September 10, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Newspaper of Lamar University

Vol. 92, No. 1 September 10, 2015

Lamar welcomes new provost Lainie Harris UP staff writer If you are walking through the Plummer Administration Building and hear the sounds of Aerosmith coming from behind an office door, it’s probably just James Marquart hard at work.

“I can’t work without my music,” Lamar University’s new provost said.

While the classic rock music may not fit with his business attire, Marquart should not be judged simply on appearances.

While he is all business when it comes to students and the university, Marquart is a man of many skills.

The Illinois native has published seven books about criminal justice and capital punishment, and received two outstanding book awards. “An Appeal to Justice: Litigated Reform of Texas Prisons” won the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Book Award in 1991, and “The Rope, the Chair, and the Needle: Capital Punishment in Texas, 1923-1990”

won the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Outstanding Book Award in 1995.

Marquart enjoys playing golf every opportunity he gets, he said, whether it’s on the local course, at home or during leisure time while traveling with his wife.

“I just kind of knock it around at the house,” he said. “I like to do that, and travel around the state.”

His wife has a grant with the Texas Department of Transporta-

See Provost, page 8

UP Lainie Harris

Lamar’s new provost, James Marquart poses with one of his seven books in his office in the Plummer Administration Building.

Lamar starts academic year with convocation President Kenneth Evans addressed faculty and staff at the start of the 2015-2016 academic year in his third “state of the university” address in the university’s Montagne Center Arena, Aug. 20.

After an opening reception, fanfare by the Cardinal Brass Quintet and introductions, Evans shared an update on the outcomes of the 84th Legislative Session for the university, describing it as especially supportive.

“Lamar University fared very well in the 84th Texas Legislature — indeed it can be argued that the session was the university’s best in recent decades as all of the university’s legislative requests received support,” Evans said. “We are very grateful to Lamar’s legislative delegation, as well as to the Regents, Chancellor and staff of the Texas State University System for their extremely effective leadership.”

LU’s general state appropriations for the next two years increased more than $21 million — the largest dollar and percentage increase in the Texas State University System, Evans said. The 19 percent increase is the result of enrollment growth, largely in graduate engineering and online education credit hours.

A large portion of the increase will go to refill open faculty positions or to hire new faculty in

Year of the Cardinal Lamar art student spends year studying in China Haley Bruyn UP staff writer

See Convocation, page 2

‘The 19 percent increase is the result of enrollment growth.’

— LU president Kenneth Evans on the state appropriation increase

UP William Jones

Imagine you have the opportunity to live and attend school in another country for an entire year. Now, imagine that you have only three weeks to decide to go, apply for a scholarship, get a passport, apply for and get a visa, buy a ticket, pack your bags and say goodbye to everything and everyone you’ve ever known.

Johnathan Ross doesn’t have to imagine — the graphic design major lived the scenario.

“The opportunity was presented about mid August, last summer,” he said. “I could go to China for a year and attend school there, and I was totally up for it. I’d never left the country, so I really wanted to experience it.

“I had my doubts at first — a year is a long time, especially without your family and friends and comforts like that.”

With so little time to prepare for the trip, Johnathan looked to his family for help making his decision.

“I talked it over with my mom and my grandmother, and they told me to go for it, so I did — I was terrified,” he said. “I remember the last day before I left I was at my parent’s house and all I could think was, ‘Am I making a big mistake?’ I was about to leave my family for a whole year — no Christmas, no Thanksgiving, no birthday.”

Johnathan traveled 7,398 miles from his home in Beaumont and moved into the international dorms at Shandong University of Science and Technology.

Johnathan Ross in front of Tian Tan buddha located at Ngong Ping in Hong Kong.

See China, page 3

Faculty art work on display Kara Timberlake UP staff writer

UP Kara Timberlake

Tana Burchinal shows off her music box, on display at the Dishman Art Museum as part of the Faculty Art Exhibition.

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

It’s not just students that have art projects due. Lamar University’s faculty also had a “class project” over the summer, the results of which are on display at the Dishman Art Museum through Sept. 18.

The 2015 Art Faculty Exhibition features the work of 11 artists, and a closing reception is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 18.

Museum director Dennis Kiel said that the exhibition gives students and the community a better sense of their teachers.

“Traditionally, students are used to showing their work to the faculty,” he said. “This exhibition allows students to see what the faculty does beyond the classroom.

“It’s very diverse. It covers the concentrations that students can elect to take: graphic design, photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics.”

New faculty member Tana Burchinal, 3D lab technician, is exhibiting the first in a series of works, a music box exploring the concept of the body and its relationship with identity.

“I am interested in spaces, contexts and objects that make me feel uncom-

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

fortable,” she said. “I like to insert the body back into these things in an unexpected type of way, to subtly challenge the position within and around the objects that make me feel uncomfortable.”

Burchinal said she is inspired by the medical reference book “Gray’s Anatomy,” which she first encountered in 2003.

“I’m dealing with media at its base level, with the simple wooden box and the sheet of paper I took from ‘Gray’s Anatomy,’” she said. “All of these things have a very heavy context.

See Art, page 6

www.twitter.com/UPLamar

QUOTE OF THE DAY

INSIDE

NOTICE

“You don’t manifest dreams without taking chances.”

Thursday, September 10, 2015 University Press Page 2

The University Press can be read online at www.lamaruniversitypress.com.

Advertising rates can be found on the site, along with practically all information that a person might be looking for.

— Stephen Richards

Students invited to submit grant proposals

Lamar University undergraduate students are invited to submit proposals in the 3rd Annual Undergraduate Grant Competition. The competition is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and is designed to support students in their research and creative activity.

“The program is meant to encourage undergraduate students from all academic areas to participate in scholarly work mentored by at least one LU faculty member,” Kumer Pial Das, associate professor of statistics and director of the Office of Undergraduate Research said.

The work on this project

should be unique in the sense that no part of it should be financially sponsored or accommodated by a different program at the time of submission. However, further development of the project beyond the end of the grant is highly encouraged, Das said.

The written proposal must be created and submitted by the student and approved by a faculty mentor.

Up to 15 student proposals may be funded in the competition, with each awarded a stipend of $500 and up to $1,000 for research support, Das said.

Students whose research or creative activity receive grants must present a

CONVOCATION growth areas, Evans said.

Also, the university will further enhance its recruiting and retention programs and significantly increase scholarship funding and student support.

Of the increase, $3.8 million will fund two years of support for new research centers: the Center for Advances in the Study of Port Management, and the Center for Advances in Air and Water Quality.

“We are excited about these centers and believe Lamar is well positioned to lead the state and region in these areas,” Evans said. All of the university’s other legislatively supported programs were also continued.

Evans noted that construction would be the norm for the next biennium as state-of-the-art structures take their place on campus.

Work continues on the Wayne Reaud Administra-

September 10

OUR Guest Talk Rakesh Singh Operations Manager BASF TOTAL

Galloway Building, Landes Auditorium 3-4 p.m.

September 15

Faculty Recital: Piano Duet Courtesy Image

A student presents her work during the 2014 Texas STEM conference.

progress report at the April 20, 2016 Undergraduate Research Expo, attend at least three OUR sponsored events during the academic year, and submit a post-grant report on their project results

by Oct. 1, 2016.

The entry deadline is Sept.

30. More information and applications are available online at lamar.edu/undergraduate-research/apply-now.ht ml.

Simmons Music Building 7-9 p.m.

September 17

2015 Miss Fearless Women's Film Series

Dishman Art Gallery 5:30-8 p.m.

September 17

Constitution Day Celebration

from page 1 tion Building, and construction will begin this fall on a building to house the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship across the street from it.

Added to that will be a muchneeded science and technology facility funded through state-issued revenue bonds.

The $60 million project will greatly enhance the university’s instruction and research capabilities, Evans said. After construction, the existing Hayes Biology Building will undergo renovation and be repurposed. A major renovation of the Setzer Student Center will also begin this year, he said.

Evans noted a date-todate enrollment of 15,100 students taking 157,000 credit hours.

“This represents a 202 student increase, date-todate, over last fall, and once the dust settles, perhaps we will have another all-time

CALENDER

Lamar enrollment record,” he said. “Preliminary figures indicate we have 1,500 new freshmen and, again, I am pleased to note the high quality of this fall’s entering class.”

Official enrollment numbers are taken on the 20th class date.

Evan shared several examples of student and faculty excellence during the summer months, including travel abroad and research, and noted with optimism the accomplishments and prospects for each of LU’s NCAA Division 1 athletic teams.

Evans praised the academic performance of LU’s student athletes.

“They are preforming extremely well in the classroom as well as on the field,” he said. “We are living up to the motto of the student athlete.

And that’s what it’s all about.”

A number of emeritus fac-

ulty members were honored, including the late Oney Fitzpatrick, who was named associate professor emeritus of psychology in memoriam.

Also recognized were: Jean Andrews, distinguished professor emerita of deaf studies; Nancy Blume, associate professor emerita of nursing; Christine Bridges-Esser, distinguished professor emerita of English and modern languages; James Esser, distinguished professor emeritus of psychology; Donald Owen, professor emeritus of Earth and space sciences; Pamela Saur, distinguished professor emerita of English and modern languages; and Sheila Smith, associate professor emerita of nursing.

The event concluded with a flourish provided by Lamar University cheerleaders and Cardinal Sound Brass Quintet directed by Scott Deppe as they played the LU Alma Mater and Fight Song.

LIT Multipurpose Center Auditorium 3-4 p.m.

September 18

Art Faculty Exhibition Closing Reception

Dishman Art Gallery 6-8 p.m.

September 21

Final Fall 2015 non-payment purge after 5 p.m.

September 22

The Road From Hurricane Rita

Lawn in front of the Brooks-Shivers Dining Hall 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 24

Thank a Donor Day

Setzer Student Center Ballroom 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

OUR Faculty Talk

Galloway Building, Landes Auditorium 3:30 - 5 p.m.

UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, September 1o, 2015

Page 3

CHINA from page 1 “When I first got there it was a total culture shock,” he said.

Johnathan roomed with another Lamar art major, William Jones, and said the pair had help learning the ins and outs of ancient culture.

“Our Chinese teacher, for our native-speaking course, filled us in on some of what not to do,” he said, laughing. “Buying a watch is a big no-no. I love watches, you know? But it’s not a good thing there. It’s basically saying, ‘You’re going to die soon.’”

“We learned a lot about the culture, actually. It’s highly inappropriate to stick your chopsticks straight up in, say, a bowl of rice and leave them there. We learned about a lot of things, but no one ever told us exactly why that is a no-no.

They just said don’t do it.”

Some things Johnathan said he had to figure out on his own.

“We were at the airport for about two hours just trying to get our bags, because we couldn’t find anyone who spoke English and none of us knew a lick of Chinese,” he said.

The Beaumont native said it was interesting to see the different ways people live.

“You never realize how much you take for granted,” he said. “When we would walk through the streets, we would see the living conditions of some of the locals that weren’t so fortunate, and it was literally one small room, maybe smaller than a public restroom. They didn’t have sinks, so if they wanted to wash clothes or something like that, they would have to go outside and use a public sink.”

’I had my mind set to soak up as much of the experience as possible.

I tried everything’ ‘

— Johnathan Ross

Johnathan said the experience was humbling.

“There were things that I felt I needed — like social media or the best living conditions available,” he said.

“When you go to a place that doesn’t have those things and you have to adjust, it makes you re-evaluate what you really need in your life.

“Looking back, when I think of how much control those things had over me, I think, ‘Wow, really? I gave Facebook that much power over me?’ This experience took all of those things I thought I had to have away, and it made my life better. I just feel happy with life. I’m happy just waking up and doing whatever it is that I have to do, whether I have the luxury things or not.”

The experience taught him what is important, he said, and that when one learns about cultures, beliefs, and things that people do differently, it improves one as an individual.

Johnathan said he fell in love with China.

“If people didn’t know where you were from or didn’t understand something about your culture, they approached you in the way of wanting to

learn,” he said. “China is a communist country and citizens don’t have all of the freedoms that we have as Americans, but as a people, and as a culture, the Chinese get along, and are so open and approachable and friendly.

“It’s not like that here. They don’t look at color, religion or political views — that stuff doesn’t matter.”

And it wasn’t just the people and the culture that Johnathan fell in love with — it was also the food.

“I had my mind set to soak up as much of the experience as possible, so there were times that I just tried things — I tried everything,” he said. “I tried octopus, and I never thought I’d eat that. It was the worst. I’d never had duck before, but duck is really good — and Chinese dumplings are amazing.

“What was weird for me, was that in China, we rarely saw soy sauce, and I lost a ton of weight just by eating the local food.”

As open as Johnathan was to the culinary experience, he drew the line at bugs on a stick, he said.

The trip also enabled him to make friends from all over the globe.

“We had friends from literally everywhere, and I still talk to them every day,” he said.

The study abroad program was organized through Lamar University in partnership with the Shandong university, four hours southeast of Beijing. “(They) tried to get us involved as much as possible,” Johnathan said. “We started a basketball team, and my roommate, William, and I entered photo competitions. I shot and

UP William Jones

Johnathan Ross during a visit to Hong Kong. designed the graduating students ceremony film, and William designed university shirts. We just did as much as possible.

“The school itself was amazing, but the people were the best part. Everything was just so good.”

The time abroad was one of the best experiences of his life, Johnathan said, although being so far away from family was challenging at times.

“All three of us from Lamar,

at some point, wanted to go home, and one student actually did leave, but Will and I toughed it out until the end.

“The longer we stayed — the people that we met there made it really hard to leave. When the time came for us to come back, I didn’t want to go.”

While in China, Johnathan studied traditional Chinese painting techniques, which helped him expand as an artist, and he has the chance to go back now that he has graduated.

“The school offered me a job to teach English, so that is something I’m definitely looking into,” he said.

Studying abroad has expanded his world view, Johnathan said.

“Being in China just showed me how much of the world I was missing out on,” he said.

“All I knew was America. I’d never experienced new people and cultures — and the world is so rich.

“Little ol’ me from Beaumont got to have this experience.”

’Being in China just showed me how much of the world I was missing out on.’

‘

— Johnathan Ross Courtesy Photo by Johnathan Ross

A traditional Chinese boat at Victoria Harbor during the Symphony of Lights at the Avenue of Stars, in Hong Kong.

Constitution Day features historical perspectives

Lamar University’s Robert Robertson and Gene Preuss from the University of Houston-Downtown will speak at the annual Constitution Day conference Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the LIT Multipurpose Center Auditorium on the corner of East Lavaca Street and Jimmy Simmons Blvd.

Robertson is an adjunct history professor at Lamar University and author of the book, Fair Ways: How Six Black Golfers Won Civil Rights in

Beaumont, Texas (Texas A&M University Press, 2005). In his Constitution Day presentation, Robertson will discuss events in Beaumont during the summer and fall of 1956, when U.S. District Judge Lamar Cecil presided over Jackson v. McDonald, a lawsuit filed by NAACP attorneys Theo Johns, Elmo Willard and U. Simpson Tate to desegregate Lamar State College of Technology.

Citing new Constitutional precedents established by the

Courtesy Image

Supreme Court in 1954 in the case Brown v. Board of Education, Judge Cecil ordered immediate desegregation.

Robertson is the author of numerous works with themes in American history, including two published books, Her Majesty’s Texans: Two English Immigrants in Reconstruction Texas (1998) and Fair Ways.

He has published several articles as well, with topics ranging from Beaumont on the eve of the Civil War to U.S. District judge Joe J. Fisher and the Borel asbestos case. His writings appeared in journals such as the Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, the East Texas Historical Journal, the West Texas Historical Journal, Military History of the West, and the Massachusetts Historical Review. He earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.A. at Lamar University.

Preuss will speak on “Sixty Years after Brown: A Historical

Perspective on the Constitution and Education” In 1954, the Supreme Court overturned decades of entrenched segregation in public schools across the South by declaring that separate schooling could not be equal schooling. “Today, although segregation is illegal, many school districts are still predominantly dominated by one ethnic group or another,” Preuss said. “More troubling, over 600 school districts in Texas are taking the state to court over unequal school funding.

“Some people have argued that schools today are more unequal and still segregated,” Preuss said. “What does the Constitution say about education as a right? What have we learned from Brown and the struggle for civil rights, and what does it mean for the future?”

Preuss is the associate professor of history at the University of Houston-Downtown. He

is president of the East Texas Historical Association and is active in other state, regional and national professional history organizations. His research focuses on the history of minority education. Also a published author, Preuss has been awarded the East Texas Historical Association 2010 Otis Lock book award for his book, To Get a Better School System: One Hundred Years of School Reform in Texas (2009). He is currently working on a study of Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos (1989-1991) and researching African-American public schools in Texas. He earned his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, and his M.A. and B.A. in history at Texas State University.

For more information, call Theresa Storey Hefner-Babb, chair of the Constitution Day event, at 880-2135 or email theresa.hefner-babb@lamar .edu.

Page 4

Thursday, September 1o, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is out of its mind George Miller’s action-packed DVD offers fascinating insights Lane Fortenberry UP contributor His name is Max – and he’s a man of few words.

Writer/director George Miller has brought his apocalyptic franchise back from the wasteland for a “revisiting” — he refuses to call this a reboot or sequel. “Mad Max: Fury Road” is filled with gorgeous, chaotic action, all shot in a spectacular fashion.

Fiery vehicle chases? Check.

Lightning-filled sandstorms?

Check. Deranged war boy playing a guitar with flamethrower attached? Um, check.

We mustn’t question the madness — we must just accept it. One may get a dry throat and need water watching the film – I’ll pass on the scarce, worshipped breast milk though.

Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) has visions of his murdered family as he seeks ultimate redemption. He wants to go home, but there’s a problem

— he doesn’t have one.

The movie opens with Max being chased through a postapocalyptic desert and captured. He is taken to Immortan Joe’s citadel, where Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), viscously rules by controlling the only supply of water. Max is hooked up to be a living blood bank for the War Boys, Joe’s psychotic army.

Max is chained to Nux’s (Nicholas Hoult) car, as the War Boys chase after the rebel, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron). She’s on the run for stealing the five wives of her boss Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). Her plan is to take the women — the “breeders” — in search of the “green place.” This is home to water, fruit, plants and grass — a sharp contrast to the apocalyptic desert where they live — and a better life.

After Max escapes — and after a few early scuffles — he and Furiosa form an uneasy alliance, more a case of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” than true friendship.

Eventually, Max, Furiosa and the wives, along with a reformed War Boy, Nux, decide to turn around and take down the psychotic empire that’s after them.

If it was wild when Furiosa turned left, it gets a whole lot wilder when they turn around.

Courtesy Image

Tom Hardy plays Max Rockatansky in “Mad Max: Fury Road” The movie itself is worth the cost of the DVD/Blu-ray, but the special features are really what set it apart from the rest.

The insight is important to truly understand why this film boasts a 97 percent, certified fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

The most fascinating thing about the film is the stunts, which use real stuntmen. The production crew even brought members of Cirque du Soleil to help out. There were many mo-

ments on set when George Miller was quite concerned about potential injuries from blowing cars up or pole dancers (not that kind of pole dancer) mounted on moving vehicles.

“Fury Road” was created entirely from storyboards, 3,500 panels of them in fact. The crew decided the deserts of Africa were the best place to shoot, for there were several chases involved that covered many miles and they needed that environ-

Courtesy Image

Charlize Theron plays Imperitor Furiosa in “Mad Max: Fury Road”

ment.

The conditions were tough on the cast because it was extremely cold when they began the eight-month-long production. The actors said it was isolating and seemed to make them a little crazier.

In one special feature, Hardy says he had lunch with Mel Gibson, the original Max, who passed the torch.

There’s an underlying feminist stance throughout the whole movie, which is covered in a special feature with the five wives and Furiosa. Miller wanted to create a powerful woman who had great beauty but was also a warrior, to stand against Max. The five wives are worshipped because they breed Joe’s babies. Hardy said it is very much Furiosa’s movie and Max is just along for the ride as a companion.

There is a special feature included that is dedicated to the 140 vehicles created for the movie, with many different makes and models. Military trucks were used as the foundation due to their bulky, strong bodies. The crew covers the most important vehicle in the movie, the War Rig, in depth.

Miller refers to it as the most important character other than the humans.

Expect the film to hang around during award season, because there has never been an action movie like this – it will kick your ass. To paraphrase the War Boys cry, “Fury Road” is “perfect in every way.”

The DVD/Blu-ray is on sale now.

LU’s new wifi to increase security Sharinna Byrd UP contributor As the demand for online curriculum increases, Lamar University has upgraded the

campus Wi-Fi. The school has partnered with wireless vendor Ruckus to increase coverage and make the system more secure.

“We used to have Cisco, and

now we have a company called Ruckus,” Patrick Stewart, director of IT computing infrastructure information, said.

“Ruckus is really big in venues. They’re able to get a lot of

UP infographic by Desmond Pickens

people on less equipment. It’s essential.”

With the improved wireless network, students, faculty and staff will have Wi-Fi coverage no matter where they are on campus. Lamar’s two previous networks, LU Big Red and Cardinal, were not secure. Now, there is only one network.

Everyone affiliated with Lamar can either connect to Join LU or LU Secure. Guests can also connect to the Wi-Fi with temporary LEA accounts.

Lamar cannot access student information, and only things that are prohibited on campus are blocked.

“So we’re not watching your traffic or your data,” Stewart said. “But, what we are watching for is those illegal applications that go out and download the latest movie or the latest music that’s pirated and copyrighted. If you try to download that, that traffic gives a very unique signature and our security equipment will see that signature and stop the traffic. As far as what’s on your phone or the traffic you’re moving back and forward, we don’t watch that — that’s not what we do.”

Users will be allowed to connect up to five devices.

Stewart said that the new system has a way of protecting one’s data through encryption.

“So, that’s been the largest change that we have in our new wireless system,” he said.

“Everything is now encrypted and secured.”

Stewart said that users might find the batteries on their cellular devices may run down quicker.

“At first there wasn’t an encryption,” he said. “Now we have encryption, so it drains your battery as you move through wireless access points.”

However, Stewart said the university is in the process of working on the battery drainage issue.

“We’re starting to try and tweak it because it’s new for us as well,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can to make the user experience better because we don’t want to impact students’ data, we don’t want to impact students’ battery life, we don’t want to impact the students’ experience at all. We want students to have the best experience they could possibly have, but keep them safe.”

For more information, call Stewart at 880-2279, or visit https://wifi.lamar.edu.

UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, September 1o, 2015

Page 5

WELCOME BACK

Student activities launch fall semester Despite the late summer Southeast Texas heat, it’s officially fall and time for students to return to Lamar.

Lamar Alive! and the The Student Government Association organized a series of events under the title “Week of Welcome” for new and returning students to get the semester off to a fun start.

The events began Aug. 21 and culminated with the Cardinal’s first football game on Saturday.

The events included the “Welcome Bash With The Greeks,” in front of Brook-Shivers Dining Hall, which featured games and a caricature artist, and students

could get a personalized street sign. On Sept. 4, students participated in a “Glow Rage” in front of the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center, where they were doused in neon glow paint while dancing.

After tailgating prior to the Cards’ game against Bacone College, the final event was the Tug-of-War held at half time. The teams were comprised of members of different student organizations.

Just because the games have given way to studies, doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot more fun to be had as the semester goes along.

Picture page layout

by Josh Aych Photos by Josh Aych, except far left

by Aliyah Thomas

UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, September 1o, 2015

Page 6

Researching the Rules Timberlake learns ways of nation’s capital as part of Beck Fellowship Washington D.C. to work as an editorial intern for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The internship was organized through the Fund for American Studies, an organization dedicated to shaping the leaders of tomorrow, according to their website.

Kara wrote pieces for the Trust’s blog, called “Preservation Nation.”

“I researched and wrote four different blog posts,” she said. “I wrote one piece for the Summer Concert Series, which involved finding a historically significant event about American music.

“For example, the article before mine was about Johnny Cash recording an album in a jailhouse.”

Kara gets excited when she describes her chosen subject.

“I wrote about Marian Anderson performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial,” she said.

Marian Anderson was barred from the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall because she was African American, and they wouldn’t let her perform.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and when she heard about the discrimination against Anderson she withdrew her own membership and set up a live concert at the Monument.

“Oh my god,” Kara said. “It was really cool — I get chills when I listen to the audio.

They had radio stations with microphones set up to broadcast, and, if you look at pictures, the entire lawn by the reflecting pool is covered in people — tons of people were coming to see (Anderson).”

Kara also took two summer classes at George Mason University.

While in the nation’s capital, Kara connected with the political history in a personal way.

“The Trust’s office was in the Watergate Building — it was really cool,” she said.

“They are a non-profit organization that works to save

Haley Bruyn UP staff writer If someone offers you $10,000 to work, travel and study over the summer, would you know how to spend it?

Kara Timberlake, a Lamar English and communication senior, had no idea what she would do with that much money, but she decided to apply for the Beck Fellowship anyway.

Kara, a Beaumont native who works at Lamar University’s public relations office, says her co-worker and mentor, Beth Gallaspy, told her about the opportunity in her sophomore year, and encouraged her to apply.

“The award also goes toward coving expenses for an entire school year,” Kara said.

“They cover, tuition, books, fees, on-campus room and board, in addition to funding a research project, an internship, or a study abroad program.

“It’s not something I had ever heard of prior to that moment, but I started to look into it — it was a really great opportunity. But I thought it was far fetched to think I could get it. I could never dream up a cool enough research project or internship that would warrant such an award.”

Kara said she kept the fellowship in mind, but chose to focus her attention on her classes. At the end of her junior year, she seriously considered pursuing the Beck Fellowship.

“I spent the entire summer just scouring the web and talking to everyone that I knew, looking at what options I had for internships and work studies,” she said. “I wanted to do something that interested me — something that would benefit me in my future professional goals.”

Kara had to research and propose two possible options for a summer internship, budgeting the $10,000 award down to the last penny. She also had to compile an extensive résumé that involved writing three essays and having a mentor that was willing to recommend her for the award.

Kara earned one of two fellowships awarded in the spring of 2015.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was surreal, realizing that I’d been given this opportunity. I was so happy.”

Kara’s project took her to

’It was surreal, realizing that I’d been given this opportunity.’ ‘

— Kara Timberlake

America’s historic places.”

During her time in Washington, Kara says she learned the nuances of life on “The Hill,” as locals call it.

“I was kind of like a tourist who knew the rules,” she said.

“I learned that the escalators have a ‘standing’ side and a ‘running’ side for people who are late or just in a hurry. If you get it wrong, a local will be sure to correct you.

“It was all so amazing. I went to almost all of the museums in the Smithsonian Institution, and I got to go onto the main floor of the Senate and sit in on a meeting. And, being

journalists, my friend and I talked our way into a group of students that went to ‘Meet the Press’—it was great. Rand Paul was there. It was just an honor.”

Kara said the program kept its participants very busy with group outings and, of course, attending classes.

Kara feels that her time in Washington was invaluable for her future. She did work she was passionate about and that she enjoyed.

“I’m a very curious person” she said, “And I like finding out about historical places and the significant people in those

UP Lauren Van Gerven

places — which is why I am pursuing journalism — you get to find out people’s stories and you get to see their impact on the community and the world.”

Kara said the Beck Fellowship was perfect because it allowed her to indulge one of her passions — research.

“I love finding out new information about something that I don’t know about — I just love learning.”

The deadline to apply for the David J. Beck Fellowship is Oct. 1.

For information, visit https://forms.lamar.edu/students/beck-fellowships.html.

How to apply

Beck Fellowships are awarded competitively to outstanding scholars. Applicants must be full-time undergraduates in any major with 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point averages.

Complete application packets must be submitted to the Office of the Senior Associate Provost (Plummer 104) no later than October 1.

A completed Beck application packet includes: - A completed application - A resume - A statement of financial need - Letters of recommendation, including one from the proposed project mentor - A description of, and budget for, the proposed summer experience - A personal essay explaining how the fellowship would help the student achieve personal and professional goals David J. Beck Fellows receive: Full academic scholarships covering all tuition, books, fees and on-campus room and board.

Up to $10,000 in funding for a summer project, which may entail research, an internship or international study.

Courtesy Image Kara Timberlake

Kara Timberlake spent the summer interning and taking classes in Washington D.C. as part of her David J. Beck fellowship.

Beck Fellowships are awarded to up to two fellows for one calendar year. Each fellow chooses a Lamar University faculty member as a project mentor.

7

SPORTS

UNIVERSITY PRESS September 10, 2015

Opportunity knocks?

Woodard sees positives as Cards face fourth-ranked Baylor Grant Crawford UP sports editor @GrantLamarUP The Lamar football team will be tested Saturday when they travel to Waco for a game against Baylor University. The Cardinals are facing a Bears’ team that is ranked fourth in the nation, and head coach Ray Woodard is fixated on one word — opportunity.

Woodard, having been in David and Goliath games before, said the first step in snatching the opportunity is to make sure the players are prepared mentally.

Woodard said that leading into last year’s game against Texas A&M, he thought the team was defeated mentally.

“I’ve always been proud of our effort, but I haven’t been satisfied with our demeanor,” Woodard said. “I’ll address that with our coaches today, and I’ll address it every day this week with our team.

“In order to beat somebody, you have to feel like you’re their equal. Until you do, you’re not going to have an opportunity.”

One inspiration the Cards will look to this week, is the 1981 game between LU and the Bears.

In a season opener, Lamar upset Baylor with a 42-yard field goal

by Mike Marlow.

Woodard said he is sure to bring up that victory with the players this week in Waco.

“Everyone associated with our program remembers that game, and that’s a game that we point to with pride,” he said. “To say that Lamar can’t beat Baylor — you can’t say that, because we’ve already done it.”

With the need for his players to stay cool under the pressure, one player Woodard won’t have to concern himself with, is Beaumont Senior Reggie Begelton.

“No matter what, it is still the game of football,” Begelton said.

“If you play scared, then you’ve lost before the game even starts.

Football is a physical and mental sport, where you and the guy op-

‘They have a heck of a lot more to lose than we do.’

— Lamar head coach Ray Woodard

posite of you are going one-onone dang near the entire game.

It’s a matter of who wants to lose that all-night battle.”

A team leader, Begelton has the most receptions in school history, and is nearing the record for both yards and touchdowns.

Begelton, who has played against top-tier schools before, said he’ll try to relax his teammates in the locker room prior to kickoff.

“Win or lose, at the end of the game can you ask yourself, ‘Did I do everything in my power to try and win this game?’” he said. “So, don’t hold anything back, but most importantly, have fun.”

Facing the two-time defending Big 12 champions, Woodard isn’t focused solely on his players’ attitudes after seeing Baylor’s 56-21 victory against SMU, Friday.

“Obviously, an understatement is that, if we want to have an opportunity this week, we’re going to have to prove a lot,” Woodard said. “Everybody knows how good they are. I was as guilty as our players — I did not go to a high school game Friday night. I got to sit at home and watch the entire Baylor-SMU game. Probably shouldn’t have done that before we played our opener, but I did.

“You’ve got to have patience.

You have to understand that they’re going to make plays, be-

LU’s Seth Ellis (15) runs alongside Rodney Randle Jr., as he returns a kickoff 44-yards during Lamar’s 66-3 victory against Bacone College, Saturday, at Provost Umphrey Stadium. cause they have too many good players, and a very good scheme.

You try to limit the big plays, but they’re going to hit you on some big plays.”

Although Baylor’s size greatly outmatches Lamar, Woodard said it’s their speed that concerns him the most.

“Everybody talks about Baylor’s size, and sure enough they’re big,” he said. “They got that going for them, but their team speed is what really sets them apart.

“They’re just fast all over the field. We have to address that in practice if we’re going to have an

Not out of the realm of possibility

Although, the Cardinals are regarded as the underdogs for this week’s game against Baylor, history has shown that even the most hardened programs can fall from their pedestals.

In 1981, the Bears, who were the defending Southwest Conference Champions, were ranked No.20 in the nation when LU rolled into town. The game would go down to wire after the Cards took the ball 44 yards for a touchdown, and 15-14 lead.

Baylor answered back with a field goal, taking a 17-15 lead.

With 2:06 remaining, Lamar QB Fred Hessen led the team down the field to the 25-yard line. Then, with only nine seconds remaining, Mike Marlow became an LU hero , nailing a 42-yard field goal to seal the deal.

Compiled by Grant Crawford Graphic by Desmond Pickens

opportunity or a chance on Saturday.”

The game will be televised nationally via Fox Sports Network, giving Lamar media coverage they aren’t accustomed to.

“It’s good for our program to get out there,” Woodard said. “I use this word a lot, and I’ll use it again, it’s a great opportunity for us.”

LU athletic director Jason Henderson said the game is great exposure for the program.

“They get to play on national TV, in a great stadium, against a top-five team,” he said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience for these young men. They get an experience that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

As well as being an important opportunity on the field, it is also an opportunity to help the program’s funding, with Lamar earning roughly $350,000 from the game.

“It’s just one of those things you do at this level to be able to have the program, and be able to fund it,” he said. “It goes just to offset what football spends. It’s not earmarked for one specific thing.”

Henderson went on to say that it was important that the game

was a good experience for Lamar fans as well, adding that location played a large factor in signing the contract with BU. “I want these games to be in the area so our fans can go and enjoy the experience, as well,” he said. “It’s a big part of what we do.

There’s not as many options around that are drivable, so trying to get somewhere where our fans can go, too, is a big part of this.”

Following the Baylor game, Lamar will dive into conference play when they travel to Huntsville to play Sam Houston State University, Sept. 19.

Woodard said the trip to Waco will be good preparation leading into conference matchups.

“This game will be a great experience to get us ready to play Sam Houston, and then go to Southeastern,” he said.

“What I will tell you about this game is, regardless of what happens, this game will not define our season. Our season is still ahead of us, either way. They have a heck of a lot more to lose then we do.”

Spectators can catch the game on FSN. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. at McLane Stadium in Waco.

UPsports briefs MEN’S GOLF

Lamar announced the hiring of new head coach Jessie Mudd over the summer. Mudd comes from the University of Kentucky, where he was an assistant coach for five years.

The men’s first tournament is slated for Friday, and Saturday, when the team travels to Kiawah Island, NC, for the Invitational at the Ocean Course.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Jessica Steward was named the head coach in July this summer. Steward takes over a team that has three consecutive Southland Conference titles.

Steward comes to Beaumont after spending the previous seven seasons as the women’s head coach at IPFW, where she guided the Mastodon program to its most successful run in school history.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Lamar University sophomore Alexus Aviles, has been named the Southland Conference’s Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.

Aviles scored two goals in a 4-3 loss to New Mexico State, following a two-goal performance, including the match winner, in the teams 3-2 victory against UTEP. She leads the SLC with five goals on the season, putting her at 14th nationally.

Aviles and the Lady Cards will return to action Friday, when they travel to North Texas, before hosting Alcorn State, Sunday, at the Lamar soccer complex.

Games start at 7 and 1 p.m., respectively.

CROSS COUNTRY

Lamar University women’s cross country runner Verity Ockenden, was named as the Southland Conference’s Women's Athlete of the Week, Tuesday. Ockenden

earned a second-place finish at the Texas A&M Opener, Friday.

“The end result was because of her good execution of the race plan that we set up earlier in the week,” new LU cross country coach Tony Houchin said. “She and Evelyn (Chavez) worked well together throughout the race, and ended at the front together.”

The team will compete next in the Rice Invitational, Friday, in Houston.

VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Cardinals’ volleyball team won two straight-set matches, Saturday, in the Delta Zeta Classic, hosted by Texas State in San Marcos. Chelsea Grant garnered all-tournament honors for the second tournament in a row. Lamar is 4-3, and will return to the court, Friday, at the La. Tech Invitational in Ruston, La.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The Lamar tennis team kicked off their

fall season, Wednesday, at the Iberostar Tennis Tournament in Cancun, Mexico. The event runs through Sunday.

“This tournament allows our girls to play in several quality matches, against some very good teams early in the season,” head coach David Wong said. “Although we have a young squad, they have really bought into what we are trying to do around here. We are ahead of schedule in terms of our training and fitness, and I believe our returners have learned a lot from last season.”

The Lady Cards will next prepare for the Midland Invitational in Midland, Sept.18-20.

Compiled by Grant Crawford

UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, September 1o, 2015

PROVOST

Page 8

from page 1

tion which requires her to attend conferences all over the country, and Marquart is happy to tag along.

“She puts on training for police officers to be drug recognition experts,” he said. “It’s beyond alcohol, it’s like cocktails of pills, prescription pills, added to alcohol — it’s a serious and a dangerous problem, a lot of people mixing vicodin and other kinds of things, and driving. The big frontier will be marijuana — how to test for that — so she’s all over the state.

“We go all over the place, it’s never a dull moment.”

When he and his wife aren’t out of town for conferences, they visit their son and daughter in Dallas.

“We have two, one lives in the Arlington area, right near Jerry World, the Dallas football stadium, and one lives in downtown Dallas,” he said. “Their first jobs were in the Dallas area, so they stayed, and we are just thankful that they stayed in the state, so, that’s a good thing.”

Their children didn’t follow

in the criminal justice footsteps of their parents. Their son is in financial management and their daughter works in real estate.

The real estate firm his daughter works for is reponsible for building a new golf course in downtown Dallas, something Marquart looks forward to testing out.

“I’m going to try to play, it’s going to be a great course, in fact I looked at a little bit of it, so it’s very interesting,” he said.

Marquart served as vice provost of academic affairs at the University of Texas-Dallas before commencing his duties as Lamar University provost and vice president for academic affairs, July 1.

“We just got done with the strategic plan, the university did, and there is a lot of effort that goes into that, so you know you are not going to come in here and re-write all that,” he said. “The entire university and its culture spent a lot of time putting that document together, so that’s basically the

game plan going forward.”

Marquart said he looks forward to increasing enrollment by implementing the university’s plan.

“It revolves around three primary things,” he said. “One is to recruit, recruit — recruit more students to add to the mix here.

“We’ve put a lot of resources, good resources, into expanding the recruitment office, and now we have a number of people in the Houston area. We have a transfer recruiter in the North Houston, Lone Star area, and we’ve devoted two recruiters to Dallas.”

However, LU still focuses its recruitment efforts in Southeast Texas, Marquart said.

“We’re trying to push the recruitment base out, but we will take care of the backyard here — the three county areas — you have to,” he said. “So that’s the idea, you get 50 or 100 more from Lone Star in the Houston area, that’s 100 less you have to get from here.

“At any rate that’s a critical endeavor, and that helps us

with advertising and pushing the message out that this is a good place to go to school — it’s safe and you will know your professors.”

Marquart said he is keen to promote internship opportunities, and credits an early internship with a local co-ed juvenile dentention facility with pushing him toward criminal justice.

“My experience is very similar to a lot of kids here, it’s the internship, and I think that’s really important that you get this experience to help you go on in the workforce,” he said.

Another facet of LU’s strategic plan is creating jobs and filling positions.

“The second thing is to hire UP Lainie Harris faculty, so, with good students Provost James Marquart shows off his golf you will have good faculty, and swing in front of the Plummer Administhat’s why students want to tration Building, Thursday. come,” Marquart said. “So, we’re going to do that, we’ll inMarquart said he is excited vest in that.

“And the third thing is about both the school and his space. Not outer space, but new position.

“It’s going to be a good we’re building a new building year,” he said. “I’m looking foron campus — taking care of the ward to it.” things that we have here.”

interact with the piece to actually create the sound, these different contexts are brought to the audience on a much more personal level.”

The exhibition provides the art department faculty an opportunity to experiment, Kiel said.

“If they are represented by galleries, a lot of time they are pigeonholed into having to have a certain look,” he said. “This

exhibition gives them the opportunity to go beyond that and not worry about sales. It allows them to be more creative and be more cutting edge than they would normally, giving them a little more freedom for artistic expression.”

Kiel said one of the museum’s goals is for people to feel more relaxed around art.

“In my experience, people feel intimidated by art,” he said.

“So this is a chance to let people know that they can come here, hang out, look at the art and interpret it in many different ways. Any good artist will want you to bring in your own story to contribute to the piece.

“Go to any art museum, and you basically step into a different world. Good art is something that creates an emotional response. The key is it that it starts a dialogue. You leave the gallery thinking about the piece.

The idea is that the piece lives on beyond the gallery.”

Burchinal said that in a broad sense, the body refers to everyone’s body, but by using the medical reference, she is combining the cold and clinical with the intensely personal.

“The thing about the body that fascinates me, is what the body means to identity in almost an abject sense — the parts of our body that we don’t really want to see, we don’t really want to encounter, and also the parts of our identity as well,” she said.

Burchinal said the faculty exhibition has the power to expand people’s understanding of what art can be.

“It’s good to have not just one flavor of one thing,” she said. “There’s not one way of making artwork. Art has the po-

ART from page 1 When you say ‘Gray’s Anatomy,’ the whole understanding of the human body comes to mind.”

Burchinal punched out all the i’s on a “Gray’s Anatomy” page, which is what creates the sound, and viewers interact with the piece by cranking the music box.

“By making the sheet programmable and capable of having its own score of music, and then also having the audience

UP Kara Timberlake

Junior Callie Macon, left, and senior Nailah McFadden peruse the faculty artwork at the Dishman Art Museum, Thursday.

#/ D P B $ D U ' 3 L #/ D P B $ D U ' 3 L D / P

$ ' D U 3 L

tential to not only give a visual experience but a broader experience. Art functions in its own aspect in society in its own special way.

“Ultimately, Lamar being a research institution, the community at large will see that the arts are definitely a part of that research initiative. I think that’s reflected through the diversity we have in the artwork.”

The exhibition is also important for recruitment, Kiel said.

“During the summer, a number of the art faculty travelled and were involved in international shows,” he said. “We have faculty who are wellknown and respected beyond our campus. They are entering all kinds of exhibitions and are very good. Getting this information out really helps the university in terms of attracting students.”

Burchinal said she hopes people engage with the artwork.

“I encourage people to have an opinion,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what it is. It’s really empowering and part of the art experience to have this feedback. Come out, look at the art and don’t be afraid to say something about it.”

For more, call 880-8959, or visitfineartscomm.lamar.edu/dis hman-art-museum.