HANNAH THOMAS
Jacob Doughty and Hannah Owens
As the Administrative Assistant for the Dean of Students Office here at Cameron University, Hannah Thomas enjoys her role and the responsibilities she’s been entrusted within her supportive work environment. Surrounded by great people, she values the friendships she’s made along the way as well as the coworkers that also occupy her workspace.
Thomas' position as an Administrative Assistant keeps her busy when it comes to coordinating a wide range of various activities across campus for student life and staff.
Describing her days as “busy work, and busy jobs,” she organizes lectures, concerts or any other essential educational entertainment, while also serving on the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC).
Thomas finds the most gratification working with students.
“My most rewarding part of the job would be when I assist students,” Thomas said. “(It) makes me feel good (that) I can help them.”
Overtime, her responsibilities and tasks have extended to managing academic calendars, budgeting, student travel arrangements, and other administrative tasks that fall in line with maintaining a steady workflow within the office.
Outside of work, Thomas has a strong relationship with her family. Although her sister may live out of town and closer to the city, she is grateful and appreciative for being able to stay connected with her parents, who live in Lawton.
Regarding her personal life, one thing she cherishes most and considers a significant milestone would be when she graduated from college. Compared to this wonderful memory,
she humorously admits that each end to her work days is one of her saddest moments.
Most importantly, achieving such an accomplishment has allowed her to become selfsufficient and enjoy the life that she has now and where she is at in her career. This also includes being able to manage her finances independently.
Since she started working for Cameron University as the Administrative Assistant, she has greatly improved all aspects about herself, more specifically, her multitasking abilities and her organizational skills, especially when it came to planning large, important campus events.
Thomas emphasized the close-knit community and supportive atmosphere at Cameron University.
“Cameron University – it's not a huge school, and that's okay,” Thomas said. “The staff here are always willing to help and go above and beyond for students.”
Looking ahead, Thomas is hopeful to continue her journey working here at Cameron University, embracing her future with confidence and enthusiasm. She claims one of her life goals is being able to retire comfortably, and although that will be some time away, in the meantime, she is content and optimistic with her current position and status of her career.
Community A&E: MIND FUNERAL
PETER SKULSKI'S
Steven Utter Student Life Editor
In the heart of Oklahoma's indie music scene, Peter Skulski is a local musician attempting to make waves as the driving force behind the band MIND FUNERAL which is currently recording its first album.
As the creative lead and head writer, Peter brings a unique vision to his band, weaving together storytelling with a gritty, old-school sound that
challenges the boundaries of modern rock and metal.
Now, with their first album set for release in 2025, MIND FUNERAL is gearing up to share a raw, adrenaline-fueled sound with listeners everywhere.
MIND FUNERAL guitarist and Cameron University alumnus Tyler Farmer said, "MIND FUNERAL touches people in a very familiar and organic, rock and roll roots, type way."
For Skulski, this is more than music, it's a
journey and a deeply personal creation.
“MIND FUNERAL is ‘Doom and Roll,’” Skulski said, “That’s what I like to call it. It’s a brainchild that I’ve had in mind for a long time, probably like a decade. For a little while it was almost like a joke, but when I met Garret, it turned into an actual band. So, to me it’s kind of like my baby.”
Photo by Hannah Owens
Photo by Hannah Owens
Staff Writer
At 3 p.m. on Nov. 20, in the Science Complex, the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences hosted the 36th Annual Cattle Improvement Conference.
Ron Hall, DVM State Veterinarian, discussed the importance of traceability and biosecurity in the beef industry. Clay Burtrum, co-owner of Farm Data Services in Stillwater, Oklahoma spoke about the cattle industry and his company.
Farm Data Services is a management accounting firm that records financial information for farmers, ranchers and small business owners throughout a five-state region. They have
many different things, so they customize their services.
“The business, however, is as unique as the individuals –no farm operation is the same,” Burtrum said.
During tax season, there are numerous tasks to complete that can often feel overwhelming for business owners.
It’s essential to stay organized and methodical in your approach to ensure everything is ready when you need it. First and foremost, gathering all necessary documents is crucial, including receipts for various expenses, such as medical bills, charitable contributions and business-related costs.
Ethics Bowl 2024
“Well, we take that out of the equation for you,” Burtrum said. “We do that throughout the year because you want to know if you made money or are trying to get to the end of the year.”
Burtrum spoke about cash flow planning, producer credits, debits and balance sheets. They recommend not waiting until the end of the year, but staying on top of this on a monthly basis. No matter what your goal is, Farm Data Services can help you and they have a special approach to accomplish it.
“What are your operations’ outcomes?” Burtrum said. “We need to know that when we meet.”
This is the 36th event of this tradition in the department. It all starts with the ag advisory board, which gives feedback on what they feel are important and notable topics regarding agriculture. Then the department chair takes those ideas and determines which direction they would
like to go for the conference.
Administrative assistant Kristi Vallery played a big role in helping the event come together, from finding volunteers to serve the food, setting up tables,and ensuring everyone who wanted to listen to the speakers or attend dinner got the opportunity to do so.
“I just kinda help coordinate, set up, and do all the logistics, everything you don’t see behind the scenes,” Vallery said.
Vallery demonstrated great communication skills and an infectious enthusiasm, which helped inspire others to get involved and lend a hand.
The Aggie Club also assisted with the event, by directing attendees to their respective locations, and helping to set up drinks and food, along with serving dinner.
Aggie Club Treasurer Alexia Henry was in attendance and looks forward to her club branching out.
“We are trying to go bigger and host more things,” Henry said.
For more information on the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences, contact the administrative assistant at kvallery@cameron.edu.
For more information on the Aggie Club, contact tarnold@cameron.edu.
Rec Center Pool Closed for Repairs
Photos by Ramona Villegas
Photos by Ramona Villegas Courtesy Graphic
Photo by John Masters
After Hours Access Policy is Failing Students
Hannah Owens Managing Editor
As a student who has spent many late nights on campus juggling academics, work, and extracurricular commitments, I’ve come to realize just how essential access to university resources is after regular business hours. For me, the newsroom has often served as my sanctuary. During past semesters, I balanced a full-time job with a full course load. My days were jam-packed: classes in the morning, work until evening, and only then could I dedicate time to homework and newspaper production. I would often stay in the newsroom until 3 a.m., relying on the campus facilities to catch up on the countless responsibilities I could not address during the day.
concerns. While the official published policy states that students and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) may not use classrooms or other indoor spaces after 10 p.m. without authorization, the stricter 5 p.m. enforcement is both arbitrary and detrimental.
Signs outside the music and art buildings warn students against being alone after 5 p.m., but those signs are not policy. Their presence has limited access to crucial resources for music, art and theater students for at least a year and a half, long before I noticed how the policy would suddenly impact my department.
of footage, I couldn’t do it in the library. This left me scrambling to meet deadlines and significantly hindered my ability to produce quality work. I had extremely limited time to edit a huge project, and I did not have access to essential resources in a great time of need. Arguably, a great time of need for these resources is 24/7.
that in the practice rooms, you’re kind of hindering your education and hindering yourself.”
classes and then whatever facilities are open at the time,” Swinson said.
The broader implications are troubling. Cameron University markets itself as a place for nontraditional and low-income students — students who often juggle work, family and other commitments. These are precisely the students who need access to campus resources outside of the traditional 9-to-5 window. Yet, instead of accommodating them, the university is shutting them out.
heavy lifting, may require supervision for students to complete the work. The lack of access is not just an inconvenience — it undermines students’ education.
However, this semester, the rules changed — and not for the better. Cameron University’s Office of Public Safety began enforcing an unofficial policy that prohibits students from being alone in campus facilities after 5 p.m., citing safety
For students like me, whose work requires access to advanced tools such as Adobe programs or highperformance computers, the alternatives offered are woefully inadequate.
The Digital Media Lab in the library, one suggested solution, has only three computers for digital media students to share, and these machines are underpowered for large projects. When I had to edit a film project with gigabytes
Music, theater and art students face even greater challenges. A music major practicing the trumpet in their apartment is likely to be evicted; singers are told to purchase mufflers that cost upwards of $50 to continue their education. Art students cannot feasibly transport large canvases or sculptures between their homes and campus. Theater students, often rehearsing until 10 p.m., find themselves with no space to practice their lines or blocking afterward.
Music major Grace Norbury shared her perspective, highlighting the challenges she has faced.
“A lot of professors will tell us to practice like you are performing,” Norbury said. “And whenever you can’t do
Even commuter students like senior English major Ryn Swinson are affected. Without access to buildings in the evenings, she has been forced to sit in her car or wander campus between events. On Fridays and Saturdays, when the library closes at 6 p.m., she is left without a “third place” to spend time — a problem that underscores the declining accessibility of public spaces in general.
“So as a commuter, you’re not really given another place to go besides your car and your
The university’s reasoning for the policy — that student safety must come first — is insufficient. Students are adults who understand the risks of being alone on campus. If safety is truly the concern, why are faculty and staff allowed to work alone in the same buildings after hours? Public safety officers could focus on conducting sweeps to ensure safety, not removing students from instructional spaces. Another solution would be to hire additional staff for this very purpose.
Additional lighting and security cameras, which students have suggested, could also address safety concerns without barring access.
An anonymous art student, who primarily works with drawing and graphic design (more portable and less hazardous media), voiced support for the policy while highlighting its complexities. They pointed out that while their work poses minimal risk, other media, like sculpting or those involving sharp tools and
Cameron University should look to institutions like the University of Oklahoma, where students have 24/7 access to computer labs and other department-specific facilities. Implementing more card-swipe systems for secure, after-hours access could strike a balance between safety and resource availability. I’m not here to disparage Public Safety or the university administration. My goal is to amplify students’ voices on a topic that directly impacts their academic success. As it stands, the after-hours policy is being dictated without meaningful input from the very students it affects. Cameron can and must do better to support its student body — especially those who rely on campus resources to succeed. Until then, the question remains: How can Cameron truly serve its students if it locks them out when they need the university most?
Ciera Terry: Let yourself have hope and give yourself the space to believe that good things can happen to you, for you, by you.
Kaley Muse: Don’t let the world trick you into thinking there aren’t beautiful things. Beautiful things are everywhere if you have the courage to go out and find them.
Tawny Vanover: Continue working hard for the life you are building but always find little moments to appreciate the life you already have.
Hannah Owens: Give yourself some grace — it’s okay to make mistakes.
Ryn Swinson: Know you are full of potential and opportunities so go forward with love, especially for yourself. Live and thrive — even if it’s out of spite.
Julian Ebacher: There is nothing that is not made better by wonder. Don Quixote, even in his delusion, was thoroughly in love with the world, and lived all the better for it. To love life makes right a lot of ills.
Amelia Lozano: Remember that there is always someone in your corner to back you up — don’t be afraid to lean on them.
Amanda Purser: Give yourself time and space to be creative and trust the process.
Matthew Hasley: Network, network, network. Always be looking for opportunities to make friends or talk to others. You never know who may be that awesome person who leads you to great opportunities or opens a door for you to get your foot in.
Alyssa Martinez: Don’t be afraid to change your mind. You could miss something that makes you really happy.
Correction: In Vol. 111, Issue 8, the “Cameron Collegian” misspelled an SSS student worker’s name as “Benetriava Cunningham.” The correct spelling is “Benetria Cunningham.” The Collegian deeply regrets this error.
MIND FUNERAL continued
What are your influences behind the project?
“Probably, I would say, Black Sabbath. The other guys in the band, Garret and Ryan and Tyler, all bring different flavors to the band. A little bit of Pantera or Alice in Chains. I’m a big Metallica guy. I like to joke with the guys and ask, ‘What would James Hetfield do?’”
How do you feel the project has been received so far?
“We only have one song out, but I think it’s been received well. We’re doing it grassroots. DIY. Slow and steady. We’ve played two shows. We’ve got one coming up Nov. 30 in Wichita Falls. People show up and have said a lot of kind words, which is nice.”
You told me before that you wanted MIND FUNERAL to be more than just music.
Are you working on anything else currently?
“There’s whispers and things, and it’s fun to talk about different ideas, but yeah. It would be cool if MIND FUNERAL isn’t just limited to a band or music. I feel like it could encompass a whole wide range of things keeping the core themes of technology and virtual realities. The first album we are going to release is essentially a concept album about a cyber-witch. We wanted to make it storybased like that. It’s cool that I’ve found people who are into it and interested. They bring a lot of life to it, the other guys in the band.”
Is that what you would say you enjoy the most, the collaboration?
“Yeah, definitely. It’s hard to find like-minded individuals, in the sense that you are on the same wavelength when it comes to just being a person, but on top of that music is a whole other game. We’ve done that with MIND FUNERAL and that’s what makes it so much fun.”
What would you say is the hardest?
“I guess the social media side really. In today’s day and age, you have to really be on top of social media. It’s like a content machine. You constantly have to be putting out content. I don’t think we are going to abide by those rules but trying to keep up and stay relevant when that’s what’s going on all around you all the time is difficult.”
What do you think is next for the band after the album is done? “Just playing shows and continuing to write. We’ve already got a few songs in the chamber that are coming out pretty cool.”
For more information or to listen to MIND FUNERAL visit https:// linktr.ee/MINDFUNERAL.
“It
A YEAR IN MEDIA
Courtesy photos
“Sexy, fun and super scandalous with a brilliantly talented cast.”
~Ryn Swinson Copy Editor
“Every hot person ever is in this show, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
~Kaley Muse A&E Editor
“I loved ‘Dune: Part Two” because it reminded me of all the reasons I love going to the movies.”
~Eden Lozano Voices Editor
“I love how they relied on practical effects and makeup rather than CGI which really made it feel like the original.”
~Hannah Owens Managing Editor
“I really liked the ‘Short n’ Sweet’ album. I think the influences made it super interesting to listen to.”
~Alyssa Martinez News Editor
“This entire series was fresh, interesting and kept me coming back.”
~Amanda Purser Copy Editor
“I love gay horror.”
~Cierra Terry Staff Writer
“‘Slay the Princess,’ it executed a romance so well that it made me actually understnad the motivations other romances in art, and as such, it positively recontextualized for me one of the most dominant artistic tropes ever.”
~Julian Ebacher Staff Writer
only just dropped yesterday, but i’ve been waiting for this game all year. It’s immersive and gives you jumpscares.”
~Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
Courtesy Photo
Graphic by Kaley Muse
SLAY THE PRINCESS: NAVIGATING THROUGH THE PRISTINE CUT
Julian Ebacher Staff Writer
“Slay the Princess” is a horror-romance visual novel, with the recurring motif of a mirror.
As players advance through the world, it is a universe of a narrative that we are not involved with, yet still we look upon the mirror as the inescapable symbol of our ability to enact change within it. The mirror is alien to the world it inhabits, and, critically, inscrutable. The grime upon it obscures any reflection, and it is only when the world itself disappears that we are able to see ourselves, snapshots of the stages of decay.
We cannot see our reflection within the world, as we shape the world itself by our divine hand, bound by it. It is only when we become external to that world that we can see the way we have molded it, and by seeing that, we mark our path toward being nothing at all, giving up our kiln, our body, for the sake of awakening to the truth.
Players are on a path in the woods and told of a cabin, with only a voice in your head informing them of the need to slay the Princess that resides in that cabin’s basement.
If you don’t, the voice claims it will be the end of the world. The player determines everything from that point on, and everything within the narrative bends to the player’s whims.
Do you wish to fulfill your purpose and slay her?
Wonderful.
Do you wish to free her from her captivity?
Amazing.
Have you determined that you do not want to engage with the narrative at all?
Brilliant.
The game stops at nothing to accommodate the player’s desires, not dissimilar to a squire who looks upon a king and tells him that reality itself bends around his finger.
And the world bends to yours.
Regardless of the path the player decides in this saga of Hero, Princess, Dragon and Narrator, there is nothing that happens that players do not have the final say over. Even if the world would attempt to force the player’s hand, the only thing that matters is what the players deign to say.
The player is god, and with that, the world is their plaything.
The mirror is empty, and that is because the player is not part of this world — the player is the world itself.
There is nothing that they cannot do, there is nothing that they cannot accomplish.
There is nothing that stands in their way.
That is to say, with the exception of the Princess. She will lie, she will cheat, she will do anything in her power to stop the player from slaying her. And, in the end, she’s quite good at it.
One wouldn’t, for example, think that she could take
them in a fight while chained up.
How could you have known that she had a knife?
And as you try again and again to fulfill the narrative that you wish to write for yourself, the princess adapts. As you try to bend the world to your will, she evolves, just like the rest of the world, to the narrative that you write in your heart.
And that is the core of the game.
Its goal is determining the way you view the scenario you find yourself in and gift-wrapping the perfect response to that, the perfect plan that will reflect the world that you create, no matter what world that may be.
Just as you hold the narrative in the palm of its hands, it does the same to you, an ouroboros of remarkable writing skill.
If I were to disregard everything else, that is the reason to play this game.
Unfortunately, I won’t disregard everything else, so in turn, the game is a beautiful philosophical study on the nature of life and what gives it meaning.
It’s also a beautiful romance, analyzing what it truly means to love another, an archetypal Hero and Princess and the relationship between them.
It is a game where you fail to discover that you have fallen in love until the true denouement of the story. It is not forceful; it is ever so gentle in pushing the emotions exactly where they need to go. And in doing so, that reflection in the mirror that the player alone has made carries the stamp of an entirely different set of hands.
Makayla Flenoury Staff Writer
On Oct. 28, Tyler, The Creator released his eighth album “Chromakopia.” Through his new album, Tyler continues his trend of portraying alter-egos.
“Chromakopia” is based on the character Chroma the Great from Norton Juster’s book “The Phantom Tollbooth.” In this book, the main character, Milo, is transferred to a colorless world and fights monsters to save the princess. This explains the music video introducing “Chromakopia.” The video starts colorless and eventually Chroma the Great brings color to the world.
The songs on the album bring many different themes to light, with each song telling stories from two perspectives: Tyler and his love interest, Jane.
The first story is a love story between Tyler and Jane. The second story is about Tyler growing up and discovering more about himself. The overall story is a parallel between Tyler and his parents, mainly his father, and the snippets of his mother serve as Tyler’s consciousness.
The first half is a love story that leads to a pregnancy scare and ends on the sixth track, “I Killed You.” This leads into the second half of the story, a parallel between Tyler and his father. Snippets of his mother in the songs serve as Tyler’s consciousness, which creates the full parallel between Tyler and his parents.
The love story of this album is told from track two through six. The second track “Rah Tah Tah” suggests that the relationship between Tyler and Jane started off rough with the lyrics “And if you hang up ... I’ll call right back.” These lyrics suggest the couple often got into arguments resulting in Jane hanging up. This is complemented by the line “if my ex is spillin’ tea about me, don’t you drink that,” suggesting that Jane heard bad things about Tyler from his ex.
The third track “Noid” talks about Tyler’s paranoia about being famous, another theme that is fully revealed after listeners complete the first half of the album.
The fourth track, “Darling, I,” touches on the theme of exploring options when it comes to love and not settling down. The lyrics “So how can I get everything from one person / I’m at the altar, but I’m still searchin” shows that Tyler does not want to commit to Jane and wants to explore other possibilities.
Track five gets way more interesting
“Hey Jane” is about a pregnancy scare that is told from Tyler and Jane’s perspective. The switch is shown in the lyrics “Hey Jane” and “Hey T.” Throughout the song Tyler and Jane talk about the stress and fear of pregnancy and whether Jane is going to keep the baby. This is where the second theme of “Noid” comes from being that Tyler is paranoid about the potential pregnancy with the lyrics “never trust ... they could trap you,” suggesting Tyler felt trapped by the pregnancy scare. This can also be looped back into “Darling, I” where Tyler is talking about how he does not want a big commitment.
The next song, “I Killed You,” is my favorite on the album. This song has many different meanings. The first meaning is that Jane ends up not keeping the baby and the song explores Tyler’s guilt.
The second meaning of this song is about the culture of black hair and how society shamed it. Between the lyrics “I killed you,” it has many lyrics about black hair — ending the bar with “I killed you.”
The third meaning of this song reflects the overall theme of the album, the parallel between Tyler and his parents. Here, the parallel is Tyler’s guilt for his partner having an abortion and his father “killing” Tyler by being an absent father.
The seventh track, “Judge Judy,” serves as a transition between the first and the second story of the album.
The next track, “Sticky,” can serve as a representation for a sticky situation; however, Tyler’s goal with this song was to bring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and rap together. I think Tyler portrayed this excellently with the beat and the three features of the song: GloRilla, Sexy Redd and Lil Wayne. It is a great representation of that part of black culture.
The song “Take Your Mask Off” goes into Tyler’s struggle with his sexuality and hiding who he is. The lyrics “Ain’t too fond of them gays / you don’t deny it, wait” suggests society (and Tyler’s father) does not accept people with different sexualities. The next line, “Since a kid, you knew somethin’ was up / Had you thinkin’ God would hate you, so you covered it up” reflects the same anti-gay predjudice in context of society, Tyler’s father, and Tyler, himself.
“Tomorrow” goes back his guilt about not having children because of his mother wants grandchildren. While Tyler recounts: “The thought of children, it brings me stress,” he goes on to say he doesn’t recognize himself, and he’s becoming a new version contemplating settling down. He then loops the song back to “Noid” and his commitment issues in “Darling, I” with the lyrics “I’m too paranoid / so I’m-a air it out.”
The next song “Thought I Was Dead” is Tyler boldly claiming his existence to his father with the lyrics “... thought I was dead” and saying his father doesn’t want to be found.
At this point in the story, Tyler is under the impression his father doesn’t want to be in his life. Tyler attempts to differentiate himself from his father but ultimately fails which can be seen in the next track “Like Him.”
“Like Him” starts with Tyler’s mother talking about how much Tyler looks like his father.
Tyler expresses his sadness when it comes to his father with the lyrics “Mama, I’m chasing a ghost / I don’t know how he is.”
Tyler believes it’s his fault his father was absent: “You gave me love / And affection, attention, protection.”
At the end of the song, Tyler’s mother reveals that it was her choice for his father not to be in Tyler’s life: “But he’s always wanted to be a father to you.”
The next song, “Balloon,” suggests that the way Tyler dealt with finding out the truth was sleeping, partying, drugs, and other things. The song has an upbeat, partying bounciness to it, and the lyrics “Like bells during December, I sleigh / I don’t even like girls ... I’m way up too high” allude to the drugs and the girl he used to use (Jane) to cope.
The final song on the album, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home,” serves as a plea for his desire for himself and others to navigate their journey successfully.
The song is a continuation of “Hey Jane” and Tyler speaks to his fears of being a father with the lyrics “I almost had a mini-me, I wasn’t ready” and “So as of Now, raisin’ a child is not on my wish list.” The song suggests a plea for his father to “find his way home” since Tyler learned his father wanted to be in his life. The song ends by looping back to the first track “St. Chroma” with the lyrics “Do your thing, just keep, keep shining” and continued the chant of “Chromakopia” that is heard in the first song.
In “St. Chroma,” the being of the song says, “You are the light / it’s not on you it’s in you” and the song repeatedly says, “Can you feel the light inside / can you feel that fire.”
These lyrics mean that everyone has a light that they bring to the world.
The lyrics “don’t you ever in your motherf****** life / Dim your light for nobody” tie into the story of Tyler’s commitment issues and wanting to live life. Overall “Chromakopia” is a fantastic album, exploring many layers while still giving separate meanings to each song is what makes this album great.
The album sticks with Tyler’s common themes of rap and melodic music while bringing new sounds like “Sticky” to light. Altogether, I would rate this album a 9/10.
Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
What a triumphant yet challenging semester we had this Fall 2024, Cam Fam!
Cameron University athletics have made sure the student body can see multiple sports between the months of August to December.
Teams competing across basketball, cross country, golf, volleyball and esports, each showcased their determination and growth, leaving students and fans optimistic for the future.
The men’s basketball team, with early standout scorers Lavell Brodnex and Aaron Jacob, began their season with a 2-3 record. After a slow start, the Aggies found their stride with a two-game winning streak, building momentum ahead of conference play later in their season.
On the women’s side, Madison Griggs and Shamica Smith have an early lead with their scoring efforts as the team posts a 1-2 record, battling through competitive non-conference games. Here’s to a great season for both of our Cameron basketball teams.
In cross country, both teams demonstrated endurance and determination against tough competition. The men’s team, led by top runners Victor Ramos-Sambade and Kgaogelo Moloisi, highlighted their season with a first-place finish at the MSU Mustang Derby, and an 11thplace showing out of 41 teams at the DBU Old Glory Gallup.
The women’s team also performed
very well, with standout runners Manon Cady and Marie Sommer helping secure a second-place finish at the Aggie Duels and a 14thplace result at the NCAA South Central Regional, capping a strong season for the Aggies. I look forward to hearing about more great performances from our long-distance runners.
The golf teams performed well consistently with impressive performances throughout the semester.
On the men’s side, the team secured a first-place victory at The Hrnciar, a local tournament held at the Territory Golf Club in Duncan, and a third-place finish at the Citrus Intercollegiate.
Key players like Rory Gorman, Ethan Korock, and Ethan Parker delivered consistently strong performances.
The women’s team also impressed, capturing a victory at the Oklahoma Women’s Intercollegiate and placing fifth at the Westminster Invitational, with Maria Jose Savoca, Mollie Wheeler, and Valentina Leyva Serrano leading the charge. It is great to see our golf team holding their own on the green, I hope they can continue their consistent performances for both the men’s and women’s team.
Women’s volleyball was the most active sport of the semester, competing in 28 total matches. While the team faced a challenging season with a 2-26 overall record (2-14 in conference), individual performances stood out. Hailey Baker led the team with 208 kills, while Emily Keohen recorded 398 assists. On defense, Shelby Rusch
tallied 302 digs, and Haley Beggs notched 40 blocks, showcasing the team’s spirit in a tough schedule. I hope to see the team turn their record around in their upcoming season next year.
Esports emerged as a highlight of the semester, with Cameron’s teams delivering standout performances in Overwatch 2, VALORANT and Super Smash Brothers.
The Overwatch 2 team, led by captain Gleis (Sarah Monk), posted a 6-1 record and have advanced to the Divisional Championship, tied as the top seed in the playoffs.
“I’m really impressed at how far our team has come this semester, especially outside of the game,” Monk said.
“The amount of teamwork our players have put in not only to work on their gameplay, but as teammates has been awesome.”
“I wanted to specifically recognize Eli (Frogboi) for improving dramatically since his start, but his loyalty to the team. He has been the one teammate that has shown up every time he could, and even showed up on times where it wasn’t needed.”
Meanwhile, the VALORANT team, captained by JaMesia Burton, finished with a 5-1 record and made a strong playoff run before falling in the semifinals.
“This season has been the best with me being able to get to know new people and being able to play more,” Burton said. “We may not have come
in first place, but we were unbelievably close to it, and I’m really proud of how far we made it.”
Burton highlighted the growth of her teammates and their dedication to improvement.
“For a standout player, I would mention either our Mikachu or Ty,” Burton said. “They were both on the team last year and made really great progress when it came to VALORANT. I’m kind of sad I won’t be on the team this spring semester to see them achieve even higher ranks, but they were both committed and motivated to wanting to win and did a lot of hard work when it came to teamwork.”
The Super Smash Brothers team, led by Thomas B., capped off their season with a 4-3 record, bowing out in the first round of the playoffs but showing great potential for future seasons. I look forward to seeing all of our Esports teams continuing success from this season and building upon it as they will be losing some players going into next semester.
Across all areas, Cameron University athletes demonstrated dedication and growth, earning respect both on and off the field.
From thrilling wins to invaluable learning experiences, the Aggies and Pickaxes have set a solid foundation for continued success.
As they prepare for the spring semester, fans can look forward to more exciting moments from Cameron athletics.
Matthew Hasley Sports Editor
The Cameron University Pickaxes faced off against Grace College in the second round of the Playfly Fall 2024 Overwatch 2 Open PLUS playoffs on Wednesday in an Overwatch match for the ages. Filled with high-stakes plays, hero swaps, and a finale that left everyone on edge, the Pickaxes came prepared to win. In a battle that spanned four maps and featured countless moments of brilliance and mistakes, the Pickaxes emerged victorious, securing their place in the Divisional Championship.
The match began on Nepal, a control map that set the tone for an intense series. The first fight saw Grace College gaining early control of the point, but the Pickaxes’ Gleis (Sarah Monk), Frogboi (Elijah Robertson), and WinterInParis (Wyatt McClure) stayed alive long enough to pick off Grace College’s tank and retake the point.
While Grace College pushed back with a strong second fight, the Pickaxes held their ground, with Azari’s (Marquis Wartley) timely use of Kiriko’s Kitsune Rush turning the tide for a team kill and a round win.
The second round started with a scrappy fight that ended with the Pickaxes claiming the point and positioning aggressively. Although Grace College managed to flip the point briefly, the Pickaxes regrouped and used better positioning to hold them off, taking the map with another team kill.
On King’s Row, the Pickaxes faced a tough start as Grace College picked off healers Frogboi and Azari early in the first fight. Captain Gleis called for a change, swapping to a “Pharmercy” strategy with Frogboi on Mercy and herself on Pharah.
The shift paid off as Gleis rained down rockets, clearing the backline and helping secure the first point. Gleis’s ultimate, Barrage, proved devastating, securing multiple picks and
propelling the payload to the second checkpoint.
As the Pickaxes approached the third point, Grace College pushed back with a series
as Grace College reached the final point to force sudden death. In sudden death, both teams had limited time to push. The Pickaxes were given just one
The third map took the teams to Suravasa, a Flashpoint map where the action ramped up even further. The Pickaxes claimed the first point but quickly lost
of strong fights, forcing the Pickaxes into a do-or-die scenario with just a minute left on the clock. The Pickaxes delivered under pressure, picking off Grace College’s supports and tank in a clutch final fight to complete the round.
Grace College came out swinging in their first attack, pushing the Pickaxes back early and gaining momentum. But Azari’s well-timed ultimates helped turn fights in the Pickaxes’ favor, stalling Grace College’s push and forcing them to burn precious time. The Pickaxes’ defense faltered briefly
minute but managed to capture the point in a drawn-out first fight, pushing the payload deep into the map in overtime. Despite their momentum, Grace College stopped the payload midway to the third point, setting up a nerve-wracking finish.
Grace College’s attempt to replicate the Pickaxes’ push fell short. Strong defensive plays by the Pickaxes — anchored by Azari and Frogboi — kept Grace College at bay until the final seconds. A decisive team kill secured the defense, sending the match into a third map.
momentum as Grace College took out captain Gleis and tank Jonesy (Jones Baskett), flipping the point back in their favor.
After regrouping, the Pickaxes fought hard but ultimately lost the point in overtime to a wellexecuted push by Grace College.
The second point opened with Grace College securing an early lead through a dominant first fight. The Pickaxes responded with Gleis and Frogboi switching to Pharmercy, with Gleis using Pharah’s Barrage to secure several key picks and regain control of the fight. Despite the heroics, Grace
College proved too strong on the point, claiming it after an intense back-and-forth.
With Grace College up 2-0 on the map, the Pickaxes needed a strong showing on the third point. They arrived first, only to lose Gleis to an early pick. This allowed Grace College to flip the point, gain control, and take out multiple Pickaxe players. Although the Pickaxes regrouped and fought hard to retake the point, Grace College maintained their momentum and secured the map, handing the Pickaxes their first loss of a round.
The fourth round on Colosseo, a push map, was a rollercoaster of emotions. Grace College struck first, securing multiple picks and pushing the robot deep into Pickaxe territory. However, WinterInParis’s clutch use of Genji’s Dragonblade reversed the momentum, allowing the Pickaxes to take control and edge closer to the lead.
The two teams traded blows as the robot moved back and forth, each side landing critical team kills. With one minute left, Grace College regained the lead, forcing the Pickaxes into a desperate final fight. Captain Gleis, playing Tracer, dove onto the robot to stall for her team, buying precious seconds until reinforcements arrived.
In an electrifying final sequence, the Pickaxes wiped out Grace College’s team, pushing the robot past the lead in overtime to clinch the victory. Gleis led the charge with key eliminations, rallying her team to complete the push and secure a hard-fought win.
Reflecting on the match, teammate Geeksy (Toria Garcia) praised the team’s determination. “The match was a close call,” Geeksy said. “But thankfully our team pulled through and in the end, we secured another win.” With this win, the Cameron University Pickaxes advance to the Divisional Championship, bringing their momentum and determination to win to the next stage of competition.
Photo courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
Photo courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment