"The measure of a Life is its Service."
Sujey Vega, visiting assistant professor of sociology, will discuss the influence her heritage had on her trek on Wednesday (Sept. 24), as the Student Advising and Mentoring Center ’s first “Up Close and Personal” speaker for the fall.
"Designed to help our students and university community build mentoring relationships with our outstanding faculty," the 30-minute lunchtime presentation will be held at noon at the Farrington Pit, said Bernice Strauss, director of academic support programs for the SAM Center.
During her talk, “Tenacity and Perseverance: Living up to the legacy of my Mexican parents,” Vega said she will offer advice and discuss mistakes she encountered along the way as a first-generation college student, as well as answer student questions.
“Like many of Sam Houston's students, I too started out not knowing exactly what to do to succeed in higher education,” she said. “As a first-generation college student with working-class parents, I have encountered a particular experience in academic life that I hope can connect to students who might face similar circumstances.
“I would like to make myself available to Sam students and let them know that they have many individuals on campus who directly know what they face and can offer up a sympathetic ear and some advice if they need it,” she said.
Vega, who recently finished her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is in her first semester of teaching at SHSU, has done extensive research on Latinos and immigration.
She also earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of North Texas and her master’s in anthropology, also from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Students are encouraged to bring their lunches for the brown-bag event.
In the event of inclement weather, the series will be held at the bookstore atrium on the first floor of the Lowman Student Center.
For more information, contact Strauss at 936.294.4455 or sam_bss@shsu.edu.
Award-winning international poets Nikola Madzirov and Usha Akella will share from their bodies of work on Tuesday (Sept. 23).
The poetry reading, sponsored by the English department and College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Wynne Home in Huntsville.
One of Macedonia’s most distinguished poets, Madzirov is the author of five collections of poetry, which have been translated into dozens of languages, including “In the City Somewhere” and “Relocated in Stone,” which won both the Hubert Burda Poetry Award and the Miladinov Brothers Award in 2007.
Madzirov is currently a guest of the International Writing Programs at the famous University of Iowa Writers Workshop, which sponsors “talented established and emerging writers from around the world to give them broader exposure to the American literary scene,” according to Melissa Morphew, SHSU associate professor of English.
India native Akella is the author of two books of poetry, most recently “Kali Dances, So Do I,” and has had her work published in a number of U.S.- and Indian-based literary journals.
Currently an Austin resident, she is the founder of Poetry Caravan and the winner of Maryland Poetry Review’s Egan Memorial Contest, as well as the recipient of a Pushcart Prize nomination.
The Wynne Home is located at 1428 11th St.
A reception will follow the readings, which are free and open to the public.
For more information, call Morphew at 936.294.1944.
Student, faculty and community writers will have the opportunity to share their creative works, or works-in-progress, during the return of the Sam Houston Writing Center’s “Writing @ The Center.”
The informal, after-hours forum during which writers can “let their words be heard” will be held on Sunday (Sept. 28), at 8 p.m., in the Writing Center, located in Farrington Building Room 111.
“We chose the theme ‘Your Words. Let Them Be Heard’ because we want to give all types of writers the chance to speak out and share their writing with others who appreciate language and how it is used creatively to communicate our thoughts, feelings, and experiences,” said Dana Allen, a Writing Center writing consultant and graduate assistant in SHSU’s English Department.
“These readings will allow writers to have a place to share works that are complete or in progress,” Allen said. “We welcome poetry, prose, plays, memoirs, and any other type of creative writing that people are interested in sharing.”
The event is open to anyone who is “interested in reading or supporting the writing efforts of others,” including poetry, short fiction, plays and memoirs, Allen said.
Door prizes will be given, including tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival, and coffee and refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact the Sam Houston Writing Center at 936.294.3680 or e-mail wctr@shsu.edu.
Renowned Texas Ranger Steve Jeter will talk to students on a number of drinking- and drug- related violations on Thursday (Sept. 25).
During “Ranger Steve,” at 2 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 307, students will learn the facts about violations such as underage drinking, MIP, DUI, DWI and serving, selling or providing to minors, as well as what other terms, such as zero tolerance, mean.
Jeter will also discuss the consequences being charged with such violations will carry, personally, profes¬sionally and financially.
“Ranger Steve” is part of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative’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, ADAI coordinator, at 936.294.1171 or org_aai@shsu.edu.
The Student Advising and Mentoring Center will give students who missed the beginning of their Study Skills Workshop Series the opportunity to catch up beginning Wednesday (Sept. 24).
The “Late Start” series will teach students to “study smart” through 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 at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Oct. 29 in the SAM Center, located in Academic Building IV Room 210.
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, e-mail samcenter@shsu.edu or visit the SAM Center, located in Academic Building IV Room 210.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Sept. 22, 2008
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Brian Domitrovic, assistant professor of history, appeared on Book TV (C-SPAN) May 1-2, speaking about his recent book "Econoclasts: The Rebels Sparked the Supply Side Revolution and Restored American Prosperity" (www.econoclasts.net).
Houston Chronicle education writer Jeannie Kever recently turned to Regents Professor of English Paul Ruffin for his views on university presses moving toward "digital books" as opposed to traditional ink-on-paper."We're fulfilling the ancient role of the university press, and that is to produce books," said Paul Ruffin, the Texas poet laureate for 2009 and director of the Texas Review Press at Sam Houston State University. "I don't want to give up the book because it is an art."
Monday, May 3
Tuesday, May 4
"The measure of a Life is its Service."