Fifelski

“By any means necessary,” is what Emporia State’s debate team captain Kurt Fifelski abided by to achieve the status of an All-American from the Cross-Examination Debate Association.

Fifelski graduated from Wayland Union High School in Wayland, Mich., and is now a senior who plans on graduating with bachelors degrees in political science and social sciences, emphasizing in philosophy.

“I chose these majors because they are my passions and will help better my career.” Fifelski said. “Also, I am enthralled with reading and research, something these departments offer me.”

Multiple articles and essays written by Fifelski were published through the Best of ESU and West Coast Publishing. Fifelski was also named the 2008-2009 outstanding philosophy student by the ESU Social Sciences Department.

Four years debating has taught Fifelski lessons that he can achieve only through experience.

“I’ve learned a lot about argumentation, analysis, rhetoric and research,” Fifelski said. “More importantly, I have learned a lot about myself as it has taught me about personal reflection.”

Fifelski has participated in approximately 400 debates.

Fifelski draws his inspiration to debate purely out of his drive to be successful, with each win fueling his passion.

“Each win feels better than the last,” he said.

Fellow teammate Yao Chen, senior molecular and cellular biology major, said that Fifelski is the fastest speaker, an undefeatable debater and has the highest Grade Point Average.

“He is the absolute spirit of the whole squad,” Chen said.

Two-year debate partner, Chris Loghry, junior communications major, commented on Fifelski’s cross-examination method (a three minute questioning period following each constructive speech).

“He’ll regularly embarrass people in cross-examination, but he does so in the nicest possible way,” Loghry said.

Fifelski and Loghry have made it in the finals of two national debate tournaments this year, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Northern Texas. It is the second time Fifelski has qualified to the National Debate Tournament, something most debaters never make it to.

Fifelski has competed against individuals from debate giants such as Harvard and Dartmouth.

Fifelski’s last debate performance with debate team was at the University of Dallas. He and his partner went 5-3 and qualified to the National Debate Tournament.

Recently, Fifelski had the honor to be nominated for the Harry S. Truman scholarship “The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is one of the most prestigious public affairs scholarships out there,” Fifelski said. “Each university has the opportunity to nominate a few students and typically 650-700 students apply. My goal has been achieved just by knowing my professors feel comfortable enough to support me in such endeavors.”

Not only is Fifelski a successful collegiate debater, he is also an accomplished high school coach. Being the varsity coach for the Emporia High School, Fifelski coached the most successful team in the state over the past year by winning the most prestigious debate tournament in Kansas, the Debate Coaches Invitational.

“Ultimately, Kurt is incredibly nice in debates and during work sessions and is always very respectful with people even when he’s schooling them,” Loghry said.

Fifelski was a champion even as a child. He participated in kart racing, winning multiple championships. He also shows great interest in boxing.

Fifelski’s ultimate goal is to achieve a doctorate degree. But first he plans on attending graduate school for communication at Berkley or Wake Forest. He also envisions himself living in Europe for a good portion of the next decade.

“He strives for excellence in everything he does and that really shows both academically and in terms of debate success,” Loghry said.

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Camara

A fan of traveling, Evandro Camara, associate professor of sociology, has been to Europe, France, Paris and Mexico. He is originally from Brazil and perfected his English while studying abroad in America and has since learned French and some Italian. Camara said his interest in culture and social studies made it easier to learn languages and is an asset to his teaching.

“I learned a lot of culture things from (my travels) that I can use in my teaching,” Camara said.

Even though Camara now lives in the United States and has taught sociology, ethnicity and other courses in the Sociology, Anthropology, and Crime & Delinquency Studies department for 16 years, travel is still a huge part of his life.

Since Camara’s family is still in Brazil, he goes back to Brazil once every two or three years. This summer, Camara plans to go back in May and will stay for two weeks with his mom. In addition, he frequently takes trips to Chicago to visit his wife who is a professor there.

Outside of teaching and traveling, Camara has great interest in movies and Brazilian music.

As a Brazilian, Camara conveys “the tradition of soccer.” Not only does he watch it, but according to one of his students, he also plays.

“When he was younger, Camara played soccer and was a body builder,” said David Hamman, sociology student who has taken six classes with Camara. “He really enjoys athletic activities, and he still works out certain times a week to build good health.”

There are tons of pictures of his favorite soccer teams hanging on the walls in his office at Butcher Education Center.

“There will be World Cup this year, and it is once every four years,” Camara said. “We have the best soccer team in Brazil.”

According to Jenna Schmidt, senior sociology major and student assistant in the sociology department, professor Camara is friendly and easy to get along with.

“I have taken three or four classes with Camara over four years, and his classes have many topics which interest students and that we all get involved in,” said Schmidt.

In addition to a fun class atmosphere, Hamman said Camara is always willing to assist students and is friendly outside of class.

“I no longer have his class,” said Hamman. “But even seeing him in public, we normally say hi and stop to talk to each other about how my classes are going and things.”

Deja Jackson, junior rehabilitation education major said she is enjoying her two classes with Camara this semester.

“Professor Camara is a pretty good teacher, who knows how to include humor into his teachings,” said Jackson.

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Chi Omega members; Kristin Wood, junior elementary education major, Brook Hoover, junior English secondary education major, Kaile Teeter, junior nursing major, and Ashley Bonjour, junior health promotion major, enjoy dinner together Tuesday night at Casa Ramos. Jonathan Elliott/The Bulletin

In Greek life there is a saying, “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”

Chi Omega

Greek life is one of the best organizations to be involved in on campus, according to Kristin Wood, Chi Omega president and junior elementary education major.

“Greek life does a lot of community service in the community, has the highest GPA on campus, and has taught me great leadership skills that I can take with me when I become a teacher,” Wood said. Wood has been a member of Chi Omega for three years.

The Nu Zeta Chapter of Chi Omega was founded on April 8, 1961, at Emporia State University. Ladies must be full-time students at ESU with a 2.0 GPA or above to join. Now, Chi Omega has 44 active members and 2 new members.

“We have women from all majors in the chapter from elementary education, nursing, sociology, premed, accounting, business administration, theater, and a bunch more,” Wood said.

Chi Omega has six purposes: scholarship, campus activities, sisterhood, career and personal development, community service and social/friendship.

Laura Bosiljevac, freshman of biology major, joined Chi Omega at the beginning of this year.

“I have had so many wonderful experiences and opportunities from being in Chi Omega and just through Greek Life in general,” Bosiljevac said. “I have also met many amazing people and learned more than I ever hoped to…my sisters in Chi Omega have been great and if possible even more fantastic than I thought when I first joined the house… many of the people in other Greek houses have turned into great friends and mentors as well, and have been just as wonderful.”

Bosiljevac said she feels that the sorority life is a special connection to the girls, and she likes the values and energy of it.

Chi Omega meets every Tuesday night. They have sisterhood events, Mom’s Day, Dad’s Day, Siblings & Best Friends Day, along with events with other sororities and fraternities on campus. And also involve in Relay For Life and Rebuilding Together each spring.

“Greek life has been nothing but positive for me,” Walter said. “It is a network of opportunities, both social and scholarly that can build a successful future.”

Members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity participate in a formal dinner together Tuesday night at the Phi Delta Theta house. Jonathan Elliott/The Bulletin

Phi Delta Theta

Phi Delta Theta President and senior crime and delinquency studies major Jeremy Walter says Greek life is a way for men and women to grow and mature into more well-rounded people than they would otherwise be.

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was founded in 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Emporia State University chapter was founded 120 years later in 1968.

According to Walter, Phi Delta Theta was founded on the principles of friendship, sound Learning and rectitude.

Phi Delta Theta now has 22 members right now, with three of them not initiated into full membership. New members must attain a 2.5 GPA, be of sound moral character and complete the new member program with their fellow Phikeia, or pledge.

This program includes planning and executing a community service event, a fundraiser, a house improvement project and a social event.

“We have a lot of music majors right now, but the composition of the house changes constantly. We encourage diversity in our studies as much as possible,” Walter said.

Phi Delta Theta has a formal dinner for the chapter every Tuesday.

Matthew Crome, freshman management information systems major, joined Phi Delta Theta this semester.

“I agree with not only the values of the fraternity, but I instantly made friends with the men who were already members,” Crome said. “My grandfather, along with several other family members, had been involved in Greek life, so they helped alleviate any fears that I had.”

After joining, Crome said he met so many more people. He had assumed everyone was involved on campus and active in events, but he said he didn’t realize that so many of the most active people were Greek.

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Emporia State’s Theatre Department opened their production of “The Diviners” last night and will continue the performance until Saturday.

“The Diviners,” written by Jim Leonard, Jr., is set in a small farm community in 1930s Indiana.

Theresa Mitchell, associate professor of theater arts, directs the production.

“As far as main characters, all of them play an important role in the telling of the play’s story, so they are all main characters in a sense,” said Gabe Moyer, senior theater education major who is playing a preacher in the show.

Moyer enjoys acting and relishes the opportunity to perform on stage.

“At first it was hard to me to connect with the character and the situation he has been thrust in to but over the rehearsal period, I have grown to like the character even more,” Moyer said. “C.C. Showers is a ‘fast-talking, back-sliding preacher,’ according to the text and hopefully this is seen through my performance.”

The whole Theatre Department, consisting of about 30-40 people, has helped prepare for the production over the last month.

“We have prepared the costumes for about six weeks,” said Ji-ye Yoon, freshman, who helps in the costume shop with three other students and two costume designers.

Yoon chose to help make costumes and hair styles and apply make-up.

“I learned how to the use sewing machine by helping the production,” Yoon said.

The cast includes Lindsay Ward, Gardner sophomore; Cara Lohkamp, Wichita, freshman; Laura Dossett , Jenks, Okla., sophomore; Ryan Scully, Winchester, junior; Elise Blann, Newton, sophomore; Cassandra Jim, Mayetta, junior; Dylan Lewis, Wichita, junior; Casey McCabe, Gardner, sophomore; and Chris Lohkamp, Wichita, senior. Cast as understudies for the production are juniors Emily Warren, Wichita, and Thomas Govert, Arkansas City.

Tickets are available from the university box office at (620) 341-6378 or toll-free at (877) 341-6378. Student tickets can be purchased for $5 with ID, adult tickets for $10 and senior tickets for $9.

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Union Activities Council’s Variety Entertainment Committee will host All Year Sports Galaxy, which will provide a portable ice skate rink for students to “Fake Skate” on, at 5 p.m. tomorrow on Morse Hall Lawn.

“Just bring your friends and come over,” said Olivia Garver, chair of Union Activities Council Variety Entertainment Committee and sophomore undecided major. “We provide 100 skates and free drinks.”

The synthetic surface for skating on is ice-like. The surface, with a scientifically engineered density and make-up, allows skate blades to glide as smoothly as they do on the real ice according to the Sports Galaxy Web site.

“Synthetic ice is perfect for beginners as young as 20 months,” according to the Sports Galaxy Web site. The material is non-toxic, recyclable and can be used year round indoors or outdoors in any conditions.

 “Hopefully, we will have more than 150 people attend,” Garver said.

Students may be concerned that there will not be enough space for everyone who wants to participate.

“There is plenty space on the Morse Hall Lawn and we will let 25 people in at a time, so people will take turns to get in there,” Garver said. “It will be lots of fun.”

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