Sam Houston State University – Page 2 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

From Mazza’s to Mountains: CSG West Day One

Written By: Jacob Wessels

Before heading out to tackle the local trails, LEAP Ambassadors set out to experience Salt Lake City’s vibrant food scene, fuel up, and to continue our theme of ethnic food destinations in Salt Lake City. Nestled in the 15th and 15th neighborhood, we ate at Mazza, a James Beard Award-nominated Lebanese restaurant.

While the service was a bit spotty, the menu showcased the depth of Lebanese cuisine, striking a balance between familiar favorites and complex specialty dishes. We began with their classic, smooth hummus paired with a distinctively airy, fluffy pita bread and meatballs before exploring their rich entrees. The meatballs especially stood out as an experience in spice blending. Served in a deeply flavorful, rich tomato sauce packed with traditional spices, these meatballs were definitely one of the highlights of the night.

For entrees we went for a wide variety of dishes, including the savory lamb and spinach yakhneh, shawarma, beef and lamb kabobs, and a uniquely balanced chicken dish prepared with olives and dried fruit, the latter of which was the standout among the menu items we sampled.

Fueled by our meal and hoping to beat sunset, we were ready to set off on our hike! When we first set out on the Living Room Trail in Salt Lake City, our main goal was to catch the sunset from the famous rock couches at the top. However, as our very first LEAP hike, the trail turned out to be a lot steeper and harder than we anticipated ((editor’s note: despite repeated discussions about this very topic). The constant incline tested our stamina, and while we pushed through and made it all the way to the summit, we unfortunately missed the sunset. Despite the timing mishap, the journey up was incredibly beautiful and rewarding; we even got to see some local wildlife along the way, including a doe and buck grazing against the backdrop of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Swapping out the familiar, humid Texas forests for the massive, rugged peaks of the Wasatch Range gave us a newfound appreciation for how diverse American geography can be. Climbing up the rocky, high-altitude terrain of Salt Lake City felt worlds away from our usual campus walks, making the physical challenge even more memorable for us, and allowing us to push ourselves outside our comfort zones to experience a completely different side of the country.

By the time we reached the top, the dusk had faded, giving us a stunning view of the city lights. This was definitely the most rewarding part of the night; we felt like we had accomplished something together. The descent proved to be its own adventure, as navigating the very steep trail in the pitch dark felt a bit scary and required us to look out for one another every step of the way. Facing the tough terrain and conquering the dark together created a memory and a shared connection that none of us will ever forget.

A Fourth of July Celebration to Remember!

Written By: Nataly Elizondo

The Fourth of July came early at the Walker County Senior Center as LEAP students and volunteers gathered to celebrate with local seniors! We arrived around 9:30 a.m., ready for a fun day filled with games, prizes, and music. The event allowed us to spend time with members of the community while helping to create a festive holiday celebration.

We kicked things off with our regular game of Bingo. Before the game began, Luke and I helped pick out prizes for the winners. It was exciting seeing all the different prizes we had to pick from, and knowing how happy they would make the senior citizens. With Brittlyn and Olivia calling numbers, we added in a few bonus rounds in celebration of the upcoming holiday!

As Bingo wrapped up and lunch preparations began, Brittlyn gave an amazing performance of The Star-Spangled Banner. We all loved her performance and gave her a huge round of applause as the National Anthem concluded. Throughout the morning, everyone enjoyed spending time together by taking silly pictures, playing checkers, and even competing on the Wii. It was so much fun seeing people of all ages laughing and talking to one another.

Before lunch started, we had one more special reason to celebrate… it was Ron Mendliski’s birthday! Everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday, and Ron smiled as he blew out his candles. As lunch was served, the LEAP students and volunteers took group pictures with Dottie Fulton, Director of the Lions Club, and Meals on Wheels: Walker County CEO, Stacey Loll. By the end of the event, this celebration was about much more than bingo and prizes. It was about building connections, sharing joy, and making the Fourth of July special for everyone!

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

Written by: Ruthie Passmore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LEAP Eats: Pita and Pastries

Written by: Kayla Fleming and Isis Hollis

A LEAP trip wouldn’t be complete without exploring various different cuisines. This past weekend we tried everything from Mediterranean bowls to French pastries!

To prepare for a fulfilling day at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, LEAP Students had the opportunity to eat at Craft Pita, which serves farm to table Mediterranean cuisine. To start, we split the Mezze (a set of small, shareable dishes) Sampler. The hummus, babaganoush, and the turnips were crowd favorites. For some of us, it was our first time having a full mediterranean meal, and it did not disappoint.

Craft Pita is known for its inclusion of Tex Mex influence in otherwise traditional mediterranean food. One example of this was the Lebanese Tacos. Made with falafel, a meat alternative of spiced, mashed chickpeas, the dish surprised us with its complementary flavors. Aside from this exciting dish, we also enjoyed salads, wraps, and hummus bowls!

To finish off the meal, we ordered three deserts for the table: the Turkish Coffee Brownie, Lemon Mint Ice Cream, and Pistachio Ice Cream. The brownie was rich and delicate, while the ice cream was light and refreshing. The lemon mint was a surprising favorite, and we could not stop going back for more. Overall, Craft Pita only added to our wonderful weekend in Houston and prepared us for the exciting day ahead.

Our last stop in the diverse city of Houston was Common Bond Cafe on Sunday. The cafe had a pleasant atmosphere and delicious food! Nearly all of us went with the grilled cheese but we mixed it up with the sides. Robin and I had the tomato soup while Allie and Olivia had the fries. The fries had a unique thin, crispy texture that was very enjoyable.

Not only was the food great, but so were the pastries. I had the strawberry cheesecake muffin that was both photogenic and sweet. Of course their most famous pastry, the Kouign-amann, was a must on our list of things to try. It was buttery and flaky, similar to a croissant but had a crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on the bottom.

After we finished eating, Professor Yawn took us on a tour of some of the famous sculptures located in the Woodlands. Luckly we were able to stop and get a selfie infront of a massive James Surls sculpture.

Both spots, though different in many ways, added even more fun to our trip by expanding our palates and knowledge of different food cultures and artwork around the world!

Number One Fans: Misery at the Alley Theatre

Written by: Allie Plunk

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

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

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

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

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

Twenty-Four Hours With LEAP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The PLS Winds Down & Ramps Up

Written by Madison Thurkettle

Winding Down the Spring

the Spring semester wound down, pre-law society members gathered for a laid-back get-together to escape the stressful process of finals. With games, puzzles, and pizza, we reflected on the year that’s gone by, and thought to the future.

To kick off the evening, we enjoyed food, conversation, and plenty of fun. Four activity tables featured exciting games like Hot Topics, Pictionary, Uno, and Imposter, creating the perfect atmosphere for everyone to connect and enjoy the night.

We also did a bit of role-acting in a very light version of mock trial, which may lead to a more robust version in a future semester.

We finished the evening with some photographs in front of celebratory decor.

Ramping up for the Summer and Fall

The end of the semester also prompted some planning for future events, and this included plans for a summer pre-law conference, visits to a law school over the summer, an extensive workshop for law-school applications, and a study course for the LSAT.

Planning has also begun for the fall, with the semester schedule outlined:

September 2: Game Night
September 16: “How to Get Into Law School,” featuring law-school deans
October 21: District Attorney Will Durham
November 18: Texas Special Prosecution Unit’s Simulated Voir Dire

The fall will also bring a Mock LSAT, a resume workshop, Moot Court, and a handful of guest speakers, making it one of the more robust semesters in memory, giving members good reasons to stay involved and prepare for the future.

Rethinking Iran with Seyed Mousavian

LEAP students had the unusual opportunity to hear from a former high-ranking Iranian official while the US is at war with the country it believes to be an active supporter of worldwide terrorism. Thanks to the World Affairs Council, LEAP students were able to hear divergent views–sometimes sharply so–on Iran’s support of terror, nuclear energy program, and other activities that affect international relations.

Following an introduction by WAC CEO Maryanne Maldonado…

…Ronan O’Malley began a moderated discussion with Mousavian. The former Ambassador is working on a book about the United States’ policy toward Iran from the perspective of Presidents Obama (negotiations), Trump (America First), Biden (benign neglect), and Trump (War).

In addition to having served in high-ranking government positions, Mousavian’s credentials also include an MA in International Relations from the University of Tehran and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent. He currently teaches at Princeton University.

Mousavian made several assertions, and at times, he made them forcefully:

Iran has been the most inspected country in the world, and these inspections, at least since 2015, have not uncovered any evidence that Iran has made an effort to make nuclear weapons;
Israel is the “elephant in the room,” and unless discussions about Israel are included in Iran-US discussions, no real or permanent progress will be made;
He, Seyed Mousavian, is not guilty of any crimes, nor does he support terrorism.

At least one person in the room objected to the latter point forcefully. In fact, he stood up and scolded the former Ambassador before he was removed by WAC staff and security.

For his part, O’Malley did his due diligence in digging a bit deeper into some of Mousavian’s claims–particularly about the brutality of Iran’s regime–but Mousavian gave no ground. Indeed, at times his claims were sweeping, as when he suggested that the UN always gave clean marks on its inspections of Iran (see, for example, this article).

In the end, such questions are not likely to be answered in an hour-long discussion, but for the open-minded, the discussion led to new facts to be considered, even as it may have reinforced some preexisting beliefs.

Although all of us took away different thoughts about the Iran-US War, we all agreed that this type of event is what the university experience should be: exposure to new ideas by informed speakers on provocative topics.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine

We discussed some of these topics at dinner following the event. In LEAP fashion, we chose a restaurant that specialized in mediterranean cuisine, allowing us to further explore Iranian culture. We chose Mary’z, which turned out to be a wise choice.

Beginning with a sampler appetizer, we were able to explore dolmades (excellent), kibbi, sfeeha (very good), and falafel (also excellent).

For dinner, we had various dishes, including beef shwarma, chicken kebab, kafta kebab, and beef kebab, and a felafel plate. In typical LEAP fashion, we sampled from each other’s plates, and there was general consensus that the kafta and the chicken kebabs were the best among an excellent sampling of dishes.

For many students, it was their first time having Mediterranean food, and even if they had enjoyed this culinary tradition, they were able to sample a new dish.

The excellent food capped off an evening of education, exploration, lively debate, and good company, all LEAP hallmarks!

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