The Cameron University Collegian: September 26, 2005

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, September 26, 2005 Volume 79 Issue 5

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Voices

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2005

Maya Angelou said it best: “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value, no matter what their color.”

This week, in celebration of the great diversity on campus, the university is presenting “Diversity Week 2005, Going Global: Around the World in 5 Days.” This is a celebration of the multicultural aspects of the campus, with students coming from, to name just a few, Canada, the Asian/Pacific Islands and the Caribbean. The week will be filled with activities, performances, demonstrations and displays that showcase the cultures represented here. This event gives people the opportunity to understand more about their fellow students.

Diversity Week will open today with CAISA, the Cameron American Indian Student Association on the lawn of the Science Complex at 11:30 a.m. Former President of CAISA, Terri Poahway, is very pleased with this.

“This is a great opportunity for the students,” Poahway said. “Cameron is so diverse, with so many different people. This week is also special to the tribes in this area, as Lawton was a reservation at one time. It gives them a chance to show people who they are and what they can do. It’s great that Cameron gives this chance to students and the community.”

CAISA will be presenting various dancing and singing exhibitions, a pow-wow and twelve different kinds of fry breads.

Student Development Specialist, Tara Lennox, provided the schedule of events for the coming week.

“Monday will start us off with the American Indian students,” Lennox said. “Tuesday, the Ebony Society will be presenting the Buffalo Soldiers and food from the Dry Beaver barbecue.”

Tuesday will also include a cultural showcase at 8 p.m. in the Shepler Mezzanine. This showcase will represent the many numbers of cultures on campus. The Cameron Programming Activities Council (PAC) has been very active in the planning of this event. PAC Co-chair Blake RedElk reported that PAC has been helping with details and making sure everyone is represented there.

“Each organization will bring items that represent its culture, from food and clothing to dance and song,” RedElk said. “Not only is it a fun, but it is great to celebrate and understand each other, seeing

Around the world in 5 days

Please see DIVERSITY, page 4

By Kenny ScarleStaff Writer

It is 30 minutes past show time in the seat-filled room of the Shepler Mezzanine, as an audience of students, friends and family quietly await the arrival of the Miss Socarnival Pageant contestants.

Behind the slightly opened doors of the side room there is cramped chaos as the girls scramble to find safety pins, lipstick and hairspray to put the final touches on their outfits for the opening number.

This was the setting last Sunday, as I applied burnt orange lipstick to marketing senior and Miss Socarnival 2004 Mimi Hirai’s lips. I had a pen in my other hand as I wrote the description I would read for business freshman Angjeliqi Marko as she modeled her evening wear.

As her chaperone, it was my duty to be creative and to decide if she should be the “Queen of Anger,” reflecting her emotion theme for her carnival costume, or the “Queen of the Night,” the symbolic black capturing the dark essence of mystery.

Five drafts later, the girls are going out to dance in puffy cornflower blue sleeves, matching blue skirts, white tank tops and sneakers, with pom-poms in hand. They introduce themselves with confidant, vibrant descriptions nostalgic of Jamaica, Lawton, Grenada and Albania.

In between performances, CU students and students from neighboring junior high and

SOCA hosts pageant, celebrates diversityThis year Cameron University is the

recipient of the Brain Gain grant. Usually awarded to schools committed to improving and developing their various educational facilities, the grant is directed at strengthening the key areas of CU’s institutional weaknesses.

According to Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Larry Kruse, author of the proposal, the initiatives of the grant are three-fold: to develop an assessment of student populations; to establish and develop training for academic advisers and to develop and pilot an early alert system for at-risk students.

Already on the test field is the early detection system for at-risk students. The program is designed to make students aware of their lack of academic progress in classes.

This summer, the pilot system was introduced to select Cameron students and faculty. Tested only on zero-level courses, the early warning system has proved successful. According to Kruse, the project made a difference where none was seen before.

“The intent of the early detection system is to notify students when they’re not doing well,” Kruse said. “Many students don’t know how they’re faring in class. They don’t keep up with their grades. The premise of the system is that we cannot help students unless we know how they’re doing, and the early detection system does that.”

Although the pilot system was used only for zero-level and non-credit courses, Kruse said, there are plans make it campus-wide next year.

According to Kruse, the instructors who

participated have a screen attached to their class roster. If a student isn’t doing well, the instructor places a check mark next to one of these four areas: non-attendance, low test scores, late or uncompleted work or homework. A letter generated by the office of student services is then sent to the student and a copy is sent to the instructor. The letter provides direction for the student on how to remedy their situations.

The system, though still in the early stage, made a telling difference. This summer, only 29 percent of at-risk students received a failing grade. Forty-two percent of the students received letter grades, while 29 percent took the option of withdrawal. That, said Kruse, is a marked improvement among at-risk students who, under ordinary circumstances, would have made a 100 percent failing rate.

Brain Gain grant aids student opportunitiesBy Petulah OlibertStaff Writer

By Lauren SlateStaff Writer

Please see PAGEANT, page 5

Courtesy Graphic

Jet lag effect ends in early exit during games.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 9

Kite-flying and band sound combined to kick off the Interna-tional Festival events.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 10

Theatre production wouldn’t be the same without professional costume design.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 8

Mexican Marines aid U.S. in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 3

News2 September 26, 2005

Classifieds

The Village is a new way of life for over 200 students on campus. According to Secretary of Resident Life, Pat Vondissen, there are 217 students currently residing at the Village, with a maximum capacity of 234.

As the Director of Residence Life, Casey Case not only oversees the Village, but is also in charge of security within the complex. With assistance from five other on-site staff members and the campus police officers, it is Case’s responsibility to keep the students in the Village safe.

Numerous security measures have been taken to ensure students’ safety on campus; those measures include new security gates, card key access to outer doors, locks on individual rooms, and a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, video surveillance system.

“An outer fence has been added to the parking lot, and access is limited to only students who live in the apartments. The buildings have ID card swipe access, and within the apartments, the bedrooms have locks on the doors. The camera systems are monitored by the on-duty staff members and the campus police, and every floor has

a designated hall director and/or resident assistant on duty at all times,” Case said.

The campus police assist Case and the students who live in the Village by driving through the parking lot, and conducting periodic walk-thru security checks in and around the complex.

Case is pleased with the

relationship between the campus police and the residence life staff.

“The campus police do a great job. I love those guys. They know the students by their first names, and we coordinate with them a lot,” Case said.

Case and other staff members ensure not only security, but also the safety of the students at the

The Cameron Village – safe and sound

complex, and handle all calls and complaints about the complex.

They have received calls from students who accidentally locked themselves out of their rooms, and heard complaints about unsafe obstructions on the sidewalks.

Security in the Village is working well, and no major incidents have occurred since it

opened, Case said. However, some provisions are being proposed to further enhance security.

According to Case, every room has had a telephone installed, but he wishes to add outside phones, just in case an emergency situation requires the use of an outside line.

“The phone lines have been dropped for the outside phones, but the phones have not yet been installed,” Case said.

Even though the Cameron staff has developed a freer, more individualized complex for their students, there have been no changes in the on-campus alcohol policies.

“Cameron is a dry campus through and through. We get mixed reactions from the students, but most of them understand, because of the possible problems that are present when alcohol is involved,” Case said.

Any resident who needs to report a problem, accident, or incident always has immediate access to any member of the staff.

Contact information has been disseminated through fliers, and posted in the hallways.

Students may contact the resident life staff at 581.2391, and the campus police may be contacted at 581.2237.

By Christina FryeStaff Writer

Secured Access: An outside view of the Cameron Village shows the security gates at the entrance of the parking lot. Only residents with a swipe card may activate the gate to enter with their vehicle.

Photo By Christina Frye

Last Monday, President Cindy Ross was the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Student Government Association.

Ross greeted the senators and presented some of the highlights of the year to date as well as what is to come.

She said this year 25 new faculty members have joined the community; last year CU welcomed 18 new faculty members.

Ross discussed the need for increased financial assistance due to the rising costs of tuition.

To address this concern, Cameron University has increased the resident tuition waiver scholarship budget by 10 percent this year alone, with a $70,000 increase over the past three years. Also, they are looking to raise more private scholarships.

In addition, Ross discussed the

importance of improving student life at Cameron University. Over the past several years, the Student Union food court has been renovated, Ole Kim has been resurrected, a coffee shop has recently opened in North Shepler, and construction on Cameron Village, which offers apartment-style student housing, is finishing up.

The reason for all of these endeavors is to provide students with the traditional on-campus experience and a sense of community.

State legislators recently passed a capital bond program, with $12 million set aside for renovation and improvement on campus, including repairs to the Business Building, up-dating the air conditioning system and addressing parking concerns.

All of these are part of the Cameron University Master Plan – the renovation of the campus for students and faculty.

In 2008, Cameron University will celebrate its centennial. Beautification projects continue on both campuses in preparation for the celebration.

Ross stressed the need to provide top quality education and faculty members for current and incoming students, and to make CU the “University of Choice” for traditional and non-traditional students alike.

“I was a non-traditional student myself,” Ross said. “I know what it was like to juggle school, work and family. I want to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone.”

Ross was very excited about the efforts of the Student Government and stated how proud she was of their work.

“I know you are busy with school, work and other activities, but your dedication is appreciated,” she said. “We take everything you do here very seriously, and enjoy working with you.”

Ross makes appearance at Student Government meetingBy Kenny ScarleStaff Writer

Got Skills?

Interested in earning money? If you have design knowledge and would like to work on The Collegian, this is your opportunity.

The Collegian is looking for an assistant business/advertising manager to begin working the week following fall break, with the possibility of moving into the manager’s position in spring 2006.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please e-mail The Collegian at [email protected]. and put “Business Manager” in the subject line, or call 581.2261.

Tutoring: Reading, writing, algebra and more. Caring, certified teachers, positive reinforcement, mastery learning, diagnostic and prescriptive. Sylvan Learning Center, 351.9100.

Interested in placing a classified ad? Contact the Collegian by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone 581.2261.

Check out the Collegian online at www.cameron.edu/collegian

Voices 3September 26, 2005

Editorial BoardManaging Editor - Lisa SniderNews Editor - Sarah Warren Copy Editor - Kathleen KellyA&E Editor - Joshua RouseSports Editor - Aaron GilbeeFeatures Editor - Angela SandersGraphic Artist - Leah Hicks

Newsroom StaffBus. Manager - Jennifer HardyCartoonist - Thomas PruittFinancial Officer - Susan HillPhotographer - Scott PrattWebmaster - Sheldon RogersStaff Writers - Lauren Slate, Amanda Rundle, Jenny Tucker, Jessica Lane, Daniel Evans

Faculty Adviser Christopher Keller

News Writing StudentsDavid Bublitz, Selby Bush, Joanne Caudle, Regan Frizzelle, Christina Frye, Cara Garza, Amanda Herrera, Lahoma Horse, Violet Justus, Shal-lon Kennedy, Danielle Murphree, James Norris, Petulah Olibert, Jolene Price, Blake Red Elk, Joshua Rouse, Kimberly Ryans, Kenneth Scarle, Jennifer Tucker, Amber Veit.

About UsThe official student newspaper of Cameron University, The 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.

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, classifi-cation 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 or e-mail to [email protected], or they may be dropped off at our office - Nance Boyer 2060.

Our Views The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” represents the opinion of the majority of the edito-rial board. The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily repre-sent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.

COLLEGIAN

Founded in 1926veritas sempiterna

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Among the 94 countries that have offered aid to the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, none is more symbolic of a difficult friendship than Mexico. Katrina forced the United States and Mexico to cross years and miles of border resentment and suspicion. The neighbors transcended national and personal boundaries in the face of catastrophe to find their human-ity.

It’s estimated that 145,000 Mex-icans were affected by the hurricane, 10,000 of them in New Orleans.

With President Bush’s approval, President Vicente Fox sent a Mexi-can Peace Corps to help his neigh-bor. Fox proudly told his people: “This is Mexico: It’s solidarity, love, caring, capable of conquering ad-versity. For this reason, we have a stronger Mexico, a more democratic Mexico, a free Mexico, a working Mexico.”

Mexican sailors from the ship Papaloapan docked last week off the coast of Biloxi, Miss., and began unloading supplies for the hurricane victims. Their ship brought along rescue helicopters, vehicles and water.

For many Tejanos and Mexican immigrants, the sight of the 45-

Washing away bordersOur Voice

truck Mexican troop con-voy rumbling across the border along Interstate 35 on its way to San Antonio stirred pride and cheer. Many locals waved the Mexican flag and shouted, “Bienvenido!” – Welcome!

Mexican troops hadn’t advanced this far north since 1846, at the start of the Mexican-American War.

At that time, the Mexi-cans claimed that their land began at the Nueces River; the United States insisted that its south-ern border was the Rio Grande. Troops clashed in the disputed land between the rivers, and war was declared.

After two years of fighting, Mexico and the United States signed the Treaty of Guada-lupe Hidalgo. Mexico ceded lands that would become America’s Southwest and West for $18,250,000.

Many Mexican citizens north of the Rio Grande suddenly found themselves to be U.S. citizens. An often-repeated, wry comment by Mexican-Americans who claim a

long family residency in the con-quered lands is that they didn’t cross the border – the border crossed them.

But this time, unarmed Mexican soldiers, sailors, engineers, physi-cians and nurses came to conquer fear, hunger and sickness. U.S.

citizens were able to see the true might of a foreign people: the sharing of tal-ent and resources to ease the pain of another foreign people.

Despite the rancor on both sides of the border about past wars, spilt blood, lost land, drug trafficking and illegal crossings, demo-graphic reality and natural calamity have forced us to recognize that the future demands reconciliation and cooperation.

Mexicans and U.S. citizens must cross their Rubicon, knowing that they shall not return to futile construction of walls, moats and fences. It’s too late: Mexicans are here to stay.

Latino numbers have grown so exponentially that Texans have come to a cultural crossroads. They

can travel the path of harmonious blending of heritages to become a showcase to the country and the world, or they can follow the road historically more trekked by jealous countries – one of bitterness and hostility.

If the first path is taken, Ameri-

can presidents and governors can bring those neighbors in conflict – Israelis and Palestinians, Roman Catholic and Protestant Irish, Indi-ans and Pakistanis – to the yellow rose state and explain that we’ve learned to respect one another. We’ve managed to defuse our fears of difference and to identify our common humanity. We can do so because we shed the ethnic and class arrogance that blinds us to the good in other peoples.

Katrina washed away buildings, levees and borders. Mexico and the United States can rebuild American cities as their citizens proudly wave both flags.

Neighbors helping neighbors: On Sept. 10, Mexican Marines distribute supplies at the First Baptist Church in Biloxi, lending aid to Hurricane Katrina victims.

KRT Campus

KRT Newswire

— Richard J. Gonzales,Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Diversity plays a role in every person’s life, every day. Some people are diversified in who they are, some people are diversified in what they be-lieve in, and some people are diversified in what they do for a living.

According to the University of Mary-land definition, diversity is “otherness…there are two dimensions of diversity: primary and secondary. The primary di-mension includes: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual orientation. And the secondary dimension of diversity includes the things about a person that can be changed, such as educa-tional background, geographical location, income, marital status, military experi-ence, parental status, religious beliefs, and work experiences.”

There are things about ourselves that we may change, and there are some things which are simply there. You cannot change your genetic background, but knowing what it is, and what it means, can change how you feel about yourself. You cannot change your age, but you can enhance your age by staying in shape both physically and men-tally. You cannot change your racial qualities, but you can enhance your

As an English major, I spend the majority of my time pondering the vast questions and ironies of the universe. After reading Lauren Slate’s article last week over Pur-pose, Meaning and Destiny, I was instantly compelled to put some ideas on the table for consideration.

The question is, “Is there a Human Purpose, Is there a Human Destiny?” and I believe the an-swer extends far more (maybe infinitely more) than we would or could anticipate. Let’s take into ac-count Reality, in addition to Purpose and Destiny, in terms of the issue at hand.

The famous philosopher Plato believed that there was one univer-sal perfect human condition that we should all aspire to. According to him, we’re all part of one uni-verse, and we should all hone our individual abilities to climb our way to that Platonic Ideal. The only problem is, none of us is per-fect and the Plutonic Ideal is al-ways out of reach of the individual.

I differ from Plato in this aspect because I like to flirt with the idea that Perfection is attainable. How-ever, my definition of Perfection also differs from Plato’s. You see, the fact is that Reality, like Destiny and Life, is a term of relativity.

For each individu-al person, things are going to be different. We base our Reali-ties on what we think we know, which is inevitably rooted in what we believe to be true.

If what we believe to be true relates to what we have expe-rienced of the world around us, and our own innate abilities to define that world,

then we are therefore victims of our own limitations of understanding. We fabricate our Realities from what we think we know.

Although this idea may seem to set a line of limitations for our species, like all things in nature it shares dual properties. Yes, we are limited by our ability to under-stand, but the more we attempt to understand, the more we revise

our Individual Truths, the greater our potential to comprehend and perhaps finally be able to establish a self-worthy Purpose.

You can attain a kind of Indi-vidual Ideal Self.

How does this responsibility of Reality play into the everyday world? Well, first you have to be willing to accept that there is one true, but relative, plane of Reality. Next, you have to think of Real-ity as a kind of growing tree with branches. The start of each step represents the individual, and the fruit of that stem the ideas and seeds for that individual’s own Reality.

While we still have this basic trunk of the proverbial Real-ity tree, I still think it is difficult (maybe impossible) to consider the Universal Human Purpose. Even when we take everything down a few philosophical notches and consider the courts and how they judge what is right and wrong, we learn that law is never set in stone. It’s always up for revision, and most times it’s established on a case-by-case basis. Can’t such a principle be applied to Life and Reality? I think it can, and is.

So, in the end, the question is

really: “Do you choose to believe in Destiny?”

“Do you choose to believe in a god?”

“Do you choose to believe in Purpose?”

Because in the end, YOU have a lot of control in how you define your Reality, and such is the free-dom of the Human condition (if there is such a thing).

Of course, some may argue that Human Development and the Truths imposed by society may have some kind of effect on our own Truths, due simply to the fact that at the beginning of our days, we are not yet capable of pondering Individual Truth.

But, society can only affect a mind, conscious of its own exis-tence, to a certain extent. It’s up to you to decide how you are going to fashion your universe. It’s up to you to derive purpose from life. Your decisions might craft for you an inescapable destiny, then again they might not. Life is literally what you make it. It’s up to you.

racial qualities by broadening your scope of knowledge about your race and use that knowledge to advance yourself, both morally and mentally.

Just because we are who we are, doesn’t mean we can’t become whom we wish to be. Do not allow yourself to believe any differently. I heard a quote on a television commercial the other day, and I believe it to be very true: “The man who says he can, is true. And the man who says he can’t is also true. The question is, which one are you?”

We can change who we are, by improving ourselves in several differ-ent ways. We can start by changing our degree of education. It takes hard work and dedication, but if you want to walk across the stage with a degree of knowledge in your pocket, you can open so many doors. Opening those doors enables us as individuals to expand and improve whom we are and what we are going to make of our lives.

When you receive your degree, you will open the doors to a possible change in income, and your work ethics will contain a higher level of dedication, which will lead to greater freedoms. The possibilities are unlimited if you open those doors. Give yourself the “otherness” that is necessary to make you whole, hold onto that, and pass those beliefs down to your children. Diversity is important in everything we do, every day.

Diversity opens doors to greater freedoms

Christina is a mathematics senior and a staff writer for the Collegian. Christina opened doors for herself when she discovered how much she liked writing and added a journalism minor.

Figuring into human purpose and destiny

Christina Frye

David Bublitz

David is an English junior and a news writing student, who continually seeks to attain his own individual ideal self.

4 5

Going GlobalAround the World in 5 days

CU Diversity Week

If you’ve ever lived in the Caribbean or experienced one of the Caribbean’s Carnival festivals then you know first hand the enticing nature of Carnival. For most, Carnival is a time to let loose and have fun. The mantra: to throw your inhibitions to the wind.

During the street jump up, freedom is the name of the game. Parties start as early and end as late as you like, all in keeping with the tradition of Carnival.

The spectacle that is Carnival has diverse roots. It is a medley of Latin, Roman and African festivals. The word Carnival stems from the Latin “Carnevale,” meaning to put away the meat. The celebration was held just before Lent and signified the sacrifice to be made during the forty-day Lenten season. Masks were used in both the Roman and African festivals in similar traditions used to ward off evil spirits. For the Africans, fearful masks and attire were used to scare evil spirits away just before the annual harvest.

Behind the Carnival scenes, at the Mas Camps (places where the costumes are built) people are hard at work formulating concepts, designing, sewing and gluing costumes for the grand finale: the parade or jump-up, as it is termed in the Caribbean. Participating in the jump-up as a costumed reveler is also called playing Mas.

It is from this age-old island tradition that Cameron University’s SOCArnival stems.

SOCArnival is a production of the Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA) and part of CU’s diversity week activities. According to business management senior and SOCA Public Relations Officer Marie-Claire Michel SOCA was established in 1999 by the pioneers of the Cameron University Caribbean Recruitment Program. On April 12, 2000 it was officially recognized as an on-campus organization by the Student Affairs Committee.

“After becoming official, SOCA has not looked back,” Michel said. “We put on major productions: SOCArnival in the fall and Colors in the spring. They are always very well attended.”

Students of the Caribbean Alliance is comprised of members from the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Its motto is ‘working together is progress, staying together is success,’ and according to Michel, the organization has been successful in achieving its goals, including the promotion of public awareness

Let loose at SOCArnivalCameron University’s annual carnival parade

By Amanda RundleStaff Writer

Misunderstandings in the English language are common, even if it is one’s native tongue. But for a student from another country, where English is not the primary language, this presents more difficulties. International students must not only learn to adjust to the culture, they must also adjust to regional differences in pronunciation, grammar and idioms.

Marcella Gustafson, international students’ admissions coordinator, expressed her concern for the challenges some students face.

“Sometimes when students first come and English is not their first language, they are still translating in their head, so they can’t think as quickly, and sometimes I think people translate that they aren’t intelligent, when they are very intelligent. I think that’s a frustration,” Gustafson said.

Shradha Paudel, an engineering design technology freshman from Nepal, said, “Sometimes, because my native language is not English, I face problems because I know what it is, but I need to gain confidence

Although Marcella Gustafson has been the director for international students only since July, she has already had the chance to welcome incoming international students to the Cameron community.

Married to a military member, Gustafson has lived in and traveled to areas such as Hawaii, Alaska and Germany. She said she came to Cameron searching for new opportunities; last November she began working as a secretary in the international office. When she heard the position of director had become available she applied, and officially started on July 25.

Gustafson said she likes Cameron for its size, amount of diversity and the number of programs offered to international students. Her family agrees; both Gustafson’s husband and daughter graduated from Cameron on the same day.

“Cameron offers excellent programs, like tuition waivers, for its international students if they qualify,” Gustafson said.

Two qualifications for tuition waivers include maintaining a 3.0 GPA and a score of 22 on the ACT.

One of Gustafson’s on-going duties is to stay connected to potential students through e-mail. Gustafson said international students discover Cameron through the Web page, and then contact her for more information.

“We build a relationship with the students before they even come through e-mails, especially if they come from a country where it’s harder to get their visa,” she said. “One student from China tried three times to get her visa. She is 19 years old. Some people are older and have tried several times to get their visa.”

Gustafson said international students have questions about the weather, how university level course work will transfer and what kind of clothes to bring.

International students are greeted by a number of different organizations on campus. Gustafson said when students arrive they are given welcome bags that include blankets, towels, pillows and sheets. Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA) and the International Club host a welcome for the students and Gustafson said Cameron Campus Ministry and Baptist Collegiate Ministry provide a lot of support to international students as well.

One of Gustafson’s most recent projects was to organize and execute an international orientation for this fall. At the orientation, Gustafson reviewed what was acceptable and not acceptable in the United States, as well as regulations international students may not have been aware of. In addition, students had the opportunity to share their arrival stories, go on a scavenger hunt and win prizes.

“This is an absolutely terrific group of students,” Gustafson said, “They just gelled at the International Orientation. They had a good time.”

high schools model hand made costumes, bathing suits under colorful wraps, and perform cultural dances.

One such performance by the pageant contestants, and a main event, was the talent competition.

Deidrian Walker, from Jamaica, performed a native dance. Chalitta Moore, from Lawton, expressed a personally written poem. Binta Thomas, from Grenada, gave an animated history session of African culture and dance. Angjeliqi Marko, originally from Albania although she lived in Greece for 15 years, performed a Greek belly dance called the tiftatelli.

The girls also danced individually while modeling a handmade carnival costume that represented an emotion, the pageant’s theme. The contestants came out, one by one, and showed

Gustafson welcomes international students

By Petulah OlibertStaff Writer

PAGEANT continued from page 1

Gustafson serves as the point of contact for the Friendship Family Program. An American family agrees to adopt a student for one year, or however long they wish, and help the student adapt to living here. Gustafson sends out information to interested parties through e-mail.

According to Gustafson, Cameron has 47 new international students this fall from 25 different countries including Nigeria, Poland, China, Peru and the Caribbean to name a few. The application process for international students is done through e-mail.

Gustafson said, “For students attending next spring, the application has to be in by Oct. 1.”

Matthew Modeste is one of the many students Gustafson has met since becoming director. A senior accounting major from St. Lucia in the Caribbean, he will finish his graduation requirements this fall. Modeste heard about Cameron through other Caribbean students he knew who attended here.

“What attracted me to Cameron,” he said, “was the price of tuition and the familiar faces I knew.”

Modeste is active on campus in SOCA, International Club, the Business/ Accounting Club and Students In Free Enterprise. His advice to international students is to get involved in campus life.

For more information on international students and the application process, go to www.cameron.edu. Click under the Admissions heading then scroll down to “International”. For more information on the Friendship Family Program contact Marcella Gustafson at [email protected].

off their attire. While dancing, one contestant unknowingly shook her top loose and exposed herself like Janet Jackson at a half-time show, only this time Justin Timberlake was not there to do the unveiling. A few moments to take care of the mishap, and the pageant bounced back with the modeling of evening wear and the final walk of Miss SOCArnival 2004.

Hirai gave her farewell and said that being the first Miss SOCArnival gave her the opportunity to be a part of the organization’s growth and history.

“During my reign, I was able to broaden my knowledge of Caribbean culture and many different cultures of the world through my representation of the diversity that is present right here on our campus,” Hirai said.

After Hirai’s final wave to the

audience, the contestants were escorted out and Binta Thomas was crowned Miss SOCArnival 2005. Thomas was met by a crowd of cheering fans carrying the red and black balloons that decorated the tables and chairs in the Mezzanine.

Not all contestants left empty-handed though. Walker was voted Miss Photogenic by the audience and was also the first runner up for the crown. Thomas was also awarded for best evening wear and Marko was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants and participants. Marko said that she was not disappointed that she did not win the crown.

“I was looking forward to wining a free costume if I was crowned,” Marko said. “I found out, though, that all contestants get to keep the costume they wore in the

pageant, so I am happy, and I like being like Sandra Bullock in ‘Miss Congeniality.’”

Cameron students also did not leave the show without reward. Before the pageant began, raffle tickets were given out as people entered the Mezzanine doors. At the end of the pageant, as the audience slowly began trickling out of the room, ticket numbers were announced and winners received free carnival costumes or party tickets.

With the pageant concluded, the SOCArnival committee can focus completely on SOCArnival , “Emotions Unmasked,” where many of the outfits seen at the pageant will be displayed again. The carnival will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, at the University Drive.

of the Caribbean and its nationals, and adding to the diversity already available at CU.

“This is the forth year that the Students of the Caribbean Alliance has put on SOCArnival as part of CU’s Diversity week activities,” said romance languages senior and president of SOCA Tahira Simmons.

“It is a miniature parade of costumes for which the Caribbean region is well noted,” she said. “During the parade revelers dance to the pulsating beat of soca music—another Caribbean trademark.”

Soca, is a fusion of Cuban, French and African rhythms much like the mixed heritage of the Caribbean.

“SOCArnival has attracted not only Caribbean students on campus, but a number of persons from different ethnicities. Parading with us this year will be American, Japanese, African and South American students who have already signed up for costumes. We cater for about 80 costumed revelers and are almost within our quota. So far, 60 persons have registered to play Mas,” said Simmons. “We hope that this year’s SOCArnival will be a bumper success. We have worked very hard on every aspect of the carnival and we want as many people as possible to come out to get a glimpse of some aspects of our culture. Besides, it will be fun and worlds away from the Friday afternoon routine of pizza and a movie.”

Simmons said that although Mas camp work has been taxing, volunteers have been tireless. “SOCA volunteers come out almost every evening to help make the costumes,” she said. “There is always something for everyone to do whether it is sewing, gluing sequins on fabric or spray painting the cardboard cutouts.

“This is the most difficult part in the making of SOCArnival,” said Simmons. “It takes up most of our evenings, time that could be spent studying in between full time study and work. Many nights we don’t get home until two in the morning. But it’s all worth it when you see people clamoring to buy costumes. The real satisfaction comes from seeing the costumes on the road and realizing that your efforts have paid off and that the costumes are beautiful.”

The theme for this year’s SOCArnival is Emotions Unmasked. The jump-up will take place on Friday with a display of hand-made costumes by SOCA members. Revelers start playing Mas by 5 p.m. on University Drive. The parade ends with a food sale in the Fine Arts Courtyard.

“We want everyone to come out and share in the wonderfully rich and diverse cultures of the Caribbean islands,” Michel said.

to speak to some people.” This is further complicated by

words in the English language sounding similar.

“[One student] couldn’t understand why people were talking about something being ‘cheap’ when it sounded to him like ‘sheep.’ And by the time he figured it out, he completely lost the conversation,” Gustafson recalled.

Gabriel Vidal, a math and computer science senior from Brazil, said that pronunciation becomes difficult when switching between English and Portuguese, his native language.

Sometimes the incorrect word is chosen because that is how it is translated in the student’s primary language. For instance, Vidal said he once asked a student why she “painted her hair” because that was how “dye” translated from Portuguese.

Slang can also create misunderstandings.

Vidal heard someone was working the “graveyard shift.” The individual was referring to working the late shift at Wal-Mart, but Vidal assumed that it referred to a different kind of job.

Culture shock also poses problems. Vidal experienced

culture shock in Texas, where the drawl made words such as ‘pie’ hard to understand. ‘Ya’ll ’ was also a term that required some adjusting.

“I’m getting used to it and I’m understanding your culture out here, so right now I’m not facing that much problem. But when I was new here, it was a surprise,” Paudel said. “Our culture and out here is really different. People in our country, they’re really conservative. Out here it’s really open.”

Vidal agreed with Paudel. “You can tell overall that

Americans have a more of an attitude, they express a lot more,” he said.

Language barriers can also create challenges in the classroom.

Paudel said, “Sometimes the professors treat us like American students, like in assignments they expect the same thing as [from] the American [students].”

Paudel said that this is especially challenging in writing assignments.

Vidal went into detail about the difference between English grammar and Portuguese grammar. In Portuguese, the adjective comes after the noun.

“For example,” he said, “we say ‘house blue’ whereas you’ll say ‘blue house.’”

In addition, Vidal said that when he goes back to Brazil, he would get both languages confused.

“I went to back Brazil and I had problems with Portuguese. Or I would be speaking Portuguese but my reasoning would be in English and all my sentences and everything would be in English,” he said. “It’s easier for me to express myself in Portuguese. Some mornings I can’t think in English. It takes me a little longer to start functioning in English,” he said.

Both Vidal and Paudel said that they are coming around to understanding and speaking English better, but it is taking time.

Gustafson said international students can be put at ease by being patient, and sensitive as to whether or not they truly understand what is said to them.

“The thing is, to break the barrier, just be a friend,” she said, “and to not let them feel embarrassed or threatened to have to say, ‘I don’t understand.’”

Communication barriers

dance and song,” Red Elk said. “Not only is it a fun, but it is great to celebrate and understand each other, seeing the large numbers of ethnicities on campus and how we all get along.”

The rest of the week will be filled with activities, Lennox said.“Wednesday, the Asian/Pacific Island students will be able to present a

short film about their culture, as well as samples of Chinese food,” she said. “Thursday, the Latin Alliance will be presenting poetry composed by Latin authors, telling the history and struggles of their people. They will also have a food tasting from several different regions. And on Friday, the International Club will be hosting 45 different countries, with various music, dances and clothing to represent those cultures.”

The week’s events will culminate in a celebration of Caribbean heritage with SOCArnival 2005: Emotions Unmasked, beginning with a parade in traditional Caribbean style, with colorful apparel, music and dancing. The parade will start at 5 p.m. on University Drive and will continue to the Fine Arts Courtyard, where there will be a Caribbean food festival, showcasing foods from the area.

DIVERSITY continued from page 1

By Jessica LaneStaff Writer

AGGIESAsk the

We’re celebrating cultural diversity this week, but individuality also plays a part in diversity.

In what way do you contribute to Cameron’s diversity?

Robin Burdick, animal science freshman“Coming here from Massachusetts.”

Philip Carey, undecided freshman

“Adding a little bit of gray tint

– being black and white is the best of both worlds.”

Jonathan Colon, music freshman“I’m Puerto Rican. My dad’s in the military, so I’ve been everywhere.”

Sarah Magno, music freshman“I study music.

Some people enjoy music, but they

don’t understand the depth – the core of music.”

Olta Kapinova, engineering design/architecture freshman“My culture is completely different from here. I’m from Albania.”

Josh Rakes, busi-ness management

senior“Just being myself

and having fun.”

A word of encouragement: Accounting senior Matthew Modeste receives guidance from Marcella Gustafson, coordinator of international admissions. Gustafson visits regularly with students and helps them with issues they face in a new country.

Photo by Scott Pratt

News6 September 26, 2005

Don’t worry. They are not here for anyone. Members of the Lawton Police Department and the Cameron University Department of

Public Safety started training on campus on Sept. 14 and will finish this Wednesday. Eight Cameron officers and over 158 LPD officers participated in the training for building

searches and felony stops. The parking lots behind the football field, West Hall, and McCord Field have all been used to facilitate the training.

Jim Ronan, director of Public Safety at CU said, “The cooperation between the two agencies (LPD and CU Public Safety) is good and provides opportunities for the agencies to learn and work together.”

Officers are required to complete at least 12 hours of this sort of training each year. Training at CU allows both agencies to complete eight hours a month, which far exceeds the requirements, according to Ronan.

“When we find an unlocked door on campus that is not supposed to be there, we have to go in and clear the area,” Ronan said. “West Hall provides a good location for this type of training.”

The officers will conclude their training at Cameron University this Wednesday.

Photo by Scott Pratt

Get down! An officer from the Lawton Police Department handcuffs another officer as part of training exercises conducted on the CU campus for both LPD and CU safety officers last week.

By Scott PrattStaff Writer

Campus used as training ground

Habitat for Humanity offers opportunities to assist

Volunteers are needed to help paint Habitat for Humanity’s current project home located at 1912 Irwin in Lawton. The house is two blocks east of Church’s Chicken on Sheridan Rd. Days available are Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about this and future projects, contact Executive Director Frank T. Oheltoint at 580.250.1700.

Fulbright-Helvey awards

The Fulbright-Helvey Foundation was established through the generosity of Ms. Florabelle Helvey, who bequeathed the bulk of her estate to create this fund for aiding and assisting in the education and advancement of the moral, mental andphysical well being of girls and young ladies. There are ten available for the current academic year, each in the amount of $750.00 per semester. Four of thesescholarships are designated for freshmen women; two are delegated for sophomore women; two are designated for junior women; and two are designated for senior women. Students wishing to apply should download the form, fill it out and return it to the Financial Assistance Office prior to Oct. 7. The application may be downloaded at http://www.cameron.edu/uploads/5504/2213/Fullbright-Helvey_Foundation_Scholarship.pdf.

OTAG checks are in

The first disbursement of the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant is available at the cashier counter on the first floor of the Administration Building. Additional disbursements will be available later in the semester.

Bicycle your way to good health

The next Festival VI event is a bicycle ride beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday in Medicine Park. All ages and levels are welcome. Access the registration form on the Festival VI page of the CU Web site, or contact Dr. David Miller at 581.8088 or [email protected].

Campus Round-up

News 7September 26, 2005

The CU athletic department has experienced an unusual and welcome sisterhood passing through its doors. Over the past five years, the three Morris sisters have been employed in work-study positions at the Aggies’ athletic office.

The saga began with Kay Morris, a CU alumni and now a second-year graduate student at Texas A&M, seeking her Ph.D. in chemistry.

As a freshman at CU, Kay ap-plied for a position to help the baseball coach, Ron Ihler. Kay soon switched to a position in the athletic department office, and worked for the athletic department secretary, Jacqueline Mizell.

Mizell, a 17-year veteran at CU, has worked in the athletic depart-ment office since 1997.

“I have never seen this type of situation at Cameron before,” Mizell said. “These girls have been my lifeline since Kay first started here.”

Mizell did not want Kay to leave the athletic office when she graduated, and she had a plan.

Mizell told Kay, “You can’t leave here until you have found a replacement for yourself.”

At that time the second Morris sister, Kara, was attending CU. Kay asked her if she wanted to ap-ply for the position. Kara, who is currently a junior political science major seeking a minor in Latin, obliged and worked with Mizell until 2005.

When Kara moved to a dif-ferent office, she thought of her youngest sister, Ann. Kara told Ann that she should apply; Ann began working for Mizell in Au-gust.

Ann is a multimedia fresh-man, with a minor in romance languages. She has enjoyed hearing the numerous stories from her sis-ters about their experiences at the office, and stated that her sisters’ experiences benefited her.

“I know a lot of people here at CU. I went to several orientations at Cameron, while my sisters were Aggie Ambassadors, and that helped me a lot,” Ann said.

Ann stated that she and her sisters are a lot alike, and their parents, John and Margie Morris, have always supported them.

“They don’t mind that we’re working. Our parents taught us how to work hard and to have good work ethics. They taught us that there is always time for work and time for play,” Ann said.

According to Mizell, the Morris sisters are very talented.

“These girls are knowledgeable, fantastic workers. They all have beautiful personalities and are great to get along with,” she said.

Ann is the last chapter of the Morris sisters’ saga. When she graduates, Mizell has made it clear that Ann will still need to find a replacement.

“I am the last one,” Ann said, but she agreed to help Mizell find another student-worker to fill the shoes finally vacated by the Morris sisters.

By Christina FryeStaff Writer

Keeping it all in the family

Sister, sister, sister: At left, athletic department secretary Jacqueline Mizell is joined by two former assistants, sisters Kay and Kara Morris. Above, Mizell carries on the tradition with the youngest of the sisters and current work-study student, Ann.

A&E8 September 26, 2005

Devon Ash is Cameron’s new assistant professor of theatre arts and resident costume and makeup designer.

Originally from upstate New York, Ash moved to Mississippi three years ago to attend graduate school at the University of Mississippi. There, she obtained her Master of Fine Arts. At Cameron, she teaches introduction to theatre and costume techniques. Along with the classes Ash teaches, she also has additional responsibilities associated with her position. Ash teaches work-study students the art of costume design and makeup. She also spends time working with students involved with set production.

Ash chose to come to Cameron for several reasons.

“I was looking for a place where I could teach students knowledge that will be useful to them,” she said, “but also where I could learn valuable tools.”

The close-knit faculty of Cameron was something that Ash wanted when she took the position, and the community she acquired is an added benefit.

“I absolutely loved the faculty,” she said. “Everyone is welcoming; I could not ask for more.”

Ash expressed genuine enthusiasm for her new job and for her new community.

“Another plus is the community. I like the town,” she said. “I have neighbors for the first time. The other night I had a knock on my door and it was my neighbor asking to borrow cat food. I did not have that when I attended Ole Miss.

“The staff and community have been wonderful.”

Ash has many items on her agenda, but she is focusing on some priorities.

“The first year is all about assessing what you have to work with and making it as good as possible,” she said.

“One thing I have been pushing for is a stove to teach my students how to dye their own costumes. It is a useful tool for students to learn in this type of business.”

Teaching the students how to dye costumes is something Ash feels would ultimately benefit them in their future pursuits.

If you are ever on your way to Oklahoma City and become so famished that you have to stop for food, you should consider stopping at Jake’s Rib in Chickasha. This barbecue restaurant is perfect for those who are hungry enough to eat a horse.

Last weekend, my fiancée decided to surprise me with a late lunch at this restaurant. I guess I should have considered myself warned when he asked me how hungry I was. When we got there, we were seated and given menus. The menu features typical southern-style appetizers, such as armadillo eggs and fried okra. For the main course, you can choose between several different sandwiches and dinners made from various different barbecued meats. They also have a salad bar and fried catfish on the menu.

I ordered the “small order” of the sliced pork dinner, and for my two side orders, I chose potato salad and a baked potato. My fiancée chose the regular-sized smoked sausage dinner and, for his sides, he chose cheese bites and fries.

Now, I have had fast service before, but I was pleasantly surprised at how fast they brought out our mounds of food.

In less than 10 minutes from the time that we ordered, we had our drinks and our food – and the food was hot.

My fiancée’s sausage dinner and two sides consisted of an entire ring of sausage (like one that you might buy for your whole family), a cup of cheese bites and about two pounds of curly fries. By this time, I was really wishing that I had opted to either share his food or get a kid’s meal. But, it was too late.

What Jake’s Rib considers to be a small order of sliced pork turned out to be six generous slices of smoked pork accompanied by mild barbecue sauce. As if that was

not enough, I also got a very large baked potato stuffed with cheese and sour cream (just the way I like it) and a cup that was overflowing with potato salad.

The only negative thing that I have to say about the food is that the fries are a bit greasy for my liking, which makes them slightly less than crunchy.

Finally, both of us got about halfway through with our meals and could not eat another bite. We ended up taking the rest home, where my dad and I both ate an entire meal from the leftovers for dinner.

As for dessert, the blueberry cobbler looked very appetizing as one of the waitresses was taking it to another table of diners who miraculously still had room for it.

I was impressed with the overall service of the waitresses, who each stopped by to check on us if it looked like we needed something, as well as with the reasonable prices. Our check was just under $20, we had enough leftovers for an entire meal and we got to keep the 32-ounce signature cup that our drinks came in for the long trip home.

And for those of you who do not want to stop on the way to Oklahoma City, a sampling of Jake’s Rib is available at the Bricktown Brewery in downtown Oklahoma City.

By Angela SandersFeatures Editor

Chickasha barbecue offers big food, taste

A&E Briefs

“There are not a lot of colleges around that teach the art of dyeing; it would give these students an edge,” Ash said.

Other ambitions for Ash include eventually starting a wig-making class.

“I have been involved in wig-making for about a year,” she said. “I want to teach students valuable traits that will help them get jobs after school, and find something that they really love to do.”

Teaching students to better themselves in the theatre and in the costume field is a goal for Ash.

“I also would eventually like to have students become assistant designers under me. It would be a learning experience that could potentially help students,” Ash said.

With many activities planned for her first year, Ash said she is tackling all of her tasks with full force. She believes that the best way to ease the transition is to jump feet first into her many projects.

The first play in which Ash will be showcasing her abilities is “The Day Room.”

The play takes place in a hospital and the audience comes to find out that non-patients are mixed in with patients in the mental ward.

Ash is excited about being able to work with students.

“There are a lot of good ideas among the students, and I want to help work some of them into the play.”

The theatre department will be using some costumes already in storage; they will also be making different items under Ash’s supervision. Ash was particularly excited about designing costumes for “The Day Room.”

“I got to design and build my first straightjacket,” she said.

Ash is excited about the upcoming year. She feels like she has much to add to the theatre department and much that she will be able to learn as well as teach.

Fly high up in the sky

Let’s go fly a kite: A young girl unfurled her kite in preparation for kite flying. On Sept. 18 the International Festival Committee sponsored a pre-festival kite flying event at Elmer Thomas Park to kickoff International Festival. The event was inspired by customs from Korea, Japan, Bali, Thailand and the Polynesian Islands. The first 100 people received a free kite.

Photo by Sarah Warren

Costume designer brings enthusiasm, expertise to theatre arts communityBy Jenny TuckerNews Writing Student

OktoberfestCelebrate the German festival at the Great Plains Coliseum Wednesday through Monday. Call 357.1843 for more information.

American Mountain Men RendezvousThe Rendezvous will be held Friday through Sunday at the Mu-seum of the Great Plains. For admission call 581.3460.

Interested Gamers WantedAny gaming student interested in forming a campus game club should contact Ken Walker at [email protected]. Walker is trying to gather students interested in board games, card games, RPGs, computers, Xbox, PS2 and others.

Photo by Angela Sanders

Photo by Kenny ScarleDesigning woman: New costume designer Devon Ash works on a prop for the play ‘The Day Room.’

Sports 9 September 26, 2005

After being trained to play within a specific environment, the player settles into a style of play fit for that society’s arena, but transferring that style of play across borders can lead to game time problems.

Women’s Basketball

Sophomore Merrisa Martinuzzi plays point guard for the women’s basketball team and shot 40 percent from beyond the three-point line. She originates from Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

Her hometown’s location adjacent to Detroit provided her with the chance to play two styles of basketball: Canadian and American.

During games she usually is the first to challenge for the ball at point. Martinuzzi chooses an approach to distract the opponents.

“In the U.S., the referees won’t call hand checking,” she said. “In Canada, that or bumping an opponent on the court on occasion would result in a call quickly, so you basically couldn’t touch them.”

Martinuzzi is not quick to point at the environment, but instead says the calls depend upon referees and level of play.

Even though she is cautious about such statements, her former teams faced the same situation as Trousdell’s teams after they had visited Australia.

“After we get used to playing American style of basketball in Detroit,” Martinuzzi said, “we’d bring it back to Canada. Everyone on my team would end up fouling out.”

International play

3 sports, different countries, similar issueLocality affects how hard a game can be played, our athletes explain

Despite differences in cultures, gender and sports, athletes face a similar challenge: adapting their playing style to their environment. As part of Diversity Week, three international athletes recently sat down with The Collegian to discuss how their sports change over international boundaries.

Men’s Basketball

Six-foot-eight forward Arthur Trousdell completed last year as the Aggie’s top rebounder and overall shooter with .541 field goal average. He hails from Napier, New Zealand and is one of Cameron’s twin towers.

Trousdell has competed in at least three countries. Each country offers challenges that shape basketball differently, he said.

“The U.S. is more athletic than New Zealand, but there is more talk and banter,” he said. “The players here use more trash talk.”

Despite increasing distractions from one country to another, Trousdell welcomes the challenge since it changes the game.

Between the neighboring islands of Australia and New Zealand, the aggressiveness of basketball increases. Trousdell described how Australia compares to his home.

“Australia is more aggressive than New Zealand. In Australia if you got bumped in the back court and as long as you maintained possession of the ball, the referees won’t call a holding foul,” he said.

After competing with Australian teams, Trousdell’s teammates would return home, where he noticed that they fouled out more quickly than normal.

Baseball

Outfielder Greg Patton finished last season as Cameron’s top hitter with a .432 batting average and third in slugging. Originally from Scullin, Australia, he understands that same difficulty.

According to him, Australian baseball plays with major league rules. These rules allow base runners to play harder.

“There’s a double play being turned, and there’s a runner coming from first. The runner can kick the player covering second from the knee down, as long as he can touch second base,” he said.

During his freshman year, Patton was nearly thrown out of a game for this style of play.

“I was running into second base as fast as I can, the shortstop caught the ball and I am seeing dead red,” he said. “I am ready to go to either side of the bag, but he steps right in front of it. I kicked him right into the side. I felt so bad. The guy went down.”

Patton summed up the cause of the incident with one word, “reaction.”

Aaron GilbeeSports Editor

Upcom

ing Gam

es

From left to right: Senior Greg Patton, sophomore Merrisa Martinuzzi and senior Arthur Trousdell

Gam

e Results

Courtesy Sports Information

The tennis team is perhaps the most apparent representation of Cameron’s global community. With 12 of the 18 players coming from foreign countries, the tennis team is truly diverse. Graduate student Paulina Trujillo is one of those international athletes.

Trujillo is originally from Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, in the state of Veracruz. She has been playing tennis since she was nine years old. Her family is composed of athletes.

“My father plays soccer and softball, my mother plays tennis and golf and my little brother plays tennis as well,” Trujillo said.

Trujillo says her parents made her try the sport, but after playing, she has never quit.

“Since then I never stopped playing tennis, and it became a discipline and an addiction,” Trujillo said. “I trained pretty much everyday since then after school.”

To Trujillo, tennis is more than just a sport. It has helped her grow and mature.

“Tennis has brought a lot of good experiences in my life. I have met so many people that I consider to be very important in my life,” Trujillo said. “I have learned how to be competitive and overcome obstacles.”

Trujillo is studying to get her master’s in business management. Before attending classes at Cameron, she was a student at the University of Science and Arts at Oklahoma in Chickasha.

“I came here two years ago to play tennis for the school. I transferred from USAO in Chickasha because they dropped the tennis program there,” Trujillo said.

Trujillo played on the Cameron tennis team for two years after transferring. She knew Coach James Helvey, who gave her the opportunity to play, and she’s never

Ex-tennis player Paulina Trujillo’s love of tennisJoshua RouseA&E Editor

VolleyballUniversity of Central OklahomaSeptember 27 at EdmondSouthwestern Oklahoma State UniversityOctober 1 at Weatherford Texas A&M University-CommerceOctober 6 at Aggie GymSoutheastern Oklahoma State Univer-sityOctober 8 at Aggie GymLone Star Conference Crossover IIOctober 14-15 at Denton, TexasMidwestern State UniversityOctober 20 at Aggie GymTexas Woman’s UniversityOctober 22 at Aggie Gym

Women’s GolfSt. Edward’s Hilltopper InvitationalOctober 3-4 at Bastrop, TexasTarleton State InvitationalOctober 10-11 at Granbury, TexasOklahoma Intercollegiate TournamentOctober 24-25 at Lawton

Men’s TennisLSC Individual TournamentAll day, Oct. 6-8 at Wichita FallsITA National TournamentAll Day. Sept. 13-16 at Fort Myers, Flor.

Women’s TennisLSC Individual TournamentAll day, Oct. 6-8 at Wichita FallsITA National TournamentAll Day. October 13-16 at Fort Myers, Flor.

Cross CountryOklahoma State University Cowboy JamboreeOctober 1 at Stillwater, Okla.University of Arkansas Chile Pepper InvitationalOctober 15 at Fayetteville, Ark.Lone Star Conference ChampionshipOctober 22 at Weatherford, Okla.

Men’s GolfDrury InvitationalOctober 3-4 at Springfield, Mo.St. Mary’s Rattler InvitationalOctober 10-11 at San AntonioOklahoma IntercollegiateOctober 24-25 at Lawton

Have a story? Have an idea? The Collegian will investigate.Drop us a line online at......

[email protected]

LSC Crossover TournamentCameron def. Angelo State,30-26, 27-30, 30-26, 20-30, 15-11Cameron def. Eastern New Mexico,28-30, 30-28, 30-32, 30-28, 15-4Cameron def. Tarleton State,30-25, 30-24, 30-24

record (7-4)

Cross CountryMissouri Southern Stampede

Matt Moreno, 28:88.20Frank Fleming, 29:06.8Jon McMasters, 29:18.2

Men’s GolfThe Territory Classic

3 Cameron University, 305-290 -- +19

IndividualT 4 Travis Lovens, 76-68 -- ET 4 Owen Mahaffrey, 72-72 -- ET 9 Cane Shumaker, 75-72 -- +3

Women’s GolfNortheastern Classic

11 Cameron University, 338-333 -- +95

IndividualT 30 Lauren Gonzales, 81-82 -- +19T 33 Krystle McCorgary, 84-80 -- +20T 46 Lauren Madden, 85-85 -- +26

looked back since.“Coming here was a good decision because it gave me

the opportunity to meet great people who have helped me throughout my college career,” she said.

While Cameron does have a large number of international students, adapting to a new country and culture could seem difficult at first. Trujillo believes the change from Mexico to America has been pleasant and positive.

She said the changes that she has gone through have helped her appreciate what she has back home.

“The opportunity that this country gave me to study and play tennis at the same time was one of the best experiences of my life, and it has shaped my life in a way that I will always be thankful for,” Trujillo said.

She believes Cameron is the perfect college for international students. Due to CU’s relatively small size, professors can develop one-on-one relationships with many students.

She also believes the fact that Cameron has lower tuition fees than the larger division colleges helps attract more international students.

“We have the opportunity to come across a very close college community that helps us have a better understanding of the American culture,” she said.

Trujillo expects to graduate in summer 2006 with her master’s degree. Trujillo said she plans on moving to Ohio to find a job after college.

Trujillo says studying in the United States is one experience she will not forget. She will take the lessons she has learned here back home to her family.

“I definitely want to work and learn more about the business world here before I go back home,” she said.

The Back Page10 September 26, 2005

ACROSS 1 Ship measure6 Pedestal part10 Blow to a wrist14 For all to hear15 Israeli airline16 “__ Don’t Preach”17 Start of Katharine Hepburn quote19 Middle Eastern leader20 Striplings21 Wisps22 Garden invader23 Memorize25 Giant Mel27 Sgt., e.g.28 Part 2 of quote32 A long, long

time33 Ooze34 Top card35 Four-posters37 Noel mo.39 OK Corral participant43 Mama __!46 Corn holders?49 Teachers’ grp.50 Part 3 of quote55 Drinks counter56 Prom attire57 Mandolin’s kin58 Indigo plant60 Attacked62 Standstill65 Place of confinement66 End of quote68 College credit

As a kick-off for the 26th-annual International Festival, a pre-festival activity was held September 18. The International Festival Committee hosted a concert

and kite-flying event at Elmer Thomas Park to symbolize the beginning of International Week.

Inspiration for the kite flying came from customs practiced in Korea, Japan, Bali, Thailand and the Polynesian Islands. Koreans fly kites to announce the

birth of a child, while the Japanese similarly flies kites on Children’s Day on May 5 as a tribute to children. In Bali and Thailand kites are used in

religious ceremonies. Representing the god Rongo, the patron saint of the arts, the people of the Polynesian Islands celebrate kite flying also.

The first 100 attendees at Elmer Thomas Park received a free kite; however, many brought their own kites to the event. Beau Hodges enjoyed

flying his kite and said he couldn’t wait for the 77th Army band to perform.

“I haven’t flown a kite since I was little; this is a lot of fun. I was in band in high school so I’m really excited to hear the band play,” Hodges

said. The kite flying began at 5 p.m. and lasted throughout the evening.

The day’s events closed with the band’s performance. The 77th Army band performed at 7 p.m. The conductor kept

the crowd entertained with jokes, and of course, with the music as the band performed a varied selection of international music, in keeping with the festival’s theme.

By Sarah WarrenNews Editor

Let’s go fly a kite

Photos by Sarah Warren

69 Swell!70 Drinks71 Without: Fr.72 Sounds from the pound73 Knight’s suit DOWN 1 Frozen fall2 Actor Alan3 Place with trees4 Dusk5 Old name of Tokyo6 Poured off, as wine7 Jai __8 Lawyer Clarence9 Fat substitute in chips10 Gush11 Bemoan12 Each13 Absolution18 __ Mile Island24 Govt. jurists26 Muscle spasm28 Openwork29 Clod buster30 Eyeglasses, informally31 Peg for a

golfer36 Tex. campus38 Engine additives40 Unit of radiation wavelengths41 Stephen or Chris42 __ de deux44 Gomez’s cousin45 Entertaining47 Popeye’s nemesis48 Heavy imbiber50 Calculating rack51 Kind of republic52 Start53 Town near Concord, NH54 Greek advisor at Troy59 Gives permission to61 Former Russian emperor63 Greek drink64 Jury member67 TV schedule abbr.