According to the university’s fall report, CU’s student population now stands at 3,700, reflecting a 3.9 percent increase from fall 2023, when 3,561 students were enrolled. This upward trend signifies the university’s resilience and adaptability in meeting the needs of its students amid an evolving educational landscape.
One of the most significant figures from this semester’s report is growth in CU’s freshman class. This fall, 488 new students joined Cameron, marking a 7.25 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, undergraduate enrollment rose slightly more than 2 percent, totaling 3,319 students. The university also saw a significant surge in graduate enrollment, which increased by a remarkable 23.3 percent, bringing the total number of graduate students to 381.
Acting Director of Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions Brenda Dally acknowledged the team effort behind these results.
“I feel like as a whole, the campus worked together,” Dally said. “Admissions, academic advising, departmental advising – all did a collaborative effort to make sure that we reached out to as many of the people as we can to get them to enroll.”
Enrollment growth was not limited to traditional undergraduate and graduate students. Concurrent enrollment, a program allowing high school students to take college courses while completing their high school education, surged by 14.6 percent. Currently, nearly 800 high school students are taking courses at Cameron, a testament to the university’s commitment to offering
early access to higher education. This growth in concurrent enrollment is vital as it allows students to get a head start on their college degrees, preparing them for future success.
CU also welcomed 235 first-time transfer students this fall, a 12.5 percent increase from the previous year, contributing to the diversity and vibrancy of the student body. The total course hours taken by students reached 37,346, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the same time last year.
Reflecting on Cameron’s success, Vice President for University Advancement Albert Johnson Jr., highlighted the university’s strengths.
“We have a gross anatomy lab on campus, we have an amazing psychology department and business department, we produce great teachers,” Johnson said. “So those things are going on all the time.”
Acting Dean of Students and Director of Events and Activities Leslie Cothren expressed excitement about the potential impact on student life.
“I hope that it makes campus feel livelier,” Cothren said. “You can feel there’s times of the year whenever you can feel students when they’re here, just because there’s so many of them, so I really love that. And so I’m hoping that when you get more, that more will choose to take classes on campus, and so that they’ll be active and be here.”
In recent years, Cameron has embraced a flexible learning model by offering traditional, online, ITV (Interactive Television), and hybrid class formats. This semester, 15 degree programs can be completed entirely online, a benefit that continues to attract students seeking alternative learning formats. The university’s versatility in delivery methods plays a crucial role in accommodating a diverse range of student needs.
As the university looks to the future, it is clear that its momentum is building. Enrollment for the Spring 2025 semester will open on Oct. 25, signaling another opportunity for growth. With dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and a collaborative campus community, CU is poised to continue its upward trajectory.
Graphic by Hannah Owens
Graphic by Matthew Hasley
Prof. Jack Crouch
CU professor selected for national art competition
For the fourth year in a row, Cameron University Assistant Professor of Art Jack Crouch has been recognized for his artistic talent on a national stage. Crouch’s contè drawing on handtoned Fabriano paper,
titled “Perspective”, has been selected for the annual Center for Contemporary Arts National Juried Competition and Exhibition. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 16, the exhibition will be held at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Abilene, Texas. The juror for this year’s competition, Adela Andea, reviewed 367
entries submitted by artists from 34 states and selected 192 works for inclusion. Among those, “Perspective” — a piece that Crouch initially created as part of his personal sketchbook — stood out.
Crouch, who joined the Cameron faculty in August 2021, teaches painting and drawing. His work spans from
still life paintings to large-scale narrative figure paintings, and he primarily works in oil painting.
Born and raised in rural Illinois, Crouch was surrounded by art from a young age — his father was also an artist, while his mother was a preschool teacher. His educational background includes a Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree from Western Illinois University in 2009, followed by a Master of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Bradley University.
In discussing his artistic influences, Crouch highlights the importance of Expressionist figurative art, particularly the works of Lucian
Freud and the social commentary of Eric Fischl.
Crouch has sold many of his pieces over the years, but despite his professional success, his role as an educator has also deeply shaped his artistry.
“Hugely. The best way to learn something is to teach it,” Crouch said.
“There’s absolutely no better way to learn than to be able to articulate it to somebody else who doesn’t know and understand. I promise you that I am a much more skilled draftsman.”
Balancing his professional and personal life, Crouch spends much of his creative time at Cameron University’s art studios. At home, his focus is on his young children. As for advice to aspiring artists, he emphasizes the importance of mastering foundational skills.
“Draw all the time,” Crouch said. “If you want to be a better painter, draw more.”
Looking ahead, Crouch is already preparing for an upcoming exhibition in January 2026 at
Raising spirits with Prof. Leah Chaffins
Eden Lozano A&E Editor
Associate Professor Leah Chaffins is more than your average college professor.
Chaffins began teaching at Cameron University as an adjunct professor in 2011. Since then, she has moved up in her career and just last August she became an associate professor.
When one enters Chaffins’ office, they are greeted by her personality through the belongings found there: horror movie posters, Anne Rice and Stephen King novels on display and a haunted radio sitting on a bookshelf.
Her love of horror may come as a surprise compared to the quirky, sweet professor students first come to know.
But for her students, Chaffins’ eccentricities are a staple of her classroom experience.
And while Chaffins is passionate about a great many things, her love for teaching is made obvious in how she discusses her work.
She is deeply proud of her students’ endeavors, even through one of the hardest parts of her job: grading.
When it comes to grading, students can easily get bogged down by poor scores on an assignment, but Chaffins works to combat that frame of thinking.
“There are times when I know
students try really, really hard,” Chaffins said. “Giving them the grade they deserve rather than the grade I want to give them – that can be difficult.”
Despite the difficulties that come with balancing honest grading and supportive teaching, Chaffins endeavors to work one-on-one with students who might have trouble with their assignments.
This means Chaffins devotes much of her time to her favorite part of the job: the students.
More than anything, Chaffins wants to foster a good working relationship with her pupils.
This can be difficult when her class is, for example, struggling with how to approach a new creative writing assignment.
Many students, even at a college level, often do not have experience in writing certain types of work (like short stories or poetry); or, they may not have ever read in front of a live audience.
If a student is pursuing a career in a literary field, these skills are essential, so Chaffins is set on mapping this new territory for her students’ best interests.
Getting over the fear or stress of trying something new is a tough hurdle to get through, especially if the student receives a poor grade on it – but that’s where Chaffins’ individualized teaching style comes into play.
Chaffins emphasizes that
granting students every opportunity to succeed is the key to building a better relationship with students and inspiring confidence in their writing.
“I want all of my students to feel encouraged and to keep striving to do better so I never want to take that away from them,” Chaffins said.
Chaffins is also the faculty advisor for Cameron’s literary magazines: “The Gold Mine”, “The Oklahoma Review”, and the upcoming “CU In Color”.
These magazines are an outlet for students to express themselves
creatively while getting their work out to publishers and competitions.
For the most part, the literary journals are almost entirely student-led, though Chaffins does lend a hand in showing students how to navigate the publication process.
In congruence with the Writer’s Studio, an organization dedicated to workshopping students’ writing, Chaffins guides her students toward success in their careers.
Professor Chaffins can be found in her office at Nance Boyer, room 2005, or she can be reached through her email at lellis@cameron.edu.
the Leslie Powell Art Gallery where his work will be featured once again on local display.
Hannah Owens Managing Editor
Courtesy Graphic Photos by Hannah Owens
Photo by Eden Lozano
The Price of Fame Chappell Roan
Amelia Lozano Voices Editor
Is it worth it to be famous anymore?
On Sept.22, 2023, Chappell Roan released her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” The record – a synthy, 80s-inspired pop album with heaps of flair and innuendos –wasn’t an immediate hit. But thanks to dedicated fans, Roan quickly flew to the top of the
former, troubled queer situationships, alongside a plethora of fan edits and art inspired by Chappell Roan’s music. Although Roan is widely loved and celebrated –especially by drag performers, for whom she takes inspiration from – there is an undoubtedly cruel side to her rise to fame. At her Raleigh, North Carolina
she was experiencing a lot of anxiety due to the influx of eyes on her. The moment was endearing to many, but others criticized Roan for supposedly being unable to handle her fame. Still, the criticism towards the singer at the time was nothing compared to the chaos that came later.
On Aug. 19, Chappell Roan took to her TikTok to release a video addressing some concerning behavior from her new fans.
“I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking or whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous,” Roan said. “That does not make it okay. That does not make it normal.”
The internet launched into a heated debate over Roan’s video. Thousands of people once again criticized the young artist for not understanding the pressures of becoming a celebrity; they questioned her for seemingly being an unwilling, unaffectionate celebrity. People began comparing Chappell Roan to other female artists who are more comfortable with fan
interactions. Although there were plenty of fans defending Roan – perhaps even more than those berating the artist – the damage was done.
Later, an article delved into Chappell Roan’s reasoning behind the original TikTok. The artist shared that someone published her family members’ names online and a fan sexually assaulted her in public. Suddenly, the conversation around Roan’s boundaries shifted, and those criticizing her (or at least a portion of them) went quiet. Still, the entitlement from fans claiming to be the “good ones” remained.
Then, as if Roan had not faced enough criticism, the public demeaned Roan for expressing her political views.
Fans encouraged Roan to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, which Roan declined to do. The singer expressed through a TikTok video that she wouldn’t endorse any presidential campaigns because none of their views fully align with her own, and thus she did not want to give the impression that she supported such unsavory morals. Roan
explained that voters should think critically about who they endorse and make informed decisions on their own. But, in routine internet fashion, viewers assumed that Roan’s choice to not endorse Kamala Harris meant she was a conservative Trump supporter. Two plus two equals five…?
Finally, Chappell Roan canceled her appearance at the All Things Go concert festival to prioritize her mental health. Fans took to social media to share their mixed reactions but thankfully, many concertgoers expressed their appreciation for Roan and encouraged her to take care of herself during this stressful period.
Roan’s situation opens up a bigger discussion about parasocial relationships and how we treat celebrities. These are people with their own lives and personal time – why are we expecting so much from people who are virtually strangers?
Why can’t we support an artist without making them feel uncomfortable to go outside?
Celebrities do not owe us their lives. We would do better as a society to realize that.
It Ends With Us Book vs. Movie
Purser Copy Editor
This review does not contain major spoilers. However, triggering topics such as domestic violence are addressed.
“It Ends With Us” is an intense romance that intertwines aspects of domestic violence (DV) and relatable traumatic experiences.
As with all media and art forms, this story is subjective and was met with mixed reviews and approval. Although I can only speak on my personal experience, I walked away feeling the story was an important one to tell and know.
I personally viewed the story and characters through the lens of a survivor of DV as well as the mother to four daughters, whom I always consider when watching content like this. It’s worth mentioning that so many people find themselves in abusive relationships without any warning signs, red flags or indicators that their partner would put
them in those positions or turn out to be different than what they initially portray.
“It Ends With Us” was first released in 2016 as a romance novel from acclaimed and awardwinning writer Colleen Hoover. Justin Baldoni directed and starred in the film, playing Ryle Kinkaid, the main love interest of Lily Bloom, played by the beautiful and talented Blake Lively. This pair lit up the screen with undeniable chemistry and believable tension that pulled the viewer into their relationship and provided a realistic look at the stressful and complex way these experiences unfold.
Kincaid is a troubled bachelor who outwardly appears as a talented, successful and sexy neurosurgeon, crossing paths with Bloom at an important junction in her life. Their life is interrupted when Bloom’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (played by Brandon Sklenar), reenters the picture unexpectedly and Bloom struggles
to keep the two men separate while trying to convince herself she is over Corrigan and ready to move on with Kincaid.
The biggest problem for Bloom, who grew up in a violent and troubled home, is standing her ground when it comes to her boundaries and what she is willing to accept in her life. Bloom’s late father having been abusive to her mother is a major trigger for her so when Kincaid displays angry and violent outbursts, she quickly sees the signs and comes to terms with who she has fallen in love with.
Ryle Kincaid comes off as a dream man and, although he struggles with his own childhood trauma and there are reasons behind his eruptions, his behavior is inexcusable. If Bloom hadn’t grown up seeing her father’s dark side, which came out behind closed doors, she might not have had the foresight to understand the magnitude of the situation she found herself in.
The issue for Bloom, as so many women can relate,
is that her realization comes after her and Kincaid have built a life together. Walking away from a toxic relationship is not always easy or cut and dry, and it’s made more challenging when the partner also has redeeming qualities, much like Kincaid. This balancing act can draw the partner back in and make them feel that another chance is warranted or that more should be done on their part to salvage the relationship. Especially if there are kids involved, a home or assets that need to be split or a divorce to obtain – each feels like an unmanageable obstacle.
My favorite part of “It Ends
With Us” is how they take one of the most pivotal emotional aspects of the story and use that as Bloom’s moment to make her final decision about her future with Kincaid. She makes a tough choice and sticks with it, showing viewers that it’s possible to reclaim your path and take control of your life.
“It Ends With Us” tells an important and inspirational story from multiple perspectives that many people can connect with. It’s easy to view another’s life as an outsider and judge or claim what
one would or wouldn’t do. The truth is, you don’t truly know until you find yourself in that position. Patience, support and empathy go a long way in saving someone’s life. I give the book an 8 /10 and the film adaptation an 8.5, having touched on every necessary plot point in a decent time frame and bringing the characters to life in an incredible way. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE (7233) or thehotline.org.
regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.
Amanda
Photo courtesy of
Photo courtesy of iamchappellroan.com
Kaley Muse A&E Editor
Through four movies and two and a half decades, “The Matrix” has been astounding audiences of all ages.
The film’s visual effects, action sequences and cinematography were unlike any other movie that came before which is why it became as popular as it did.
Set in a dystopian future, “The Matrix” film saga follows Neo (Keanu Reeves) as he navigates a new and strange world where not everything is as it seems.
Along the way, he meets a ragtag group of humans (Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong,
Julian Arahanga, Belinda McClory) who show him how to survive in a world where robots rule.
The first film features many iconic scenes such as Neo on a rooftop dodging slow motion bullets in his signature black leather coat and dark sunglasses.
This scene comes at the almost end of the movie, and the visual effects here are stunning.
This very intense, action packed scene takes place on a very windy rooftop with Trinity and Neo being overpowered by the clone robots, referred to as Agents, with the main Agent
antagonist being Agent Smith.
Neo tries shooting the Agent that is advancing toward him, but the Agent’s super robot speed allows him to dodge every bullet Neo sends his way until Neo runs out.
The Agent then begins to shoot at Neo and Neo, with his own superpowers, dodges all but two bullets by bending almost completely backwards while the bullets speed past him in slow motion.
This scene signifies Neo’s full transition from a regular human to a human who can take down the entire alien robot race.
Another scene and arguably the most famous is
the red and blue pill choice Neo is given at the beginning.
The cinematography of this scene alone was Oscar worthy.
The scene features Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) shrouded in almost complete green-black darkness directly across from Neo.
This dark and eerie atmosphere allows for the red and blue pills in Morpheus’ respective hands to be that much brighter and more colorful, signifying to audiences that Neo is about to make the most important decision of the film and his life.
These two scenes are just a couple of the many times the film showcases its insanely
well-done visual effects and action sequences that made it the blockbuster hit that it was.
Additionally, these two scenes signify the beginning and end of Neo’s heroic transition into the Matrix and out of the agent controlled, simulated world.
All in all, “The Matrix” film series has spanned over twenty years with the most recent installment, “The Matrix Ressurections” (2022), with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as Neo.
Though being released in the late 90s, “The Matrix” has been beloved for generations and continues to be one of the most well done and entertaining film sagas of all time.
ACE ATTORNEY INVESTIGATIONS COLLECTION
Skylar Teddington Staff Writer
On Sept. 5, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection released on multiple platforms to give series veterans and recent fans a new way to enjoy the Investigations series.
The collection includes two fully remastered games–Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit.
They were originally released for the Nintendo DS system as point-and-click adventure games with visual novel elements, in 2009 and 2011 respectively, being some of the only Ace Attorney games allowing player-controlled characters.
Both games follow Miles Edgeworth, the “king” of prosecutors in the Ace Attorney universe, undertaking multiple cases using investigative skills based on facts, leads and logic. The goal is to solve cases by discovering who committed each crime; differing from other Ace Attorney games now that you’re on the other side of the glass as a prosecutor and the focus has shifted from the courtroom to the investigation.
The remaster seems to target the graphics, with
the new high definition chibi sprites being the most notable changes.
The new sprites allow players to see each character’s facial expressions and animations with ease, and they look a lot smoother than the original pixel sprites.
That doesn’t mean the originals don’t have their own charm though, and players who prefer the retro look can choose the originals still. Both games’ soundtracks are also among the best in the series.
Gameplay can be a little rough at times, and it reads less naturally than other Ace Attorney games, though I didn’t mind.
In the first game, I frequently found myself clicking on objects in a very specific way since something would be next to them, but this is less prevalent in the second game.
What’s most interesting about this collection is that it opens a whole new world to non-Japanese players with the localization of Ace Attorney 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. While it was possible to play the game in English before the release of the collection, the translations were not official, until now.
Translator Janet Hsu spoke about how this collection differed from translating the original DS
games.
“Well, for one thing, the added horizontal space allowed less compact languages like English to use longer words,” Hsu said. “In the era of the original Nintendo DS version, we still used the ‘number of characters’ by ‘number of lines’ method of calculating how much text could fit in each text box.”
So, why wasn’t it localized before? According to Christian Svensson, formerly with Capcom, the costs were higher than the estimated returns. However, Motohide Eshiro, who’s known for his work on the Ace Attorney series, alleged scheduling and staff changes as the reason for the lack of localization.
It’s a highly interactive series, and you need to be attentive and draw your own conclusions. The collection is definitely not for newcomers to the series either, since you’ll need background information from other Ace Attorney games to get a full scope of each plot.
This may be for you if you enjoy story driven games with great characters and exciting twists. Overall, I’d give Ace Attorney Investigations Collection a solid 8/10 plus an extra point for having a defense attorney named Eddie Fender.
Courtesy Photo
Graphic by Kaley Muse
student tutors positivity and motivation
Alyssa Martinez News Editor
The Cameron University Tutoring Center offers tutoring in all subjects from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, Friday, on the first floor of the Eugene D. McMahon Library.
Trained student tutors provide non-judgemental academic assistance in subjects anyone might be struggling with. The goal is to teach students and support them in areas where they might need help.
Tutors schedule sessions in person or virtually through Zoom appointments.
The Tutoring Center offers walk-in appointments on a first come, first serve basis.
Junior English major Jessi Womack is a writing tutor who has worked as a tutor for almost two years.
“I usually assist in helping people set up their papers, or I help them edit their papers,” Womack said. “I mostly just help with the writing process as a whole by giving students the tools they need to be successful on their own.”
Womack said, although she will not do assignments for students, her goal is to help students feel at ease, realize their capabilities, and learn in a way that is specific to them.
“We all learn differently and we all communicate differently,” Womack said, “so the way I work with one person on a paper isn’t going to work on the next person I work with.”
It is important that tutors maintain a good mindset
while working with students.
Sophomore computer science and mathematics major Trace Boggs has a similar mindset when it comes to working with students: He tutors in math and computer science, areas where students tend to express frustration. He said a tutor should maintain a positive attitude when working with frustrated students.
“The biggest challenge for me is definitely handling when students get frustrated or shut down,” Boggs said.
“The most important thing as a tutor is to stay positive and to motivate who you’re working with — even when they’re shutting down.”
The Tutoring Center is open to all students at Cameron regardless of a student’s major. If tutors are not available for a specific subject, students can visit Tutor.com, a website that also helps students receive
ACTS
Steven Utter Student Life Editor
At 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 in the McCasland Ballroom of the McMahon Centennial Complex, the Association of Computing and Technology Students (ACTS) hosted its game night event open to any Cameron student.
ACTS provided free pizza and drinks, but attendees could also offer donations to pay for baked goods.
Donations helped raise funds with the goal of sending ACTS members to the U.S. Information Technology Collegiate Conference competition in November.
ACTS President Belinda Foley said there is always something for everyone each year, and many students bring their own games.
This year students brought games such as Magic: The Gathering, Uno, Sorry and Guess Who and played them throughout the three-hour event, which created an energetic, yet relaxing atmosphere.
“We try to keep our game nights, since it’s more introductory, to get members to come and have
Game Night
a good time,” Foley said.
The featured games this year included Super Smash Brothers, Dungeons and Dragons, Settlers of Catan, and Jackbox Party Games.
ACTS Vice President Jordan Pack has been acting as Dungeon Master for roughly six years in online campaigns.
Pack ran the one-shot Dungeons and Dragons campaign for game night, which was his first time running one in person.
“So, the campaign is actually going to be set in a custom world that I built,” Pack said, “It’s called Landorum.
The specific area that we will be visiting tonight is called the Duskmire.”
There were five players who joined the campaign. Each player chose a character premade by Pack who said he also makes his own maps for his games.
Pack placed a game mat and miniature character figurines on the table as players looked at their character sheets to get familiar with their abilities and readied their dice.
Due to the limited time available, players needed to have previous experience, and Pack quickened the plot of the story to reach the climax.
Pack
introduced the group to the setting and major characters before preparing their party for battle against a vampire lord and his army who were laying siege to a town called Woodhaerst.
The players fought with creative tactics and teamwork to hold back the attack for as long as they could. They quickly fortified the town with what they had available to them.
During the attack, they used alcohol as an improvised explosive and wiped out most of the first wave of vampires.
Unfortunately, after this point in the battle, Pack needed to bring the campaign to a close as game night wrapped up, so he left the fight on a cliffhanger: The vampire lord taunted the players from the shadows, suggesting they would see him again soon for another game.
Pack still gave players a summary of how the world changes after the events of the battle, so they could have an ending.
The players seemed to enjoy their time in Pack’s world. Pack said he got some laughs out of everyone which made the game worth his effort, although he would have liked to include more of the plot.
Photos by Steven Utter
Photos by
Alyssa Martinez
Athelete Spotlight:
Ramona Villegas Staff Writer
Junior transfer student
Jaelynn Huerta has been playing softball since she was three years old, motivated and supported by her dad, Julian.
While grateful that he introduced her to it at a young age, she is even more thankful for the opportunity to make her dad proud.
“Sports have been a real big part of my family,” Huerta said.
From a young age, Huerta watched older girls play softball in high school and then in college. She knew, even then, that softball was going to be in her future.
“That was what I wanted. I saw how good they were. I saw how the teams worked together in unison, how it all came together, and I wanted that,” Huerta said. “I am lucky enough, and
Jaelynn Huerta
I thank God every day that he gave me this ability and this opportunity to play, especially at this level.”
Softball has been a cornerstone in Huerta’s life, providing her with a sense of community, physical fitness and a much-needed outlet from the demands of day-today life.
For Huerta, the sport is not just an activity she participates in but a part of her identity.
“Softball has always been my outlet for whenever I’m happy, whenever I’m sad, anytime anything that has happened in my life,” she said. “Softball has been my constant, and I can’t imagine myself without softball.”
Huerta has found her experience as an Aggie to be nothing short
of exhilarating. The atmosphere is filled with fun and positive energy, thanks to the support of the coaches, and the helpful weight room staff.
“Here I’m excited, and every day I wanna do something more, I wanna do more, more, more and I know all my teammates are like that,” Huerta said. “I ‘m surrounded by amazing girls, and I’m glad I’m here.”
Aggie coach Bryan Howard reached out to Huerta two weeks before she was planning to leave for another school. Something about their conversation stuck with Huerta, creating a pivotal change in her decision.
Huerta knew, at that point, that Cameron is exactly where she
belonged.
“It made me think,” she said. “I honestly believe it was a sign from God.”
That conversation with Howard resonated because he was direct and spoke to Huerta like the adult she is, providing exactly what Huerta was looking for in a coach.
“He told me what he wanted; what he expects and what he’s gonna do; and what he would want from me,” Huerta said. “That’s all I need.”
Howard, known for his dedication and hunger for success, eagerly pursues the championship prize.
“He has that mindset of ‘we want a championship, so we’re gonna earn a championship.’ He says it in practice: ‘every
day is an audition’,” Huerta said. “That’s what I want, that’s what I wanna be surrounded by. He only wants our best; it doesn’t mean perfection, but he wants our best.”
Huerta enjoys that Howard is eager to create better athletes, people, and students, and after years in the sport, Howard is the best that she has worked with.
“He cares for you on more than just an athlete level; he cares for you as a person, making sure you’re okay,” Huerta said.
The women on the softball team consistently hold each other accountable and work to improve their performances each practice.
“Everyone is hungry to be better,” Huerta said.
One of Huertas’s goals for this year is to improve her hitting, as she wants her team to feel confident when she steps up to the plate.
“I wanna see how long I can go with having solid shots backto-back without striking out,” she said. “I wanna see how far I can go, and I want to win defensive player of the year.” For more information, visit http:// cameronaggies.com/ sports/softball.
Serenity Clark Staff Writer
There is a team on this campus that has gone underappreciated for far too long, considering their never-ending support from the sidelines for all of us Aggies.
The Cameron Spirit Squad consists of both the Aggie
cheerleaders as well as the dance team.
Sophomore Karlee Harrison shed light on the subject for me, having experience in both sports and on each team.
Dance focuses on routines and performance, whereas cheer focuses on stunts and, you guessed it, cheering!
I asked if there was anything we should know about her and her teammates.
“We’re here for spirit,” she said. “We’re here to cheer on the Aggies… and each other— and keep each other accountable. [Our goal] is just to show spirit all throughout the campus, not just for one specific team,” Harrison said.
Harrison studies Health and Exercise Science, having graduated from Marlow.
This is her second year on the Spirit Squad; she first started out on the dance team and made the switch to the cheer team this past spring.
Harrison first got into cheerleading by joining her middle school’s team.
She then moved to dance, joining Marlow High’s Pom Squad her freshman year and became a three-time state champion on their kick team.
Unfortunately, near the end of her high school career, Harrison tore her ACL.
This was a difficult time, as it must be for all athletes suffering an injury.
Throughout the healing process, she figured she “must be done” with the sport. After all, there’s often no promise that you will be able to perform as you had prior to an injury.
Harrison persevered, healed up strong and went on to continue participating in the sport she loves.
The Spirit Squad has stayed on campus for years, bringing the energy to every home basketball and volleyball game, but both Harrison and head coach Jaemyn Quinn have high hopes for future Aggie participation in cheer/dance competitions.
Harrison explained that the team has nearly doubled in size in the last semester alone, and their primary focus now, is team building.
“She’s a very helpful coach,” Harrison said.
Coach Quinn used to be a college cheerleader herself, with competition experience, so there is a kinship there.
She understands how vital a strong foundation is amongst an entire team and she plans to keep building on that.
While The Spirit Squad continues to grow together as a team, honing skills and learning new ones, they never fail to bring incredible energy and support to every single game.
Their contribution to the overall morale on campus, on the court and on the field is essential. They are the backbone of the Aggie spirit.
