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SHSU Update For Week Of Oct. 16, 2011
- Employee Flu Shots To Be Dispensed Oct. 18-19
- Biology Seminar To Focus On Species Extinction
- Provost To Give Journeys Lecture
- Grassroots Lecture To Feature Law Distinguished Prof
- Theatre To Question Reality, Fiction With ‘Fuddy Meers’
- Center To Reveal Expenses Of Graduation, ‘Real-World’ Life
- SHSU Makes Huge Impact In ‘Ride For Your Life’ Campaign
- New Press Publication Looks At ‘Coping With Transition’
- Today@Sam Submission Guidelines Change
Employee Flu Shots To Be Dispensed Oct. 18-19
The SHSU Student Health Center will administer the seasonal influenza vaccine free of charge to faculty and staff members on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 18-19).
Vaccinations will be dispensed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days in Lowman Student Center Room 320.
In order to receive a flu shot, employees must present their Bearkat OneCard prior to receiving the vaccine.
This year the flu vaccine will protect against three strains of the virus including H1N1, also called swine flu, according to health center director Sarah Hanel.
Faculty and staff are asked to come prepared with sleeves that can be easily adjusted to expose their shoulder in order to speed the administration process.
There will be an area to disrobe with privacy screens, but an easily accessible injection site will make the process faster and more comfortable, Hanel said.
The vaccine is not available for employees who are pregnant or nursing.
“Because the influenza virus is highly contagious, we encourage all SHSU employees to take advantage of the free flu vaccination campaign. Please encourage students to get their vaccinations too,” Hanel said. “By obtaining a vaccine, this can help aid employees and students from lost work or class days, or other potential serious complications.”
Employees who miss the flu vaccine administration dates will not be accommodated and will be advised to obtain the vaccine through other means.
Vaccines for students will be dispensed on Oct. 25-26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the LSC Atrium.
For more information about the influenza vaccine or the administration process, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~uhc_www or call 936.294.1805.
Biology Seminar To Focus On Species Extinction
Tufts University biology professor Michael Reed will examine species extinction on Thursday (Oct. 20), during the Biological Sciences Department Seminar Series.
The presentation will begin at 4 p.m. in in Lee Drain Building Room 214.
Reed is interested in a wide variety of conservation related research problems, focusing largely on identifying characteristics of species that put them at risk to human-caused threats, understanding why (or how) these characteristics put a species at risk, and to determining how best to reduce the risk.
“My lecture will be about how one might determine if a species has gone extinct—just searching and not finding it is not enough—and on assessing evidence where small populations are thought to persist,” he said. “There is a lot of theory and modeling that suggests that small populations cannot persist, but some nagging examples from the real world that suggests that sometimes they do.
“The most controversial example is the ivory-billed woodpecker, which was allegedly rediscovered in 2005 but support for the discovery is lacking,” he said. “Some of my recent research has been in assessing evidence for, and against, the persistence of small populations. Most of my work is on birds, but I dabble in other taxa as well.”
Reed has taught at Tufts University in Boston since 1996.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Millersville State College in Pennsylvania, his master’s degree from the University of Montana, and his doctorate from North Carolina State University.
The lecture is open to the public.
For more information, contact Madhu Choudhary, assistant professor of biological sciences, at 936.294.4850.
Provost To Give Journeys Lecture
Jaimie Hebert, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will share his path to success on Monday (Oct. 17) during the Honors 3332 Journeys Seminar, at 4 p.m. in Smith-Hutson Building Room 186.
Hebert was named provost and vice president for Academic Affairs in May and began in tenure on August 1.
Prior to being named provost, he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the mathematics department.
Under Hebert’s direction as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the university established a nursing program and a Department of Nursing; an Office of Medical and Allied Health Professions; a graduate program in applied geographic information systems; an online master’s degree in quality and information assurance; a master’s degree in music therapy; and an aquatics research facility, among other programs.
Hebert received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in statistics at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and taught at Appalachian State University before coming to Sam Houston State in 1995.
The lecture, sponsored by the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College, is part of a new class designed to show students what characteristics lead to success.
The lecture is open to the public.
For more information, contact instructor Patrick Lewis at 936.294.3397.
Grassroots Lecture To Feature Law Distinguished Prof
James M. Douglas, Distinguished Professor of Law at Texas Southern University, will share his “roots” with members of the Bearkat and Huntsville communities, discussing his life, career path and the challenges he has faced along the way on Tuesday (Oct. 18).
The Grassroots Speaker Series presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Advising and Mentoring Center, in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room 170.
Douglas joined the faculty of TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1981.
He earned his bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees from TSU and his Master of the Science of law (JSM) degree from Stanford University.
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 approximately seven years ago with the aim of promoting the career aspirations and academic achievements of minority students by bringing to campus notable leaders from all over the state.
“Grassroots brings community and state leaders to our campus to speak about their leadership experiences, their paths to success, and lessons they’ve learned in diversity,” said Chrystal Golden, SAM Center student assistant. “Students not only listen to these speakers, but they’re also given an opportunity to interact with them in an informal environment.”
The lecture is sponsored by the SAM Center’s academic support programs; 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; Student Success Initiatives office; and Women United.
For more information, contact Bernice Strauss, SAM Center director for academic support programs, at sam_bss@shsu.edu or 936.294.4455.
Theatre To Question Reality, Fiction With ‘Fuddy Meers’
The Sam Houston State University theatre department will present the story of an amnesiac who wakes up every morning not knowing anything about her life with its presentation of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Fuddy Meers,” Wednesday through Saturday (Oct. 19-22).
Show times will begin at 8 p.m. each day, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee, in the University Theatre Center's Showcase Theatre.
Directed by SHSU senior theatre major James Smith, “Fuddy Meers” tells the story of Claire (Victoria Villareal), who attempts to separate reality from fiction as she is thrown into a bizarre series of events surrounded by a group of very unique characters. Through a series of lies and revelations Claire learns that not everything is always as it seems.
The cast includes SHSU theatre majors Raven Garcia (Gertie) and Bennett Schmidt (Limping Man), and musical theatre majors Katelyn Johnson (Heidi), Garrett Line (Richard), Tyler Martin (Millet), Max Pierce (Kenny), and Victoria Villareal (Claire).
Sophomore theatre major Mariah Gill is stage manager, and designers include senior theatre major Hannah Huerta (set), sophomore theatre major Connor Toups (lighting), senior musical theatre major Colleen Trotter (costumes), and SHSU theatre faculty member Eric Marsh (sound).
Tickets are $12 for general admission.
The show contains adult content and language.
For more information, call the University Theatre Center Box Office at 936.294.1339.
Center To Reveal Expenses Of Graduation, ‘Real-World’ Life
The Student Money Management Center will address all the expenses associated with graduating from college and life after graduation, including student loan repayment options, on Tuesday (Oct. 18).
“The Real Costs of Graduation" presentation will begin at 3:30 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 315.
The workshop will explain the various costs associated with graduating college including applying for graduation, purchasing a cap and gown, sending invitations, as well as the costs associated with tests for graduate school including the LSAT, GRE, and GMAT.
“We will also discuss student loan repayment and explain some of the options students have for repaying their loans,” said Tara Richmond, SMMC peer counselor.
Recent congressional action has affected student loans and repayments, including the 2010 Health Care Reform Bill which allows individuals to make affordable monthly payments on their student loans based on their current income.
“Because of this legislation, individuals who keep up their payments will have their loans forgiven after 20 years, instead of 25 years,” Richmond said.
In August, the Federal Budget Compromise affected student loans for graduate students, with the federal government no longer paying the interest payments on loans for graduate students.
“This means that all graduate and professional students will be required to pay all interest on any student loans that they take out,” Richmond said. “If they do not pay this interest while in school, the interest will accrue until they begin paying on their student loans.
“With all of these expenses, our center feels it is extremely important not just to make them aware of the various expenses associated with this monumental occasion in their life, but to also provide them the techniques to plan and prepare for these expenses,” she said. “We will teach them how to set financial goals and how to create and stick to a budget. To top everything off, we will close the presentation with 10 tips for negotiating a job offer.”
Free snacks and drinks will be provided.
For more information, contact the Student Money Management Center at 936.294.2600 or smmc@shsu.edu.
SHSU Makes Huge Impact In ‘Ride For Your Life’ Campaign
Almost 180 members of the Sam Houston State University community worked to empower cancer survivors through an initiative brought to campus by two health and kinesiology professors.
The inaugural "Ride for Your LIFE, #28for28" service, fitness, and wellness event boasted 268 participants ranging from 4 years old to older than 65 years and from 22 states across the country, as well as Japan and The Netherlands, according to Jennifer J. Didier, assistant professor of health and kinesiology.
Collectively riding, running, walking and swimming 38,945 miles for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide, participants raised more than $11,000 for the Livestrong foundation.
More than $8,000 and 20,000 miles of that total came from the support of SHSU and the local community, according to Didier.
“Many participants have reported losing weight, enjoying time with their family while working out, and training with a purpose,” she said.
The Livestrong foundation provides one-on-one support for all those affected by cancer, patient navigation, guidebooks, and many people-oriented programs that help with the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of cancer.
“Livestrong helps cancer survivors, their family members and friends before, during and after cancer treatment,” Didier said. “They have programs to help with the financial aspects, clinical trial matching, fertility, reading and understanding medical diagnoses, finding support groups, and overall empowering all those affected by cancer.”
The health and kinesiology department plans to begin the second annual “Ride for Your Life” event in April.
Those interested in participating can visit http://rideforyourlife.webs.com or email ridefor28million@gmail.com for more information.
In addition, SHSU has begun a student organization called “Kats Taking Action: Supporting Livestrong,” which meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Health and Kinesiology Center.
“We will be involved in service and fitness events promoting how Livestrong can affect all of us affected by cancer,” Didier said.
New Press Publication Looks At ‘Coping With Transition’
Life changes in stages from infancy to retirement are recalled in a new book from Sam Houston State University’s Texas Review Press “Coping With Transition: Men, Motherhood, Money, and Magic—Memoirs from the Lives of Professional Women.”
The 15 authors, with backgrounds in business, law, consulting, real estate, art, government, journalism, and publishing, are members of The Transition Network’s Houston chapter.
The collection was a project of a memoir-writing group headed by editor Susan Briggs Wright.
“It is seldom these days that I come across a manuscript that fills a gap as neatly as ‘Coping with Transition’ does,” said Paul Ruffin, director of the Texas Review Press and 2009 Texas State Poet Laureate. “Texas Review Press is primarily a literary press, meaning that we devote most of our attention to fiction and poetry.
“I am always eager, though, to take on a work that offers fresh insight into a world that I am unfamiliar with, especially if that work is as well-written as this book is and that world is one that I know others would like to read about,” he said. “These women of Houston, each independent and successful in her own way, reveal through that magical genre called memoir how they have coped in the world of men, motherhood, money, and magic, and what an insight they give us. Male or female, young or old, readers will enjoy this book.”
Some stories take the reader along rocky paths of parental neglect, failure to find a mate “on schedule,” discord over having children, and lonely widowhood. In their journeys toward the higher and better, the women cope with workplace turf wars and conflict between career and family.
Their voices convey varying emotions: wry humor in a birthday rant, laughter and sensuality as a romance is rekindled, edginess about retirement and searing anguish over a mysterious death, according to Wright.
“We didn’t try to give the perfect recipe for making lemonade out of lemons; but one important factor is the strong thread of resilience that runs through these memoirs. Sometimes it shows as agility and openness in the face of change and in other cases, it’s just sheer grit,” she said. “Camaraderie is an important asset for transitions and so we hope readers will feel like they’re getting help for their own transitions from the stories of friends.”
The Transition Network is a national organization for women “50 and forward” with chapters across the country.
The book will be available in October, distributed by the Texas A&M University Press Consortium (www.tamupress.com) and sold by Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and select retailers.
Today@Sam Submission Guidelines Change
In order to assist members of the Sam Houston State University community in publicizing events, the SHSU Communications Office (Today@Sam) is now requesting that students, faculty and staff submit information about events, accomplishments or ideas for feature stories online.
Submission criteria and guidelines, including deadlines, have now been placed online, at /guidelines.html. This information is also accessible through the “Submissions” link in the right-hand navigation on Today@Sam.
From there, those submitting ideas can access forms that will allow them to provide detailed information about their idea, as well as attach event calendars, vitas/resumes or photos, depending on the type of submission.
Ideas submitted to the SHSU Communications Office are directly utilized in several ways: as news stories, “slider” or SHSU home page stories, hometown releases, and on the Today@Sam calendar.
If your submission qualifies for distribution, we will either contact you for more detailed information, or we will edit the information using SHSU/journalistic style and forward the final release to the appropriate media.
All information is verified before release, so please provide complete, accurate and timely information. Please type all responses in appropriate upper and lower cases.
For more information, contact the Communications Office at 936.294.1836 or today@sam.edu.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 14, 2011
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Director: TBD
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.
