Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, November 12, 2018
Volume 99 Issue 8
Nepali
Night By Stacie Larsen Managing Editor
At 5:30 p.m., on Nov. 4, in the McMahon Centennial Complex, Cameron University’s Nepalese Association (CUNA) hosted their 11th annual Nepali Night. CUNA president and senior Computer Science and Mathematics major Upama Neupane said the celebration serves a dual purpose, as it is not only a way for members of CUNA to celebrate Dashain and Tihar, two traditional Nepalese festivals, but also that it’s a great opportunity to introduce others to Nepali culture and traditions. The event began with a brief description of what Nepali Night is all about from CUNA member and senior Information Technology major and the Master of Ceremony Suvi Shah, and a candle lighting by President McArthur and Cameron Professor of Computing and Technology Dr. Abbas Johari. Neupane said the candle lighting is a cultural tradition. “Before you start any kind of program, there is a belief that if you light a candle, it’s good luck,” she said. Neupane also said two new people light the candles each year. “It’s one of the honorable things for the Nepalese people,” she said, “We always choose people who we think should be honored.” After guests stood for both the Nepali and United States National Anthem, Neupane welcomed the guests and introduced the CUNA student officers. Following the introduction, Shah invited guests to enjoy a variety of Nepali cuisine, including jeera rice, cauliflower and potatoes, chicken tikka, spicy potato salad and rice pudding. Throughout the evening, CUNA members participated in a variety of performances, including a Nepali cultural dance, a Bollywood dance, a fashion walk and a fusion of Nepali songs. Neupane said the informational slides were a way to introduce facts about Nepal and encourage tourism. “There are a couple professors that have already been to Nepal, and they really liked it,” she said. She also said Nepal hosts individual tours, with the next one being called “Nepal 2020.” Associate Professor in the Department of Art, Music and Theater Eric Abbott said he has attended Nepali Night for the past 10 years, and he first heard about the event through one of his student workers, who happened to be from Nepal. Abbott’s attendance to the event eventually led him to visit Nepal. He said he visited many of the places that were included in the Nepali Night slide shows and participated in one of the tours Nepal offered. “I went a year-and-a-half-ago, and I want to go back,” he said. “I went on a safari and rode an elephant.” Abbott said what he enjoys most about attending Nepali Night goes beyond the performances and food. “It’s the comradery,” he said. “It feels like I’m going to see family—really good family that I got to choose.” Abbott added that he thinks it’s important to have events like Nepali Night at Cameron. “I think it’s helpful to understand people from around the world. It makes us less hostile in general,” he said. “My feeling is the more we get to know people, the less likely we are to hate them.” Chair and Associate Professor of Mathematics Narayan Thapa is going on his second year as CUNA’s faculty advisor. Thapa said he thinks it’s important that universities have organizations like CUNA for international students. “Some of them are seventeen, eighteen years old,” he said. “[They] are in a completely different environment in terms of geography, in terms of language, in terms of food, in terms of culture.” He also said he wants to see the members of CUNA succeed. “My first priority is their education—that’s why they are here,” Thapa said. “I’m working for the students to make a difference.” Neupane said she’s proud of the work that the members of CUNA have put forth in making the club a success on campus. “CUNA was able to win the title of Organization of the Year last year,” she said. “The club is actually working really hard in every sector.” Neupane said CUNA is not only open to students from Nepal. “Anyone is welcome to join the club,” she said. “You can be a board member. “Being in CUNA, you’ll not only learn about Nepali culture, you’ll also be able to know more about how to run a club on campus.” For more information about CUNA events, visit the Cameron Photos by Stacie Larsen University Nepalese Association Facebook page.
What’s inside Veteran’s Day Flag Placing on campus
Why America Loses
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CU professor publishes book Page 5
2 Featuring:
Student Life
November 12, 2018
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Dr. Joanni Sailor
The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board
Mason Orso Staff Writer
On Sept. 25, the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) hosted the 32nd-annual meeting of state delegates in Philadelphia. Each of the states, the District of Columbia and Guam have licensure laws for marital family therapists. Dr. Joanni Sailor is the President of AMFTRB, an associate professor and director of Cameron Psychology Clinic.
Sailor said AMFTRB is responsible for serving as a regulatory board. “We provide information for research, we help to develop policies or recommendations for the state and we facilitate communication among our stakeholders to help the state make really important decisions,” Sailor said. The board looks at decisions such as portability of licensure, ensuring competency, managing license renewal issues and addressing disciplinary actions. Sailor said AMFTRB plays a supportive
role by providing recommendations and suggestions to the state. “We look at what each state is doing,” Sailor said, “and we bring that information together to look for ways that we can continue to assist the state in the decisions that they are making.” Sailor said AMFTRB brings great minds together to resolve complex problems. AMFTRB is most known for owning, developing and administering the national exam for marriage and family therapists. Through the exam,
the board determines competency on the front end. “We need people who are competent, will do no harm, and ... capable of providing for a very vulnerable population.” Sailor said. AMFTRB regularly monitors the national exam. The board recently reviewed at least 200 questions to determine if they were appropriate. The questions are based off what entry level practitioners would need to know in the mental health field. In addition to the national exam, the state of Oklahoma
evaluates ethics using a jurisprudence exam. After the focus on competency, AMFTRB looks to create a pathway to mobility. Each state has varying academic and work experience criteria to determine if therapists are eligible to acquire a license. “The challenge with that is a single person can be licensed in the state but decide they are going to move and find out that [new] state requirements are different. That creates a barrier in the portability of their licensure,” Sailor said.
AMFTRB submitted a proposal to the state of Oklahoma requesting a change in license requirements to help make licenses transferrable across state lines. An individual licensed in another state must be in good standing. They cannot have any ethical complaints filed against them, and they must have had their license for at least five years. “The majority of the states and Guam have accepted that,” Sailor said. “We have moved a little bit closer in the pathway to mobility.”
CU Student Services
Veterans Day flag placement Photos by Stacie Larsen
United we stand: On Nov. 5 in the Bentley Gardens, the Cameron University Student Services office along with dozens of campus volunteers and community members gathered together to assist in placing flags around campus in honor of Veterans Day. Volunteers placed more than 6,000 flags around campus, spanning from the Bentley Gardens to Howell Hall. In addition to the flag placement, Cameron hosted other events in honor of community and student veterans, including the Veterans Resource Fair, complimentary Veterans Day lunch, complimentary resume assistance for Veterans and the campus Veterans Day observance. CU Student Services office, the CU Veterans Affairs office and the CU Student Veterans Association held all events.
Voices
November 12, 2018
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3 Tribune News Service
...in other words, we lost Payton Williams Voices Editor @YoureSoVanya
Over the week of the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats spent record-breaking amounts of money to lose slightly less badly than last election cycle; twelve people were shot dead in a bar in California; and voters in the state of Nevada decided electing a dead pimp was better than electing a Democrat. In other words, in the elections of 2018, America lost. Honestly, what can I say to make the state of affairs in this country any clearer? Could I elaborate on the most recent of these aforementioned wounds, the shooting in California? I could tell you the details. I could tell you how a 28-year-old former marine walked into a bar he had previously frequented, with a gun, and removed twelve people from existence for no discernible reason. And if he had given a reason, or if we should find one later, I could tell you what it was, and we could both pretend like that makes a difference. I could pretend as though knowing the shooter’s motivations somehow makes this event more comprehensible, even though we both know it doesn’t. And then I could tell you that Gavin Newsom, one day after his election as the governor of California, already had to face a tragedy and, with a look of shock on his face, told the crowd, “This is America… This doesn’t happen anywhere else on the planet. We can’t let folks forget that. We can’t allow this to be normalized.” And again, we could both act as though, in modern America, this isn’t already normal. So normal in fact that, in the wake of the current election news cycle, this shooting is already in the process of being completely forgotten about by all of us. I could tell you that the greatest tragedy of all is that, in 2018 America, 12 people dying feels shockingly mundane. But would saying that, as many people
already have in the past, really help either of us? Or would it do either of us any good to rehash what we already know about the election? Would it help to say that the U.S. Democratic party spent more money than either party ever has on any election to break almost dead even with Republicans? This happened despite the fact that only two years ago, the Republican party elected possibly the least popular president in modern history. And it happened despite the media being overwhelmingly in support of Democratic candidates. Given this evidence, I could point out to you that the Democratic party might possibly be the only group of people bad enough at their job to lose even when everything is working in their favor. And perhaps, we could both pretend to find some solace in the fact that the Democratic party did manage to win the House of Representatives by a slim margin, as they were projected to do for months. We could both pretend, even, that after spending record-breaking amounts of money, and having record breaking voter turnout, that these election results indicate some kind of victory. But again, would it help either of us to pretend this isn’t, in reality, a crushing defeat? And to add insult to injury, I could tell you about the election of Dennis
About Us
Hof in Nevada’s 36th district. Dennis Hof surprised the nation by being elected to the general assembly in Nevada. Why was this such a surprise? Because Dennis Hof was possibly the most famous pimp in the entire United States. And also because he’s dead. Allow me to elaborate: Dennis Hof was the owner of seven legal brothels in the state of Nevada. Most famously, he was the owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Mound House, Nevada, which was the subject of the long-running HBO documentary series, “Cathouse.” In 2016, he became involved in politics, describing himself as a “Trump-style Republican,” even writing a book called “The Art of the Pimp,” a play on the title of President Donald Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.” Then, on Oct. 16, in the middle of what was shaping up to be a very successful campaign, Dennis Hof died. But voter’s in Nevada’s 36th district didn’t let the small, pesky detail of Hof ’s being deceased for nearly a month change their belief that he was still the most
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Managing Editor - Stacie Larsen Managing Editor - Drue Watkins A&E Editor - Sarae Ticeahkie Sports Editor - Katie Livingston Student Life Editor - Maddie Lyda Voices Editor - Payton Williams Copy Editor - Destiny Garcia Aggie Central Editor - Jeff Larson Social Media Editor - Abby Gonzalez
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.
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qualified for the job. Instead of considering possibly electing a living, breathing Democrat to the General Assembly, Nevada voters elected a pimp reality star who’d been dead for a month. Dennis Hof won his seat on Nevada’s General Assembly on election night. Now, since you and I are not morons and understand that a dead man cannot actually hold government office in this country, I should make clear that what Hof ’s victory really means is that a Republican will be chosen to fill his seat for this term. But does it really make you feel any better to know that voters in Nevada made it clear that they were willing to accept not just a Republican, but any Republican, before they elected a Democrat? Does it make either of us feel better to know that Democrats spent recordbreaking amounts of money to have this be the result? I don’t think it does. Instead, I think, as the saying goes, “The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one.” So, let’s admit it. We lost. We’re losers. And it’s time for a new strategy.
Letters Policy Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks. All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by regular mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@ cameron.edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www.aggiecentral.com.
A&E
4
November 12, 2018
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A week of film reviews The passion of “Living on One Dollar”
nearly impossible. The very thought of working hard and earning nothing really struck me. Even in his given state of hardship, Anthony and his family were kind, generous and helpful. The group understood the struggle of obtaining food, water and maintaining adequate shelter by experiencing it all firsthand, giving them a newfound glimpse of the brutal realities so many people deal with each day. They then investigated the banking and loan systems of Guatemala where they learned of the difficulty that comes along with getting loans. A decent quality of life was nearly impossible to reach with their income. It was apparent that the community could not obtain financial help, despite needing it very badly. The severe lack of healthcare and dreams. the cost of medications was another As the Americans continued their prominent issue. journey throughout Guatemala, they By the end of their journey, some of came across many different types of the group members had lost a total of 20 people. pounds. The next prominent person they met The community’s ability to still express was Anthony and his family. kindness and generosity is influential as Anthony approached the group and it is equally humbling. Seeing people not extended them invites to his home; he giving up, but instead giving out is the appeared to be better off than the rest of epitome of what it means to be human. the community. This documentary shows that. Anthony taught them how to live in Ultimately, the film affected me by a more efficient manner by increasing sparking emotions such as happiness, their ability to use fires and obtain better in the generosity of the people and their quality food. empathy. The encounters with the community In our culture, it is not as difficult to and their hard-working natures reeled me pursue goals and ambitions compared to in, particularly through an emotional lens. the struggles in Guatemala—and if you I could tell all these people wanted was to want to see real-world difficulties, check earn their keep, but with the law of the out “Living on One Dollar.” I give this land being as difficult as it was, it became documentary an 8/10.
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Mason Orso
obtainment and expensive healthcare that plagues the country. Staff Writer I found the documentary to be extremely effective, constantly playing Released on April 22, 2013, “Living with my emotions in a heart-tugging way. on One Dollar” is a documentary about It’s one thing to hear about bad situations the experience four college friends had happening in the world, but seeing them in a visit to Guatemala. The purpose in such a raw, unfiltered way is disturbing. was to experience living in the poverty The people of Guatemala do not that encompasses the Guatemalan social always know when they will obtain their environment. next reliable source of income, which is The friends—Chris, Zach, Sean and Ryan—planned to survive off one dollar a something that is hard to realize until witnessing firsthand. day for the duration of their visit. The entire idea of unreliability is Each one of them is accustomed to mentally draining. living in New York and Seattle, meaning I could tell these friends were starting the harsh adjustment to a different culture to feel drained just from observing what and way of life permeates throughout was happening around them. their adventure. To replicate the sense of poverty as Arriving in Guatemala was just the realistically as possible, the friends set first step into their difficult journey. up a system of randomization: each day Here they observed firsthand the poverty, individual struggle, difficult loan they had to draw a number from a hat,
determining how much money they would have for the day. The money they had couldn’t be used on luxuries or conveniences; instead, the focus settled on food and shelter—the very basics of human survival. Through conversation with the local community, they came to realize how hard the people of Guatemala had to work to earn their low wages. Along the way, they met a 12-year-old boy named Chino. Chino was forced to work out in the fields to help his family with income. Each of them learned of Chino’s aspirations to become a professional soccer player; however, being impoverished hindered him from living out his
The art of sound in “Kill Bill Vol. 1” Celeste Powell Staff Writer
Opening: Heavy breathing against a a black background; an Old Klingon proverb: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Fade up in black and white to heavily bloodied woman in bridal veil. The first and last words of the main female protagonist, The Bride, before being shot in the head: “Bill, it’s your baby.” “Kill Bill Vol. 1” is an action/thriller that premiered in 2003, directed by Quentin Tarantino. The RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan created original music for the film, and that soundtrack greatly aided the stylized frenzy that is “Kill Bill.” The opening sequence of “Kill Bill Vol. 1” would horrify anyone. What monster would intend to murder a bride on her wedding day? What monster would continue to carry out the crime after recognizing she is pregnant? Not only that, but the monster turns out to be the father of the unborn child. I believe the combined use of these acts puts the viewer on the side of The Bride immediately. Her enemies are our enemies. Therefore, throughout the rest of the movie, we feel no remorse for those on the side against The Bride. At the final ring of the opening gunshot, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Nancy Sinatra plays, drawing the visual and auditory parallels of Sinatra’s ballad and The Bride’s entrance into the film; this gives the viewer
affirmation of not only the tone of the film, but also that there is a relationship between the monstrous shooter, Bill, and The Bride. The mournful opening song furthers the sorrow felt for the helpless bride. Sinatra’s lyrics “just for me the church bells rang” holds a double meaning for The Bride as the church bells could ring twice on her occasion: once for her wedding and a possible second time for her funeral. Listening to the soundtrack of the movie with headphones provides a different experience—all vocals are played through the right ear, making the listener feel like they are being whispered to by the past experiences of their current lover. Her story is made even more chilling with a haunting guitar strum that emphasizes each phrase through the left ear. Later in the film, “Crane/White Lighting” is one of the original songs on the soundtrack by The RZA (with the White Lightning being credited to Charles Bernstein). It occurs each time The Bride is circled by the minions of one of her primary targets—particularly when she faces the Crazy 88, who all appear later on in the film toward the ending climax. The heated rhythm of “Crane/White Lightning” accentuates the guarded behavior of The Bride as she prepares to take out whoever is standing in the way of her cold-blooded revenge. The music also plays in perfect time to the sound effects of a specific minion’s chain weapon as it is swung around in the air.
Once the fighting commences, The Bride is greatly outnumbered and uses whatever dirty tricks she can to stay ahead of the swarm wanting to devour her, including an exceptionally violent scene where she plucks the eye out of the socket of her enemy. As this is done, Tarantino uses an aesthetic choice of changing the color to black and white like in the beginning, which was done because of censorship; however, this also manages to catch the viewer’s eye with such an abrupt shift. The second half of the song plays when The Bride becomes overwhelmed with the minions she must fight. To this point, she has managed to kill upward to 40 individuals—along with the group’s leader—but may miss her chance of facing the one she initially seeks revenge on: the ever elusive O-Ren Ishii. In an MTV interview over Kill Bill, Tarantino said The RZA is just as versed in Kung-Fu as himself, and that The RZA had also seen the same movies that influenced Tarantino’s direction for “Kill Bill Vol. 1.” By having similar experiences, The RZA knew exactly what Tarantino was looking for in the sound effect department. The RZA states in an interview by MTV: “I had a job and my job was to make sure the soundscape of this movie was as classic as the movie itself; to make sure the music does not take away the vision he had.” The music and ambience accompanying “Kill Bill Vol. 1” further propels its cult classic status. For this, I rate the soundtrack in accordance to the film a 10/10. Courtesy Photo
A&E
November 12, 2018
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Book Review: ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ Celeste Powell
Beauty isn’t subjective. But ugliness is. Staff Writer We are born with inadvertent Oscar Wilde said: “Those who advantages and disadvantages. Attractiveness has remained an find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being advantage since the beginning of human civilization. charming.”
Beauty is a physical quality that earns you privileges. In Ancient Greece, the word “kalo kagathos” translates to “the beautiful and good.” This ideal explains that beautiful exteriors of the physical
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body were also thought to host beautiful interiors of the mind. In 1890s England, beauty and fashion standards placed an emphasis on little to no makeup. The use of lipstick and heavy makeup were considered tools of the devil and only used by prostitutes. These standards of beauty mean the Victorian Era valued natural beauty. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde takes place in this era. From 2,000 years ago to today, levels of attraction dictate that a beautiful person is also deemed a trustworthy person. Dorian Gray is first described as radiant with his pale red lips and golden hair, “There was something in his face that made you trust him at once.” At the beginning of the novel, Dorian is sitting for a portrait to be painted by Basil Hallward. Basil believes Dorian to be the muse that has opened Basil’s art to depths that surpass the canvas. While Dorian sits for Basil’s portrait, a friend of Basil looks on. Lord Henry promotes a life of hedonism, a life that encourages the rich to do and take as they please without consequence. Basil recognizes Lord Henry’s manner and orders him to refrain from influencing Dorian, believing it to be a bad influence and having the ability to spoil Dorian’s youth. In a mere afternoon, Lord Henry influences Dorian for the worst. Lord Henry insists to Dorian that he must cherish his looks and think of nothing but protecting his looks. Lord Henry embodies the Grecian ideal that beauty immediately equates good. A beautiful person must protect their looks, the shield that keeps them “good” to society; despite their actions. Further and further Lord Henry draws Dorian into an
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indulgent lifestyle that leads to debauchery. Sibyl Vane, an actress, experiences the true feeling of love with Dorian and now can no longer act a part in a play. She can no longer see the emptiness of the painted scenery of the stage or pretend to feel the sorrows of Cordelia from Shakespeare’s King Lear. Dorian’s interest in Sibyl diminishes after she ceases to exist to Dorian as the shape and substance of great poets works. He has no use for her now. He leaves Sibyl heartbroken and crying out for him. Once Dorian returns home, he is interested to see his portrait. In the face and on the lips of the painted Dorian is cruelty and an evil sneer. The cast of beauty allows the prettiest people to do the ugliest things. Dorian realizes the portrait represents his own soul. Pitying the cruelty of the portrait and not himself, Dorian decides to make amends with Sibyl and try to continue loving her for the sake of saving his soul from further ugliness. But it is too late. Sibyl is dead. Wallowing, Dorian loses meaning for his life and visits corrupt places and mingles with the unsavory. Basil, hoping to restore Dorian, visits. Dorian gloats as he shows the transformation of his soul to Basil. Tempted by his evil soul embodied, Dorian stabs Basil. “Ugliness that had once been hateful to him because it made things real, became dear to him now for that very reason.” Society can directly mirror individual thought. Believing ourselves separate from society allows us to distance ourselves, but not our ideals. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” demonstrates that we allow great exceptions based on superficial qualities that will fade. For a book who’s meaning heeds a deep warning, I rate this 8/10 stars.
CU Professor publishes mythological novel Sarae Ticeahkie
In the novel, Adonai and Sophia create all that is. A&E Editor Jealousy begins to @SylviaSeeks arise between these two On Sept. 20, Cameron characters after Sophia University’s assistant falls in love with Lilith. professor of Creative Adonai’s jealousy and Writing Leah Chaffins Sophia’s rage creates a curse and Wicked Publishing that lasts for centuries. released the mythological A band of angels fantasy novel “God Seed.” attempt to end the curse On Nov. 5, the novel while also enduring threats became available in of the balance of power. paperback copy. Sophia must protect “God Seed” is Chaffins all she has created, stay first extended work in power and hope to find while also being the first Lilith in the process. mythology type novel. With so many books When Chaffin began about vampires, Chaffin to write the novel, she still wanted to stay in the intended it to be a horror realm of the worldwide novel, but she found herself obsession of vampires but diving into the more with a twist. mythological world of “God Seed” is writing. specifically geared toward “It’s started off horror the same audience that but a different kind of reads the sci-fi fantasy horror, she said. “It has novels. some horrifying moments, “I wanted a humanbut I wouldn’t call it looking being with all these horror.” super natural abilities,” Chaffins got the idea Chaffin said. “You have that angels could be the vampires who can do key to her mythology novel, that, werewolves who can so she began the writing do that, fairies and then process. angels.” The novel tells the Chaffin still wanted the ultimate battle for heaven, book to maintain the same earth and hell. early Christian mythology, The powers that are but with a spin to the idea derived from within those that created a new fiction. three places shift and “I wanted to try and become embodied into all be careful not to offend feminine energy. anyone,” Chaffin said. “So
I changed some of the names, went with a different version for God, although we still know its God.” With the novel having alternative names for the characters, it takes away from the mainstream and readers can interpret each character differently—create their own ideas about them. With one of the main characters of “God Seed” also being a lesbian, Chaffins chose Wicked Publishing because of their company working close with authors whose works are committed to produce works with equality and diversity. Chaffins is eager to continue to write and create a sequel to “God Seed” after experiencing growth and knowledge while writing the novel. “I can look back at every segment of my life and writing was a part of it,” Chaffin said. “I just write.” “God Seed” is available for print and digital purchase through Amazon.com.
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Sports
November 12, 2018
AGGIE MADNESS
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GO MAD
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Katie Livingston Sports Editor
On Nov. 5, the Cameron men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted Aggie Madness to celebrate the start of the basketball season. According to head men’s basketball coach Andrew Brown, the event was meant to draw attention to and garner support for Cameron basketball. “Aggie Madness basically celebrates basketball,” Brown said. “It’s just to kind-of make people aware that the start of basketball is here, and we’re really excited about it.” At 6:30 p.m., event sponsors opened up the doors to the Aggie Gym. Volunteers handed students free tickets and directed them through a pizza line where they were able to grab something to eat before the event started at 7 p.m. Coaches and players from other Aggie teams directed students in and worked the pizza line, showing their support for the the basketball teams. Head women’s basketball coach Emma Andrews said that several people had a hand in making the event a reality. “We all really work handin-hand together,” Andrews said. “We all get together annually to plan this event, mainly for our kids and for the students to all be involved. It’s really fun.” The Cameron spirit team opened the nights’ events, followed by an introduction to this season’s men’s and women’s basketball players. The women’s basketball team divided and battled one another in a short scrimmage, followed by men’s basketball, who did the same. Also on the agenda were several routines from the Aggie cheer team and the dance team, respectively. Students had a chance to get on the court and compete against one another for door prizes during a game of musical chairs, dribble knock out and a dunking competition. There were several door prizes up for grabs including a 32-inch TV, hover
boards, lawn games and wireless speakers. Andrews thinks the events are a great way for the fans and players to connect. “We have a lot of fun competitions, Andrews said. “They really get the fans involved; I think it’s fun to watch fans interact with the kids.” For Brown, the important thing is to get students hyped for the coming season. “I hope they’ll be excited,” Brown said, “about the season and knowing that, with volleyball over, there’s another place they can come and hang out and support their fellow classmates and kind-of get more deep into being a Cameron Aggie.” Andrews enjoys the event because she believes it can set a precedent for the rest of the season. The energy in the gym, according to her, can have an impact on how players perform. “I think the environment can be amazing in here,” Andrews said. “This is an amazing gym. I think the more people involved the more electric it can be in here.” Brown also knows the effect a home gym environment can have on players. “I think this gym has the potential to be one of the hardest gyms for an opponent to play in,” Brown said. “It’s really loud, and I think it has the potential to be a really great atmosphere.” For both coaches, the event was about bringing fans and players together and increasing support for the basketball teams. With a good support system behind them, Andrews hopes that she and her players can go on to have a winning season. “We have so many seniors,” Andrew said. “So my hope for them is for them to finish their final year with the expectation that they started this year with. I hope for us not to lose a home game and then to try and win as many away games as possible on top of that.” Brown hopes that Aggie Madness sets a tone of mutual support between players and fans for the rest of the season. “The main thing is we just want to encourage people to come out and to support our players,” Brown said. “And support us as we start our season.”
Photos and graphics by Katie Livingston