Hom Universityecom
Collegian T he Cameron
@KaleyKayPatt Everyday there are new technical issues emerging on campus. Whether it’s concerning faculty, staff or students, the CU Information Technology Services are the ones who try to meet the needs.
ncem ent i nside Volume 92 Issue 3
ITS a Cameron solution
Photo by Kaley Patterson
A&E Editor
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Monday, February 16, 2015
Kaley Patterson
ing c ourt a
If the problem concerns Wi-Fi connection, password resets or Blackboard, all problems are directed to the ITS Help Desk. Student Help Desk Manager Margot Gregory deals with student-related issues. “At the very beginning of the semester the call volume is very, very high,” Gregory said, “but I speak to about 25 students a day once the
Critical Priority: Emergencies preventing people from using their computers; security issues to be addressed ASAP.
beginning of the semester slows down. Usually those type of calls pertain to password resets.” Since 2012, students are required to change their password to Aggie Access every 120 days, which then changes their password to get on campus computers and to access their Gmail accounts. This system is for privacy protection.
High Priority: Issues where people can use their PCs but may encounter errors with Banner, Aggie Access, etc.
“It’s not that they forget their password,” Gregory said. “It’s that they don’t keep track of their email, so they miss their password reset deadlines. Then their account gets locked.” During 2014 Gregory received 8,864 support inquires from the student help desk side of the ITS Support Desk. Gregory said students who have problems with passwords, Blackboard, Wi-Fi or anything regarding their account are supposed to get in touch with her directly. “If the student emails support@cameron.edu,” Gregory said, “it goes into [the faculty help desk] queue and gets routed to me. It can stay in the queue for a day or two before it actually gets to me.” Assistant Director of ITS Greg Duncan explained there are many systems a request has to go through before someone at the support desk can start working on the problem. Aggies can call the ITS Support Desk or email them to submit a support request.
Medium Priority: General errors, access requests, etc; people can use PCs but have issues with other devices.
“They have a track-it system. It’s a software for help desks,” Duncan said. “They’ll get that ticket in and create it based on the call or based on the email. It’ll automatically create it if it’s an email. They’ll assign a technician to it, or whoever is responsible for whatever issue they’re encountering, and then they’ll start working on that issue. It’ll be in their queue.” The queue is then labeled based on need by the support desk priority system. On Jan. 30, Help Desk Coordinator Greg Davies sent an email to faculty and staff explaining the priority system due to the recent questions from staff members about how it works. A graphic of the priority system is included below this article. In the email, Davies said, “These guidelines are based upon what we believe to be significant needs through lesser requests. For example, a person who is unable to power up their PC will most likely receive a higher priority than
someone who is requesting assistance with their iPhone.” In 2014, the support desk received 5,211 tickets for faculty/staff. Duncan said there are a lot of demands put on the help desk and in turn, the desk sees a high turn over rate. Aggies have complained about the support desk as being insufficient and untimely. Duncan said this depends on how the help desk is being contacted. “A lot of people don’t know who to call,” Duncan said. “We’re trying to push for everyone to send their issues to support@cameron. edu because one thing that does is it ... automatically creates a ticket. So it’ll automatically end up in the support queue and people will see it first thing in the morning. “If you call, it may end up on somebody’s phone and they may not check their voicemail. Who knows? Or they may call the wrong person, and the wrong person deletes it and goes on. So the best thing is to email support. “
Low Priority: Lowest Priority: Requests that are not Requests that do not affect emergencies that usually focus access or use of the current PC. on additional access/features for computer use.
Cameron University: Planning for the future Kaley Patterson
expectancy of our current buildings.” A&E Editor One example listed in @KaleyKayPatt the Campus Master Plan 2025 is the dorms, which Two plans are currently were built in the 1960s. McArthur said looking in working to improve and advance at replacing the beautify the Cameron dorms raised questions University campus: Plan such as, “If the dorms were 2018 and Campus Master replaced, what would be Plan 2025. built instead?” CU President Dr. John When brainstorming for McArthur said both plans each plan, student, faculty have different purposes. “Our campus master plan and staff listening sessions are one of the actions is really our guidance to McArthur said he deems what we want the physical the most beneficial. facilities of Cameron “To put them together, University to look like we usually appoint a faculty in Lawton and Duncan,” member to head up the McArthur said. team, and then they will Since there’s physical listen to different groups,” facilities involved, McArthur said. “They’ll McArthur said cost is a go to SGA. We’ll clump huge component of the our employee areas. We’ll master plan. A typical meet with computing building may range from and technology faculty a few hundred thousand and IT. We’ll meet with dollars to 20 million Public Affairs and the dollars. communication faculty “The time it takes to raise that amount of money – people with similar interests, but a little bit is one consideration, and different, so not just all certainly the time it takes professors or all staff. We’ll to build the buildings is get their views and then another consideration,” McArthur said. “So because we’ll do the same thing with of that, our campus master our community members… Then we take a year to boil plans tend to work on a all that down. They make 10 year time frame, so a proposal to me, I look at we want to think that far it, and then we present it to ahead of looking at needs our regents.” and looking at the life
Public Affairs
Both Campus Master Plan 2025, headed by Communication professor Dr. Matt Jenkins, and Plan 2018, headed by Communication Chair Dr. Christopher Keller, conducted these listening sessions when drafting their documents. “Plan 2018: Values Driven, Action Oriented”
began in 2013 outlining Cameron’s goals and initiatives for the next five years. It is the third strategic document of its kind. McArthur said the plan is more about action, rather than construction. “It’s guiding us in terms of, ‘What do we value as an institution?’ and then based on those values, ‘What steps
would we like to take?’” McArthur said. “Our time frames for strategic plans are five years. For us, five years gives us time to think about it and talk about it and then enact it and then test it and then tweak it. Five years is a pretty good fit for academia.” Plan 2018 lists six different values: student
learning; excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and mentoring; leadership in community and region; shared governance; diversity; and responsible stewardship of public and private resources, the public trust and Cameron’s future. McArthur has something special he associates with the strategic plan. “The value of the strategic plan, for me, is I have so many wonderful ideas come across my desk,” McArthur said. “I mean, our students, our staff, our faculty and our community members, a day does not go by that someone doesn’t stop me, send me an email or call and say, ‘hey, wouldn’t it be great if Cameron did blank?’ And they’re all great ideas. But the strategic plan, because it’s built on our values, really helps me focus and separate and see which ones are great ideas for Cameron. It helps me a great deal to establish priorities.” If Aggies have ideas they want to contribute to future strategic plans or campus master plans, they can contact McArthur or inquire with their SGA Representative, Senator or Executive Council member.
What’s inside Batter the rams on Saturday
Tri Beta celebrates Darwin day
Williams named Miss Black CU
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News
February 16, 2015
www.aggiecentral.com
Emphasizing a healthy community Vicky Smith
the last few days, the legislature that started the laws trying to further limit the rights of Student Life Editor the gay and lesbian community in Oklahoma, @pinkwritinglady Sally Kern – she was talking about a state endorsement of reparative therapy, which has At 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the MCC been outlawed in certain states like California Ballroom, Cameron Campus Ministry and New Jersey.” (CCM) presented “Continuing the According to Simpson, the public school Conversation,” featuring Dr. Phillip Simpson, system does not treat LGBT students fairly. Lawton Police Chief James Smith, Dr. “I was able to talk to someone at the Charles Whitlow and Cameron student Peter Shoemaker Center,” Simpson said, “and he Macias. said that the public schools do not instruct The panelists discussed how to create formation of support groups of gay and and sustain healthy relationships within the Lawton community, and the floor was open to lesbian clubs.” Though Simpson said he doesn’t think the public to ask questions. Lawton is at the bottom regarding these Simpson, a retired Cameron political science professor, expressed his concern about particular issues, he thinks there is still room for improvement. the condition of the LGBT community. Chief Smith said despite the national “Oklahoma,” Simpson said, “when it comes controversy surrounding the law enforcement to the gay and lesbian, bisexual, transgender system over the past few months, “they community, is very hostile territory. Just in
[officers] don’t really see themselves as an agent of the system.” Whitlow, a retired educator of Lawton Public Schools and current pastor of Union Baptist Church, said he is mainly concerned with education not only across the nation, but also in Oklahoma. In order for children to succeed, Whitlow said parental involvement is vital to their learning processes. “As parents, we are going to have to do better in helping our children to be educated, he said. “It starts at home; the teacher can only do so much.” Senior psychology major Macias, who serves as president of CCM, Mu Phi Epsilon and the Cameron University Concert Choir, said technology should be used to promote positivity within the community. He said what people choose to watch, read and listen really does impact them.
“When our relationship with the media and our relationship with people outside of our immediate sphere shares with us [constant negativity],” he said, “that relationship becomes toxic.” Macias also thought that the utilization of technology can help ensure that the public sees that more police officers do their jobs correctly while fewer fail to meet standards. “I think in improving the relationship that we have with our community is to watch what we let in our mind.”
For the full conversation, visit the newly-updated aggiecentral.com
Program offers Aggies free Microsoft Office suite Photo by Marie Bagwell
Marie Bagwell Staff Writer
On Jan. 29, Cameron students received an email from the ITS Helpdesk informing them that they are eligible to receive Microsoft Office 365 for free. The Student Advantage is a benefit that allows eligible students to get Office 365 ProPlus for free. However, it is up to each campus to launch the deal. According to the Microsoft Store, Office 365 comes with a price tag of $99.99 a year. The suite includes Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, OneDrive and Skype. Each user also has the capability of downloading their copy of Office 365 on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets (Windows, iPad and Android) and 5 phones,
according to the Microsoft products website. This offer for Office 365 is not exclusive to Cameron University. According to Microsoft, the company began offering the Student Advantage about a year ago. Each user also has the capability of downloading their copy of Office 365 on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets (Windows, iPad and Android) and 5 phones, according to the Microsoft products website. Being able to work from home, school or work and having access to one terabyte of cloud storage allows students ease of use across multiple devices. The first email from ITS department sent out to students provided
instructions to obtain the free suite: 1. Email to support@ cameron.edu with the subject containing “Requesting Office 365,” and the body of the email containing requestor’s student name and identification number. 2. After ITS sends an email in return with a link to download the subscription, set up a username consisting of first and last initials followed by the student’s CU ID. 3. Once students sign in with their current student ID and password, the installation process begins. 4. Once the installation is complete, sign in to take an optional tour of Office 365 ProPlus. An additional mobile download allows for access to
Office Mobile and online use of collaboration in OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. Students wishing to download the mobile version would follow these steps: 1. Click a link to go to Office Mobile in their online application store. 2. After clicking download and accept, commence the download and installation process, which takes approximately one minute for the 67 megabyte file. 3. Once the download completes, sign in with a current student email and password to enable use of Office Mobile. As long as users are an actively enrolled student, they will have free access to the subscription of Office 365 ProPlus.
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Voices
February 16, 2015
www.aggiecentral.com
Giving yourself a gift for Valentine’s Day It was the perfect date. He picked me up at 5 p.m. with pink, white and red flowers in hand, accompanied by the traditional heart shaped box of chocolates and a small-yet-cute teddy bear. Our drive to Bricktown was lovely, with soft music playing in the background as we talked and laughed. To my surprise, dinner was at The Melting Pot – a fondue restaurant that’s not too expensive, but still somewhere around the $100 range. Following dinner, we went for a walk through Bricktown. The sun has gone down, and as we’re strolling through the riverwalk, he draped his jacket around my shoulders. A movie was next on the agenda with drinks and other romantic activities afterward. Sounds like a good night, right? Too bad. It didn’t happen, it has
never happened and I don’t think it on Feb. 15. will ever happen. But that’s okay. And that’s where my Valentine’s To me, Valentine’s Day is just Day begins. I go to big stores, like another day. Sure, Wal-Mart or Target, it’s nice to get as early as possible flowers and candy to grab as much and maybe even chocolate as my tiny a toy that’s so body and even tinier adorable you may bank account can just get sick. handle. But when you It’s imperative get down to it, its to arrive early to just an ordinary get your hands on day; you’re always delicious chocolate supposed to show delicacies that college the ones around students normally Charlene Belew you that you love aren’t able to afford, Managing Editor and care for like Ferrero Rocher @cbelew15 them, or Lindor truffles. whether it’s your significant The earlier the arrival, the better other, your family the score and the fewer other members or your best humans I have to interact with. friend. It doesn’t take After the goodies are in hand, over the top flowers and I move on to the next store and chocolate to demonstrate continue stocking my chocolate this love, either. supplies. Sometimes I’m generous That’s not to say I’m enough to spread the wealth of not thankful for the way candy to my mom and sisters, Valentine’s Day is celebrated. friends and roommates. A piece or I am. two will avert their judging eyes as I Without these celebrations, stuff my own face. there wouldn’t be an abundance of While people may judge me for chocolate on sale for 75 percent off my gluttonous actions, this is how
Photos by Charlene Belew
I pamper myself. The thing about love is that you don’t always have to show it to someone else for it to be valid – you are entitled to loving yourself, too. As Tom Haverford in “Parks and Recreation” would say, “treat yo self.” So for the next two weeks of my
life, I’ll be doing just that as I shovel an alarming quantity of chocolate in my mouth while taking multiple bubble baths, complete with cucumber facial masks. It’s a fitting Valentine’s Day gift to myself. And that’s why it’s my perfect date – because I’m my perfect date.
Respect in all shapes, sizes and gender differences I had a conversation with a man who At the end of the “experiment,” one girl was intimidated by my intellect. Actually, stood out, Peggy, who handed one of the I frequently have conversations with males advertisers a trash can full of tissues the who are petrified by me. women had used to wipe off some of the This isn’t to say that all lipstick. Peggy handed him the of my conversations with disposal and said, “Here’s your men are ingenuous. I have basket of kisses.” numerous male friends The man responded, “Well, and colleagues who are that’s cute. Who told you to compassionate and can say that?” Peggy, confused hold a conversation with by his question, said, “I just anyone of the opposite thought of it. Isn’t that what sex. it is?” But when I converse Like Peggy, I’m distraught with a guy who ends our when men are taken aback by chat because he can’t be my thoughts. comfortable with my I had a conversation with Kaley Patterson thoughts and opinions, a man about the OscarA&E Editor I’m perplexed. nominated film “Selma.” We @KaleyKayPatt When I have had both seen the film and encounters like that, I’m reminded of a had differing opinions. He thought the specific scene in season one of “Mad Men.” movie gave the town Selma, Ala., a bad The show is about a New York reputation, while I believed the film gave advertising firm in the 1960s. Men ruled negative connotations to the ideals of that superior and women were nothing more time. than a secretary plaything. We both agreed the movie put President The firm received a client who sold Lyndon B. Johnson in a negative light. I lipsticks and were looking for a new way was well-read on the topic, and informed to sell their product. The head honchos him the original screenplay was centrally rounded up the women in the office like focused on LBJ, but it was dropped, and cattle and put them in a room with a two the director of “Selma” switched the main way mirror to observe their reactions to the character to Martin Luther King Jr. lipstick. After I enlightened him, the man shied 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
away from our conversation and me. I stubborn, but we know we can’t change didn’t realize his actions were due to my each other’s minds. intellect because I thought the conversation He accepts my opinions, and I his. went well until But I may be spoiled by the my friend great man my father is, and I pointed out that’s why I’m confused “I honestly believe both men think that the man is when men don’t listen or try to uncomfortable and women want to be loved understand me. around women I inquired with my father and respected. who are well about the man with whom A man does not respect a I had the conversation over put together. woman when he finds her “Selma”. I asked my dad why This confuses me, the man was so uncomfortable ideas asinine.” because don’t with my insight. My dad men want told me, “Well, there’s a a woman who is independent? I think it time and place for you to speak your would be annoying to be with someone who opinion.”Enraged by his comment, I shot couldn’t function on their own, who relied back, “But it was over a movie. Why can I on you for all of their choices – but that’s not voice my opinion over a movie?” just me. Dad simply said, “Some men just aren’t It’s a question the opposite sex has asked comfortable.” themselves, their peers and dating websites The definition of feminism according to – what do men/women really want. I Google is, “the advocacy of women’s rights honestly believe both men and women want on the grounds of political, social and to be loved and respected. economic equality to men.” Huh? Equal to A man does not respect a woman when men? How can we be equal to men if we’re he finds her ideas asinine. completely different human beings? I’m thankful for my dad who always I don’t want to be a man. I want to be a listens to me. He does tell me I talk a lot, woman. I think “feminism” is more than it’s but he always does with a smile on his definition. face, a chuckle and a compassionate look It’s comfortably being a woman in his eyes. We have conf licting views no matter what the circumstance or on a number of topics, and we’re both so conversation.
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
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.
Managing Editor - Charlene Belew Asst. Managing Editor - Jacob Jardel A&E Editor - Kaley Patterson Sports Editor - Krista Pylant Student Life Editor - Vicky Smith Copy Editor - Joel Frambes Aggie Central Editor- Jereme Cobb
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.
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Marie Bagwell, Hafsa Farah, Haley Swinford Circulation Manager - Charlene Belew Advertising Managers - Charlene Belew, Kaley Patterson Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
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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.
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Homecoming Celebration
n u T
2015 Homecoming Court Queen Candidates
King Candidates
Breshya Lewis
Aggie Ambassadors
Akinola Akinlawon CUNSA
Elizabeth Krause Aggie Club
Jacob Jardel Psi Chi
Elizabeth Wall HPER
Juan Martinez RHA
Olivia Polynice CJA
Logan Ralston Alpha Phi
Shanai St. Bernard SOCA
Waheed Gbadamosi International Club
to batter the rams
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Student Life
February 16, 2015
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Students celebrate evolutionary genius Hafsa Farah
Vrla suggested Dr. Rice as a speaker for this year’s Darwin Staff Writer Day. At noon on Feb. 6 in “I met Dr. Stan Rice at Room 105 of the Science the Oklahoma Academy Complex, the Darwin Day of Science Field Meeting in Celebration kicked off. The September,” she said, “and event began with a catered he told me he had come to lunch by Chick-fil-A, and Cameron before. at 1 p.m., Dr. Stanley “We [the executive board] Rice, a biology professor at hadn’t begun planning for Southeastern Oklahoma Darwin Day too much, so State University, addressed when I told them I already his audience in a lecture titled knew someone who was just an “Science and Freedom.” email away, they were excited Darwin Day has been to have him, especially since a standing tradition at he gets fully in the spirit of Cameron for the past 13 years Darwin by dressing like him.” and is hosted by the biological A biology professor with honor society, Beta Beta Beta a PhD in plant ecology, Rice (TriBeta). likes to make learning biology Senior biology major and fun for students so that they TriBeta President Sarah can really understand it. Vrla felt it was an enriching “I tell my students,” Rice experience to help organize said, “you can be miserable in this year’s Darwin Day this class if you want to, but Celebration. I’m going to have a good time, “Putting together the and I’m inviting you to have a event was a lot of fun,” Vrla good time. said, “thanks to all of the “I really think students help from the other TriBeta learn better if they really enjoy members and our faculty what they’re learning – at the advisor, Dr. Husak. very least, they’re going to pay “One of my favorite, and more attention.” potentially one of the most Rice said just the other day, beneficial parts of being he used an activity in botany involved in organizations on class to help students learn. campus, is the connections “I had students acting out students are able to make the steps of photosynthesis through planning events instead of just reading about like this,” she said, “as well them or seeing a diagram,” as the experience of working Rice said. “They were the together as a team to organize proteins of the light reactions. an event that is open to the They split film canisters, community.” which were water molecules,
SGA weekly
Kaley Patterson A&E Editor
@KaleyKayPatt The SGA governing body read and questioned their first legislation of the spring semester. President Sidney McCormack was absent
and the lid was an electron. They passed down an electron transport chain. “This was all to try to get them to have something memorable,” he said, “so they could retain the information. I try to do that to make it interesting and relevant.” Rice said Darwin Day
at the Feb. 9 meeting, so Vice President Nikki Kirk filled in. Representative Patrick Perez, co-author of Resolution 3114006, presented the legislation, which calls for “the addition of family-style gender neutral restrooms during the planning and programming of additional buildings to the Cameron University campus.” Co-author James BarkerMurphey was not present. The bill states there are currently no gender-neutral restrooms on campus, and it is infeasible to convert any current restrooms. The legislation also said Cameron University is required to provide accessibility and safety for all individuals since the university
serves to recognize the lasting impacts of evolution. “Evolution is important for understanding medicine,” he said, “and there are a lot of things that you would think are unrelated to evolution but actually are and that evolution doesn’t have to be a threat to your personal beliefs.”
According to Vrla, Darwin Day is important because it showcases an important figure in scientific history and recognizes the great strides made in biology overtime. “When you celebrate Darwin Day,” she said, “you are celebrating the intellectual bravery, curiosity and desire
to find the truth that Darwin exhibited, as well as the progress that science has made since then. “It’s a time where students reflect on the subject that we all love and gain an appreciation for where science has been and where it is yet to go.”
accommodates a diverse community of people. The authors plan the resolve of the legislation for spring 2016. Resolution 3114006 will go into a second reading and questioning at the Feb. 16 SGA meeting. The governing body approved new members of the Finance Committee: Maddie Geiger, Charles Webber, Victoria Boudiette and Lacey Flaig. New members of the Legislative Committee were also approved by unanimous consent, Kelly High and Brandon Clark. The CU SGA is currently taking applications for the Oklahoma Student Government Association spring caucus. If students are interested, they can pick up an application in the SGA office on the second floor of the MCC.
Dear Aggie: feeling pressured Dear Aggie, My significant other wants me to have sex, but I’m not ready. It would be my first time ever. Should we break up? If not, how can I make this person understand that I am not willing to go there? It isn’t fair that I have to have sex with someone to keep the interest alive.
Sincerely, No Means No Dear No,
First and foremost, you should never feel like you
are required to have sex with anyone. It is your body, and nobody can tell you what to do with it but you. The first thing you would want to do is talk with your significant other about how you feel – if you have not already. The cornerstone of any relationship is open and honest communication, so find a safe and healthy way to talk about your concerns with your paramour. If you have already talked with your person and the behaviors persist – or, worse,
Inc. 5000 company needs you
a sex-or-split ultimatum arises – then break up if you feel that is the safe and correct course of action. Your significant other should respect you and your wishes enough to not force this issue upon you. It is a very unfortunate circumstance to feel an excess and unwanted pressure to have sex – especially when it comes to your sexual debut. Just remember that, in the end, it is your call to make.
Sincerely, Aggie
Dear Aggie responses are generated in house by Collegian editorial members and do not represent professional opinion or advice. Tweet to @DearAggieCU.
Aggies compete in math excellence Jacob Jardel
Assistant Managing Editor @JJardel@Writing
Six Cameron students took each other on in a battle of the brains during Math Jeopardy at 5 p.m. on Feb. 11 in Room 100 of the Sciences Complex. MathCom hosted the event, which modeled its television namesake with buzzers and solutions in the form of a question. The only difference was the
subject matter: trivia associated with mathematics sorted into categories such as “Famous Numbers” and “Pun-ny Mathematics.” Students competed in the event, while MathCom adviser Dr. Greg Herring played the role of Alex Trebek. In the end, senior biology major Joel Frambes won first place for the event, followed by physics major Jeffrey Osei and junior computer science major Akinola Akinlawon in third.
Senior accounting major Ross Holley finished fourth, while junior computer science major Wesley Ford finished fifth, and business management major Adeline Larsen finished sixth. Regardless of placement, all six competitors received one of an assortment of prizes for participation, from logic puzzles to various types of build-it-yourself novelties Beyond prizes and competition, competitors such as Holley felt the event was
a fun way to show the value of mathematics beyond the classroom. “It’s always a good time,” Holley said. “We always come out with a smile on our faces, despite what the subject matter may cause you to think about it.” Larsen agreed, believing perception is the key to having a good time with the event. “Math can be fun,” Larsen said. “It’s all in what you make of a situation.”
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A&E
February 16, 2015
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Williams crowned 2015 Miss Black CU Haley Swinford Staff Writer
Photos by Haley Swinford
Crowning glory: Senior Marissa Williams was crowned Miss Black CU 2015 on Feb. 7.
At 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the Cameron University Theatre, the lights dimmed and the audience sat in silence as the curtains opened for the 36th annual Miss Black CU Pageant “Perfectly Imperfect”. Senior elementary education major Marissa Williams received the title of Miss Black CU 2015, and her fellow contestants voted her Miss Congeniality. Although Williams said she didn’t have any idea she would be chosen, she is grateful for the opportunity to be Miss Black CU. “I was just hoping for the best,” she said. “It feels like my greatest accomplishment for me so far.” Freshman chemistry major Taylor Calvert received first runner up, as well as the Business Women Award. Ja’Lyn Yarbrough, a junior family and child studies major placed third runner up. The three contestants
started the pageant with an opening dance number. Following their performance, the contestants took the stage one-by-one to introduce themselves. Each young woman told the audience her major, platform and the reason why she is okay with being perfectly imperfect. Reasons varied from professing they’re who God created them, to how adversity and diversity are not slowing them down or holding them back. During the next phase, contestants honored black women in history, including Aretha Franklin, Maya Angelou and Marjorie Lee Browne, by portraying their lives to the audience; the contestants dressed up like the women and shared their historical accomplishments. Following the representations, the contestants tried to capture the attention of the judges by showcasing their talent. They each had a brief moment to win the judges over. One contestant
sang, while the other two performed monologues. The final phase of competition consisted of eveningwear and an onstage question. Each contestant modeled the dress of her choice to portray her personality. The dresses varied from f lowing fabric to sparkle-adorned designs. During the portion of onstage questioning, each contestant was asked a random question and had to give an answer on the spot. The pageant concluded with the final walk of the former Miss Black CU Oluwakemi Olurotimi and the crowing of Williams as Miss Black CU 2015. Williams said when she heard her name called, she just tried to remain calm. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry,” she said to herself. “You’re going to ruin your makeup.”
Besides attaining the crown, Williams said her favorite part of the pageant was bonding with the other girls. “I didn’t even expect to become such close friends with them,” she said, “but they are just such great girls.” As Miss Black CU, she will receive the opportunity to transform her platform into a program, “Rerouting Minority Students to Overcome Negative Statistics”.
Coates art showcase in the professional art world. Staff Writer As for the future, Coates said she thinks At 3 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Science Complex, it would be a great opportunity to pursue Cameron art senior Amanda Coates debuted a career in book illustration, particularly her multimedia marine life art collection, which for books about fish and will be remain on display biology. Although Coates’s through mid-March. illustrations have already Her exhibit includes been published in some underwater creatures books, she said her portrayed in both color previous work is nothing pencil and paint. compared to her current Coates said she work. gained a passion Dr. Liontas-Warren, for underwater a professor of art, said creatures through the Coates educates herself sea’s diversity – her about the topics that inspiration enabled her to imagine and create an her art addresses, which gives her fuel to make entire collection of art. “Each one [sea creature] more art. “She believes in has its unique habits and behaviors,” she said, “and researching her ideas,” Liontas-Warren said. it’s just interesting to “She believes in trying study.” to understand what she Coates said she is creating … The more created the art project, information you have, which was not for class the more you can create but for her own benefit, with that.” over the summer. Liontas-Warren said According to Coates is a very positive Coates, her display in person who is not afraid the Science Complex benefits her resume, and to make mistakes, which makes her an even better the solo show is a boost
Marie Bagwell
Photo by Marie Bagwell
artist. “She loves what she does, and that makes a big difference,” LiontasWarren said. “If you love what you do, you will continuously succeed and be very successful in any endeavor that you choose to do in your life.” Associate Professor of Art Monika Linehan said during the past two years that Coates has taken her advanced painting classes, Coates’s imagination has amazed her. “She’s always coming up with some fresh idea that you don’t expect,” Linehan said. Linehan said she believes Coates has the talent and work ethic to turn her artwork into a successful career. “She is one of the exceptional ones that rises [to the top],” Linehan said. “She just has the enthusiasm [and] the passion for it. When you have that kind of passion for art and that kind of enthusiasm, it’s going to take her far.”
18th annual Polar Plunge Marie Bagwell Staff Writer
At 2 p.m. on Feb. 7, hundreds of people f looded the water and shores of Medicine Park Creek for the 18th annual Polar Bear Plunge. Although the air temperature was a balmy 70 degrees, the water was still 35-40 degrees. Some jumpers brought more than their bathing suits to jump into the frosty-cold lake. One jumper donned a Viking-style helmet, while another sported a chicken costume. They weren’t the only special jumpers though – Santa was there, too. Charley Wright, who wore the famous red Santa suit, said he is one of the original few who started the tradition years ago and has jumped every year since. What began as small tradition among several friends, including the park’s tavern owner, Bill Patty, turned into a lasting tradition and organized community event. Wright said it wasn’t just tomfoolery that sparked the tradition – it was a plan to bring people into the town, especially during a f lat time of year. “Every year,” Wright said, “especially when the weather is like this, it brings out the jumpers.” Wright also said he may be the oldest jumper at the age of 71. David Anderson is the person who plunged donning the Viking helmet. Anderson, who has attended the past four
Photos by Marie Bagwell
years, said this year was the warmest, and he continues to dive into the cold because it’s fun. The person who sported the chicken suit, Zach Johnson, is a Medicine Park locale who said he participates in the plunge because it starts the year off right. According to Johnson, the warm air temperature might have fooled some people. “It might be nice out here,” he said, “but it’s cold [in the water].” As for the chicken costume, Johnson said, “Why not?” With the tradition of the Polar Bear Plunge growing in Medicine Park, Wright said he believes it would be in the best interest of plunge attendees to be more cautious. Even though he recalled only one injury in the history of the event, he said he is always concerned about jumper safety, as well as the time people spend in the cold water. Since the more people attend the event, some people must now jump off the platform in waves. “I’m worried about a big person jumping on a little person,” Wright said. However, he is still grateful that people come out during wintertime to enjoy the plunge – and he is happy to dress as Santa. “Santa has got to jump,” Wright said. “You can come out on a day like this, and be like, ‘I did the Polar Bear Plunge.’ It’s great – really, really great.”
8
Sports
February 16, 2015
www.aggiecentral.com
Remembering coach Keith Lavender Charlene Belew
CU Sports Information
Managing Editor @cbelew15
Cameron Aggies are mourning the loss of one of their own. Former CU football coach Keith Lavender, 69, was killed Sunday, Feb. 8 in a single-car rollover crash in Kiowa County. Lavender started his football career at Cameron Junior College in 1964. The team played in the Junior Rose Bowl that year in Pasadena, California. Lavender also served as assistant football coach for 12 years, beginning in 1968, before taking the head football coaching position for two semesters. He retired from Cameron University in 2006. Aggie Athletic Director Jim Jackson said Lavender’s death shook the Black and Gold community, especially since Lavender was in the athletics office for a visit last week. “It’s just a shock because Keith was very active here,” Jackson said. “He used the fitness center and he came to the games. Keith just loved Cameron, and he loved Cameron athletics.” Jackson said Lavender was one of a kind, and their relationship began 10 years ago when Lavender entered Jackson’s office and introduced himself. “He’s very loud,” Jackson said with a laugh, recounting on Lavender’s personality. “Of course he always wanted us to bring football back because he was a football guy.” Jackson stated that Lavender introduced him to a lot of people in the community, including current Cameron boosters, previous donors and older Aggies. Jackson says without Lavender, he would not have met a lot of these people. “I was appreciative of that,” Jackson said “He was just there to help anyway he could. It is just a big shock and a terrible thing. We loved Keith, and he loved Cameron – it was obvious.” Memorial services were 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 at Cameron Baptist Church. The family asked for donations to be made to the Cameron University Foundation to establish a Keith Lavender Athletic Scholarship Fund for student athletes deserving reward and assistance during their time at Cameron, according to his obituary.
Black and Gold Legacy: Keith Lavender began playing football at Cameron Junior College in 1964. He became the assistant coach in 1968 and led the team as head coach for two semesters in the 80s.
“We loved Keith, and he loved Cameron.” Jim Jackson Cameron University Athletic Director
SPORTS SHORTS
Softball sweeps Rogers State
Men’s tennis beats Cowley College In their first match of the spring, the #20 Cameron men’s tennis team beat Cowley County College 7-2 on Feb. 10 in Edmond. The team earned victories in all six of their singles matches, and one victory in doubles. Dennis Merdan earned a 6-1, 6-1 win in the #1 singles slot, while Joao Fazendeiro won 6-0, 6-2 in the #2 spot. Mateo Velasco made his Cameron debut and got a 6-4, Graphics by 6-1 win Krista Pylant in the #4
spot, and Angelo Lencioni and Felipe Oyarzun won both of their matches 6-0, 6-4. Artavazd Knyazyan won in three sets in the #3 singles spot 7-5, 2-6, 10-7. In doubles, the team of Merdan and Andres Velasco lost 9-8 and the team of Fazendiero and Iustin Baciu lost 8-3. The pairing of Mateo Velasco and Oyarzun got the only doubles win of the afternoon for the Aggies, winning 9-7. The 2-0 Aggies will take on Oklahoma Baptist in their next match on Feb. 17. Cameron bested the Bison 7-2 in their match in the fall.
The Cameron softball team opened up their season with a pair of wins against Rogers State University on Feb. 10 at McMahon Field. Paige Daino and Lauren Renneker combined for four homeruns in the two game sweep of Rogers State. In game one, the Aggies made quick work of the Hillcats, defeating them in five innings 14-0. After a scoreless first inning, the Black and Gold got the bats going in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI triple from Carly Allerheiligen. Following a Rogers State error that scored Allerheiligen, Daino hit a grand slam to drive in four runs.
The third inning saw the Aggies score six more runs with homers from Daino, Sonora Zukerman and Breezy McComas to bring the score to 12-0. Cameron rounded out the scoring in the fourth by adding two more runs, this time on a pair of RBI singles by Misty Dooley and McComas. Kelsey Watson got the win in game one, pitching five three hit shutout innings with six strikeouts. The Aggies struck first again in game two after Renneker hit a single that advanced Chelsea DeLong and drove in Dooley for the run. Rogers State tied the game on a two RBI double in the
top of the fourth inning, but CU came back in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead on an RBI single by Tara Martini, making it 3-2. Renneker lead off the fifth inning with another solo homerun. CU got another run after McComas reached base on a double, and then scored on an error by RSU’s second baseman, to extend the lead to 5-2. After one hit in the top of the sixth inning by the Hillcats, Cameron
responded with three of their own, thanks to an RBI single from McComas and an error by the RSU shortstop that scored two, extending CU’s lead to 8-3. Zukerman got the win in game two for CU, going 4.1 innings, giving up seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out three. Watson got the save after pitching 2.2 innings and only gave up one earned run on four hits, with two strikeouts.
Balancing life on the field and in the classroom Photo by Haley Swinford
Photo by Krista Pylant
Hitting the books and the basepath: (Left) Junior cheer captain Ashley Nix studies. (Right) Junior Makenzie Burk plays in a game against Rogers State.
Haley Swinford
see is the 6 a.m. morning workout followed by classes. Staff Writer After classes, the players go to practice. Students know the routine: wake up, get Teams practice multiple hours a day, four times ready, attend class, go to work, go home and sleep. a week. Some athletes balance a job on top of Everybody’s schedule may vary some, but school and practice. these are the basics of a student’s schedule. Junior communication major and softball What if the average student were to add player Makenzie Burk said her priorities are on something else, something that would take up a the field. majority of his or her day? “I let my work know that softball is always Student athletes are just like every other going to come first,” Burk said. “You have to college student except they have weights, plan ahead. A lot of the times I have to bring my practices and games on top of their normal class clothes to practice and change like that.” schedule. In order to balance sports and school, the When students attend games, they see the athletes are taught to develop time management players make a basket, hit a homerun, dunk, skills. They have long nights and early mornings. stunt, dance or spike the ball. What they do not Players make sure they are able to keep up with
their classwork. There are procedures implemented to make sure student athletes are meeting their grade point average to maintain eligibility. Some teams have attendance and grade checks for which athletes are required to bring a piece of paper to their teachers and get a signature stating their current grade and how many classes they missed. Softball coach Rodney DeLong says grade checks serve as a check-and-balance system for student athletes. “By getting a grade check, there is some accountability,” DeLong said. “It forces [student athletes] to be responsible and lets us know how they are doing in the class room.” Junior basketball player and communication major DJ Jackson agrees with DeLong and the
system that is in place. “I think they keep us on track,” Jackson said. “It’s a way to make sure we don’t fall behind.” Study hall is another way to make sure athletes do not fall behind in their course work. Teams have a designated meeting area where student athletes can catch up on their homework or study for tests. Athletes who excel in a subject or have already taken the subject are able to help their teammates. Balancing everything going on takes good time management. Burk said she likes to know what’s going on during the week, so she writes her schedule down in a planner. “It’s all about time management. It’s planning ahead, knowing your schedule, and it’s about organization,” she said.