Mike Yawn teaches at Sam Houston State University. In the past few years, he has taught courses on Politics & Film, Public Policy, the Presidency, Media & Politics, Congress, Statistics, Research & Writing, Field Research, and Public Opinion.
He has published academic papers in the Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Social Security Quarterly, Film & History, American Politics Review, and contributed a chapter to the textbook Politics and Film.
He also contributes columns, news analysis, and news stories to newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express News, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, Huron Daily Tribune, Laredo Morning Times, Beaumont Enterprise, Connecticut Post, and Midland Reporter Telegram.
Yawn is also active in his local community, serving on the board of directors of the local YMCA and Friends of the Wynne. Previously, he served on the Huntsville's Promise and Stan Musial World Series Boards of Directors.
In 2007-2008, Yawn was one of eight scholars across the nation named as a Carnegie Civic Engagement Scholar by the Carnegie Foundation.
We are just one month away from Election Day (November 7, 2023) and there are some pretty important positions up for vote in Huntsville!
The Mayor’s seat is up for election, as well as 4 city council seats and 2 school board of Trustees seats. To educate ourselves, and to assist, LEAP Ambassadors attended the “Meet the Candidates” event put on by the Walker County Republican Party. Although hosted by the GOP, the candidates are all running for non-partisan positions, and it is in that nonpartisan spirit that we attended the event.
Attendees heard from the following individuals who will be on the ballot:
For the mayoral race, Candidates Russell Humphrey and John Jafreh…
Running unopposed for Ward 1, Tore Fossum…
For Ward 2, candidates Casey Cox and Yolanda Scott…
For Ward 3, Candidates Russell Barnett, Benjamin Sessions, and Anissa Antwine…
Running unopposed and for reelection, Jon Strong for Ward 4…
For Position 4 on the HISD School Board Ryan LeNorman and John Hendricks…
Running unopposed and for reelection, Cathy Schweitzer…for Position 5 on the HISD School Board.
To conclude the evening, Walker County Tax Assessor Diana McRae gave brief voter update and a reminder for voters to do their research ahead of time.
Thank you to all the candidates for speaking to attendees and good luck in November!
In a world increasingly interconnected and dependent on international cooperation, understanding the intricacies of foreign relations and diplomacy has never been more crucial. To further explore the topic, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston (WAC) featured former United States Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster at ChampionX’s headquarters.
During his introduction, Jahan Jafarpour highlighted Ambassador Kenneth’s extraordinary career as Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of India.
He also mentioned Ambassador Juster’s extensive education and former occupation as a lawyer. Following Mr. Jafarpour’s remarks, Ronan O’Malley, the moderator for the evening, and Ambassador Juster took the stage.
To start the evening, Ambassador Juster began with an introduction of the U.S. and India’s complex foreign relationship over the years. He explained that India is a nonaligned country, meaning it works with many countries, including the U.S., but is not allied with any particular country. One explanation for this non-alliance is due to India’s geographic position, which offers India unique opportunities and challenges.
India’s emergence as a nonallied global power has made it the bridge between the West and the global South. The recent formation of the BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa further emphasizes this point. Ambassador Juster mentioned some of the concerns that came with the formation of BRICS. He believes this group can serve as a warning to the U.S. to strengthen foreign relations as the world begins to seek a shift in power moving away from a more Western-dominated world.
Ambassador Juster focused on the importance of India’s growing economy and what this means for the future of the country. Under Prime Minister Modi and his more direct economic approach, India is currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Countries like the U.S. and China are eager to work with India, despite their complex history, and in China’s case, a fostering sense of mistrust. Ambassador Juster expressed that the U.S.-India foreign relations is currently “one of the most consequential relations.”
Ending the night with the Q&A portion of the evening…
… we were able to learn more about Ambassador Juster’s role and what being Ambassador to India entails. Ambassador Juster describes the role as similar to that of a mayor who is responsible for all Americans and U.S. affairs inside the country, ranging from American schoolchildren, visas, intelligence, to the occasional arrested tourist. The role of ambassador is a multifaceted position that requires diplomatic finesse, cultural acumen, and a steadfast commitment to representing one’s country on the global stage.
The final question of the night was asked by Professor Yawn, who wanted to know who Ambassador Juster believes to be the most effective politician he has worked with, in which he notes former President George H. W. Bush and Jim Baker. In fact, he refers to this administration as the “Golden Age of Foreign Relations” due to its many triumphs.
To follow the evening’s theme, corresponding with Ambassador Juster’s ties to the Republic of India, we decided to indulge in some Indian cuisine for dinner.
Olivia found an incredible restaurant named Namaste that proved to be absolutely delicious! Our server, Kledisa, ensured we made the most of our meal and recommended an array of a delicious dishes for us to try.
We started with some ginger garlic chicken and samosas for our appetizers. The table was laden with a variety of entrees, such as chicken butter masala, korma, madras goat pepper curry, chettinad with paneer, and roast chicken biryani, paired with naan bread and rice.
Namaste introduced us to a new and delightful experience with exceptional dishes and impeccable service. It truly was the perfect conclusion to yet another successful WAC event!
ChatGPT was released for public use on November 30, 2022. Because law firms are starting to use ChatGPT, some law schools, such as the University of Tulsa College of Law, are incorporating how to use ChatGPT ethically into their law school required legal research and writing courses.
There is no consensus among law schools, however, regarding the issue of allowing applicants to use ChatGPT in the law school admissions process, especially in the personal statement requirement. Dean Sue Ann McClellan, Assistant Dean of Admissions at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, explains that the Memphis law school now asks applicants to acknowledge that the personal statement is their own work product and that the applicant did not utilize AI/ChatGPT. The University of Michigan University Law School bans ChatGPT in law school applications. In contrast, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law allows law school applicants to use ChatGPT in their law school applications, including in their personal statements. Arizona State’s law school requires that law school applicants must disclose if they used AI tools, similar to the requirement to acknowledge if they used a professional consultant.
Interestingly, Troy Lowry, Senior Vice President of Technology Products at lsac.org, compared law school applicants’ personal statements with the proctored, timed LSAT writing samples written by the same students. Lowry found that “AI managed to predict correctly better than two-thirds of the time whether the author was the same or not and provided reasons to support its predictions.”
Therefore, what are the best practices for a law school applicant regarding the issue of using ChatGPT?
First, an applicant should always review and follow the policy regarding use of ChatGPT for each law school to which the student is applying. Secondly, and most importantly, understand that your personal statement, written by you as opposed to ChatGPT, will be more authentic because it is your unique story. Your personal statement will allow the law school admissions committee to understand, and remember, the real you.
Just imagine, if Taylor Swift chose ChatGPT to write her songs instead of writing her own songs, would Billboard Magazine be announcing that Taylor Swift now holds the all-time record for the most #1 hits on Billboard’s Pop Radio Chart?
The Wynne Home Arts Center is a pillar in the Huntsville community in promoting the arts and civic engagement. It is always a pleasure to attend the many events the Wynne Home has throughout the year, and we have especially enjoyed their Speaker Series. Starting off the fall with its first presenter, Charles Jones, a jack of all trades of the arts, gave a glimpse into his impressive work.
Following an introduction by Joe Kirkland, Jones shared how the nature of Huntsville–where he was raised–fostered his perception of community and artistic inspiration.
We had the opportunity to view a comprehensive showcase of Jones’ work through a presentation, which consisted of prints, sketches, and woodcuts. These pieces captured the essence of his passion for philosophy and the human condition.
He attributed his love of the arts to his family, as his parents encouraged him to refine the skills of what he excelled and enjoyed in his childhood. Whether it was music, literature, or art, Jones followed what he was interested in.
Charles Jones put it simply: “Art is powerful; it allows you to participate in things”. It’s a reminder that art is an active experience, inviting us to join in the rich tapestry of human expression.
Angela Robinson and Nancy Gaertner helped close the program, but many people stayed around to learn more…
…including us.
This experience allowed the audience to both appreciate Huntsville’s roots and how far it has come.
While many things have changed over the course of time, the dedicated community that champions the arts has remained unwavering. We greatly appreciate the Wynne Home’s strides in providing enriching events to our community, and look forward to the speakers to come!
Many SHSU students spend four years in Huntsville without actually exploring Huntsville. As it turns out, though, Huntsville has a lot to do and see, whether you are a weekend visitor or an SHSU student who calls Huntsville home. As LEAP Ambassadors, we are pretty familiar with the community, but we wanted to be more systematic in our exploration. So we set out to do monthly explorations of Huntsville.
Many people may know there is a large statue on I=45, but some do not know the City’s visitor center is almost literally at the foot of that statue. With a quick exit from the highway, passersby can learn a bit about the community and its notable sites. On hand is a group of dedicated City staff, who will point visitors to Huntsville attractions, highlight aspects of the community’s rich culture and history, direct tourists to myriad outdoor activities, or recommend some of the city’s culinary options.
There are also a variety of local goods and products, perfect for shopping for a visitor to town or a long-time resident.
But while you are there, David Adickes’ “A Tribute to Courage,” a 67-foot sculpture of Sam Houston, is a must-see! Not only is the statue a marvel to see at the ground level…
…but it’s also interesting to see some familiar names among the bricks that were purchased to support the project. We were able to see local names familiar to us–including a LEAP Ambassadors’ brick!
More importantly, we were able to see bricks purchased by Governor George W. Bush, President George H.W. Bush, President Lech Walesa, of Poland, and a relative of Sam Houston!
According to the good folks at the Visitor Center, there’s even a marriage proposal among the bricks.
And while there, we were literally able to get in to Sam Houston’s head…
…and see Huntsville in a whole new light. Tune in next month, to see where we go in our year-long exploration of Huntsville.
If it’s the beginning of Fall, Touch-A-Truck is soon occurring! This free event is for the young and young at heart, allowing residents to interact with and learn about the vehicles that allow a community to operate. While half of the team of LEAP Ambassadors were at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, the other half stayed back and volunteered for this event.
This year, the new Main Street Director, Rebekah Kolb, added her own spin to this event by having other activities for the children to enjoy such as bouncy houses, rock wall, photo-op, and a dunking booth that allowed them to dunk many of the City of Huntsville’s respected employees, including the City Manager Aron Kulhavy.
As a former Main Street Intern, I helped at the Main Street Table in Rather Park, giving out promotional items while Michelle was able to run around downtown and release her inner child as she took photographs.
There was no shortage of vehicles in “display:” they ranged from construction…
…to police cars and SWAT, including SHSU’s newest and coolest PD Vehicle (SWAT!)…
…to fire trucks and EMS…
….monster truck….
….and many more!
Michelle had trouble picking her favorite. Ultimately, it was a three-way tie between the “huge monster truck, Huntsville PD’s Pitbull x (SWAT truck), and the Fire Trucks.” She mentioned how amazing it was to learn about all the different vehicles and their specific roles in the community. However, her favorite part was getting to see some familiar faces and important city figures such as the City of Huntsville’s Mayor; Andy Brauninger!
Although, the vehicles and big trucks are always a big HIT, the dunking booth was just as much of a big hit, especially when City Manager Kulhavy was up to be dunked. Many of the children, volunteers, and even Mayor Brauninger and Mrs. Brauninger waited much of the day to line up and dunk him! Michelle and I may have also been eagerly awaiting this opportunity…
Thank you to Rebekah, Angela, and all those who participated in making Touch-A-Truck a great event. It is always nice to see the community come together in events like these and run into lovely familiar faces.
A couple of years ago, I was making my way through Stephen Harrigan‘s terrific “Big Wonderful Thing…,” a history of Texas. Even it almost 1,000 pages, the book, by necessity, omits interesting events and facts about Texas. But on page 387, Harrigan manages to include this line, “Round Rock–currently a booming suburb of Austin whose amenities include the Lone Star Bakery, the home of the world’s great doughnuts…”
It is only one clause in a long book, but it caught my attention. How good must these doughnuts from Lone Star Bakery (aka Round Rock Donuts) be to be referred to as the “world’s greatest”?
How good must these doughnuts be for inclusion in a history of Texas, alongside the Alamo, Sam Houston, Lyndon Johnson, and Willie Nelson?
Pretty darn good, we learned. One of the Ambassadors had already tried the establishment. She interned in Austin in the spring, and lobbyists, it seems, ever eager to curry favor with legislators, use Round Rock Donuts as their go-to.
With good reason. Their items are baked fresh throughout the day, and they have extended hours for your day-long enjoyment. The eclairs melt in your mouth; the maple honey is almost worth diabetes. Their kolaches are made with real sausage. And their Texas Donut is bigger than you can eat.
We discovered this as a group yesterday (Sunday, September 25, 2023) as our take-home trip. After sampling the kolaches, apple fritters, eclairs, and honey-maple, all we can say is, “We understand Mr. Harrigan, we understand.”
After a successful first day of immersing ourselves into the various subdisciplines within politics, LEAP students continued in their educational pursuits at The Texas Tribune Festival.
The Paxton Trial has been a hot-button topic recently; and who better to provide insight into the verdict than the lead prosecutors on the case? Dick DeGuerin, Erin Epley, Rusty Hardin, and Harriet O’Neill provided the crowd with the many dynamics at play during the trial. We didn’t know it yet, but this panel was the favorite of the day among the group.
Continuing the conversations, we were able to hear from Emergent 25, a pharmaceutical manufacturer (Amanda Becker), a U.S. Representative (Henry Cuellar), Texas Senator (Royce West), and the Attorney General of Oregon (Ellen Rosenblum) in the context of the Opioid Crisis and how the epidemic is being addressed. Ariza and I were able to speak with Representative Cuellar shortly after the panel and we were able to get a photo!
We took a brief break for lunch to meet with SHSU Alumni and former SHAIP intern Spencer Copeland, where we were able to talk about our educational goals and interests over Kerbey Lane, an Austin staple.
Trying a new method of tackling the ‘Tribune, we split into two groups corresponding to our shared interests. Ariza and Ashlyn attended “El Paso Matters Presents: Texas and the Border,” covering the realities of border towns and upcoming legislation that could address immigration issues.
Ashlyn noted; “I thought the legislation from Rep. Morales was innovative in the approach of documenting immigrants and providing a new citizenship process for a bipartisan effort.”
Ariza added; “As someone who was born and raised in a border town, all you see are problems. Rep Morales’ idea, which would alter how immigration is conducted and boost Texas’ economy, caught my attention.”
Morgan and I, who have a shared interest in collective community growth, were particularly interested in the future implications of the skill gap in children’s education on their surrounding communities. A one-on-one with Houston Independent School District Superintendent, Mike Miles, to cover innovative methods in maintaining equity, closing the skill gap, and “changing the culture” of education over time was a great way to understand how those issues will be addressed going forward.
Many people find politics to be a frightening subject, so to continue with the theme, we headed to the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre to experience a supernatural murder mystery titled A Haunting in Venice.
Inspired by Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party, the deceitful group, featuring our favorite retired French detective, Hercule Poirot, was left on All Hallows Eve in a haunted palazzo to reveal the true cause of Alicia Drake’s death.
True to many of Christie’s works, the truth was impossible to anticipate. With elements of the other-worldly occurrences and hidden secrets, this film left the group anxious of what might transpire next.
Before leaving, we couldn’t help ourselves but to recreate the film poster just outside the theatre. Similar to the movie, it was impossible to distinguish the guilt and mischief from our demeanor.
This two day adventure at The Texas Tribune Festival was a true delight, and allowed all of us to distinguish the aspects of politics and government that interested us. Our political immersion at the state capital complimented the excellent education we have in the classroom at SHSU.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 