Civic Engagement – Page 37 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Agent Christopher Combs Talks the Future of the FBI

Michelle Cardenas

After a successful first week of classes, LEAP students headed to The Woodlands for their first World Affairs Council (WAC) meeting of the fall semester. Dr. Gene Roberts, Associate Dean and the Director of Student Legal & Mediation Services at SHSU, graciously joined our coalition of students in this endeavor. The featured guest speaker of the evening, FBI Special Agent Christopher Combs, possesses great insight into the last 20 years of United States affairs. Having served as a Special Agent In Charge of the San Antonio Division, Combs has a particular knowledge of matters concerning border control and domestic terrorism.

The event was hosted by one of WAC’s partners, ChampionX; a chemistry program and drilling technology company. The sunset-casted lakeside view from the building set an elevated tone for the evening.

Before the event began, Chief Development Officer of the World Affairs Council Sandija Bayot graciously introduced us to Special Agent Combs. He went on to share the very qualities that make a prospective FBI applicant stand out, placing a particular emphasis on a strong work ethic and unique experiences they have prior to their application. For example, Combs himself served as a volunteer firefighter for 8 years! The opportunity to speak candidly with a distinguished member of the FBI was incredible, especially for the many Criminal Justice majors in the group.

Shortly thereafter, Ronan O’Malley took the stage and introduced the event moderator, Sandija Bayot and the Director of External Affairs for Champion X, John Breed.

Christopher Combs took the stage with moderator Sandija Bayot and quickly jumped into the conversation. The focal point of Agent Combs’ conversation was to explain the FBI’s role in multiple historically disastrous events. He touched on how extensive FBI investigations are and how much hard work, planning and action takes place on the inside.

After being a part of the FBI for 26 years, Agent Combs has gathered quite a collection of stories; one of them being his experience during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Indeed, he served as the initial FBI On-Scene Commander at the Pentagon on 9/11. He explained how the Bureau received intel about foreign attacks and expected to be attacked in late September. However, the FBI expected an attack overseas, not here in the United States.

Agent Combs expressed great concern for America as technology continues to advance and the threats of competing superpowers and their tactics. The conversation shifted into an audience Q&A, and many topics such as border control, domestic terrorism, and drones ensued. He made a couple remarks on how the battle against terrorism, whether it be domestic or not, is never ending.

Though the conversation was heavy in nature, it ended on a positive note-thanks to Professor Yawn! Professor Yawn asked Agent Combs to speak to the young people in the audience about careers in the FBI. Agent Combs stated he believes in setting oneself apart from the crowd and truly devoting oneself to the greater good. Special Agent Combs closed with a remark that left the crowd at ease and patriotism: “The FBI is simply an organization made up of good Americans who are trying their best to protect Americans”.

BearKats Dine at Katz’s

Following our event we ventured to Katz’s, a New York style deli, to highlight the area in which Agent Combs was brought up. We started our evening with multiple appetizers that included the cheese crisps, spicy meatballs and the stuffed cabbage. We all dug into our savory appetizers as we waited for our entrees. There was a large group in attendance so we had quite the line up. Some of our favorite entrees included the Chicago bill, matzo ball soup, The Reuben, and The Monte Cristo. To end our night with a figurative cherry on top, we decided to indulge in some sweet treats. The delicious desserts we had included caramel raisin bread pudding, Oreo milkshakes and cheesecake milkshakes. The night concluded with new connections, great laughs, and an even greater anticipation of what’s to come in the fall.

The Luck of the Draw–City Elections

August 23, 2023, Yvette Mendoza

To gain a deeper understanding of Huntsville’s City Government and community, the LEAP Ambassadors attended this year’s 2023 city election ballot-order drawing. Held at the Huntsville Public Library, this event not only was a civic ritual of sorts, but also allowed us to explore the library’s art collection and the different library departments.

City Secretary Kristy Doll coordinated the event, while Mayor Brauninger was the person who, literally, pulled the names from the box. This lottery determines the names on the ballot, which interestingly, can actually make a difference in an election, as noted in research conducted by SHSU Professor Darren Grant.

Mayor Brauninger’s first selections addressed ballot order for Mayor, with Russell Humphrey winning the top “spot” and candidate John Jafreh drawing second the slot. For Councilmember of Ward 2, the order came in as: Casey Cox and Yolanda M. Scott. In Ward 3, where three candidates are vying for Council, the order came in as: Russell Barnett, Benjamin J. Sessions, and Anissa Antwine. Wards 1 and 4 are unopposed. Although this entire process took only a few minutes, it was fascinating to witness, and interesting to see the lengths that municipalities (and other governing entities) go to ensure fairness.

What proved even more captivating was the tour conducted by our colleague and LEAP Ambassador, Jessica Cuevas, who had previously interned at the Huntsville Public Library. It was a great experience for Olivia Discon and me to explore the Genealogy room where Jessica previously worked. The room housed an array of historical documents and textbooks donated to the genealogy department across the country.

Our visit not only enhanced our knowledge of city government and the genealogy department but also allowed us to appreciate the exquisite artwork displayed throughout the library, much of which had strong ties to Huntsville. We marveled at the Austin Hall drawing, David Adickes’ painting “Three Friends with Birds,” and the work of Lee Jamison, a renowned East Texas artist, “Virginia Gibbs Smith Gathering Place Jamison.”

This event was filled with valuable insights into the election ballot system, a journey through our city’s public library, and an appreciation of the artistic heritage that enriches our community!

Taking down a “Texas Sky”

Although it was the first day of school, a new beginning, it was also the last day of Derrick Birdsall’s excellent exhibit at the Wynne Home, “Under a Texas Sky.”

Since some of our students hadn’t seen the exhibit, and since all of our students enjoy Birdsall’s photography, we made a stop at the Wynne Home for a look at his photos and to have a discussion with him.

For some of us, it was a bookend, having been at the opening reception. But this time, we had more of a small-group setting, with a chance to ask questions and learn. As always, he was pleasant and helpful, giving tips on settings, lenses, editing, and the positioning required for a good shot. As photography enthusiasts ourselves, and as fans of Mr. Birdsall’s photography, it was a great way to kick off the semester!

Note: While Birdsall’s “Under a Texas Sky” came down, Molly Campbell’s artwork will soon be going up. The opening reception for her work will be on September 5 from 5:30-7:00pm.

Murder and Other Grave Matters

Morgan Robertson

To stay with our trend of Sunday outings to the theatre, prospective, current and past LEAP students headed south to enjoy the Alley Theatre’s rendering of Agatha Christie’s Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Olivia, Yvette, incoming freshman Katherine Burnett, Alum Victoria and her boyfriend Nick, and I planned on meeting Jessica, and Alums Bianca and Esme prior to the curtains opening.

We were a bit ahead of schedule, so we stopped by the nearby Police Memorial Sculpture, done by Jesus Moroles, an artist with whom we are very familiar.

We had, however, never seen the Memorial. The Memorial is very large and beautiful, done a manner similar to a Mayan Ziggurat.

We were fortunate to run into Officer Golden, who provided information to us about the Memorial and offered us some encouraging words. It was a treat to meet her and tour the Memorial with her.

We then stopped at Post Market, a great lunch venue for a group such as ours with varying levels of culinary tastes. There was a vast range of meal selections amongst the group ranging from mine and Yvette’s South-African coconut curry and chicken bowls, to Professor Yawn’s oysters and Victoria’s Dim Sum. Overall everyone was pleased with their selections!

As we were about to head to the Alley, we received some grave news by email. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the performance of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was cancelled. There’s nothing like an illness to get in the way of a murder.

While this might be , LEAP does a wonderful job of teaching students to think a few steps ahead. For a group such as ours, it can be rare that we all get to experience something new together. Professor Yawn suggested that we head back towards Huntsville, but make a stop at The National Museum of Funeral History.

The subject of the Museum gave us a bit of apprehension, but upon entering the museum, we were absolutely fascinated with the display and quantity of the exhibits.

We began with the Presidential Funeral exhibition and learned more about how our nation remembers and honors the lives of our Commanders-in-Chiefs.

Katherine enjoyed examining a collection of rare pennies honoring President Lincoln…

…and I was shocked to learn that the museum has an embalming machine that was used on the body of President Truman.

This museum put the “fun” back in funerals with an exhibit on famous funerals throughout entertainment history. From the King of Rock and Roll, Lucille Ball, to Marlon Brando; the museum did a wonderful job of displaying the importance these stars played on influencing our world.

We spent a considerable amount of time exploring the history of Papal funerals. The funeral of Pope John Paul II was one of the largest in history, and devoted much attention to this event. For example, when a Pope passes, his seal ring is smashed with a silver hammer to prevent forgery, and the doors of his apartment are sealed in wax until the final resting of his body is complete.

We also learned about post-mortem photographs, the jazz funerals of NOLA, and variations on the coffin.

Despite our skepticism in the beginning, rest assured that we departed with a newfound knowledge on the importance of funerals. Though our plans for the day were unexpected, it was a satisfactory and intellectually stimulating endeavor nonetheless!

A Journey Tribute, Main Street Style

The Huntsville Main Street Program does a lot of good things for the community, and one of these is its “Summer Music Series.” This summer’s series closed with “ESCAPE,” Houston-based tribute band. And although they are Houston-based, the band’s founder, Bobby Cayton, is actually a Huntsville native, and he seemed–along with everyone else–to enjoy his return to Huntsville.

Whether it was the return of this Huntsville native, or nostalgia for 80s Rock, or a free event on a Saturday night, there was a very large crowd.

Approximately 250 people were on hand, and their enjoyment of the band its music was obvious. The band offered directions–join in chants, wave your arms, come to the front, and the crowd obliged.

It was a special treat for City staff, who not only put on the event but also had a chance to enjoy it. Rebekah Kolb (Main Street Manager) supervised the program, with help from Angela Robinson (Program Coordinator for the Wynne Home). Aron Kulhavy was on hand, along with many music-series mainstays: Lois Stehlik, Darren and Marsie Grant, Derrick Birdsall, and Russell and Tish Humphrey.

Adding to the fun and sense of nostalgia was the band’s frequent trivia interventions, asking the audience to participate on matters such as, “Who was the band’s third drummer?” The audience proved remarkably knowledgeable, and they often, in turn, tried to direct the band, requesting specific songs and encouraging a longer playlist.

The ninety-minute set, though, was just right, a nice end to the summer break and a nice kick-off to the fall semester.

Town Hall with Rep. Pete Sessions

Morgan Robertson

Although Pete Sessions has been in Congress for 20-plus years, he has only represented the Huntsville area for less than a year. In that time, he’s held several events here, and this week, he held a “town hall.” With him were district staff, including Ingrid Cuero, an SHSU student interning in his office. I was also there to take photos, and to catch up on the goings-on in Washington.

Congressman Sessions began by providing updates on legislation everyone should be aware of during session, including healthcare, Medicare, border security and inflation. With all these issues on the table, it’s no surprise there were many folks from the community on hand, many of them with a lot to say.

In addition, it was nice to see many of our local officials on hand, including County Judge, Colt Christian; County Clerk, Leslie Woolley; District Attorney, Will Durham; Mayor Andy Brauninger; City Manager, Aron Kulhavy; Assistant City Manager Sam Masiel.

As a LEAP Ambassador, it was also nice to see many from the University present. We were able to say hi to SHSU’s Chief Strategy Officer, General Glaser; Vice President of University Advancement, Matthew Bethea; Deputy to the President, McCartney Johnson; Executive Assistant, Jennifer Alexander. The University has been very supportive of our internship programs and us individually, giving us a lot to be grateful for.

It’s great to see our University officials, local officials, and congressional representatives working together!

The Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics is non-partisan. The Center does provide internships to elected officials of both parties, and LEAP Ambassadors often attend town-halls, council meetings, or commissioner court meetings to become more informed about their community.

A Piratical Afternoon at the Hobby Center

The LEAP Center promotes education–across all disciplines–while emphasizing the impact education and service has on communities. Nothing makes a community more special than the people who are in it, and over the years, LEAP Ambassadors have developed a community of their own. In that spirit, Ambassadors past and present came together on a Sunday in July to get to know one another, to build community, and to enjoy the Houston Gilbert & Sullivan’s performance of “Pirates of Penzance.”

We all gathered at the POST Market for a quick bite before the performance at the Hobby Center. We had a great chance to get to know one another, converse, and share some of our experiences with LEAP. The alumni had a very welcoming approach and made us feel comfortable, urging us to ask questions. I personally asked questions about everyone’s higher education and career paths. Christian even gave me a striking piece of advice telling me to “take whatever Yawn has to offer, no matter how intimidating it is”. To conclude our time at the POST we headed to the terrace to take a photo with the magnificent Houston skyline.

Continuing our afternoon we made our way to The Hobby Center to enjoy The Pirates of Penzance.

I had never seen an operetta before, and I wasn’t sure what it would be or how to take it. It was far more comedic than I anticipated. This was made clear early on, when it’s clear that the main character, Frederic, was sold indentured into piracy because his hard-of-hearing nursemaid, Ruth, misheard “pilot” for “pirate.”

This led to a farcical plot with numerous appealing songs, the most famous of which is “Modern Major General,” which, in this rendition, incorporated some contemporary elements from King Charles’s recent coronation. As a former LEAP Ambassador said, “a lot of shade was thrown.” The shade, however, was funny, punctuated by the chaos and disorder on stage, which made us all chuckle. Well, it made most of us chuckle, and it made Jessica giggle.

Through the art of theater we all bonded, created many connections and created an amazing memory. The LEAP Center would like to thank Victoria McClendon-Legget, Bianca Saldierna, Christian Bionat, Alejandra Galvan, Bryan Phillips, Justin Beiser, Megan Martin and Quinn Kobrin (and their plus ones!) for joining us us for an enjoyable afternoon!

A Capitol Day–in Georgia!

By Ingrid Cuero

Visiting State Capitols is a bit of a LEAP tradition, combining politics, architecture, history, and–often–art into a single structure! So Jessica Cuevas, Olivia Discon, Morgan Robertson, Michelle Cardenas, and I decided to delve deeper into Georgia’s past by adding our second state capitol building on this trip to our docket. Our journey, led by Morgan, took us through significant historical events, remarkable personalities, and captivating architecture.

One of the striking statues that greeted us during our visit was that of Ellis Gibbs Arnall, a visionary and influential figure in Georgia’s political landscape. His journey began in 1932 when he was elected as a House Member, and he subsequently held roles as Speaker of the House and Attorney General before being elected Governor. Arnall’s time in office was marked by progressive policies and far-reaching reforms. He was instrumental in improving the prison system, abolishing poll taxes, and establishing an employment merit system.

As we wandered through the Capitol, we were captivated by the statue of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts . Juliette’s dream was to empower young girls and women through education, community service, and outdoor activities. Some may say LEAP resembles similar desires out of our organization, but we unfortunately do not have any cookies.

As we explored the corridors adorned with portraits of influential figures, we were fortunate to come across a portrait of former President Jimmy Carter, who also served as Governor of Georgia. It was a flattering portrait.

This encounter held special significance, as we had visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum only a week prior. Born in Plains, Georgia, President Carter’s legacy as a champion of human rights, diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts has earned him immense respect both nationally and internationally. Seeing his portrait in the Capitol added a personal touch to our journey, connecting us to the larger tapestry of Georgia’s history and its global impact.

Our visit to the Georgia State Capitol Building was a journey through time, unraveling the historical significance and architectural splendor of this beautiful structure.

From the design , every aspect of the Capitol bore witness to Georgia’s vibrant past. The educational experience will stay with us, as we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the state’s remarkable heritage and the individuals who have shaped it.

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