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SHSU Update For Week Of April 15, 2012
- ‘Heroes’ Appreciation Night Scheduled For Baseball Game
- Diversity Enhancement Speaker To Address GLBT Issues
- Professor To Discuss ‘Pioneering’ Work With Poem
- SHSU Psychologist To Share ‘Roots’ For Speaker Series
- Graphic Artists To Show Off Work In Final Campus Exhibit
- Library Series To Explore Who’s ‘Watching Us’
- ‘Jeans’ Day To Recognize Genetic Disorder
- Music To Host Piano Solo, Chamber Concert
- SHSU Offers Workplace Survival Skills
- NABCJ Conference Shows Students How To Succeed
- SHSU Wins Awards At CASE
- Submit Update Items Here
‘Heroes’ Appreciation Night Scheduled For Baseball Game
Sam Houston State University will honor local heroes during America’s pastime at an appreciation night at Don Sanders Stadium on Tuesday (April 17).
A series of activities have been planned for the SHSU baseball game against the University of Houston, which will begin at 6:30 p.m.
“We want to recognize all the service of all our local law enforcement, fire fighters, first responders, paramedics, veterans, and local military personnel,” said Lt. Col. David Yebra, head of SHSU’s military science department.
Hometown heroes will be admitted for free to the game, which will also offer 50-cent hot dogs throughout the evening.
Before the game, baseball fans can climb the ROTC rock wall and explore Army displays, including an up-armored HUMVEE, which will be at the entrance to the baseball stadium beginning at 5 p.m.
“Our cadets will conduct some pre-game activities that will include one of them playing the National Anthem and another singing ‘God Bless America’ for the seventh inning stretch,” Yebra said. “Huntsville’s Civil Air Patrol cadets also will help us unfurl the large flag for the National Anthem.”
SHSU’s nationally ranked Bearkat baseball team—ranked No. 20 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division I poll as of April 9—also offers two free tickets to any home game this season with proof of Texas Farm Bureau membership.
Among the other honors the Bearkat baseball team has been accruing includes a second consecutive Southland Conference Hitter of the Week designation for Anthony Azar.
Admission tickets for “Our Local Heroes” will be available at the gate or by contacting Yebra at 936.294.1298.
Diversity Enhancement Speaker To Address GLBT Issues
Jessica Pettitt, a diversity and social justice educator, will discuss the “sticks and stones” of LGBT issues during an interactive workshop on April 27.
The Multicultural Student Services’ Spring 2012 Campus Diversity Enhancement Project presentation will begin at noon in Lowman Student Center Room 320.
“Sticks and Stones: LGBT 101” will offer a safe space for any and all kinds of interactive discussions regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual identities, according to Donielle Miller, multicultural coordinator.
“Through comparing themes of these messages learned for these different groups, we can then have a much deeper conversation about class, race, educational access, citizenship, ability assumptions, etc.,” she said. “By understanding our language we can hold ourselves accountable to building an inclusive environment for all (regardless of sexual identity).”
The Campus Diversity Enhancement Project is an initiative that brings a series of dynamic diversity speakers and educators to the campus community.
Pettitt was selected as the invited speaker because “she is easy to work with, accessible, and brings very simple concepts that are really hard to incorporate into our lives,” Miller said.
Nominated for two years by Campus Activities Magazine for “Best Diversity Artist,” Pettitt’s programs are direct, customized, and highly interactive, taking participants on a journey that weaves together politics, theory, current events, and story telling with large doses of humor.
“This is by no means your average diversity program,” Miller said. “Though participants will be laughing, she promises no drum circles, guilty tears, or finger pointing.”
Pettitt has more than 10 years of experience in university student affairs, more than five years of national consulting work, and more than two years of stand up comedy experience as part of her mission to inspire change, dismantle oppression, and recognize our privilege.
The event is open to students, faculty and staff, and lunch will be provided.
Those interested should RSVP through the MSS office at diversity@shsu.edu or 936.294.3588 by April 25.
Professor To Discuss ‘Pioneering’ Work With Poem
University of Virginia Professor Emeritus Hoyt N. Duggan will share information on the Textual Encoding Initiative on Friday (April 20).
The lecture, sponsored by the English department as part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Digital Humanities Initiative, will begin at 2 p.m. in Evans Building Room 212.
“From Quill to Keyboard: Hopes for Permanency in Electronic Textery” will focus on the Textual Encoding Initiative, an international editing paradigm devised more than 20 years ago by humanities scholars in order to support usable electronic editions of important literary and historical texts.
“TEI has developed a standardized, flexible markup language which can be used for transcribing these texts,” said English professor Robert Adams. “The markup is hidden in the background, invisible to the reader’s eye; but it allows the textual editor to highlight all of the significant grammatical, lexical, stylistic and structural features of a text and thus permits a degree of rapid and focused searchability never previously available.
“Professor Duggan has been pioneering a project to apply TEI markup to the 53 surviving manuscripts of Piers Plowman, one of the most influential and widely read pieces of Middle English literature,” he said. “He will be using examples from this project to demonstrate the power of the TEI paradigm.”
A reception with coffee and cookies will follow.
For more information, contact Adams at 936.294.1419 or eng_ira@shsu.edu.
SHSU Psychologist To Share ‘Roots’ For Speaker Series
Shanta Stokes, a psychologist with the SHSU Counseling Center, will discuss her life and career field, as well as answer student questions, on Tuesday (April 17), as part of the Student Advising and Mentoring Center’s Grassroots Speaker Series.
The presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the SAM Center, in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Suite 170.
Stokes earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Iowa in 1994 and master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University, in 1998 and 2011, respectively.
Her professional interests include grief/loss, trauma, critical incident stress debriefing, depression, disruptive behaviors, training and supervision.
A meet-and-greet reception will immediately follow Stokes’s presentation.
The “Grassroots: A Series of Conversations on Leadership in a Diverse Community” was created in 2003 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 Business Society; 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.
Graphic Artists To Show Off Work In Final Campus Exhibit
Fifteen of Sam Houston State University’s senior graphic designers will showcase the range of work and the skills they have developed during their time in the art department during an exhibition beginning Tuesday (April 17).
The Senior Graphic Design Exhibit will run through April 27 in the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery. A reception during which attendees can meet and mingle with the artists will be on Thursday (April 19), from 6-8 p.m. in the gallery.
This semester’s exhibition will feature a range of graphic design work including posters, package design, corporate identity, logo and web design, illustration, and more.
“The Senior Graphic Design Show is the culminating event for this year's group of graphic design majors,” said Anthony Watkins, assistant professor of graphic design. “As part of the ‘Senior Studio in Graphic Design’ class, students develop a body of work suitable for a designer's portfolio. This process includes the creation of new work as well as the refinement of existing work.
“This is a great opportunity to see what SHSU graphic design students are doing, and to see the kind of work that doesn't often find itself displayed in an art gallery,” he said.
Designers for this year’s show include Kimberly Aurich, Shannon Bankard, Allyson Brown, Carol Brown, Sabrina Coronado, James Cronin, Amanda Dunlap, Bridget Eldredge, Zachary Hamblen, Tina Jones, Melissa Logan, Chanel Montgomery, Hannah Sikkenga, Megan Simmons and Melissa Vargas.
Both the exhibit and the reception are open to the public.
The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery is located in Art Building F Room 101.
For more information, contact Watkins at 936.294.1362 or watkins@shsu.edu.
Library Series To Explore Who’s ‘Watching Us’
The Newton Gresham Library and the foreign languages department will present the story of a detective investigating the case of a man who one day vanishes without a trace on Tuesday (April 17).
The Spanish Film Series presentation of “Nos Miran” (“They’re Watching Us”) will begin at 3:30 p.m. in NGL Room 155.
Based on the book by Javier Garcia Sánchez, “Nos Miran” follows Detective Juan Garcia, whose investigation of the mysterious case brings back memories of his own sister, who disappeared in eerily similar circumstances.
As Juan begins a descent into madness and obsession, his wife begins to fear he will face the same fate as the previous detective, now an asylum inmate who can say only "they are watching us.”
The 2002 Spanish horror/thriller stars Carmelo Gómez, Icíar Bollaín and Massimo Ghini. Its runtime is 104 minutes.
The NGL’s Spanish Film Series was planned as a result of a new service launched by the America Reads Spanish program and the American Library Association called the Dias de Cine Reading Club, which provides registered libraries with free online access to Spanish films based on Spanish literature, according to Erin Cassidy, assistant professor and web services librarian.
“My primary goal is to offer students, as well as faculty and staff, a chance to experience a different cultural perspective in an engaging way, through movies,” she said. “I also want to promote an interest in the Spanish literature collection here at the library, so suggested reading lists will be available at each film.”
The final spring showing for the series will be on May 8, when the NGL will present “Amar y morir en Sevilla, or Don Juan Tenorio.”
For more information, contact Cassidy at ecassidy@shsu.edu or 936.294.4567.
‘Jeans’ Day To Recognize Genetic Disorder
In medical school, many aspiring doctors learn the saying, “when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras,” teaching them to focus on the likeliest possibilities when making a diagnosis, not the unusual ones.
Sometimes, however, physicians need to look for a zebra.
Primary Immunodeficiency patients are the zebras of the medical world, according to Yvette Shorten, an assistant program coordinator for the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at SHSU, whose sons, Deidrick and Jerry, were affected by primary immune deficiency diseases.
In an effort to teach the world about “zebras,” while raising funds to help promote awareness of these diseases, SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice and LEMIT will host a “Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day” on April 25.
In recognition of the day, participants are asked to donate $10 to the foundation and wear blue jeans. In honor of the “zebras,” participants are also encouraged to wear their favorite zebra print top, cap, tie or scarf, along with their jeans.
Approximately 250,000 people in the United States are annually diagnosed with a Primary Immune Deficiency Disease.
There are more 150 different PIDDs, which can take the forms of an absence of T-cells, B-cells, NK cells, thymus, tonsils or lymph nodes, all of which are needed to combat viruses and bacteria infections.
David Vetter, known as “the boy in the plastic bubble,” lived his entire life in a germ-free sterile environment due to Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder, the most severe and life-threatening form of PIDD.
“My first born son, Deidrick, also lived his short but precious life a germ-free sterile environment due to SCID,” Shorten said. “While not contagious, these diseases are caused by hereditary or genetic defects.”
Starting September 2012, Texas will be among several other states to implement newborn screening for SCID.
“We fought for the last couple of years to get SCID on that test card, which screens for 28 different life-threatening diseases,” Shorten said. “If not treated, most of the SCID-effected infants die within the first year of life, but with the early detection, a bone marrow transplant can save the child’s life. This is why it was so important to have this added.”
For their donation, participants also will receive a primary immune deficiency disease button pin and sticker, as well as a tax-deductible receipt.
To sign up for “Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day,” contact Shorten at wys001@shsu.edu or 936.294.3851, and for more information on PIDD or the Primary Immune Deficiency Foundation, visit www.primaryimmune.org.
Music To Host Piano Solo, Chamber Concert
An SHSU piano professor and some of her students will perform as part of a studio recital on Tuesday (April 17).
Assistant professor of piano Ilonka Rus-Edery and both her undergraduate and graduate students will perform solo and chamber recitals during the concert, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
“The theme of the concert is dances,” Rus said. “There will be waltzes, mazurkas, Spanish dances—an exciting evening.”
Admission is free.
Also scheduled for the week and sponsored by SHSU’s School of Music are the Horn Studio Recital and Horn Choir Concert, on Monday (April 16), at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively, in the GPAC Recital Hall; a jazz concert on Thursday (April 19), at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Concert Hall; a symphonic and concert band concert, on Friday (April 20), at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Concert Hall; and the "Quartet 35!" concert with SHSU alumnus and saxophonist Eric Daniels on Sunday (April 22), at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Recital Hall.
For more information on any of these events, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
SHSU Offers Workplace Survival Skills
For graduates entering the workforce in law enforcement, corrections, victim services, forensic science or private security, Career Services offered tips on professionalism and etiquette in the workplace during Criminal Justice Career Week last month.
The session, provided by SHSU employment specialist Greg Monteilh, gave students an insiders’ view of the issues and challenges they may face in the first jobs of their professional careers. This includes the unwritten rules or guidelines of an organization and key components for a successful careers.
“A lot of things you do now will help you in your professional career,” said Monteilh, who joined SHSU after retiring from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. “These are a set of rules that make you more polished and educated.”
Professionalism is a set of characteristics, strengths and values that provide good, quality service. It includes such elements as honesty, integrity, work ethic and customer service, Monteilh said.
“To maintain professionalism in the workplace, employees should keep private matters private; treat everyone with respect; not use e-mail, texting, instant messaging or the Internet for personal use on the job; and remember that office resources should not be used for personal use,” he said.
During a career, most employees will face issues on the job, such as making a mistake, facing criticism, being the victim of misperceptions, facing personnel changes and having stress. How you deal with these situations will be critical to your success, according to Monteilh.
“On the job, it is important to create positive relationships by doing your work, being considerate and thoughtful of others, valuing your co-workers, playing fair and avoiding conflicts,” he said. “Stress can be addressed through managing your time more efficiently, identifying stressors, asking for help, taking time, keeping perspective or developing support.
“To handle or resolved conflicts, it is important to avoid negative office politics, like gossip, and protect yourself from sabotage from others by keeping a paper trail, by communicating and by sharing your accomplishments with others.”
NABCJ Conference Shows Students How To Succeed
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| (Above, from left) Candice Williams, '11 MA, a counselor with Children's Safe Harbor, and Georgia Haynes, a senior court officer with Tarrant County Adult Probation, visit with a student (center) at an NABCJ gathering. (Below, from left) NABCJ president Jamal Turner confers with SHSU employment specialist Greg Monteihl. —Submitted photos |
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Criminal justice students got an insider’s view from professionals on how to get hired and succeed at jobs in the field at the second annual conference sponsored by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.
“Students to Professionals: Where We Are to Where We Want to Be” provided panels of criminal justice professionals on resumes, interviews, internships, careers and lifestyles.
Greg Monteihl, an employment specialist with SHSU Career Services, provided tips on developing resumes, saying resumes should be a marketing piece to communicate the things you have done well and to stress the skills and experiences that make you a better candidate.
University Police Department Deputy Chief James Fitch told students what to expect during the interview process for law enforcement jobs, including a polygraph exam, criminal background check, and a panel of officers during the interviewing process.
A criminal record, like a drunken driving conviction, will knock you out of contention for most law enforcement jobs for up to 10 years. It’s important to divulge past indiscretions, such as experimenting with drugs or juvenile records, and to take ownership of mistakes and not blame outside influences. Any lies uncovered on an application or resume will lead to immediate disqualification, Fitch said.
“You have to be absolutely honest in this field,” said Fitch. “None of us are angels. We all make mistakes.”
Terri McGee, assistant deputy director for Harris County Juvenile Probation, and Denise Kennedy, a former Texas Department of Juvenile Justice parole officer, encouraged students to pursue internships and consider more than one internship as well as volunteer opportunities, practicums or clubs to help build their resumes.
Kennedy and McGee said a good resume will get you in the door for an interview, but it also is important to clean up your image on social media sites, including Facebook and voicemail. Criminal justice internships often require criminal background checks, and students should research the agency for its history and opportunities and should work on both writing and computer skills.
Georgia Haynes, senior court officer with Tarrant County Adult Probation, and Candice Williams, a clinical team counselor at Children’s Safe Harbor, provided tips on how to succeed on the job and get promoted, including interacting well with others, showcasing leadership capabilities, finding a mentor or shadowing a supervisor, and volunteering for projects to help build skill sets.
“You need to write and articulate what you need to get across,” said Haynes. “To write well and speak well is important in the criminal justice system.”
SHSU Wins Awards At CASE
Sam Houston State University was recognized with five awards at the 2012 CASE District IV Conference, held March 25-27 in Fort Worth.
This marks the largest number of significant awards the university has received from the district.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is an international association of professionals who advance educational institutions. It is one of the largest nonprofit education associations in terms of institutional membership, serving more than 64,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions. CASE District IV includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico.
The Division of University Advancement received two “Gold” awards for Design-Illustrations: President’s Holiday Card-2010 and Design-Special Pieces: Investiture of Dr. Gibson.
A “Silver” award was given to the Samuel Houston Society Sixth Annual Major Donor Dinner in the Alumni: Project or Special Event category.
In addition to a top design award, the Investiture of Dr. Gibson won a “Gold” in the Institutional Relations Programs Project/Special Event category as well as a “Silver” for Alumni Program: Project or Special Events.
“Sam Houston had a very strong showing at the CASE conference this year,” said Frank Holmes, vice president for University Advancement. "These awards reflect a combination of outstanding design work and planning by our staff as well as the cooperative efforts of the members of the investiture committee, which included campus and community members.”
Submit Update Items Here
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
April 13, 2012
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: 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.
