05.01.15

theTrinitonian Volume 112, Issue 26

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www.trinitonian.com

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Serving Trinity University Since 1902

• May 01, 2015

graphic by Matt Kennemer

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Senior weirdness Senior Column

Isaiah Ellis Things are different now than they were a year ago, a semester ago, a couple of months ago.

People’s questions about my post-grad plans now seem less like curious inquiries and more like aggressive accusations. I’ve started to wonder how often— if ever—I’ll see my dearest friends after we graduate. I’ve even started to wonder who among us seniors even feels entirely OK about graduating.

Don’t get me wrong; my senior year has been incredible in a number of ways, and yours will be, too. The food I cook for myself off campus (in a real kitchen!) tastes like heavenly nectar compared to campus dining. My relationships with professors, fellow students and the city of San Antonio now seem more fulfilling than ever before. But along with all that comes a lurking sadness, anxiety, and confusion. The truth is, I’m about to leave a piece of my soul here, and I won’t be able to come back and get it. For some, accepting this may be easy. But for the rest of us, these feelings are real and legitimate. I’m not saying that I can’t—that you can’t—be happy

as a Trinity senior and then peacefully move on when it’s over. Rather, I’m simply offering my own experience as a word of caution because I, under the pretense of maturity and wise detachment, have been denying and repressing these emotional realities. But you shouldn’t.

There’s a kind of freedom in coming to terms with the complicated emotions that may creep up on you when you’re a senior, even in moments when those emotions overwhelm you.

This freedom may allow you to embrace your friends just a little longer and harder than before, to revel in a lengthy discussion with your professor, to recall that terrible kegger you probably should have skipped, to talk openly with those close to you about all the laughing, loving, crying, hating, the relentless working and shameless partying, that you did in this place. Recognizing that these feelings exist will help you begin to process all that glorious, complicated and shitty stuff. Don’t be afraid of the Senior Weirdness, or the feelings it brings—it’ll help you realize that it’s time to move on.

It’ll help you understand that you belonged, but belong no more. And it’ll help you realize why that is a very good thing.

Isaiah Ellis is graduating with a bachelor of arts in religion and a minor in urban studies.

Graduation Issue

Senior staff newsroom symposium What, if anything, was your favorite part about working for the Trinitonian?

“Trying not to make it on the quote wall...and failing.”

Alicia Guerrero Managing editor

“Story Idea Meetings. I’ll miss talking and joking with weird but cool people.”

John Mendiola A&E writer and web editor

“Getting to make everyone sound smarter than they are.”

Alessa Hutter Copy editor

“Watching Matt do unholy things to the A&E Staff via Photoshop.

Also, friendships.”

Mason Walker A&E writer

“Talking about bizarre things with Christina after we had gone delusional from being underground after 8+ hours and gossiping with KMart” Hayley Malone Advertising director

“Having a quirky family that gets paid to be around me.”

Faith Ozer Editor-in-chief

“Learning way too much about hyphens, commas and em dashes.”

Rachael McCullough Copy editor

“The hilariously weird stories we get to come up with in A&E.” Rachel Paurestein A&E columnist

“Working with people who are delightfully, equally strange in different ways.”

“Photoshopping my wonderful friends faces and putting them on hilarious things.”

Matt Kennemer Graphic editor

Brooke Griffis Copy editor

“Free food.”

Heather Bush Pulse editor

Graduation Issue

theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

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A love letter to my time at a small school Senior Column

Rose Minutaglio

Attending Trinity turned out to be the greatest decision of my life thus far: this school brought me lifelong friends, the opportunity to live in Europe for five months and clarity about my career aspirations. Of course I’m excited to start my next chapter in life with People Magazine in New York City, but graduation is a time to reflect about your TU accomplishments and memories. So, that’s exactly what I’ve decided to do. Oh, and if you’re a TUPD officer you should probably stop reading now.

The Green Gals Freshman year I rushed “those loud girls in the green jerseys,” (as I’ve heard people say around campus) and was ecstatic to receive my bid from the Gammas. I didn’t know what to expect, but immediately

fell in love with the 27 strong, independent women in my PC during pledging… er, I mean orientation.

Weeks later I declared my double—major in history and political science. I took Chinese for one semester (and sometimes still go by my Chinese name for fun at Blue Box). I participated in the Trinity University Leadership Academy. And finally, I capped off my freshman year by jumping the fence and swimming in the Trinity pool at 3 a.m.— sorry TUPD. Senatorial Aspirations Having spent my first year participating in “social activities,” my sophomore year was spent attempting to pack my resume with decent looking credentials.

I co-founded Phi Sigma Pi, the National Honor Fraternity on campus. I worked as an assistant for an international lawyer downtown who didn’t know how to type on a computer.

I interned for U.S. Senator John Cornyn in his San Antonio headquarters.

I changed my major to International Relations. I played every intramural sport available and took aerobic fitness with

Auggie. Oh ya, and I also drank ridiculous amounts of wine in Prassel while watching “Girls” with my roommates—sorry, again, TUPD.

La Dolce Vita After spending the summer working for the San Antonio Current, I started off my junior year working as a reporter for the Trinitonian, where I wrote two articles weekly. I was voted in as president of Phi Sigma Pi. I drove three screaming girls to gymnastics three times a week. I received the Kemper Diehl/James McCrory Endowed Scholarship in Journalism award.

I changed my major to political science and communication. And, I may or may not have run down the halls of Myrtle wearing only butterfly wings on a dare—seriously, sorry again TUPD. Second semester I had the incredibly opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy. I worked for an international magazine in the city, got a selfie with the Pope, traveled to Croatia and Morocco during spring break, and had an elderly Italian man propose to me on the streets of Rome.

Final Chapter Having been accepted to the American Society of Magazine Editors’ National Magazine Internship Program, I spent the summer before my senior year working as a reporter for Sports Illustrated in New York. In the fall, I moved back to SA and into an early 1900’s mansion with four of my best friends (shout out to Misty!) near campus.

“Attending Trinity turned out to be the greatest decision of my life thus far: this school brought me life-long friends, the opportunity to live in Europe for five months and clarity about my career aspirations.”

In my last year at Trinity, I was asked to sit on the Board of Campus Publications. I started working in the Public

Relations department for the San Antonio Spurs. I held a position with the San Antonio Book Festival. I was back in New York over winter break working as a features intern at Seventeen Magazine. In the spring my photo made it on the front page of Trinity’s website. I created an entire magazine for my communication capstone. I interviewed a mariachi group for class. I spent so much time in the lib, that I etched my name in fancy calligraphy on a second floor desk to mark my territory—once again, I apologize, TUPD. My time at Trinity has been a whirlwind of club lib, Tomatillos’ oversized margs with Alex, Gamma green everything, late night TC runs (lookin’ at you, David Reeves), blue books, five hour energy, Mike’s cooking nights, campus construction, getting thrown in the fountain, meeting with professors and, of course, nacho hours at 3:33 p.m. on Wednesdays.

And, I couldn’t have asked for anything more during my college career.

Rose Minutaglio is graduating with a bachelor of arts in communication and a minor in political science.

s r u o H e ic v r e S y it n u m Com

Logged in GiveGab so far this year All community service hours logged in GiveGab so far

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Student m A bassadors 370hrs.

Get recognized by President Obama for your community service!

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

The small name on page two

Take a Paws

from studying for finals and come spend time with some therapy pets!

Come by the Coates Library lobby on Tuesday, May 5th from 4-6pm for some fun finals stress relief and play time!

Senior Column Brooke Griffis, copy editor We copy editors get a lot of flak.

I know what people say: “Who edits this rag? There are grammar and spelling mistakes everywhere!

A third grader could have caught that!” I get it. I was one of those people, too, before I got the job. I want to ask you to consider this: The last time you finished a 30page essay at 2 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. class, was it turned in error-free?

But I didn’t want to write this column just to try to salvage my reputation as local Grammar Princess. See, despite having worked on this paper for three years, I haven’t (to my knowledge) had anything published in it with my name. “Brooke Griffis” only appears once every issue—in tiny font on page two—but every week I make a mark on every single one of those pages. You know (and this is a very English-major thing to say), it’s kind of like a metaphor for my life: it’s easy to miss me, even though I do a lot.

There are a lot of things we don’t get credit for. You know the drill. At the end of your college career, all they give you is a transcript. They don’t tell the whole story: They don’t write

about all of your tragedies and your triumphs. For me, they don’t write about the invention of the Glitter Bridge or the silly campus map we made as first years (it didn’t go west of Storch anyway).

They don’t write about my erratic, unsolved health problems and the days I have lost to the ER. They don’t write about those times I held friends as they cried or about the way the “family” we made as first years slowly drifted apart as we found out who we are. They don’t write about all those hours I spent in that one professor’s office.

They don’t write about how when I decided to study abroad I gave up my club, a job I loved, and a class I had been wanting to take since my first semester. They don’t write about the way my life changed when I went abroad, or the way it changed again when I came back.

They just give us all a GPA and say, “Congratulations.”

And so what we get is our names in tiny font on page two of the newspaper. It doesn’t represent who we are or what we’ve done: it doesn’t even begin to cover it.

And for me that’s ok. I don’t mind that people don’t really “get” what I have done here. The friendships I have made, the moments I have lived and the lessons I have learned are worth much more to me than whatever it is they are giving me credit for.

Brooke Griffis graduating with a bachelor of arts in English and Spanish.

Graduation Issue

theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

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Advice from Kimmy: Netflix, binges and resilience Senior Column

Ben Whitehead In line at Nacho Hour, a friend and I lamented our lack of postgrad plans. “You’ve got to have a pretty thick skin,” she notes, in reference to the hundreds of job applications which come back as automated rejections or simply disappear into the ether.

I couldn’t help but agree. It takes a good deal of resilience to wake up in the morning to an inbox full of rejection, roll out of bed, brush your teeth, dust off your ego and head to class knowing full well that the grades no longer matter and you’ll be up until 2 a.m. preparing the next batch of cover letters, hoping each edit of your resume—a new buzzword, another reformatting—will at least win you a phone interview. It was in this state of mind—this state of life—that I finally fully embraced the college lifestyle...and pulled an all-nighter to binge-watch Netflix.

Fortunately for me, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” lasts a mere six and a half hours, so I nabbed a little shuteye before sunrise.

The show has been lauded as a feminist comedy, a trait trumpeted in its theme song, “Females are strong as hell.” It has also been criticized for flat jokes at the expense of ethnic side characters.

I won’t add to these conversations, nor will I argue that there are any inherent benefits to midnight Netflix binges while eating Nutella by the spoonful. I will suggest that senior year especially calls for many more moments such as these. What I want to focus on is how inspirational I found Kimmy Schmidt at this moment of uncertainty, transition and remembrance. Kimmy steps out into the wide, wacky world of the Big Apple with a mere eighth-grade education buoyed by nothing more than her unrelenting optimism and perseverance, a contagious smile, a handful of quirky maxims and her indomitable resilience. With these she begins to create a new life for herself. To my fellow graduates, perhaps we can, too.

To those of you who still have years left here, I hope that your time at Trinity is different from mine. I am not one to promote a life of nothing but happiness and ease, yet I hope your time at Trinity is... easier. I hope you never experience depression. I hope you never fear to lose your dearest friend. I hope you never experience sexual harassment or assault. Hope feels too weak a word for how much I wish each of these things for you.

s k n a Th ries! e h t for

o m me

We’ll miss you, Tigers. #TigerAtHeart

However, above all, I hope that you learn resilience. I hope that you learn to look in the mirror each morning and tell yourself you have worth, you have value and you matter. I hope that you learn to speak about personal tragedy and struggle with dear friends, family or counselors. I hope that you learn when to speak out, both for yourself and for others. I hope that you learn when not to speak, but when to listen or to simply hug instead. Most importantly, I hope you learn that you are stronger when you come together as a community to support one another

in times of need and to celebrate in times of joy.

Kimmy Schmidt advises that you can stand just about anything for 10 seconds. Then you just start on a new 10 seconds. Whether it’s running a half- marathon with Dean Tuttle, trying to stay awake to finish that paper before the deadline, or doing mundane, menial tasks like making copies at your unpaid internship, know that you can stand it. Whether it’s moving back home with your parents after graduation, working as a college-educated barista, waking

up each morning to let those rejections roll off your thick skin until you find the job that’s really right for you, know that you can stand it. Echoing the archaic “this too shall pass” and “just keep swimming” from “Finding Nemo” Kimmy Schmidt’s “just take it ten seconds at a time” reminds us that we, too, are strong as hell and we can get by with a little help from the oddballs we call friends.

Ben Whitehead is graduating with a bachelor of arts in economics and a minor in mathematics.

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are The Short List

Coleen Grissom, Professor Like every intelligent, judicious person in this area, I am a loyal Spurs fan. I wear myself out running up and down that court with Tim and his younger teammates. When their games are on the west coast, I have to make a conscious decision to be a sleep-deprived zombie the next day or just risk going to sleep knowing that they are likely to lose without my running with and encouraging them.

Those Spurs are disciplined, talented athletes who try to learn from their mistakes.

Similarly, in my Trinity classes I have several scholar-athletes.

They are responsible, albeit often exhausted, young adults who somehow balance practice sessions, games and travel without falling behind in their work.

Part of what these athletes— professional and collegiate— have in common is a ritual of sorts in which, following each game or competition, they gather with their teammates and coaches and review the experience.

Often, in their post game meetings, they study videos of their games—noting what worked, what didn’t work, and examining ways to improve— to avoid their errors, to increase their successes.

I suggest that we all should conduct a reassessment— not of games, matches, or competitions—but of all aspects of the academic year just ending before we move on to whatever comes next—summer work and play, preparation for graduate school, first employment, or just relaxing before returning to Trinity in the fall.

This 2014-2015 academic year certainly and often painfully provides almost too much for reflection; the oncampus sudden death of much admired and beloved professor Mike Kearl, the heartbreaking accident that took the life of first-year student Corey Byrnes and caused serious injuries to his friends, who will continue to struggle physically, and, of course, mentally.

I abhor cliches, but “life really does turn on a dime.” Being aware of that, at the top of my short list right now, as we come to the end of another academic year, I set aside some time (and encourage you to do the same) to review this just ending year.

Without videos to peruse of my performance, I still can

consider: What did I do right?

What did I do wrong? What did I not do that I intended to do?

What should I have done?

That childhood prayer that begins “Now I lay me down to sleep, if I should die before I wake” has haunted me most of my life, so I am a bit obsessive about complimenting people, thanking them, expressing my admiration, apologizing for slights—trying to make sure my slate is fairly clean before I sleep. This little prayer pretty much explains my aversion to procrastination.

These words push me to conduct a quick review of my day, to do a daily personal “post game” assessment. I’m just encouraging you to do an annual one.

Students’ reviews should not result in anyone’s concluding that she or he just isn’t bright enough to do well academically here. You would not be here if you didn’t have the ability to do the work, so, what a surprise, if you didn’t do well, you might, in your reflection, evaluate yourself on such aspects as: wasting time, not getting enough sleep, developing terrible eating habits, forgetting or ignoring all you know about assuming responsibility for your behavior, about self-discipline.

To conduct this personal review of your year on this

campus, you are not alone.

Staff as well as faculty are available to help you and, in case it’s needed, to guide you toward self-discipline, time management, conducting yourself more responsibly, avoiding procrastination.

If your “post-game” reassessment reveals that you screwed up and wasted this year, if you have many regrets, then I urge you to decide whether you want to approach life differently. If you conclude that self discipline and responsibility aren’t for you, it’s probably best to try something other than the collegiate experience. A job perhaps. Surely self-discipline and responsibility aren’t prerequisites for the “world of work.” Surely absenteeism and unpreparedness would be ok out in the “real world.”

Obviously, my concern really isn’t centered on students’ academic performance though that matters mightily. What I most care about is what kinds of human being we are successfully educating on this campus. Are Trinity students dependable, trustworthy, caring? When people think of them, do they consider our students kind, compassionate, as well as intelligent, articulate, and informed?

As you look back on this Trinity year—as you conduct

your “post-game” evaluation— what regrets do you have? Can you avoid them next year?

Have you been as considerate as you could be? Have you supported your loved ones as well as behaved decently toward those you can barely tolerate?

Or, is this not the environment for you to learn and to grow— even to flourish? Probably only you can answer that, but this is a darn good time to find out.

Frequently, people (sometimes anonymously) send me cards with this exhortation: “Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.” Now, there’s a high standard by which to judge one’s self, but, if it works for you as it does for me, use it.

I’m hoping your selfevaluation will reveal ways you can be—to paraphrase Carlyle —“all that you were created capable of being.” And, of course, I’m hoping you believe you can achieve this as a member of this campus community.

You are an adult—an exceedingly blessed, gifted one—so you decide. As you do so, please know that I, and many others in and beyond this academic community, believe in your possibilities and wish you Godspeed.

Coleen Grissom is a professor in the English department.

To the Graduating Class of 2015 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:3-6) Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Congratulations from some of the Christian Faculty and Staff Jennifer Gilmore Adamo (Risk Management) Laura Allen (Education) Debi Arbuckle (President’s Office) Leticia Argueta (Academic Affairs) E. Cabral Balreira (Mathematics) Jackie Bevilacqua (Health Services) John Birch (Career Services) Brenda Black (Academic Affairs) Oralia Carrillo (Tiger Card) Cecily Cassidy (Residential Life) Lisa Chapa (Residential Life) Jane Childers (Psychology) Stacey Connelly (Human Comm. & Theatre) Nelda Cortez (Parker Chapel)

Melanie Coulson (Career Services) Denise Covert (Human Resources) David Crockett (Political Science) Sharon Curry (Facilities Services) L. Paige Fields (Finance & Decision Sciences) Susie Gonzalez (University Communications) Arleen Harrison (Political Science) Sandra Hernandez (Laurie Auditorium) Tom Hicks (Computer Science) Twyla Hough (Career Services) Carl Hubbard (School of Business, retired)

Laura Hunsicker-Wang (Chemistry) Jonathan King (Biology) Carey Latimore (History) Cindy Lara (Purchasing) Carl Leafstedt (Music) Gary Logan (Finance & Administration) Clayton Mabry (CSI ASO) Grace Martinez (Purchasing) Monica Martinez (Alumni Rel & Development) Brant McAdams (Athletics) Russell McMindes (Athletics) Paul Michalak (Athletics) Sonia Mireles (Education) Ann Mueller (Art & Art Hist.)

N. Seth Nelson (Music) Butch Newman (Athletics) Stephen Nickle (Parker Chapel)

Wanda Olson (Residential Life) Marc Powell (Athletics) Lupita Puente (Human Comm. & Theatre) Chris Pursell (Chemistry) LadyStacie Rimes-Boyd (Career Services) Karen Risley (Admissions, retired) Valerie Schweers (Admissions) Patrick Shay (Health Care Admin.)

Linda Specht (Accounting) Olga Trejo (School of Business) Jerheme Urban (Athletics) Matt Uzzell (Athletics) Dena Warneke (School of Business) Mike Wilkins (Accounting) Denise Wilson (CSI ASO)

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Margaret Farris recognition for Exemplary Service Office of Admission

Andy Moniaci - Best wishes from Admissions Jamie Merriam - Best wishes from Admissions Ben Whitehead - Best wishes from Admissions Dayton King - Best wishes from Admissions Kelly Hewes - Best wishes from Admissions Lu Liu - Best wishes from Admissions Matthew Mitts - Best wishes from Admissions Matthew Ponthier - Best wishes from Admissions McKenzie Quinn - Best wishes from Admissions Michael Nadelman - Best wishes from Admissions Jesse Gamble - Best wishes from Admissions Brady Iba - Best wishes from Admissions Anh-Viet Dinh - Best wishes from Admissions Anna D. Van Buskirk - Best wishes from Admissions Austin Haworth - Best wishes from Admissions Caroline Cramer - Best wishes from Admissions Christian Tovar-Vargas - Best wishes from Admissions Deborah Kilpatrick - Best wishes from Admissions Jemma Ferguson - Best wishes from Admissions Josie Hammons - Best wishes from Admissions Lucy Stockdale - Best wishes from Admissions Marek Bruckner - Best wishes from Admissions Megan Stewart - Best wishes from Admissions Adam Wells -Thanks, Best Wishes Claire Hannah - Wishing you all the best Aneissa Urias - Wishing you all the best

Campus Publications

Coates University Center/Student Involvement Heather Knudson, CUC Student Assistant Ulysses Medrano, CUC Student Assistant John Pederson, Summer Student Activities Mentor Breanna Willis, CUC Student Assistant

Office of the Dean of Students

Joseph Bacal - Running the distance multiple times Galve Deleste - Running the distance multiple times Matt Mitts - Running the distance multiple times Lucas Poliak - Running the distance multiple times McKenzie Quinn - Running the distance multiple times Paige Roth - Running the distance multiple times Ben Whitehead - Running the distance multiple times Barbara Berkova - Exemplary conduct Shelby Kubicki - Exemplary conduct Sara Miller - Exemplary conduct Rebecca Schauer - Exemplary conduct Evan Lewis - Fair governance Christian Nardini - Fair governance Abigail Miracle - Fair governance Caroline Roberts - Fair governance Kimi Siu - Fair governance Faith Ozer - Journalistic excellence, no stet Alison James - Friend of Jurgens Maddie Winchester - Friend of Jurgens

Department of Education

Julia Florek - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Ben Conway - 4 years of service, Mirage Emily Hall - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Dominique Davis - 4 years of service, Mirage Leah Hoffpauir - SME Mentor and MAT-Bound Alessa Hutter - 1 year of service, Mirage Kelly Holton - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Storm Navarro - 2 years of service, Mirage Alison Kirchhof - “Outstanding Junior.” TEACH Leader, MAT-Bound Ailie Vuper - 1 year of service, Mirage Sarah Longridge - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Heather Bush - 1 year of service, Trinitonian Ulysses Medrano - SME Mentor and MAT-Bound Kenneth Caruthers - 4 years of service, Trinitonian Andy Moniaci - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Brooke Griffis - 3 years of service, Trinitonian Shayna Rosenthal - TEACH Leader and MAT-Bound Alicia Guerrero - 2 years of service, Trinitonian Stephanie Segovia - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Leah Hoffpauir - 1 year of service, Trinitonian Alex VandeStadt - SME Mentor and MAT-Bound Alessa Hutter - 2 years of service, Trinitonian Michael Ventresca - SME Mentor and MAT-Bound Matt Kennemer - 1 year of service, Trinitonian Emma Willhoite - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Rachael McCullough - 1 year of service, Trinitonian Monica Clifford - SME Mentor and MAT-Bound John Mendiola - 4 years of service, Trinitonian Jesse Gamble - “Outstanding Education Senior,” SME, TEACH, MAT Faith Ozer - 3 years of service, Trinitonian Catherine Garza - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Rachel Pauerstein - 1 year of service, Trinitonian Hannah Gulley - TEACH Member and MAT-Bound Lauren Schroeter - 2 years of service, Trinitonian Brooke Griffis - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Mason Walker - 2 years of service, Trinitonian Josie Hammons - TEACH Member and MAT-Bound Jazmin Hooks - MVP Education Student Worker, MAT-Bound Blake Keeling - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Career Services Han Sol Kim - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Jayda Bing - Admirable, kindhearted, self-disciplined, professional, poised Paulses Kolllie - Noyce Summer Intern, MAT-Bound Steve Jun - Charismatic, dedicated, authentic, passionate, determined Lu Liu - Noyce Summer Intern, MAT-Bound Devan Osegueda - Noyce Summer Intern, MAT-Bound Ian Plantz - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Department of Chemistry Kelsey Toms - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Allison Levy - McGavock Award for Outstanding Research Lauren Witte - Master of Arts in Teaching-Bound Kelsey Kirkman - Academic Excellence and Research in Chemistry Ethan Valdes - Future Music Educator, MAT-Bound Elisabeth Purdy - Academic Excellence and Research in Chemistry Marissa Torres - Future Music Educator, MAT-Bound Christopher Hertz - Senior Achievement Award in Research Lauren York - Future Music Educator, MAT-Bound Connie Hsiao - Senior Achievement Award in Research Joel Adablah - American Institute of Chemists Award Vanessa Romano - Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry Robert Bierman - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Senior Award Katherine Corley - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Senior Award Hamilton Lee - Senior Service Award

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

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Trinity organizations and departments recognize these graduating seniors for their contribution to the Trinity community. Margaret Farris worked for Student Affairs for 26 years before retiring in 2009.

Department of English Blake Keeling Sarah Longridge Abigail Miracle Rachel Pauerstein Paige Roth Kristen Schulz Julia Smith Mason Walker

Information Technology Services

Navid Leelani - 2 years outstanding performance Arush Dutt - 2 years outstanding performance Maria De Blesser - Dec. ‘14 graduate, outstanding customer service Sungjub “Steve” Jun - 4 years outstanding leadership Song Yie Kim - Amazing, kind, resourceful Maria Largacha - 5 years dedicated service Tyler Howard - 3 years outstanding service Hayden “Reece” McDonald - 2 1/2 years outstanding service John Mendiola - 2 1/2 years outstanding service Reid Bacon - 2 1/2 years outstanding service Han Sol Kim -4 years outstanding service Yiren “Irene” Fan - 2 years outstanding service Ryan Anders - 1 year outstanding service Andrew Peterson - 3 years outstanding service Sang Choi - 2 years outstanding service Michael Curran - 3 years outstanding service

Library

Josie Hammons - 4 years of meritorious employment Eliza Perez - 4 years of meritorious employment

Marketing Communications Anh-Viet Dinh John Mendiola Matt Mitts John Pederson McKenzie Quinn Paige Roth Ben Whitehead

Orientation Team Dominique Davis Camille DeMars Charles France Josie Hammons Yumi Jeon Ben Whitehead

Department of Political Science

Erin Cusenbary - 4 years of great service Avantika Krishna - 4 years of great service Lauren Krummel - 4 years of great service Sara Miller - 4 years of great service Christian Nardini - 4 years of great service Ashley Poston - 4 years of great service

Residential Life Office

Dominique Davis - super dependable, humble, hard-working, diligent, fun-loving personality Anthia Liu - dedicated to excellence, kind, thoughtful, hard-working, extremely reliable Rosa Olivares - quiet confidence, exceptionally hard-working, sweet disposition, loyal, conscientious

Residential Life

Jamie Banks - Positive, friendly and dedicated worker Stephen Bovio - Hard working and fun loving Danica Brown - Sweet smile, wonderful personality Anh-Viet Dinh - Talented photographer, always willing to help George Douglas - Big heart and helping hands Jacqueline Golden - Artistic, bright and bubbly Jemma Ferguson - Sweet, caring and always available Jacob Hall - Compassionate, genuine and always smiling Kelly Hewes - Zealous, intelligent and responsible Steve Jun - Dedicated, quietly funny hard worker Aly Kirchhof - Dedicated, communicative and reliable Navid Leelani - Funny, considerate and dependable Lu Liu - Diligent, thoughtful and always prepared Matthew Mitts - Witty, smart, full of laughter Andie Moniaci - Outgoing, accomplished, eager to help Katy Norman - Generous, hard-working and kind John Pederson - Always dependable, caring heart Ian Plantz - Friendly, compassionate and wise McKenzie Quinn - Driven, passionate and goal-oriented Paige Roth - Energizer bunny at your service Kristen Schultz - Beautiful heart and beautiful mind Kayley Slezak - Energetic people person Brett Steffen - Reliable, laid-back and fun Anna Van Buskirk - Passionate, dogmatic, willing to help Tony Vieira - Truly interested in helping others Victor Vo - Always enthusiastic and always smiling Emma Willhoite - History buff, kind friend Christopher Williams - Enthusiastic, hard-working and grateful Breanna Willis - Composed, honest and an explorer Lauren York - Beatboxing goddess, Texas-sized heart

Student Ambassadors

Barbara Berkova - 2 years of service Anh-Viet Dinh - 2 years of service George Douglas - 1 year of service Lauren Krummel - 3 years of dedicated leadership Casie Lomeli - 1 year of service Rachel Maceross - 2 years of service Adhwaith Mani - 2 years of service Andy Moniaci - 3 years of service Ashley Poston - 1 year of service Gillian Priddy - 2 years of service Lea Watson - 2 years of service Benjamin Whitehead - 2 years of service Madison Winchester - 2 years of service

Student Government Association Evan Lewis Abigail Miracle Christian Nardini Taylor Neilsen Caroline Roberts Kimi Siu

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

Can I get a hell yes? Relax and embrace the time Senior Column Matt Kennemer, graphics editor

As a graduating senior, I continually get asked, “What are you planning on doing after graduation?” Which is typically followed by, “Are you excited to graduate?” I feel like the common response to these questions is

just a very general response with a job title and a location followed by the general “I don’t want to graduate” statement. I understand that graduating and moving into the real world is intimidating, but as graduating

seniors we should be proud of what we have learned in our time at Trinity and we should be confident about where we will be after we graduate. When someone asks you these questions, you should take some time to reflect on what you have learned as a student at Trinity and you should be proud to express what it is that you will be doing after graduation and why you decided to do it. As graduates of Trinity University, there will be few people our age more qualified for the working environment than we will be.

Trinity has not only prepared us for what we will need to know in our respective careers, it has taught us things that we never even knew we wanted to know.

I came to Trinity as an engineering major knowing deep down inside that was what I wanted to do, and it was what I needed to do. I am graduating in two and a half weeks with a degree in studio art and a minor in new media. You might be thinking that was an awful decision on my part, that I won’t make anywhere near the money as I would have as an engineer.

Although this may be true, one thing I know for sure is that I will absolutely love my job and that is what truly matters. That’s the thing about Trinity, you come here to become the person that you think you want to be, and you leave as the person that you were meant to be. I look back at my four years here and I am proud of every single choice that I have made. Ok, maybe not every single choice, but who hasn’t made some mistakes? But what I am proud of is the person that I have become.

When I came to Trinity, I thought

I knew everything I wanted in life, and now I am leaving and ready to take on any challenge and to become whatever it is that I am meant to be.

I challenge you, fellow seniors, and those of you who will be seniors in the future: When someone asks you if you are excited to graduate, you tell them “Hell yes,” because you should be excited (of course this is theoretically speaking; be polite to whoever is asking this question). Then take some time to think about why you are excited. You are graduating from one of the top universities in the nation (thanks, U.S. News) which has given you every tool you need to be successful for the rest of your life. You have worked really hard the last four years in order to learn the things you needed to learn to take this next step we are about to take. And now that we are graduating, we finally get to take everything that we have learned and put it to use.

It is time for us to take those tools that we have been given and create the lives that we were meant to live. Some of us will be going to graduate school and I wish you all the best. The rest of us, on the other hand, will no longer be turning in assignments.

We are no longer doing these things because we have to, we are doing them because we want to.

So let’s all go out there and make the best of the lives that we have set up for ourselves.

So, am I excited for graduation?

Hell yes.

Matt Kennemer is graduating with a bachelor of arts in studio art and a minor in new media.

theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

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Life changes a lot in four years at Trinity University Senior Column Lauren Schroeter, columnist When I first got to Trinity, I was depressed.

Very depressed.

I spent two and a quarter of my years at Trinity being depressed. Isn’t it funny, then, that when I finally manage to come to terms with myself and be happy and excited to do things at school, that I’m graduating. Haha, I’m just laughing so much, it’s hilarious!

Now I get to go out into the world and be depressed again! It’s so funny how that works. OK, enough with the depression! I’m over it.

Last night, as I tried to go to bed, I thought of something really funny to write here.

Well, I forgot what it was.

Why do I have to write a senior column again? Is this my punishment for working for the Trinitonian? I mean, like, my “Trinity Experience”?

What experience?

I was depressed for over half the time I was here, and then I spent the rest of my time trying to pull myself out of the ditch I had dug. Fun times. So what do I wanna say? Well,

I would like to personally thank everyone who has ever laughed at my jokes, all like, three of you. It’s good to know some people here can recognize unfunny jokes as an art form.

You guys, all you three entire people, you keep me going. Please don’t ever laugh at anyone else’s jokes, it makes me jealous.

But seriously, if you want to read something like, “Oh four years goes by so fast,” then you should read another column.

The first two years at this school went by painfully slowly. The minutes felt like hours and I felt nothing but a pit of dread in my chest and a deep, numb sadness in my heart.

It was only the last year that went by fast, probably because it was only really this past semester that I learned to really care about and value myself. And you know what?

I’m afraid of losing that, because if I do, it will take years to get back.

You probably expected me to be funny for my last Trinitonian column ever, but you were wrong! I’m actually just trying to get the word count now.

You see, for other seniors, writing a senior column is optional, but for me, a Trinitonian employee, it isn’t.

Let’s see, well, once I graduate, this school will probably not see someone as pretty and as hilarious and awesome as me, so you guys should probably start

mourning now. I mean, what are you going to look forward to next year if there’s no column by Lauren Schroeter waiting for you at the end of the week?

Nothing, that’s what.

It’s ok for you to cry about it: You won’t be the first person who has shed tears over me.

Good luck, dweebs.

Lauren Schroeter is graduating with a bachelor of arts in religion and a minor in geosciences.

Congratulations Grads!

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theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

May we never ever lose our sense of wonder Senior Column Jonathan Hernandez It’s hard to believe I’m writing this senior column for a few reasons. I was born and raised

Hildebrand

McCollough

in San Antonio and went to an inner-city high school on the city’s west side.

Although I decided to go to college in my own home town, I experienced a major culture shock during my first year. I can remember times in the middle of the night when I would sit on our balcony on Miller second and call my dad in tears. My voice would quiver as I’d say, “Dad, I can’t do

Next to Taco Taco

this. It’s too much. I don’t feel like I belong. I don’t feel like I’m on the same playing field as these kids when it comes to school.

I want to go home. After this semester, I don’t want to come back.”

I look back on that time now and it seems like such a distant and faded memory. I’m writing about that because maybe there is a first year out there who, for

whatever reason, will read this senior column and realize that it gets better. It does.

As some of us move on to new seasons in our lives, I hope and pray that we continue to represent Trinity well to the world around us. I hope that we don’t forget the beautiful privilege we have had to attend a school like this one. I hope the desire to learn never leaves us.

OLMOS PARK CHEVRON Student and Faculty Special 10% 5 Off All Parts and Labor $5.00 Off Oil Change Wheel Aligment Brake Repairs Tune-ups Air Conditioning State Inspections

May we continue to be a people of curiosity, compassion, grace and sympathy. I wish with all of my heart that we continue to be a people who work and strive for a better world for our children and grandchildren. I hope that we continue to be a people that value relationships, intimacy and connection over differences.

Let us not be afraid to be open, vulnerable, raw and authentic if it means it will help another person realize that they’re not alone.

I hope that we’ll take the shirt off our backs for the cold man under the bridge. I pray that our hearts would break in agony at the sights and sounds of injustice and that we would rise up in righteous indignation and not sit back and turn a blind eye to some of the harsh realities of this world.

I pray that we would never be satisfied with just knowing someone, but that our hearts would ache when their hearts ache, that we would be joyful in the success and happiness of others, and that we would laugh deeply when other people laugh.

Above all, I pray that we would never lose our wonder; may we eternally be wide-eyed and mystified, never forgetting the beauty and the mystery in the people and the world around us.

Jonathan Hernandez is graduating with a bachelor of arts in communication and a Spanish minor.

theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

Graduation Issue

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The most important question to ask Senior Column

Heather Bush For the majority of us who pass through Trinity, we have four years to experience life here. While four years isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, it’s still a decent chunk of time.

With the small student population and campus, it’s fair to assume that, by the time graduation rolls around, you should have a pretty nice understanding of how things work around here.

At this point in my Trinity career, I feel confident in saying that I’m ready to go. However, I am left with one unanswered question concerning campus life.

It’s nothing crazy—I’m not anticipating that the answer will rock my world—but, still. I’d like to know. So, I’d like to use my allotted 500 words to ask the Trinity community a question that, in my four years here, I’ve been unable to find a satisfying answer to.

Now, I’m well aware of the fact that the majority of the student body population will not read this column—or even open the Trinitonian— so my results (if anyone were to actually respond to this) will be a little skewed.

However, to those who do

read this paper: what do you do on Friday between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.?

“To those wo read this paper: what do you do on Friday between the hours of 2 PM and 6 PM? Since my freshman year, my best friend and I have agonized over this question.”

Since my freshman year, my best friend and I have agonized over this question.

Classes end at 2:30 and most people don’t eat dinner before six, leaving the campus a ghost town during the time in between.

Often, we’d walk around the silent campus, wondering if we’d somehow missed the apocalypse and happened to be the last two humans left on earth.

I’ve done my fair share of detective work, yet very few of my fellow students have been able to provide a clear answer. The leading responses are as follows: homework, sleeping and hanging out off campus.

To the first response, I call bullshit; you are not all doing homework on a Friday afternoon. To the second answer, OK. Maybe a large portion of you are

napping. I’ll let that one slide. And as for the third, I’m sure many students are doing something nonschool related off-campus; I suppose that’s possible.

Though I’ve received several (bogus) answers, I still cannot help but think that I’m missing out on something. I have three Fridays left at Trinity before graduation and I’d really like to spend them well. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Please send all responses to hbush@trinity.edu in a timely manner.

Middlemass, Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Gibson, Dr. Madrid, Dr. Kearl, Dr. Spener, Dr. UrquijoRuiz, Dr. Blanco-Cano, Dr. Martinez, Dr. Cook, Dr. Burr, Dr. Wallace, Dr. Hansen, Dr. Navarro, Dr. Plenge, Dr. Aarons and Dr. LeCoat) and the best staff members to make all those long processes more bearable (Arleen from the political science department and the staff from the Office of the Registrar: Maria, Marcos, Angie and Eve). Thank you for having the best group of people that kept our campus as clean and beautiful as possible.

Gracias por darme a la mejor familia latina que me hizo sentir como en casa durante estos cuatro años. Gracias por darme a cinco hermanas de México, Colombia, Ecuador y la República Dominicana.

Es por ti Trinity que pude conocer y acercarme a personas de diferentes partes del mundo a las que

nunca pensé conocer. Por ultimo, gracias a mi papá y a mi mamá por darme el mejor regalo que cualquier hija pudiera pedir, por que al darme la oportunidad de venir a Trinity no solo me dieron una educación inigualable, sino también cuatro años llenos de alegrías y bendiciones que nunca olvidare.

Trinity, I must be honest, I never thought that I would miss you. But as graduation day approaches and the “real world” becomes more of a reality, I have come to the realization that I will miss more than I thought possible.

You’ve been great, Trinity, and I am proud to call myself a Trinity Tiger.

Heather Bush is graduating with a bachelor of arts in English and minors in creative writing and mathematics.

Con mucho amor y cariño, Trinity Senior Column

Maria Cristina Ortegon

Dear Trinity, Thank you for giving me the best college experience that anybody could ask for.

I still can’t believe that four years have gone by, but before I go I would like to say thank you. Thank you for opening my eyes and introducing me to different worlds through

your classes; if it weren’t for your Common Curriculum I don't think that I ever would have known how interesting sociology is or how much fun (and hard) oceanography can be. Thank you for having the best professors to guide me through this journey (Dr. Nishikawa, Dr. Hermann, Dr.

Con mucho amor y cariño, Maria Cristina Ortegon Maria Cristina Ortegon is graduating with a bachelor of arts in political science and a minor in international studies.

Thank you Faith for being the best editor-in-chief literally ever. Your jokes make Thursday nights the best night of the week!

Thank you Alicia for being a super cool managing editor. You work your butt off every week and we appreciate it!

theTrinitonian

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Graduation Issue

4-5pm Tower Climb Murchison Tower

Wednesday May 13th 4:30-7pm Casino Night Murchison Lawn

3-4:30pm Last Great Reception Mabee Dining Hall 5-6pm Baccalaureate Vespers Parker Chapel

Friday May 15th

Thursday May 14th

6-7pm Commencement Speeches Skyline Room

Jesse Gamble, Matt Mitts and Anna Van Buskirk

7-10pm Twilight at Trinity Storch Lawn (Mabee Dining Hall if there is rain)

10:30am-1pm GRADUATION! Laurie Auditorium

Saturday May 16th

Graduation Issue

theTrinitonian MAY.01.2015

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theTrinitonian

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Graduation Issue

THANKS FOR HELPING TRINITY UNIVERSITY Thank you for supporting the Trinity University Phonathon!

PHONATHON RAISE OVER $220,000!

Alamo Draft House Artpace San Antonio Big Bob’s Burgers Bill Miller BBQ Blue Star Contemporary Art Center Cheesy Jane’s Chester’s Hamburgers Chili’s Dave and Buster’s Double Tree by Hilton Earth Burger El Mirador Good Time Charlie’s Green Vegetarian Cuisine Hilton Palacio del Rio Institute of Texan Cultures Magic Time Machine Mamma Margie’s McNay Art Museum

Order Up Paesanos Pizza Hut Quarry Hofbrau and Beer Garden Raising Cane’s Regal Cinema Rio Rio Cantina Rockin’ R’s Camping San Antonio Botanical Garden San Antonio Symphony Taco Taco Target The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum The Guenther House The Popcorn Place Tomatillos Tre Trattoria University Bowl Viva Books