The Cameron University Collegian: November 3, 2008.

COLLEGIAN Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

T H E C A M E R O N U N I V E R S I T Y

Monday, November 3, 2008Monday, November 3, 2008 Volume 83 Issue 9

Election 20082008: Live from News

A&E

Sports

Voices

Students have right to display political signs

With a massive free speech issue on its hands, on Oct. 9 the University of Texas decided to reverse its policy regarding dorm window decoration.

Th e situation arose when two students adorned their dorm window with posters endorsing presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Citing a desire to keep the campus aesthetically clean and to avoid the notion that the university sides with any candidate during the political process, UT’s long standing policy had put a blanket ban on all window signs in student dorms.

Th e two students, who are also cousins, Connor and Blake Kincaid, quickly found themselves facing an administrative hearing in which they refused to remove the poster. Afterwards, the pair discovered that they had been locked out of registration for the spring semester. However, university Democrats and Republicans pooled their resources and campaigned to get the policy overturned and the Kincaids cleared of all wrongdoing.

With media and free speech advocates focusing on the campus, University President Bill Powers announced that he was suspending the ban on signs in dorm windows and gathering a committee to examine the policy’s constitutionality.

Dr. Melody Huckaby, an Assistant Professor and

By John RobertsonCollegian Staff

the Pre-Law Adviser for the Cameron History and Government Department, said that the policy itself was almost surely unconstitutional.

“I think it would be unlikely that such an overbroad ban that specifi cally targets expression would be held constitutional, even by the most conservative Supreme Court,” Dr. Huckaby said.

Huckaby, who holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma and teaches classes on constitutional law and the judicial process, said that the policy infringed upon free expression. From her personal experience teaching in Kyrgyzstan for the United States Information Agency, such heavy-handed enforcement of policy can lead to problems with student performance.

Huckaby said that while in Kyrgyzstan, she taught a class of students that came from diff erent backgrounds. Some of the students had been taught in an environment that promoted analytical thinking and the freedom to be expressive, while the other students had been reared in an environment of memorization and adherence to strict policy guidelines. When the time came for the fi rst exam, Huckaby said the diff erence between the two populations was extreme. Showing support: Political signs can be

seen in the windows of several dorms rooms and apartments on campus. According to Cameron, CU students have every right to display their political preferenences.

By Joshua RouseCollegian Staff

Photo by Jim Horinek

See SIGNSPage 3

SGA addresses mock legislation, online registrationBy Megan Meff ordNewswriting Student

Following a new piece of Student Government Association legislation, Cameron University students would be prohibited from wearing open-toed shoes.

Fortunately for fl ip-fl op lovers, this was only a piece of mock legislation that the SGA used for practicing parliamentary procedure.

Th e fi rst few SGA meetings

devoted much of their time to familiarizing new members and reminding seasoned members of how the system works.

Mock legislation is used to help the SGA members understand and learn how the legislative process works.

Tobias Kuhn, SGA Vice President and co-author of the mock legislation, said that the process helps students go through the parliamentary procedure in a fun and enjoyable environment where they are able

to ask questions and gain insight in a casual atmosphere.

“Mock legislation is important so freshman members can get a little bit of an insight of how other experienced members work. Th ey can see, fi rst of all, the procedure and how it works, and they also can try it out for themselves,” Kuhn said.

See SGAPage 3

Which way do we go?

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 5

Senior volleyball player wraps up fi nal season.

Cameron takes big stride toward a truly traditional campus.

SEE PAGE 2

CU Percussion Ensemble to put on an election theamed performance.

SEE PAGE 5

All eyes are on Tuesday’s general election, and Cameron University students want to bring the coverage home.

Members from both CUTV and the Cameron Collegian are teaming up to provide live up to the minute updates on the nationwide general election. Kyle Luetters, the producer and one of the co-anchors for the live coverage, said the idea was originally proposed earlier this year on a return trip from a broadcasting conference in Oklahoma City. Th e idea became a reality soon after with an assortment of preparations in advance of the election.

“Work has intensifi ed and we’ve had to coordinate both areas of concentration to come together and work,” Luetters, an R/TV sophomore, said. “And I think we will have great synergy when it’s all said and done.”

Election coverage will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday with a live television break-in. Regular updates will continue hourly from 7 p.m. until a winner can be declared. Luetters said a conclusion to the coverage hasn’t been determined yet. If the election is too close to call, he said coverage could end around 11 p.m., but it’s too early to tell.

During the 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. break-ins, a student and faculty debate will be held with Luetters and Cecilio Ramirez, the other co-anchor, taking turns as moderator. Th e coverage will also extend to the Internet with wikis and blogs updated by Dr. Matt Jenkins, Luetters and others.

“Dr. Jenkins and I are signed up to do blogs with additional support coming on,” Luetters said. “Dr. Walton, who teaches Political Communication Analysis, will come in at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to provide analysis with the help of an interactive map.”

See ELECTION Page 3 MCT CampusMCT Campus

Election Night Coverage

On Tuesday, for the fi rst time in CU history students from CUTV and the Collegian, will be producing and broadcasting live coverage of the presidential election.

Start Time: 6 p.m.

The coverage will include political analysis, debates, blogs and an interactive electoral map.

Viewers will be able to access the site for election night by going to http://cunews.wetpaint.comOnce there, they can click on the live election night page and will be brought to the events home page.

News2 November 3, 2008

See page 7 for solutions.

SGA continued from page 1

According to Kuhn, many times the mock legislation presented is humorous. Being humorous helps students feel more comfortable and relaxed and results in a diminished sense of fear to ask questions.

“Th e funny legislation opens people up, students are just more likely to ask questions,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn and Michael Doyle, an SGA Senator, were the authors of the resolution. Th e resolution called for the ban of open-toed shoes, with the exception of high heels. Th e reasoning behind the ban was that open-toed shoes were dangerous to all students.

Kuhn said that the idea was just something that came to him. Th ere was no particular reason for choosing it other than the inherent humor of banning a certain type of shoe.

Th e mock legislation was a hit with students. SGA members added many amendments to fl esh out the legislation, including one that stated that if a student had to wear open-toed shoes, then the open part of the shoe must be covered with pink, and only pink, duct tape.

SGA has, however, moved on from the mock legislation, addressing a variety of more serious issues.

SGA attended a leadership retreat on Oct. 2 and 3 in Tulsa. Eight students and Dean of Student Services, Jennifer Holland, traveled to

the Oklahoma Student Government Association Leadership Retreat.

Th e students had the opportunity to attend seminars detailing diff erent aspects of leadership. Th e seminars students could attend covered topics such as, ethics, disaster relief and Oklahoma politics.

Th ose who attended the conference were also able to foster relationships with other university students from all over the state,

develop key leadership skills and acquire new ideas to bring back to Cameron.

SGA also recently discussed a piece of legislation pertaining to online enrollment. SGA Representative Kari Murphy and

Senator Robert Sharp co-authored a resolution calling for Cameron University to off er online enrollment.

However, Holland said that the university is in the process of implementing new student software that will be made available in about 18 months, so the focus of the resolution became discussing details that would integrate online enrollment into the new student software.

After much debate, questions and discussion, the motion was made to send the resolution back to the legislative committee to iron out the wrinkles. Th e resolution will be presented again after suitable changes are made.

“The funny legislation opens people up, students are just more likely to ask questions.”

— Tobias KuhnSGA Vice President

On-campus housing numbers highest in yearsBy Jorie PalmerNewswriting Student

Campus living:More students live on campus now than have in nearly 20 years. The growth has been attributed to improvements that have been made to the housing facilities and campus programs.

Th e number of Cameron students living on campus increased by over 10 percent this year.

Director of Residence Life Casey Case said the amount of residents totals over 450, and Shepler and Cameron Village have reached full capacity.

“We have not had this many students living on campus since the last year of the football program in 1989,” Case said.

Case said the university has worked to better campus living by remodeling the Shepler dorms and the lounge area. Th e carpeting in the dorm hallways was changed, and other renovations such as painting and tiling the rooms have taken place.

Case said the resident assistants have worked to improve the programs off ered to students.

“Each R.A. has to do three programs a month, and we are trying to get more student involvement in those programs,” Case said. “A few years ago, there was nothing going on after 5 p.m. Now, there is always something.”

According to Case, improvements in campus dining might have contributed to the increase in students living on campus. Th e Aggie Grill is now open for students during the evening. Also, the student union and the cafeteria have extended their hours.

In addition to these advancements, Case said he and the Chair of the History and Government Department Dr. Lance Janda began an experimental program called Cameron Connections. According to Case, about 30 freshmen are participating in this pilot course which off ers benefi cial information on topics such as money management and substance abuse. Students that attend every session are given a $300 room waiver.

Case said the purpose of the course is to reach out to freshmen who may be living away from home for the fi rst time.

“I think sometimes the freshmen come in and we expect them to have certain skills that they may not have,” Case said. “When I fi rst went to college, I didn’t even know what a block schedule was.”

One of the goals of the classes is to give freshmen a chance to connect with other students and with the staff . At the end of the course, Case said the participants’ grade point averages and retention rates will be compared to students who were not involved in the sessions.

“If the program does have an eff ect, we hope to expand it. Maybe eventually it will be off ered to non-traditional students,” Case said.

Another new program in Residence Life is the Aggie Parent Association. Case said the Director of Student Activities, Zeak Naifeh, and Dean of Student Services, Jennifer Holland, began the Aggie Parent Association as a way to increase parental involvement. Th e Aggie Parent Association hosts an Aggie Parent Day and sends newsletters to the parents of Cameron students. Case said the most helpful tool for the parents is the phone number and email address they are given in case they have questions or concerns.

“I think it has been comforting for the parents to put a face to the campus and know the activities here,” Case said.

Th ere is a new face in Residence Life and it belongs to the new Women’s Hall Director, Krystal McCorgary. McCorgary said her job is to assign dorm rooms and provide guidance, information and discipline when need be.

“I love my job because I am a people person,” McCorgary said. “I enjoy talking to the students, working with such a great staff , and knowing my job will be diff erent every day.”

McCorgary is also the advisor for the Student Housing Association. She said the Student Housing Association gives a voice to the students living on campus. Everyone who lives in Shepler or the Village is automatically a member.

McCorgary said the current goals of Residence Life are to provide quality programs to students and promote school spirit. For the long term, Case said the objectives are to sustain growth and look toward expansion.

“We’re really beginning to get that more traditional campus feel,” Case said.

Photo courtesy of Community Relations

News 3November 3, 2008

SIGNS continued from page 1

“Those students who had been given creative license and had learned to analyze made all A’s and B’s on that first exam,” she said. “The students from the other school made D’s and F’s.”

Huckaby added that regardless of UT’s motivations for enforcing the policy, the fact that the policy was even on the books f lew in the face of the idea of a college learning experience.

“If a university is not a marketplace of ideas, if it does not provide challenges to a person’s preconceptions of the world and if its students are not encouraged to use creativity and analytical tools to solve the

problems of the world, then it is not a university, and humanity does not advance,” Huckaby said.

Jennifer Holland, CU’s Dean of Student Services, said that she could understand why the University of Texas chose to enforce the policy, but she added that it seemed like a certain few might have been using the situation to stif le expression that they didn’t agree with.

“As an institution, in the absence of anything else we have to go with policy,” Holland said. “It was on the books, and if a complaint was registered, UT had to go by their own guidelines. However, it does feel

like perhaps that policy was used contrary to its intention by those who disagreed with the signs.”

Cameron students need not fear the same repercussions as the two students at UT brief ly experienced. CU dorm policy dictates a generous amount of freedom with regard to dorm decoration. The only infractions involve obscenity and vulgarity. Holland said that as soon as students rent a room for the semester, they are given free reign to explore how they want to express themselves.

“Dorm rooms are a student’s home away from home,” Holland said.

“As soon as they rent that room, it becomes their own personal space. Students have an expectation

of privacy, and we want them to express themselves. Unless their decorations present safety

or health issues or are obscene, we won’t

step in.”

By Valerie PenningtonCollegian Staff

Finding part-time work in Lawton

ELECTION continued from page 1

Graphic by Jim Horinek

Th e temperatures are dropping, leaves are falling and sleigh-bells are ringing softly in the back of the minds of the Cameron University campus. As the holidays swiftly fall upon us, some students may be looking at their empty pocket books wondering where they might be able to get a part-time job that will make allowances for their school schedules.

Application processes range from the classic paper to the convenient online version. Many students hope to fi nd a job that is challenging on some levels while providing a break from academia at the same time. Hastings and Affi nitas are two companies in the Lawton/Fort-Sill area that off er both.

Hastings Entertainment has positions ranging from stocking and customer service all the way to management. Th e shifts available start as early as 6 a.m. and the store closes its doors at 11:00 p.m. making Hastings a feasible employment option for busy students. Currently, there are at least fi ve people who attend CU working there.

Brittany Durran, a CU sophomore, has been at Hastings for 11 months. She said that she enjoys working at Hastings because she enjoys the other employees and working environment.

“It is kind of fun working in a place that off ers a variety of products,” Durran said. “I also enjoy working with people who are close to my age.”

Th e hours of operation often create a wide range of shifts that are more likely to accommodate a traditional class schedule than many local retail environments.

“Hastings has been very good at working with my availability,” Durran said. “I just tell them when my classes are and they make my schedule around that, which makes it easier for me to concentrate on my studies.”

Although retail can be a fun environment to work in, some students might prefer less physical contact with customers. Accordingly, call centers are often a great source of employment for students. Th ey off er the benefi ts of non-traditional hours of operation and a higher hourly wage.

Affi nitas is an outsource call center that provides customer and technical support services to many diff erent clients, mostly in the cable industry, said Affi nitas Human

Resources Representative Alisha J. Givens.“We work for companies such as Comcast, Cox and

Time Warner,” Givens said.Because customers call from many diff erent time

zones, the operating hours of the call center make it easier to acclimate working schedules to a student’s class requirements. Students are more than welcome to apply but there is a required training class.

“We currently have nine Cameron students who are employed with our company,” Givens said. “Although we welcome students to apply, there is a two to three week long training class to be completed after which we are more than happy to work around class schedules.”

Earning extra money during the holiday season is not the only reason for a student to work while attending school. Some students have to work to support themselves on a full time basis. Although many people dream that their fi rst job is the start of their career, sometimes it is necessary to work through the college experience.

Although the traditional nine to fi ve job is convenient on many levels, sometimes it is easier to attend college and earn extra money by working after hours. For more information on available employment at Affi nitas contact Alisah J. Givens via e-mail at agivens@affi nitas.net or telephone 580.354.8512. More information about the hiring process of Hastings can be found by going to www.gohastings.com or calling 580.248.0392.

MCT Campus

Brooke Whitley and Jorie Palmer will be reporting throughout the Brooke Whitley and Jorie Palmer will be reporting throughout the night at local watch parties and the Comanche County Courthouse night at local watch parties and the Comanche County Courthouse as the local precincts report results. All eff orts are being put toward as the local precincts report results. All eff orts are being put toward providing comprehensive election coverage. Th is type of coverage has providing comprehensive election coverage. Th is type of coverage has never been done by Cameron news productions. never been done by Cameron news productions.

“We will be declaring states when we can so that we can get the word “We will be declaring states when we can so that we can get the word out,” Luetters said. “After we do our break-ins, we will air student-out,” Luetters said. “After we do our break-ins, we will air student-produced content and shows such as summer documentaries until the produced content and shows such as summer documentaries until the next report.”next report.”

Dr. Christopher Keller, the adviser of the Dr. Christopher Keller, the adviser of the Cameron Cameron CollegianCollegian, has spearheaded a Communication , has spearheaded a Communication department-wide venture into convergent journalism. department-wide venture into convergent journalism. Dr. Keller believes the future of journalism will be in Dr. Keller believes the future of journalism will be in combining the technologies used by video, print and combining the technologies used by video, print and radio news outlets. He said Tuesday’s election coverage radio news outlets. He said Tuesday’s election coverage is the realization of that vision.is the realization of that vision.

“Th is is a direct off shoot of the convergence grant “Th is is a direct off shoot of the convergence grant that we received earlier in the year,” he said. “We that we received earlier in the year,” he said. “We wanted to do a pilot study earlier in the semester and wanted to do a pilot study earlier in the semester and test out these technologies. So essentially this is going test out these technologies. So essentially this is going to see how we can use these things quickly. Th is is as hard news as it to see how we can use these things quickly. Th is is as hard news as it gets.”gets.”

Originally, only the Originally, only the Collegian’sCollegian’s editorial staff was going to help editorial staff was going to help contribute to election coverage. Dr. Keller said that, after speaking to contribute to election coverage. Dr. Keller said that, after speaking to Dr. Jenkins, it was later determined the entire staff should have the Dr. Jenkins, it was later determined the entire staff should have the opportunity to be involved. opportunity to be involved.

“Th e more we got to talking, the more we talked about convergence “Th e more we got to talking, the more we talked about convergence and political analysis,” he said. “We decided it would be good to get and political analysis,” he said. “We decided it would be good to get the upper echelon of the staff together just to tie in the convergence the upper echelon of the staff together just to tie in the convergence program.”program.”

Th is is the fi rst time that CUTV and the Th is is the fi rst time that CUTV and the CollegianCollegian have combined have combined

resources to off er coverage of one event. No one involved knows how the resources to off er coverage of one event. No one involved knows how the venture will turn out. But Dr. Keller said he’s not worried if the coverage venture will turn out. But Dr. Keller said he’s not worried if the coverage will be a success or a failure. Either way, it is still a learning experience.will be a success or a failure. Either way, it is still a learning experience.

“Th is is a no-stress test,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we fall fl at on our “Th is is a no-stress test,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we fall fl at on our faces because it’s not on the books. We’re just trying it out.”faces because it’s not on the books. We’re just trying it out.”

During the event, the During the event, the CollegianCollegian will handle live, breaking hard news will handle live, breaking hard news for the fi rst time. Since the publication schedule is based on a weekly for the fi rst time. Since the publication schedule is based on a weekly timeframe, most stories have to be lead by up to a week. Many eyes will timeframe, most stories have to be lead by up to a week. Many eyes will be on the students and how they work in such an environment.be on the students and how they work in such an environment.

“We want to see how quickly the info can get “We want to see how quickly the info can get from my students to the receiver, which is the Web. from my students to the receiver, which is the Web. How quickly we can get information up and how How quickly we can get information up and how comprehensive it is,” Dr. Keller said. “Once the comprehensive it is,” Dr. Keller said. “Once the information is old, it’s old. We want to test out true information is old, it’s old. We want to test out true hard news, which is something we can’t test out with hard news, which is something we can’t test out with the way our publication cycle runs.”the way our publication cycle runs.”

While this is only one-time event, Luetters While this is only one-time event, Luetters sees future collaborations between the sees future collaborations between the CollegianCollegian and CUTV as a way to bring more comprehensive and CUTV as a way to bring more comprehensive coverage to Cameron students. Eventually, Luetters coverage to Cameron students. Eventually, Luetters

said there won’t be a broadcast aspect of journalism or a print aspect. He said there won’t be a broadcast aspect of journalism or a print aspect. He said all news will be covered by one group.said all news will be covered by one group.

“I view this as the fi rst great project between the two concentrations. “I view this as the fi rst great project between the two concentrations. Both sides will mesh together,” Luetters said. “Having all of us in both Both sides will mesh together,” Luetters said. “Having all of us in both areas come together to do a huge event like this is a great way to show areas come together to do a huge event like this is a great way to show everyone that we are ready and willing to work together to produce everyone that we are ready and willing to work together to produce content that we, as students, the faculty and Cameron University can be content that we, as students, the faculty and Cameron University can be very proud of.”very proud of.”

Viewers will be able to access the site for election night by going to the CU Viewers will be able to access the site for election night by going to the CU News Wiki at www.cunews.wetpaint.com. Once there, they can click on the News Wiki at www.cunews.wetpaint.com. Once there, they can click on the Live Election Night page and will be brought to the events home page. Live Election Night page and will be brought to the events home page.

“We will be declaring states when we can so that we can get the word out.”

— Kyle LuettersR/TV sophomore

Voices4 November 3, 2008

Editorial BoardEditor-in-Chief - Joshua RouseNews Editor - Jim HorinekA&E Editor - Bira VidalSports Editor - Bennett DewanCopy Editor - John RobertsonVideo Editor - Kyle Luetters

Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kerry MyersFinancial Offi cer - Susan HillStaff Writers - Alexis Del Ciello, Raven Weiss, Valerie Pennington, Monica Garner

Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller

Newswriting StudentsBrooke Adams, Aduke Adesida, Kathryn Batule, Brandy Belew, Lauren Bennett, Greg Boxell, Taylor Brunwald, Justin Cliburn, Jeramy Eidson, Monica Garner, Anna Hataway, Kyle Luetters, Megan Meff ord, Solitaire Merrill, Mary Oliver, Jorie Palmer, Nicole Roames, Chelsea Robertson, Melissa Rodgers, Saman Samii, Meagan Searcy, Rashmi Th apaliya, Raven Weiss, Brooke Whiteley, Nikki Yowell

About UsTh e offi cial student newspaper of Cameron University, Th e Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Letters PolicyLetters to the editor will be printed in

the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.

Th e 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 fi rst and last names, classifi cation and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verifi cation.

Letters can be sent by regular mail or e-mail to [email protected], or they may be dropped off at our offi ce - Nance Boyer 2060.

Our Views Th e opinions expressed in Th e Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. Th e unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. Th e opinions expressed in Th e Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.

Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.

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THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Obama is the choice for 2008

Collegian Staff

After weighing the options and taking many factors

into consideration, it is the opinion of the Cameron Collegian that Sen. Barack Obama is the best choice for president in 2008.

Th e 2008 election has been memorable and, at times, drawn out. Th e election process has been full of history-making moments and surprising comebacks. At one point, it appeared clear that Sen. John McCain would never even make it on the ballot. On the other side of the coin, Obama is the fi rst African-American from either of the two major parties to receive the nomination.

Even though the election may be memorable, we cannot lose sight of the current problems facing the country. We are tasked with

electing the next President of the United States and there is no question that Obama is the man for the job.

Obama represents change. Before you shrug this off as another carbon-copy speech, bear with us for a moment.

With Obama as president, there will be an end to the eight-year-long Bush doctrine that has created a rut in the country. Whether he dealt with the economy, the war in Iraq, the rising energy costs or a number of other factors facing American citizens, President Bush continually dropped the ball.

It has become clear in the past few months that the Bush approach to economics has been a failure. During his time in offi ce, Bush has operated on a policy of deregulation. When the economy looked like it was getting into

trouble, he and his administration addressed the issue by removing restrictions that are placed on economic practices.

While testifying on Capitol Hill on Oct. 23, Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, admitted this approach is the reason that fi nancial institutions, like Morgan Stanley, were able to get into so much trouble. Th is system is something that must be changed.

However, according to McCain, the current system is fundamentally sound. McCain believes that by providing even further tax breaks for big business and the upper class the money will “trickle-down” to the rest of the country. Th e current economic approach is inherently fl awed, as evidenced by the failing stock market and a crumbling housing sector, and the election of McCain will only lead to more of the same.

Th e war in Iraq has been a sticking point for many voters since the invasion and occupation began in 2003. Obama supports a responsible withdrawal from Iraq. It is imperative that we bring our troops home in a timely and safe fashion, while maintaining the integrity of the work that has already been done. It is important that we avoid losing more Americans, and in some cases classmates, to a war that appears to have no end in sight.

Obama plans to further impart change through innovative higher education policy. He has major plans in place to ensure that college students are not only able to aff ord their education but also have a job to go to after graduation. In order to make higher education aff ordable, Obama will off er the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Th is tax credit will make

the fi rst $4,000 of tuition free for most Americans. Th is will take care of two-thirds of the cost of tuition at the average public college or university. Th e program off ers a great resource to students, but it also off ers something back to the community. In order to receive this tax credit students will be required to perform 100 hours of community service. Th is plan is needed in many of the communities in our country. As a result of the tax credit, students will be able to get a quality education and also create a quality environment for themselves and future generations.

Goodyear sits just outside Lawton and with it, the livelihood of thousands of people. We have seen a shift in the past decade of manufacturers taking their work overseas because of tax breaks and cheaper labor.

Obama plans to end the tax breaks for companies who send their jobs overseas. He has plans to invest heavily in technology and innovations that will lead to the creation of new jobs in America.

He plans to do this through creating “green jobs.” Th ese types of jobs will involve the development and use of renewable fuels, such as wind power and bio-diesel, that will help to power our country in a more eco-friendly way.

Th e last thing that this country needs is more of the same thing. With failed policy both foreign and domestic, the Bush legacy would only be continued if McCain were to take offi ce.

Party lines aside, the most important thing is that the people of this country make use of their right to vote.

Th is election will not only shape the course of our country, but the course of the world for the next four years. We must send a message, as a country, that we are ready for change.

John McCain is better suited for the job

It’s tough being the odd man out. Th e Cameron Collegian has

announced its endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president. Everyone on the editorial staff is behind this decision, with the exception of one person. Th at one person would be me.

It’s not that I have an extreme hatred of Obama or that I’m a full-on Sen. John McCain supporter. For me, it comes down to experience and which candidate would be better suited to guide us through one of the darkest times in U.S. history.

Let’s face facts. Th e president elect will come into offi ce facing a plethora of problems both domestically and abroad. Our economy is in shambles. Many experts are saying that this economy now is like the one that was experienced during the Great

Depression. People are losing their homes, which was a huge identifi er of the Great Depression. Th e credit crunch is hurting consumers in ways they never imagined. Bills are going unpaid, and merchandise is sitting idle on shelves. Perhaps the biggest loser in the credit crunch is the automotive industry. It’s amazing to see new cars and trucks discounted the way they are. Granted, gas prices started the escalation of manufacturer incentives, but the incentives to buy a car are still high even with gas falling back below $3 per gallon. It seems that automakers can’t give their products away. General Motors and Ford have both watched their stock fall to prices they haven’t seen since the 1950s.

Health care and Social Security are also two issues that seem to be the mainstay of any election. I remember watching the debates of the 2000 election, and these two issues were being talked about even then, but nothing has been done to majorly correct either. Health care is still skyrocketing and spending is projected to top $4 trillion in the coming years. Meanwhile, Social Security is rapidly losing money as the baby boomers retire and the U.S. workforce isn’t large enough to support the large number of retirees.

Abroad, the reputation of the United States has taken a beating.

A fi ght against terrorism that has included wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has taken quite a bit out of the people and the resources of our country. With support for the Iraq war at an all-time low and many in our country questioning why we ever started this confl ict, the president elect will certainly face the task of rebuilding many relationships. Our diplomatic ties with France and several other European countries aren’t nearly as strong as they used to be. We have more enemies now in the Middle East than we’ve ever had. Our trade defi cit continues to mount as more and more countries continue to keep their markets closed to American goods. Meanwhile, China is on the fast track to surpass the United States as the world’s leading super power. Th e ironic thing is that many of the tax cuts promised to us by politicians will be funded by loans from Chinese banks.

When you look at the scope of the problems we face today, experience should be a deciding factor in the person we vote into offi ce. I will give Obama credit for being a fantastic

orator and statesman. However, nothing can change the fact he’s still a junior senator who has only four years in the senate to his credit.

I will admit that I am in favor of some of Obama’s plans, such as his

tax plan and what he has proposed for Social Security. In a time of prosperity they would be great things to implement. However, this is a time of crisis and we need an experienced leader. McCain has been around the block and has a public service record that extends before Obama was

born. His age worries me, but it still doesn’t overshadow the fact that McCain has the scruples and the know-how to handle our relations abroad. He is known to be a fi ghter and is not afraid to stand up for what he believes is in the country’s best interest. Th e man also has made the sacrifi ce for his country. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and was taken as a prisoner of war. He has the scars and ailments to prove it.

It’s events like those that build character. Th e Collegian may endorse Obama, but McCain has my vote.

MCT Campus

Kyle Luetters

Photo of Kyle Luetters

to come Thursday

Graphics courtesy of barackobama.com

Sports 5November 3, 2008

By Bennett DewanCollegian Staff

The proprietor of the first Mixed Martial Arts fights televised broadcast, Elite XC, has ceased operations due to financial difficulties after just two years of business.

During its run, Elite XC became known as much for its promotion of fighters who often received more attention for their actions outside of the cage than inside it as it did for garnering the first major network deal in the sport with CBS.

With its colorful stable of fighters, the organization seemed to have all the makings of a successful and long lasting fight promoter. That was before the organization’s top leadership made a few too many high-profile mistakes in a very short period of time.

Earlier this summer, women’s MMA came to the national forefront due to the popularity of Thai kickboxing champion Gina Carano. Rather than promoting Carano as a fearsome striker with an ever-improving arsenal of chokes and joint locks, Elite XC instead labeled her a bikini model with muscles.

In order to keep their investment intact and to preserve Carano’s valuable bone structure, the organization set up fights with an array of over-glorified amateurs to inf late Carano’s fight record while keeping their newest property safe. This promotional ploy created an unforeseen effect. The MMA purists and hardcore fans tuned out due to the lack of interesting matchups involving Carano and the over-promotion

of the fighter’s sexuality. The spectators drawn in by the appeal of an attractive woman being paraded around their television screen were turned away by the fact that it is not that appealing to watch a sex symbol get punched in the face. Thus, an immensely talented athlete went relatively unnoticed for her abilities.

The promotion of Carano was lecherous at best, but it pales in comparison to the Pandora’s Box unleashed upon the world with the marketing of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson. Slice rose to fame as a YouTube phenomenon due to his highly viewed bare-knuckle alleyway brawls for money. Elite XC viewed this mountain of a man, full of gold teeth and trash talk, as its big meal ticket.

There was just one problem. MMA is a skilled fighting sport that takes years of study in many different combat disciplines, and Slice was just a big guy with no formal training. The fight promoters enlisted the services of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s former champion, Bas Rutten, to train Slice in the art of ground fighting and technical striking. But evolving as a fighter takes time, so Elite XC created fights with opponents far past their prime to build up the reputation of their most marketable athlete. As Slice ran through his aging competition with relative ease, the organization began saturating mainstream media outlets with claims that their elite heavyweight was the most dangerous fighter in the world. Elite XC hemorrhaged money in order to promote its Oct. 4 fight card with Times Square billboards and other

expensive mediums. All this posturing went on harmlessly enough until Slice faced an undersized journeyman in Seth Petruzelli.

The main event between Slice, 6’2” and 260 pounds, and Petruzelli, 6’ and 205 pounds, lasted only 14 seconds, with Slice getting knocked out by an awkward jab that all but discredited him as a fighter.

Elite XC shelled out an astonishing $35, 714 per second to the dethroned Slice.

To add insult to injury, Petruzelli then claimed that he was paid by the organization to stand in front of Slice and turn the fight into a brawl; an unfavorable style for fighting a much stronger competitor. This would be like a baseball team asking a pitcher not to throw fastballs for an entire game. These allegations showed massive amounts of impropriety that suggested Elite XC was fixing fights.

Petruzelli ’s statements spawned an investigation by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations into the possibility of legal infractions.

With the impending legal inquiry and heaps of bad press and angry fans, CBS terminated its contract with Elite XC. Without their major financial contributor and $55 million in debt due to financial missteps, the organization stated in a press release that it would cease operations immediately.

Elite XC was innovative in its mainstreaming of the sport of MMA, but with its gimmicky matchups and over-promotion of questionable talent, they may have done more harm than good.

MMA promotion ‘sliced’ off far too much

Photos Courtesy MCT Campus

More than just a pretty face: Gina Carano the face of womens MMA for Elite XC and ‘Crush’ on American Gladiators was unfairly marketed much more for her appealing looks than her athletic talents by the now defunct organization.

Will Fight for food: Former Elite XC heavyweight fi ghter Kimbo Slice (top) sits on a punching bag during a recent interview. Slice, once labeled the next big thing in fi ghting, is out of the job after his organization ceased operations earlier this month.

Long’s last games at CU bittersweetBy Alexis Del CielloCollegian Staff

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Defense becomes offense: Senior Middle Blocker Whitney Long slams down a spike during the recent CU vs. OPSU contest. Cameron won the battle of the teams named Aggies in three straight sets. Long, an excellent defensive player who leads the team in blocks, has been a key contributor in the Aggies improvements this season. Long

Th e dream of playing college sports came true for one little girl growing up in the small town of Cameron, Mo..

Cameron University’s senior Middle Blocker volleyball player, Whitney Long, not only dreamed of becoming a college athlete but is living the dream to tell her story.

“I never knew I would actually get here,” Long said. “For me, the biggest thing was stepping out of my comfort zone, taking that chance and going somewhere. I used to be pretty shy, but you’re forced to get out of that when you don’t know anybody.”

Brianne Smedley, CU’s head volleyball coach, said, “Whitney defi nitely has a passion for winning. She is one of those players that’s always mentally analyzing what we’re doing. Every drill and every thing always in the back of her mind [she’s] kind of thinking, ‘How should this be running? How should we be doing this and what can I do to make this drill successful?’ and then applies that towards it.”

Stepping out of her comfort zone, Long found that small-town girls can run with the big dogs.

“Th ere is something about being from a small town,” Long said. “Not that big cities don’t have morals, but it’s like the small-town friendly values that you get, hard work, dedication and commitment to the organizations that you’re part of. Th ey set you apart once you get up against girls from bigger schools that have done bigger things and been bigger places.”

“I didn’t know I could do it until I just tried, until I went on those [college] visits, met other coaches, and saw all these other girls and realized that I could compete with these people I used to think were so good,” Long said. “I never knew I had the potential I had until I got out there and tried.”

Before playing for CU, Long’s college athletic career became reality when she played for Coff eyville Community College (CCC) in Coff eyville, Kan. while earning her associate degree in arts. While attending CCC, she was a CCC presidential scholar and a member of Phi Th eta Kappa, a junior college honor society.

Having come a long way from being a shy small-town girl, Long realized the importance of community college and CU athletic families.

“At a community college you know one semester somebody might be there and then the next they’re not going to be there, so it’s really hard,” Long said. “You make

really good friends, but you know that they are going to be gone in a short period.”

Long said that at CU, “everybody has been here semester after semester. Th at has been one thing you can count on. Friendships I made in Coff eyville were just as important, but at Cameron it’s maybe a deeper bonding relationship that will last after I leave here.”

For Long, her senior year at CU has been fi lled with mixed emotion.

“From a volleyball aspect it has been bittersweet,” Long said. “It is exciting to know that during conditioning week that this is your last time you are going to have to be under the control of a coach that can make you run whenever they want you to run, but at the same time I am a very sentimental person.”

Long was recognized in high school as volleyball’s Most Athletic and Best Female Athlete, made the All-Athletic Female Team for the local newspaper, and landed on the All-Conference and All-District teams. In high school basketball, she was recognized as an All-Conference player and All-District Area Radio station Dream Team member.

“I know I am going to miss [volleyball] a lot because in high school and Coff eyville I was involved in all kinds of sports and then when I got

here I just focused on volleyball, which still took up all my time,” Long said. “Now that I am not going to have that, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I have always been an athlete. Th at’s kind of scary, thinking that I’m going to be a student with nothing to associate myself with. Now, I’ll be able to get more involved in other aspects of the university.”

Because she grew up in Cameron, Mo., Long said she gets asked about the relationship between her hometown Cameron and Cameron University a great deal.

“Sometimes I just say I’m from Kansas City so I don’t have to explain the whole Cameron, Mo., Cameron University thing, but putting on a Cameron jersey to me is more like a representation of here and where I came from.”

After graduation, Long plans on attending law school, but in the short-term will continue her volleyball career through a graduate assistant position and later plans to coach club volleyball while in law school.

“Th at’s what I want to do eventually, but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up volleyball yet,” Long said. “I took the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) this summer and I’m working on applying to law schools back home. I want to go is the University of Missouri--Kansas City and that’s the plan. As soon as the season gets done I will get all that stuff fi nished up.”

“Whitney defi nitely has a passion for winning.”

— Brianne SmedleyHead Volleyball Coach

Sports6 November 3, 2008

Men’s basketball leaps back into actionBy Bennett DewanCollegian Staff

During the summer, the Athletic Department at Cameron University welcomed a new men’s basketball coach. Wade Alexander came to campus with a goal: making the Aggies a better team. Alexander saw great potential in his new southwestern Oklahoma home.

“Going to the volleyball games, there is such a great atmosphere. The students are really involved,” Alexander said. “There is a lot of potential for Cameron to become a basketball school.”

In order to turn CU students into basketball fanatics, the Aggies must rebound from last season’s disappointing results. The new coach has already formulated

his recipe for on-court success in the ’08-’09 campaign. Adding to a team that had no problem scoring points last season, coach Alexander has focused his sights on the team’s weakest link.

“If we don’t defend, it doesn’t matter what we do on offense,” Alexander said.

The Aggies, under the careful tutelage of head coach Alexander and assistant coach Nate Gamet, are exhibiting a newfound sense of determination and a belief in the strength of the team.

“We did a lot of work in the preseason to try and build the players’ toughness,” Alexander said.

The change in culture of an organization to meet the expectations of a new coach takes the commitment and dedication

of all the players as a unit to try and be constantly learning and progressing in their craft.

“They have bought into the system,” coach Alexander said. “Everybody has been working really hard. The players want to get better; they want to improve as individuals and as a team.”

The Aggies are a focused and cohesive basketball team. Unified under one message, the squad is prepared to execute the coaching staff ’s new team philosophy on the court.

“You put teams away by stopping them on the defensive end,” Alexander said. “We have to limit teams to one shot with a hand in their face and then keep them off the boards.”

Coach Alexander has put his confidence in this simple game

plan.With improving athleticism,

speed and toughness, the Aggies are prepared to impose their will on the Lone Star Conference.

“I want the other team to say, ‘we could hardly run our plays

Aggie women’s basketball shoots to thrill

By Bennett DewanCollegian Staff

Excitement abounds among coaching staff for the Cameron University women’s basketball team. The elation is promoted by the upbeat and affirming attitude of first-year head coach Tom

Jumps like Jordan: Jamaar Burke (Above) and Kallan Glasgow (Left) go head to head in the recent “Meet The Aggies” event held in the Aggie Gym. The two dunkers went back and forth until Glasgow pulled off the victory in a dunk-off. Burke thrilled fans by leaping over his teammate to throw down a thunderous jam. The eventual champion, Glasgow, electrifi ed the CU faithful with an array of rim-rattling throwdowns including a ferocious dunk from outside the key.

and we couldn’t get our shots off,’” Alexander said. “And hopefully they say that Cameron is a good rebounding team; we may not be the biggest team but we have some guys who are really solid on the inside.”

Photos by Bennett Dewan

Webb, the workmanlike attitude of assistant coach Steve Lowe and the improved play of the team as a whole.

The Aggies grossly underachieved last season, despite their plethora of talent. Although to some this may seem like a monumental task to turn this

team into around, the CU Coach has everything going to plan.

“They are great kids; they have worked really hard,” coach Webb said. “They have bought in to our system. They understand it is going to take a lot of work, and they understand that.”

The first goal of the Webb’s coaching staff was to promote team cohesiveness.

“The team is very tight; they goof around together and they work hard together. They understand it is about each other getting better. They understand it is about team first, the bigger picture,” Webb said. “Our team motto is ‘together we will,’ and we understand that it takes all of us to do everything we can possible to reach our goals.”

The road to improvement is a long journey, and its one that the Coach thinks that is an everyday struggle. The advancement of the players on and off the court is a top priority.

“The job as a head coach is being a people-builder. My goal everyday is to wake up and help them be better people,” Webb said. “That means better students, better student athletes, daughters and sisters, we want to help them be better people.”

Along with improving the character of the team, there is a game plan in place for making the Aggies a formidable force on the court.

“We would like to get up and down the court and play transition basketball. We want to be the fastest team in the nation from free throw line to free throw line. We have to get in better shape to do that, but we are going to get there,” Webb said.

Coach Webb is not likely to

make promises or predictions for his team this season, but he is willing to comment on what Aggie fans can expect.

“Our number one goal is to make the playoffs,” Webb said. “We want to reward our players and the fans. We will give the fans physicality and intensity. There is a spirit in the gym when we step between the lines. If we

do a good job, and put the right product on the f loor, the fans will come out and have fun.

“We want to be the fastest team in the nation from free throw line to free throw line.”

— Coach Tom Webb

A&E 7November 3, 2008

Percussion ensemble beats to memorable eletionBy Raven WeissCollegian Staff

Iron Chef classes teach art of cooking to studentsBy Bira VidalCollegian Staff

Cameron students are getting ready to draw their forks and spoons and mix incompatible ingredients as they come along for this year’s annual CU Iron Chef, a competition that will not only reveal the next CU Iron chef but also bring college students closer to the kitchen.

Following past tradition, the Iron Chef competition will offer classes for students planning to attend the cooking contest. The classes will teach students the basic concepts of putting a meal together and presenting it in an impressive manner.

The classes will take place at 7:30 p.m. on both Nov. 4 and 5 at the Centennial Room located in the Shepler Towers. According to Krystle McCorgary, the Women’s Hall director, the competition will let students interact with CU chefs and the culinary art.

“[The Iron Chef] is a program where students will have 2 days of cooking classes,” McCorgary said. “That’s when Eric Everett [Sodexho’s chef] is actually

going to make a salad, entrée and dessert. Each night Eric will fix two different meals.”

At the first cooking class, the chef will teach the basic principles of cooking, and the event coordinators will separate the students into different groups.

“At the cooking classes they’ll [have] a raff le to [place the students into groups],” McCorgary said. “There will be three people per team, two teams.”

The two teams will receive a fourth member that will serve as an alternate if anything happens to the prime three participants. Both teams will receive opinions about their meals from a panel of selected judges.

“They will actually taste every item and rank all of them,” McCorgary said. “The judges will have enough to taste.”

Assistant Professor of Communication Justin Walton, Sodexho General Manager Daniel Ghrayyeb, and two students, Pre-Nursing sophomore Justin Payne and Communication junior Amanda Finch, will comprise the judging panel.

The Iron Chef contest will allow students to discuss the ingredients of each recipe during the actual competition. The judges will then give a special secret ingredient to both teams. Students will then have the task of preparing the meals with that ingredient.

“Each team will be prepping at 7 p.m., cutting vegetables and cutting meat. At 8 p.m. they will come to the stage,” McCorgary said. “They will have one hour

to complete all meals [with] the secret ingredient.”

As a past competitor, McCorgary stated the contest teaches students how to time not only the meal, but also the tasks that go along with it. It gives students the opportunity to have fun while cooking in a group setting.

“It was really fun [and] exciting because you are able to time your meal and make it presentable [and to] cook in front of people. I didn’t care if I won or not. It was [nice] to get the [chef] hats and coats,” McCorgary said.

According to Payne, the events for PAC and Student Housing this year have had a considerable amount of students participating. The turnout from this semester has also exceeded that of previous years.

“I am expecting a lot of enthusiasm from the contestants, as well as the audience. As always, I am looking forward to tasting some awesome food,” Payne said.

Finch complemented Payne’s expectation by stating that the Iron Chef contest will bring to students the challenge to create something

Photo courtesy of Music Department

unexpected.“I expect the competition to be

really intense,” Finch said. “I’m hoping the participants introduce some exciting ingredients. I think the key to winning this kind of competition is to make something unique.”

The winning team of the contest will receive gift cards. The second team will also receive gift cards, but with a smaller amount of credit. Both teams will get certificates that show their participation in the 2008 Iron Chef.

The Iron Chef competition will take place at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Shepler Ballroom. Cameron students wishing to take part in the competition will need to participate in the cooking classes.

Graphic by Bira Vidal

The Cameron University Percussion Ensemble (CUPE) will present “An Election Evening Escape” at 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Cameron University Theatre.

The CUPE is comprised of CU percussion majors Jason Dozier, Grant Johnson, Jarrod LaRoche, Kevyn Reece, Klay Reece, Jeremy Toombs, Chris Turner, Kimberly Garza of Iowa Park Texas, and Clint Williams a Music Composition major.

The Percussion Ensemble is conducted by Dr. James Lambert, CU Professor of Music.

“The CUPE has been performing campus concerts for 33 years,” Lambert said. “Many of the percussion alumni are performing or teaching across the country. The members of this year’s percussion ensemble are carrying on a proud tradition of top-notch musicianship.”

Friends of the Cameron Percussion Ensemble are hosting a reception after the concert in the foyer of the CU Theatre.

The Department of Music has had numerous concerts during the first week of November.

The Dave Alexander Band headlined the annual Country Jazz Fusion in the CU Theatre on Oct. 30. On Oct. 31, a second concert was held a the Simmons Center in Duncan.

The Dave Alexander Band joined the CU Jazz Ensemble, which was directed by John

Moots, Assistant Professor of Music.

On Nov. 1, CU Vocal Music students participated in the concert “An Evening of Opera Scenes,” which featured multiple pieces form different operas known world wide.

The students in the concert included Jasmine Glass, Erin Hoff, Anjelika Ramsdell, Sabrina Harrell, Matt Armstrong, Jonathan Phelps, Robert White,

Eli Ramirez and Sonja Detweiler. The recital was co-directed by

Jan Logan and Dr. Earl Logan, assistant professor and professor of Music respectively.

Soprano vocalist Christian Logan Morren, a CU graduate from 1997, guest performed on Nov. 2. The recital was a tribute to the Leta Mae Smith Guest Artist Series.

The performance took place in the McCutcheon Recital Hall,

where Morren was accompanied by Doris Lambert on piano. Lambert peformed “Exsultate, Jubilate” by W. A. Mozart, and together, they performed “The Shining Place” by Lee Hoiby, and “Susanna” by Carlisle Floyd. The tribute recognized CU graduates and their continued development in their respective music careers.

As for the Percussion Ensemble, the presentation will include several pieces. Some of

the pieces are “Teamwork” by Lynn Glassock, “The Gilded Cage” by Susan Powell, “Concerto for Timpani” by John Beck. The piece will feature Jeremy Toombs on the timpani.

“Concerto for Marimba” by Ney Rosauro will feature Grant Johnson on the marimba, and will present “La Llorona” arranged by Ruth Jeanne.

“Alabama Moon” by George Hamilton Green, arranged by William Cahn, will feature Grant Johnson on the xylophone, and “Techno-Pop” by Nathan Daughtrey.

There will also be a guest alumnus performing. Josh Sampson, a music teacher for Lawton Public Schools, will join the CUPE ensemble, playing on several steel drums.

The Cameron steel drum ensemble, known as Cameron University Pan Express, will present “Oye Como Va” arranged by Diane Downs, “Ritmo Suave” by Lalo Davila, “Fiesta Latina” by Lalo Davila, and “Brazil” by Barroso and Russell, arranged by Diane Downs.

Concert tickets are available beforehand and can be purchased by calling the CU Deparment of Music at 581-2440.

Admission the night of the performance is $6 for adults and $4 for students, and tickets can also be purchased 30 minutes before the concert at the Theatre Box Office. The concert is free to CU students.

To the sound of the drums: Percussion ensemble musicians get ready for the “Election Evening Escape” concert. The event will give attendees the change to enjoy a performance during elections.

Variety8 November 3, 2008

Photo Collage by Bira VidalPhoto Collage by Bira VidalPhotos by Bennett DewanPhotos by Bennett Dewan

“Meet the Aggies” bounces off Basketball season

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