TheSouthTexan!"#$ Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication
Monday, February 21, 2022
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@thesouthtexan
Vol. 96, Issue 9
Suspected shooter raises emergency alert questions Suspicious person reported on campus !"##$%!&'#( |!"#$%&'($)(*+$,!"#$%&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Recent reports of an unknown person with concerns among students about Texas A&M University Kingsville’s emergency alert notification system. On the evening of Feb. 7, rumors of a suspected ac-
tive shooter spread among students, with no immedi-
of Police Felipe Garza chose not to send a noti-
university. Students were sheltering in place in different locations on campus while some buildings went on lockdown. Had an immediate response taken place, fear and panic among students would have subsided quicker, students said. An email regarding the possible sighting of a man outside or near the Rec center holding what
“Because we have ROTC on campus and a lot of other activities - we have a lot of students, it’s a hunting area - so you’ll see students walking around campus or around their vehicles with real weapons. It was my decision to not send out one of those messages to people’s phones using the Rave system,” Garza said. Rave Guardian is a campus safety app which students can download. Had Garza sent out a no-
sent over an hour after the initial report was made. On the night of the reported sighting, Director of Public Safety and Chief
with this app would have received it. All students
Ronni Reyna
The Sports Rec Center at night while students work out inside.
and employees are automatically enrolled in TAMUK’s emergency
their university email. These two notification systems are two separate systems - one used strictly
by the university and one, Rave Guardian, by UPD. However, if you wish to !""#-$./0&!'(!!)
What it takes to uplift a community A conversation of race, family, empowerment with the BSU women )(*('+(,%-,(.&/ |! ./)/0$)0!"#$%&' 1/0/2#02&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Texas A&M University Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Black Student Union (BSU) power the black community throughout Black History Month. The BSU is an organization that promotes black unity and success and focuses on building alliances on campus in order to showcase black excellence and accomplishments. “Being that this is a predominantly Hispanic university, personally for me, the BSU was one of the biggest attractions because it was an opportunity to meet more people like myCourtesy of TAMUK Facebook self,” Social Media CoordiAutumn Robinson, Kamryn Ware, Alicia Grey and Christine Limbrick (left to right) posed in BSU shirts with their Js up. nator and Recruitment Ofstudents on campus in or- celebrate black excellence, a time to uplift each other For its members, the Being that this is Black der to celebrate unity and acknowledge the struggles and our peers every day to BSU provides a sense of History Month, the uni- the achievements of those we came from and how it show that we are resilient family, belonging, familversity is dedicated to who came before them. has made us who we are and we will continue to be iarity and a place to call recognizing and com“Black History Month today. It is a time to un- successful,” BSU President home. They provide an memorating groups of is a time where we truly derstand one another and Kamryn Ware said. opportunity for students
Online Beat Do you not subscribe to !"#$%&!"!#'()*+%,? Catch up on exclusive stories about our campus and community when you sign up for our newsletter. Here’s a sneak peak of what you missed online.
Slam poetry night featuring Joan ‘Lyric’ Leslie the Javelina Student Engagement Center (JSEC) as students got ready slam poetry event on campus.
to have a voice and know that they are heard and seen. “I felt like I was going to be alone on campus because I was from a place four hours away, but when I came to preview day the BSU made it seem like it was a family and that’s what it truly was. That’s when I decided to join, on preview day,” Ware said. The BSU strives to be inclusive and to collaborate with not just organizations here on campus, but by building more alliances with other BSU groups at nearby universities in order to leave a good foundation for future members. The members of the BSU advocate for change and by doing so, dive into deep conversations about race, role-models and what black excellence means to them. “My inspiration is Mary !""#*+,&!'(!!)
Mold remediation to be completed by mid-March Classes being relocated again )(*('+(,%-,(.&/ |! ./)/0$)0!"#$%&' 1/0/2#02&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
In early September, the Department of Art, Communications and Theatre (ACT) responded to ongoing mold and air conditioning problems affecting the Drama/ Arts building by relocating students and faculty to nearby classrooms to continue their classes environment uninhabited by mold. Many students, specifby the mold, with health being a major concern while working in their art studio. As a result, the art students were relocated to the vacant Bellamah Music Building to
continue their classes and create art. Recently, students were to relocate back to the Drama/Arts building because Bellamah will soon be rented to Santa Gertrudis ISD. An agreement was signed between the university and the academy which was approved by the University Space Committee. If for some reason there are delays with the completion of the Drama/Arts building, the university and department will not move students to another location. Instead, they will make the necessary adjustments and arrangements with Santa Gertrudis ISD and the move will still take place once the Drama/Arts building is completely ready and safe for students to return. “We will not place any into the unsafe space,”
The Dran/Arts building as ceilings and ducts are replaced to combat mold.
College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dolores Guerrero said. Because the Drama/
Arts building did not have a functioning climate control system at the beginning of the Fall 2021
Makaylah Chavez
semester, it was in the best interest of the students !""!"#$%&!'(!!)