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SHSU Updates: March 1
Health Center pharmacy reopens
With the addition of pharmacist Lauren Hoban, the Student Health Center pharmacy is now reopened and serving students.
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., the pharmacy can fill any prescription written by a medical practitioner licensed to practice in the state of Texas.
“The pharmacy’s convenient location makes the pharmacy easily accessible for all students,” said SHC programming coordinator Sarah Hanel.
“The pharmacy is able to purchase certain medications at a substantial discount and pass the savings on to the students,” she said. “In some cases, medications are available for less than an insurance co-payment.”
Because the pharmacy stocks only certain medications, students are advised to call for availability.
The pharmacy was closed for several months due to the previous pharmacist moving. Hoban, a PharmD, moved to Texas several weeks ago from Cleveland, Ohio.
For more information, or to check the availability of a medication, call the SHC pharmacy at (936) 294-1803.
St. Thomas professor to discuss Mestizo culture
John Francis Burke, professor of political science at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, will present “The Three Paradigms of Mestizo Politics: Purity, Resistance, & Lateral Engagement” on Tuesday.
The lecture, sponsored by the foreign languages department, will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 315.
Mestizaje refers to the mixing of the African, European and Indigenous Tribes cultures, especially in Latin America and the U.S. Southwest that was initiated in the Spanish conquest of the Americas, according to Burke.
“I will show that whereas south of the Rio Grande/Bravo mestizaje tends to be interpreted as the European heritage purifying the black and Indian heritages, north of the Rio Grande/Bravo, mestizaje tends to be interpreted, especially in Chicano studies, as an identification with the subjugated Indian in resistance to the European conquerors,” he said.
Burke’s book, “Mestizo Democracy,” placed second in both the “Religion and Politics” and the “Race, Ethnicity and Politics” sections’ “Outstanding Book of the Year” awards in 2007 at the American Political Science Association Convention.
“It’s very unusual for a text to place so high in two separate sections,” said Debra Andrist, foreign languages department chair.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call the department of foreign languages at (936) 294-1414.
Counselor to address mental issues for history month
Elizabeth Charrier, Counseling Center psychologist, will discuss the role gender has played in the development of mental illness categories and its treatment on Wednesday.
“Women’s Issues,” sponsored by the Office of Multicultural and International Student Services, will be held at 3 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 304.
“The intent is to educate the audience further about the development of mental health problems and how as a society we contribute to that, particularly as it plays out for gender stereotypes, ‘rules’ and expectations,” Charrier said. “Audience members should also come away with a sense of how to respond with compassion and greater understanding to others in whom they identify mental health problems.”
An example of this, Charrier said, is that women are more often diagnosed with depression than men.
“One reason for this might be that anger is a less acceptable emotion for women to express in our culture and sometimes when one cannot express themselves to others, those emotions get focused inward,” she said. “The result is often depression.
“Understanding the societal factors, such as our expectations for what is acceptable behavior for women, influences what we see as pathology/bad/negative/ ‘crazy’ in our society,” she said. “We, then, as members of the society have the power to redefine things.”
The lecture is being held in honor of National Women’s History Month in an effort to raise awareness and greater acceptance of people with mental health issues, particularly as pertaining to gender.
“The social and cultural issues that affect women sometimes go unnoticed or unmentioned,” said Ashley McDonough, program coordinator. “I think that this program will be a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to get a better understanding of why we celebrate women during National Women’s History Month, as well as the unique societal issues that women deal with on a daily basis.”
For more information, contact McDonough at (936) 294-3588 or diversity@shsu.edu.
Rice prof to ‘Look For Planets’ during lecture
Christopher Johns-Krull, associate professor in Rice University’s department of physics and astronomy, will discuss “Looking for Planets in the First Three Million Years” on Thursday.
The physics colloquium lecture will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Farrington Building Room 101.
Krull has taught at Rice since 2001. He previously worked in researching at the University of California and taught as a visiting professor for one semester at San Francisco State University.
He also completed postdoctoral research and a fellowship with the University of Colorado and the University of Texas at Austin, respectively.
His current research interests include studying T Tauri stars, which are low mass, young stars that have only recently emerged from their natal molecular cloud cores to become optically visible, according to his Web site.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in math and physics from the University of Texas at Austin, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in astronomy from the University of California – Berkeley.
For more information, call the physics department at (936) 294-1601.
Haven training workshop to be held March 19
SHSU’s Haven committee, the safe zone and support channel for homosexual students, will recruit faculty and staff participants during a training workshop on March 19.
The session will be held from 5-8 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 302.
The workshop will cover such things as vocabulary, slang terms, the coming out process and describe sexual/gender identity, heterosexism and the concept of privilege.
“The workshops are very interactive and discussion is highly encouraged,” said Chuck Collins, Program Council coordinator and Haven co-chair. “By undergoing a workshop, we hope to educate, clarify misconceptions, and provide participants an environment in which they can ask any question they desire.”
Attending the workshop does not commit a faculty or staff member to become a Haven volunteer; they can decide afterward.
To participate as a “safe zone,” faculty and staff members volunteer to simply serve as a presence for the university’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. After the initial training, “maintenance is very minimal,” Collins said.
“A safe zone program operates as an open-door policy initiative,” he said. “By identifying a location as a safe zone, the person seeking the safe zone location will know that they are approaching an individual who is accepting and empathetic—literally, they enter a safe zone, a place they will be fully accepted without fear of reproach.”
Faculty or staff members’ participation as a “haven” will be identified through a placard placed outside of his/her office, as well as through the Haven Web site.
Workshops are limited to 20 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
While the training program is currently open to only faculty and staff, it will eventually open up for graduate and teaching assistants, resident assistants, and possibly select undergraduates as well.
The final Haven training session for the spring semester will be held on April 16. Other sessions will be scheduled at a later date.
For more information on Haven, or to sign up for a workshop, e-mail haven@shsu.edu.
Rodeo team asks if fear is factor for bull riding event
The SHSU Rodeo Team will give students the opportunity to participate in one of the most dangerous sports in the world and prove that “fear is the factor” on Thursday.
The fifth annual “Fear is the Factor Bull Riding” will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Agriculture Complex.
For the event, rodeo team members recruit non-affiliated students, both men and women, to compete by attempting to ride a bull for the traditional eight seconds. The winner will receive a “beautiful” customized champion fear factor buckle, according to rodeo team coach Bubba Miller.
Recruitment will be held in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area on Tuesday, during which time a mechanical bull will be set up for students to get a feel for bull riding.
Participants must be enrolled at SHSU and must sign a liability waiver.
“Safety gear, a helmet and a vest, will be provided for the student to wear, but there cannot be any safety guarantee,” Miller said. “We’re going to give them easiest bulls we can find, but that’s a relative term. They’re still going to be full-grown.
“Students must be informed that this is one of the most dangerous sports in the world.”
The team will also sell T-shirts the week of the event and at the event.
The entry fee to participate is $30, which must be paid by Wednesday (March 3). Admission is $5, with all proceeds benefitting the rodeo team and its annual rodeo, which will be held March 13-14 at the Walker County Fairgrounds.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
The Indoor Ag Complex is located on the corner of Avenue M and Interstate Highway 45, directly across the interstate from the Raven Nest Golf Course.
For more information on sign up and tickets, contact Miller at (936) 264-3867 or elm014@shsu.edu.
Office to prepare students for ‘Destination Graduation’
The Registrar’s Office will give upcoming graduates a one-stop ‘destination’ where all their questions can be answered on Monday.
“Destination Graduation” will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.
Departments from across campus will be on hand to answer such questions as “Where do I go for the ceremony,” “Is there anything else I need to do,” or “What do I do after graduating?”
“We just want to offer students a way to find out what is going on so that there are no surprises at the end of graduation,” said Maria Busby, assistant registrar.
The event is open to all students who have applied for May 2009 graduation, including all bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.
For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office at ask.regstaff@shsu.edu.
February 28, 2009 06:07 pm
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Bulletin Board: Feb. 22
Texas A&M Graduates
Diplomas were awarded to 3,182 Texas A&M University graduates during fall commencement ceremonies.
Those recognized from the area were: John Mark London of Huntsville, B.S. in marine biology; Chad Michael Peter of Huntsville, B.S. in kinesiology; Laura Kathryn Chapa of Huntsville, B.B.A. in information and operations management; Bethany Ann Roche of Huntsville, B.B.A. in marketing, graduated Summa Cum Laude; Bonnie Kay Scasta of Huntsville, B.A. in psychology, graduated Cum Laude; Wade Ryan Sims of Huntsville, B.S. in sports management; Ricky Paul Anderson Jr. of Dodge, B.S. in construction science; Kyle Robertson Hugghins of Huntsville, B.B.A. in marketing; and Jason Baxter Boyle of Huntsville, B.S. in kinesiology.
Cushman makes Dean’s List
Amanda Cushman, a junior at Texas A&M, made the fall 2008 Dean’s List with a 3.8 GPR.
Amanda is also a member of the A&M Aggie National Champion Equestrian Team, receiving a national champion ring for the western team and a member of the Letterman’s Club lettering each of the last 2 years. She is majoring in Ag Leadership and Development with a minor in Business and plans on attending graduate school after her May 2010 graduation.
Amanda has made the Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and earned a Texas A&M/Verizon Athletics Scholar Award for the last 2 years as well as an outstanding Athletics Scholar Award for achieving a 4.0 her freshman year. That same year she was named Ag Leadership, Education and Communication Outstanding Freshman Student of the year.
Lanier announced as Corps of Cadets leader
Cadets Brent Lanier and Morgan Oliver will lead Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets during the 2009-2010 school year.
Lanier is a junior political science major out of B Company from Katy. Oliver is a junior spatial sciences major out of company S-1 from Burkeville.
Lanier will become the highest-ranking cadet in the 1,700-member Corps of Cadets. As cadet colonel of the Corps, he will lead one of the largest uniformed body of students outside of the United States service academies.
Upon graduation from A&M, Lanier will seek a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. His future plans are to return to school and obtain law degree.
“I am honored to have been appointed as the Corps Commander for 2009-2010,” said Lanier.
“During my time as a cadet, I have experienced the Corps’ continued progress and growth into the forefront of leadership development and service, and plan to build on these core values.
As Deputy Corps Commander for Operations, Oliver will assist in leadership of the Corps and serve as commander in Lanier’s absence.
Lanier is the son of Carol and Gus Lanier Jr. of Katy. He is the grandson of Lillian Lanier of Huntsville. His uncles and aunts are Lynda and Tom Henry and Dennis and Paula Culak of Huntsville.
February 21, 2009 08:50 pm
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SHSU updates: Feb. 22
Financial Literacy Week kicks off Monday
In an uncertain economic climate, the Student Money Management Center will work to teach students how to avoid personal financial disasters with a series of educational lectures and interactive workshops beginning Monday.
Financial Literacy Week will kick off that day with lectures on banking products at 11 a.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater, a FAFSA and financial aid workshop from noon to 2 p.m. in the LSC Atrium, a money booth contest for students to catch cash at noon in the LSC Mall Area, and a comedic financial seminar at 6 p.m. in the LSC Theater.
Among Tuesday’s highlights are a budget and savings lecture at 9:30 a.m. in the LSC Theater, an interactive budgeting seminar from 2-4 p.m. in LSC Room 320, an “Ultimate Money Skills” workshop at 6:30 p.m. in the LSC Theater.
On Wednesday, author Tamara Draut will discuss “Why America’s 20- and 30-Somethings Can’t Get Ahead” at 11 a.m. in the LSC Ballroom, in addition to workshops on scholarships at 2 p.m. in the LSC Theater, and identity theft at 3 p.m. in the LSC Theater.
Thursday’s activities include a lecture on consumerism and financial literacy at 9:30 a.m. in the LSC Theater, a Financial Literacy Vendor Expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in LSC Room 320, another FAFSA and financial aid workshop at 11 a.m. in the LSC Ballroom, and a lecture on good versus bad credit at 2 p.m. in the LSC Theater.
Activities will culminate on Friday with an economical (free) lunch, during which financial literature will be passed out, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the LSC Mall Area.
For more information on any of the Financial Literacy Week events, or for a complete schedule, contact the SMMC at (936) 294-2600, smmc@shsu.edu or visit http://www.shsu.edu/~smmc/.
Lecture to look at Euro-related inflation
Claude Lopez, assistant professor of economics at the University of Cincinnati, will discuss her paper “Testing for Group-Wise Convergence with an Application to Euro Area Inflation” on Thursday.
The spring Economics Seminar Series Lecture will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in Smith-Hutson Building Room 134.
The paper, co-written with David Papell, introduces new statistical methods to determine whether inflation rates across the various countries that make up the European Union converged after the adoption of the Euro, as they were supposed to, according to Darren Grant, SHSU assistant professor of economics.
“Previous methods have been unable to resolve this question, but this paper gives strong evidence that inflation across the EU countries did indeed converge as it was supposed to,” Grant said.
Lopez has taught at the University of Cincinnati since 2003.
She earned her master’s degree from the University de Toulouse I, in France, and her doctorate from the University of Houston.
For more information, contact Grant at (936) 294-1265.
Professor emeritus to return for lecture
Jack Staggs, a SHSU professor emeritus who is considered to be one of the 10 founders of counseling in the state of Texas, will discuss “A brief overview of the history of counseling in Texas and some recommendations for beginning counselors” on March 2.
The lecture, open to the public, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. in Teacher Education Center Room 131. Refreshments will follow his presentation in TEC Room 111-E.
A “legend in our parts,” Staggs came to SHSU in 1960, serving as director of the department of education for 13 years, during which time he increased faculty numbers from 11 to 40, according to associate professor of counseling Daniel Eckstein.
Although he retired in 1986, he continued to teach part time until 1993, at which time he was named by The Texas State University Board of Regents as “Professor Emeritus of Education.”
Because of his contributions to the counseling program, in 2004 Staggs was honored as the namesake of the Dr. Jack S. Staggs Counseling Clinic, a training clinic for doctoral and master’s students.
Staggs “stands as a model of outstanding generosity” through his service to multiple organization and his financial contributions to SHSU in such areas as establishing a number of scholarships, as well as a dissertation award, Eckstein said.
Prior to Staggs’ talk, counseling adjunct professors Van Wiesner and Barbara Bryant, as well as retired professor Gary Hood, will provide information on the free counseling clinic services available to the community as well as relate personal experiences of having Staggs both as a teacher and as a colleague prior to his retirement.
SHSU’s ‘Excellent’ teachers sought
Nominations for SHSU’s annual Excellence in Teaching Award will be accepted online through 3 p.m. on Friday.
Nominations may be made by faculty, staff, students and alumni, and the recipient will be awarded a cash stipend of $5,000.
The Excellence in Teaching Award is a very prestigious award, representing the highest level of teaching achievement at Sam Houston State University, according to committee chair Thomas Chasteen.
Nominees must be full-time faculty members, including program coordinators; however, previous award winners may not be nominated.
Past winners include: William Abbott, Elizabeth Andrews, Gary Bell, Harry Bohan, David Burris, Charles Capps, Adrian Cooley, Richard Cording, Caroline Crimm, Earline Dolive, Jerry Dowling, Frances Elmer, Coralie Emmons, Frank Fair, William Fleming, Gaddis Geeslin, David Gerling, Kenneth Hendrickson, John Holcombe, Rita Huff, Virginia Irvin, William Jasper, James Johnson and Stanley Kelley.
Also, Doug Krienke, Maniam Balasundram, Valerie Muehsam, Thom Murray, Mary Ann Nolteriek, James Olson, Mary Frances Park, Phillip Parotti, Ralph Pease, Wayland Pilcher, Mozelle Powell, Debra Price, Daniel Reeves, Marcus Rigby, Carol Sangster, John Snelgrove, Victor Sower, Donald L. Stalling, Susannah Ural, Bill Waldron, Laverne Warner and Maynard Yoes.
Nominations may be made online at https://ww2.shsu.edu/vote02wp.
For more information, contact Chasteen at (936) 294-1533 or chasteen@shsu.edu.
Simulator to virtually ‘Save A Life’
The Dean of Students’ Office and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative will take students on a virtual journey through a drunk driving accident on Wednesday.
The “2009 Save A Life Tour,” a simulator that allows students to experience drunk driving accidents, will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Atrium.
The tour will show incidences with varying levels of blood alcohol concentration and a crash scene involving passengers and other cars in different traffic venues.
“The tour takes student drivers through actual police responses, emergency room scenes, and uncensored family reactions,” said Roseanne Keathley, ADAI coordinator. “The simulator includes screeching brakes, crying, screaming, sirens, flashing lights, blood, and injuries that have proven to make an impact on the drinking and driving behaviors of students.”
The simulator also provides the ability to implant a split-second delay on the part of the impaired driver that negatively affects responsiveness. This delay allows participants to experience virtually every tendency that a driver would endure while alcohol impaired.
In addition, tour guides include those who have personally experienced drink-driving tragedies as passengers in drinking related crashes and by losing loved ones through these life-changing incidents.
“The ‘Save A Life’ simulator was designed to show students how alcohol affects reaction time and motor skills from a sober prospective,” Keathley said. “This is a shocking, ‘in-your-face’ presentation of reality, addressing the very real and often fatal consequences of poor decisions.”
The event is open to all students, faculty and staff members, as well as community members. Students can also receive co-curricular credit and SWAAT points for participating in the tour.
For more information regarding the tour, call assistant dean of students Jeanine Bias at (936) 294-3026.
Faculty members who want to send their classes to the “Save A Life Tour” may do so by contacting Keathley at (936) 294-1171.
ADAI to help students strike out drugs, alcohol
With spring break just around the corner, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative will show students how to strike out alcohol and drug use on Monday.
“Spring Break Training” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area and 2:30-4:30 p.m. in LSC Room 315.
During the event, Recreational Sports’ associate director of programs Franklin Harrison and others from Rec Sports will sign students up for “Team Rec Sports,” after which students can participate in a mini-baseball camp, pick a starting line-up in a fantasy draft and show off Wii baseball skills for their team.
In addition, Harrison will take students back in time to learn about major league baseball players who struggled with drugs and alcohol.
“Everyone thinks their career can't be ruined because they are a professional or the best at what they do, but that's not necessarily true,” said Lisa Joyner, ADAI assistant. “Top athletes abuse alcohol and drugs, which sends a message out to younger individuals who may lookup to them and what they do.”
Though they are using professional athletes as examples, Joyner said students who follow or admire them can relate to them by seeing them go through alcohol or drug abuse, which is something “regular” people go through every day.
“Students will be able to see first hand and relate better when they realize that the top athletes they watch everyday may be someone who abuses alcohol and drugs and have lost their career or life to substance abuse,” she said.
“Alcohol and Drugs are a bad combination and can ruin your academic and sports career in a split second,” Joyner said. “Students will learn how the actions that they take can ultimately make them strikeout at the things they love most. The consequences that can come from one night of fun isn't worth throwing your career away for.”
For more information, contact Rosanne Keathley, ADAI coordinator, at (936) 294-1171.
Summer graduation applications due March 4
Students who anticipate graduating in August are to file degree applications by March 4 with the Registrar’s Office online through Sam Web.
Those who fail to apply by the deadline will be assessed a $25 late application fee in addition to the $25 graduation fee. Applying late may also result in names not appearing in the commencement program or the honors program.
The Registrar’s Office is located on the third floor of the Estill Building.
For more information, call (936) 294-1040.
Mallen book named ‘Best of 2008’
Fondo de Cultura Económica, a prestigious publishing house, has listed foreign languages professor Enrique Mallen’s book “Poesía del Lenguaje: De T. S. Eliot a Eduardo Espina” as the “Best Book Of Literary Criticism Of 2008.”
“I recommend this detailed study of North American and Latin American postmodern poetics; an excellent publication,” the Argentinean publishing house said in its review.
Mallen’s book “Poesía Del Lenguaje: De T. S. Eliot A Eduardo Espina” was published in 2008 by Editorial Aldus, a major publisher of works on literary criticism in Mexico.
The book analyzes Espina’s poetic style in relation to “language poetry," an avant garde literary group that emerged in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“In the book I show how Espina’s poetry concentrates on the structure of language itself, going beyond pure representation to reach a deeper perception which is closely linked to language,” Mallen said. “I examine Espina’s poetry in relation to other known poets such as T. S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, Ezra Pound and Wallace Stevens.”
Class targets younger audience in campaign
Health and kinesiology faculty, staff and students dressed in red on Feb. 12 in support of American Heart Month this February.
The health and kinesiology department “went red” on Feb. 12 to warn younger audiences of the results of unhealthy habits they may participate.
The department’s faculty and staff members, as well as students, dressed in red that day to promote cardiovascular health as part of the American Heart Association’s annual “Go Red” campaign.
February is American Heart Month, designed to raise awareness of the nation’s No. 1 killer, heart disease.
In addition, students in the health education class “Communication Skills for Health Professionals” developed ‘The Wall of Knowledge,” which will be on the walls in the hallway of the Health and Kinesiology Center through the end of the month.
The wall addresses risk factors, preventive measures, signs and symptoms of heart disease.
“Most ‘Go Red’ campaigns are directed to a population over 35,” said Susie Stone, health clinical faculty member who teaches the HED 392 class. “We wanted to assist the typical 21-25-year old to look at their current health habits and see into the future where they might fit in regarding risk facts for cardiovascular disease.
“The posters highlight risk factors such as smoking and obesity - both of which are modifiable, and a good time to work on that is when you are young,” she said.
The “Wall of Knowledge” will be up through the end of February.
February 21, 2009 08:47 pm
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SHSU Updates: Feb. 15
SHSU to celebrate Mardi Gras Cajun style
The Sam Houston State and Huntsville communities will have the opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras the Cajun way with the university’s seventh annual festival on Thursday.
The event, which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. in the Lee Drain Building Atrium, will feature the Cajun music band Jambalaya with guest artist D.L. Menard, both of whom have been playing at the event since its inception, according to communications studies professor Terry Thibodeaux.
“He’s (Menard is) an old-time Cajun musician and is one of the most famous Cajun musicians still living today,” Thibodeaux said. “The core of the band has been together for over 20 years. They’re led by Terry Huval, and he plays several instruments.
“Basically, you can dance to any Cajun song with either a two-step, which is slightly different from a Texas two-step, or a waltz,” Thibodeaux said. “There’s also a different kind of dancing called zydeco dancing, but this is not a zydeco band. This is a traditional Cajun band. They play some wonderful dance music, and we have a good time every year.”
Earlier in the day, Menard and Jambalaya members Terry Huval and Reggie Matte will give a free, public symposium on Cajun culture and music, from 6-7 p.m. in Evans Building Room 105.
The band visits SHSU annually because they speak to the English 488 class, Texas Crossroads, as well as play some music.
Thibodeaux said the Mardi Gras celebration allows people to learn about the culture and also breaks down stereotypes related to the Cajun people and culture.
“I think a lot of times the Cajun culture is misunderstood because of some of the images and impressions that are given from mass media and even in restaurants,” he said. “What you see labeled as Cajun oftentimes is not authentic at all.”
Tickets are $10, or $5 with an SHSU ID, and can be purchased at the door.
The dance is expected to end at 10:30 p.m.
New prof to discuss her field in personal lecture
New family and consumer sciences visiting assistant professor Courtney Winston will share her personal experiences as a registered dietician and with the industry on Wednesday.
The Student Advising and Mentoring Center’s Up Close and Personal lecture will be held at noon in the Farrington Pit.
“I’ll be mostly talking about what it s like to be a registered dietitian and what career options you have,” said Winston, who is also a certified diabetes educator. “I’ve primarily worked in healthcare, so I’ll be talking a lot about what it’s like to be a medical clinician and what it takes to succeed in the medical field.
“People are always going to need health care providers (dietitians, doctors, nurses),” she said. “I feel that if you want job security in the long-run, a career in the health care field is the way to go.”
Winston came to SHSU in August from Azusa Pacific University in San Diego, Calif., where she served as an adjunct professor. At SHSU, she also directs the undergraduate program in food science and nutrition.
She previously worked with the Kaiser Foundation Hospital and the American Red Cross Women, Infants and Children Program.
A current doctoral student in the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Winston received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina
The Up Close and Personal speaker series is a 30-minute lunchtime presentation designed to help our students and university community build mentoring relationships with our outstanding faculty, said Bernice Strauss, director of academic support programs for the SAM Center.
For more information, contact Strauss at (936) 294-4444 or sam_bss@shsu.edu.
Sociology professor to talk for grassroots lecture
Sujey Vega, visiting assistant professor of sociology, will share her life and experiences, as well as field questions, on Wednesday, as part of the Grassroots speaker series.
The lecture will be held at 5 p.m. in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Concourse, located in room 90.
“Examining the challenges and role models that have guided me, the presentation will attempt to offer students a glimpse at how to keep pounding the pavement and search out their own success in life,” Vega said.
“Though still a work in progress, my own career path has been paved with setbacks and pain,” she said. “It is in revealing some of these very real experiences that I hope to encourage students to find their inner strength and persist in fulfilling a commitment to themselves.”
Vega, who has taught at SHSU since last fall, has done extensive research on Latinos and immigration.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of North Texas and both her master’s and doctoral degrees in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Following the discussion, a meet-and-greet with refreshments will be held in the Student Advising and Mentoring Center, located in CHSSB Suite 170.
“Grassroots: A Series of Conversations on Leadership in a Diverse Community” is sponsored by the academic support programs of the Student Advising and Mentoring Center; the Elliott T. Bowers Honors Program; the International Hispanic Association; Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.; the NAACP; the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program; Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and Women United.
For more information, contact Bernice Strauss, director of academic support programs for the SAM Center, at (936) 294-4444.
Former St. Thomas president to link Spain, Ireland
Joseph McFadden, professor of history and president emeritus at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, will discuss a connection between Spain and Ireland on Thursday.
The lecture, which will focus on the Spanish Armada s crash on the coast of Ireland and the sailors who escaped drowning, will be held at noon in Lowman Student Center Room 321.
Considered an expert on Irish history, McFadden earned his doctorate from Northern Illinois University in American history and has a minor in modern European and Russian history.
Traveling extensively in Ireland, he also taught at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland.
McFadden joined the UST faculty in 1988, teaching as a history professor since 1997 and serving as president between 1988 and 1997. He also served as interim president in spring 2004.
“He is one of the most sought-after professors around (at St. Thomas),” said Debra Andrist, chair of the foreign languages department. “People waited in line for hours just to get in his classes.”
McFadden spoke at SHSU last spring on the Celtic Tiger and the economic success of Ireland; that lecture was also well attended, according to Andrist.
For more information, contact the foreign languages department at (936) 294-1441.
Fair to bring 49 employee-seeking entities to campus
While the job market may be grim due to the economic crisis the country is currently facing, the College of Business Administration will have 49 companies who are looking for new employees on campus on Tuesday.
The College of Business Administration Career Fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.
Students and alumni seeking full-time jobs or internships will have the opportunity to peruse companies seeking employees from a variety of academic majors, including Aerotek, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, H-E-B, McCoy’s Building Supply, McKesson, Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart Logistics, among others.
Because the fair is centered around business-related companies, a number of banking and financial institutions will also be available, including Amegy, BKD, the Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Deposit Insurance Company, Houston Community Bank and Wells Fargo Financial, as well as a number of accounting firms.
For a full list of companies that will be in attendance, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~coba/fair/Companies2009.html or for more information on the career fair, call COBA at (936) 294-1254.
February 14, 2009 07:59 pm
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SHSU Updates: Jan. 25
Fraternity to address myths, pressures of ‘Drug Rush’
Members of the Theta Chi fraternity will discuss the laws, limits and liabilities of alcohol and drugs use and how consumption can affect college life and beyond on Monday.
“Drug Rush,” an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative event, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area.
“Students feel that rushing only involves Greek life, but this is not necessarily the case,” said Lisa Joyner, ADAI assistant. “Rushing can take place in organizations that do not have to deal with Greek life, such as in honorary organizations and sports.”
While the media may portray drinking and hazing as something that simply happens within college life, especially within fraternities and sororities, and students think that fatal consequences won’t happen to them, this is not always the case, Joyner said.
“This session will be important to all students, to learn about peer pressure and what to do in the face of peer pressure and how things in the media are not 100 percent true,” she said. “You have to make the smart decisions for yourself.
“Students are here to learn and make smart decisions and have fun, but academics comes first, and making decisions that can take you away from academics is not a smart choice,” Joyner said.
“Drug Rush” is part of the ADAI’s Six Weeks of Alcohol Awareness Training program, an educational series aiming to increase awareness of alcohol abuse issues among students.
Through the program, students earn prizes by attending events, which accumulate as students attend more programs.
For more information, contact Rosanne Keathley, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative coordinator, at (936) 294-1171 or org_aai@shsu.edu.
‘Sammy’ awards nominations sought
The Student Activities Department is seeking SHSU’s outstanding students, organizations and advisers for the 15th Annual Sammy Awards.
“The Sammys is Sam Houston State University's official student award ceremony,” said Brandon Cooper, event manager for Student Activities. “It's truly a way for the university to recognize the outstanding students and organizations that we have.
“For 15 years the Sammys’ focus has been honoring the amazing contributions that students and faculty/staff make at SHSU,” he said. “It’s the university’s way of saying thank you to those individuals and groups.”
Sammy awards will be given to 18 individuals and organizations, and approximately four will be given to graduating students and faculty or staff members for outstanding contributions and service to the university, which require nominations from members of the university community at-large.
In addition, five individual awards representing excellent service from a student in each of the five colleges at SHSU will be awarded, which require nominations strictly made from members of the SHSU faculty within each student’s particular college, according to Cooper.
Students nominated for individual awards must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 and meet the minimum hours required for the class standings in which they are nominated.
Nomination forms, due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, should be returned to the Department of Student Activities, located in the Lowman Student Center Suite 328; through campus mail to SHSU Box 2507; or faxed to (936) 294-3652.
This year’s Sammy Awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on April 15 in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.
For more information, call (936) 294-3861 or e-mail sammyawards@shsu.edu.
Latin concert to
celebrate
organization’s
movement
The SHSU School of Music will help welcome the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies to campus with a performance of music from the area on Thursday.
The Latin American music concert will be held 7:30-8:45 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.
The evening will include performances by the SHSU Jazz Ensemble; the percussion ensemble, playing marimbas; the SHSU Faculty String Quartet; and a solo by Director of Keyboard Studies Sergio Ruiz, among others.
In addition, Ruiz will introduce the program in both English and Spanish, and foreign languages department chair Debra Andrist will give a welcome and discuss the honored organization.
SCOLAS, currently housed at Baylor University, will make SHSU its official institutional home in March, according to Andrist.
The concert, expected to last approximately an hour and 20 minutes, is free and open to the concert. A reception will also follow.
For more information, call the School of Music at (936) 294-1360 or Andrist at (936) 294-1441.
Music to tune up semester with
concert, festival
The SHSU School of Music will open the semester by presenting its “various voices” during a faculty recital and a cello festival beginning Tuesday.
That evening, music faculty will perform pieces from composers around the world during “Various Voices,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall.
The recital will feature Kathy Daniel (flute), Patricia Card (clarinet), Ilonka Rus (piano), Mary Kay Lake (soprano) and Hayoung Lim (cello). They will perform Brazilian pieces, as well as works by Handel, a German composer; waltzes by Shostakovich, a Russian composer; and Florent Schmitt, a French composer; among others.
On Thursday, cellist Mike Block will visit the SHSU campus for the three-day 2nd annual Cello Festival.
That day, Block will work with students in the “String Improv” class, as well as hold a masterclass, in School of Music Building Room 202, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Festival concerts will begin on Friday and will include the SHSU Faculty Recital, featuring cellist Daniel Saenz and guest pianist Brendan Kinsella performing the works of Poulenc, Dzubay, and Rachmaninoff at 5:30 p.m.; and a guest artist concert, during which Block will perform original compositions, at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., the guest artist will join the SHSU Cello Studio for a recital featuring the music of Glazunov, Saint Saens, Hindemith, Tchaikovsky and Block. All three of the Friday and Saturday concerts will be held in the Recital Hall.
Known for his non-traditional pizzicato and improvisational abilities, Block regularly performs with a number of musical groups, including his own band.
He has also appeared on a number of television shows, including VH1, Live with Regis and Kelly, Late Night with Conan O’Brian, and he performed with Yo-Yo Ma and Allison Krauss on the CBS Early Show.
Kinsella, who is described as a “sensitive musician with an ear for color,” has appeared widely throughout the United States and Asia.
Beginning piano at age 11, he made his concerto debut at 15 with the Kentucky Symphony.
Kinsella earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the College-Conservatory of Music and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
All events, including Tuesday’s faculty concert, are free and open to the public.
For more information, call the School of Music at (936) 294-1360.
Group to host
charity ‘Climb For Koanaka’
The biological sciences department’s paleobiology lab will “Climb for Koanaka” on Saturday, with a charity climbing event.
The Koanaka Kids Project event, open to the public, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Health and Kinesiology Center’s rock climbing wall.
The Koanaka Kids Project is a group dedicated to helping orphans from Botswana, Africa, by providing them with clothes, shoes and toys, according to member Sophia Aguayo.
While the event is mainly an open climb, “friendly” competitions will also be held at the wall, she said.
The event is $5 to climb, and T-shirts will also be sold for $5, with all proceeds benefitting needy Botswana children, many of whom are AIDS orphans. Snacks will be provided.
In addition, “Climb for Koanaka” T-shirts will be available with a donation to the first 75 participants.
SHSU biology faculty members and students have been traveling to Botswana since 2007 for research purposes.
Plans to continue the research efforts in the area are currently being made,” Aguayo said. “Several students from the paleobiology lab, along with Drs. Patrick Lewis and Monte Thies, will be going to Botswana to excavate fossils and document the modern fauna at the Koanaka Hills in July 2009.”
For more information on “Climb for Koanaka,” contact Aguayo at stdsma29@shsu.edu.
SAM Center to give study tips
The Student Advising and Mentoring Center will teach students to “study smart” with a workshop series beginning on Monday.
The first Study Skills Workshop Series is comprised of six one-hour sessions that focus on studying smart, procrastination, time management, reading textbooks and note taking, test taking strategies and stress management.
Sessions will be held on a variety of days and times to accommodate student schedules.
A late-start session will begin Feb. 18, with sessions held at 5 p.m. through April 1, and a second session will begin on March 16.
All sessions will be held in the SAM Center, now located in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room 170.
Space is limited, and students are encouraged to call or stop by the SAM Center to sign up.
For more information, call (936) 294-4444 or e-mail samcenter@shsu.edu.
May graduation applications due Wednesday
Students who anticipate graduating in May are to file degree applications by Wednesday with the Registrar’s Office.
Those who fail to apply by the deadline will be assessed a $25 late application fee in addition to the $25 graduation fee.
Applying late may also result in names not appearing in the commencement program or the honors program.
Final exams will be held May 11-14, with a study day scheduled for May 8, and commencement is scheduled for May 15-16.
The Registrar’s Office is located on the third floor of the Estill Building.
For more information, call (936) 294-1040.
January 24, 2009 07:11 pm
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SHSU Updates: Jan. 18
University to close for MLK Day
Sam Houston State University will be closed on Monday in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Classes will resume on Tuesday, which is also the last day to register and process schedule changes for the spring semester.
‘Little Red Cowboy Hat’ illustrator to give seminar
Randy Cecil will be the featured illustrator for the library science department’s Children’s Book Illustration Art Seminar on Feb. 7. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom A.
“The purpose of the art seminar is to enrich courses in children’s literature and to provide continuing education to area librarians and art teachers by providing an opportunity for participants to interact with and learn from a successful illustrator,” said Rosemary Chance, assistant professor of library science.
During the event, Cecil will make a presentation about his art and direct an art project using oil paints. Afterward, he will also autograph a selection of his books that will be for sale.
A Houston native, Cecil has been illustrating, and sometimes writing, children’s books for 12 years. He published 15 books, including “Little Red Cowboy Hat” and “Runaway Tortilla,” and three more in production.
The cost is $25 for teachers and librarians, and there is no cost for SHSU students.
The registration deadline will be Feb. 2. Seating is limited to 50 participants and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, or to register, contact Chance at rxc001@shsu.edu or (936) 294-1151, and for more information on Cecil, visit www.randycecil.com.
Group garage sale to benefit needy children
Students in the biological sciences department’s PaleoBiology Lab will provide needy children with clothes, shoes and toys by selling some of their own.
The Koanaka Kids Project garage sale will be held on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon at 2114 Avenue S.
“The Koanaka Kids Project is dedicated to helping orphans from Botswana by providing them with clothing, shoes and toys,” said KKP member Sophia Aguayo. “All proceeds from the garage sale will be used to purchase items for these needy children, many of whom are AIDS orphans.”
The sale will include primarily clothing, shoes and books, and while donations will also be accepted, “no offer will be refused," Aguyao said.
For more information, contact Aguayo at stdsma29@shsu.edu.
Art exhibits to showcase faculty works
Not one but two different art exhibitions will be available in the SHSU art department for viewing this week.
The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery will feature paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, printmaking, drawings and animation created by most of the current SHSU art faculty beginning Tuesday. The exhibit will be open from noon to 5 p.m. through Feb. 6.
The Students of Fine Arts Gallery also will feature works by visiting scholar of graphic design JiYoon Kim through Thursday.
“Digitype {Hangul}” is an “exploration of artistic ideas contrasted with Korean culture,” according to Kim, who is at SHSU from Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea.
“One example of unique Korean culture is Hangul, the Korean alphabet,” he said. “I have expressed the philosophical meaning of Hangul motifs and created the relationship between Hangul and digital media.
The Korean alphabet was invented in 1444 and promulgated it in 1446 during the reign of King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally called “Hunmin jeongeum,” the alphabet means "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people,” Kim said.
Because the exhibition can only be viewed digitally, the show is by appointment only.
A public reception will be held for both shows on Thursday, from 5-7 p.m.
The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery is located in Art Building F, and the SOFA Gallery is located in Art Building A. Both galleries are located in the SHSU Art complex.
For more information, contact Debbie Davenport Harper, audio/visual librarian for the art department, at (936) 294-1317.
Tour to showcase constellations, give ‘Moon Dreams’
The physics department will explore Orion, Gemini, Taurus and other constellations currently visible during the “Winter Skies and Moon Dreams” on Friday.
The planetarium series program will be held at 7 p.m. in the Planetarium, located in Farrington Building Room F102.
“‘Moon Dreams’ is a full-dome program that talks about man’s fascination with the moon, it’s effects on us, and how we have studied it,” said Michael Prokosch, staff laboratory assistant for the physics department.
The show will last approximately one hour, and admission is free.
“Winter Skies and Moon Dreams” also will be shown Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., March 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and March 27 at 7 p.m. In April, the program will change to showcase spring constellations.
The Planetarium seats up to 29 visitors and includes a dome that is approximately 18 feet in diameter and more than 20 feet high in the center, according to Prokosch.
For more information on current show times for the Planetarium or the Observatory, call (936) 294-3664 or e-mail Prokosch at mwp007@shsu.edu.
January 17, 2009 08:38 pm
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SHSU Updates: Jan. 11
Offices,
departments to get new homes
With the completion of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building, formerly known as Academic Building V, a number of offices and departments will be moving within the next month.
The Student Advising and Mentoring Center will relocate to the CHSS Building this week from the second floor of Academic Building IV, a space that will later be filled by Career Services; while the political science department will relocate from Academic Building I on Jan. 15-16.
Other upcoming moves include Accounts Payable and the Business offices, from the Administration Building Jan. 20-22; Purchasing, from the Estill Building Jan. 23; Human Resources, from the Estill Building on Feb. 4; and Payroll, from the Estill Building Feb. 12-13.
The CHSS Building also houses the College of Humanities and Social Sciences dean’s suite and the sociology, psychology and philosophy departments.
The vacated offices will make room for other future moves, including Computer Services and the computer sciences department expanding within Academic Building I; foreign languages moving to the third floor of AB IV and the history department taking over fourth floor offices in AB IV; Administrative Accounting and University Advancement expanding within the Administration Building; and the Vice President for Enrollment Management’s office moving to the Estill Building.
Additionally, the clinical psychology program will move into the Career Services building in February.
Open house to recruit ‘Army Strong’ students
The SHSU Army ROTC Bearkat Battalion will show potential cadets what it means to be “Army Strong,” while informing students of the benefits of being a part of the program, during an open house on Wednesday.
The event will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. between Academic Buildings III and IV.
The open house will include free pizza, a mechanical bull, a paintball demonstration and a rock-climbing wall.
Students interested in potentially joining the battalion can speak with cadets, tour the facilities and learn about scholarship opportunities within the ROTC, which can include as much as paid tuition and fees, a book stipend and a tax-free monthly stipend for contracted cadets, according to 2nd Lt. Travis Cline, a ROTC gold bar recruiter and Bearkat Batallion alumnus.
While contracted cadets commit to four years of U.S. Army service after being commissioned, students can participate for their first two years without a commitment.
“ROTC is great because you learn to solve problems and lead people under highly stressful situations,” Cline said. “The adventure factor is there as well. What other class do you get to rappel off a building or go paintballing or lead an ambush up through a creek?
“Some people take the course just to learn how to become a better leader, and others take it to start their career in the military as a commissioned officer,” he said.
After army service, these leadership and resource management skills can also translate into being more marketable in the civilian job sector, according to Cline.
For more information, call the Military Science department at (936) 294-1351.
Education names first ambassadors
Eight College of Education students have been selected to represent its five departments for its first ambassador program.
Angelica Adame, Abigail Beard, Dana Krebs, Merrill McWilliams, Heather Olguin, Cassidy Turrentine, Elizabeth Underwood and James Williams were all selected in the fall to serve the college.
Advised by Richard Henriksen Jr., College of Education ambassadors travel to high schools and junior colleges to recruit for the COE, represent the dean at special events and are involved with the campus and community.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Susan Scheiner, research assistant and outreach coordinator. “Students will benefit by establishing relationships with veteran educators and SHSU faculty, gain leadership experience, as well as enhance their public speaking capabilities.”
College of Education ambassadors must be a major or minor within any of the college departments, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and be classified a sophomore or higher. Students must also display excellent communication skills, positive and energetic attitude, professional image and willingness to work.
Education students interested in becoming a COE ambassador can obtain an application in Counselor Education Center Room 141.
For more information, contact Scheiner at (936) 294-4821 or by e-mail at coeambassador@shsu.edu.
Debate brings home first-semester
victory
Sam Houston State University’s recently reinstituted debate team argued their way to a victory in the Mississippi College Deep South Debate Tournament, a “highly-competitive” regional tournament, according to College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean John de Castro.
The SHSU team beat out teams from Louisiana State University – Shreveport, Louisiana State University – Alexandria, University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas – Monticello, Union University, East Texas Baptist University and Stephen F. Austin State University for the championship.
Individual awards were given to Adam Key, fourth place speaker in the open division; Clayton Goss, champion of the varsity division and fourth place speaker in the varsity division; and Addison Reed, quarterfinalist in the varsity division.
“This is an outstanding achievement for this new team and portends great things for the future,” de Castro said.
The Mississippi College Deep South Debate Tournament is an International Public Debate Association sanctioned event.
Nominations still sought for alumni awards
The SHSU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for Bearkat graduates who have distinguished themselves through their personal and professional achievements and service for its annual service, distinguished alumni and outstanding young alumni awards.
The nomination deadlines for the Service Awards and Distinguished Alumni Awards are Feb. 1 and April 1, respectively.
The SHSU Service Award recognizes individuals who exemplify the SHSU motto "The measure of a Life is its Service" and demonstrate a continued interest in the university or Alumni Association through their contributions of time, talent, influence or funds.
Eligible individuals can be alumni, faculty, staff or friends of the university.
“The highest honor” the association and university can bestow upon alumni, the Distinguished Alumni award recognizes graduates or former students who “have made significant contributions to SHSU and/or society, and thus have brought honor and distinction to our university,” according to the nomination form.
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is given to one individual based on criteria as the Distinguished Alumni Award, except the recipient must be under 40 years of age.
Any individual or group may submit a nomination for an award.
Nomination forms, with a complete list of award criteria, are available online at http://alumni.shsu.edu/~alu_kat/awards/nominations.html and should be returned to the SHSU Office of Alumni Relations, in the Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center, or by mail to P.O. Box 2022, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2022.
Nominations received after the deadline will not be considered; however, the forms will remain on file for consideration the following year.
For more information, contact the Alumni Relations Office at (936) 294-1841 or alumni@shsu.edu.
January 10, 2009 08:47 pm
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SHSU Updates: Dec. 21
Military Science commissions one
Senior ROTC cadet James Harrison joined the ranks of second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on Dec. 20 during the Bearkat Battalion’s winter commissioning ceremony.
Harrison received his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology, with an emphasis on design and development, and a minor in military science during Saturday’s commencement ceremonies.
A Wylie native, Harrison joined the ROTC program when coming to SHSU in 2004 and served as a simultaneous membership program cadet in the U.S. Army National Guard with the 72nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Huntsville.
Within the ROTC, he was a member of the cannon crew for three years and the Schuder’s Ranger Company for four years, earning his Ranger Company scroll during the spring 2005 semester.
He also held various other positions within the battalion, including cannon crew commander, Ranger Company executive officer and later, Ranger Company commander.
Harrison requested and received an active duty commission and will serve in the U.S. Army as a transportation corps officer.
He will first work as a gold bar recruiter for SHSU’s military science department before serving his first duty assignment at Fort Campbell, Ky.
SHSU to break for holidays
Sam Houston State University will be closed Tuesday through Jan. 5 in celebration of the Christmas holiday.
Residence halls will reopen for the spring semester on Jan. 8, registration will open on Jan. 9 and classes will begin on Jan. 12.
Students collect ton of food for local mission
Political science and communications studies students collected 2,644.72 pounds, more than a ton, of food earlier this month for Huntsville’s Good Shepherd Mission.
In the spirit of giving, the third food drive coordinated by political science adjunct faculty member James Massey awarded students bonus points and community service hours for students’ participation.
This year’s total “literally shattered the previous two semesters’ records” and raised the total amount of giving for three drives to almost 6,248 pounds of food. The food was delivered in four trucks to the mission on Dec 5.
“Given everything our students have been through this semester, especially in light of Hurricane Ike, I couldn't be more proud of all of my students for stepping up the way they did today, as those in need in Huntsville this holiday season will have one less thing to worry about,” Massey said.
Participants also came from William Carroll’s and Corliss Lentz’s political science classes, as well as Mary Evelyn Collins’ communications studies classes.
The class that collected the most amount of food, Massey’s 8 a.m. political science 261 “Principles of American Government” class, was also rewarded with a kolache and donut breakfast provided by assistant professor of political science Mitzi Mahoney and the late John Holcombe, who was serving as interim chair of the political science department at the time. The class brought in 917 pounds alone, Massey said.
“Between Sam and Lone Star College-Montgomery, where I also teach as an adjunct, over three semesters, we collected just under 12,000 pounds of food,” Massey said. “Everything collected here went to the mission, and everything collected at Montgomery went to two different facilities, one each in north Woodlands and south Conroe.”
Thibodeaux book cover, designer win award
The cover of communication studies professor Terry Thibodeaux’s novel, Catherine’s Cadeau, has been awarded first place in the American Design Awards 2008 Summer Semi-Annual Contest.
Designed by Thibodeaux’s son Mark, an SHSU alumnus, the cover was selected from hundreds of design entries in the Book Cover design category. Awards are given to the top three designs in 22 categories.
Winners are chosen based on their “outstanding display of graphical and web design abilities, in a manner conformant with today’s highest standards of visual communication and ethical design standards,” according to Kevin Javid, Vice President of American Design Awards.
“Designers by trade will always think outside the box, but having clients or circumstances place constraints limiting those ideas can be very challenging,” he said. “Mark Thibodeaux has demonstrated that his work is creative, cutting-edge, and worthy of being an award-winner from among more than 1,400 contestants who entered this year’s competition.”
“Catherine’s Cadeau,” the first novel co-written by Thibodeaux and Ann Davidson, of Upton, Mass., is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Monique LeBlanc, who travels back in time to experience the horrific treatment of the French Acadians by the British government in 1755 Nova Scotia.
Though the premise is fiction, the historical aspects are true. After their expulsion from Canada, a large number of these Acadians settled in Louisiana and developed the culture known as Cajun.
The book was published in September by SHSU’s Texas Review Press.
American Design Awards’ Semi-Annual Contest is among the most respected in the industry, attracting tens of thousands of designers with varying experience levels from all corners of the globe, ever since its beginning in the year 2000, according to Terry Thibodeaux.
Alpha Chi tops
previous initiate totals
SHSU’s Texas Omicron chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society recently welcomed 54 new members for the fall 2008 semester.
New members include Lindsey Ashworth, Deanna Bloodworth, Camille Bowden, Hayley Britt, Lauren Burroughs, Meghan Burton, Ruben Carrera, Gabriel Castillo, Tina Cervantes, Natalie Cinotto, Carrie Cunningham and Emily Daniel Rich.
Also, Alexandria Evans, Elizabeth Evans, Kyle Everett, Maggie Ferrell, Kevin Fishbeck, Jessica Flack, Gilbert Garcia, Chet Gassett, June Glover, Lori Greer, Mark Hainline and Rachel Hastings.
Also, Andrea Henderson, Kayla Hughes, Chaelsea Johnson, Jessica Kern, Nikki Klausmeyer, Dana Krebs, Kelly Looms, Kelley Loomis, Sarah Martin, Stephen Martin, Michael McClure, Rebecca McNair, Ashley Moehr and Kari Myrick.
And, finally, Jessica Norman, Tatsuya Okabe, Heather Olguin, Brittany Perkins, Barbara Peterson, Sky Presley, Cari Price, Kristen Schoeder, Brittany Smith, Haley Thedford, Chelcie Tomme, Elizabeth Underwood, Brittany Wallace, Kelsey Wiley, Amanda Wilhite, and Jimmy Williams.
Officers for 2008-2009 include president James Deveau, president-elect Dominic Pollone, secretary Jadrian Wooten, treasurer Meeta Lullah, historian Kristen Shroeder and webmaster Jimmy Williams.
To be eligible for membership in Alpha Chi, students must maintain a 3.7 grade point average as a junior or a 3.6 GPA as a senior.
During the 2008 spring semester, 50 new members were inducted. New members will be honored at a reception during the 2009 spring semester.
SHSU’s Texas Omicron chapter began at SHSU in 1923 and is believed to be the oldest organization on campus. The SHSU chapter also was the 15th chapter established in the nation.
For more information, contact Deveau at jdd001@shsu.edu or group adviser Eugene Young at young@shsu.edu.
December 20, 2008 07:20 pm
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AT RANDOM: New UPD chief hopes to bring positive change
In his new position as the deputy chief at the Sam Houston State University Police Department, James Fitch hopes to bring positive change to the community and the university.
A former sergeant at the Huntsville Police Department, Fitch has worked for the last eight years to build his experience and increase his education, and with a new UPD chief to work with, he said there is great potential for improvement.
“With the current chief here moving up and the former assistant chief — Kevin Morris — taking his spot, this position was opened up,” Fitch said Friday, his fifth official day as the new UPD deputy chief. “I saw taking this position as a good career opportunity and an opportunity to make a difference with the department and with the whole community, including the Sam Houston community.”
As deputy chief, Fitch will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department, and he is also directly over the dispatch division.
“I’ll be looking after the training of the officers, looking at policies and the general workings of the department and also seeking out possible grants for the department,” he said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to have an impact here, because I was more middle management at my old job and didn’t have that ability to the same extent as I do here.
“Especially considering the fact that Morris and I are both new, I think we can move the department in a very positive direction.”
While the move to the university department represented a move to a much smaller staff, Fitch said the complexity of his responsibilities has only grown.
“This is definitely a smaller department — here we have 18 officers where at the city department there are 52 — but here, we’re over our own dispatch and dispatchers, all of the parking control personnel and the entire parking division,” he said. “There’s a little more going on here than just police work, and to some extent, I’ll be involved in all of that.”
In his eight years at the Huntsville Police Department, Fitch made significant friendships that he hopes will not fade with his career move.
“I was with HPD for eight years, and it was definitely hard for me to leave,” he said. “More than anything, I’ll miss the people, because HPD is like a family. Luckily, I’m just across town, and we’ll still be working together on a lot of things.”
As far as his position as sergeant which was left vacant, Fitch said the department will be holding a promotion process over the next three to four months to have the spot filled.
His other responsibilities at the department, however, are a slightly different story.
“I was the team leader of the Special Response Team, and that team of guys is an even closer knit group than the police department as a whole,” he said. “HPD Detective Roy Moore was appointed the team leader for that group, and a new president was also appointed for the Huntsville Police Officers Association. It’s really sad for me to have to leave those groups.”
Personally, Fitch said he also needs to thank HPD Chief Jean Sanders for her constant encouragement during his time at the department.
“I have to give Sanders a lot of credit, because she was responsible for getting me the leadership training I got and for backing me in getting a master’s degree,” he said. “I think she helped me better my education and my career, and I don’t think I could have done everything I did without her.”
Even with leaving his friends at HPD, Fitch said he has been warmly welcomed at the University Police Department.
“Police are police for the most part, and that’s the one thing that probably won’t change,” he said. “I’ve felt very welcome with all of the guys here — they seem to be excited about the possibility of me bringing in some new ideas from outside, so I’m excited, too.”
December 06, 2008 10:02 pm
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SHSU Updates: Dec. 7
McIntyre to debut new book In Huntsville
A new book with “wonderful stories about many local children and productions” directed by theatre professor Maureen McIntyre over the past 25 summers will be available for purchase and signing on Wednesday.
The reception will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Wynne Home Arts Center.
“The Youth Theatre Director’s Handbook” is a theatre how-to that provides directors with all the tools they need to create a production.
It is told through the eyes of a fictional character based on McIntyre’s experiences directing the Huntsville Children’s Theatre Festivals at the University Theatre Center.
“There are lots of wonderful anecdotes about Huntsville theatre,” McIntyre said. “Some parents may even recognize their own children (in the book).”
Copies of the book, published this year by JAC Publishing and Promotions, will be available at the event to purchase, for $22.95. The book may also be purchased online through Amazon.com or the publisher’s Web site for $27.95, including shipping.
The Wynne Home Arts Center is located at 1428 11th St.
The event is sponsored by The Huntsville Arts Commission.
Professors offer premarital
workshop
Family and consumer science professors Janis White and Paula Tripp will help bring engaged couples “twogether” and help them save money for their marriage license fee with a premarital workshop on Saturday.
The free workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Kats for Christ, at 1705 Ave. J on the SHSU campus. Lunch is also provided during the event.
“Twogether in Texas,” a state initiative that became effective Sept. 1, allows for a waived marriage license fee for couples who complete an eight-hour premarital education class. The class also allows couples to forgo the 72-hour waiting period to get married.
Premarital sessions cover communication, conflict management, financial management, managing stress, providing mutual support, and parenting, among other topics.
Both the prospective bride and groom must attend in order to receive a certificate.
“Couples who complete a class will receive a certificate that they can take to their county clerk when they apply for their marriage license,” Tripp said. “The certificate is good for one year and serves as proof that the couple is eligible for the discounted marriage license fee.”
The cost of a marriage license is $60. While the workshop waives the state fee, participants are still required to pay a county fee of up $12 for a marriage license.
The workshops are made possible through a $50,000 grant White and Tripp received this summer. It is funded by Family Services of Greater Houston and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Participants are asked to register by Dec. 12 by calling (936) 294-4129.
Juried exhibition to feature works from art students
Art majors and minors will compete for a $250 “Best of Show” prize during the Lowman Student Center Juried Student Exhibition, held Monday through Friday in the LSC Art Gallery.
The “We Art Here Juried Art Show,” co-sponsored by the Student Art Association, will feature 16 pieces in a variety of mediums selected by the SAA from 74 student-submitted works to compete in the exhibit.
The winner will be chosen by local artist Lee Jamison and will be announced during the exhibit’s reception, on Thursday, from 5-7 p.m.
The LSC Gallery is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located on the second floor of the LSC.
The gallery is also currently accepting reservations for the spring semester, for students who want to showcase their works in an exhibit.
“The LSC gives top priority to SHSU student exhibits and finances up to $100 toward an Aramark catered reception for student shows,” said Gayle Bullard, LSC reservations coordinator, adding that students can select their own menu as long as it stays within the dollar limit. “It’s such a good deal for student artists.”
For more information, contact Gayle Bullard in the LSC Office, at (936) 294-1760.
Music ends fall semester with trio of concerts
The School of Music will host a trio of performances to wind down the fall semester beginning Sunday.
“Sonic Impressions,” the Student Percussion Recital, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Music Building Room 202.
The concert will feature works by SHSU faculty composer Trent Hanna, “inspired by the Exxon Valdez oil spill and its devastating effect on the native cultures of Alaska,” as well as two pieces by Japanese composers inspired by their native landscapes, according to John Lane, assistant professor of percussion.
The evening will conclude with a performance by the SHSU Steel Band, followed by a reception. Admission is free.
On Tuesday, the SHSU choirs will take audiences “Home for the Holidays” with two concerts that feature many traditional Christmas carols.
The 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances will include identical programs to accommodate larger audiences and will be held at the First United Methodist Church.
The concert, featuring the SHSU Chorale, the SHSU Concert Choir and SHSU Women’s Chorus, will also include performances by the faculty brass ensemble, as well as a carol sing-a-long for everyone in attendance.
Admission is $10 for general admission, $5 for students and senior citizens and free for children under the age of 6.
The First United Methodist Church is located at 1016 Sam Houston Ave.
Finally, on Saturday, the Faculty Jazz Quintet and the SHSU Improv Class will perform a number of favorites from the genre during an all-night concert.
The “unforgettable evening of jazz” will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Stardust Room on the Huntsville Square.
"Something of note is that this concert will again have many standard and new repertoire of the jazz idiom with the Artistry In Rhythm vocal jazz group performing holiday favorites,” said Aric Schneller, director of jazz studies.
Admission is free.
For more information, call the School of Music at (936) 294-1360.
Tour To Showcase Winter Constellations
As weather becomes chillier, the physics department will switch gears to give the public a tour of the winter constellations during its planetarium series program on Friday.
The “Winter Sky” and “Astronomyths,” which show attendees which constellations, stars and planets they can expect to see in the upcoming weeks, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Planetarium, located in Farrington Building Room F102.
“’Astronomyths’ takes the visitor on a journey with a grandfather and his grandson on a camping trip under the stars where they let their imaginations soar into the heavens with the heroic tales, such as Perseus and his rescue of Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus, with a bit of science mixed in,” said Michael Prokosch, staff laboratory assistant for the physics department.
“Winter Sky” attendees will explore Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Canis Major and Auriga, according to Prokosch.
The show will last approximately one hour, and admission is free.
The Planetarium seats up to 29 visitors and includes a dome that is approximately 18 feet in diameter and more than 20 feet high in the center, according to Prokosch.
The final showing for the fall semester will be held on Dec. 19, also at 7 p.m.
For more information on current show times for the Planetarium or the Observatory, call 936.294.3664 or e-mail Prokosch at mwp007@shsu.edu.
Dissertation Awarded By Professional Organization
The dissertation of a recent doctoral graduate has been recognized by the American Educational Research Association.
Julie Manuel’s dissertation, “The Effectiveness Of A Transitional Bilingual Education Program In A Large Texas School District: A Descriptive Study,” was named the second place winner for the group’s 10th Dissertation Competition of the AERA Bilingual Education Research SIG.
“This was a very competitive year as we had 16 submissions and several high-quality candidates,” said Virginia Gonzalez, professor at University of Cincinnati and chair of the Dissertation of the Year Award for Bilingual Research, in the award letter. “Winners received the highest scores and were also ranked as the top three dissertations by three or more judges.”
As the second place winner, Manuel will receive a plaque and $250 check in April during the AERA’s 2009 Annual Meeting, during which she will also present a summary of her dissertation study.
“The American Educational Research Association is the premiere research association for educators, and so it is very prestigious for anyone to receive this award,” said Rebecca Robles-Piña, Manuel’s dissertation chair.
Manuel currently serves as principal for Jowell Elementary in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district.
December 06, 2008 10:04 pm
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