The SHSU academic fall semester may be complete, but LEAP students are continuing to learn, in and out of classrooms. Accordingly, a group of LEAP students participated in a ceramics class this Monday, March 15, led by Professor Lauren Clay at the Dana G. Hoyt Fine Arts Building as an early participation in the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, which will occur March 4, 2026.
Our participation is the first phase of a three-phase fundraiser. As described by Professor Clay, our purpose Monday was to (1) shape our bowl, learning how to mold wet clay, explore the many options for designs and ornamentation, and to prepare for the kiln.
We will return in January to (2) glaze the bowl, and in March, some of us (3) will volunteer for the Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center–a project we have assisted with since the program’s inception in 2008.
For our initial session, Professor Clay…
…demonstrated “underglaze transferring,” which involves creating a design on one medium and transferring it to the ceramic before shaping and kilning.
Thus, we created our design and waited for the design to dry…
…smoothed our clay, completed the transfer, and then put the clay over a mold to complete the bowl.
Not all of us did the transfer process; Professor Yawn, for example, had much trouble with his transfer, and proceeded without ornamentation.
Others, however, engaged fully in their creativity, exploring floral designs, innovative clay designs, or using laces or others props.
With the right imagination and dexterity, the possibilities are endless, and some of us were thrilled with our designs. I, on the other hand, didn’t feel like I quite got the hang of it, but was nonetheless satisfied with it as a first effort.
This participation also gave me the chance to see the beautiful Hoyt Fine Arts Building, making me wish I had explored this building earlier in my college career. And while the building was a little on the cool side, the experience itself left a warm feeling in all of us, a fitting outcome for participation in a worthy cause.
As part of the LEAP Center’s ongoing work to expose students to the broader culture, a group of alumni and current students gathered in Houston to see Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Originally released in 1980, the film is being re-released on IMAX theatres across the country as part of its 45th anniversary.
For about half those attending, it was a first exposure to a Stanley Kubrick film. Accordingly, we began with a brief background of Kubrick and his films. Of all the great directors, Kubrick produced the fewest films (13 over a 45-year career), a fact that has not deterred scholars from giving as much thought and ink to Kubrick’s work as that of Hitchcock, Welles, Spielberg, or Martin Scorsese.
Of Kubrick’s films, “The Shining” has received perhaps the most attention. The film is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title, and it was met with a mixed critical reception on its release, although its stature has grown, and it is now considered a horror classic.
It embodies several cinematic traits of the Kubrick oeuvre: a longish running time, attention-grabbing visuals, riffs on various literary themes, and an enigmatic approach to storytelling that occasionally leaves viewers unsure what they just watched. All of these were on display in “The Shining.”
In this viewing, the visuals were most prominent, perhaps because we were watching this on an IMAX screen. The opening scenes, shot from a helicopter, including a scene where we (perceiving things through the camera) seem to pass the Torrance family on the “sidewinder” road…
…on the way to the Overlook Hotel.
Kubrick also made full use of the Steadi-Cam, which had been introduced on film in 1976. Kubrick used it throughout “The Shining,” and he innovated with it, devising an apparatus that could shoot from about 18 inches above the ground–most notably used in the film to follow Danny on his tricycle, as he traversed the maze-like corridors of The Overlook.
Kubrick’s films are often sprawling affairs and they are deeply studied by scholars and enthusiasts, so it’s no surprise that all manner of symbols and themes have been “discovered” in the director’s body of work. This is probably most true in “The Shining,” as reflected in the interesting and bizarre theories expressed in the documentary Room 237.
Professor Robert Kolker, an author of several Kubrick books and an expert on cinema, suggests that the film can be seen through an Oedipal lens (spoiler alert). Danny’s “shining” is a type of oracular vision not unlike that of the prophecies offered at Delphi, including the one offered to Oedipus. And while Danny wasn’t as close to his mother as was Oedipus, she serves as his caretaker and protector; in the end, she carries him to safety, saving his life.
Danny doesn’t proactively kill his father at a crossroads as does Oedipus, he does leave his lame father to die of exposure in a labyrinth. Of note: Jack Torrance suffers from a foot/ankle injury following a fall down stairs; he literally embodies the term “Oedipus,” which means “swollen foot.”
Whether such messages were intentional or not (it’s worth noting that Kubrick mentioned he read a lot of Freud prior to filming “The Shining”), the film is replete with sufficient ambiguities to provide fodder for the active imagination.
There are some imponderables in the film; it does, after all, involve the supernatural. But even in the logic of the supernatural, what is the purpose of the bathroom scene…
…in which Nicholson embraces a young, naked and beautiful woman, only to find her decay into a rotting but living corpse? Why is there a parlor full of fully-dressed corpses in the hotel? And what about the scene involving a man in a bare-backed bear costume and a man in a tuxedo?
This latter question was posed by many in our group (answered by none), and such questions may reflect Kubrick’s very approach to filmmaking: “if you can get people to the point where they have to think a moment what it is you’re getting at, and then discover it, the thrill of discovery goes right through the heart.”
While we probably didn’t reach “discovery” on many of the scenes, we did “think a moment” or more on the film and its many scenes. The experience offered an accessible and exciting introduction to Stanley Kubrick and his work, gave us all an excuse to get together during the holiday break, and provided us endless material for reflection (and, for some of us, concern…)!
LEAP has taken us to several museums this year—the Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Art Museum, and many others scattered throughout the semester. Each visit has offered something different, but our last museum trip of the semester to the Asia Society Texas felt like the perfect way to close out what’s been a great streak of cultural experiences!
Asia Society Texas Center is located in Houston’s Museum District. Designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the building is modern, clean, and flooded with natural light; it manages to feel both contemporary and welcoming.
We started our tour at the Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theatre. The theater itself seats 273 in steel-gray chairs made by the same manufacturer as Ferrari, and the stage is beautiful Appalachian white oak.
Next came one of the coolest parts: the “LEO Bullet Train,” an immersive digital journey through Asia.
The rectangular room has screens shaped like train windows, and as the “ride” progresses, videos of different Asian countries scroll past bustling cityscapes, serene landscapes, cultural landmarks, daily life. It’s a clever way to experience Asia’s vast diversity without leaving Houston.
After the train ride, we explored the Pokémon exhibition. At first glance, it might seem unexpected for a cultural center, but the exhibit makes a compelling case for Pokémon as a significant example of Japanese cultural influence worldwide.
For many of us who grew up with Pokémon, seeing it in this academic context was both amusing and fascinating – a reminder that cultural exchange happens in many forms, and something that shaped our childhood also introduced us to Japanese design, language, and values.
We then played with an interactive screen where you could share your favorite part of the museum…
…and we all had fun with that.
Next was a series of interactive displays highlighting the different Asian countries…
To cap it all off, we explored the interactive food screens, a playful way to learn about Asian cuisine.
This visit was a fitting end to our museum series this semester- combining accessibility, engaging exhibits, hands-on experiences, and cultural depth.
With finals and papers (mostly) complete, LEAP students signed up for an adventure, an exploration of Houston. This exploration involved one of the City’s parks, a culinary adventure, and a foray into the world of architecture, all in the spirit of fun, education, and engagement.
While Houston’s larger parks receive a lot of attention, Smither Park is a gem. Designed by former SHSU professor Dan Phillips, Smither Park reflects the designer’s beliefs in organic processes. “Through the use of color and composition,” Phillips once told a LEAP group on a tour, “you employ repetition to create a pattern, and soon you’ve created art.”
The art was on display throughout the Park, and the students enjoyed the process of finding art in each station, pathway, and niche.
Each student had their own favorite, but simply seeing the creativity of the designs (did you know a spatula could be a dragonfly wing?) was part of the wonder of the experience.
Indeed, it was the majority of the student’s favorite event of the day.
Houston is gaining a reputation for its food scene, and one of the places receiving more than its share of notices is Cochinita & Co., whose chef, Victoria Elizondo, has twice been named a James Beard semi-finalist. The attentive staff–we were recognized upon entering (“Is this SHSU’s group of Pre-Law students?”)–helped us with menu selections. Mikaela went with vegan tacos; Professor Yawn went with the Cochinita Pibil tacos; Moya went with chicken tacos; Sofia went with the excellent Posole; and Katie, needing a pick-me-up, had a Latte with her lunch. We all tried the elote and guacamole, and Mikaela got some pastries to go (allegedly to “share” with her family).
Fortified by food, we ventured into the world of architecture, stopping by The University of St. Thomas, where we visited Philip Johnson’s Academic Mall and Chapel of St. Basil. Johnson’s most notable Houston works are the ones that dot the skyline, but few are as beautiful or as textured as his Chapel. Composed of a Cube, several planes, and a sphere and adorned with rectangles, a triangle, and crosses, the structure is a visual and spiritual delight.
While we each explored the various aspects of the space, we tried to capture some of its magic through photography. Our efforts, however, didn’t quite capture the essence of the structure in the same way we did on our 2024 visit.
Part of the spirit of LEAP is to mix in new explorations while revisiting the seemingly familiar, only to find that return visits allow us to see with new eyes, a reflection of continued growth, an ongoing sense of wonder, and the promise of new possibilities.
This Wednesday’s last Pre-Law Society meeting of the semester ended up being one of our most helpful and interesting ones yet. We started with our usual updates: finances, social media, minutes, and spring-semester dues, before going over upcoming events and ideas for the rest of the year.
Once we wrapped up business, Olivia Discon introduced Attorney Michael Foreman, a Baylor Law graduate and trial lawyer at Haney Paschal & Romoser right here in Huntsville, Texas. Foreman works in family, personal injury, contract and property disputes, and trusts and estates law. From the moment he started speaking, it was clear he had a lot of real-world experience to share.
He began with a question many of us think about: “Does mock trial really prepare you for the courtroom?” Foreman didn’t hesitate. “It’s as close as you can get to actually being in a courtroom,” he said, and encouraged anyone considering law school to get involved. That immediately set the tone for how honest and practical he would be throughout the night.
He also walked us through how he made it onto law review at Baylor. Students can qualify by being in the top 5% of their class or by submitting a strong writing sample. He explained how law review improves your writing, your ability to read cases deeply, and your confidence going into legal practice.
When he talked about law school itself, Foreman didn’t sugarcoat anything. Most classes come down to one final exam, but everything you do during the semester prepares you for it. He stressed how important class rank is your first year, saying, “Your first year is very important. It dictates your speed to success.” Hearing that from someone who has lived it made everyone sit up a little straighter.
Foreman also shared stories from his internships and clerkships, and gave advice that many of us needed to hear: if you get accepted into multiple law schools, choose the best one you can, even if another feels more comfortable. “The first ten years of your career are shaped by the path you choose,” he said. Everyone took a second to process their reality, and most even would say that motivated them even further.
He then talked about the difference between big and small firms. While large firms may seem impressive, he reminded us that new lawyers often don’t get meaningful hands-on work there. Smaller firms, like Haney Paschal & Romoser, give young attorneys real opportunities to learn the entire process, from meeting clients to preparing for trial. It made the legal world feel a little less intimidating. It gave us insight that we would not be able to find on our own as undergraduates.
One of the most interesting parts of his talk was when he described a Texas Renaissance Festival contract case involving $72 million. He used that case to explain what depositions are and why they matter. “Depositions are your first chance to question witnesses under oath,” he said, adding that you often learn the most when you take action early in a case. He also shared the heartbreaking detail that the festival’s owner later committed suicide, which reminded everyone just how much stress clients can be under. “Everyone you work with is under stress,” Foreman told us. “Your job is to give peace of mind and manage expectations.”
From there, he covered probate, personal-injury billing, and the emotional nature of family law. He explained that while the legal part of family law may be straightforward, the challenge comes from guiding clients through tough, emotional situations. “Emotions do not determine decisions,” he said, “but they determine how you communicate.”
He ended the night with a line that stuck with almost everyone: “Law school is ultimately betting on yourself.” For many of us, that was the reminder we needed, that pursuing law is a commitment, but also an investment in who we want to become.
Overall, the meeting was encouraging, honest, and incredibly helpful. We left with a clearer picture of law school, the profession, and the responsibility lawyers carry. It was exactly the kind of meeting that motivates future law students to keep pushing forward.
To finish off the night, the Pre-Law Society and Micheal Foreman had the honor of giving our graduating seniors their cords and PLS certificates.
We are sad to see them go, but grateful to have seen these individuals grow. We wish the best of luck to them and their journeys as aspiring attorneys!
The holiday season is a time for generosity, community spirit, and simple acts of kindness—and few events capture that spirit as fully as KSAM Radio 101.7’s annual M*A*S*H* (Make A Smile Happen) Christmas Gift Drive. As Huntsville residents prepare for the festive season, KSAM is once again inviting–and LEAP is also assisting–the community effort to make the holidays brighter for local families, children, and even four-legged friends.
Located in the HEB Parking lot, M*A*S*H* tents will be open for 21 hours on Wednesday and Thursday (10am-6pm, 6am-4pm, respectively), providing a convenient drop-off spot for donors. Community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food, new toys, and pet supplies, with LEAP volunteers on hand to help unload, sort, and inventory.
When deciding how to allocate their time, the LEAP Ambassadors ask several questions, including:
Does this fit our mission?
Is this a meaningful contribution to the community?
Do we have the resources to do this well?
Can another group do it better?
With M*A*S*H*, this is an easy call, and it is the fifth year the Ambassadors have assisted with the program–long-term relationships being another hallmark of LEAP operations.
For KSAM Radio, the MASH Gift Drive is more than an annual event—it is a reflection of their longstanding involvement in the community–in fact, they just celebrated their 86th anniversary of being on-air in Huntsville!
For LEAP Ambassadors, it’s a way to contribute to their community while learning more about it. And for community members, it’s an opportunity to give back in a meaningful, tangible way–and to Make a-A Smile Happen!
M*A*S*H* will be in operation again today from 6am-4pm in the HEB parking lot. Stop by and say “hi”!
It’s not always easy to make Constitutional Law and, especially, Texas Government, fun, but it’s a lot easier with quality guest speakers. For Professor Yawn’s classes last week, the guest speakers were Sgt. Butterworth and Lt. Zella, who worked in tandem to provide information to students about police-community relations.
The discussion covered various topics and included many questions. One key takeaway was that the police approach each encounter under a certain amount of stress, and while they are trained in their encounters, things go more smoothly when citizens don’t exacerbate the situation.
A simple traffic stop, for example, can go more smoothly if the driver (1) pulls over as soon as it is convenient and signals their intention to do so (e.g., slowing down, a blinker, hazards), (2) turns on their interior lights, (3) avoids sudden movements, and (4) keeps their hands visible.
Police have much discretion on these encounters. A noise violation called on an after party, for example, can be a simple matter of telling people to “quiet down” or it can result in arrests. This is often determined by the scope of illegal activity, the demeanor of those in the house, and the extent to which people are a danger to themselves or others.
For those that don’t consider themselves a danger after drinking or smoking weed, their performances with “drunk goggles” and “cannabis goggles” suggests otherwise, although Michelle Moya (POLS 4334) and Robin Houghton (POLS 2306) did suspiciously well on the walk-and-turn sobriety tests. Other students didn’t perform quite as well on simple sobriety tests.
In two 75-minute sessions, Butterworth and Zella effectively reached out to more than 200 students, improving community relations, increasing mutual understanding, and leaving a lot of students laughing.
Many thanks to Kimani Vercher, Jamya Wright, Robin Houghton, Gus Stephens, Jose Carreno, Audry Brysch, Jack Robinson, Isaac Mokrane, Charlotte Olivares, Hailey Arsham, Michelle Moya, Niya Thompson, and Kevon Paire for being good sports.
To see how the POLS 2306 students performed, see the video below.
To see how the POLS 4334 students performed, see the video below.
One of this year’s class of SHSU Distinguished Alumni was Tiffany Thomas, Houston City Councilmember for District F. Ms. Thomas was unable to attend the Distinguished Alumni Gala (she was in DC), but she did stop by SHSU the day after, and she met with various offices and individuals, including LEAP Center students.
Councilmember Thomas, who graduated from SHSU in 2003 with a Bachelor’s in Communications, immediately struck a friendly and positive tone with the students, inviting an interactive meeting, one that stretched to almost an hour in total.
She focused on the importance of taking initiative rather than waiting for others, ensuring, as she described it, a “seat at the table.” For her, that meant getting involved in the issues she cared about. For her that eventually meant eventually running for office–first for Alief School Board and then for Houston City Council. But there are many ways to serve, and electoral office isn’t the only path.
But as an elected official, Thomas has stressed Economic Development, Quality of Life, Youth Programming, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Public Safety. Representing one of the most diverse districts in the nation gives Thomas credibility when she says, “If we can get it right in this district, then America can get it right, too.”
The Q&A period was engaging…
…and Councilmember Thomas used the time to encourage empowerment, to encourage the students to get involved, to stay engaged, and to show persistence–all of which, she reminded them, will help their communities and America get it right.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 