Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Arkansas PSA: Little Rock and Monticello

The first two days of exploring Little Rock were filled with adventure and knowledge. However, our adventures were not yet complete. Even after a fully loaded two days in the state, we continued on to the Arkansas Political Science Association Conference in Monticello, setting out at about 6am to make the 1.5 hour trip.

At the conference our very own Professor Yawn served as a discussant for the Undergraduate Research on Public Policy panel and later presented his own research. We were also excited to be there to support our fellow LEAP Ambassador Megan Chapa, who would later present her research paper on “Maquiladoras, NAFTA and their Consequences.” Upon our arrival we were graciously welcomed by Dr. Strong and the staff of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, then made our way quickly to the room where Professor Yawn’s panel discussion would be. The panel room was a cozy fit, much like any classroom you would find on campus at Sam Houston. This made the presentations of the research engaging and a personal. Subjects of the research ranged from the cyber security in the United States by Shannon Abbott…

…to the study of multi-lateral agreements by Nicolaas Harrington…

…to the development of Spanish democracy by Sarah Phillips…

to the study of game theory by William O’Brachta…

…to an examination of indigenous autonomy by Emily Mendiola…

Watching other students in the political science field present research encouraged and energized the students of LEAP to one-day present research at future conferences nationwide.

After sitting in on an undergraduate discussion panel on public policy, chaired by Professor Yawn, we waited for Megan to present her research on the impact of NAFTA on the social and economic status of Mexican “maquiladora” laborers. As part of an American Politics panel, Megan presented research alongside four other passionate undergraduate students.

The panel was chaired by Karen Sebold, a professor of public policy at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, whose responsibility during the session was to direct the presentation of everyone’s research papers and lead the discussion in regards to the papers after the presentation of every student.

The session began with a presentation on the Tea Party’s influence on the current Republican Party. With a most timely topic in regards to our political atmosphere, Tyler Harrison of the University of Arkansas at Monticello offered an in depth analysis of the Tea Party’s freedomworks rating system.

Followed thereafter Robert Fletcher, also a University of Arkansas at Monticello undergraduate student, presented his paper on the benefits of promoting bicycle friendly road policy that could stimulate the economic and social prosperity of a small community’s transportation system.

As the third student to present, Jolyon Larson of Hendrix University provided his thesis on the best way for waste plants to cut down on harmful emissions.

Lastly, Leslie Beard of the University of Arkansas at Monticello expressed her fears regarding our nation’s political structure in her paper “Who’s really in control at the top.”

With Megan as the fourth presenter in the panel, we attentively clung to every word of her research on Mexican social issues presented by NAFTA. She focused on the exploitation and harassment of women maquiladora workers, the environmental violations of these industries, and the widespread human trafficking encouraged by these multinational agreements.

It was clear that her, and all the other panelists, were passionate about public policy and a more successful government structure. The conducted research in each presentation was further example of what passion for a noble cause can yield.

We also got feedback from Megan, who presented at her first conference:

I was nervous, but nonetheless confident and excited to represent SHSU and the LEAP Center at the conference. Before our panel began, our discussant informed us that another student had joined our Undergraduate Research Panel and that our presentation time would be cut short by about 5 minutes. I was more nervous about going over my allotted time because I had prepared my presentation to be 15 minutes. I was scurrying through my paper trying to take out 5 minutes of information that wouldn’t take too much away from my research. What I enjoyed most was the constructive criticism I received from my discussant, Dr. Sebold of University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. She was helpful in providing suggestions that will improve the research I am working on. I am thankful for the opportunity to expand my horizons outside of home (Texas) and meet students who are striving to make a difference in the political arena.” -Megan Chapa

We all agreed that this chance to support our fellow LEAP ambassador’s passionate delivery was worth the limited sleep.

The ArkPSA topped off the conference with a lunch and presentation by John Kyle Day, who presented his work on Civil Rights in Arkansas, particularizing on the Southern Manifesto.

It was interesting research and, although we didn’t know it at the time, we would hear echoes of his research the next day, when we visited the Little Rock Central High Museum (see tomorrow’s blog!).

Following the conference in Monticello, we drove back to Little Rock to do some shopping before our adventurous Segway tour. We took the opportunity to explore some of the quaint shops near the River Market and downtown area.

Visiting the local shops, we wandered through shops such as The Freckled Frog, Discovery Museum Gift Shop, and 4Square Café and Gifts. We enjoyed browsing through the shops, but eventually ended up at one of our favorite places, the River Market!

The group refueled with a small snack before heading off to our Segway tour of Little Rock!

We were excited to continue touring more of downtown Little Rock, but this time we were on a Segway! Most of the group have had some experience with riding segways – actually, all except me (Bella Abril), and the others were quick to get with the program…

As clumsy as I am even with just walking, however, I was a bit hesitant on trying it out at first. I was scared I would embarrass myself by falling on my face. However, our Turkish tour guide, Nez Erkman, trained us in such a detailed manner with much emphasis on safety that I found myself easing up. Plus, seeing everybody ride it so calmly gave me confidence that maybe I could do the same. Thankfully, I did! The first step was the scariest part, but the rest was exhilarating. Throughout the tour, we were able to segway through The Clinton Bridge…

…which held a nice view of the sunset…

The Clinton Presidential Library…

and Heifer International. Also, we passed through the Riverfront Park, where we were able to take pictures on the rock that Little Rock derives its name from…

as well as observe interesting historic markers and creative sculptures. From a total newbie segwayer to part of the veteran segwayers of LEAP, the tour definitely deepened both my interest in Arkansan culture and the graceful art of segwaying.

The segway tour not only fueled our desire to learn about Little rock, but also fueled our appetites! We walked a couple of blocks to get to the well-known Sonny Williams’ Steak Room. We started with a turtle soup and a wild game sausage and cheese plate as appetizers. The wild game sausage and cheese plate consisted of rabbit, elk, and boar sausage. Some of us were particularly hesitant to try the turtle soup and rabbit sausage because it was something completely new for most of us, but we chose to go with our adventurous side and taste each appetizer. For our entrees we all chose a type of steak. We ordered a 12 oz. Filet to a Bone-in Cowboy Ribeye and a New York Strip. As soon as we each took the first bite of our steaks, we all agreed that these were the best steaks we have ever tried. It was clear to us why Sonny Williams is so well known for its steaks. After being extremely satisfied with both the appetizers and the entrees, we tried a couple of deserts. The Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce and the Chocolate Orange Cake were rich enough, but also light enough to kept our satisfaction rating high.

On our way back to the car, we squeezed in a bit more adventure by taking a short detour to an old telephone booth that is now used as a community book exchange. Professor Yawn challenged us to see if we could all fit in the telephone booth, and of course we accepted his challenge.

It was a tight squeeze, especially right after our filling dinner, but we all fit (more or less)!

And, after a bit of a detour to walk off some of dinner…

…called it a night and made our way back to the hotel for a much-needed night of rest.

LEAP Day!

The LEAP Ambassadors just finished a five-day trip to Arkansas, but they arrived home in time for LEAP Day. Not many organizations have a day named for them, but the LEAP Ambassadors treated it in appropriate fashion:

It was a picnic dinner at one of their favorite places: the Wynne Home. This also happens to be the workplace of Beatriz Martinez and the former workplace of Megan Chapa. Next door, the Smither Martin Law Firm (seen in the background) is the workplace of Kaitlyn Tyra.

With full employment, a grilled dinner by Austin Campbell, and a day named for them, they celebrated.

Of course, they can keep calm and carry on, when need be, and tomorrow they will return to their professional ways, with four of them working the elections and then gathering for a watch party.

Presidential Politics, Fun, and Film: Day 2 in Arkansas, Continued

After being filled to our hearts desire at the Whole Hog Café, we were motivated to continue our exploration of Little Rock. Now with renewed energy we made our way to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Located adjacent to the Arkansas River the Clinton Presidential Library’s exterior is almost entirely made of glass, which allows much light into the interior…

…a factor that contributed to the being designated as one of the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly places to work in the United States, regardless of the intense southern sun beating down. In addition to being the 42^nd President of the United States, Clinton also served as the 42^nd Governor of Arkansas and 50^th Attorney General of Arkansas.

Clinton was an enormous political figure for the state in which he was born and raised and the Library not only gave written narrative of his life…

…it also used the architecture to tell the story of Bill Clinton’s life and presidency. The architecture symbolized Clinton’s, message of “building a bridge to the future”, and fit right in with the many bridges of Little Rock…

…as it had the appearance of a bridge itself. The Clinton narrative was further developing by a time line of megalithic proportions.

Every year that Clinton served as President had an entire wall devoted to some of the key events of that year.

Another treat of the Library was art by Dale Chihuly, one of the LEAP Center’s favorites.

Before we knew it, it was time for our next stop of the day.

All of us walked outside and expected to climb back in the van and get going, but Professor Yawn had a different plan in mind. We were all pleasantly surprised by cardboard boxes waiting atop of one of the steep hills along side the Presidential library that were to serve as our sliding boards! Still in shock of this very spontaneous moment that Professor Yawn planned, we all chose a flat cardboard box to use as our boards. Standing at the very top of the hill, we all heard Professor Yawn shout, “GO!” and before we knew it we were all racing down the side of the grassy hill!

Sliding down the hill turned out to be more fun than we all expected, so we all raced back up multiple times and slid down in different positions which included sitting flat on the box, laying on our stomach, and even sitting inside of the box.

All the cheerfulness was a beneficial change to the quiet atmosphere of the library.

So much so, that we did it again…

…and again…

…even Professor Yawn went down…

We had to finally stop…

…before someone got hurt…

With some stains on our pants, mud on our shirts, and grass in our hair, we rushed to Heifer International for our next tour.

There we learned that the non-profit organization’s mission is to eliminate poverty, a mission that is completed in an interesting way. We started our tour with a brief informational session, provided by a Heifer International volunteer named Rick Hendricks.

With requests of aid from all over the country, the organization is capable of helping communities in need worldwide. As hinted above, the organization’s way of providing assistance in one that is not often seen in relief organizations. In order to complete their mission, the organization dose not provide relief through the offering of money or common supplies, instead it offers one of the most valuable of virtues anyone can be offered, an education of self-sustainability.

When contacted for help, Heifer International officials travel to the community in need. In order for the group in need to receive relief, they must first undergo a year-long process in which these organization officials educate the community in the various ways so they can maintain self sufficiency. After being taught the 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, centered on values like gender equality, improving the environment, marketing skills, and the like, the group in need is then offered an unusual donation. They are given a “living gift.” These living gifts may be a cow, seeds, sheep etc, that are indigenous to the petitioner’s home. This enables the organization’s efforts to stay local to the petitioner’s home to provide self-sustainability and resourcefulness.

With a cow donation for example, the destitute individual can now use the cow’s capability to produce 30 gallons of milk per week to provide food for his family and may also provide an income source though the sale of the milk. These marketing skills are taken further when the individual is capable of using the milk to produce more goods, such as cheese. The cow’s manure can also be used as a fuel source by using its methane emission. Additionally, in accordance to Heifer’s mission, every petitioner is required to “pass on the gift.” With the cow donation, once it gives birth to a calf, the petitioner must gift it to someone else of his/her community. Doing so provides for the growth in community welfare and economic development.

This mission of self-sustainability and resourcefulness was manifest when touring the headquarter building of the organization, a tour led by Joanne Willson.

As a Platinum LEED Building, it is among the most environmentally friendly of buildings in the whole world (only 50 structures in the US have this designation). Every single architectural feature of the building is in accordance with their mission. Their roof is slanted to collect rainwater in a pool located within the building which is then used for various uses within the building. In a similar fashion the parking lot is covered in porous gravel, which allows harmful chemicals to be filtered out, allowing the water to be re-used as, for example, irrigation water. In all, the Heifer International headquarters collects 25 thousand gallons of water. Consequently, the headquarters requires no city water services, with exception of water used for drinking and hand washing. The design also allows for the sun to provide light within the building to minimize the use of artificial light. This natural light is also reflected through the use of tin (reflecting) ceiling. With the various other infrastructural modifications, the building is able to use less than half the electricity a normal building of its size would use.

When the tour of the building was concluded, we all wandered through the unique gift shop that includes many products made from areas where Heifer International helps. The gift shop offers unique buys such as paper and notebooks made from elephant dung, goat milk lotions, and many more!

In our trip to Little Rock, no activity has offered me more of a sense of passion than Heifer International. It is not enough to believe in a noble cause, it is necessary to act upon it and ensure that it will live on through the ages. Its determination to teach self-sustainability and to “pass on the gift” is inspiring.

Filled with inspiration, we decided to venture into a part of Little Rock that only Professor Yawn and Alex had seen before, the Old Mill.

Known as the last surviving set of “Gone with the Wind,” the Old Mill’s natural beauty was picturesque even during the dreariness of February. The lighting was perfect for photographs…

…and we took advantage of our opportunities to create memorable group photos!

The park has various settings surrounding the mill for photographs. There is a “well…”

…various rock formations…

…a big bridge…

…and a small bridge…

Oddly enough the Old Mill is located in the center of a nice neighborhood, but was built in 1933 as a replica of an abandoned water-powered grist mill. We enjoyed this stop and had fun amidst the chilly weather!

With the sun setting but not yet ready for dinner, we headed to the “Big Dam Bridge.” This was a nice walk up on–as its name suggests–a large dam.

Although it was late at night and the lighting was low, the sight was impressive, but with stomachs rumbling and grumbling, we decided that it was time for dinner, turned, and headed for our last excursion of the day.

For dinner, we chose to go a fancier route in a restaurant called the Copper Grill. Although it seemed like we’ve had enough meat for the day at the Whole Hog Cafe, it didn’t really stop us from ordering meat-based meals again…

…though we did try some seafood as well for a little bit of variety. Our meal took an adventurous route for those of us who tried oysters for the first time before our entrees arrived. The mushroom stuffed chicken, ribeye steak, bacon avocado burger, bacon wrapped shrimp, mushroom stuffed ravioli, and flat bread all looked appetizing when they arrived at our table (and they tasted as great as they looked!).

Most of us made sure to save room for the chocolate bread pudding topped with ice cream that we had for dessert…

…which Alex, Mitch and I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a wonderful way to top a wonderful day.

Law, Art, and Pork: The Heart of Little Rock (Day 2, Morning Edition)

After a quick coffee stop to help wake us, we were fortunate enough to visit the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

We met with the public education coordinator, Cara Fitzgerald, who earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University and who passed the bar in at least three states!

She started the tour by teaching us more about the history of the building. Like the Old State House, the Supreme Court building has undergone changes throughout the years. The first building to house the Supreme Court was actually The Old State House, the second is at the location it is now and then it was remodeled a third time, which is the current building that houses both the Supreme Court and the Appeals Court.

We continued the tour of the west wing, where they display the portraits of the previous justices who have served on the Supreme Court…

…and as we moved along we were shown the portraits of all seven presiding justices. The first thing that stood out to some of us was that the majority of the Justices currently on the Supreme Court of Arkansas are women.

After learning more about the current Justices and the recent death of their Chief Justice, Ms. Fitzgerald introduced us to Associate Justice Robin F. Wynne who joined in on the tour! Once in the courtroom, we introduced ourselves to Justice Wynne and he then introduced himself and told us about his journey to becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

He then asked us the simple most important question that he asks all of his students, “Why do you want to be an attorney?” Many of us had not been asked this question before, which led us to really reflect on why we wanted to go down that career path. Our answers to the question ranged from helping people and having a say in our society to solving puzzles and upholding the law.

After Justice Wynne was able to get to know us more based on our answers, he and his law clerk, John Webster gave us great advice on how to get the best out of law school.

John Webster explained to us exactly what a law clerk does and why, if we get the chance, it is an opportunity to take advantage of in law school. They also explained to us what they look for in applicants for their office, and one of the most important things was a “hook”. Justice Wynne explained that he not only looks at grades, but also the substance of the applicants’ character. After the very informational discussion with Justice Wynne and Mr. Webster, they took us on a very personal tour of his office where he explained what his typical week at the office consists of. Oral arguments are on Thursday; opinions are on Wednesday; and Monday and Tuesday are much-needed reading days. Each justice is assigned five cases a week and one of those is considered a primary case in which they take a leadership role. After discussing this process, he showed us the conference chamber where the seven justices meet after oral arguments to talk about the reasons they dissent or support each others’ opinions.

Justice Wynne even let us take a picture in the conference chamber with him!

After the private tour, we asked Ms. Fitzgerald how often tour groups get to go up to see the Justices offices and the conference room, to which she replied that she couldn’t recall it ever happening before! We were all extremely grateful for the hospitality that Justice Wynne showed us while teaching us an immense amount about the ins and outs of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

During the last portion of the tour we dressed in black robes and acted as Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court. The tour of the Supreme Court of Arkansas was an amazing way to learn more about the court system, and left us all in awe of how great of a time we had while we were visiting. Once everyone had their turn banging the gavel, it was time to go onto our next adventure.

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Our next adventure was the Arkansas Arts Center. Although not as large as the major Art Museums, they have a nice permanent collection, much of which was donated by the Rockefellers (Winston Rockefeller was Governor of AR in the 1960s). The collection contains works by Miro, Picasso, and Monet…

…among many others.

This time, however, the real treat were the special exhibits. One featured the photography of Dortothea Lange, the photographer who captured the Great Depression and the plight of the migrant workers so perfectly.

Another exhibit featured the work of Charles Burchfield, who focused on the mixed blessings of urbanization.

Both art collections were created near the same time period, but they were very different in medium and subject matter. Charles Burchfield’s art depicted “Industrial Beauty” using watercolor paints. Black Iron, the exhibit centerpiece, was inspired by the port of Buffalo on Lake Erie.

According to the exhibit, Burchfield saw the bridges as part of an industrial complex spewing poisonous chemicals into the river; yet he found the massive structures irresistibly beautiful.” The paintings and drawings used darker colors to convey emotion.

Dorothea Lange is known for her black and white photography during the Great Depression Era. Each photograph captured emotion that strikes viewers immediately. Her works had great impact on legislation during the time period and even in the way films depicted people of the Great Depression Era. One of her most famous photographs, Migrant Mothers, was showcased along with a variety of other photos that were new to many of us.

Each person left with a favorite photo from her collection.

A third, smaller special exhibit featured the work of Nathalia Edenmont, who makes dresses from flowers and other produce.

This theme tied into a discussion Megan and I have had in our art class, which revolved around the question of whether the Ag Department’s “Floral Design” class should be considered an art class.

The Arkansas Arts Center was the perfect place to learn about a large variety of art because it explained the distinguishing characteristics of each genre. The art ranged from small, detailed, and complex paintings to intricate, colorful, and sometimes puzzling statues.

Overall, the LEAP Ambassadors enjoyed gaining new knowledge of art in Arkansas.

Lunch was a treat for us avid meat-lovers as we decided to fill our stomachs at The Whole Hog Cafe, a LEAP Center tradition. Catering a country style atmosphere while offering a variety of award-winning meat (as indicated by the line of trophies displayed near the entrance of the cafe), we knew we were going to be satisfied! To get the most out of our experience, we ordered three plates of The Ultimate Platter, which consisted of pulled pork, beef, chicken, ribs as the main course, and coleslaw, beans, potato salad, and rolls as sides.

Enhancing the overload of finely cooked meat were the six diverse choices of barbecue sauces, ranging from sweet to spicy to slightly tangy.

Each sauce was unique and each person had a chance to pick a favorite. The top three according to our collective preferences were Sauce No. 1 (sweet, mild, molasses flavor), Sauce No. 3 (spicy, traditional tomato, vinegar flavor) and Sauce No. 5 (sweet, heavy, molasses flavor) tied for 2nd place, while for third was Sauce No. 2 (a less spicy version of Sauce No. 3). We also indulged in the best (according to Alex) chocolate brownies for dessert. The service, the platter, the BBQ sauces and the fun conversations that filled our table made for a great experience at Whole Hog Café.

Learning in Little Rock: Day 1

After a filling breakfast at River Market, we got our morning off to a bang by touring the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. There, the Mansion’s tour guide, Ms. Carolyn Eastham, welcomed us warmly. The tour of the three-story Arkansan home commenced in the Grand Foyer…

which featured an 18th-century chandelier from Paris, France, and an oversized rug displaying the seal of the State of Arkansas. Interestingly, Ms. Eastham noted that the original rug actually had to be replaced as it was damaged by former Governor/President Bill Clinton’s cat.

My favorite part of the Governors Mansion was the way that the additions to Mansion were added. The back of the mansion is an atrium which connects the old Mansion to the Grand Hall built in 2003, and showcases the original brick wall and patio of the original Governor’s Mansion that couldn’t be torn down during construction because it is a historic landmark.

Among other things, it was where Bill Clinton announced Al Gore as his running mate in 1992.

Even more impressive was the Grand Hall…

which features a staircase covered with a carpet runner that highlights woven symbols of the State and the names of the eleven governors who have lived in the Mansion.

In the Grand Hall we stood under a grand chandelier that highlighted the important aspects of Arkansas, such as the bumblebee, stars and two raw diamonds. Outside, we were greeted with a tundra-like chill, as Mitch would call it, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the vast flower, vegetable, and herb garden that the Mansion manages as well as the tiny replica of the Mansion, which amusingly stood only a couple of inches taller than me.

Through the various fine furnishings adorning the Mansion such as the 17th Century Irish grandfather clock (which still keeps time precisely), the plethora of art pieces embellishing the walls like the painting of the Arkansas’ traveler legend, and the symbolic items garnishing residence such as the 62-piece silver set, we were introduced to the rich history of the Mansion’s early years and its continuing legacy. Even though the official tour was over, we were able to get a nice photo on the grand stairway that greets visitors to the home…

Regrettably, we did not run into Governor Asa Hutchinson or any of his family, but nevertheless, visiting the Governor’s Mansion was definitely a great way to start our first day in Arkansas!

Editor’s Note: After the tour, Ms. Eastham came up to me and said, “Your students are true ladies and gentlemen, and that compliment comes from a teacher of manners.”

After our grand tour of the Governor’s mansion, and mini mansion, we made our way to another one of Little Rock’s historic treasures, The Old State House. The Old State house was the original state capitol of Arkansas, and today it is museum that holds many of Arkansas’ memories. Arkansas’ induction into the Union, the vote of succession from the United States, medical research, two acceptance speeches by the President of the United States, and even a (Bowie) knife fight between two sitting legislators are some of the story’s that echo down the halls of The Old State House.

While wandering through the museum, we ran into the programmer of The Old State House whose brother actually graduated from Sam Houston State University! He was excited to have us there and told us background stories, including the rumor about the law, justice and mercy statues that were atop of The Old State House being removed by the women of Arkansas and thrown into the river because their attire was too risqué. We also learned that the Old State House is the oldest capitol west of the Mississippi and much about its Greek revival architecture. The Old State House Museum showcased things from History to clothing worn by previous first ladies Arkansas (and even Bill Clintons running shoes!).

After learning about the Old Statehouse, we headed to the River Market, a food court filled with variety that is overlooking the Arkansas River, to break for lunch before our tour of University of Arkansas – Little Rock Law School. Although we had many options to choose from, we agreed to eat at Tokyo, while Professor Yawn decided to eat a different cuisine and enjoyed gyro. The group sampled a variety of sushi, rice, and teriyaki plates, and some tired fruit juices from Thailand. Each were delicious and enjoyed by all. The River Market was a unique place to visit because of the local variety it offered within the River walk district.

Once we were finished with lunch, we went for a tour of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the admissions office.

We were later introduced to the Assistant Dean of Admissions Matthew Kerns, who was really helpful and gave us plenty of advice regarding the admissions process. He specified what they look for in letters of recommendation and personal statements.

After the advice from Dean Kerns, we met with Eruore, a 3L student, ambassador for the UALR Law School, and our tour guide for the day. She began by walking us to a law class where all the fun began. We walked in and took a seat just minutes before the class began. During that time some of us had the opportunity to talk to the people sitting next to us and try to get advice for law school and maybe even again, for the admissions process.

We sat in a Civil Procedure class taught by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Theresa Beiner. The class began by discussing experts at trial.

The class went over the ins and outs of how, when and why to use expert witnesses at a trial. As the class proceeded, I noticed that Dean Beiner was conducting her class in a Socratic method which we had been exposed to before at the Mock Law Class held at SHSU. The class moved on to learn about physical and mental exams and we watched as the class reviewed a couple of Supreme Court cases to learn how the law applied to such cases. Watching the class was interesting and exciting because Dean Beiner was very passionate about teaching her students.

The last topic discussed was how to and when to use a request for admission and motion to council.

Before we even knew it, the class was being dismissed, and Dean Beiner invited us to stay afterwards for a few minutes to discuss our thoughts about the class and ask any questions. During this meeting we learned about the structure of the degree plan and possible internship opportunities available to students. We also learned that UALR Law School is one of the lowest tuition rates in the country. Another very interesting fact to us was that they don’t grade as A, B, C’s, instead, their grading system grades as 4.0, 3.9, 3.8 and so forth.

After this brief meeting, it was time to get back to our law school tour with Eruore.

The school is six floors and each floor has something particularly unique. The 6th floor is specifically reserved for the law review room and a small gym while the second floor was reserved for the law library. After touring the whole school, talking about the organizations and services, and a very informational and exciting class, we went back to the admissions office for informational flyers to take home with us.

After an interesting day at the governor’s mansion and University of Little Rock Law School, we wanted to explore the city. We booked a Segway tour that unfortunately fell through, but that didn’t stop us from exploring Little Rock! We started our exploration at the Clinton Presidential Library…

and although that’s on the itinerary for tomorrow, we learned some of the architectural meaning of the building and got some great photos around it! The library is near the the River Market area, to which we returned…

…amidst an amazing sunset…

…and explored the Junction Bridge…

We also went to the sculpture garden, music park, despite it being very cold out! We also played on a river-walk playground that Little Rock features to great effect. There is a jungle gym…

…a tunnel system, which we climbed in…

…and out of…

It was great enjoying the sunset while doing some fun activities. Before we headed to dinner the group headed up for the tallest bridge.

It was an amazing view of the Capitol at night…

…and the River Market…

Even after seeing everything and working up an appetite, we couldn’t resist taking a last look at the bridge…

…and one more posed photo…

Having seen the river area for the third time that day, we turned toward Midtown in search of food.

To satisfy our appetites, we decided to indulge in DamGoode Pies. With high expectations, we were eager to find out what makes their pizzas so yummy! We ordered the Damgoode Trios to sample their popular appetizers. Each piece of bread was garnished with toppings such as bacon and jalapeños, shredded mozzarella and tomatoes, or spinach and meatball. When our pizza arrived, we enjoyed trying a variety of the signature pies. The Hog layered pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage, crumbled bacon, and cheddar cheese pizza was a favorite to many of us. We also ordered a Hawaiian pizza, and a Garden Supreme pizza that provided us with a different mix of flavors. Satisfied from a tasty meal, we decided to head back to the hotel to prepare for our next day in Little Rock!

Wall of Honor: CHSS Recognizes Excellence

Every year, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences honors excellence, recognizing those that have embodied success as practitioners or in teaching in the halls of academia. This year, the College of recognized Professor of Philosophy Frank Fair and former County Judge Frank Robinson. Appropriately, the evening was marked by warmth, camaraderie, and even inspiration, fitting qualities for the humanities fields.

Dean Zink opened the event…

…and Chris Tritico MC’d the event, introducing speakers for both of this year’s recipients.

Fair, the faculty recipient of this year’s award, is only the eighth faculty to be recognized by the college, joining Dr. Caroline Crim, Dr. Richard Cording, Dr. Mattie Medford, Dr. James Olson, Dr. John Holcombe, Dr. Joseph Clark, and Dr. Walter Bennett. After joining the faculty in 1971, quickly made an impact, being involved in the community and in creating new programs at SHSU. He was instrumental in establishing the college’s teaching conference, was active in the Honors College, the Writing Across the Disciplines program, and in Academic Challenge. Fair also brought the journal Inquiry to SHSU, promoting research on philosophical inquiries and the promotion of critical thinking among SHSU students. (As prospective law students, this caught our attention!) His efforts, deservedly, led to him being awarded with the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1989 and the Excellence in Service Award in 1992. In 2011, he was given the Piper Teaching Award, a recognition given to only ten faculty members across the state.

Amidst the sweep of this forty-five year career, CHSS Alumni Advisory Board member Paula Lenz offered an up-close-and-personal view of Fair. With a voice that at times cracked, Lenz noted the impact that Fair had on her life and the way in which she saw the world. Although Lenz majored in English, she took Fair’s philosophical lessons with her, helping her in a successful career as the Director of the North Houston Association.

Dick Eglsaer, the Vice Provost at SHSU, also spoke on behalf of Fair. While calling himself an “old-timer,” he noted that he was nowhere near as old as Fair, a comment that got a few chuckles, including a laugh from the Fairs…

The Marketing Department at SHSU also did a nice video for Dr. Fair…

…which included discussions from Fair’s peers, such as Dr. Gillespie and Dr. Botero, the latter of whom learned to drive from Dr. Fair.

Over dinner, Fair had a chance at his “rebuttal,” and his ten-minute speech illuminated the many qualities that had previously been identified by his peers.

His passion for teaching, his concern for students, his gratitude to work at a fine institution with excellent peers, and even in his 70s, an enthusiasm for what teaching will bring in the future.

Throughout both his speech and the speeches about him, his wife, Janet, was mentioned repeatedly. Following a long career as a teacher at HISD, she now works for SHSU as a mentor and, like Frank, is a leader in the community.

To young political science majors (and one lonely accounting major), it’s inspiring to us as SHSU Ambassadors to see a faculty member who has accomplished so much, impacted so many lives, and maintained the zest for continued service, and we were pleased to meet and congratulate him following the dinner.

Service was also the theme of the CHSS’s recognition of Judge Frank Robinson. Born in 1916, Robinson lived to almost 100, passing just last year. His life of service was attested to by an impressive group of speakers, including former Mayor Jane Monday…

Reverend Willett, Commissioner BJ Gaines, and Robinson’s daughter, who gave a truly moving speech that touched on Robinson’s role as family patriarch…

… community servant, and elected official.

Robinson served two terms as County Judge, was President of Rotary, a Distinguished SHSU Alum, and an active member of the First United Methodist Church. In fact, when the LEAP Ambassadors did a community “then-and-now” photograph of the church in 2012, Robinson was selected to stand (actually, sit) front and center for the outdoor photograph.

Huntsville's FUMC--Judge Robinson is a bit left of center — Huntsville’s FUMC–Judge Robinson is a bit left of center (above and below)

Although our role in the CHSS event was in a minor support capacity, we were thrilled to volunteer. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to see role models, to meet others who are active in the College, and to spend time with some really nice people. Chris Tritico, a Houston attorney and SHSU alum, was not only the MC of the event and the dinner…

…but he introduced himself to us, and offered advice and support.

We finally had a chance to meet Dan Beto, for whom we’ve long been grateful but not ever actually met. Beto is a member of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Foundation, and when he cannot attend some of their events, he sends us his invitations. Partially because of his generosity, we’ve seen people such as George H. W. Bush, Stephen Hawking, Bob Gates, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, Ken Burns, and Bud Philbrook. It was fun putting a name with an invitation!

It’s always nice to see the Woodwards, who have been huge supporters of CHSS. Judge Robinson was once selected as Citizen of the Year by the Huntsville Item. Mac Woodward was nominated for this award this year, and we hope that he wins it this Thursday (Good luck, Mac!)

We always enjoy spending time with the current County Judge, Danny Pierce, and his wife, Cindy. Amidst this group, it’s likely that you’ll not only hear about service, but you’ll actually see it in action. This time was no exception. At the end of the Wall of Honor service, for example, we got to see Judge Pierce help WWII veteran Jerry Nemec to the golf cart. We’ve never actually met Mr. Nemec, but we volunteer a lot at the HEARTS Veterans Museum, and we know about his service to the community and the nation.

Nemec_Pierce_Web — One Good Man (Judge Pierce) Helps Another Good Man (Jerry Nemec)

As part of its Mission Statement, the CHSS promotes “personal growth, competent professionalism, and responsible citizenship” and Dr. Fair and Judge Robinson–along with the many nice attendees–did a great job of embodying those qualities and illuminating the importance that humanities plays inside and outside of the classroom.

Dr. Abbey Zink is the Dean of CHSS. Her staff, Brenda McNeely, Christine Reeder and Deanna Briones did a great job of putting this event on. The CHSS Alumni Advisory Board helps oversee the nominations process and they vote to select the honorees. It was an honor to assist with this event.

March Primary and Propositions: What to Know

While most people know the candidates at the top of Tuesday’s ballot, less information is known about the propositions on the ballot. The Republicans have four propositions; the Democrats six.

Here are the Republican Propositions:

Proposition 1:

Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.

Proposition 2:

Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds.

Proposition 3:

Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks.

Proposition 4:

Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the US Constitution which states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”.

Here are the Democratic Propositions:

Referendum 1:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass an economic security and prosperity plan for families that includes higher incomes by raising the state minimum wage to a livable wage, passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure equal pay for equal work, guaranteeing paid family leave to care for a child or ill loved one, fully funding public neighborhood schools, and making a debt-free community college education a reality for hardworking students?

Referendum 2:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass criminal justice reform legislation that ensures equal justice throughout our society without respect to race, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors unrelated to behavior, ensuring as well common sense policies to protect the rights of law enforcement officers, the community, and defendants in the criminal justice system?

Referendum 3:

Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress encourage the transition to renewable, non-polluting energy as a means to slow down climate change and its impact on the planet?

Referendum 4:

Should the United States Congress pass the new Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect all American voters?

Referendum 5:

Should the Texas Legislature allow each public institution of higher education (not only private universities) to opt out of the ability to carry guns on campus?

Referendum 6:

Should the United States Congress pass a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?

LEAP Director Mike Yawn discusses the propositions on the ballot with KSTAR’s Beth O’Brien.

The interview also discusses how these propositions get on the ballot. This is a little-known process that involves the executive committees of both Texas parties, involving the 31 Senate Districts in the state. Learn about this process here.

Parading Our Texas Pride

With waving hands and warm smiles, LEAP ambassadors Brian Aldaco and Kaityln Tyra paraded the streets of Conroe, TX alongside Congressman Brady this past Saturday in the Go Texan 51st annual parade. Presented by the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo Show, the parade was a great way to demonstrate our pride of being a Texan. Positioned behind the float of Miss Moo (the quirky mascot of the Ladies Go Texan Committee) and in front of the Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce float, we walked through downtown Conroe holding banners and signs recognizing our current US Representative. Showcased in the parade were Conroe High School’s marching band, the Oak Ridge High School Air Force Junior ROTC, the whimsical Arabia Shrine cars, and other local community organizations.

We were among the only ones walking in the procession, and I will shamefully admit that at times we would hold up the rest of the motorcade. These moments of slight embarrassment, however, were all worth it when having in the parade and seeing children who are always happy at a parade. For at least in this blogger’s opinion, nothing matches the feeling of being part of town’s festive, patriotic spirit.

In this fashion of civic pride, we paraded around the Montgomery County Courthouse,, eventually turned to stand by the county’s Commissioner’s Court, and met the parade’s judging panel in front of Conroe Tower. While crossing this street it would have been nearly impossible for any participant to avert one’s gaze away from the distinctive Montgomery County logo, above West Davis Street.

This depiction, made up of the county’s outline decorated with the state’s flag and the line “Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag,” properly captured the spirit of the event. As spectators and participants of the parade, we all gathered on a Saturday evening to celebrate being a Texan and, in my own case, a member of Montgomery County. In assembling, all of us showed how proud we were of our Montgomery County heritage and our love for our Lone Star State.

The LEAP Center is a non-partisan group of students who are engaged in their communities.

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