tough games they have to play, but they seem to be the team most likely to make a run at an undefeated season and unseat USC as the #1 team in college football. It will not be an easy road for the Sooners; OU will need to maintain a large margin of victory over its quality opponents in order to build an impressive enough resume` to move up the standings. If one of the four current undefeated teams in the Southeastern Conference can go the rest of the season without a loss they are guaranteed a title shot based on the level of competition within their schedules. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide had one of the best recruiting classes in recent memory and has looked stellar in their first few games but will probably falter against one of the three top 10 teams they have to play. That does not mean that they will not factor into the way the conference plays out; they possess more than enough talent to knock off any of the top competitors. After nearly losing to the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Georgia Bulldogs will face tough competition in the remainder of their SEC schedule. With back-to-back games against top notch schools, the Bulldogs are bound to fall to either one of the last two college football champions, #5, the Louisiana State University Tigers or #4 the University of Florida Gators. The Tigers and Gators are seemingly the two teams with the talent most likely to endure this season unbeaten. The two teams will clash on Oct. 11, a game which may be the most important game as far as national rankings this season. The winner will set themself up as the best candidate to move into the #1 position in college football. Although the SEC is undoubtedly the toughest conference in Division I football right now, and the likelihood of any of its teams going the whole season without a loss is slim, if any of the teams manage to pull it off they will unseat USC based on the road it took to get there. An unblemished season in the SEC and Big 12 this season would be an incredible feat for any team, and the BCS will probably overlook USC’s current dominance for the overall performance of one of the lesser ranked teams. This is not a guarantee, as nothing in college football is, but if USC remains unblemished at the end of the season, as does an SEC and a Big 12 team, do not be surprised to see the Trojans benched.
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
Finding the best of the best: LSU dethrones Florida and the Tigers fall short against the Sooners in previous seasons games. The meetings of LSU against Florida and OU, Missouris Big 12 matchups could determine the final shakeout of the BCS rankings. Conceivably the SEC and Big 12 could be both represented in the national championship game, freezing out current #1 team USC.
First time volleyball spectator thrilled by Aggies game is modified to 15 points. The first team that wins any three of these five games takes the win. While watching the game, I switched my focus between the game itself, and the crowd. It was really exciting to see the friends and family of the players get pumped up and watch the game. Watching the players throughout the match, you could tell they were in the zone and not physically paying attention, but mentally they Photo by Jim Horinek were really feeding off of Throwing it down with attitude: Freshman Outside Hitter, Adrienne Lawson, spikes the ball with authority against the audience‘s Lone Star Conference rival UCO. energy. I think the team may By Raven Weiss have gotten a little comfortable with the ground and keeping the ball in scoreboards. In volleyball, a kill is themselves and let go towards the play, or from hitting the ground. when a point is immediately scored Newswriting Student end of the fifth set. Laura Ellerbrock had racked up 11 by essentially “killing the play,” or The Cameron volleyball team Although defensive digs, and Haley Hatch had simply put, the ball going straight took another hit on September 15 digs. On more than one occasion, I’ve never into the ground. Throughout 20th, 2008. CU hosted the UCO attended a I saw several players on both teams Saturdays match, Malyssa Acton Bronchos on Saturday, losing in the hit the new gym floor while trying to game before, had ended the entire game with a final set of the game. Having never I could keep the ball in play. total of 14 kills out of 45 attacks. attended a Cameron volleyball game An attack is what you call the actual UCO won in the final set by a definitely before, I was not sure what to expect. offensive action of hitting the ball. tell that score of 15-13, leaving them with I had limited knowledge of the the Aggies three sets won to CU’s two sets. I am assuming out of the entire sport, but with the help of a fellow knew how to In volleyball there are generally five match, Acton was in play for 45 of spectator I figured out some of the play the game. For separate sets or games played in them to come her way. Out of those basics. the most part, everyone was where one match. The first four games are 45 attacks, she was lucky enough to Soon after the game started I pretty much a race to gain 25 points they needed to be when they were nail 14 of them. saw, “nice kill” flashing on one of the needed. There was not a spot on before the other team, and the fifth A dig is the player getting on
the Aggies’ side of the net that was unprotected. I am sure more than once each player was being stretched to her limit, but none of them ever showed it. On and off the floor, the players were very professional and upbeat. When replacements came in and the players stepped away, they were just as eager to get started and to get back into the game. The spirit of the players kept me interested in the game more than anything. The team was consistently working together, making sure each play was executed to its fullest. Cameron started out strong, with the enthusiasm of the crowd adding to the atmosphere. On both sides of the stadium, people were laughing and cheering while wearing leis that were given out at the door. There was a luau theme clearly displayed through the signs and attire at the game, which I think boosted morale of the team and the audience. It was a lot of fun to watch the hula hoop contest, and see the Aggies wearing flowers in their hair as they took their positions on the field. Despite not knowing a whole lot about the game, it was a very exciting experience. Seeing that many people come together to support the team and the school was incredible. All in all, I do not think it was a terrible loss for CU. The ladies played very well, and it was a close game throughout each set that was played. If anything, I think the team will take the loss to UCO and build on it to be better for the next game. I would highly recommend attending the games to anyone, especially CU students and faculty. There was a great display of Aggie pride and I am definitely looking forward to the next home game.
Sports
September 29, 2008
7
Aggies continue to bring spirit GO AGGIES: The Cameron Aggie Cheerleaders continuously work to keep up the spirit during volleyball games.
Bring it in: The Cameron Aggie Volleyball team continues the season with spirit. The teams’ next game will be on Sept. 30 at Oklahoma Panhandle State College. Photos by Jim Horinek
International student excells at Aggie volleyball By Greg Boxell Newswriting Student Cameron University welcomes yet another international athlete to its roster of students trying to make a difference in the classroom and on the court. Nikita Abbott, a 20 year-old freshman from Trinidad and Tobago, comes to Cameron with high hopes and an insatiable appetite for the full college experience. Abbott brings her athleticism, jumping and hitting abilities, and a taste of professional experience to the team. Originally born in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad & Tobago, Abbott moved to the United States with her mother when she was only three months old. She lived in Inglewood, Calif. until the age of six when she then made the move back to the islands. While living with her father and grandparents, Abbott became very active in sports. Being the only child, Abbott engulfed herself in the athletic scene and played badminton, track and field, gymnastics and lawn tennis. Abbott attended Tunapuna Government Secondary School in Trinidad where she was able to showcase her athleticism at a new level. She started out in track and field as she competed in the 200 and 400 meter sprints. Abbott did not find much enjoyment in volleyball when she was first introduced to the sport. “I tried to play volleyball in form 1, but the training was too hard for me,” Abbott said. After learning more about the sport and gaining confidence in her athletic ability, Abbott got back into volleyball in her junior year of high school and began playing for a local club team, Ace United.
In 2006, she competed in her first tournament. As the team finished 3rd place, Abbott displayed vast improvement and skill and was presented The Most Promising Athlete award in the tournament. From that point on, Abbott knew she was a volleyball player. Later in the same year, she switched club teams and started playing for Glamorgan, a very well known and respected club throughout the islands. Following an afternoon practice, she found herself at “the right place, at the right time.” The head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago National Team was watching the team practice, and approached Abbott soon after. The coach asked her to spike the ball again for him. Without hesitation, she went into her spiking motion and drilled the ball over the net and to the other side of the court. The coach told Abbott that her technique needed polishing, but that her jumping and hitting ability was great. The head coach then gave her a business card and told her to come try out for the national team in two weeks. She was thrilled at the opportunity. After competing against 35 other girls in the opening round of the tryout, Abbott made the first cut and headed on to the final 18. From the field of 18, the coach chose the best five players out of the group. Abbott was one of the them. “Compared to all the other girls that I tried out against, my technique was horrible,” Abbott said. “But I was the most fit and I could jump out of the gym.” In Oct. 2006, Abbott was drafted onto the national team, and as a member was fortunate enough to travel the world. Her first tournament with T&T was the Pan American Cup held in
Colima, Mexico. Despite not advancing to the winning round, Abbott said she valued the opportunity to play. “I was scared and afraid to make a mistake at that level, but once I got in the match and settled down, the experience was overwhelming,” Abbott said. 2007 was a big year for Abbott. She traveled to Canada to compete in the NORCECA Volleyball Tournament and Monterrey, Mexico, where her team participated in the Olympic Qualifiers. She also went to Suriname, South America, and the Dominican Republic where T&T competed against other national teams. Abbott’s tenure on the national squad lasted a little over a year and a half. With that experience under her belt, she wanted to experience the college life. Before ever knowing about Cameron University, Abbott already had previous ties to Lawton and the Aggie family. Marlin Bernard, Abbott’s uncle, former Aggie basketball standout and recent graduate of CU, told her about the school. When he mentioned the volleyball team was looking for an outside hitter, and that the school was known for its diversity, it did not take much convincing for Abbott to make up her mind. “I had
opportunities to attend larger schools,” she said. “But I wanted to focus on my academics. And with my uncle living in Oklahoma, and the population of Caribbean students here at Cameron, the choice was easy.” The country style environment was a culture shock to her as she was used to the big city back in Trinidad. “The transition has been fairly easy and I’ve been able to adjust quite well,” she said. Abbott is majoring in Computer Information Systems (CIS). Although she is not sure about her future plans, she knows she wants to explore the field of computer technology and science. “The girls on the team make me feel very comfortable, like we are a big group of sisters,” she said. “I enjoy the classes and professors,
and the Caribbean population makes me feel at home.”
Photo courtesy of CU Online
An asset to the team: Nikita Abbott is set to help the Aggies with her vast experience.
Variety
8
September 29, 2008
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… The evil Galactic Empire, lead by the Sith Master Darth Sidious, rules the galaxy with an iron fist. Darth Vader, the emperor’s Sith Apprentice, continues his hunt for the last remaining Jedi Knights in hiding throughout the galaxy. On the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk, the dark lord finds a small boy with immense power. He takes the boy as his secret apprentice and trains him in the ways of the Dark Side of the Force. Years later, Darth Vader puts plans into motion that will forever shape the fate of the galaxy... power for yourself, at least in a digital For more than 30 years, “Star world. “The Force Unleashed” puts Wars” has captured the hearts and minds of countless people across the you in the role of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Star Killer, as you hunt world. down the last of the remaining Jedi Its story has been told in every Knights in medium the galaxy. there is, but STAR WARS: THE FORCE The until now, UNLEASHED game takes no game ESRB RATING: T for Teen place in has ever PLAY TIME: 6 to 10 hours between captured “Episode the feel of NO. OF PLAYERS: 1 III: the original SYSTEMS: Xbox 360 ($59.99), Revenge trilogy of Playstation 3 ($59.99), Playstation of the movies, 2 ($39.99), Playstation Portable Sith” and nor has it ($39.99), Nintendo Wii ($49.99), “Episode ever made Nintendo DS ($34.99) IV: A New you feel the Hope” power of a FINAL THOUGHTS: Even though and helps Jedi Knight the gameplay is overly complicated, connect or Sith. “The Force Unleashed” offers an the stories LucasArts amazing movie-like experience with of the two remedied plenty of thrills and fun. trilogies that together. situation Along with its the way, you’ll see numerous familiar latest game, “Star Wars: The Force faces from both trilogies and from the Unleashed.” While some people may still feel Extended Universe of “Star Wars” lore. The gameplay of “The Force the sting of the prequel films, this Unleashed” consists of a cross between game could finally be that official a brawler-style game and a shallow apology many young Jedi have been action title similar to “God of War.” looking for. You chain together combos with your It took four films to finally see lightsaber using the face buttons on the great power of the Jedi Knights the controller. Unlike many action and Sith Lords on the big screen, games, you only have one attack and it’s taken many more games to button. However, where “The Force finally be able to experience that Unleashed” differs from other action titles is its use of the Force powers. As you progress through the game, you can upgrade your powers and gain new ones like the Sith Force Lightning and a Force Push. The most impressive of these powers is Force Grab, which allows you to pick up almost any object or NPC
in the game. You can toss them, slam them against walls or even use them as time bombs and throw them into your adversaries. If you hold an enemy close enough to a ledge, he’ll reach out and grab onto it, screaming for his life. The gameplay is simple, though the controls are overly complicated and hard to grasp. You have one attack button and three Force power buttons. You can lock onto an object or enemy with the push of a single button and you can dash with another. The Force Grab is mapped to the right trigger, which is the most intuitive of the mapped buttons. However, when holding something, it can be hard to direct where you want to throw the object. You can move the object in the air with the analog sticks and then use them to sling the object in the direction you want. But some times it goes in the opposite direction. Later in the game, this unrefinement can pose plenty of problems. The art style complements the very impressive graphics well. The majority of the game is vibrant and colorful, featuring many of the same environments seen in the six movies including Kashyyyk and Cloud City. The only drawback is the lack of exploration freedom in the game. The early levels are laid out in a very linear pattern. You start off in one area, have an objective to complete and a single path to get there. Later on, you’re afforded a few freedoms and side areas to explore. However, the only awards for exploration are a few hidden powerups and unlockables. Along the way, you’ll fight ATATs, Imperial Storm Troopers, alien species and monsters and even Jedi. The Jedi battles are some of the most visually dazzling aspects of the game. They play out in head-to-head duels with heart-pounding music in the background. They gameplay remains the same, except this time, you have someone of equal skill and health to fight against. Remember all those times you watched the final battle in “The Phantom Menace” and the “Battle of Heroes” between Anakin and Obi-Wan in “Revenge of the Sith?” Well this is your chance to partake in battles that rival those. The greatest strength of “The Force Unleashed” is its “Star Wars” license. If the same gameplay had been
MCT Campus
Behold, the power of the Dark Side: Darth Vader kills one of the last remaining Jedi Knights in the galaxy while on the Wookiee homeplanet of Kashyyyk. Players get to take control of the dark lord briefly during a prologue. reskinned with another franchise or an original IP, the game wouldn’t be that impressive. But, with the “Star Wars” story and characters, you feel as if you’re really involved in an interactive “Star Wars” movie. The production values are high and the soundtrack is top-notch. LucasArts took the best themes from across the six movies and recomposed them for the film. If your system is hooked up to a 5.1 digital surround sound system, you’ll be able to hear the whole game play out in stunning surround sound. “The Force Unleashed” is an experience to behold, but as a game, there are a lot of problems. The leveldesign can be confusing and is fairly uninspired. Many battles can easily overwhelm even a Sith apprentice, especially when you’re fighting three AT-ATs and a handful of Rancors in one small area. The camera, which usually remains positioned behind your character, can some times get in the way and zoom out when you least need or expect it to. During many of the head-to-head battles, the camera will take a birds-eye view and can throw off your timing and aim of your attacks. From a pure gameplay perspective, “The Force Unleashed” contains a lot of cool bullet-point features that just don’t quite live up to par. You can play through the entire game and never use the force powers except to solve rudimentary environmental puzzles. And the combat aspects feel week compared to more concentrated action games like “God of War” and “Ninja Gaiden.”
But where the gameplay lacks, the story and atmosphere more than satisfy. The impressive Euphoria physics engine creates many “oh snap” moments throughout the game like when you blow out the windows of a Star Destroyer and watch as the poor Storm Troopers get sucked into space. The storyline feels like it’s been ripped from a script from a new “Star Wars” film. Lucas oversaw the story, but didn’t directly write the script, which would probably explain the great quality. Everything fits comfortably within the “Star Wars” cannon, right in between the prequel and original trilogies. And while there are no “Luke, I am your father” story twists, “The Force Unleashed” does offer a few interesting curve balls. If that doesn’t have you hooked, you can choke down Imperial officers and Storm Troopers with the dark lord himself, Darth Vader. For the first time in any movie or game, you finally see the true ruthlessness of Vader. “The Force Unleashed” is worth two play-throughs for any “Star Wars” fan because of the two endings, which depend on a choice you make toward the end. Beyond that, the game is rudimentary, shallow and frustrating at times. There are plenty of unlockables and added content for scavenger hunters that could keep you coming back, but once you’ve seen the story, as great as it is, you’ve seen the best of what “The Force Unleashed” has to offer.