Sam Houston State University – Page 32 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Visit Huntsville: Texas Prison Museum

Morgan Robertson

With March designated as National Criminal Justice Month, the majority of the LEAP Ambassadors studying Criminal Justice, and, well, Huntsville being Huntsville with seven state prisons; we saw it fit to visit the Texas Prison Museum for our March edition of Visit Huntsville.

Established in 1989, the non-profit (which is not affiliated with TDCJ) has served citizens and visitors by satisfying the curiosity that shrouds the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and what happens inside those red-brick walls.

Olivia, who has visited the Walls Unit twice, enjoyed describing some of her experiences as we peered over a miniature model of the penitentiary in Texas. This was but one example of displays that captivated our attention during our visit.

Michelle particularly enjoyed the “famous/Infamous” prisoners section, where we saw many familiar names, including Clyde Barrow and Fred Carrasco.

However, of the names and stories we read, she knew the most about the various plots and conspiracies regarding the murder of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez by Yolanda Saldívar.

The Texas Prison Museum should take pride in what they accomplish though documenting the history of TDCJ, detailing what current conditions are like as an inmate, and honoring the 36,000 employees that work for the agency across the state.

The Museum also has a wide array of items made by those incarcerated. Both the illicit and sanctioned products were shocking in terms of skill and craftsmanship.

My favorite was an entire chess set, carved entirely out of soap, with prison inmates and guards pitted against one another. Upon further inspection, the guards held batons, and coffee mugs while inmates sported homemade weapons.

The main attraction found at the Texas Prison Museum, perhaps because of morbid curiosity, is Old Sparky. From 1924 to 1964, the electric chair was the sight of 361 deaths in the state of Texas.

Preceded by hanging and succeeded by lethal injection, Old Sparky now remains decommissioned and in the Museum as a unique part of TDCJ history.

The Museum and its dedicated staff do a great job of educating the public, offering interesting and intriguing exhibits, and shining light on the rarely-seen lives of TDCJ inmates. It’s a great stop on any visit to Huntsville, TX!

CCC Trail: Palo Duro State Park

Olivia Discon

Palo Duro Canyon is sometimes boastfully referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” and that’s not really fair to the Grand Canyon. But taken on its own, it is in fact a grand and beautiful adventure.

LEAP Ambassadors on the
Lighthouse Trail, 2018

The LEAP Ambassadors have traveled to Palo Duro twice, once in 2018, and again in January of this year. It was my first trip to a State Park!

It was beautiful, and I enjoyed the activity, the beauty, and the idea that the State is preserving these areas for the use of all.

The best shot I was able to get was when we were returning from the CCC Trail, just before sunset. It was a beautiful short hike, one where I also learned about the Civilian Conservation Corps–part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration.

What struck me most, though, was the beauty. And as we were heading back, I saw this beautiful view, with Professor Yawn and Stephanie hiking and providing a sense of scale, and I got the image!

Monticello: An Afternoon at Thomas Jefferson’s Home

Cinthia Villarreal Carrillo

My first time to travel to Washington, DC was earlier this month, when I traveled to the nation’s capital for the Congressional City Conference. It is an understatement to say that I learned a lot: in a three-day period, we saw President Joe Biden, Mt. Vernon, and on the last day, Monticello. It was a LEAP-worthy experience:

It was a beautiful day, perfect for the great tour that was offered.

As we walked along the grounds, we noticed a reflecting pool under a tree that is hundreds of years old. It looked like a perfect opportunity for a photograph.

I got as low as I could to maximize the reflection, and I got the photograph I wanted, just in time for our photography exhibit!

Shiprock: A Natural Wonder

New Mexico has a surprising diversity of landscape, and it has swaths of beauty all over the state. As part of a winter (working) vacation, I was driving through northwestern New Mexico just before sunset, hoping that the backroads to Shiprock would get me to the giant rock formation before the sun actually set.

Shiprock is frequently photographed, but it’s not that easy to get to, and there aren’t a lot of nearby lodging options. As I approached, I was struck by the beauty in every direction.

But I was there to photograph Shiprock, and over the course of about 45 minutes and climbing hills that were steeper and higher than they looked, I got about 30 photographs of the formation Native Americans referred to as “rock with wings” or Tse Bit’a’i. I am not sure which was the best, but I settled on this one for the show.

A Surprise Appearance by Joe Biden

Three of us, Michelle, Cinthia, and I, were in our own hotel room, sleeping as everyone should be at 5am, when our phone rang. It was Professor Yawn. “Can you wake everyone up and put me on speaker phone,” he asked, in a way that suggested it really wasn’t a question. “There’s been a change of plans,” he noted. “President Biden will be speaking at our morning session, so we’ll need to get up and get to the conference early.

And that is how, four hours later, we were seated about 15 rows from where the President would be speaking. We hadn’t brought our telephoto lens, and the Secret Service made sure everyone stayed in their seats. So, we had to wiggle and reach a bit to get the shots we wanted.

We were pretty excited by this opportunity, and we found it someone difficult to toggle the camera work while we also tried to get photos and video on our phones.

We also found it difficult to get a clear shot of Biden as security and the press changed positions, sometimes obscuring our vantage points. We accommodated this by passing the camera to different LEAP Ambassadors, an advantage of all us being trained.

And, fortuitously, my sight lines cleared when I had the camera, when Biden moved from beyond the podium, and when he made photogenic salute to the audience, and I got my shot–and the experience of a lifetime.

Jefferson Memorial at Night

This shot was taken after a long day, full of experiences. The students and I had walked more than 30,000 steps that day, and we couldn’t make it to the Jefferson Memorial. We didn’t have it in our legs. But I wanted the shot.

To make matters more difficult, however, I didn’t have a tripod. To compensate, I placed the camera on a bridge railing to stabilize and hoped for the best.

This is the only photo from this trip to make it in the exhibit, and it is a bit minimalist. But it’s a photo that reflects (pun not intended) a whole slew of activities that capture, I hope, the learning experiences that LEAP offers. On this single day, the students heard from Nancy Pelosi and other public figures at the conference they were attending…

…and also spent the day exploring the National Mall.

In short, behind each of the photos included in the gallery are–literally–20,000 more photos reflecting an incredible diversity and richness of educational offerings.

A Texas Tradition: The Governor’s Inauguration

Gubernatorial Inaugurations are much more relaxed than Presidential Inaugurations. You can get closer to the action, there’s a smaller crowd, and the inauguration committee serves everyone lunch!

The Governor’s Inauguration is a prime opportunity for LEAP, because the Center also administers the Sam Houston Austin Internship Program. So, when the Governor is being inaugurated, we have interns in Austin, working at the Capitol Building–where the inauguration takes place.

The inauguration, then, is a good opportunity for me to check in on the interns, help other students experience the peaceful transfer of power that occurs in democracies, and to expose these new students to the possibility of doing an Austin Internship themselves at the next legislative session.

Even Peaceful Transfers of Power Need Security

During the ceremony, the students had a chance to see some Texas notables and their elected officials…

…while also capturing some great photographs…

…and enjoying the experience with other SHSU students and some alumni–one of whom was helping put the program on!

In this manner, the students were able to network, enjoy a new experience, capture some great photos, and elevate the profile of Sam Houston State University in Austin.

Elvis in the Building

Morgan Robertson

After doing two internships with the City of Huntsville, I took a position as marketing assistant–and jack of all trades–with the Old Town Theatre. It was my first time working with a non-profit (other than as a volunteer), and it was an educational experience. It was also very enjoyable, largely because I had the chance to work with Lois Stehlik, who is simply a wonderful person to know.

But it was also interesting to assist with the many events the Old Town Theatre offers to the community. This included Andy Gross, Gary P. Nunn, Gene Watson, the Texas Tenors, and Johnnie Lee.

But the most fun act, and the best photo I took during this internship, was Travis Powell, an “Elvis Tribute” performer.

I quietly moved behind the stage, moved the camera through the curtains, and took a few quick snaps, hoping not to distract from the performance. I was happy with the shot, and it was a great show!

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