SHSU Update for Week of Oct. 14

• Bearkats Planning 'Welcome' for SFA
• Payne to Speak in Yugoslavia
• It's Tuba-Time
• Ag Sciences Receives Grant
• No 'Straight' Course for Poker Walk
• India Students to Hold Annual Event
• Sandtray Therapy, Alzheimer Courses

Bearkats Planning 'Welcome' for SFA

It's all in good fun, of course. No offense intended.

Students are being asked to peruse their closets for anything orange and show their Bearkat pride during the week of "Operation Orange" Oct. 15-18. "Operation Orange," as designated by the Department of Student Activities, is designed to raise school spirit in preparation for Thursday's game.

"Firefest," sponsored by the Dept. of Student Activities and Program Council, will take place Wednesday (Oct. 17) from 7-10 p.m. on Intramural Field 3 near Bowers Stadium. Activities include an inflatable obstacle course, music video and karaoke dance party, Kat Kall at 9 p.m., and fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. The cheerleaders, Orange Pride dance team, and Bearkat marching band will be on hand to assist in the spirit activities.

A Pre-Game Tailgate Party will be held in the Bowers Stadium Parking lot beginning on Thursday (Oct. 18) at 4:30 p.m. Student, faculty, and staff members are invited to come-out and enjoy free food, fun, and music.

Student organizations will be on hand during this event sponsored by the Department of Student Activities, Office of Alumni Relations, and Office of the Vice President for Student Services. The day has also been designated as the 3rd Annual Student Services Family Day.

The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Bowers Stadium, and will be regionally broadcast by Fox Sports Net Cable.

Payne to Speak in Yugoslavia

Payne will speak on "Higher Education and the Promotion of Cultural Moral Values." Payne has been active in the alliance for 11 years, and currently serves on its executive board.

The Alliance of Universities for Democracy is a consortium of institutions of higher learning, both in the United States and primarily Eastern Europe. Goals include enhancing the role of education in promoting democratic institutions, economic development including technology transfer, decentralized decision making, human health, sustainable habitation of the earth, and common moral and social values.

The alliance is enlarging its target areas to include countries to the east of its original "corridor" of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Representatives from Ukraine and Russia were elected to the board of directors in the past year.

Payne has worked in higher education for 30 years as a professor and administrator, including the last four at Sam Houston State. He is widely published in the areas of administration and cross-cultural communication, and is nationally recognized as well in the areas of advising, assessment and strategic planning.

It's Tuba-Time

Performers for the Sunday program include tubists Robert Green, Tomas Perez, David Dobson, Brett Bortnem, Brad Risinger, Philip Young and Gary Brock.

Also performing will be Celeste Matthews (piano), Stephen Bond (euphonium), Randy Partain (piano), Luis Munoz (euphonium) David Fleming (piano) and Matthew Boozer (euphonium).

Tuesday's program features School of Music faculty members Robert Daniel on tuba and Henry Howey on euphonium and tuba. The program will include a premier performance of James Grant's "High Autumn," performed by Daniel on tuba and Sohyoung Park on piano.

Other performers will include Bond, Munoz, Boozer, Michael Jackson and B. J. Allen on euphonium, and tubists Brock, Young, Bortnem, Perez, Dobson, Risinger and Green. Admission is free to both events.

Ag Sciences Receives Grant

The grant authorizes SHSU and four other higher education institutions in Texas to hire personnel to work with agricultural science and technology teachers and programs. These individuals will provide training for teachers involved in agricultural education and provide leadership for FFA activities throughout the state.

Other institutions involved in the $250,000 per year grant include Angelo State University, Southwest Texas Junior College, Sul Ross State University, and West Texas A&M University. The grant will be provided for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 academic years, with continuation possible, depending on action by the next state legislature.

The primary objectives of the funding, which was provided by the 77th Texas Legislature, will be to provide:

• Information and technical support regarding emerging and innovative agricultural technologies and teaching methods;
  
• Support for program directors and local administrators, as well as mentoring and support for beginning and novice agricultural science teachers;
  
• Support and assistance in the coordination of student FFA leadership activities;
  
• Distribution of relevant information to school districts concerning funding, curriculum, facilities, and other program guidelines; and
  
• Assistance regarding alternative teaching certification and adapting agricultural science programs to meet supplementary district objectives.

Doug Ullrich and Dwayne Pavelock, assistant professors of agriculture, have been assigned to these field staff duties. They will work closely with agriscience teachers and programs throughout the state, predominantly in East Texas, to strengthen program and instructional capabilities, teacher retention, and student leadership development.

Ullrich and Pavelock will also make site visits to high schools, facilitate area and state FFA activities, and coordinate and conduct on- and off-campus professional development seminars, said Robert Lane, agriculture chair.

No 'Straight' Course for Poker Walk

The Poker Walk begins at the Lowman Student Center mall area. When participants register, they will be given the first of five cards for a poker hand and a map of a circuitous course through the campus, which will take an estimated 10-15 minutes to complete.

Along the course walkers will stop off at four more "casinos" to pick up additional cards. When they arrive at the finish line, they will reveal their poker hand, and prizes will be awarded for the best and worst hands of the day. Door prizes will also be given.

Amy Swingle, the Poker Walk director, said there is no need to pre-register-- show up any time between 11 a. m. - 1:30pm to sign up.

"This is a great way to get out of the office, get a little exercise and win some prizes," said Swingle.

For more information contact Swingle by e-mail or call 936.294.1967. Raven Run registration forms are available in the recreational sports office in the Health/Kinesiology Building.

India Students to Hold Annual Event

The India Students Association represents and serves Indian students at Sam Houston State University. Its mission is:

• To promote the educational programs at Sam Houston State University among various universities in India;
  
• To foster stronger relations among members of the Indian community at SHSU;
  
• To promote the diversity and cultural heritage of India; and
  
• To advise and assist prospective and new students coming to SHSU.

For more information, contact Gaurav Dalal by e-mail or vist the organization's Website.

Sandtray Therapy, Alzheimer Courses

"The Wonderful world of Sandtray Therapy: Its Use in Play Therapy," is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Criminal Justice Center Auditorium. The $99 fee includes lunch.

Sandtray sessions are used by therapists for individuals of all ages, as well as families. Instruction will include sandtray interpretation and exploring archetypes and other symbols appearing in the sand and what they mean.

Emily DeFrance, lecturer of education at Sam Houston State University and a therapy practitioner from Houston, and Linda Homeyer, an associate professor from Southwest Texas State University, will conduct the course.

A one-day lecture-discussion on Management of Alzheimer Disease/Dementia is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom. The fee is $65, and registration must be received by Nov. 2.

It will be taught by Bobbe Nolan, a hospice nurse consultant for the Crown of Texas Hospice in Conroe. The course will cover current theories of causes of dementia, typical progress of the disease, common companion diagnosis, family coping and concerns, access to in-home help, safety, medication management, deciding whether placement in a facility is needed, and ethical and legal concerns.

For registration information on either course, contact the Office of Continuing Education at 936.294.4568.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
Oct. 14, 2001
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