Education – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

From Signed Books to Political Insights: A Night with Mike Pence

Written by: Ruthie Passmore

Even with summer kicking into gear, LEAP students have managed to stay active in furthering their understanding of public affairs! Recently, we were honored to hear former Vice President Mike Pence speak on his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience at an event hosted by The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

In his book, Pence advocates for enduring conservative principles over the appeal of big-government populism within the Republican Party, and we were all thrilled to receive signed copies at the start of the event.

The night began with Sandija Bayot, the Chief Development Officer of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, introducing Kenneth Tubman, the Chairman and President of PPA Resources, who offered a glimpse into Mike Pence’s “multifaceted” career. Pence took the stage alongside exceptional Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer, who served as the moderator for this event.

Pence opened by highlighting the foundation 1960 Conservative text, The Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater, which inspired his decision to write his new book. He discussed how politics in America are going through a dramatic change, and brought up modern marginalization of traditional values.

Pence reflected on his role as a member of the Republican Party, discussing how he went from being a Democrat to a Conservative after realizing that he wanted the values he grew up learning from his grandparents for himself. Pence also spoke about the importance of economic freedom and how he thinks that it is “morally wrong” to look at his children and grandchildren and say to them, “the debt is your problem, not mine.”

As the audience portion of the discussion began, Pence was asked what advice he would give to young people interested in politics. His answer was both simple and impactful, especially as students with an interest in the law: “Show up, don’t wait to get asked.”

Wrapping up, Pence reminded us that the American people are some of the most caring and innovative people, stating that America deserves to have a government just as good as its citizens.

The event ended on a memorable note as we were able to meet and take a photo with Mike Pence, who expressed his confidence in our generation by calling us the “future of politics.”

We concluded the evening with a delicious dinner and dessert from Katz’s Never Kloses, where we shared our thoughts and reflections from the event, a wonderful end to a fantastic and informative evening.

Number One Fans: Misery at the Alley Theatre

Written by: Allie Plunk

On the first day of our LEAP Retreat, LEAP students travelled to the Alley Theatre for a performance of Stephen King’s Misery. To make this event even more memorable, we were joined by several alumni which gave us a group of 19 people!

The story follows author Paul Sheldon (Chris Hutchinson), who has finally written what he thinks will be his masterpiece when he gets into a car accident that shatters his legs. He is rescued by his self-professed “number one fan,” a woman by the name of Annie Wilkes (Elizabeth Bunch). At first, she acts normal enough, but things very quickly take a turn for the worst. Married in real life, the actors gave a wonderful performance, leaving us wondering how they manage to create such believable characters while still going home together each night. Having just seen the movie a few weeks before, it was very interesting to see the difference in the details and presentation of the story as it was adapted for the stage.

One of the most striking elements of the play was the set. Split into three distinct parts, the set rotated on a turntable to create a seamless transition between the room where Paul is held captive, the rest of the house, and outside. We were all astonished by the level of detail that went into the set, from the numerous images of Paul Sheldon, to the inclusion of a working staircase. Another practical piece of the performance that we enjoyed were the special effects. We had a good time figuring out how they incorporated stage blood and prosthetics to enhance the gorier elements of the story.

Having finally finished the Misery trifecta– the novel, movie, and play– I found the differences between the three mediums incredibly striking. The novel contained much more prosaic passages, as well as backstory and lengthened character development, especially for Annie Wilkes, than either the movie or play. The movie, however, shifted and condensed elements of the novel, such as the addiction that Paul develops to the pain medication Annie provides him and his reliance on imagination to endure his captivity, while adding in the perspective of the town Sheriff that is investigating his disappearance. The play retains many of these elements, several lines of dialogue taken directly from the movie, though Annie’s characterization relies on much more of the actor’s discretion, removing much of her backstory entirely. Despite these differences, each preserves the core of the story: the dangerous, disruptive nature of obsession.

Overall, Misery proved to be a fascinating example of how a story can evolve across different mediums while retaining its central themes. Both entertaining and thought-provoking, it was a memorable highlight of our retreat and gave us a deeper appreciation for the art of adaptation.

Twenty-Four Hours With LEAP

People often ask, “What do LEAP students do?” It’s difficult to answer, because LEAP students do many things, and many of the things they do differ day-to-day–as a recent twenty-four-hour period demonstrates.

Misery can be Fun (if you are a movie goer!)

With finals over and the summer session not quite underway, LEAP students opted for a little fun, with some popular culture and historic knowledge thrown in. Thus, we went to River Oaks Theatre to see “Misery,” a 1990 film directed by Rob Reiner, written by the great William Goldman, and starring Kathy Bates and James Caan and, of course, based on a book by Stephen King.

This trip was motivated in part by the desire for a fun group activity, but it also ties in to our upcoming visit to The Alley Theatre to see “Misery.” As a very pleasant surprise, we ran into the stars of the play at the theatre! Chris Hutchison and Elizabeth Bunch were there to see the film in advance of their play version (begins at the end of this month!) and also to do a post-screening discussion of the movie and play.

It was a nice night-cap to a fun and, at times, frightening movie, which seemed to be universally enjoyed by the students, and a nice tool to amp-up the anticipation of our June 12 attendance at the Alley.

Chris Hutchison, Elizabeth Bunch, Ashley Winstead, and Keaton Patterson Discuss “Misery”

Commissioners Court Can Also Be Fun (if you aren’t a Commissioner!)

We were able to get back to Huntsville before it was too late, which was a good thing because we had a fairly early morning scheduled. LEAP students regularly volunteer at the Senior Center, and with May being “Older Americans Month,” the Walker County Commissioners Court prepared a proclamation recognizing “Older Americans” and the Walker County Senior Center.

This was a good opportunity to teach the students about local government, the difference between a “consent agenda” and a “statutory agenda”, and why the County Judge–who is not a judge in any traditional sense–is called “Judge.”

The program was brief and pleasant, with LEAP students standing alongside Senior Center Board members and the Executive Director, Stacy Loll, for a photo. For the students, it was a positive introduction to local government, and it was a chance for the students to meet the Commissioners Court, some of them for the first time!

Trials Can Be Interesting (if you aren’t the defendant!)

The Commissioners Court meeting was brief, which was convenient because the students had the opportunity to stop by the District Court and watch the first day of trial in the case of The State of Texas v. Kenneth Eugene Giddens. The defendant was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of retaliation/obstruction.

All the students were able to stay for the voir dire, which was fascinating. Malori Martin was at her best, relating with the potential jury, discussing the law, and providing an effective overview of the prosecution’s view of the case. For the defense, Rane Riley was also effective, offering different graphics to explain the defense’s view of “reasonable doubt,” while also reminding the potential jurors that family conflict are common, suggesting perhaps, that not all such conflicts need to lead to criminal justice outcomes.

Mikaela Baires was able to return and watch the trial for the whole day, which provided her with some unique opportunities…

Brittlyn Jackson headed for lunch; Professor Yawn had to get to KBTX to do an interview;

…Nataly Elizondo headed to the Senior Center, where she often volunteers.

LEAP is Fun and Interesting (most of the time!)

In less than a full day, LEAP students made the most of their unique opportunities, engaging with popular culture–literary, cinematic, and theatric–participating in local government and volunteerism, and watching their criminal justice system at work.

In many ways this day will be different from the days to come, which includes participating in the Lions Club’s “Flag Project,” a tour of Huntsville, and a World Affairs Council event. But each of these days will bring new learning opportunities, high-quality civic engagement, and enjoyable community building–all of which form the core of the LEAP experience.

Bridging Academia and Real-World Experience at SHSU

In our four years at Sam Houston State University, we have had many opportunities to attend conferences. And, perhaps unusually, we have also had the opportunity to present at conferences, and one of those opportunities arose late this semester–two weeks prior to our graduation!

Our presentation, alongside Dean Lyons and Associate Dean Boisvert, was to highlight the many ways that SHSU, the College of Criminal Justice, and the LEAP Center help bridge the gap between academia and the “real-world.”

While the Deans ably handled high-level things such as state mandates, trends in higher education, and challenges faced across the educational industry, we offered an overview of some of the ways that this curricular “bridge” has helped us participate in and transition to the workplace.

This included discussions of things we experience in the classroom, such as police simulations; internship opportunities we have had in and outside of our fields of study; travel opportunities we have enjoyed; and the community service in which we have engaged. This approach was taken to demonstrate that, in a world where a career lattice (rather than career ladder) is likely, it’s important to have broad and well-rounded skills rather than narrow and inflexible skills.

It was a pleasure to have this opportunity–and especially together–as we approach our graduation. As fellow Criminal Justice majors with an assortment of minors, and as former SHAIP interns, and as students very active in the LEAP program, it was a pleasure to share some of our experiences with Dean Lyons and Associate Dean Danielle Boisvert…

…in front of many of the leading professionals in the correctional-legal field.

Becker Brings Humor, Inspiration to SHSU

Written by Allie Plunk

Starting off an insightful day with George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of
Staff, Jean Becker, we met at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building here on campus for a book talk and signing!

Though some of us had attended a previous event on her book tour, everyone was enthralled by Becker’s charismatic and engaging discussion of her newest book, Don’t Tell the President, co-authored by Tom Collamore. We listened eagerly as she discussed accounts of several of the stories of advance workers– the people who make sure that events go as planned– across presidencies from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama.

After several humorous anecdotes about the less-than-elegant side to life while working for the White House (like getting peed on at a phone booth while talking to her boss)…

…Becker closed on a more somber note. She reminded us that Americans have to pull together to make progress, and she highlighted the way that–despite their differences–Presidents Bush and Clinton worked together to raise funds for hurricane relief and that President Obama stopped in to Houston, days before President Bush’s death, to thank him for his service to the country.

This serves as a reminder of what our future both as a people and as a country, should look like: putting aside differences and helping each other where we can.

Following the book talk, Becker generously agreed to sign copies of her new book! Students lined up eagerly, discussing the fascinating stories she had shared. We were all very excited and grateful to have had her with us at Sam Houston once again.

Building Future Leaders: Lessons from TX Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan

One of the advantages of attending SHSU is the opportunities afforded by the College of Criminal Justice, whose activities continue deep into the semester and even the summer. And so it was we found ourselves at lunch with 74 professionals from the legal and corrections community across the state of Texas–while listening to Texas Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan.

After an introduction by TDCJ General Counsel Stephanie Greger…

…Justice Sullivan highlighted five keys to leading teams of public servants.

Hire people smarter than you;
Grow a coaching tree;
Lead from the front;
Show people you care;
Build resilience.

He offered examples from his career, which he often shared tinged with traces of humor and a lot of common sense. He described his career as a government attorney and noted that while he didn’t earn as much as his private-practice counterparts (his wife, he says, “funds my government attorney hobby”), he was part of a team that produced successful leaders. This involves, he noted, disruption: good attorneys come in and work for the state; after a couple of years, they get better offers; and they move on to higher-paying jobs with greater influence. This creates turnover, but it is a product of a good strategy: hiring good people. And while those people leave eventually, they become coaches in their own spheres of influence, producing leaders that go on to serve.

Sullivan’s audience was on hand at SHSU to attend the Texas Criminal Justice Legal Conference, where leading practitioners were present to collaborate, think, and act to make Texas a better place. There were numerous attorneys present, including our friend Jack Choate and his excellent staff, and some new people we met, such as Rachelle White, Chief of Staff for TDCJ; Sean Groves, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Juvenile Justice; Eric Nichols, attorney at Butler Snow and Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and Wyvonne Long, Director of TDCJ Independent Office of Inmate Counsel. In short, there were a lot of people present from whom we could learn.

And learn we did! Between the conversations at the table and in the room, and the presentation by Justice Sullivan, we were exposed not only to tips for managing public servants, but also to the many careers in the law that also allow for public service.

Ambassador Rahul Chhabra speaks on India’s Global Leadership

Written by Kayla Fleming

Thursday, April 9th, was an exciting day for LEAP students. We traveled to the Asia Society Texas Center to hear Ambassador Rahul Chhabra speak on India’s place in global leadership, hosted by the World Affairs Council. The event provided new learning opportunities and deeper insight into the world’s largest democracy, India.

Following a warm welcome from Matthew Fuller, the director of Business and Politics at the Asia Society Texas and CEO of the World Affairs Council, Maryanne Maldonado introduced Ambassador Chhabra, setting the stage for a lively and informative discussion moderated by Chief Programs Officer Ronan O’Malley.

Ambassador Chhabra was the perfect blend of entertaining and educational. He discussed India’s rise on the global stage and its relations with other countries. He also highlighted the “economic miracle” of India’s GDP growth, especially in comparison to China, as well as the U.S.

Ambassador Chhabra began by reflecting on India’s early years, following their independence from Britain at the end of the Second World War. He mentioned India’s first choice of ally was the United States, but they refused to be overly tied into diplomatic entanglements as a developing country.

This independent spirit was exemplified by the concept of “nonalignment” and India’s continuous choice to forge its own pathway rather than strictly aligning with the West, China, or Russia. He attributed this concept to “India’s economic miracle.” Ambassador Chhabra mentioned India’s choice to expand into the IT sector instead of manufacturing, which was the proven path to development that China underwent.

Another key topic Ambassador Chhabra explored was the significance of the “123 agreement,” which reversed the previous sanctions on nuclear trade with India. Under George W. Bush, India and U.S. relations increased significantly as India was the only country with which the United States had an arrangement like this. He attributed a large portion of this success to the Indian-American population and their unwavering support.

Nearing the end of the event, O’Malley opened the floor to questions, and Ambassador Chhabra answered multiple questions from the audience regarding India’s global strategy and international partnership.

Listening to his vast experiences and India’s point of view over the last several decades was particularly interesting, and left the audience pondering the effects of American policies on the rest of the world, for better or worse. After the event finished, Ambassador Chhabra was kind enough to take a photo with LEAP students, providing a memorable end to an insightful day.

Mortar & Pestle Brings Joy and Jean Becker

Written by Isis Hollis

It is only fitting to have a book talk in a book shop, and Huntsville is fortunate to have one of the best downtown bookstores in the state: Mortar & Pestle. Filled with books, wine, coffee, and art…

…this “Third Place” was soon filled with people and a charismatic and humorous speaker and, before long, a room full of laughs.

We learned about the travails of Bob Dole, who made an impromptu visit to highlight economic development, only to find himself keeping company with characters dressed as Woody Woodpecker, Frankenstein, Charlie Chaplin, and Mae West–not the look you want when you’ve just fired three campaign officials. Headlines the next day read, “Bob Dole Shakes up Campaign Staff.”

Senator Bob Dole during the Florida Primary at the construction site of Universal City. Photo by Dennis Brack

Of course, it wasn’t all laughs. There were also discussions of events such as attempted presidential assassinations, disaster relief, and 9-11. Irrespective of the anecdote, Becker related tales in the book with passion, intelligence, and a bit of mischief.

The result was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in a wonderfully enjoyable venue.

Following the event, attendees bought books, had them signed, and stayed around to enjoy each other’s company.

LEAP Students, Kara Froelich, Carl Pittman (owners of Mortar and Pestle), and Jean Becker then indulged in a meal at Sam’s Table, where we were able to ask deeper questions after the much fulfilling day. Becker revealed more about the process behind wrangling people together to write essays for her book, discussed the busy schedule of a book tour, and extolled the virtues of a downtown bookstore such as Mortar & Pestle.

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