Cameron president living in student housing

She was a special district judge for Stephens County. She was the first Democratic female to serve as lieutenant governor. She also has been in many administrative roles for many years.

Now, she’s living with the undergraduates at Cameron University.

CU interim president Jari Askins has been living at Cameron Village, apartment style student housing, since she has accepted her role in January.

Typically, presidents or interim presidents reside in Cameron House. But since the premises is facing mechanical difficulties, the Board of Regents and Askins had to change course.

“When I moved to Lawton to start work at Cameron, I moved into Cameron House,” Askins said. “It was part of the contract with the Regents that I would live on campus. (They) had someone on staff come and inspect Cameron House, assessing what kind of condition (it was) in. They wanted to know if there was any work that needed to be done that an applicant for the position would want to know. It was during that inspection that we discovered some maintenance needs that really made it necessary for me to vacate. After about eight weeks of being in Cameron House, I moved to an apartment that had previously been for the faculty and residents over at Cameron Village.”

The Regents have yet to decide what action to take regarding Cameron House and from the outside, it seems like no one is fixing it. They have encouraged Askins to look for a more long-term rental, but Askins hasn’t done anything with that yet.

“The expectation is that I am here at the university through the conclusion of the academic year,” Askins said. “So finding a more long-term residence is something I will be working on in the next month.”

One would think the Regents would allow for her to buy or rent a house, but that’s not the case.

“There’s nothing in the Cameron budget to be able to do that right now,” Askins said. “The Regents have to make that decision.”

There are several issues to be addressed in this dilemma, one being the decision about Cameron House.

“I think the Regents will take some time to decide what to do with Cameron House,” Askins said. “I anticipate they will make that decision in the next five to six months because they will want to talk about the living situation with the people who apply to be president at Cameron.”

Living with college one, anyone is bound to run into wild parties or loud and rowdy neighbors, but Askins thought otherwise.

“There haven’t been any real obstacles other than, I think as President, I had hoped to have living quarters where I could invite student organizations over,” Askins said. “I could have receptions or legislators. There’s no place for entertaining right now, so that’s been a drawback that I had hoped I’d be able to do otherwise.”

It’s not all a lost cause.

“I really enjoy being where I am,” Askins said. “The campus is beautiful. I have an opportunity to see some gorgeous sunsets and some sunrises. I get to visit with students as they either walk to class or walk over to the cafeteria and are coming home in the evenings.I think some of them are surprised to see me, but I enjoy the opportunity to do that.”