"The measure of a Life is its Service."
University groups are invited to send representatives to a meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 17) to discuss a campus-wide effort to provide pre-approved health kits for Haitian earthquake relief.
The meeting for “Bearkats for Haiti” will be in the Lowman Student Center Theater at 4:30 p.m.
Organizers include Rick Carpenter of the Sam Houston Press, John Yarabeck of the Dean of Students’ Office, and Max Adams of the campus Wesley Foundation.
“We think this will be a great way for Sam Houston State University to make a difference for Haitians who are hurting badly now, and a great way for us to make an appearance on the world stage as a responsible academic community,” Carpenter said.
“People may think that because the earthquake disaster was so devastating and on such a massive scale, they don’t have the resources to help as individuals,” he said. “But relief kits only cost around $10 to $14. It’s a small dollar amount that can make a huge difference.”
The kits are those called for by Church World Service. They are one-gallon zip lock bags containing basic hygienic necessities, which have been pre-cleared by U. S. and foreign customs officials for easy shipment and delivery with minimal paperwork, according to Carpenter.
“We are hoping that representatives of the social, academic, religious and service oriented student organizations, the Staff Council, and the Faculty Senate attend this preliminary meeting on Feb. 17, where we will present several kits that have already been collected and assembled by the Wesley Foundation,” said Carpenter.
A second planning meeting will take place on Feb. 24 and the collection of items will begin soon afterwards and conclude on April 30. At that time, the kits will be assembled and shipped.
For more information, contact Carpenter at jrcarpenter@shsu.edu or call 936.294.1858.
Stanford University biology professor Barbara Block will discuss her work with giant Bluefin tuna on Thursday (Feb. 18) at 7:30 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater.
The 5th biennial Edward O. Wiley Lecture, “Sushi and Satellites: Tracking Giant Bluefin Across Ocean Basins,” is sponsored by the Sam Houston State Vertebrate Museum.
Block has spent more than two decades studying and tagging Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas to learn about their oceanic travels.
She and her team from Hopkins Marine Station and the Monterey Bay Aquarium have pioneered new electronic tags that allow the tracking of migratory fish and sharks.
For their project, Tag A Giant, the team implanted more than 1,500 electronic tags in bluefins, recovering “remarkable details about their journeys,” according to William Lutterschmidt, director for the vertebrate museum.
“Block’s work provides the foundation for the monitoring and conservation of bluefin tuna populations globally at a time when the Atlantic bluefin is being considered for listing as an endangered species,” her biography said.
The E.O. Wiley Lecture is a biennial lecture series that was established in 2002 by Lutterschmidt to recognize and honor Wiley’s world-renowned accomplishments as a vertebrate biologist. Wiley earned his master’s degree from SHSU’s department of biological sciences.
“The E.O. Wiley Lecture series is dedicated in his honor for showcasing the research and professional careers of other eminent scientists who have dedicated their lives to studying vertebrate biology,” Lutterschmidt said.
A reception will follow the lecture.
For additional information, contact Lutterschmidt at 936.294.1556.
Curtis Montgomery, a practicing physician with Huntsville’s Samaritan Woman’s Care, will share stories of his life and work on Wednesday (Feb. 17).
The Grassroots speaker series lecture will be held at 5 p.m. in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room C070.
Following the discussion, a meet-and-greet with refreshments will be held in the Student Advising and Mentoring Center, located in CHSSB Suite 170.
The “Grassroots: A Series of Conversations on Leadership in a Diverse Community” was created with the aim of promoting the career aspirations and academic achievements of SHSU’s minority students.
“It has been our goal to bring to our campus notable leaders from all over our state to act as meaningful role models, advisers and mentors to our students,” said Bernice Strauss, SAM Center director for academic support programs.
The lecture is sponsored by the academic support programs of the Student Advising and Mentoring Center; the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College; 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, call the SAM Center at 936.294.4444.
Approximately 40 companies will visit campus on Tuesday (Feb. 16) for the College of Business Administration Career Fair, 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 Cintas First Aid and Safety, Fastenal Company, Hastings Entertainment, H-E-B, McCoy’s Building Supply, McKesson, Newfield Exploration and Target.
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 and Houston Community Bank, as well as a number of accounting firms and regulatory agencies.
For a full list of companies that will be in attendance, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~coba/fair/Companies.html or for more information on the career fair, call the College of Business Administration at 936.294.1254.
The SHSU department of theatre and dance will present a mythological fantasy that explores the nature of love with “Ondine,” Wednesday through Saturday (Feb. 17-20).
Show times are at 8 p.m. each evening, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee in the University Theatre Center’s Mainstage Theatre.
Based on the play by Jean Giraudoux and adapted by Maurice Valency, “Ondine” tells the story of a water nymph, Ondine, who instantly falls in love with the valiant knight Hans Van Wittenstein. Whisked away from the harbor she calls home, Ondine is plunged into Hans’s royally selfish kingdom where the magic of the sea is lost and love is in danger.
The production stars Hilary Bryant as Ondine and Daniel Nepveux as Hans.
The cast also includes theatre majors Christina Brinkley, Riley Bird, Alex Conroy, Erik Holm, Kendrick Lattimore, Sarah McQueen, Jordan Muller, Zach Penland, Chris Preslar, Kyle Scholl, Reggie Talley, LaDawn Taylor, Daniel Toole, Laura Tuttle and Addison Roush; as well as musical theatre majors Fong Chau, John Ryan DelBosque, Nina Garcia, Michael Keeney, Chris Martin, Kate Rose, Madison Turner and Joel Wood.
Theatre faculty member Maureen McIntyre is directing the play.
Junior theatre major Kelly Juneau is stage manager. Designers include Seth Bales, sound; Kristina Hanssen, costumes; Gregg Buck, sets and lights; and Josh Fehrmann is composing original music for the show.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for SHSU students and senior citizens. Group rates are also available.
Children under the age of three will not be admitted.
For more information, call the University Theatre Center Box Office at 936.294.1339.
The Office of Multicultural and International Student Services and the SHSU Diversity Council will address topics such as religion, ethnicity, cultural education, social issues and sexual orientation during the 6th Annual Diversity Leadership Conference at Sam Houston State University on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 19-20).
“The Diversity Leadership Conference is an outstanding student-led event designed to address various issues concerning diversity,” said Donielle Miller, MISS program coordinator. “Each year, the Diversity Leadership Conference attracts over 200 students from across the state to attend diversity-training workshops and interact with exciting guest speakers.”
The conference, held in the Lowman Student Center, will include presentations from higher education professionals from SHSU and surrounding universities, as well as student organizations and other individuals, including Iraq war veteran JR Martinez.
Registration is free for SHSU students who register early (before Feb. 17), $5 for regular registration (after that date) and $20 for day-of registration. The cost for non-SHSU students is $60 for day-of registration.
The cost includes all meals, conference bag and T-shirt.
For more information, contact the Office of MISS at 936.294.DVST (3878) or e-mail diversity@shsu.edu or visit www.shsu.edu/diversity.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Sgt. Scott Zella will discuss the harmful effects of alcohol violations on Wednesday (Feb. 17).
"Alcohol Violations: How Can They Hurt Me?" will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area.
During the program, Zella will inform students on current laws regarding minor in possession, public intoxication, open container, serving to minors, sobriety check points and fake IDs, as well as take questions from participants.
Zella will also discuss the role Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission plays in alcohol regulation in the state.
“Alcohol Violations: How Can They Hurt Me?" is part of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative’s Six Weeks of Alcohol Awareness Training program, which allows students to earn prizes by attending events that accumulate as students attend more programs.
For more information, contact Rosanne Keathley, ADAI coordinator, at 936.294.1171.
The School of Music will showcase two faculty members and support Haiti with two concerts beginning Tuesday (Feb. 16).
Faculty violinist Javier Pinell and pianist Sergio Ruiz, accompanied by pianist Kaju Lee, will perform a variety of masterworks by Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Granados, Piazolla, and Gershwin.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall.
Admission is free.
On Thursday (Feb. 18), the SHSU jazz musicians will perform a benefit concert for Haiti at 7:30 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.
The Haitian Relief Jazz Concert will feature a variety of music from the genre performed by the SHSU Jazz Ensemble; Jazz Lab Band; Student Jazz Combo; and Artistry In Rhythm and Misbehavin’, student vocal jazz ensembles.
Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens and SHSU students, and free for children under 6 and SHSU faculty and music students.
All proceeds will benefit the Haitian relief effort.
For more information, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
The U.S. Census Bureau will recruit students to put the 2010 count “in their hands” with job testing on Feb. 22 and Feb. 26.
Census representatives will test students at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on both days in the Career Services office, in Academic Building IV Suite 210.
Positions available will include office jobs as well as Census questionnaire deliveries to rural areas, according to Eduardo Guity, partnership specialist for the U.S. Census.
Students would work in the area they live, so those who live in Huntsville would work in Huntsville and Walker County, he said.
The pay scale is $10-$15 an hour, including 50 cents per mile for travel and four days of paid training.
These jobs are important because of the impact the 2010 Census count can make on Texans, according to Guity.
Census figures help determine how the $400 billion available from the federal government, used for things such as roads, schools, libraries, low-income assistance programs and senior citizen programs, is distributed.
Businesses also look at Census figures to determine whether they want to open a business in the area, Guity said.
Students interesting in taking the test should call 1.866.861.2010 to set up a time.
Nominations for the Staff Excellence Award and Recognition of Service Program are due by March 5.
The annual Staff Excellence Awards will honor four employees “who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in service,” including two exempt and two non-exempt staff employees, according to the nomination form. Non-exempt employees are those subject to overtime pay.
Recipients must be full-time, non-temporary staff members with a minimum of two years service at time of nomination; show meritorious performance; excel in his or her job; demonstrate outstanding abilities, innovative ideas, efficient operations, high level of motivation; and be respected by the university community.
Previous recipients are not eligible. A list of previous recipients can be found online at http://www.shsu.edu/~hrd_www/excellence/past.html.
Winners receive a financial stipend.
Any full-time SHSU faculty or staff member can nominate, and faculty and staff may nominate more than one person. Selections are made by the university’s eight-member staff excellence committee.
For more information, or to nominate, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~hrd_www/excellence/.
Students in Yuki Waugh’s Japanese class were recently awarded for their skill during the 21st Annual Houston Japanese Language Speech Contest at the University of St. Thomas.
Of the four participants, SHSU student Gabriel Craig placed the second in Division 5 and Huntsville High School student Stratton Gaines, who is enrolled in the class, placed the first in Division 1. Division 5 is for free speech for college students and adults, and Division 1 is for poetry recitation for middle and high school students.
SHSU students Edwin Calvillo and Philip Bradley also participated in the contest, held Feb. 6.
Craig and Gaines received awards, trophies and monetary prizes sponsored by the Japan Foundation and will compete against contestants from Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio regions at Rice University on March 3, according to Waugh.
“Gabriel, Edwin, Philip, and Stratton worked hard in this contest,” she said. “They revised their speech drafts many times and spent a lot of time practicing their speech both at home and in my office.
“I enjoyed working with them especially when they began to analyze and discover Japanese language styles and patterns as they practiced,” Waugh said. “I am proud of all of them.”
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For electronic access to SHSU news see the Communications Web page Today@Sam.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Bruce Erickson, Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 12, 2010
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
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Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
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."