SHSU Update For Week Of 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 (Feb. 23).

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/.

 

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Psychologist Lecture To Focus On Eating Disorders

Clinical psychologist Deborah Michel will discuss how cultural standards of beauty adversely affect the well being of girls and women on Monday (Feb. 23).


“Beauty and The Beast: Culture and The Quest for Beauty” will be held at 5 p.m. in Academic Building IV’s Olson Auditorium.


Michel, a clinical faculty member at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1992.


The event is hosted by Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority in recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

 

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Mexican Scholars To Discuss Culture In Two Languages

Two professors from the University Of Coahuila in Mexico will visit “Global and Cultural Diversity” during two presentations on Thursday (Feb. 26) and Friday (Feb. 27).


Francisco Martinez and Gilberto Aboites will discuss “Mexico, Agriculture and Cultural Diversity” in Spanish on Thursday, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 315.


On Friday, the two will present an English lecture on “Globalization In The Mexican Poultry Industry,” from 1-1:50 p.m. in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room 242A.


The lectures are sponsored by the sociology and foreign language departments, as well as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.


For more information, call 936.294.1512 or 936.294.1441.

 

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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 (Feb. 26).


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.

 

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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.

 

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SHSU’s ‘Excellent’ Teachers Sought


Nominations for SHSU’s annual Excellence in Teaching Award will be accepted online through 3 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 27).


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.

 

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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 (Feb. 25).


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.

 

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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 (Feb. 23).


“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.

 

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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.

 

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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.”

 

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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.


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For electronic access to SHSU news see the Communications Web page Today@Sam.

 

 

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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 20, 2009
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu

 

 

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Director: Bruce Erickson
Assistant Director: Julia May
Writer: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.

 

 

SHSU 'In the News'

 

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."

 

Faculty/Staff Birthdays

 

Monday, May 3

Debbie Birdwell

 

Tuesday, May 4

Rhonda Callaway

David Gaines

James Walker

 

Staff Council Spotlights

 

Jennifer Davis

Sonya Ramirez

Molly Doughtie

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