DRUG ENFORCEMENT LEADER

Thomas Constantine, head of the nation's lead agency in drug law enforcement since his appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1994, will speak at Sam Houston State University Tuesday.

Constantine will speak on "Law Enforcement As a Solution" at 2 p.m. in the Kerper Courtroom of the Beto Criminal Justice Center. Interested faculty, students and community members are invited. There is no admission fee.

A career law enforcement officer, Constantine served as superintendent of the New York State Police before his appointment to head the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Constantine began his career in 1960 as a deputy sheriff. In 1962 he entered the New York State Police as a trooper and served as a narcotics and major crime investigator and captain of the statewide Organized Crime Task Force, rising to the organization's top position.

During his tenure with the Drug Enforcement Administration, he has initiated programs to foster closer cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies and to enhance their ability to fight violent drug crime. He has also directed the administration's resources to dismantle the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations.

CANADA CONFERENCE

Faculty members, students, and area residents who want to learn more about Canada can participate in the Southwest Association for Canadian Studies 1997 conference Thursday through Saturday at SHSU.

David Staines, dean of the faculty of arts and professor of English at the University of Ottawa, will speak on "The State of Contemporary Canadian Literature" at the first business session on Friday. T. F. Reilly, associate professor of regional history and geography at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, will speak on "The Frontier Thesis and the Canadian Landscape."

Additional topics for the event, to be held in Austin Hall and the Lowman Student Center, include: "The Evolution of Canadian Studies in the United States: Reminiscences," "Canadian Genealogical Research;" "The Practice of Inclusion in Canadian Education;" and "British Columbia's Quiet Revolution."

Also, "The Politics of Personality in British Columbia," "The Evacuation of British Children to Canada during World War II," "Contemporary Trends in Canadian Inuit Art," and "Hands on the Internet: The Potpourri of Canadian Resources and Data."

Participants from SHSU will include Ed Davis and Richard Payne of the political science department, Robert Shadle, associate professor of history, Renee LaPerriere, assistant professor of library science, and Sharon Lynch, assistant professor of language, literature and special populations.

Contact Davis, who is in charge of local arrangements for the event, at 294-1462 for additional details and registration information.

ART AND MUSIC

Art and music events for the coming week include the opening of a national competitive art exhibition, Wind Ensemble performances on campus and at the Wortham Theatre Center, and a concert celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Schubert.

Schubert, born Jan. 31, 1797 in Vienna, lived only 31 years. He was a prolific composer, and during his lifetime, unappreciated. A great admirer of Beethoven, he carried a torch at Beethoven's funeral and wished only to be buried near him.

The Schubert concert will feature the Sam Houston State University Chorale, under the direction of Peter Jermihov, in a performance of Schubert's Mass in G. Faculty soloists will include Robert and Julianne Best and Tamara Raatz, with accompaniment by David Fleming.

The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Recital Hall.

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Gary Sousa, will present a concert in Killinger Auditorium of the Beto Criminal Justice Center at 7:30 p.m. Monday, featuring older works by Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, William Schuman, Charles Ives and John Philip Sousa, and newer works by Christopher Rouse and Cindy McTee.

Featured soloist for the evening will be pianist Charlotte Tull performing Fisher Tull's "Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble."

After performing at schools in Pearland and Spring Branch, the ensemblewill have a recording session Thursday afternoon and perform Thursday evening in Cullen Hall of the Wortham Theatre Center.

Tickets for the Schubert tribute and Wind Ensemble concert are $5 adults, with students and Friends of Music free. Tickets for the Wortham performance are $10 adults, $5 students. Call 294-1360 for information.

Melissa Wren Miller, a nationally recognized Texas artist, will judge the competitive art exhibition "Small Works" which will be on display at the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery Feb. 20 to March 13. The opening reception is Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery.

Miller will give a lecture and slide presentation about her work at 2 p.m. Thursday in Room 108 of Art Building E. All of the art activities are free. Call the art department at 294-1315 for details.

STATE LEADER

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry will speak to the combined agriculture classes at SHSU at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Beto Criminal Justice Center Killinger Auditorium.

Perry will speak on leadership and opportunities in the Texas agricultural industry.

"No other industry in Texas offers as much potential as agriculture does," Perry said. "Agriculture students such as those at Sam Houston State University represent the future of this dynamic industry as it enters the 21st century."

FIELD SCHOOL

Registration for the university's summer program in Puebla, Mexico, is under way. More than 125 students have indicated an interest in the program, and 28 have already registered.

Ross Lovell, field school coordinator, said that courses are being offered in business, Spanish, bilingual education, geology, and theater, and the cost of the program is significantly less than similar programs at other universities.

"This is a great opportunity to experience the culture of a beautiful and historic city, in a cool and dry climate, with great art and architecture everywhere," he said. "Years ago Sam Houston State was very proud of its field school, and we hope to re-kindle that enthusiasm."

March 1 is the deadline for registration, with deposits due by March 15. Contact Lovell at 294-1312 for details.

EXTENDED LEARNING

Registration is under way for six courses to be offered by the SHSU extended learning program.

The courses and their dates are Medication Aide Training (March 3-June 23, Nurse Aide Training (March 4-May 17), CPR Certification Course (March 1), EMS Instructor Course (March 25-April 10), Basic Sign Language (March 3-May 14) and Ceramics (Saturdays, April 5-May 24).

Call 294-3701 for additional information. To request a course, use the extended learning 24-hour hotline at 294-1691.

AIDS QUILT

The Student Action Team of the Residence Halls Association is sponsoring a display of the Names Projects AIDS Memorial Quilt Wednesday on the SHSU campus. The quilt will be displayed from 9 a. m. until 7 p. m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.

Mary Ellen Sims, residence halls area coordinator, said that there will be no charge for viewing the quilt but donations will be accepted. Call Sims at 294-1818 for information.

(end)


Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak

Feb. 16, 1997