Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, March 29, 2021
Volume 104 Issue 3
Brittney Payette Student Life Editor
Cameron University hosted an Empowering Women in Leadership and STEM Conference at 5:30 p.m. on March 3 in the McCasland Ballroom. The keynote speaker was Shelby Morris, an Oklahoma native who works as an Employee Learning Facilitator at Oklahoma State University. Morris introduced the Clifton StrengthsFinder test to the attendees, which uses 177 questions to determine people’s top five strengths. The test, according to Morris, helps people learn more about themselves. “Instead of fixating on what’s wrong with people, let’s talk about what’s right with them,” Morris said. She then discussed how people’s innate talents affect their lives and how the StrengthsFinder test can help people realize their true potential. “They are not strengths until they are productively applied,” Morris said. Morris asked attendees to go around the ballroom to find other people who share some of the same top five strengths results, and discuss it within their found groups. “We want to focus on what we’re good at and build on that, and look at our potential,” Morris said. “We are at our best when we are fully engaged and aware of our strengths.” She also asked people to find others that have different strengths and ask questions about their results. One of the people who attended the conference, Marketing Senior Kassi Coosewoon, talked about her Zoom group and their top StrengthsFinder talents. “I was in a diversified group,” said Coosewoon. “We all had a different top strength, but it was cool to see how many of my group members were surprised at their top five.” After the keynote speaker finished speaking, attendees went to get food and network with other people. Next, a discussion panel featuring women in leadership positions answered a variety of questions from the audience
The panelists consisted of OSU Employee Learning Facilitator Shelby Morris, Cameron Assistant Professor and Voice Area Coordinator Dr. Christian Morren, Lawton Public School Teacher Samantha Leonard, and Ernst and Young’s Senior Manager in financial accounting advisery services, Nam Do. Morren said that people should try “helping out others as you want others to help you in times of need.” Morren also said people should try to place themselves in other’s shoes, and to listen to what people say, because there are multiple sides to every story. Do emphasized the importance of communication, being a team player and focusing on what people can accomplish instead of what they cannot. “My only suggestion is to take one step forward and focus on that very next thing that you need to do,” Do said. “Focus on what you can control versus what you can’t.” Leonard said that she did not see herself as a virtual teacher when she was younger, but is glad that she can rely on her strengths — such as her creativity — to teach virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a baby changed her perspective on life and career path. “I definitely knew that I needed to have a stable career for my daughter,” Leonard said. “I felt like the most fulfilling and gratifying career that could make my life comfortable and happy is to be a teacher.” Morris said her inspiration was her husband,
Morren said her’s was her stepmother, and Leonard’s was her mother. Do also talked about how to react when someone does not feel heard. “We are moving in the right direction,” Do said. “To be heard, you need to be more assertive and make yourself visible.” Morren said she had to learn how to stop apologizing, and to hold her ground. Leonard said she tries to pace herself so that she does not get overwhelmed, by chunking responsibilities instead of trying to do everything at one time. Do said people must take things one step at a time, so that they are not overwhelmed. Some questions were prepared for the event in advance, but audience members were also permitted to ask their own questions. Questions ranged from “what inspires you?” to how each panelist deals with stress. The Empowering Women in Leadership and STEM event allowed people to network with others, learn more about themselves and speak with accomplished businesswomen.
Photos by Brittney Payette
It STEMs from greatness: Panelists for the “Women in Leadership and STEM” event included Oklahoma State University’s Shelby Morris, Lawton Public School Teacher Samantha Leonard and Cameron Assistant Professor Dr. Christian Morren. The panel also included senior manager Nam Do (not pictured), who spoke at the conference about identifying strengths and her inspiration throughout her career.
What’s Inside Free books and how to get them Page 3
Greek Life Tropical Bash Page 5
Feature: Kalen Haynes Page 6
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News
March 29, 2021
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Decade to evaluate: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredits universities across 19 different states according to www.hlcommission.org. Cameron’s 2021 hosting of the HLC was the first of it’s kind in Cameron history, with five out of six HLC representatives visiting digitally via Zoom.
HLC visits Cameron for accreditation evaluation Cam Alsbrook Managing Editor
On March 1 – 2, representatives from the Higher Learning Commission visited Cameron for its decennial accreditation evaluation of the campus. Accreditation affects scholarship opportunities, Pell grants, transferable credit hours, and financial aid. The Higher Learning Commission has been active as one of the six regional institutional accreditors in the United States since 1895, with coverage spanning Oklahoma universities as well as universities in 18 other states. Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accountability Dr. Karla Oty said that this visit from HLC was different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It caused peer-reviewers to adopt new methods for evaluating Cameron. “Prior to the pandemic,” Oty said. “the entire team would have traveled to Cameron for the visit and all meetings would have been held in-person. Because of the pandemic, the meetings were moved to Zoom, and five of the six peer-reviewers participated in the review process through Zoom. The sixth peer-reviewer visited on-site.”
The pandemic also prompted a change in rules. Typically, an HLC representative cannot evaluate a university located in their home state; however, an exception due to COVID-19 has allowed the visiting representative to be an Oklahoma native. Cameron began to prepare for the visit in Spring 2018, building and revising its Assurance Argument thanks to the Assurance team from Spring 2018 – Summer 2019, feedback of the Content Review team during Fall 2019 – Summer 2020, the Executive Counsel in Summer 2020, and the student population during Fall 2020. The Assurance Argument focused on Cameron from November 2010 to March 2020 and addressed 69 sub-components across five criterial area. The meetings for the visit occurred in several time blocks for different groups. Meetings for all employees happened from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. on March 1 via Zoom, with a meeting without deans, directors, vice presidents or President John McArthur from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Students could communicate with HLC representatives from 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. on March 2 during the Student Forum Zoom meeting. On March 2, McArthur emailed the campus after the evaluation visit was completed: “This morning, our six HLC peer-reviewers
completed their visit to our institution to review our Assurance Argument, to gather additional information to validate our argument, and to ask questions of different campus stakeholder groups,” McArthur said. “Thank you for your participation and your support during a long two days and even longer years of preparation for the visit. “I appreciate your efforts whether as a student to continue learning and to offer feedback to improve the learning experience or as an employee to work or provide constructive feedback to allow us to continue to improve in support of our mission with each passing year and with an ever changing student population.” The McArthur email also said that the university will receive a report that gives suggestions and ratings for each of the criterion and core components. Cameron will be able to fix issues or respond to the report when it is received, and proceed to have their responses, as well as the HLC team report submitted to the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) for reviewal. Information updates for the HLC visit can be found at www.cameron.edu/hlc, as Cameron awaits final action by the IAC — which, according to the email, should be decided prior to Fall 2021.
Tree planting: Arbor Week 2021
Photos by Brittney Payette
Tree-mendous: At 1 p.m, March 24, along the east side of Nance Boyer, the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences’ annual Arbor Week commenced. James McGowan, Jamaine Simpson, Jay Moody, and John Young helped plant six Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees, which are native to Oklahoma. The Eastern Redbud tree has been Oklahoma’s state tree since 1937.
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Voices
March 29, 2021
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Photos by Mackenna Hill
Free ways of reading: A student shares a book she’s finished in one of the Little Free Libraries on campus. There are several ways to get started reading without spending money. Cameron students have access to books for free through the Cameron Library, the Lawton Public Library rents physical and digital books, and students can take or leave books for free at Little Free Libraries located around campus.
But do you even read, bruh? Makenna Hill Staff Writer
Imagine that it is the middle of the semester, and you are swamped with homework, and your professors want you to finish reading five-hundred pages of text before your classes next week. That is probably not hard to imagine for a college student. So, why I am trying to convince you to read in addition to your classwork? Well, reading has many benefits including increased vocabulary, increased empathy, aided sleep and improved mental health. An increased vocabulary is beneficial to you because it will help improve your communication skills in writing and speech.
Your comprehension will also improve because you will be able to understand more complex words in the material you are reading. Jrelibrary.com said that “consistent exposure to new words, learning their meanings and seeing the context in which they’re used will increase your mental dictionary. You will have more words available to use and more ways to use them in conversation and in writing.” Also, Healthline.com said that “vocabulary size can influence many areas of your life, from scores on standardized tests to college admissions and job opportunities.” Both sources conclude that reading is beneficial in improving your vocabulary which can be in turn helpful to your success in other areas of your life.
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available twenty Mondays 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.
Another interesting fact about improved literacy is that “per capita incomes are higher in countries where more adults reach the highest levels of literacy proficiency and fewer adults are at the lowest levels of literacy,” according to Readingagency.org.uk. Reading can also improve the social skill of empathy. Also, increased empathy can help strengthen your relationships with others. Healthline.com said that “people who read literary fiction — stories that explore the inner lives of characters — show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others.” This can help you relate to others in a deeper way and help you understand what they are feeling in certain situations. Reading can help your body relax— especially if you read in the evening. Reading can help improve your sleep, which in turn helps with one’s mental and physical health. The University of Southern Florida said that “More than 80 percent of college students say loss of sleep negatively affects their academic performance. [Also] College students rank sleep problems as the No. 2 cause of difficulties with academic performance. Stress is No. 1.” Health.harvard.edu said, “Exposure to light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that influences circadian rhythms. Even dim light can interfere with a person’s circadian rhythm and melatonin [sleep hormone]
secretion.” When reading from a physical book, you are not exposed to as much blue light as you would if using cellphones, televisions, and computers. Lastly, reading can improve your mental health. Readingagency.org.uk said, “nonreaders are 28% more likely to report feelings of depression, and about 1.3 million people in the UK say they rarely read because of depression.” This is useful information to encourage reading because Chardon State College said that “more than 11 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year and more than 10 percent reported being diagnosed or treated for depression.” Mental health issues are on the rise, especially for college students. Most college students must balance school, work, extracurricular activities, and sometimes have children or others they care for on a daily basis. So, it is essential to have hobbies or activities that you can do to reduce stress (reading would be great because of the diverse advantages). Overall, reading as a college student has both surprising and not-so-surprising positive consequences. Consider these benefits the next time you are reading, even if it is for a class. Lastly, some of the benefits like sleep and mental health improvement can help contribute to your well-being. So, make sure to take some time to check out a few book lists, find something that interests you and go read! Letters Policy
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN 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 - Cam Alsbrook A&E Editor - Alison Malawey Voices Editor - Alison Malawey Student Life Editor - Brittney Payette Sports Editor - Jimm Alley Copy Editor - Brittney Payette
Newsroom Staff
Staff Writers - Makenna Hill, Shianne Taylor Financial Officer - Susan Hill Faculty Adviser - Prof. David Bublitz
All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@ cameron.edu or they may be dropped off to the Academic Commons 101.
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A&E
March 29, 2021
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They say she was a ‘Promising Young Woman’
— a review.
Alison Malawey A&E Editor
With her arms strewn across the back of a red vinyl couch as if crucified and her head hung low, Cassie Thomas is a f lytrap pretending to be drunk to lure in men who think of themselves a good men but always seem to take things too far. “Promising Young Woman” is a dark comedy that tells the story of a woman, Cassie Thomas, who goes out weekly pretending to be drunk and lets men pick her up. She always gives them the option to do the right thing, but none ever seem to take that route. It’s always a shock for the men when they find out she isn’t actually drunk and confronts them on their wrongdoings. As the film goes on, it’s revealed that Cassie’s reason for her late night activities has to do with her childhood friend, Nina, who was raped while they were both in medical school. Things change for Cassie when she runs into an old friend from college, Ryan, who pursues her romantically. People from Cassie and Nina’s past come back into her life, and she decides to enact revenge on the people who ruined her and Nina’s lives. Cassie must choose between giving up on vengeance and having a normal, happy life with Ryan or continuing with her revenge. Cassie chooses love, but just as she’s settling down, something comes to light that ruins everything with Ryan. I loved this movie. Director Emerald Fennell made this film to point out things in society that can be difficult to talk about. I understand how some people may not like the movie or might find it slow, but I think that it does an excellent job of showing how far things have gone in terms of socially acceptable behavior toward women. The film is the directorial debut for Fennell who also wrote and produced the film. She even makes a cameo as a makeup tutorial vlogger. Fennell describes Cassie as an avenging angel who comes into people’s lives and exposes their sins. It was important to her to make a film about someone who wouldn’t let others’ uncomfortableness silence them in their pursuit of
Tribune News Service
justice. So often women are pressured into “getting over it” because the situation makes those around them uncomfortable. The movie took 23 days to film and was shot in Los Angeles. It was important to Fennell that the setting not look like LA because she didn’t want anyone saying, “It’s LA. Of course things like that happen there,” as an excuse for how often men in the film do the wrong thing. She wanted it to seem like these things could be happening anywhere to anyone. Many of the actors who play the bad guys are comedians in an effort to make the audience feel safe with them. Fennell noted that all the men see themselves as good people, one even sees himself as the hero of a romantic story. There’s nothing in this film that isn’t extremely commonplace for women but also borderline illegal. Fennell said that the things that happen in the movie are things that happened all the time when she was in college. After the film was released in theaters, a critic in Variety magazine put out a review in which he suggested that Carey Mulligan was not attractive enough for the role of Cassie. Mulligan responded in a video series by Variety by saying “criticism should be constructive” and should have nothing to do with the actor’s looks. The critic received heavy backlash on social media for his statement and Variety issued an apology to Mulligan. Some defended the critic and his right to have an opinion. I agree that everyone is allowed to have an opinion, but I feel that his opinion is part of the problem with the way men think of sexual assault. Women of all varieties are victims of sexual assault. A recent study by UN Women United Kingdom shows that 97% of women ages 18-24 had experienced sexual harassment and that’s in the UK alone. Chances are if you’re a woman, no matter where you are, you’ve experienced sexual harassment or know someone who has. Watching the movie, I could tell that viewing the movie as a man would be a completely different experience.
One would hope that viewers would know sticking your fingers inside a drunk woman who keeps saying wait is obviously wrong, but the film is filled with less obvious things too, things that I think a male viewer might have trouble catching. With all the discussion about consent these days, I think this film is a great way for women to start a converstation with the men in their lives. The film gives men a very accurate view of the dangers that women face simply because they’re women. There is a scene in which a woman is suffocated with a pillow, and the director made sure the scene lasted as long as it would actually take to suffocate a person with a pillow. After the woman has been smothered, the camera never shows her face. The closest the audience comes to seeing the woman’s face is when the pillow is lifted and her smeared makeup is on the pillow. At this point, the woman is no longer a human but just an object for the men to dispose of. Even so, the men convince themselves that they did nothing wrong, that it was the woman’s fault, that they are good people. I loved the attention to detail. Every action, every word, every piece of clothing or wall color has meaning behind it. The settings and costumes and makeup are all visually outstanding. Cassie’s wardrobe for herself is drastically different than when she goes hunting. She uses her image to manipulate the way people feel around her, especially when she starts to go after specific people. It’s all stunning. The music too is wonderful. Many of the songs are ones that most members of the audience would recognize, such as Toxic by Britney Spears. Some of the songs give underlying meaning to the scene they’re placed in. This movie is a work of art. You would never know that this was Fennell’s first time directing. The only thing that threw me off was when roman numerals started to appear on the screen, but it soon became apparent that they were a countdown for the people Cassie was getting revenge on. I give “Promising Young Woman” 5 out of 5 stars.
March,29 2021
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Student Life
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Tropic like it’s hot
Greek life, palm trees and Capri Suns Jimm Alley Sport’s Editor
At 6 p.m. on March 11, in the Shepler Ballroom, the Cameron University Greek Life organizations got together for an all-Greek tropical party. Students from the Kappa Sigma fraternity, along with campus sororities Alpha Phi, Omega Zeta Theta and Gamma Delta Pi joined together for a fun night at the beach, away from the beach. Attendees enjoyed photo ops and beach ball games including some merciless and high-speed rounds of dodgeball. Greek life students were able to socialize with others and meet new people outside of their individual groups. Photos by Kappa Sigma President Jimm Alley Mickey Nocelotl said he hopes to have similar events in the near future. By the end of the night, most “At least once a month — at the very sorority sisters could be seen posing most twice a month,” Nocelotl said. for pictures while the men from Through Greek organizations, Kappa Sigma played a rousing students can make connections through game of baseball using inflatable alumni networks while also making equipment. some new friends — something played President of the Omega Zeta a big role in Jasmine Martin and Sydney Theta sorority Kensey Garrison Sears joining Alpha Phi. said that not only is she interested Sears wanted to find a way to get in improving her own group, but more involved on campus, and Martin also she also hopes to see more said she was asked by one of her close involvement between the groups friends to join. and campus. “It’s nice to have connections to Garrison and the rest of the people on campus,” Martin said, Greek council decided to continue “and it’s a really good networking to have Greek mixers going forward opportunity in the future if I’m looking to improve relations between the for a job.” groups. “Campus life is supposed to be helping us to start promoting a little more,” Garrison said. “So we will have a more unified image, and I think that is really going to help us.”
ASK an AGGIE If there was not an ongoing pandemic, what would you do? “I would probably go visit my sister in Oklahoma City because she’s about to give birth pretty soon.
— Asia Houston, Senior, Organismal Biology
If COVID was not here, where would you want to travel for spring break? “I would probably go to another state, like to New York because that’s where my Dad is.”
— Alpha Jalloh, Sophomore, Business Management Photos by Shianne Taylor
What are your thoughts on people traveling for spring break? “I mean it is up to them. As long as they take their precautions, I think things should be fine.”
— Violet Torres, Senior, Sports and Exercise Science
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Sports
March 29, 2021
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Baseball
and Beat-making
An interview with Cameron Baseball’s Kalen Haynes Jimm Alley Sports Editor
Cameron University pitcher Kalen Haynes has always had a competitive nature and wanted to play sports to get out some of that energy. At four years old, Haynes decided he wanted to find a sport he could play. Since he was too young to play any other sports at the time, Haynes had to go with tee ball. From there, Haynes’ passion grew, and he quickly became enamored with the sport of baseball.
His tall frame combined with the fact he is left-handed led him down the path of becoming a pitcher. While he said he does not have the strongest arm, a left-handed pitcher has some advantages. “When you’re left handed that’s where you play,” Haynes said. “It’s kinda just like an unwritten rule.” Haynes went on to play baseball at Byron Nelson high school, where he graduated in 2016. Coming out of high school, he went to “The Complete Showcase” — a post-grad school for baseball players — to play a full schedule
without losing college eligibility. He then went to Driveline baseball camp in Seattle, Washington, where he was able to practice his skills and get a better understanding of the game. While at Driveline, he did not receive many scholarship offers; however, he made a video of himself pitching during practices and posted it to twitter. The video “blew up” and led him to becoming a Cameron Aggie. “It went viral and the baseball community saw it,” Haynes said. “I got a lot of oppurtunities from it and
Photos by Jimm Alley
it was able to bring me to Cameron.” Something that is just as important to Haynes as baseball is music, specifically rap and hip-hop. Along with playing baseball he also enjoys making his own music in his free time going by the name “K.Mike”. He was driven to begin making music by the idea of having his own escape from reality and a way to express his emotions. “I’m just looking for a way out” Haynes said. “I wanna say all that I can say.” When talking about some of his biggest influences in music he mentioned rappers Nas, J Cole, and Logic all of whom have an effect on Haynes himself and his musical style. A lot of Hayne’s music is focused around his baseball career and the big impact it has made on his life. Haynes includes baseball in his music as a form of self-motivation and a confidence-booster that reflects his desire to be the best in everything he does. “It’s because I wanna be the best,” Haynes said. “I want to be the best there is ever to have done it — there is no one like me.” Having confidence and wanting to strive for success is vital for somebody in Hayne’s position. Balancing a full slate of classes and the grueling schedule of a student athlete is no easy task, but Haynes said he knows he has the ability to do great things. Haynes is also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and the host of Cameron University’s sports show, “Gametime,” where Haynes breaks down all the happenings in the world of Cameron athletics and beyond. Haynes is a model student, great athlete and a wonderful person who truly embodies the Aggie spirit. Hopefully all of his confidence can manifest itself into success for him in the future. “There will never be someone like me,” Haynes said. “There will never be someone who is this tall, this black, and in this situation, who plays baseball and makes music and knows what to do, no one has ever been like me before.”