Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Written By Robin Houghton

LEAP students recently had the opportunity to hear former FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs share his firsthand experience at the Pentagon during the tragedy of September 11, 2001, as well as reflect on how the field of counterterrorism has evolved in the 25 years since.  

Combs began by taking us back to the morning of September 11. He recalled what it was like to be at the Pentagon shortly after American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. For nearly 15 minutes after the impact, investigators did not know exactly what had happened. Rather than immediately realizing that a commercial airliner had crashed into the Pentagon, they initially believed the building may have been struck by a truck bomb.  

 The uncertainty made an already chaotic situation even more difficult to navigate. At the time, Christopher and his colleagues did not know how many planes had been hijacked or what the attackers intended to do next. When they learned that United Airlines Flight 93 had also been hijacked, their greatest fear was that the plane could be headed toward the Capitol, where Congress was in session. The actions of the passengers aboard Flight 93 ultimately prevented that fear from becoming a reality. 

As the situation began to unfold and authorities gained a clearer picture of the attacks, Christopher emphasized the importance of gathering as much evidence as possible. Once everyone who could safely escape had done so, investigators turned their attention to preserving the scene and collecting evidence that could help piece together what had happened. 

Among the tragedy and uncertainty, Christopher also recalled something more encouraging: the extraordinary teamwork that emerged in the aftermath. He described being inspired by the way thousands of people from the FBI and other government agencies came together with a shared purpose. In a moment defined by fear and confusion, cooperation became one of the most powerful tools available. 

 
Then he opened the floor to questions from the audience, which allowed Christopher to go more in-depth about how much counterterrorism efforts have grown since the attacks. While he stressed that we are not impenetrable, the U.S. has significantly strengthened its ability to identify, monitor, and respond to potential threats. The number of counterintelligence units in the FBI has grown from 2 to 12, and now military branches such as the Air Force are constantly prepared for an attack. 

For LEAP students, hearing these events recounted by someone who experienced them firsthand offered a perspective that cannot be captured in a textbook alone. Christopher’s stories not only provided insight into one of the most consequential moments in American history, but also highlighted how the events of September 11 shaped the future of counterterrorism and the work of those tasked with protecting the country. 

After the event…

…we stopped at J. Alexander’s for some contemporary American food. We tried a wide variety of foods, ranging from Spinach-Artichoke dip, Salmon dip, an Avocado-Tuna dip, a burger, crab cakes, steak, and a couple of salads.

For dessert, we tried a peanut butter pie, carrott cake, and black forest cake. The food was all excellent, and the standouts (we actually voted!) were the avocado tuna dip and the carrot cake.

It was also a great opportunity to catch up with some newcomers to WAC events, specifically Ryan Snow and Victoria Reich, both of whom are doing Moot Court, which also involves 9-11 and its aftermath.

Overall, LEAP students found this to be a night to remember and appreciate how far America has come. 

The Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP) recently completed the second week of its annual Citizenship Preparatory Course, continuing a five-week program designed to help area residents prepare for the naturalization process and pursue their goal of becoming United States citizens.

Held Tuesday evenings in September from 6:00–8:30 p.m. at the Walker Education Center, the course brings together immigrants, instructors, and volunteers in an environment devoted to learning and mutual support. Approximately 35 immigrants attended the second class, assisted by a dozen volunteers—almost all of whom were students from Sam Houston State University.

After focusing on the earliest portion of American history during the first class, participants moved into the period from 1776 to 1803. This era encompasses the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the formation of the new national government.

The class also explored the form of government established by the Constitution, including the three branches of government and the separation of powers among them. Participants learned about the Federalist Papers and discussed many of the nation’s leading founders, gaining both historical context and knowledge that may appear on the naturalization examination.

Professor Mike Yawn, an SHSU faculty member and director of the LEAP Center, taught the main English-language class, where he was reunited with Gregoria McGuire, a former “student” in the class who returned on this evening to inspire the current class. She obtained her citizenship in 2025.

SHSU student Nataly Elizondo led a smaller class for participants eligible to complete the naturalization examination in Spanish. Her work allows Spanish-speaking participants to study the same important concepts in the language in which they will be tested.

The course’s volunteers were also central to the evening’s success. They helped participants work through questions, clarify unfamiliar concepts, and practice material in smaller groups. With one week of experience behind them, volunteers and participants appeared more comfortable with one another, allowing for more conversation, interaction, and laughter.

By the conclusion of the second class, participants had expanded their knowledge of American history and government, while the volunteers had gotten to know the individuals behind the shared goal of citizenship. With three classes remaining, the program continues to combine education, encouragement, and community as participants move closer to the naturalization exam—and, they hope, citizenship.

Written By Allie Plunk

Pre-Law Society kicked off the semester with a night of fun, games, and friendly competition, thanks to the help of Dean Roberts, Victoria Cardenas, and our very own Victoria Reich, at SHSU’s Student Legal and Mediation Services Department.

As students arrived, they helped themselves to an assortment of pizza, cookies, and other snacks before settling in for the evening’s main event: Legal Jeopardy. While everyone ate, we had the opportunity to get to know our teammates, come up with team names, and go over the rules of the game. It was a great way to ease into the evening and get everyone acquainted before the competition began.

The rules were fairly simple. The game was divided into two parts, with each part containing three rounds and each round containing three questions. Before each round, Dean Roberts, our emcee for the evening, announced the categories. Once a question was read, teams had the length of a song to discuss their answer and decide how many points they wanted to wager. We then wrote our answers on our answer cards and sent a representative to turn them in.

There were plenty of interesting categories throughout the game, but some of my personal favorites were “Celebrities in Trouble with the Law” and “Legal Films.” The categories managed to combine what we already knew about the law with some more entertaining and unexpected trivia. After my less-than-stellar performance at last year’s Legal Jeopardy, I was determined to redeem myself this time around.

For much of the game, my team, Suits and Kats, was neck-and-neck with Four for Four. Every round seemed to bring us closer together—or further apart—as teams tried to make the most of their wagers and rack up enough points to take the lead. In the end, Suits and Kats was able to pull ahead and secure the victory! After last year’s loss, coming out on top this year made the win that much more satisfying.

More than anything, though, the event was a great way to bring Pre-Law Society members together at the beginning of a new semester. Between the food, the trivia, the friendly rivalry, and plenty of laughter along the way, everyone seemed to have a great time. And while we may have arrived ready to compete, I think we all walked away having learned a little more about the law—and maybe a few random legal facts we’ll remember for a long time.

A big thank-you goes to Dean Roberts, Victoria Cardenas, Victoria Reich, and Rachel Modisette for helping make the event possible and giving Pre-Law Society such a fun way to start the semester!

Written By Allie Plunk

September 1st marked the first day of LEAP’s Annual Citizenship Classes, an initiative that provides free resources and support to immigrants preparing to take their Naturalization Exams.

Before the class officially began, volunteers gathered to take a practice Naturalization Exam ourselves. This gave us a better understanding of the information participants would need to know before pursuing U.S. citizenship. Many of us were surprised by the complexity of some of the questions, and several volunteers—including myself—learned something new by the end of the evening!

Once the participants arrived and had an opportunity to eat, we divided them into two groups: those eligible to take the Naturalization Exam in Spanish and those who would need to take it in English. Applicants may qualify to take the test in their native language if they meet certain age and residency requirements, including being at least 50 years old and having lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for 20 years, or being at least 55 years old with 15 years of permanent residency. Nataly Elizondo led the Spanish-speaking group, while Professor Yawn led the English-speaking group.

The class began with a twenty-question practice Naturalization Exam, similar to the one the volunteers had taken earlier. Participants were encouraged to answer the questions to the best of their ability, allowing us to get a better understanding of their current knowledge of American history and, for those taking the English exam, their English-speaking skills. After the practice test, Professor Yawn covered important interview basics and discussed recent changes to the Naturalization process. He then began working through some of the most important moments in American history, covering everything from Christopher Columbus to George Washington.

One of my favorite moments of the evening was listening to what was arguably one of the most infamous performances of the National Anthem in recent American history: Fergie’s rendition at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. While certainly memorable for all the wrong reasons, it provided a humorous and lighthearted way to introduce the Star-Spangled Banner. It was an unexpected moment of laughter that made the lesson much more memorable for everyone in the room.

More than anything, it was incredible to see a room full of people working toward the same goal: becoming U.S. citizens. Each participant brought their own experiences, challenges, and reasons for pursuing citizenship, but they all shared the determination to take the next step in their journey. Being able to play even a small role in helping them prepare for such an important milestone was a genuinely rewarding experience, and I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this year’s Citizenship Classes have in store.