Sponsored by the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and the Program Council of the Office of Student Life, the events begin with a "Happy Birthday Sam" banner display on the Frels Apartments. Also Monday, a "Salute to Sam" Black Powder Rally Plus Pistol Duel is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the museum grounds.
Tuesday's events include a Magical History Tour to begin on the museum front steps at 5 p.m., and "Gone to Texas" musical presentation at the Walker Education Center at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday a Cutting Edge Tour computer display is scheduled on the Lowman Student Center Mall from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. A movie on Sam Houston's life is scheduled for the Walker Education Center at 5 p.m.
On Thursday the Cutting Edge Tour is also scheduled on the mall from 9:30 to 5 p.m. A contest to select the best bust of Sam made from Spam sandwich spread will be held in the Johnson Coliseum concourse at 5 p.m., and a Sam Houston look-alike contest is scheduled there at 5:30 p.m.
Free birthday cupcakes will be distributed on the LSC mall from 8:45 a.m. through noon Friday, with free photos with Sam offered during that time.
Monetary prizes will be offered to the groups showing the most spirit at the Bearkat basketball games on Thursday and Saturday nights at 6 and 8 p.m. Admission to the games is free for students and university employees, and $3 for non-students.
The main birthday observance, in conjunction with the Walker County Historical Commission, is scheduled for Sunday, March 2. It will include a luncheon and film premiere at the Walker Education Center at 12:30 p.m. (cost $10); grave site ceremony at Oakwood Cemetery at 2 p.m., and Toast to Texas with birthday cake and refreshments at the Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center at 3:30 p.m.
Call the museum at 294-1832 or the Program Council at 294-3861 for details.
On Friday evening and Saturday, a group of historians and Houston area secondary and university teachers will gather at Sam Houston State University for a seminar on "Disease and History: Microbes of Change." Sessions are scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday in the Sam Houston Memorial Museum complex's Walker Education Center.
William McNeill, professor of history at the University of Chicago for 40 years, who has published more than 20 books including "Plagues and People," is the keynote speaker. His presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
A medical perspective will be provided by Dr. Tobi Karchmer, who has been involved in AIDS research and is now a fellow at the University of Virginia Health Science Center's Division of Infectious Diseases.
Other speakers will include William Cook, distinguished teaching professor of history at the State University of New York-Genesco; Alfred Crosby, professor of American studies at the University of Texas at Austin; Allen Richman, professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University; and Theodore Brown, professor of history at the University of Rochester.
The seminar itself is an innovative joint effort between Sam Houston State University and the John Cooper School in The Woodlands. For more details and registration information, contact Dr. Joan Coffey at 294-1485.
Currie is the third of four distinguished criminal justice academicians and practitioners to appear this spring at SHSU as part of the Beto Chair Lecture Series.
Currie, who has written a number of books on drug issues, will speak on "Reflections on Drug and Social Policy at the Millennium" at 9:30 a.m. in the Killinger Auditorium. He will speak on "Violence and Drugs in America in an International Perspective" at 1:30 p.m. in the Kerper Courtroom. Admission is free.
Currie has also been a consultant to a wide range of organizations, including the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity, and serves as vice chair of the Milton Eisenhower Foundation, which supports innovative crime and delinquency prevention programs in America's inner cities.
He is the recipient of the Donald Cressey Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
The Beto Chair Lecture Series is presented in conjunction with the Beto Chair Professorship, created in 1980 by the Houston Endowment Inc. in honor of George J. Beto. The final lecturer of the spring will be Peter Reuter, head of social policy in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, who will speak on April 17.
The observance by SHSU's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences will begin with the signing of a proclamation by Mayor Bill Green of Huntsville at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.
An Organizations Day is scheduled for Monday, March 3 and a spring banquet is scheduled for Tuesday at the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. The banquet will honor graduating seniors, scholarship donors and outstanding alumni. Its cost is $9.
A professional panel discussion is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 301-302 of Academic Building II, featuring recent alumni discussing career opportunities.
A faculty/student social is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Academic Building II courtyard. Interested students, department majors and community members are invited to participate. Call 294-1242 for information.
Stanley Kelley, assistant professor of animal science and team sponsor, said that the SHSU students competed against approximately 50 professional show teams.
Activities involved in showing animals include halter breaking, grooming, care and feeding and record-keeping. Participation enables students to better teach and practice such skills when they graduate, said Kelley.
"We had many favorable comments," said Kelley. "The efforts of these students provided a good positive image for the SHSU agriculture education program."
Team members included Mark Tesch, Greg Hart, Natalie Herring, Christal Daniels and Melissa Broussard of Huntsville; Jason Dawson of New Waverly; Meghan McGehee and Jason Galan of Houston; Nathan Post of Cuero; Billie Simpson of Rio Hondo; Brian Martin of Troup; Cullen Davis of Livingston; Kelly Edinburgh of Pasadena; Trey Boeker of Brenham and Pam Lockey of Lufkin.
Extended Learning will also offer a conference on programs, profiles and solutions to violence, entitled "Alternatives to Violence," April 14-16 in San Antonio.
The Alternatives to Violence conference is being co-sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and the Texas Youth Commission. Its purpose is to explore ways educators, probation officers, social workers and concerned citizens can work together to create safer schools and neighborhoods.
Courses announced previously included Medication Aide Training, Nurse Aide Training, CPR Certification, EMS Instructor Course, Basic Sign Language, and Ceramics.
Call 294-3701 for more information. To request a course, call 294-1691.
On Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, music faculty member Donald Thoede, joined by pianists Trent Hanna and Heather Hamilton, will perform music for saxophone.
Entitled "Double Exposure," the concert will demonstrate the instrument's versatility. From one of the earliest to more contemporary compositions, the use of the instrument in serious musical styles will be heard. The second half of the concert will showcase "popular" aspects of the instrument, running the gamut from humor and virtuosity to jazz improvisation.
Tickets are $5. Students and Friends of Music will be admitted free.
Rod Cannon, director of jazz studies at SHSU, said that a new group will perform every 30 minutes, with the SHSU jazz group performing at the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Call 294-1360 for information.
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