Law – Page 13 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Lawyers and other Wildlife in the Southwest

Bosque del Apache, by Olivia Discon

As college students, waking up before sunrise is not a typical morning for us. However, we were excited to see the Snow Geese start their day and take flight across the beautiful New Mexico sky at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge!

Bosque del Apache

On our tour of the southwest, one of our key objectives is to expand on our basic understanding of photography and apply it to the sites we visit along the way. Wildlife photography, as we’ve come to learn, is its own beast. While there are some habitual patterns of particular creatures, it is impossible to truly know what they might do next. However, we were up for the challenge!

Of course, the Snow Geese were the feature of this visit, as the sheer number of them joining in their morning flight could not be missed. They must have enjoyed having their photos taken, because they took flight two separate times, making for some variation in photos on our part.

What was most rewarding to capture was a lone Bald Eagle perched atop a tree trunk, scanning the horizon for its next meal.

Funnily enough, Cinthia and I almost missed this exciting catch, as we had just left the area to get a different angle. In the end, we were able to get some photos that we were proud of, along with the satisfaction that comes with experiencing nature.

We left Bosque del Apache with some additional photography experience under our belts and great anticipation to look back on our photos!

Lunch at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

By Cinthia Villarreal

Taking a break from the great outdoors, we made a stop at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to have lunch with former LEAP Ambassador, Karla Bush; her husband, Cameron Bush; and their friend, Richard Cravens. Karla and Cameron attended Texas Tech School of Law and are now successful practicing attorneys. It was great meeting these two, and it was inspiring, particularly since we are following in Karla’s LEAP footsteps.
Mr. Cravens, who is also an attorney, attended New Mexico School of Law and has recently published a book, Self Help: A Novel, which we had the chance to read in advance of our trip. Over lunch, Olivia and I received quality advice regarding law school and work ethic. Both Cameron and Mr. Craven made it clear that law school is a difficult journey, but a rewarding one. They noted that we might not be able to outsmart all our fellow law students, but we can outwork them. It’s not every day that we have the chance to speak to three attorneys over lunch–let alone such highly successful and candid attorneys! We were very grateful to have their perspective as former law students, and we would like to thank Karla, Cameron, and Mr. Craven for taking the time to visit with us.

Bernardo Wildlife Area

By Olivia Discon

To close our day filled with new experiences, great conversations, and learning opportunities, we decided to end our day as we started it; by watching the New Mexican landscape. This time, however, we set up in Bernardo Wildlife Area to catch the large flock of birds before nightfall and also just see nature’s beauty.

This go around was truly a sight to be seen. There were thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese awaiting their final flight for the day before getting some sleep, which we watched with both awe and envy.

These birds have not been in their typical sleeping spot as of late, so we had no idea what to expect as to their location or their destination. Accordingly, we split up and went to different locations to maximize our coverage.

Eventually, after some squabbling and feeding, it was time for liftoff!

The birds swarmed the orange sky in such a way that kept you glued to their elegant movements. The mountainous and open landscape made for some photos that were a good faith attempt at capturing the beauty of the scene.

We could not have ended our day with a more rewarding and serene experience. Just like the Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, it was time for us to make our way towards a place to rest.

LEAPing Through Lubbock and into New Mexico

In today’s version of a LEAP trip, we learned a lot about art, the law, and the outdoors. And to kick things off, we did all three by heading to Texas Tech’s campus and doing a self-guided outdoor art tour, followed by a guided indoor law-school tour.

Our self-guided tour was to see what the Texas Tech Campus had to offer, and we were impressed with what we found. We saw a very large James Surls piece…

…several large Jesus Moroles pieces…

….a Deborah Butterfield horse, Terry Allen’s “Read Reader…”

…and Tom Otterness’s “A Tornado of Ideas.”

It was difficult to pick our favorite: Olivia’s was Moroles’s “Lapstrake Portal;” Cinthia’s was Butterfield’s horse.

But our primary purpose for being there was to see the law school, so at 10:30, we met our guide, Katie Moorhead, and we began our tour.

Texas Tech Law School Tour

Cinthia Villarreal

Upon entering Texas Tech School of Law (TTU Law), we were immediately welcomed by the sophisticated ambiance of the building. At this time, it was really beginning to sink in that we were looking at our future. We had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Moorhead, the Assistant Director for Admissions at TTU Law, who gave us an excellent, in-depth tour of the law school and included her insight along the way. We started with what Ms. Moorhead referred to as “the Goldilocks Bears of classrooms”. Befittingly, there were smaller classrooms, larger classrooms seating 100 students, and regular classrooms that were “just right”!

What was unique to us is that first-year students are personally assigned a study room in the library where they can study, have lunch, or even nap. We weirdly found this custom the most exciting aspect of the building itself, which of course doesn’t even begin to explain the culture and rigor of TTU. For that information, Dwight McDonald, Clinical Instructor and Director of Community Engagement, was on hand to provide. Mr. McDonald made his case for what sets Texas Tech apart from the other law schools. He believes that Texas Tech is unique in that it supports students to practice law with a firsthand approach in TTU’s clinics and curriculum. He was as persuasive as he was collegial!

To our great surprise, we had the honor of meeting former U.S. Congressman and Chancellor of Texas Tech University, Kent Hence. He had nothing but excellent things to say about the law school, and he encouraged us to consider the school upon our graduation. It simply does not get more compelling than that!

Though we already felt incredibly lucky, the enriching tour didn’t end there! We had the chance to take a peek into a seminar on domestic violence. The auditorium was filled with practicing lawyers continuing their intellectual pursuits, and from what we were able to listen in on, the seminar raised some great points in evaluating domestic violence cases. Of course, we had to end our visit with a photo op in the Donald Hunt Courtroom with Ms. Moorhead!

We thank TTU Law for opening their doors to us, Ms. Moorhead for her assistance in coordinating this tour, and Mr. McDonald for taking the time to speak with us.

Out of this World in Roswell, New Mexico

Following our wonderful tour, we grabbed food on the go so that we could get to Roswell, New Mexico. Knowledgeable readers are likely to know that Roswell is best known for what may have been an alien encounter in 1947. There was a lot of evidence of this history throughout the town, which is covered in all things alien. The street lights are alien heads; there are little plastic green men on every block; and even the McDonalds was shaped like a flying saucer.

But we did not visit Roswell just to make Cinthia feel at home. Rather, we went to this strange little town for its art. It is home to the Roswell Museum of Art, as well as the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art—the latter of which we visited. It’s a wonderful museum.

Like every contemporary art museum we have ever been to, there was art we did not care for; art that we weren’t sure if we cared for, but that made us think; and art we really enjoyed. Luis Jimenez, the most famous of the artists in the collection, had works that fell into all three categories for us.

His work is interesting, and, in fact, the AMOCA has more Jimenez pieces on display than other museum in the country…

…but Jimenez can also be out there.

We also really liked the work of Donald Anderson, and we all had our favorites of his many pieces in the collection. In fact, it was Olivia’s favorite artist! Professor Yawn also really liked the work of Elmer Schooley;

Stephanie’s favorites were by Howard Cook; Cinthia’s favorite was Peter Zokosky’s “Skeleton in Landscape.”

There were fun pieces, too. One artist made sharks that hung from the ceiling, which would have been terrifying, but they were made from golf bags and, in one case, a vacuum cleaner. Jason Richel’s work gravitated toward stackable food objects, including smores and toast. Moreover, as LEAP Ambassadors, we also tried to kill two birds with one stone (or, as we were taught in a training once, to “feed two birds with one scone”) by not only enjoying the art, but also by working on our communication skills. This was done by sitting at a special table designed to foster teambuilding…

It was a fun visit, and one in which we blessedly didn’t encounter even a single alien, plastic or otherwise. We did, however, have the good fortune of meeting pleasant staff and learning about some new artists.

The Outdoors and (Some) Wildlife

Following our art excursion, we went full-on outdoors at the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

We didn’t have a lot of time, but we wanted to try out some new (rented) camera equipment and see if we could spot some wildlife.

We were struck by the calm blue of the water, as well as the prime habitat for animals.

Birds were a bit scarce despite a landscape (wetlands) designed for birds, but we saw several hawks…

…sedges of sandhill cranes, flocks of red-wing blackbirds…

and the rare treat of seeing an owl—at pretty close range, at that!

Calling it a Night

We capped the evening with dinner in Ruidoso. The dinner was fine, but the real treat for these two Texas girls was seeing snow. Not the icy snow that occasionally sprinkles on Huntsville and causes havoc; nor the icy, slushy, and wet snow blown out for the Christmas Fair. This was real, recently fallen, snow! So, to commemorate this occasion, we flocked to the parking lot snow, which was dirtier and more icy than the snow on the ground, but which had the advantage of having already been piled up. Thus we were able to more quickly make the world’s most frightening snow man.

With this masterpiece under our belts, and with an early and cold morning in store for tomorrow, we called it a night.

LEAPing Through West Texas

It was an early morning for a Thursday during a Christmas break. But it was a LEAP trip, so of course it was early. With a first-day itinerary that included a law-school tour, two art museums, and an eight-hour drive, we needed to begin at dawn.

TAMU Law

By Cinthia Villarreal

As aspiring attorneys and with “Law” representing the first letter of the LEAP acronym, the first stop of our Southwest Trip was, naturally, the Texas A&M School of Law (TAMU Law)in Fort Worth.

Olivia and I walked through the front door thrilled for the tour that awaited us. I was personally elated, as this was my first time ever being in a law school. Dani Cortez, the Admission Recruitment Coordinator, was kind enough to set a tour for us with current TAMU Law Ambassador, Dalia El-Giar.

As a second year law student, Dalia was able to share a firsthand account of the law school and was candid about her journey so far, which included the typical class environment, internship opportunities, and housing.

We started at the Dee L. Kelly Law Library, which happened to be our favorite aspect of the visit; the coolest feature of this library being the motorized bookshelves! After she showed us the classrooms, courtrooms, and the lounge areas, we couldn’t resist but imagining ourselves sitting in one of those chairs as law students. Throughout the tour, we learned about the resources the school offers which range from international travel opportunities, externships, to legal clinics. TAMU Law is one of the top law schools in Texas, and getting a glimpse of the school’s culture truly made our aspirations a bit more realistic and a lot more exciting.

We then had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Cortez to address any questions about the tour and admission process. When we asked about personal statements, he emphasized the importance of showing our personality and passions through our writing. Before ending a very successful tour, it was an absolute must to visit the school bookstore and buy some matching swag!
Many thanks to the A&M School of Law staff for their hospitability, Mr. Cortez for his kindness and insight into the admissions process, and Dalia for her approachableness, honesty, and eagerness to share her perspective as a student.

Architecture & Art

Following our wonderful tour of TAMU Law, we hustled to a couple of nearby architectural marvels. The first was Philip Johnson’s Fort Worth Water Gardens, right across the street from the law school. Designed to neighbor the Fort Worth Convention Center, the “gardens” have at least five components: an entrance…

…an “aerated” pool…

…a quiet pool, a mountain, and a sunken water garden.

The latter element was fascinating, with its many layers and levels for water to cascade down—not to mention the steps you can skip across to access the lowest tier. It was on this tier that we posed for a long-exposure photograph—one that emphasized the cascading nature of the water (and our ability to stand still for eight seconds….).

With both of us working for the City of Huntsville, we also had to stop by Sundance Square to see the Richard Haas mural of the Chisholm Trail. This is a piece that completely transformed this area of Fort Worth, and it is also one of the pieces that prompted Linda Pease to reach out to Haas to do art work in Huntsville.

Such adventures, however, only foreshadowed our art experiences to come.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

The first of these was the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Here, we were able to refresh our familiarity with Frederic Remington, whose work pervaded the museum.

We saw this western motif in many of its manifestations. Much of the collection from the 19th century, which included artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, and Martin Johnson Heade, involved western symbolism. Moreover, we had a chance to see several of Georgia O’Keeffe’s works, including her painting of the San Francis de Asis, which we will be seeing later this trip!

It was a great visit, a chance to brush up on some artists and learn new artists.

The Old Jail Art Center Museum

A couple of hours from Fort Worth is one of the state’s best hidden gems: Albany’s Old Jail Art Center.

Their collection, which consists of more than 2,000 pieces, includes such luminaries as Paul Klee, Picasso, Thomas Hart Benton, Amedeo Modigliani, Peter Hurd, Bror Utter, Jesus Moroles, and James Surls.

We met several of the staff, all of whom were very nice. Kellie Bellah was on hand to greet us and get us started in the Museum; Patrick Kelly, the Museum’s Director, gave us a tour; and Amy Kelly, the Museum’s Collections Curator, gave us some in-depth information about several pieces in the collection. They were nice enough to take us to the “vault,” where we had a chance to see a Benton, two Grant Woods, two Picassos, an Alexander Calder mobile, and a Charles Pebworth!

While we immediately recognized the Surls’ piece in the Museum, it took us a minute to identify the Moroles’ pieces in the courtyard. In retrospect, the pieces should have been pretty easy to identify, but they were different than the totems we have seen in the past.

We also enjoyed seeing the artists in their exhibit galleries. Leigh Merrill had some very impressive photography…

…and Karla Garcia had some thought-provoking pieces in the historic section of the Museum—the actual “Old Jail.”

Although art can be intimidating, the fact that the Museum is set in an actual historic jail made us both feel right at home!

Seriously, though, it was a great first day on our southwestern tour: law, art, and architecture–just a few of our favorite things.

Law School Discussions: With STCL and TAMU

McKenna Nonnennmann

“How do we get into law school?” is the most common question Pre-Law Society members ask . There are many factors that go into a competitive application.

The two most important factors are the LSAT and GPA. Beyond that, law schools look at letters of recommendation, the student’s resume, and their personal statement.

For the last meeting of the year, the Pre-Law Society invited South Texas Law School and Texas A&M Law School to answer burning questions about the law-school admission process.

The entrance requirements are different for these schools. On average, TAMU Law has an incoming class with a 167 LSAT and a 3.9 GPA, while South Texas has a 154 LSAT and a 3.45 GPA. Despite these differences, the process for selecting applicants is much the same.

LSAT and GPA are the two most important factors, and one way to think of their impact is in terms of categories. A student with a higher than median LSAT and GPA is in the “likely admit” category, ” a student just below average might be “possible,” while a student with scores significantly below the median LSAT and GPA would be “unlikely.”

The law schools stress that the applications are looked at holistically, meaning that other factors: resumes, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and the like can matter. These are, however, more likely to matter if you are “on the bubble.” If you have a 2.2 GPA and a 130 LSAT, it’s very unlikely that a strong personal statement will get you serious consideration at either STCL or TAMU Law.

Both schools stressed that it is important to build relationships with professors and work supervisors, as letters of recommendations from them can be helpful in the process. And work experience can convey important qualities: punctuality, responsibility, a strong work ethic–and, in some jobs, critical thinking, writing, leadership, and management skills as well.

In the LEAP Center, we encourage progressive development:

First Year: Solid grades, take the Mock LSAT, find an organization or two;
Second Year: Develop study plan for LSAT, improve grades, begin looking at internships, consider officer positions in organization;
Third Year: Begin serious study for LSAT, have interesting college experience (study abroad, professional internship), show leadership potential; deepen relationships from potential letter writers;
Fourth Year: Take LSAT beginning Senior Year; apply for law school; round out college experiences.

During this final meeting, we also took the time to celebrate this semester’s graduating seniors. Tyrielle Bradford, Tonya Le, Ariza Martinez, Rylee Smith, and Brad Williams are our graduating seniors! All received a cord to reflect their time and dedication to the Pre-Law society.

Continuing the celebrations, Mark Harkrider, America Santillan, Christina Biello, and Noah Gilbert were awarded a $250 scholarship each! Their names were pulled at random in a small raffle game.

We would like to thank South Texas Law School and Texas A&M Law representatives for taking time out of their schedules to join us today. We have learned a lot and hope to use this advice beyond our law applications. Thank you to all new and old members for joining us on this journey through the semester. Good luck to all this semester’s graduates from now and to the future. Please follow us on our socials for more information and future events with the Pre-Law Society! Happy holidays and see you next semester!

A Holiday Murder Mystery: Fall Festivities with Pre-Law Society!

By McKenna Nonnenmann

The Pre-Law Society kicked off the semester with a bang at the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center, hosting a festive potluck imbued with the spirit of the holidays. Little did we know, our evening of laughter and camaraderie would take an unexpected turn when tragedy struck! Professor Yawn, our beloved advisor, met an untimely demise, and we found ourselves in the midst of a gripping murder mystery.

An ominous note to the otherwise beautiful Wynne Home

In a thrilling twist, the Pre-Law members became detectives, working collaboratively to uncover clues scattered throughout the Wynne Home and unveil the motives of five suspects. Revelations surfaced as members stumbled upon incriminating emails exposing each suspect’s top law school choices, with one, in particular, catching our attention. Mark Harkrider, known for terrorizing children and pilfering their Halloween candy, found himself barred from law school by Professor Yawn.

Professor Yawn and Harkrider in happier times

As the night unfolded, conflicts between the suspects and the late professor emerged through the discovery of evidence.

My own motive, as McKenna Nonnenmann, was revealed to be Professor Yawn’s disdain for cats, particularly my beloved feline companion, Loki. The tension reached its peak when the autopsy report was revealed, tying all the pieces together. The verdict was unanimous—Mark Harkrider was responsible for Professor Yawn’s demise, and justice prevailed.

Following the gripping murder mystery, the Pre-Law Society embraced the competitive spirit in a game of Jeopardy, vying for a coveted Target gift card. Questions ranged from pop culture to the society’s own meetings, sparking excitement as members tried to outwit each other. Ariza Martinez, Cinthia Villarreal, Nicole Erazo, and Mark Harkrider emerged victorious, claiming the prize amidst cheers and applause.

The evening, filled with suspense and laughter, concluded with members relaxing at the Wynne Home, sharing food, and engaging in lively conversations.

Special thanks were extended to the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center for graciously hosting our social, and heartfelt appreciation was directed to the Pre-Law Society fall planning committee for orchestrating the memorable activities.

To all the members who attended, your enthusiasm and participation made the night unforgettable. This was truly a night to remember, and we hope to make future events such as these a habit, with the exception of harm to Professor Yawn.

Mock LSAT Fall 2023

With the goal to find out how they will score on the LSAT, the Law School Admission Test, 37 SHSU students arrived on the Huntsville campus at 9:30 am on Saturday, October 21 to take a Mock LSAT. Assessing skills that are needed in law school and in the practice of law, the LSAT tests reading comprehension, analytical reasoning (sometimes called the Logic Games section), and logical reasoning (often termed the argumentative section). The LEAP Center offers a Mock LSAT at no charge in fall and spring semesters. In spring semesters, the Mock LSAT is limited to members of the SHSU Pre-Law Society.

Beginning with the August 2024 LSAT, the scored portion of the LSAT will consist of one Reading Comprehension section and two Logical Reasoning sections. Although the LSAT will continue to assess the analytical reasoning skills of LSAT takers, the LSAT will no longer use the format of Logic Games. Glen Stohr, lead instructional designer for prelaw programs at the education company Kaplan, opined that the second Logical Reasoning section “will include a heightened focus on word problems.”

There is no change in the structure of the LSAT between now and the June 2024 LSAT. The rigorous research conducted by lsac.org on the updating of the LSAT structural change as of August 2024 confirms that the new approach will not impact the overall LSAT scores. In addition, there will be no impact on the high correlation between LSAT scores and first-year law school success.

For more information or questions on the LSAT, the SHSU Pre-Law Society, or pre-law and law school advising, please contact Jean Loveall at jal072@shsu.edu.

Distinguished Alumni Gala: 2023

One of the events LEAP Ambassadors look forward to each year is the Distinguished Alumni Gala, hosted by the Alumni Association and their wonderful staff. This year was no exception, and when Mr. and Mrs. Woodward invited us to sit at their table, we jumped at the opportunity!

With a return engagement by Chris Tritico as emcee, the Gala kicked off with its usual air of amiability, camaraderie, levity, and appreciation.

This year, Distinguished Alumni honorees included Beth and Kelly Damphousse; the Honorable Monica Thompson Guidry; and Colonel Vanessa Hicks-Callaway. Morgan Chesky was named “Outstanding Young Alumni;” and Rose Avalos and Paul Pearce were honored for Service Awards.

In addition, we heard from members of the Alumni Association Committee, Charlie Vienne, VP of Advancement, Matt Bethea, and were treated to the wonderful vocal talents of SHSU music student, Amy Hemphill.

And, of course, we also heard from President White, who gave an impassioned speech about the honorees, all alumni, and Sam Houston State University.

With this being the 50th Anniversary of the Distinguished Alumni Gala, the Alumni Association decided to also present a “Lifetime Achievement” award, and this went to Joe and Winnie Sandel and Byron and Charlene Sandel.

(The bios of each of the honorees can be found here).

The speeches this year were inspiring, and the honorees’ accomplishments were impressive, making this another rewarding year at the Gala.

Rose Avalos, a lifelong educator, gave one of the nicest speeches we have heard at a Distinguished Alumni Gala. In her understated way, Ms. Avalos offered eloquent testimony to the importance of education. As a first-generation college graduate, Ms. Avalos recounted her long career, which progressed from teaching, to serving as a principal, and now as an elected official on the school board. She is, she said, “On the committee to help, and I will do so as long as I can walk.”

Paul Pearce recounted his arrival at SHSU, when he was moving into the Roy Adams Dorm, and he told his family, “I’ll see you at Thanksgiving.” Pearce, who parlayed his time at SHSU into a career as an entrepreneurial scientist, focused on the importance of community. “It’s great to succeed in your career,” he noted, “but you have to support your family and your community. That’s how you make a difference.”

Morgan Chesky, only 37, focused on the role that relationships at SHSU played in his career, highlighting the importance of his fraternity brothers, and the fact that SHSU was a place that he felt appreciated, respected, and loved.

Lt. Col. Vanessa Hicks-Callaway gave perhaps the most inspirational of the speeches. She described herself as “multi-faceted,” noting she was “a believer in Jesus Christ, a mother, a wife, a veteran, and a politician”–while offering humorous examples of each role. Like several of the award recipients, she met her spouse at SHSU, and her son is also an SHSU graduate. To the SHSU Alumni Association, she offered “exponential thanks to the infinite power” for the award.

Judge Guidry began her modest speech by noting, “I am not a public speaker, so I wrote this down.” She thanked her family, her sorority, and her time at SHSU, connecting her learning as a graduate student in biology with her current role as a judge: she weighs evidence. While she offered a quiet speech, her friends and family made up for it with enthusiastic appreciation.

Beth and Kelly Damphousse highlighted the importance of family and SHSU in their speeches. In fact, President Damphousse (Damphousse is President of Texas State University) said he divided his life into two parts: before and after SHSU, a milestone punctuated by the fact that he met Beth at SHSU. He closed his emotional speech by thanking his daughters, who were also present at the event.

As a feature of the 50th anniversary of the Distinguished Alumni Gala, the Alumni Association gave its first “Lifetime Achievement Award,” which went to two generations of the Sandel family. With Joe and Winnie and Byron and Charlene Sandel on hand to accept the award, the family highlighted their long association with Texas and SHSU. More than 30 family members have attended SHSU! The family members have also been generous donors to SHSU, with the most recent example of this generosity being impressive additions to the Gibbs Ranch at SHSU–including a seven-figure donation.

There are many reasons we enjoy this event. Spending time with the Woodwards and other nice University and community people is always enjoyable. Also, we get to learn more about the University, its alumni, and its faculty and staff. Of course, we get to see Chris Tritico again!

And we learn a little more about what is expected of us as future alumni. While we may not be selected as Distinguished Alumni, we do know that everyone can make a difference through service of others, and that this service takes many forms.

And with that lesson fresh in mind, we headed off to get some sleep, before volunteering for the University’s homecoming!

Many thanks to Mac and Leanne Woodward who invited us to join them at this year’s Gala. We are enormously grateful to them for their mentorship, friendship, and support. And congratulations to Charlie Vienne, Hollie Garza, Donna Gilbert, Meggan Thompson, Chantel Finley, and the entire Alumni Association staff for a successful and enjoyable event.

Around the World with Former Prime Minister Sir John Major

by Michelle Cardenas

Morgan, Olivia, Cinthia, and I headed to the Texas A&M Bush School in College Station to hear from former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir John Major. Attending with us was Marybeth Rayburn, a friend of LEAP who attends TAMU. We quickly divided up and found our seats as we prepared to be enlightened on foreign policy and government.

To begin, the Dean of the Bush School, Frank B. Ashley III, delivered some opening remarks thanking the crowd for attending the event and welcoming donors of the George and Barbara Foundation.

He introduced the moderator for the event, Andrew H. Card, who served as President H.W. Bush’s Secretary of Transportation and President G. W. Bush’s Chief of Staff. Card was the perfect moderator for this event, considering his past experiences in government, and his relationship with Sir John Major.

A brief video ensued, which highlighted some of the pivotal moments shared between President H.W. Bush and Sir John Major, before introducing the former Prime Minister to the stage.

After reminiscing about his good experiences with the president, Sir John Major went straight into his love for politics.

At just 14 years old, Sir John Major found his calling for government. Major reminisced on how as a young teenager, he visited the House of Commons and decided in those few short moments that he would dedicate his life to becoming a part of one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world. Major would go on to give speeches from a soapbox (literally) to anyone who would listen.

But he didn’t stay on soapboxes in small towns for long. By the 1990s, he was meeting with world-wide leaders as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, succeeding Prime Minister Thatcher, the country’s first female executive. He discussed his meetings with Boris Yeltsin, and the Russian leader’s love of Vodka (even at 8am); his time as leader of the G7; and some of his meetings with President Bush.

During one of these meetings, he came to the US, where he met with President Bush at “Camp David.” This, he noted, sounded as if he would be roasting marshmallows with scouts around a campfire, but he soon learned the destination was elegant and equipped with technology befitting a President.

The presentation highlighted Sir John Major’s perspective on crucial and controversial topics, including immigration and foreign alliances. He underscored the shared positions of the UK and the US in politics and foreign affairs, addressing common challenges like asylum, foreign aid, and alliances. His core message emphasized that global order relies on hope, humanity, and goodwill, noting, “If the United Kingdom and the United States stick together, then the world is in order.”

Card asked Sir John Major if there was any advice he would give to those who might wish to go into public service. To this, he answered that our democracy is valuable and should be protected, urging the audience to look past the parties of politicians and instead to focus on how representatives are serving the needs of the country and its people.

Sir John Major’s words were inspirational, and he repeatedly emphasized the importance of imparting hope. When “people have hope for a better future,” he noted, “they can withstand the travails of the day.” The key for leaders is to ensure that that hope and hard work can pay off, through justice, mobility, and the rule of law.

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