Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, September 14, 2015
Volume 93 Issue 2
$24,111,177 The amount cut from the State Regents for Higher Education fund
$611,000,000 The amount Oklahoma’s fiscal year budget decreased
State cuts raise tuition
$760,000
Charlene Belew
The amount Cameron lost as a result of the Higher Ed cut
$8
The amount Cameron tuition has increased for FY 15-16
$5,580
Cameron’s rate for FY 15-16 for 30-hour credit total
“In addition to [the decrease] we’ve had some Content Editor other expenses that have @cbelew15 increased – our software The 2015 fall semester at licensing, maintenance Cameron University opened projects, just various utilities,” with a tuition increase of $8 Carter said. per credit hour. “Those things increased as The tuition increase of well as [receiving] a decrease. 4.5 percent comes after We had quite a hole to cover. Oklahoma officials worked to So, we, like many of the other bridge a gap in the state’s fiscal schools in Oklahoma, looked year budget, suffering from a at different ways to try to $611 million shortfall. rearrange things, cut expenses At the end of where we could and we did do appropriations, the education that. But still we had a hole.” world received the news of flat That’s where tuition funding while other agencies increases come into play, received cuts, including the according to Carter, who said State Regents for Higher a downturn in the economy Education, who saw a loss of from sinking oil prices plays a $24,111,177. direct correlation to the state’s Vice President for Business shortfall. and Finance Ninette Carter, “A good number of the who now fills the shoes of state’s revenue comes from former VP Glen Pinkston, oil and gas production and said for Cameron, the decrease sales tax collections,” she said. cost a little over $760,000. “When the economy goes
$220,000
down ... then of course the state is stuck with trying to figure out how to do things.” But the tuition increase wasn’t something sought first, according to Carter, who said the matter isn’t one taken lightly by university officials. “We look everywhere we can to see what we can do to cut costs,” she said. “We look at our efficiencies in programming. We look to make sure that we’re going to keep our academic programs to what students want and that are appropriate for this region ... We look everywhere we can before we look to tuition increases.” The funding allocation from the state, however, is based on estimates for their fiscal year, and Carter said Cameron is hoping the estimates are correct, but officials are bracing for another decrease just in case.
See TUITION Page 2
The increase in Cameron’s scholarships and tuition waivers
What’s inside Shining a light on CU PRIDE Page 3
Take a quick trip to Medicine Park
Aggie volleyball goes 4-0 at TWU
Page 5
Page 6
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Student Life
September 14, 2015 www.aggiecentral.com
Working it out at the Rec Center Eugene Patterson Staff Writer
Under the guidance of new Facility Manager Otis Gentry, a lot of changes have been made this past year to the Aggie Recreational Center. Gentry, who on Sept. 3 celebrated
Photo by Vicky Smith
Toning it up: Freshman Swornim Baral tones his abs on the body tower.
his first year as the Aggie Rec Center Facility Manager, was a Recreational Facility Manager on Ft. Sill for over 13 years. As the new manager, he is looking for ways to boost attendance to the already climbing number of visitors each day. As head of the facility, he has already implemented change by bringing massage equipment, stretch bands and a plethora of new classes to suit different workout styles. One of the new classes is the Barre Class, a combination of ballet, yoga and strength training taught by Katie Wright. For those looking for a more intense, fatPhoto by Vicky Smith burning class, the Spin Sweating it out: Freshmen Divine Alban (left) and Aaron Graham (right) break a sweat and Class meets Monday burn calories while using the conditioning ropes, located on the second floor of the Rec Center. through Thursday at 6:15 a.m. and is taught only Cameron students or alumni to enter students, as well as staff workers and their by Gentry himself. and workout at the Rec Center. families, can go to enjoy a workout and be Among the other classes available are He wants to institute a new policy that healthy. Zumba, water aerobics, “Fitness Fusion” will allow college students and staff to be He thinks one of those ways is through and “Butts and Guts.” able to bring a family member or friend to the families and friends of students and Also offered at the center are walking, come exercise and workout. staff. jogging and running classes that meet at “If no one new [outside the university] is To keep tabs on what’s what with the various times throughout the week and have able to come,” he said, “then it’s increasingly Rec Center and the classes offered, check separate instructors. hard to build attendance.” out Aggie Access for updates, or pick up a Gentry said he’s working on modifying He wants to build the Rec Center into schedule with a complete list of classes and the school policy which currently allows a family-friendly place where both college times at the Rec Center front counter.
TUITION continued from Page 1 “It’s not unheard of for them to do another cut,” Carter said. According to AAA Oklahoma, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed at $45.94. Continual decreases in pump and barrel prices across the state may not bode well for these state allocations, according to The Associated Press, which reported another income tax cut is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, totaling $57 million in reduction for the final portion of the fiscal year. In an interview with AP, Secretary of Finance and Gov. Mary Fallin’s chief budget negotiator Preston Doerflinger said “concern does not equal panic” about what may be another impending budget hole. “There is concern, but I would also say that it’s still manageable,” Doerflinger told AP, noting real numbers would be seen in December. Carter stressed the University is doing what it can to maintain an affordable, quality education for Aggies, though, even during a time of financial crisis for the state. Among these vital strides to combat the cuts are Cameron program CU Saves and an increase in tuition waivers and scholarships, according to Carter. “This last spring, we worked with CU Saves, got suggestions that way and implemented some
of them,” she said. “We increased tuition waivers and scholarships by $220,000. We have a number of students on tight budgets. We understand that, so we increased the availability ... to help the students who are in the most financial need.” Should a state shortfall affect the university’s budget, Carter said officials will take the same steps to reexamine their efficiency, but other options may be put on the table to ensure affordable education. “At some point, if they continue to decrease us, we’re going to have to look at whether we’re going to have to cut back on student programs or academic programs,” Carter said. “Hopefully we won’t have to do that in the near future. It’ll make for some difficult decisions.” Currently, Cameron University is the third regional university in low costs, according to Carter. In 2014, approximately 56 percent of Aggies graduated without any debt, according to a press release, and the university ranked in the “top 5 percent of 620 like universities across the nation in terms of students graduating with low debt.” Cameron’s rate for FY16 for 30 credit hours totals $5,580 while other public, four-year institutions cost over $9,000, according to The College Board.
Healthy body, healthy mind: Welcome to the Wellness Center Kristen Bass Staff Writer
Ever wonder what to do when you’re on campus and have a headache, have a sore throat or need a flu shot? The Student Wellness Center is on a mission to enhance the physical and mental health of CU students. The health and wellness programs are designed to improve the student’s success in achieving their academic goals. Put into place in the year 2000, the Cameron Wellness Center is one of many wellness centers that have been implemented into colleges across the U.S. Heather Taylor, Administrative Assistant of the Student Wellness Center believes in the need for a wellness center for all institutions. “I think it is an amazing and logical move for colleges,” Taylor said. The Wellness Center has a physician assistant who offers acute care to students enrolled on the
Lawton campus. These services include but are not limited to prescription medicines; athletic and ROTC physicals; lab work; urinalysis; glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure screenings; strep and flu tests; flu shots; safe sex education;
abuse, grief and loss and relationship stress. “Our recent survey indicates 95 percent of students who have received counselling services are satisfied with the services they have received,” she said. “90
ADHD Graphic by Vicky Smith clinics; and community referrals with CU student percent of students who discounts. have received counseling According to Taylor, services have improved The Wellness Center in their overall ability to also offers mental health function. counseling focused on “Same goes for the issues such as adjustment medical side. It is one to campus life, anxiety, extra step from the college depression, substance to ensure the students get
physical and mental help they need to be able to excel in school. This helps keep students in school and well to complete school.” Mentally, physically and emotionally, the Wellness Center gives students the ability to function and complete school. It offers a sense of security, that there is a place to go that is close. Additionally, students do not have to worry about medical bills. Services offered at the Wellness Center are covered by the health service fee paid at the beginning of the semester. The Wellness Center provides services to students on a walk-in only basis, and counseling is by appointment only. For more information about Student Wellness Center services call Heather Taylor at 580581-6725.
CU Succeed Workshop: Tips to improve memory Carl Severson-Olson Staff Writer
Students who attended the CU Succeed Workshop on Memory Techniques didn’t need a mnemonic device to remember that the event started at 11 a.m. on Aug. 31. Jason Poudrier of the Office of Teaching and Learning led the workshop. Poudrier has a background in teaching student development and study strategy classes. When the organizers of the CU Succeeds Workshop reached out to him to lead this workshop, Poudrier accepted the offer with a plan in mind.
“It’s fitting, because what I do is I adapt lessons that I teach in class into a one hour workshop,” Poudrier said. The goal of the workshop was to
help the student learn about “your amazing mind and how it works.” Poudrier reached this goal by exploring four concepts of memory:
elaborative encoding, the memory palace technique, chunking or grouping, and lastly the power of mnemonics.
One specific example was when Poudrier introduced the concept of elaborative encoding. The key point in utilizing elaborative encoding is to take “abstract ideas and make them familiar.” Abstract ideas can range from mathematical equations and important dates to key ideas and methods in any discipline. The abstract idea presented in the workshop was the equation for Slope-Intercept Form. Tribune News Service When presented with the Poudrier used a myriad of popular challenge of remembering the culture references to showcase the equation itself, Poudrier made a relevance of these concepts and how cartoon out of the equation and memory works. furthered the story of the cartoon in
solving the equation. This method proved to be rather effective and stood out to freshman Tom York. He said he is hopeful and excited to use new concepts and tricks and see how they help him in furthering his education. “As far as remembering pictures to equations, that’s definitely going to help,” York said. The CU Succeed Workshops will be continuing throughout the remainder of the fall semester in the MCC Buddy Green room. For more information in regards to the CU Succeed Workshop, call Student Development at (580) 5812209.
September 14, 2015 www.aggiecentral.com
Student Life
3
Cameron PRIDE continues to grow Tyla Eakins
there is male and there is female Student life Editor and that’s all you @Tyla_Eakins can be. With Cameron University’s “That isn’t Diversity Week soon approaching, entirely true, said recent five-star organization Buck. “So the best Cameron PRIDE (People way to describe it Respecting Individuality, Diversity is to view gender and Equality) has been preparing as a spectrum. for the event as one of the most At one end you diverse groups on campus. have male and Sophomore psychology major at the other end Matt Buck, the president of you have female, Cameron PRIDE, noted the but in the middle development of PRIDE in its most there’s genderrecent history. nonconformist “The organization is fifteen gender, nonyears old and has grown in just binary, a-gender, the last few years,” Buck said. dual gender, “Less than a few years ago, we bi-gender, etc. … were literally a couple people in a All these different classroom talking. This semester things don’t the classroom has been full of necessarily line members eager to help with events up with ‘he’ and planned for this year.” ‘she’.” Photo by Krista Pylant After intorductions, Cameron Buck said PRIDE members list the preferred Cameron PRIDE Cameron PRIDE: Sav Price spray paints Dr. Tom Balmer’s beard at the Cameron PRIDE booth during pronouns they identify with. Buck is different than Cameron’s annual Street Fair Aug. 15. Jenn Castricone, the group’s advisor and Advisor of the year can be reached at said there is more than being male most groups on 580-581-2236. or female. campus. “It’s where we all get together Shepard Act, which expanded the to be safe, to be able to be who we “We as a society, and we as “We are a hybrid organization are and who we’re meant to be,” he and just talk about stuff going on federal hate crimes act to cover English speaking people have and most organizations here on sexual orientation, gender, gender said. “I have never once felt scared in our lives,” Price said. “Whether very few ways to communicate campus are student-only,” Buck or insecure, nor do I know any it’s like bad stuff going on or good identity or disability. gender neutrality with a singular said, “so the only people who members who have felt that way.” stuff going on, it’s just a way for us “Oklahoma does not have any person,” Buck said, “so when I refer are allowed to join are full time Though Cameron PRIDE is to connect, socially speaking.” hate crime laws,” Buck said, “so to well, ‘they were doing this, it students that have a good academic I could walk out of this building bigger than ever, Buck wants to If students are interested in generally refers to multiple people. standing at Cameron University. keep the close-knit group headed Cameron PRIDE, LGBTQ+ be shot and have the word ‘fag’ It [‘They’] isn’t usually referred to “What makes Cameron in the same direction. advocate, Amy Merchant explained written on my forehead and as a singular person. Those certain PRIDE unique is that we don’t “Last year was the first year we how padded room meetings can obviously that person would be things help establish a singular have to comply to that rule, said have even been eligible for fiveprovide a personal perspective prosecuted for murder but would pronoun for gender neutrality.” Buck. “Anyone and everyone about the group. not have the additional hate crime star status,” he said, “and we’re Gender neutrality is the idea in the community can join and trying to balance that familial “It’s also a great opportunity law set against them. Where as that social institutions should not that allows us to form a unique atmosphere with growth and to ask questions,” Merchant said. if they did it on the refuge or use distinguishing roles based on setting and really bond a lot where we want to go in the campus “That’s an opportunity to come Fort Sill or any federal land, they people’s sexes with the purpose closer compared to any other and really get to the resources and would have that additional charge community.” of avoiding any discrimination. organization I’ve been involved The group also offers “padded really ask them [PRIDE members] brought up against them.” However, Buck said gender is with.” room meetings” where students one on one.” Buck said outside of campus it essential. On Oct. 12, 2015 Cameron Buck hopes the group will can be scary, but he has never been are in a relaxed environment “Gender is, I would argue, extra PRIDE will hold a candlelight and voice their opinions. Junior grow even more. Cameron PRIDE scared on campus. important because we’ve grown up vigil for Matthew Sheppard, a communication major and vice meetings are 6:30 p.m. every “Cameron is unique in the fact and we’ve been taught in science, homosexual man who fell victim to that because it is a partially liberal president of PRIDE Sav Price Friday. Students can join at any medicine and in general society – a hate crime. Buck said Sheppard’s arts school; we really do have a nice emphasized the openness of the point through the semester or it’s called the gender binary – that death helped inspire The Matthew bubble here on campus to be able concept. come to any event.
President McArthur welcomes students with ice cream social
Photos by Isaac Acheampong
New students: Cameron University hosted an ice cream social for incoming freshmen and transfer students at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Cameron House. The ice cream social allowed students to meet each other, make connections and become more comfortable on campus.
Dear Aggie: Concerned for the future
Dear Aggie,
be.
Make a list of some things that really interest you. Try to include old interests as well as new interests. I have a lot of different things I could do after graduation, Once you have your list, evaluate it and try to think but I can’t decide on one, Help! of careers that involve the largest number of interests on Sincerely, Concerned for the future your list. You want to make sure whatyou choose is Dear Concerned for the future, something that will make you happy and fulfilled. Think carefully about what you want in a career. Think about where you may want to live and work one day. Deciding what to do once you graduate is a decision many Also, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family for help students stuggle with There are so many options, and the world deciding which path you should choose. They know you is full of many possibilities. Your concern is completely understandable, and you are not best, and sometimes an outside perspective is helpful in alone in your fear of what the future may hold. There are several making life decisions. You may also want to research different occupations. approaches you could take to decide who and what you want to
Don’t forget to talk to your academic advisor about possible internships. Talk to people involved in the fields you are interested in and ask them questions important to you concerning jobs. At the same time you do not want to restrict yourself to only a few possibilities. Explore your options, follow your dreams and do not be afraid to try different things. You never know what you may enjoy. Regardless of what you decide, you should always do what you want to do.
Sincerely, Aggie
Dear Aggie responses are generated in house by Collegian editorial members and do not represent professional opinion or advice. Tweet to @DearAggieCU.
4
Voices
September 14, 2015 www.aggiecentral.com
Firsts make the greats feel greater
Courtesy of Jacob Jardel
Adventures at home and abroad: (Left photo) Jacob Jardel and Lani Malcolm pose in front of the Trevi Fountain while abroad in Rome in 2013. (Middle photo) Kelsee Monroe hangs out with Jacob and Lani at the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences Awards Ceremony in 2015. (Right photo) Lani smiles while abroad in Germany in 2015. You always remember your student office worker had first. cleaned the desk for the new It was 2009. The Academic occupant to move in the next Commons was still the old day. I stood there with two Student Union. The MCC boxes and the only thing was a parking lot. I was a left in the office: a Londonnaïve freshman still figuring themed corkboard. out what I was doing at The corkboard was a Cameron and what I was trademark of Lani’s office doing with my – photos life as I walked and memos into my first splayed class: General about, Psychology at surrounding 8 a.m. the Big I was sitting Ben screen in the back of printed on the classroom, it. People counting leaving the wasps in the Cameron ceiling lights Exchange with my friend would see Seth when she it behind walked in – Lani’s desk Lani Malcolm, as they my first exited the Jacob Jardel instructor. building. It Sports Editor But just as was a symbol much as you of the miles @JJardel_Writing remember your traveled for first, you easily remember the sake of making her and your last. her students great global It was 2015 – September citizen scholars. 3, to be specific. The office And she left it to me. was nearly empty. The other While the gift was
pretty sentimental given the information already stated, there’s still six years’ worth of back story to let you know why I started welling up as I took the corkboard from its perch on the wall. There were the numerous times she encouraged me to become more involved with the Honors Program with each year that passed. Then there were the numerous Study Abroad tours where she encouraged me to break out of my shell. Let’s not forget the plethora of times she’s helped me through every major and minor existential crisis of emerging adulthood. She’s like the long-lost older sister who knows how to come in the clutch, what with her years playing and coaching basketball. Seven years, a bachelor’s degree and a planned out academic career later, Lani has proven to be one of the biggest reasons why I am where I am today. She has been a part of my Cameron family for what seems like forever, which makes her as good as biological family.
But, as of the last week of August, she has left Cameron for bigger, brighter and more awesome things. She told us Honors kids about it on the group Facebook page about two weeks before the semester started and a few days before making it Facebook official. Of course we were all sad about it. I was working at the time, so I walked over to her office to talk it out with her. She was sad, too. But I could tell just how psyched she was for an amazing opportunity ahead of her – even if she never said a word explicitly. I was happy for her. How could I not be? It was a sad time indeed, and the pattern of personal change in 2015 only compounded the feeling. I’ve said it before and will do so again: a lot changes in six years. It’s just so surreal for firsts and lasts to happen before I leave the better and brighter futures Lani and others have moved onto lately. I’ve talked about it with my counselor in various permutations over
the years – albeit not to this extent before. Now, as I think about these firsts and lasts, I thought of a concept from rapper and poet George Watsky about firsts making the moments of life louder. I’d like to make an addition to that statement, because lasts have the same effect. With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that Lani’s departure still makes my eardrums ring. Lani has been a big part of my life through so many firsts and lasts. To think she was able to give me both a first and a last makes entirely too much sense, even if the thought makes my brain hurt from the volume of my thoughts. Needless to say, if firsts and lasts make “the greats feel greater and the brokes feel broker” – as Watsky so eloquently said – then Lani must be the great amplifier of my college career. One thought is louder than the others, though: change isn’t always bad. It’s something my counselor has
been telling me forever, and she’d be proud to see me say it in print. But it’s true. Whether it comes too soon or not soon enough, whether it leaves you reeling or doesn’t affect you at all: change can be a good, almost beautiful, thing if it leads down the right path. So, yes, Lani left. I miss her dearly because she is nothing short of a glorious human being. It may be a sad day – every departure has been and will continue to be. But this one, like many others, will be sad for all the right reasons. As I stood in Lani’s office for the last time, I thought back to the first day in that classroom. Everything else faded to the periphery as I thought about everything that happened between that first day and where I stood that Thursday in September. Then I thought about Watsky again, summing up my thoughts on everything as succinctly as always. “There’s nothing like the first time. The first time’s always perfect.”
Forgetting one’s worth in the fight to be perfect I think we’ve all had those moments. You wake up, glance at the time on your cell phone, and then hop out of bed in a panic. You pace around, wondering how you forgot. Then, you send a friend a quick text, informing him or her that you are going to be a “couple” minutes late. You throw on your clothes, then literally run out the door. The most embarrassing part comes next: you walk into a room full of people, and they stare at you. You want to tell them you’re sorry and to please understand – and to stop staring. They do not know the week you have endured, nor the responsibilities you must fulfill later that day. But for the most part, they will not care about those things. And, they should not have to. You are responsible for you. What matters is that you are late. You tell yourself that you are not dependable. You are irresponsible. You are a “slacker.” However, what also matters is this: you are human.
This semester already, I have family, friends, professors or had to battle with myself. I have co-workers? Will they think I’m made mistakes both minor and incompetent or careless? How come major, whether so-and-so has the mistake everything is forgetting together all an important the time? deadline or Realize misspelling a this: no one word. has it “all Because I “do together.” life” the best I We’re all can, so to speak, doing life. the “little” We’re all mistakes crush going through me. If I’m trying seasons, so hard, why do some more Vicky Smith I still mess up? difficult than When will I ever others. We’ve Asst. Managing Editor get it together? all made @pinkwritinglady In any event, mistakes and I apologize to whomever the mistake witnessed the mistakes of others. affected. I own it, guarding against As a perfectionist who leads a the urge to make excuses or pity busy life, I view my mistakes as acts myself. of torture. But that does not mean I But the hardest part comes next: will stop making them. I’ll continue moving forward. This is the point at to cringe at them probably for the which I battle with myself. rest of my life. In many ways, they’ll Will I lose the respect of my change my life and the lives of others.
About Us
The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution. The first issue is provided for free. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
Our Views
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Voices” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma. Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.
But I’ve come to realize that what you see when you look at although mistakes do shape who I me. Yet, He deems me forgiven, am, they do not – and will never – beautiful and capable of doing life. solely define me. Regardless of where you place Whoever you are and whatever your worth, the beating of your mistakes you’ve made, heart and the breath within understand this: you your lungs scream life. are worth more You are a human than your being – you are mistakes, valuable. including No one’s the negative intentional perception, ones. words or As a opinions Christian, I determine find my worth your worth as in Christ. a person. Colossians When you 1:15 says, “Once you make that failing Graphic by Vicky Smith were alienated from God grade, read that degrading text and were enemies in your minds… message or date that abusive person, but now He has reconciled you remember your worth. by Christ’s physical body through As you do life today, I am doing death to present you holy in His life. sight, without blemish and free from Together, we will be successful. accusation.” Together, we will fail. God sees my mistakes in their Together, we are worth more raw and ugly forms – more than than them both.
THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGIAN Founded in 1926 veritas sempiterna
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor - Krista Pylant Asst. Managing Editor - Vicky Smith A&E Editor - Brandon Clark Sports Editor - Jacob Jardel, Krista Pylant Student Life Editor - Tyla Eakins Copy Editor - Joel Frambes Aggie Central Editor- Charlene Belew
Newsroom Staff
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Circulation Managers - Krista Pylant and Vicky Smith Advertising Managers - Charlene Belew Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
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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A&E
September 14, 2015 www.aggiecentral.com
Theatre arts prepares program Angela Jenkins Staff writer
The theater arts program is gearing up for a new school year with new plays and new actors bringing lots of hard work to the stage. This semester, “The Breast of Tiresias” directed by Dr. Deidre Onishi, will run during October. In November, Scott Klein, Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, will be directing “The Magic of Moliere.” Onishi and Klein will also direct two plays, “Fallen Angels,” in February, and “The Pajama Game,” in April. “The Breasts of Tiresias” is described by the Theatre Department in a press release as “a surrealistic whirlwind of images and dialogue. A wife refuses to bear children so her husband does it. Children become commodities as the husband strives for wealth. In the end, the husband and wife relent their positions on childbearing and are reunited.” “The Magic of Moliere” is described in the same press release as “two classic one-act plays from a comedic genius. Both plays focus on love. In the first, two young ladies are seeking their future mates. They spurn their father’s selections, so the jilted suitors send their servants to woo them and of course the young ladies fall for these new candidates. In the second an elderly man has been cultivating his bride only to have her stolen away by a more age appropriate suitor.” Anyone who is interested in performing can audition for a play. Sometimes students from the local high schools even join in. Auditions have already been held for the first play of the year, and performers have been in rehearsal since the start of the semester. Rehearsals are almost every day for another month. performers and staff hope new students will come give theater a chance. Klein noted how different theater is as compared to TV shows and movies. “It’s live people and you can feel the energy,” he said. “You can see the effort people put into these plays. It’s a lot of hard work, but it is worth it in the end
when you get output of the finished product.” Klein said he loves being a part of the theater arts department and says his favorite part is watching the students’ growth. “Watching how students change and learn between freshman to senior year is really awe worthy,” he said. “I have seen students go off from Cameron to working on plays in Las Vegas.” For more information about the theatre department performances visit the website at www.cameron.edu/ theatre_arts or call 580-581-2346.
Cameron’s Theatre Department 2015-2016 Season Celebrating the Magic of the Classics! The Breasts of Tiresias
10/1-10/4
The Magic of Moliere
11/19-11/22
Fallen Angels
2/18-2/21
The Pajama Game
4/21-4/24
Weekday matinees offered for local schools
Cameron students get in free with a valid university ID Graphic by Brandon Clark
To purchase tickets, call the Cameron University Box Office 581-2478
Medicine Park: A good place to get away
Photos by Vicky Smith
Medicine park:(Top-Left) Visitors enjoy shopping and dining throughout the cobblestone community. (Top-Right) Before hitting the bath lake swimming area stop in and rent a floaty for the day. (Bottom) Shop keepers sitting outside their shops greeting visitors throughout the day
Vicky Smith
Asst. Managing Editor @pinkwritinglady
For students looking for a new weekend adventure, Medicine Park may be just the place. Known as “America’s Cobblestone Community,” Medicine Park became the state’s first planned tourist resort after its founding by Senator Elmer Thomas on July 4, 1908. Today, Medicine Park features swimming and fishing lakes, shops, restaurants, lodging, art studios and annual festivals. Students can drive from Cameron University to Medicine Park in 24 minutes.
After reaching Medicine Park, one can venture into the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Caley Lampkin, a junior biology major, has lived in the Lawton area for about 15 years and is well acquainted with both Medicine Park and the Wichita Mountains. Lampkin said Medicine Park is a unique place where she enjoys sight-seeing, walking, shopping and eating. “That one restaurant – the Old Plantation – I love going there,” she said. “There’s a cute little bakery that’s always delicious to go to. The restaurant – their burgers are delicious, and the bakery – everything’s homemade.” Lampkin’s favorite shop in Medicine Park is Basecamp Adventure Outfitters.
“They have a bunch of cool dog stuff,” she said. “I take my dogs in there…I usually give in and buy my dogs something.” Shopping is not the only activity Lampkin enjoys doing with her dogs, Tony and Bullet. She said they visit the Wichita Mountains probably three times a week. “I definitely go hiking,” she said. “I go running on the trails…Whenever [my dogs] see me get my hiking backpack out, they start freaking out. They get so excited, and I load them into the truck.” Her favorite places to hike are Charon’s Gardens and Boulder. “In the summer,” she said, “I always try to go on a trail that has a creek just so that the dogs can cool off, and I can cool off.” Lampkin said the mountains are a place to decompress after a stressful week. “People always say Oklahoma is so boring,” she said. “Go out there, and you’ll change your mind… I definitely think it’s worth the trip.” Dianne Chadwick, owner of Mrs. Chadwick’s Bakery and Coffee Bar in Medicine Park, has lived in the Wichita Mountain area her entire life. She said when people visit Medicine Park for the first time, they are surprised at what they find. “When everyone comes in, it’s like, ‘I didn’t know this was here,’” she said. “Well, it’s probably one of your best kept secrets, but once the secret’s out, everyone knows about it, so it’s a very cool deal.” Cyndi Hardesty, the owner of White Buffalo Trading Post, is the property manager for the town of Medicine Park. Hardesty said people can host their events, such as weddings and family reunions, at Medicine Park. “We have a lot of weddings down in the Bath Lake area,” she said. “The community
center is a beautiful facility that you can have a wedding, even on the outside and maybe do the reception on the inside of the building. You have a view of Mount Scott in the background.” For people who want to stay the whole weekend, Hardesty said they can stay the night in Medicine Park. “We have primitive camping,” she said. “It’s an area that’s been cleared, and you can get a permit from me, here, at the White Buffalo. For camping, it’s $15 a night – just pitch a tent.” As for weekend activities, Hardesty said in addition to Medicine Park, the Wildlife Refuge features the visitor’s center, the prairie dog town, the Holy City and Lake Lawtonka. Jean Schucker, co-owner of the Red Door Art Gallery, said she loves having Mt. Scott in her backyard and Lake Lawtonka just over the hill. “[Medicine Park] is beautiful,” Schucker said. “It’s charming. It’s historic. It has great friendly people.” She said the area provides college students with various activities. “We have lots of impromptu entertainment out here,” she said. “Bands can just call and ask to use the stage or set up in front of somebody’s shop. It only costs them if they want to use the equipment.” Schucker said Basecamp Adventure Outfitters offers outdoor equipment for rent. “He rents bikes, and he rents kayaks, very reasonably,” Schucker said. “He rents paddle boards, and he’ll give lessons if you’ve never been in a kayak before or on paddle board.” Schucker said volunteers are welcome to help with the different events Medicine Park hosts throughout the year, including the Red Dirt Ball, Blues Ball and the Art Walk & Flute Festival, which will be held Sept. 19-20.
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Sports
September 14, 2015 www.aggiecentral.com
Volleyball digs four straight wins Jacob Jardel
wouldn’t affect us at all,” Luckenbill said on “Game Sports Editor Time.” @JJardel_Writing The invite started with a four-set battle against Cameron Volleyball set up Colorado Springs. Evans and a strong start to the season freshman Jordan Williams with a perfect Texas Woman’s gave the Black and Gold the Invite on Sept. 4 and 5 in needed two points to take Denton, Texas. a contested first set 25-23 The Aggies dropped only before a back-and-forth one set in their four wins second set. against Colorado-Colorado The Aggies led UCCS Springs, Arkansas Tech, by two sets after taking the Arkansas-Monticello and second frame 25-20. The Harding. It was the team’s Mountain Lions came back first action this season, and and took set three 25-22, but the first with a team of 14 new players and three starters Evans and freshman Kayla Allen combined for three from last season. Kat Evans, the team’s lone unanswered points in the fourth set to pull ahead 11-8. senior, said the Aggies went The Aggies took the set 25into the tournament trying 21 to win the game. to overcome the stigma of The next game pitted the playing young. Black and Gold against a “We knew people highly touted Arkansas Tech were probably going to team. Despite the gap in underestimate us with the experience, Cameron came amount of freshmen that away with a straight-sets win. we had,” Evans said in an The teams took the first set interview with “Game Time” to the wire, with CU winning on CUTV, “but we knew we 27-25 after a kill and two wanted to make a statement.” Golden With the weekend’s slate Sun completed, freshman errors. Tori Luckenbill felt that the team did just that. “I think this weekend proved that it
Photo by Krista Pylant
In for the kill: Freshman Kayla Allen (center) splits the defenders as she goes for the spike during Cameron’s final match of the Texas Women’s Invite on Sept. 5 at Texas Woman’s University. The Aggies defeated Harding University in straight sets to seal an undefeated opening weekend, losing only one set in the process. The Aggies then played an efficient second set, knocking down 15 kills with only two errors to take the frame 25-22. Cameron fought off Tech’s rallies en route to a 2522 set win. The Black and Gold took the momentum from two wins into the next day of action, starting with a dominant
Graphic by Jacob Jardel
three-set win against Arkansas-Monticello. CU led the first set wireto-wire, chalking 13 kills and only seven combined errors to win 25-16. Despite the Blossoms’ early lead in set two, the Aggies stormed back in the second frame with the same score. Cameron won the final set 25-14, leading the whole set. Evans finished with team highs in kills and digs to notch a double-double. Luckenbill bumped another team high in assists, tallying 32 against UAM. Freshman Jenna Gillean added 10 kills of her own.
The Aggies closed out the invite with another straight sets victory against Harding University, finishing up with a perfect 4-0 record and sweeping three games for the first time since 2006. The teams battled it out for the first set, tying 17 times in the set alone. However, 23 kills from the Aggies helped seal the set 29-27. The Black and Gold fell behind to the Lady Bison 10-4 in set two, but ten unanswered points carried CU to the 25-17 second-set victory. Cameron held HU in check the rest of the way, never trailing in their 25-15 win in the third frame of the
game. Evans, Williams and Gillean each notched doubledigit kills, with Evans and Williams each earning another double-double and Gillean adding nine digs of her own. Luckenbill led the team with 51 assists – 18 more than the entire Harding team. Cameron’s undefeated opening weekend is the first since 2009. Evans and Williams earned AllTournament Team honors. Evans earned 53 kills and scored 57 points alongside eight blocks, while Williams’ debuted with 49 kills and 43 digs on a .238 hitting clip.
Cross Country hits the ground running on season Joel Frambes Copy Editor
@JolePole12 The Cameron cross country team opened its season with a win against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) at 8 a.m. on Sept. 5 in Lawton. The air horn sounded early Saturday morning to signify the start of the first cross-country duel of the Aggies’ 2015 season - the first after the departure of All-American Thomas Toth. Head Coach Zach Johnson said that this loss brings new challenges, but the new squad has potential for a breakout year. “I think we have a little more depth at the four and five spot than last year,” he said. “So in order for us to be better as a team, those guys have to make up for what we lose at the front.” After a slow start with a few USAO runners taking an early lead and Cameron occupying the middle of the pack, the runners started to find their paces.
The Aggies stayed a tight group throughout the first four miles, eventually overtaking all of the Drovers as a team in less than three laps. On the final mile and fourth lap of the race, the Cameron men broke
their ranks and made it a real race. Senior Steve Orwell took off, not only finishing the race first with a time of 28:05 but also lapping a USAO runner in the process. Overall, the Aggies took the top seven spots finishing one after the
other. Sophomore Leonard Kiplagat clocked in at second place with a time of 28:28, freshman Tristen Leyva came in at 28:30, and senior Loic Soria followed close behind at 28:36. Freshman Austin Akins clocked in at 28:38 to cap his first race for the
Aggies, and junior Grant Wignall finished at 28:39 right behind Akins. Freshman Roberto Barrios completed the dominant Aggie performance taking the seventh spot at 29:50. After a winning performance by the team, Wignall made note to keep a level head with a hard season ahead of the Aggies. “It was just a small race; it wasn’t too competitive,” he said. “I think it was definitely a good start.” Wignall also mentioned the execution of teamwork through the race by staying as a group for the majority. “We’ve been doing the same for some workouts staying together as a group,” he said. “It’s pretty good for the team.” The Aggies cross country team will hit the trails next for the HardinSimmons University Invitational on Sept. 18 in Abilene, Texas.
Photos courtesy of Mike Mazzo
Ahead of the pack: Freshman Tristan Leyva (left), sophomore Leonard Kiplagat (center) and senior Stever Orwell (right) distance themselves from the competition during a duel against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Sept. 5 in Lawton. The group took the top three places, leading the Aggies to the win in their first cross country meet of the season against the Drovers. Orwell earned the top spot with a time of 28:05, 23 seconds ahead of Kiplagat in second place and 25 seconds ahead of Leyva in thrid place. The Aggies’ next race will be at the Hardin-Simmons University Invitational on Sept. 18 in Abilene, Texas.