Flashback: Articles from Texas State's University Star: Spring Semester

Reading old journal entries on my Livejournal, I came across an entry with all the articles from the days as a wee little j-schooler. During my first semester at SWT, I joined the newspaper staff for The University Star as a news writer. Obviously, I didn't stay very long but I like reading these to remind myself how much my writing has evolved since I decided that I wanted to write for a living. Or maybe it hasn't evolved. It's all subjective. By the way, most of the comments in itatlics were written when this blog was originally posted in 2004.

We were having elections to our little government so each reporter had to write little profile on 3 candidates. Here were mine.

1/4/01

Name: Ryan McDow
Office Seeking: senator, applied arts
Major/Year: criminal justice senior
Age: 23

McDow has been involved with ASG for one and a half years. He is also involved with other organizations, including the Interfraternity Council, of which he serves as president. He said he works well with people and has a good understanding about what the university and students need.

One piece of legislation he wants to propose is a bus system that will transport students from San Marcos to Austin.

McDow said students should vote for him because he will accomplish things that need to be done and will represent the students well.

Name: Cory Todd
Office Seeking: senator, applied arts
Major/Year in school: criminal justice senior
Age: 22

Todd has been in ASG for a semester and hopes to make changes to make the SWT experience better for students. He said he is a team player and looks for the best for the students and university. He wants to organize the election next semester so students do not have to walk all the way to The Quad to vote, but with a click of a mouse, they will be able to vote for their choice on the Internet.

Todd believes students should vote for him because he cares about the school and wants to get the best for SWT, especially for the political science department.

Name: Brandon Smith
Office Seeking: senator, applied arts
Major/Year: criminal justice junior
Age: 22

Smith is new to ASG and wants to try it out and make changes. He said he has good people skills, which he acquired through his fraternity. He said he also uses his motivation to get stuff done.

One piece of legislation Smith wants to propose is to get a program started with student rides.

Smith wants to change the involvement with the students and school by trying to get them to participate with organizations and sporting events.

Advertising scholarship presented to SWT
By Sarah Vasquez

News Reporter
2/1/01

Undergraduate marketing students are now eligible to receive a new scholarship thanks to the contributions of the executive director of the Austin Advertising Federation.

Carolyn Barkley presented the scholarship to SWT in honor of her grandmother, who graduated from the university in 1950 at age 75 - the oldest graduate on record.

The scholarship will be known as the Carolyn Barkley Scholarship in Marketing and Advertising at SWT.

"I am thrilled that Carolyn Barkley has chosen to establish the scholarship at SWT," said Mary Ann Stutts, marketing professor and co-adviser of the SWT chapter of AAF. "I have known Carolyn for about 10 years. She is one of the most caring, generous people I know."

Barkley said she decided to give the scholarship while she is still alive instead of leaving it in her will so that she could enjoy watching a student benefit from the money.

"I had received a scholarship when I was in college, and it paid for my books and fees for my entire sophomore year. I said I would return the favor to someone someday," said Barkley, who received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas-Austin in 1967.

Barkley said she was happy to honor her grandmother, who went to school at a time when few women attended college.

"I have always had a fond place in my heart for SWTSU, as my grandmother received her teaching degree there," Barkley said. "My grandmother would be so proud to know I established this scholarship in the Barkley name."

The scholarship is for $10,000, with only the interest, about $500 a year, being awarded to a marketing student.

Each year, Barkley and the Austin Advertising Federation will add money to the fund, so the interest amount will increase regularly.

The money from the scholarship first goes toward paying the recipient's course tuition, and if any is left over, it may be used for purchasing textbooks.

The recipient must have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

"It will be presented to a needy person who is hardworking and not necessarily an 'A' student, someone who has a strong, positive attitude and does not give up easily," Barkley said.

The first scholarship will be given in April 2001, and interested students may apply to the University Scholarship Committee.

SWT students study American presidency
By Sarah Vasquez
News Reporter
3/28/01

While most students were lying in the sun getting a tan during Spring Break, two SWT students and a lecturer attended the Center for the Study of the American Presidency in Washington, D.C.

Todd Curry, a geography junior; Justin Fisher, a marketing sophomore; and Patricia Parent, political science lecturer, were invited to attend the symposium based on their leadership experience.

"I was invited to attend namely because of my service as vice president of the Associated Student Government at SWT," Curry said.

The focus of the symposium was on "The First Hundred Days" of a presidential administration. Scholars, media types and political practitioners evaluated the current administration, sometimes in a historical context.

The conference featured numerous policy seminars, including topics such as presidential-legislative relations and the role of the media. Speakers included David Gergen, an opinion columnist for U.S. News and World Report, and Eleanor Clift, a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine.

"I gained valuable insight on the necessary ingredients an U.S. president must assemble to start a new administration on the right foot," Curry said. "The speakers were fantastic."

Also between policy seminars, Parent, Curry and Fisher had the opportunity to meet former SWT students who are now working in Washington, D.C.

SWT alumnus Kevin Washington, House Majority Leader Dick Armey's legislative director, talked to them about life as a congressional aide and devoted a few minutes to giving them an insider's tour of the Capitol.

The group also met Jill Foley Angelo, who is completing three internship hours and will graduate from SWT in August. Angelo is working as an assistant to Karen Hughes, President Bush's Counselor to the White House.

"We also got to see the Oval Office and the White House press room," Parent said. "We couldn't resist taking photos behind the famous podium. Most people never get to see this part of the White House."

The Center for the Study of the American Presidency is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization. It is the foremost educational institution in the United States devoted to the study of the presidency, government and politics. The center seeks to further the understanding of the American presidency and related institutions.

Other SWT students have attended the symposium in previous years. Last year, Cami Daigle, Kim Gunn and Tommy Sanchez attended, while Chad Sanders and Jennifer Jackson attended the year before.

"I think it is important that we continue to send representatives in future years so that SWT continues to get its name out in national settings," Curry said.

Even though the trip was during Spring Break, the three who attended enjoyed the time spent in Washington, D.C. Curry described the trip as fantastic.

"It's a bit more cerebral than lying out in the sun, but for politically minded students, it's worth it," Parent said.

Yeah. I got in trouble for this story by the professor teaching this class. She called me at 8 am (my class was at 10 I think so I woulda woke up at 9) and decided to bitch me out because of something I wrote in there (it's in bold). She was like "who gave you permission?" and I was like half asleep so my witty comebacks came like a minute after she had moved on therefore I seemed like a complete wuss because I didn't have anything to say. Ok that bolded part was in the PRESS RELEASE that was sent to me by her department therefore it's now public information. Ugh. Added today: I just noticed this was the last article I contributed to the Star and the angry teacher was in no way the reason why I stopped writing for them.

National expert to teach suicide class
By Sarah Vasquez
News Reporter
4/24/01

More than 30,000 deaths in the United States every year are a result of suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among adolescents, and the elderly have the highest rate of suicide.

A new course at SWT, Sociology of Suicide, will analyze the risk levels for suicide among these age groups.

The new upper level course will be offered starting in the fall 2001 semester. It is open to any students interested in taking the class.

"Sociology 3321 will be an excellent course," said Susan Day, professor and chair of the sociology department. "Students will develop an understanding of social forces that affect types and rates of suicide in different settings."

The class is going to be the only one of its kind offered in the country that examines the topic of a "suicide culture" and the connections between individual and societal orientations toward suicide, said Donna Holland Barnes, sociology professor who will teach the class.

Barnes is one of the nation's leading authorities on the topic of suicide. She is on the national boards of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and the Organization for Attempters and Survivors of Suicide in Interfaith Services. She is also a founding member of the National Organization of People of Color Against Suicide and is founder of a Central Texas chapter of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. Barnes became interested in suicide prevention after her son took his own life several years ago.

"Suicide has been declared a national health problem by the Surgeon General and it is time more universities offered a course on the subject," Barnes said.

Barnes has taught this course at Tufts University and Northeastern University in Boston.

"I believe that Boston University is one other university, among few, that offers a course on the subject," Barnes said. "It's a course that needs to be recognized in all universities."

The class members will begin with the history of suicide and read literature written on the subject that dates back to the 17th century. Students will gain a better understanding of environmental, psychological and biological forces that can lead to suicide. They will also learn to identify those at risk for suicide and the importance of evidence intervention and prevention and programs.

"Even though the subject is suicide ... it is not entirely a course on death and dying," Barnes said.

The course will also study survivors and how individuals cope with suicide in their immediate families or in a close knit community.

"The frame of reference is drawn from sociology and social psychology, and therefore emphasizes interaction, context and the ways in which situations are defined by members and others," Day said.

The course will be offered from 11-11:50 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in Evans Liberal Arts Building, Room 218. For further information, contact Barnes at db31@swt.edu or 245-8453.