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The Newspaper of Lamar University Vol. 91, No. 19
Thursday, March 26, 2015
‘A community of inclusion’ UNIVERSITY’S FIRST DIVERSITY CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 18 KRISTEN STUCK UP MANAGING EDITOR @kristenstuck Lamar University will hold its first diversity and inclusion conference, April 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center. “The students were really receptive to the idea of the members of the (Multicultural Student Advisory Council) of Lamar hosting a diversity conference,” Vernice Monroe, special assistant to the president for university multicultural enhancement, said. “We are inviting the
other Lamar campuses. We’re excited about it, and we hope that we have great attendance at the conference.” The conference, “Constructing a World of Inclusion,” will be free and open to all Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange, and Lamar State College-Port Arthur registered students, faculty and staff. “Dr. Derek Greenfield will be joining us as the keynote speaker and facilitator of the conference,” Monroe said. “We did a search of speakers and he has been very helpful. Cynthia (Parra) contacted him and then we worked with him — he gave us some ideas because he has done this all over the world. He has been on numerous campuses doing this, as well as working for corporations and businesses in leading diversity and inclusion, and team building. We are very,
Education names Spina as new dean
very fortunate to have him. Just from talking to him on the phone — and Dr. Greenfield helping us think this through and what we could do, and bouncing off ideas — we knew he would be the person.” Along with the keynote speaker, there will also be workshops on diversity topics presented by faculty members. “All of it will be interactive, where students can give their input and can ask questions,” Monroe said. “The facilitator and the afternoon workshop presenters will create a climate where students can feel free to ask questions. They came up with some clever topics for the afternoon workshops that help students understand diversity, even within a group. When we bring that kind of awareness, people stop the narrow stereotyping of individuals, and then I think they feel comfortable to join in, to interact, and to
even ask questions of individuals.” Cynthia Parra, assistant director of student development and leadership, said that when students get to interact in
See DIVERSITY, page 8
‘FAIR’ INSPECTIONS FIRE, POLICE PUT SAFETY FIRST AT ANNUAL EVENT
President Kenneth Evans has named Robert Spina as dean of Lamar University’s College of Education and Human Development. Spina, who has more than 25 years of combined teaching, research and service, will succeed Bill Holmes, who has been serving as interim dean since August 2014, and Hollis Lowery-Moore, who served as dean, 2004-2014. Spina will assume his duties on July 1. Spina, who holds a Ph.D. in health, physical and recreation education from the University of Pittsburgh, is currently associate dean of undergraduate education and college assessment at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. He has served more than 10 years as a department chair and two years as an associate
BROOKE STINEBRICKNER UP CONTRIBUTOR
See EDUCATION, page 2
Palaki appointed engineering dean After an exhaustive national search, President Kenneth Evans has named Srinivas Palanki as Lamar University’s next dean of the College of Engineering. Palanki will succeed Victor Zaloom, who has been serving as interim dean since August 2013, and longtime dean Jack Hopper who served 1999-2013. Palanki will assume his duties on July 1, 2015. Palanki, who holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, is chair of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering, University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, where he has been on faculty since 2007. He earned a bachelor’s in technology from Indian Institute of Technology, See ENGINEERING, page 2
the conference, it makes it more impactful.
UP Photo Brooke Stinebrickner
Each spring, Southeast Texans look forward to the South Texas State Fair, anticipating everything from different types of foods to thrilling rides. However, how many of us question the safety of that food or those rides? Fortunately, there is a team of people working behind the scenes to keep visitors safe. Before the first ticket or corn dog is sold, police officers and fire inspectors inspect the booths and rides. This year’s fair, hosted by the Young Men’s Business League, opens at 6 p.m. today at Ford Park, but Beaumont’s Fire and Police Departments have been checking the facilities since the beginning of the week. “We are looking at the fire safety part of it,” Beaumont Fire/Rescue Captain Brad Penisson said. “We have had some situations over the years where we had some fires in the food booths. We want to try to prevent that from happening. “When we are looking for food booths we are looking to make sure that they have a fire extinguisher that has been properly inspected,” he said. “We are looking at the cooking equipment to make sure it is installed properly and that there are no combustibles next to it. If they have a fixed extinguishing system like a hood, we want to make sure that it is all operational.” Penisson said that usually the fire department does not inspect the booths inside the exhibit hall unless they are serving food. He also said it is their responsibility to check the vehicles and boats that are showcased at the fair. “What we do on the vehicles, is that we check the gas caps to make sure they are secured and they have less than a quarter of a tank in the vehicle — so we check those kinds of things,” he said. A typical inspection for each booth only takes a few minutes unless the vendor fails the inspection. “If it is a piece of equipment that they failed then they will have to have it repaired — nine times out of
Workers assemble the ferris wheel for the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park, Monday. The fair opens today and runs through April 5.
See FAIR, page 4
Lamar students experience Clinton Global Initiative KARA TIMBERLAKE UP CONTRIBUTOR
Courtesy Image
President Clinton with Lamar senior Kristeen Reynolds
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Eight Lamar University students participated in the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative University, where more than 1,000 student leaders gathered to address global issues with innovative solutions. The eighth annual CGI U meeting took place March 6-8 at the University of Miami, and included workshops, seminars and other events facilitated by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, as well as other speakers. “Lamar students who attended the event were fueled with excite-
ment at the possibility of networking with students from 80 countries and turning their ideas into action,” David Mulcahy, director of the LU Small Business Development Center, said. Each student or student team was required to develop and submit commitments to action in CGI U’s five focus areas: education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation and public health. Lamar students Mohammad Nurul Azam, electrical engineering; Joshua Barnes, mechanical engineering; Charles Bray and Dougal MacGregor, communications; Macy Fletcher and Kirstie Thibodeaux, social work; Kristeen
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Reynolds, accounting; and Joshua Wilson, computer science attended the meeting. Reynolds said CGI U was awe inspiring. “Spending a weekend with 1,000 individuals from diverse locations who are committed to positively changing the world is motivational,” she said. “Meeting the entire Clinton family was an honor. Knowing that the 42nd President of the United States believes in me and what I can accomplish is beyond encouraging.” Wilson, who plans to become a computer game developer, said MacGregor encouraged him and Bray to submit an application. “Our project aims on revolu-
tionizing education by implementing new learning environments that utilize interactive media and technology, such as video games,” Wilson said. “All the people I talked with at CGI U had amazing projects, and I even talked with a few who had similar interests, such as one guy who was using gamification for science experiments. We all shared information about our projects, and were able to bounce ideas around and get us thinking about things we might not have thought about previously.” Wilson said he was inspired by hearing different perspectives from around the world and seeing others See CLINTON, page 4
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INSIDE Thursday, March 26, 2015 University Press
EDUCATION ••••••••• Continued from page 1 dean, gaining expertise in strategic planning and budgeting as well as knowledge of academic programming, learning assessment, enrollment management, institutional studies, grants administration, accreditation, general education and distance learning. Spina joined the faculty of Old Dominion University in 2006, and has served there as professor and department chair, department of human movement sciences; interim associate dean for undergraduate education, Darden College of Education; and interim department chair, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Professional Studies, Darden College of Education before assuming his present position in 2013. Prior to joining Old Dominion, Spina was associate dean and graduate coordinator for the College of
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Page 2 Health and Human Services, San Francisco State University, 2003-2006. He was provost research enhancement professor for the department of child, family and community sciences, College of Education, University of Central Florida, 2001-2003. Spina served at University of Texas at Austin, 1998-2001, as an associate professor in kinesiology and health education and coordinator of graduate level clinical exercise physiology. In 2008, Spina was elected an Active Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. At the time of his election only 493 members had been named since 1930. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine. He was an invited participant in the Summer Institute in Research on Aging, The Brookdale Foundation and the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, in 1989. An active researcher, he has been investigator or principal investigator under several grants from the NIH in
the areas of exercise and aging. His published research includes 57 articles in scholarly journals, 4 invited book chapters, and 15 abstracts presented at scientific national meetings. He has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Applied Physiology and the American Journal of Physiology, and as an abstract and grant reviewer for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Spina has been an active participant in the accreditation process, for institutions where he as worked and also as a site visitor for the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. He was on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine, 1990-1998. Before joining the faculty there, he was a post-doctoral research fellow on a National Institutes of Health training grant conducting research studies on the physiological adaptations to exercise in young and
ENGINEERING ••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1
Srinivas Palanki
NOTICE
Delhi, India in 1986. He previously was professor in the department of chemical and biomedical engineering at Florida State University, 2003-2006, and associate director of its Center for Intelligent Systems, Control and Robotics, 2004-2006. From 1998 to 2002, he served as a visiting professor at universities in Switzerland, France and Singapore. From 1992 to 2003, he was on faculty in the department of chemical engineering at Florida State University, first as an assistant professor, becoming an associate professor with tenure in 1997. As department chair, Palanki increased research funding with grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the chemical industry. He hired new faculty, managed the department’s move into a new state-of-the-art facility, developed new doctoral programs, and tripled student enrollment. He updated undergraduate curriculum in-
CALENDAR March 27 Softball vs. Northwestern State Lamar Softball Complex 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Baseball vs. Abilene Christian Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.
March 28 Baseball vs. Abilene Christian Vincent Beck Stadium 2 p.m.
Robert Spina older individuals. He served as a research and graduate teaching assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, 1982-1988, and a teaching fellow and research assistant at Queens College, City University of New York, 19801982.
troducing computer-aided tools and increasing industry interaction in senior design projects. Teaching technologies also received his attention with the use of Web-enabled instruction and other nontraditional learning techniques as well as the integration of complex simulations into engineering education. He led the department through national accreditation in 2011 and sixyear reaccreditation, the maximum permitted, by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. He also developed international collaborative agreements between the university and several engineering schools in India. Palanki has a strong record of proposals funded with nearly 50 to his credit totaling more than $3.9 million. He also has published more than 60 refereed journal publications and book chapters, as well as service as a reviewer for a dozen professional journals and conferences. He served as associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology journal, 2003-2007. His personal research interests include energy applications of process systems engineering, and the application of nanotechnology to cancer biology. Palanki and his family are well traveled, having visited 34 countries around the world.
Softball vs. Northwestern State Lamar Softball Complex 2 p.m. Le Grand Bal Dishman Art Museum and Montagne Center 6 p.m.-midnight
March 29 Baseball vs. Abilene Christian Vincent Beck Stadium 1 p.m.
March 31 Lamar Civic Orchestra Concert Lamar State College - Port Arthur Performing Arts Center 7:30-9:30 p.m. Baseball vs. Rice Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.
April 1 Softball vs. UTSA Lamar Softball Complex 3 p.m. and TBA Course schedule available for May Mini/ Summer 2015/Fall 2014
April 2 Advisement begins for May Mini/ Summer 2015/Fall 2014 Baseball vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.
April 3 Good Friday — no school To submit a listing, click on the calendar link at lamaruniversitypress.com
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EDITORIAL Editor Lauren Van Gerven The opinions that appear in editorials are the official views of the University Press student management as determined by the UP Student Editorial Board. Opinions expressed elsewhere on this page are the views of the writers only and are not necessarily those of the University Press student management. Student opinions are not necessarily those of the university administration.
UP EDITORIAL
DON’T GIVE IN TO SPRING BREAK MOTIVATION LOSS; PICK IT UP Spring Break is over and the batteries are recharged. Or at least, they should be. That’s what a break is for after all, isn’t it? For many students however, Spring Break didn’t consist of reading a book on an empty beach, or catching up on some homework. Students all around the country headed to various beach cities to party, while many others stayed in town, maybe picking up an extra shift at work. Whatever the case might have been, it was probably a nice feeling not to have to be in class for a while, but Spring Break 2015 is history and it is time to return to the reality of classes, homework and tests. A lot of students find it difficult to find the motivation to get back to hitting the books after a week of freedom from school-related stress. However, the end of the semester is approaching quickly, and it brings with it finals, presentations and papers. This is why right after spring break is the worst possible time to lose one’s motivation. On top of just getting done with a break, spring weather is finally in town and there are many outdoor activities more appealing than sitting inside studying. It’s easy to let go after a little break, but bear in mind that all the hard work from earlier in the semester can go to waste really fast. Finals often comprise 20 percent of a class’s total grade, so it is important to keep focus during the last weeks of the semester. If one is finding it difficult to find motivation at this point in the semester, make a schedule. Plan ahead what hours of the day will be dedicated to school work, this will also allow one to plan in free time. Knowing which hours are dedicated to school and which are dedicated to leisure will keep productivity high during study time. Summer will be here before we know it, so stay motivated for a just a few more weeks. It will be worth it, A’s make breaks a lot more enjoyable.
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www.lamaruniversitypress.com Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 200 Setzer Student Center. The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the UP student management. Letters by the same writer on the same subject will not be published. Poetry and religious debates will not be published.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
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Job interview jinks Trials would give employers better sense of applicants potential Everyone gets nervous at one point in time or another. However, what happens when your nerves get the best of you during a job interview? You can either speak too much or say the wrong thing and end up missing out on a job you really wanted. I have always been a hard worker. However, for whatever reason I am horrible at job interviews. I had a boss tell me once during an interview, “don’t quit your other job just yet. I will give you a try but I don’t think you will make it two weeks.” Fortunately for me, I proved my boss wrong and I ended up working at the job for over eight months. It would be nice if job interviews were abolished and instead applicants were allowed a trial period to show their future employer what they are made of. One of the most common questions asked during an interview is, “can you tell me a little about yourself?” This question seems like an easy question however it can actually be tricky. One wants the interviewer to know enough about them so they can prove they are right for the job. However, too much information might scare the employer away. According to work.chron.com, some managers “have concern(s) that if you can’t overcome nerves in an interview, you won’t
COMMENTARY
by
Brooke Stinebrickner
on the job either.” Knowing that a manager might not want you for a job because they can tell you are nervous, in my opinion makes me even more nervous. Just recently, I received a phone call that I had a job interview. The day of the interview I got dressed two and a half hours early and paced around my house for over an hour and then sat at the potential job for over thirty minutes. By the time I actually walked into the interview I was nervous and ended up letting my nerves get the best of me. I have always thought that if an employer would just get to know me than they would realize that I am right for the job. According to career-advice.monster.
com, “once you’ve nabbed a tryout, it’s important to maintain this positive approach and demonstrate to the employer that you’re ready to (do) whatever it takes to keep the job.” It takes about a week or so for your nerves to go away so you can work to the best of your ability. Once you are able to truly be yourself, you are able to show the employer your skills, something you would not have the chance to do in just an interview. When an interviewer asks you “can you tell me your strengths and weaknesses,” it can be difficult when you are nervous, however if you have a trial period you are able to show the employer what you succeed in and don’t. Applicants should have the chance to prove to an employer and to the world that they are made of something, but they are hidden behind the fact that they might not do as well as others during an interview. Wouldn’t you rather have someone who proved they are worthy of the job, than someone who knows how to fill out an application and say all the right answers? Brooke Stinebrickner is a UP Contributor
UP illustration by Desmond Pickens
IT’S OK TO BE UNDECIDED Taking advantage of opportunities will reveal choices Haven’t got a clue what you’re doing? Welcome to college. As a 2015 Beck Fellow, Lamar Ambassador, Reaud Honors College member and recent study abroad traveler, people often assume that I have always had a clear sense of direction. However, that could not be further from the truth. My senior year of high school was a chaotic frenzy: between soaking up my last teenage memories and choosing which college to attend (as well as how to pay for the aforementioned college), I did not seriously contemplate my major. I did, however, heavily deliberate upon which majors I did not want to pursue. Doctors see blood on a daily basis; blood makes me woozy; ergo, pre-med was ruled out. I refused to consider majors that involved mathematics, physics or engineering. So when parents and teachers asked me what I planned on studying, I stuck to what I was good at — English. Months sped by and I found myself at Lamar University orientation, planning what my next four years (hopefully) would look like. Needless to say, I felt overwhelmed. A huge responsibility loomed — how could I decide what I wanted to do post-graduation while I was unsure of how to navigate the library, much less my future. I took countless career aptitude tests, talked to professionals and web-searched potential job possibilities. Nothing resonated with me. Continuing with the major I had selected, I found myself stumped and unfulfilled. Questions such as, “So you want to teach?” haunted me every time someone asked me what my discipline was. When I firmly replied “No,” I received curious looks and subsequently had to explain that I did
COMMENTARY
by
Kara Timberlake
not feel called to be a teacher. Much to my excitement, at the end of my freshman year I became enthralled with one of my former passions: journalism. I started the process of changing majors when my department chair called me into his office. After a long discussion regarding the significance of studying English and how the field would strengthen my journalism skills, I was inspired not to switch majors, but to instead add a major. Then, when I told people I was studying English and Communications, the double major threw them into a temporary awe, and they stopped asking me tiresome, repetitive questions about my vocational pursuits. I started the next year with new courses that challenged me and diversified my professional options after graduation. With the combination of the English and Communication fields, I was garnering learning experiences and training to transform my passions into career possibilities. Finally, I thought I was moving in the right direction and was done altering my disciplines. I thought incorrectly. The spring semester of my sophomore year, I was alerted to the idea of studying
abroad. Not only would I be able to fulfill a dream of traveling, I would also be able to fulfill my foreign language requirement. Entranced by the idea of studying in Spain, I decided to expand my fields of study once more by adding a Spanish minor, which proved to be a metamorphic decision. Two semesters later, I am now an English and Communications major with a minor in Spanish. After my anxiety-ridden, tear-drenched beginning, I realize how silly it was to worry about not knowing what I wanted to do. Through expanding my disciplines, I have learned that it is not necessary to have an exact plan for my life. By participating in organizations, meeting people, working internships and undergoing life experiences, I have a clear sense of where I may thrive. Some days, I still am not certain of what I want to do after graduation — and that is OK. The beauty of college study includes being able to explore options, and figure out strengths and weaknesses. The innumerable opportunities I have received while in college have helped me decide where my skills will best be utilized. Although I cannot always say with absolute certainty that I know which path I will follow, I now know the general direction, which is a beautiful relief. So to all who sit panicking about where their futures may lead them, stop and breathe. As Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Be patient as life guides you to where you are meant to be. Enjoy where you are now and look forward to the wonderful opportunities to come, because they will. Kara Timberlake is a UP Contributor
Page 4 Thursday, March 26, 2015
University Press
LU Gill Scholars attend Silicon Valley entrepreneurship conference Nine graduate students from Lamar University recently participated in Ignite!, a three-day entrepreneurship program in Silicon Valley, as 2015 Gill Scholars along with 65 other graduate students from Rice University, University of California-Davis, and Texas Medical Center (UT Medical Branch, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center). “The LU students, who are pursuing MBAs, master’s or doctoral degrees in engineering or science, visited leading Silicon Valley companies and exciting tech startups,” Paul Latiolais, director of the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship at Lamar University, said. “They also spent two days learning from Rice Business Plan finalists who have gained success in the marketplace and are experiencing exponential revenues.” The Ignite! conference was hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Rice University and University of California-Davis, Graduate School of Management. Lamar University alumnus Jack Gill, Houston philanthropist, successful entrepreneur and former Silicon Valley venture capitalist supports the scholarship program that is now in
its third year. Attending were MBA students Brianna Burks, Matthew Chance, Joshua Davis, Martin Mantz, and Lauren Van Gerven. Also attending were master’s students Sagar Bonthu, computer science, and Josue Bahena, chemistry, and doctoral students Albert Odell and Heng Ma, both in chemical engineering. Accompanying the group were LU faculty members Latiolais and Evan Wujcik, assistant professor of chemical engineering. Houston native Bahena found the experiences the speakers shared very informative. “Founders and CEOs gave us a greater view of entrepreneurship and the conference helped us make connections with other students,” Bahena said. “Connections like these can be the difference in an idea reaching its full potential or not.” During the conference the attendees were divided into three groups for tours, visiting primarily technology, business or science-tech entrepreneurs. Beaumont native Davis took an entrepreneurship strategy class with Latiolais last year and learned of the opportunity. “When I found out about Ignite! it
seemed to tie everything together,” Davis said. The application process required a 1,000-word essay describing the benefit each student anticipated from the experience, Davis said. “We met high-level business executives, toured businesses and learned how they made them successful. We learned about things you encounter when starting and growing a business from start-up to sale of the company,” he said. “There was a lot of networking throughout the trip.” Davis’ group toured Revolution Foods (provider of more than a million freshly prepared meals every week to K-12 schools nationwide), Survey Monkey, Benchmark Capital (an early funder for several successful start-ups including Twitter, Uber, Snapchat and Instagram), Nest (creator of sensordriven, Wi-Fi-enabled, self-learning, programmable thermostats and smoke detectors), and Strike Brewery. “Strike Brewery was started by a Rice University MBA graduate,” Davis said. What benefited him most? “Getting to talk with people I wouldn’t see on a normal basis and having the opportunity to pick their brains,” he said. “Getting advice and
first-hand knowledge that is not the text book version, that was what was most beneficial.” Albert Odell, a Houston native studying process controls for ethyleneoxide plants found the trip to be “a great opportunity to be introduced to the business side of industry.” “It was a great opportunity to look under the hood and see how the business world really works,” Odell said. Both Odell and Bahena were in
the group that toured the University of California’s QB3 where scientists focus on molecular biology; Five Prime Therapeutics, a drug innovation company; Biotech company Proteus Digital Health that is working on a “smart pill” that monitors a variety of health indicators; and private equity firm Alloy Ventures focusing on earlystage ventures in life sciences, information technology and cleantech companies.
CLINTON ••••••••••••••••••
“All of the speakers were really interesting and seemed to genuinely care about what was going on in the world,” he said. “(One) of the topics covered was how to harness big data as a tool for addressing global chal-
lenges and scaling existing initiatives as well as expanding access to big data for all. “It was inspiring to hear speakers such as Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of Women Journalists Without Chains, and Vivek Murthy, United States Surgeon General, who also gave great advice.” Senior MacGregor said that he was encouraged to apply to the CGI U by Mulcahy and LU President Kenneth Evans after he brought a research project he had been working on regarding student engagement in schools to their attention. “Attending CGI U 2015 is perhaps one of the most meaningful and valuable things that I have experienced while attending Lamar University,” MacGregor said. “The opportunity to attend is simply one-of-a-kind. Not only was it an honor and privilege for me and my teammates to represent Lamar
in such a prestigious and meaningful event, but I also was able to meet a large number of entrepreneurs, business people and community leaders.” In addition to hearing distinguished speakers, MacGregor said the team members also attended small and more personal conferences in classrooms. “Since there were several conferences going on simultaneously, Charles, Joshua, and I decided to split up and attend different conferences to collect different information and contacts as an organized team,” he said. “These conferences were hosted by CGI U staff members and were presented by speakers who were successful organization leaders or distinguished individuals. At the end of each day, my teammates and I would meet to discuss what we learned in the conferences and share the contacts we made with each other.” MacGregor said he encourages
students who are interested in making a difference in their community to attend the 2016 meeting. “Your commitment idea doesn’t have to be huge or sophisticated to matter; the vast majority of the commitments presented by students at the CGI U were locally focused in specific communities and with specific audiences and problems,” he said. “If you do not have an idea or project going on, but you still want to attend the CGI U to meet amazing world leaders, then what you can do is look for somebody who has an idea or project, and join and support them.” Since the inaugural CGI U meeting, student participants have made more than 5,500 “Commitments to Action.” More than $900,000 was provided to select 2015 students to assist them in turning their ideas into realities. For more information, visit www.cgiu.org.
Continued from page 1 being passionate about what they believe in.
Courtesy Image
Charles Bray, Dougal MacGregor and Joshua Wilson at the Clinton Global Initiative
Courtesy Image
Linda and Jack Gill, back row, pose with the Lamar students and faculty at the Ignite! conference at UC Davis, March 7.
FAIR ••••••••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 10, it is usually the fire extinguisher that caused them the biggest problems,” Penisson said. “It might be out of inspection or something like that, so they will need to get it inspected properly. Actually, what the YMBL does, is they usually contract with a fire extinguisher company to be on hand at the fair grounds to be available for the vendors to use.” Once the fixes are repaired an inspector will go back to check the booth and clear the vendor for use. “They have to be cleared by us, and what we do is we give them a red inspection form that they can put in their window showing that we have inspected them, and then they also have to be cleared by the health department,” Penisson said. While the fire department makes sure that all the food booths are up to code, they also, along with the police department, make sure that all rides have the right requirements. “We inspect all the rides but our inspections consists of verifying that it has been inspected by the state in the previous year,” Police Captain Jim Clay, who is in charge of the security of the fair, said. “They have to have state inspection sticker on each ride to show that they have been inspected by the state.” Clay said that he, another officer and someone from the fire department visit each ride. “They do a different inspection than we do,” Clay said, referring to the firefighters. “They look more for electrical and fire hazards as we look for state inspections. “If (the vendor does) not have a sticker, they are not allowed to open the ride,” he said. “We have delayed openings until they get it inspected.” While inspections are an important part of making sure the fair is safe, the police and
UP Photo Brooke Stinebrickner
Larry Feaster (left) and Walter Ernst set up their food booth at the South Texas Fair grounds, Monday. fire department also have a vital role during the event. “Every time the midway is open, we will have two firefighters on duty with a piece of equipment,” Penisson said. “We have a special truck that we use that actually belongs to Jefferson County. We use that out there just for the fair because it is a smaller vehicle that is more maneuverable and it is capable of initial firefighting. If we have a small fire we can go ahead and attack it there while the other fire truck is on its way.” The firefighters on duty are accompanied by 20 to 40 police officers, depending on the size of the crowd. “We are there to stop any disturbances, to settle any disputes,” Clay said. “We work closely with the fair. We have an officer assigned just to the fair
to handle disputes on any of the rides or games. That is another big thing, sometimes there are disagreements between the customer and someone operating the ride. We try to anticipate some of that with the actual carnival representatives to make sure it does not get out of hand. We try to provide security in the parking lots and fair grounds.” Part of having fun is not thinking about potential dangers. Thanks to the fire and police watchdogs, the only thing visitors have to worry about is losing their corn dogs on the rollercoaster. The South Texas State Fair runs through April 5. Admission is $4 for seniors 65 and over, and youth 3-1. Adults 1364, are $8, and admission is free for children 2 and under.
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SXSW
Thursday, March 26, 2015
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Where streets run with festive gold SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL DRAWS ECLECTIC CROWD FOR MUSIC, ARTS Whether it be human statues, bands on bikes or just a plethora of musicians on every street corner, South by Southwest in Austin has something for everyone. The annual festival is a unique convergence of original music, independent films and emerging technologies. On average, more than 100,000 people from around the world flood the state capital every spring to experience the atmosphere. This year’s SXSW was held March 13-22. The streets were packed with performers, and visitors could get up close and personal with the celebrities and artists. It’s not a cheap ticket, but with a little work, visitors will find plenty of freebies, from food to merchandise, that more than offset the cost of the trip. The festival normally falls around spring break, so students looking for something a little “weird” and different might want to make plans to attend next year.
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GRANT CRAWFORD AND CHARITY OGBEIDE LAYOUT BY GRANT CRAWFORD
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University Press
SPORTS Brian White steps down as Lamar golf coach Lamar University athletic director Jason Henderson announced Tuesday that Brian White has resigned from his position as head men’s and women’s golf coach to pursue other career opportunities. White came to Lamar as the women’s golf coach prior to the 1999-00 season, and has coached both the LU men and women for the past eight seasons. During his 16 seasons on campus, White won nine Southland Conference championships, including five women’s titles. The Cardinals return to the course April 13, when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to compete in the Coco-Cola Wofford Invitational — a tournament the Cards won a season ago. The LU women will be back in action at the end of the month, when they travel to Houston to compete in the Husky Invitational.
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UNIVERSITY PRESS
LAMAR SOFTBALL STAYS UNDEFEATED
Courtesy photo by Mark Walton/UIW
Freshman Sable Hankins is thrown the ball while Incarnate Word player slides into third base during Lamar’s 4-3 victory over UIW, Sunday, in San Antonio. Hankins was injured on the play and was forced to leave the game.
Lady Cards sweep Incarnate Word in double-header, 11-7, 4-3, move to 9-0 in SLC UP SPORTS BRIEFS Baseball The Cardinals lost a heartbreaker, Tuesday, when they dropped a five-run lead in the eighth and ninth innings, falling to the Houston Cougars, 6-5. Enrique Oquendo, who bailed the Cardinals out in the ninth inning, sat down the first two batters he saw in the bottom of the 10th, but walked Josh Vidales. He then gave up a single to Chris Iriart before he was pulled for reliever Galen Andrews. After working a 3-1 count, Ian Rice hit a line drive to center field landing just in front of a diving Brendan Satran’s glove, rolling to the wall to improve UH to 18-7. Lamar (11-13, 3-6 SLC) returns to action when they host Abilene Christian, Friday, at 6 p.m. The second game of the three-game set is scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, and the finale at 1 p.m., Sunday.
Track and Field Looking to take a step forward and build a solid foundation for the outdoor season, 12 individuals and one relay team from Lamar Track and Field will compete in the 88th running of the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Wednesday through Saturday.
Women’s Tennis The Lamar women’s tennis team continues their four-game road swing, Wednesday, at Louisiana-Lafayette, as they look to push their win streak to three at the Cajun Courts. The Lady Cardinals (5-8, 0-4 Southland Conference) opened the road trip with back-to-back wins over South Carolina-Upstate (5-2) and Mercer (6-1). Hanna Elfving, Andrea Ivanovic and Stephanie Marchena all finished the week 2-0 in singles action. Ivanovic/Anna Spengler and Elfving/Marchena were 2-0 in doubles. The Lady Cardinals will wrap up their road swing Saturday, when they return to Southland Conference play at Central Arkansas. The team will be back at the Thompson Family Tennis Center April 3, for a match against Incarnate Word.
Football For the second time in three weeks, NFL scouts made their way to Provost Umphrey Stadium, Monday, to evaluate the talent among Lamar's class of 2014 for the upcoming draft. For many Lamar seniors, it was the third workout in front of NFL scouts since the end of the regular season.
GRANT CRAWFORD UP SPORTS EDITOR @GRANTLAMARUP The Lamar softball team continued their winning ways this weekend, sweeping a double-header against Incarnate Word by scores of 11-7 and 4-3, Sunday. The Lady Cardinals remain undefeated in conference play after the road wins in San Antonio. Lamar (16-11, 9-0 SLC) jumped out to an early 9-0 lead in the first game. UIW (3-23, 0-9 SLC) responded in the fourth, scoring five runs. “I’m excited that we’re 9-0 in conference,” head coach Holly Bruder said.
“We really got our offense going in that first game.” Senior Shannon Sain had three hits, two RBIs and three runs scored for Lamar in the opener. Juniors Stephanie Meeuwsen and Jenna Holland each added two hits and three RBIs. “It took us a couple of innings, but our hitting adjustments were much better than last weekend,” Bruder said. “We came off of our first rain delay of the year swinging. It was a good start to the series. It might have looked sluggish, but it was just the adjustment that took time. “We need to be more patient. We’re going to try and change that. What we
told them in the locker room was, ‘Don’t be too big to take a walk. Don’t be too big to get hit by a pitch.’” The Lady Cards added two runs in the sixth with a triple by Holland. Freshman Laura Napoli finished the opener with a complete game, and is now 11-6. “I loved our pitching,” Bruder said. “We have more of a groundball pitcher, so we have to play a little more defense, but I love our defense. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.” In the nightcap, Lamar took control again when senior Casey Cromwell hit her school-record 17th career homer in the fifth, making it a 2-0 lead. They then
made it 4-0 in the sixth, after a two-run single by junior Marissa LeJune. UIW managed to score three runs in the sixth and seventh off of starter Lauren Dannelley (5-5), before being shut down by Napoli who came on in relief. “We’ve had trouble with our bullpen,” Bruder said. “We did what we’re supposed do, though. Go into the game with a lead, and shut them down.” Lamar will return to action when they host a three-game series against Northwestern State (8-0), Friday and Saturday. Friday’s double-header will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday’s game is slated for 2 p.m.
Hardwood deja vu LU LOSES TO NORTHWESTERN STATE IN SLC SEMIS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT YEAR GRANT CRAWFORD UP SPORTS EDITOR @GRANTLAMARUP The Lady Cardinals’ basketball team saw their season come to a disappointing end over spring break, suffering a 70-64 overtime loss to Northwestern State in the semifinals game of the Southland Conference tournament in Katy, March 14. Kiandra Bowers helped give Lamar a 39-30 lead at halftime, scoring 12 points in the first stanza. She finished the game with a double-double. “We decided to start giving it to Kiandra,” head coach Robin Harmony said. “She played a great game. When you look at it, it’s great to see a sophomore, who isn’t really a first teamer, or second teamer — that has no distinct place — step up like that. She really came through for us.” With 16:55 left in the game, the Lady Cards had a 14 point lead when the wheels began to fall off. “Well, obviously we were up at one point,” Harmony said. “I think we played really good basketball, until then. We got into a situation where just Rick Yeatts/Southland Conference couldn’t score. We got tentative. They were pressuring our shooters, and LU junior Addesha Collins shoots a jump shot while Kiandra Bowers, middle, Dominique Edwards and Caroline Adesulu fight for position durwhen our shooters had shots they just ing the Southland Conference semifinal loss to Northwestern State, March 14, in Katy. didn’t put them down.” Rallying behind forward Beatrice chance, turning the ball over with 1.3 “We’re disappointed,” Harmony “It’s very frustrating,” Bowers Attura and guard Janelle Perez, who seconds remaining. said. “We’ve played the same team said. “The whole team is frustrated. scored 26 and 24 points respectively, “You can’t have a turnover in that twice. It was the same situation, and We definitely wanted to rebound from the Lady Demons went on scoring run situation,” Harmony said. “You have to we lost to them again. I don’t know if last year’s loss. We had an opportunity. to tie Lamar late in the second half. get a shot off to give yourself a chance. it’s a mental thing. I don’t know if it We were up and the game slipped “Perez is a great player,” Harmony We’re actually lucky we went into over- that’s we just can’t finish. away. We just couldn’t control our own said. “She is their engine, and every time and didn’t lose in regulation.” “We’re just going to have to get destiny towards the end.” time they needed a big bucket, they The Lady Cardinals end their seaWithin 15 seconds of overtime, better, and get better players, so we found her. We stopped hitting shots, JaMeisha Edwards hit a jump shot to can come here under the bright lights son with a 17-13 overall record (14-4 and that’s a team that can score a lot of give LU a 60-58 lead, but Northwest- and get the job done, because we did- SLC). Despite finishing second on the baskets. They went to twos, and then ern responded, scoring the next six n’t do it again.” regular season, the team was not ofto threes. Meanwhile, we just kind of points. The Lady Cards trimmed the Junior Addesha Collins scored 15 fered an invitation to the WBI post-seagot tighter and tighter. We kind of for- lead to three, but it wasn’t enough to for the Lady Cards while dishing five son tournament. got that we were the team that was up, move past the sixth-seeded Lady assists. Freshman Baileigh O’Dell fin“There’s just been so many and it just got worse.” Demons. ished with 12 points and 5 assists. missed opportunities for us to close With 12 seconds left in regulation, This was the second-straight seaBowers was the leading scorer for the door,” Harmony said. “Now we’re the Lady Cardinals had a chance to son that Lamar was upset in the semi- Lamar, scoring 16 points and pulling in the same situation-getting ready to score the go-ahead basket, but lost the final game by Northwestern State. down 12 boards. pack our bags and head home.”
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University Press
— WORLD VIEW — Vaibhav Gupta, Kota, Rajasthan, India, MBA Student What is the most common misconception about your home country? The most common misconception about my home country is that everything is curry and that all the food is spicy, it is not like that. There are various kinds of food and various kinds of culture. Every culture has a different kind of food that they call their own. Curry, though it is like a delicacy, is more commonly used but we have others, such as, sauces and many more things. Secondly, the biggest misconception about God is that India has many gods, there is only one God. In Hinduism there are lords, there is only one God we follow. The third misconception I can say is that people think we speak Indian. It is not Indian; there is no language that is Indian. There are more than two hundred languages spoken in India officially, but not “Indian.” What would you like people to know about your home country? India is a very big country, size wise it is smaller than the U.S. but there are about one billion more people than the U.S. so it is really hard to manage, and people say that India is not managing that well or that we do not drive properly. Except, if you go to New York you find the same thing, there are many peo-
ple out there and it is hard to manage them. It is just that people need to consider the population around them and the people. What is a big cultural difference between the U.S. and your home country? There is a huge cultural difference, U.S. only focuses on one cultural, pretty much Christianity, and in India they have all different cultures. You will find Hinduism, Muslim, Christianity, Sikh, Jewish, and personal culture as well. Each and every culture is being treated equally. Secondly, the layout of the cities in India and the U.S. are really, really different. In the U.S your work place is different, your grocery stores are different and your residential areas are different so you need to drive to all the places. In India they are all together, you just need to step out on the road, walk down to your grocery store and walk down to your work place. It is really easy. Secondly, food — the food is way cheaper. Here you can get a meal for one, and in India the meal for one can actually feed four people. In America you spend eight, nine, ten dollars for one meal but in India you can feed four people with ten dollars. The way of living in America is very expensive compared to India. Education in India is very expensive, here in America the government
is paying for school — that does not happen in India. What would you like people in your home country to know about the U.S.? U.S. itself has its own culture, own life. Here, you have your own life, your own schedule. Back in India you have your own social schedule; it is all about your friends and family. The U.S. has a lot of opportunities — it is literally the land of opportunities. You have to come down to the U.S. and you can get jobs, have an easy life style and make easy money. It is really hard in India. I want to tell people to try and come to the U.S. but do not lose your culture because culture is very important. Distinguish yourself between you and other people so you are known for your culture. The U.S. has its own culture and India has its own culture, I am not biased about any culture, but I feel both cultures are equal. Also, be more manageable — try to think about the betterment of India and not yourself. They are kind of selfish because if you do not do it someone else will do it for you, if you do not grab the spot someone else will grab the spot. There is a lot of selfishness, do not do that, and have space. Compiled by Kendrea Angell
World View is an ongoing series that aims to spotlight the international diversity that adds to Lamar University’s rich culture
DIVERSITY •••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 “There is a hunger within our students to learn,” Parra said. “They do want to learn, they truly do. The students were very adamant that they wanted to interact — that is when they learn the most. It hits them.” In the workshops, students will be mixed up so that they sit with strangers in order to break down barriers, Parra said. “The interaction appeals to the emotional side of being human,” she said. “You become bonded very quickly.” Monroe said that at conferences, students tend to segregates themselves from the other schools. “We have noticed at other conferences in different places all over the state, that all of our Lamar students sit
together, and all of the other schools’ (students) sit together,” she said “We ride a bus, so by the time we get there and get back, and stay together, we know a lot about each other, but they don’t know about other people. Monroe said that encouraging students to mingle makes them more comfortable to be with people who they don’t know, allowing them to see “the humanness in everybody.” Parra said larger universities struggle to get their students to participate in events at the level Lamar does. “They are really surprised at what we can do and what kind of programs we do,” she said. “They always ask, ‘How did you get the international students involved?’ They seem to be a little bit more closed off.” Parra said Lamar invites student and organizations to help build the programs.
“It’s their programming, it’s not (ours),” she said. “It’s student who lead initiatives. I think a lot universities try to create programs and hope that people will show up. We bring the students in and plan with them and it is their program that we are supporting. I think that is the big difference. “That is the beauty of what we do.” Any registered student organizations that have five or more members at the conference will be eligible for three $100 drawings for their student organization account. Monroe said the main goal of the conference is make it a learning experience. “We want that sense of community, and what you can learn about other individuals — that breaks down those stereotypes, that breaks down those barriers that prevent us from interacting in a way that produces a sense of oneness,”
she said. “The best way to get inclusiveness is for people to come together and understand each other rather than fear the differences — to understand and appreciate the differences.” Monroe said that not everything a student needs to know can be gleamed in a classroom. “Students walk to class and they think, ‘That’s it. My knowledge and understanding of the world, the environment and my community ends right there,’” she said. “No, no, no. You learn from speakers, conferences and interactions. Once they get into the habit of that, they are thirsty because they pick up so much information and different perspectives.” Parra said that students need to learn that their issues are not theirs alone. “Everybody thinks that their issue is the only issue, but when you are fight-
ing for one person’s rights — civil rights or inclusiveness — you are actually fighting for a whole community,” she said. “The ‘allies’ issues aren’t just their issues, they are also the Hispanic community’s, and the African American community’s, the women’s community’s — and they don’t realize that. Our students think that, ‘This is my month. This is what I’m going to do,’ but they don’t realize that it’s all one big issue. If you are fighting one person’s issue, then you are a voice for everybody. “More than anything, we are just trying to break down some barriers and get these students here to interact with each other.” Registration deadline to guarantee a spot at the conference is April 11. Walk in registration on the day of the conference is based on availability. For more information, call 880-8216, or email cynthia.parra@lamar.edu.