Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, February 5, 2018
Volume 98 Issue 2
c ant fi i n g i s m o re h c st of u o m m s i e e w l “ My ro “ but I o , d i a s o st f u n e h m s e ” , h r t a s e t hi s y l ead h i s wa T o t . y m t i l a i e b t d the a n it to my a d e y ve pla lped.” e h y d gam e I ’ o ever yb s nnaren ing o B e i all w — Ja m basketb
Pylant y Krista Photos b Cheyenne Cole by Graphic
omen’s Aggie w
D L O G E K I R T S S E I AGG
Bonnarens leads lady Aggies to victory Drue Watkins Sports Editor
On Jan. 27 in Commerce, Texas, the Cameron women’s basketball team upset the top-ranked Texas A&MCommerce Lions in a high-scoring conference match-up, 94-87. With the win, the Aggies now sit at 8-12 overall and 6-6 in conference play. The Lions drop to 14-6 overall and 10-2 within the conference, remaining the top seed. Aggie sophomore wing Jamie Bonnarens dominated the game with 32 points, along with nearly grabbing a triple-double as she recorded 12 rebounds and seven assists. The 32 points tied her career-high in points from last year against UT Permian Basin. Bonnarens said compared to last year, this year’s game was much more meaningful. “I mean no disrespect towards UTPB,” she said, “but since Commerce is ranked number one in the conference, this just meant much more. It feels really good to get a game like this. I feel like I know how things are starting to go.” Cameron head coach Emma Andrews said Bonnarens is an allaround great player to have on the
What’s inside
team. “Jamie’s a team player and has an incredibly high basketball IQ,” she said. “She’s patient and knows how to work the court. The team allows her to approach the game in her own way.” The Aggies shot a season best 53 percent from the field and 54 percent from beyond the arc. Out of the 94 total points scored, 42 came from three-pointers. The game escalated quickly from the start. In the first five minutes of the opening period, the Aggies went on an 11-4 point run, establishing offensive consistency that would follow the entirety of the game. With 3:30 left in the first, Bonnarens hit a quick-shot to put the Aggies up by eight, before the Lions went on a run of their own to cut the Aggies’ lead down to four at the end of the period, 19-15. The start of the second period felt like the start of the first—offensive dominance by Cameron. With under five minutes left to play in the second period, the Aggies were up by 12 points. However, the Lions answered
Former U.S. diplomat lectures Page 2
back with a 9-2 point run to tie the game at 38 heading into halftime. Bonnarens had already scored 17 of Cameron’s 38 points. Bonnarens said everything was clicking for her. “I’m just really happy that all of my shots were falling,” she said, “and I knew that I just had to keep it up in the second half.” Andrews said the game plan remained clear at halftime despite the tie. “It’s all about how you handle the game,” she said. “We know that every team goes on their runs, and with the game being tied, we knew it was all about how we come out, regroup and handle it.” At the start of the third, both teams shot back and forth, with neither one gaining a real offensive or defensive edge. However, the Lions eventually took their first lead of the game at the halfway mark of the period. This change in leader seemed to reinvigorate the Aggies’ production, prompting them to a 14-4 run and finishing the period off up by 10, leading 63-56.
Heading into the fourth period, the Aggies kept up their momentum by consistently scoring. A threepointer by junior guard Parfitt McNair extended Cameron’s lead to 13 points. The Lions’ attempt at a comeback faltered due to another strong run by the Aggies, who scored nine unanswered points to end the game. Bonnarens said the team played really well, which helped her in the long run. “My role is much more significant this year,” she said, “but I owe most of it to my team. This was the most fun game I’ve played and the ability to lead everybody helped.” Cameron will stay at home for their next four games, with the most immediate one being against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2 p.m. on Feb. 3. Andrews said it’s a good feeling having a four-game home-stretch. “You have your own home atmosphere,” she said, “and there’s no traveling on a bus all the time. The community and people really provide home games with a much better feeling heading into our match-ups.”
Art’s burning relationship with morality
“Tea” brings students together
Page 4
Page 6
News
2
February 5, 2018
www.aggiecentral.com
Homecoming 2018 event schedule Monday, Feb. 5 • Comedian DJ Demers at 8 p.m. in the MCC Ballroom Tuesday, Feb. 6 • Movie Night: Beauty and the Beast at 8 p.m. in the MCC Ballroom Wednesday, Feb. 7 • Free Pizza from 10:45 a.m. until it’s gone in the MCC Ballroom • Hypnotist Chris Jones at 8 p.m. in the MCC Ballroom Thursday, Feb. 8 • Women’s & Men’s Basketball at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Aggie Gym • Homecoming Dance from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday, Feb. 9 • Golf Cart Parade at 5:30 p.m. across campus • Family Fun in the Rec from 6-8 p.m. in the Aggie Rec Center Saturday, Feb. 10 • Aggie Family Fun Run at 9 a.m. in the MCC Lobby • Homecoming Games & Activities at 10:30 a.m. in the Bentley Gardens • Tailgate & Chuck Wagon Cook-off at 12:30 p.m. in the Bentley Gardens • Women’s & Men’s Basketball at 2 and 4 p.m. in the Aggie Gym
Graphic courtesy of Public Affairs
Academic Festival X:
Kristin Stewart and foreign policy bad and the ugly experiences that she has encountered in her job. She started with Staff Writer telling the audience about one of her good experiences. “I was able to share my life experiences As part of Cameron’s Festival X: with young Iraqis,” she said. “When I asked American Identities in the 21st Century, them if they ever met an American before, a the university’s Department of Social lot of them said no, so I was really honored Sciences hosted the American Diplomacy to be the first American and maybe only in the World Today event featuring U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer American that they might meet.” Stewart then went into detail about Kristin M. Stewart at 2 p.m. on Jan. 17, in the bad parts of her job. She said that it is the McCasland Ballroom. difficult to get adjusted to living in countries Stewart started her career in 2002, that are different than the United States. serving in diplomatic assignments at six “There is no better named career field,” overseas posts. she said. “Foreign and Service, you will be in Before taking her current assignment, Stewart served as the Public Affairs Officer foreign countries, they won’t be like America and you will be serving your country.” at the U.S. Consulate in Basrah, Iraq. Political science major Robert Day Stewart told the audience members that said that his career sights were definitely she had many experiences that she would broadened thanks to Stewart. have never had if it wasn’t for being in the “Just the range of what the State Foreign Service. Stewart went through the good, the
By Justin Rose
Department actually does and the different career opportunities that are available of different specialties,” he said. “I didn’t even know you could join the State Department with just a Bachelor Degree right when you get out. So, it’s something I’m going to look into.” At the end of the event, a Q&A session started
between Stewart and the audience. Stewart answered one question about what happens to her department in the event of government shutdowns or budget cuts. “The last time there was a budget cut,” she said, “I was in Panama, it was 2013, the government did close for three weeks, about 85 percent of our staff stayed on.” The last question asked during the Q&A had been about how Visa programs have changed under the new administration. “There actually haven’t been changes,” she said. “The Immigration and Nationality act was first written in the twenties, some amendments in the forties, some amendments in the sixties. We haven’t fundamentally changed our immigration policy in many, many, many decades actually.” To learn more about a career in Foreign Service, go to careers.state.gov.
Graphic by Stacie Larsen
News
February 5, 2018
www.aggiecentral.com
3
Circle K International Spring Rally By Stacie Larsen News Editor
At 1 p.m. on Jan. 29, members from the Cameron University Chapter of Circle K International (CKI) attended a Spring Rally at the University of North Texas. Junior Cameron CKI (CUCKI) President Hector Perez-Aponte said the purpose of the annual event is to bring the CKI chapters within the division together to promote service within the community and among each other. The chapters that participated in the rally included Cameron University, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University. Perez-Aponte also said the rally provides an opportunity for the members to put the three-tenants of CKI, which are service, leadership and fellowship, into practice. The rally kicked off with a social ice-breaker called “human bingo.” Each member is given a bingo card with squares containing descriptions of personal traits or facts, such as “Someone who failed their first drivers-test,” or “Someone who can speak another language.” The object of the game was to try and get a bingo by going around the room and finding individuals that matched the descriptions and having them sign their name. Perez-Aponte said the purpose of the ice-breaker was to give the members within the different chapters the opportunity to meet, mingle and get to know each other better. “I met probably a good seven to eight people that I didn’t know prior to
Spring Rally,” he said. The rally continued with divisionalelections and district-endorsements for board-positions and the announcing of upcoming district events and service projects. Projects included the 2018 District Convention scheduled for March 2-4 in Denton, Texas. This year’s theme will be “Lights, Camera, Action.” Perez Aponte said as the rally came to an end, all the members agreed to go out for ice cream before heading home. “The ice cream parlor was really the most exciting part about Spring Rally,” he said. “I liked sitting down and speaking with the other members and actually practicing fellowship.” Shortly after he and the other CUCKI members headed back to Cameron, Perez-Aponte said he witnessed something that exemplified what the organization is all about. As the group approached a stop sign, a car broke down in front of them with a woman sitting alone inside it. The CKI member who drove, Cameron senior Robbie Day, immediately pulled over and helped the woman get her car started by using jumper-cables. Perez-Aponte said what Day demonstrated is exactly what the organization hopes to achieve, and that it’s about taking the experiences and wisdom learned within the organization and applying them out in the world. Cameron junior Joseph Burke also attended the rally and said that, as a new CKI member, it was nice to be able to meet members from other CKI chapters.
Photos by Stacie Larsen
Circular socialization: (Above) CU Circle K International President Hector Perez-Aponte engages with fellow members in the annual Spring Rally at the University of North Texas. (Below) CKI members eat ice cream, employ fellowship and plan for future service projects. “It’s refreshing to see a group of people that know there is more to life than just themselves,” he said. “There’s people that have it worse than we do.” Burke said his favorite moment as a member so far was when the organization collaborated with one of the local animal shelters last semester and walked dogs. “I love animals,” he said. “It was a service opportunity, and I enjoyed it the whole time.” Perez-Aponte said the organization not only aims to benefit the members
of the local community, but also the members within the organization itself. “We try to provide a way for students to let go, explore themselves [and] explore their capabilities,” he said. “I hope to inspire them [the members] to go out and actually think outside the box of what they can do in the realm of community service.” Perez-Aponte also said he believes it’s important for schools to have organizations like CKI. “Service is, I think, something that
guarantees survival for humanity,” he said. “It’s the helping of each other that keeps us alive and well.” Further into the semester, CKI plans to help Lawton Animal Welfare by hosting a dog show adoption. The organization also aims to host a meet-and-greet at a local retirement home. For more information, visit Circle K International on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ cameroncki.
Cameron intramural sports season begins By Zackery Crow Staff Writer
Spring intramural sports started on Jan. 28 with the men’s five-on-five basketball league opening play in the Aggie Rec Center. Currently, there are six teams registered in the league that will play weekly games until Feb. 28. According to the Cameron University page of the “IM Leagues” app, the registration for this year’s men’s league is now closed as the teams have started playing. Sophomore Charles Hefner, who is a member of a team called The Southern 8, said intramurals are an engaging way to get actively involved on campus. “I think intramurals for me personally is a great way to keep your body in shape,
and to meet new people around here,” he said. “It’s especially fun when it’s one of my favorite sports to play.” Although they didn’t shoot as well or play as well as they wanted to, Hefner said all that matters is they got to know one another and got a feel for how everyone plays. “We luckily got to shoot around with each other before the game started,” he said, “and kind of met and talked before the game. That was the first time I’d ever met a few of those guys.” The Southern 8 suffered a defeat in their first game against Odoyle Rules; a team Hefner said was tough to compete against. “Those guys are quick and super athletic,” he said. “It was just tough to keep up with them. They beat us like ninety something to forty something.” Even though they came up short in their
first game together, Hefner said the score doesn’t really matter in the end. “We may have lost,” he said, “but obviously it’s so much more than just winning games and losing games. It’s mainly about having fun and sharing the love of friendly competition with one another.” For the next several Sundays, all six teams will play each other in a round-robin style league play. The teams with the best records will ultimately be ranked higher in the league standings. Once league play is finished, the league tournament will be drawn up. Whichever team wins the tournament will become the league champion. Hefner said his ultimate goal isn’t necessarily to win the championship. “I mean obviously we want to eventually win enough games in league play and in the tournament, but winning isn’t our goal,”
he said. “We’re just out here having fun. Winning would definitely be a bonus.” With the men’s five-on-five league getting started, many of the other spring sports will soon follow. The co-rec (combined men and women) league play began on Jan. 31. There are currently two teams signed up to play. When the basketball leagues are finished, the co-rec softball leagues will begin in March. They will be followed by men’s, women’s and co-rec tennis leagues beginning April 4, with the intramural sports season concluding with men’s and co-rec soccer leagues beginning April 15. To register for one of the upcoming leagues, visit the Office of Campus Life page at cameron.edu/campuslife. A tab for intramural sports is available with instructions on how to join a league.
4
Voices
February 5,
www.aggiecentr
Burning off truth:
The misconception of modern criticism
finding a few jagged edges. Life is not clean or fair. Life is often beautiful, Voices Editor but not so often kind. @YoureSoVanya What then, is the artist expected to do when the world doesn’t express itself in terms of good Art exists to express the truth. or evil, or right and wrong? Do we expect our artists to lie to us and tell us When I began working in the instead that the outside world is exactly what we arts half my lifetime ago, that wish it were? was what I believed, and that was Many people seem to expect this of an artist. what drove me to devote my life to The most recent trend in the world of art in whatever way I could. I believed that art might even be criticism, both amateur and professional, seems to be that no work is free of controversy. capable of illuminating the truth Many critics seem devoted to watching films, for me when I didn’t know it, and in reading books, and analyzing paintings with the many ways, it did. specific purpose of finding something offensive. Art gave me a potent feeling of Our current climate has inf luenced a what the world looks like through the eyes of other people. It gave me an idea journalistic climate that craves hysteria, which has in turn created a pop cultural climate that of life’s beauty. only sells if it ref lects that hysteria back at us. And it also gave me an idea of life’s A climate of hysteria can only exist if the ugliness. people believe not only that evil exists, but that Art teaches us a great deal about the evil must be eradicated. ugliness of life. It teaches us how to look at it And when that evil is hard to define, our with our eyes wide open, and dares us to pass climate of hysteria can only exist so long as our own judgements. people keep looking for an evil to topple. In doing so, it shows us who we are; how we For many people, art think. provides an infinite well A great work of art does not pass judgement of evils to destroy. for the audience. Its morals remain opaque so In many cases, that ours might be strengthened. the judgement is But for many people, art has ceased being fair. a means for them to learn about their own Many morality, and has instead become a mirror lazier artists in which they expect to see their own morals express a view ref lected. of the world More and more, people are becoming defined by unwilling to be challenged, and more willing to stereotypes, see those who present them with challenges as rather than agents of evil. an expression In modern society, the line between a of what they see questioning word and an act of aggression is around them. being increasingly blurred, and this climate is Artists like that ref lected often in modern criticism of art. There is an expectation in the current climate should be called out, because the methods that art will ref lect the politics of its audience, and that art will reinforce their beliefs about the they use should be observed honestly. But it must also be noted that often, what the world. artist expresses is not what Though the artist considers to be this belief is morally right. not necessarily For example, in Martin misguided in its McDonagh’s excellent intent, I believe it recent film, “Three sets an unhealthy Billboards Outside Ebbing, precedent for a Missouri,” one of the society that aims characters does many to be founded things that are deeply on honesty and questionable. integrity, to say The character Jason nothing of openness Dixon is a racist, violent and trust. police officer who suffers First of all, art a major tragedy that leads is not necessarily a him to a good deed. political entity. — Payton Williams The movie was blasted Art is an by many critics for giving emotional entity. It a racist character with shows the world as it many foul traits a appears to the artist. redemption arc. For some artists, Many have even threatened to their politics define the way they see the world, “boycott the Oscars” if “Three but for many others, the emphasis is on what Billboards” wins best picture they feel when exposed to an image, or a sound. This is difficult ground to walk on. An artist this year. This means many cannot take in the whole of the world without
By Payton Williams
people are perfectly willing to punish the artists if they don’t like the art. It is important to note, however, that the film does not pass judgement on Dixon’s character, nor does it expect its audience to like him. It simply shows who he is and what happens to him. What this says about the film’s critics, more than anything else, is that they don’t believe a bad person can be redeemed. That when someone does something bad, they cannot become good. This belief harkens back to the beliefs of the era of McCarthyism, where communists—and former communists—were sought out and purged in this country in the 1950s. At that time, interestingly enough, while many artists were forced out of work for saying how they felt and what they saw around them, there was a lot of art that ref lected the political feelings of the time and pandered to what people wanted to believe about the world. It was called propaganda, and it was very popular with the state. Consequently, it wasn’t hard to make, and audiences ate it up. But propaganda is not, nor can it ever be honesty. If an artist is expected to express someone else’s worldview for them, then the result can only be propaganda. And if the artist must fear that they are not saying the right thing, then they can never be honest. They can only make something that’s easy to stomach, and as author Flannery O’Connor wisely said, “The truth does not change according on our ability to stomach it.”
“If an artist is expected to express someone else’s worldview for them, then the result can only be propaganda.”
Graphic by Payton Williams
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution. The first issue is provided for free. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
Our Views
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Voices” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma. Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN
Letters Policy
Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.
Editorial Staff
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.
Managing Editor - Cheyenne Cole A&E Editor - Sarae Ticeahkie News Editor - Stacie Larsen Sports Editor - Drue Watkins Student Life Editor - Maddie Lyda Voices Editor - Payton Williams Copy Editor - Drue Watkins Aggie Central Editor - Jeff Larson Social Media Editor - Kerry Schoonaert
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Zack Crow, Miranda Fritts, Robert King, Emily Lepien, Katie Livingston, Justin Rose, Trevin Stevenson, Markel Turrell Advertising Manager - Cheyenne Cole Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by regular mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@cameron. edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www.aggiecentral.com.
A&E
February 5, 2018
www.aggiecentral.com
5
ArtNow 2018 Exhibition
Liontas-Warren showcases watercolor artwork By Sarae Ticeahkie A&E Editor
@SylviaSeeks From Dec. 15 to Jan. 19, the annual ArtNow 2018 Exhibtion showcased art from 25 contemporary Oklahoma artists, including Cameron University Professor of Art Katherine Liontas-Warren. ArtNow took place at the Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City and consisted of a five-week exhibition. The event closed with an art sale. Over several months, art curators went across the region, establishing a cohesive group of artists for the showcase. Two curators went to Liontas-Warren’s home studio where they chose three watercolors and five drawings; all works inspired by her trip to Colorado this past summer.
Three of her eight art pieces sold at the gala event and the remaining pieces will be submitted in future art shows. Liontas-Warren said she had a wonderful experience with the event and is glad it gave people a better opportunity to see the work of various artists. “Each artist worked with their own personal theme and shared their own personal vision,” she said. “It was a way of letting patrons know of what the artists are making in Oklahoma.” During the process of creating her own pieces for the exhibition, Liontas-Warren said she faced challenges. Her past artwork had more of a controlled and realistic feel to it, so she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. “Watercolor is not a medium you can control,” she said. “It’s more fluid and spontaneous, and I wanted to control it.”
Liontas-Warren said her watercolor paintings showed her emotions because they are more intuitive, abstract and subjective, whereas the other pieces [drawings] had more of an objective feel. “I’m not sure I will ever go back to being such a highly realistic painter,” she said. “I think the whole idea of expressing yourself is more exciting to me.” Liontas-Warren also said artists should experience different mediums of art and constantly evolve. “I really believe an artist should be creative as possible,” she said. “They shouldn’t be doing something they already know how to do. They should challenge their horizons.” She uses the same idea when it comes to teaching her students. With an urge to constantly draw and paint, Liontas-Warren fell in love with art at a young age and continued to follow that
passion in her years as a student. Those same passions followed her later in life when she became a professor. She said when she first attended graduate school, she had her heart set on being an artist. However, immediately after finishing graduate school she took on two art classes to teach at Cameron at the age of 22. “I found another love for art and I thought to myself, ‘I think I love teaching,’” she said. “It was like a really different experience for me. I had no intention of being a teacher.” Liontas-Warren continues to teach art students the benefits of evolving as an artist and that it’s okay to make mistakes when learning. She also wants to continue to evolve as an artist herself, in hopes to express her emotions and life journeys in canvases the size of mural paintings.
Photos by Julie Conley and Adrienne Day
By Katie Livingston Staff Writer
Warning: spoilers ahead. As the first episode of the hit Netflix series Black Mirror’s fourth season, “USS Callister” makes clever commentary on the toxic fan boy archetype and forces us to question our own roles in the current media landscape. “USS Callister” is a sci-fi thriller with comedic surrealist elements. At first, the episode follows the perspective of Robert Daly, a software engineer and co-owner of the company he works for, Callister Inc. Daly is the head designer of a popular massively multiplayer online game (MMO) known as Infinity, as well as a massive pushover who lacks the social skills necessary to defend himself against the abuse of his co-workers. The story sets up Daly as a nice, sympathetic guy, who is undeserving of his sad situation in life; he comes across as pitiful and
misunderstood. The audience is intended to identify with him in these ways. When the real main character, Nanette Cole, is introduced, she’s presented as the love interest who will supposedly pull Daly from the trenches of social ineptitude. Nanette is a device that supports Daly’s positive character arch, or so we think. In the beginning, the audience is forced to assume that Daly is the main character. Because of this, the audience is more willing to accept—and even gloss over—some of the creepier characteristics that he displays, such as kissing two women in his virtual online game and becoming instantly obsessed with a woman he just met. Even as Nanette tells a co-worker that she’s not interested in Daly “like that,” the audience will have a hard time believing her. Because of the traditional rom-com tropes that we’re
used to seeing displayed in the media, we assume that Nanette is being coy, unwilling to divulge her true feelings. However, like all episodes of Black Mirror, there is something decidedly unsettling about the whole set up. “USS Callister” is particularly brilliant because of the switch up that it pulls on viewers after setting up these character archetypes. Any seasoned fan of the show will know that something is about to go terribly wrong, and it does. When Daly overhears Nanette confessing that she’s only interested in him professionally, not romantically, he snaps. The behaviors that we were willing to gloss over previously are brought out into the open in the extreme. Before leaving the office late at night, Daly takes Nanette’s used coffee cup out of the trash can. Later, at home, he swaps
her DNA from the cup and uploads it to his personal version of the Infinity game. This is where the point of view shifts. Nanette awakens inside the game, and is dressed in a mini skirt and go-go boots; this alludes to old 1960’s sci-fi styles. We find that Daly’s personal game is not filled with made-up
frightening way. As he’s unable to stand up for himself or enact any control over his own life, he uses his fantasy world to over compensate and play out his cruel fantasies. This
subversion of the nice guy trope requires the viewers to question how we usually characters, accept it in the other but instead the media and what the real uploaded consciousnesses of life implications of this his co-workers: humans made acceptance are. up of computer code, but Traditionally, characters with all the same memories, like Daly are depicted thoughts and emotions as the as good people, if a little real versions of themselves. bit socially awkward and Daly puts them in his \ misunderstood. Star Trek space adventure Because of this, the trope to control, manipulate and insists that they are deserving torture them. of the love of their It is here that Daly’s object of true nature comes out. desire, He is bitter, vengeful, usually and borderline a beautiful psychopathic. woman far out of their His league. In service of the poorly trope, we are willing to gloss adjusted over their creepy, entitled, social skills manifest misogynistic attitudes toward themselves in a very women and cheer for them as
the heroes of their stories. Black Mirror challenges this by taking the trope to its logical conclusion, as it would play out in the real world. In reality, an inability to navigate social situations in a well-adjusted manner, using fantasy worlds to escape reality and find a sense of control, and an entitled attitude toward women are all problems. These issues should not be treated as endearing or “adorkable,” but frightening for their deeper implications. The brilliance of Black Mirror’s subversion of this trope is in how it portrays the villain. The real villain is not, as we originally think, Daly’s abusive coworkers. It isn’t even Daly himself. It is the audience. The people who readily accept characters like Daly as heroes in every other piece of media we consume.
6
Student Life
February 5, 2018
www.aggiecentral.com
Campus game night
By Miranda Fritts Staff Writer
The Cameron Association of Interactive Gaming (C.A.I.G.), in conjunction with the Programming Activities Council (PAC), held an open game night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the MCC McCasland Ballroom. From electronic to traditional board games, C.A.I.G. provided many games for any type of gamer. Some of the honorable mentions included “Mario Kart” on the Nintendo Switch and “Rock Band” on PlayStation; both gaming systems were displayed on projectors. Other games ranged from traditional board games like “Jenga” and “Uno” to some new ones, which included “Ellen DeGeneres’s Heads
Up” and “Cards Against Humanity.” The two organizations also provided pizza and drinks.
students to become involved on campus. PAC co-chair Kavis Muroy Jr. said the event, along with many other PAC events, are set up a semester C.A.I.G in advance. The association is an “Basically, you just have organization on campus to come up with an idea,” for students to socialize he said, “get the paperwork while engaging in game-play done, and it’s set in motion.” within a free, non-restrictive Muroy said the next environment. major PAC event will occur C.A.I.G. Vice President during Homecoming week, Justin Griffith said that the where hypnotist Chris Jones main purpose of their group will be on campus from 8-9 is to bring people together. p.m. on Feb. 7 in the MCC “We want the students to Ballroom. come and have a good time,” PAC events can be found he said. “Just relieve a little on the Cameron events bit of stress and maybe make calendar online. a couple friends while you’re C.A.I.G. meets from here.” 6-8 p.m. every Thursday in Griffith said many CETES 207 to discuss C.A.I.G. events are similar and play new games, to the game night because while PAC meets at the organization always 6:30 p.m. every revolves around gaming. other Monday For updates and in the Buddy information on C.A.I.G.’s Green events, visit their Facebook Room on page, Cameron Association the second of Interactive Gaming. f loor of the MCC. PAC Both PAC and PAC is an organization C.A.I.G. encourage all on campus responsible for many activities for students. students interested in joining to attend any of They work to provide the weekly or bi-weekly leadership skills and meetings. opportunities for Cameron
Graphics by Madison Lyda
Tea time around the world
Diversity Diplomats inspire dialogue By Madison Lyda Student Life Editor @maddilinee
On Jan. 30, the Cameron University Diversity Diplomats hosted their annual spring semester event in the MCC Buddy Green Room. The Diversity Diplomats are a student organization whose ultimate goal is to spread awareness,
celebrate and discuss topics of diversity. The organization also helps provide a place for students to come together through events and bi-weekly meetings. Throughout the school year the Diversity Diplomats, as well as the office of Student Development, help students steward conversations of different backgrounds and diversity to ensure that they are being heard. The Diversity Diplomats wanted to make sure that they had a spring event similar to the diversity celebration that they have in the fall semester. To provide the diverse campus with options to celebrate and socialize, the Diversity Diplomats work together to provide a range of events and socialization to the students. Sophomore biology major Kaylee Craig said the most important part of the Diversity Diplomats is to spread awareness about different cultures in the world. “We have a lot of international
students on campus,” she said, “so to bring events to Cameron University for them and the city of Lawton is awesome.” The event was called ‘Mixing with Teas.’ The main focus was to celebrate the diverse cultural blends that make up the Cameron campus while allowing students from all backgrounds to interact and relax. At the event, the students discussed various topics of diversity along with cultural etiquette, which allowed the students to learn more about the cultures and how to interact appropriately. The event’s tables were placed closely together to encourage conversation. Diversity Diplomats Adviser and Inclusion and Student Success Coordinator Olivia Polynice said so many important things were taking place at the event. “With ‘Mixing with Teas,’ the students get to specifically interact with the Diversity Diplomats but more importantly with each other,” she said. “It’s
set up like a tea party where you also get to learn about different cultural etiquette, and how tea as commerce itself in other countries has affected the United States and how that brings everyone together.” The organization has several future events in the works, including a service project for the community
Graphics by Madison Lyda
called “Diversity Diplomats Spread the Love” during the Valentine’s Day season. The Diversity Diplomats are always accepting student applications. For more information about the organization or how to join, contact any of the current officers through email at studentdevelopment@ cameron.edu or through the Diversity Diplomats webpage at www.cameron.edu/ diversitydiplomats.