SHSU – Page 71 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Music & Mayhem: Damn Yankees!

Although finals week is rapidly approaching, LEAP Ambassadors were glad to have some free time to see SHSU Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre’s showing of Damn Yankees, the last production of the spring semester.

Everyone expected Damn Yankees to be a homerun and we were not disappointed!

Based on the book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, Damn Yankees is a musical that tells the story of 50-year old Joe Boyd. As one of the Washington Senators’ biggest fans, he sells his soul to the devil to become the 20-year old star baseball player for the Washington Senators. After the sinful pact is made, Joe is able to accomplish his lifelong dream of beating those “damn” New York Yankees. As the plot unfolds, we discover that perhaps Joe’s selfish ambition may have overshadowed his true love for his wife.

The play incorporated many musical numbers with rich orchestration that captivated the audience members. Although each musical number was entertaining, “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO” was voted as the group’s favorite.

In this whimsical dance number, each move was choreographed so as to playfully resemble a dance off, which captured the spirit of Damn Yankees.

Of course, “Whatever Lola Wants” was also a lot of fun, and later in the week, while volunteering at the HEARTS Museum, we heard a Marilyn Monroe impersonator do the same song!

“It was my first time to attend a musical, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it was fun! It had comedy, with the addition of great music and dancing!”–Karla Rosales.

Let’s Talk–About Almost Everything!

In the middle of a busy week for the LEAP center, the Ambassadors made time for a day of “Let’s Talk.” This event is one of our favorite, giving us, SHSU faculty and staff, and the community a chance to dine with guest speakers from all over the country. With speakers ranging from paranormal activity investigator Kenneth Rigali to Jiu-Jitsu instructor Daniel Rivas to true-crime author Kathryn Casey to Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, it was difficult to choose which table at which to sit.

But before the actual event itself, the LEAP Center, as the sponsor of four of the speakers, had a day full of activities. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Glenn Frankel, for example, visited with Dr. George Diaz’s Texas History class….

…where he discussed Cynthia Ann Parker and the TX frontier. The students were engaged, and his topic was lively…

Mark Burns also led a classroom discussion, but his classroom was moved to his exhibit space at the Walker Education Center. Dr. Rebecca Finley’s class met there and had the chance to not only meet with Burns, but do so in the midst–literally–of his work.

Things got more interesting as Mr. Burns joined some of us–along with true-crime author Kathryn Casey–at the Texas Prison Museum. Casey and Burns enjoyed the various exhibits, and Burns even spent time in jail…

Following the full day of events, the evening began with a VIP reception, which our speakers attended and met with other speakers…

…then was followed by a more general reception…

…and then by an introduction from President Hoyt and dinner.

I was dining with Mr. Bill Hensel, who was the External Affairs Manager for the Port of Houston Authority. We were joined by former Houston Post journalist Mrs. Hensel, Conroe’s Community Impact Newspaper Editor Jesse Mendoza , a Sam Houston State University web editor, Houston World Affairs Council representative Sandija Bayou and her two colleagues, and Sam Houston State University Political Science Professor Mike Yawn.

Mr. Hensel began with a discussion of the historical background of the port and, particularly, Congressman Tom Ball’s contribution to the Ship Channel. We also learned of the every-day activity of the port, the disruption resulting from weather events, and anti-terrorism measures.

For someone who was not very familiar with the modern marvel that is the Port of Houston, it was a rewarding experience to learn how crucial the Port of Houston Authority is to American commerce. But apart from his current profession, it was just as pleasant to learn of Hensel’s past journalism experience. Before his employment by the Port of Houston Authority, Hensel had worked for the Houston Chronicle. With all of his past experiences in journalism and now local government, combined with the perspectives of all of us sitting in the table, every question and comment directed towards Hensel served as an extra ingredient that at the end would makeup a very rich conversation. At the end of the dinner we all slowly rose from our seats as if we were unable to pull ourselves from our captivating speakers, exchanged business cards, and thanked Hensel for his willingness to share so much about his career.

Even though I had the experience of only one table, we had LEAP Ambassadors at several tables. Austin Campbell, for example, was at astronaut Tommy Hollaway’s table. “He was a very good host,” noted Campbell. “He had a way of making something as complicated as science and NASA understandable to the common person. Food and conversation are fundamental to human nature and mixing the two resulted in an enjoyable evening!” –Austin Campbell

Other Ambassadors sat at the table of Iron Chef Michael Frietsch, the table of artistic directors Andy and Dionne Noble, Paranormal Investigator Kenneth Rigali, and financial advisor Flip Flippen.

Meanwhile our sponsored speakers held their tables captivated, whether it was Mark Burns discussing photography…

…Philip Mudd discussing the CIA and FBI…

…Glenn Frankel discussing the Texas Frontier and John Wayne’s The Searchers…

…or Kathryn Casey discussing murder in Texas…

…the evening was engaging and fun.

With so many bright minds sharing their professional joys and struggles, it was easy to be inspired. Although all the professions practiced by these guests were very different, the spirit that has impulsed their success is identical. Unspoiled by the desire for fame or wealth, this spirit of dedication and passion is what every speaker had to offer. This virtue embodied in our special guests is what made my Let’s Talk experience so rewarding.

Etiquette 101: Class and College Can Go Together

The LEAP Center Ambassadors jumped at the opportunity to enhance their professionalism by attending an Etiquette Dinner presented by SHSU Career Services and taught by national etiquette expert, Diane Gottsman. She is the author and owner of the Protocol School of Texas, a company that specializes in executive and business etiquette training. Ms. Gottsman is also the resident etiquette expert for talk shows like, San Antonio Living and Good Day Austin, so we all knew that we were in good hands.

That evening Ms. Gottsman’s main focus was teaching us how to behave at a dinner interview, as these types of interviews are becoming more popular. We learned that Employers want to be able to see how you behave and handle awkward situations and how you treat your wait staff. By the end of the training we were experts in both!

Before beginning the training, Ms. Gottsman emphasized the importance of asking questions and definitely made sure we asked plenty of questions. She reminded us that etiquette is not about criticizing because the minute you criticize others you lose your power. Ms. Gottsman pointed out that “Smart people ask questions” and this gave us confidence when raising our hands to ask all kinds of questions.

We started with the basics, the “b and d” rule. This is an easy way to remember that your bread plate goes on the left and your drink goes on the right. This should help us stay away from any awkward situations such as drinking out of another person’s glass, but just in case we also learned how to deal with these situations if they arise. Along with this, we learned many more rules such as how to use utensils appropriately, how to pass the bread, how to enter and exit your chair, how to excuse yourself if needed, and how to follow your host or be the host.

We didn’t only learn about the American and European style of dining, but we also learned about how to prepare for interviews ahead of time and about the best color clothing to wear to interviews. For example, white or blue color shirts would be preferable over dark colored shirts. According to Ms. Gottsman, light colors gives you more power than darker colors would.

Starting the dinner we were all (even those who had attended the etiquette dinner last year) timid in our every movements, not wanting to mess up, but by the end of the night we were all eating confidently and correctly. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from an expert like Ms. Gottsman who made us feel comfortable when asking questions and provided a great learning environment for us.

Thank you to SHSU Career Services for providing us with this great opportunity.

Football for a Cause

In addition to providing some fun football action, the LEAP Center’s 7th Annual Charity Football game also provides half-time activities for the young (at heart), brings town and gown together, gives current Ambassadors a chance to connect or re-connect with LEAP alumni, and old friends to reunite.

Of course, we had the whole obligatory football game to play…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

But once that rigamarole was out of the way, we had a real chance to unite for good causes. Actually, the uniting began much earlier. The practices began in January, and served not only to improve our meager football skills, but also to build some bonds–bridging social capital, as Political Scientist Robert Putnam would put it. The lineups include Democrats and Republicans, students, SHSU alumni, and community leaders, as well as two of SHSU’s staff. After 10 practices, people who otherwise would never have even met, now are are friends.

This disparate group then sets out to raise money. They do this by donating $100 (students) or $150 (non-students). This year, we were able to raise $1,700 just starting with the players. Our goal is to then bring the community in to raise much more. This year, that worked well, with some impressive community support.

DCIM101MEDIA — Paul Olle Photography (Drone)

Sometimes that community support pays off–even for the community members. Judge Mike Countz, for example, won the raffle, winning a football signed by the SHSU football team.

The raffle, though, is small potatoes compared to the rest of the half-time activities. Everyone loves the wheelbarrow race…

Although some loved it more than others…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A smaller hit was the spoon races, which drew limited participation.

…and necessitated a ridiculous amount of coaching.

The sack race was a bigger hit…

…and much more competitive!

Of course, what would a fundraiser for the YMCA (and John Holcombe Scholarship) be without the YMCA Dance?

In addition to bringing different people together, the game also brings out people who have never before danced…

…but it was a lot of fun…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

…And we even had a little Russian dancing going on.

This dance sequence is even more impressive when you realize that some of these people are Republicans (see Ryan, far right, above)!

Thomas Haase was johnny-on-the-spot, and he got a video of the whole affair…

Of course, as noted above, the real reason for the get together was to raise funds for local causes…the YMCA…

…and John Holcombe Scholarship…

At the time we made the check order, we had raised $6,000. By the end of the game, we raised $6,500. In the seven years we’ve held this game, we’ve raised a total of $26,500.

Some of the people who participated in the game in earlier years were back on hand. Blake Roach and his girlfriend, Jaclyn Coles.

…and Justin Beiser and Annel Gonzales…

…and some new faces, such as Alvin Casimere…

…and Kaden Leaf!

Who knew raising money and having Democrats and Republicans together could be so much fun?

Legal Advice from the Top

For the 2nd time in a year, the LEAP Center Ambassadors met with–and gained valuable advice from–former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

It was also the 2nd time that LEAP Ambassador Austin Campbell had the honor of introducing Gonzales.

And there was a lot to cover in the introduction: Gonzales was the first Hispanic partner at Vinson and Elkins, one of the largest law firms in the US and the largest in Texas. He was then appointed by President Bush to the Texas Supreme Court. When Bush won the Presidency, he asked Gonzales to be White House counsel. When Bush was re-elected, Gonzales was appointed as US Attorney General.

But last week, he was an advisor to LEAP Ambassadors by morning and advisor to Dr. Heather Evans’ Political Science class by afternoon.

In both sessions, he opened with a video of his time in the White House. With soaring music, patriotic symbols of the US, and some of the premier leaders of the last 20 years, it was a stirring video. It was a fitting accompaniment for what General Gonzales called the “best place I’ve ever worked.”

In both meetings, he hit on interesting topics, particularly for those interested in POLS or pre-law:

Advising the President on Law: It’s not intimidating. The President took my advice on the legal aspects of matters. If a policy was illegal, it was the end of discussion. But if it was legal, the President typically relied on other advisors for the wisdom of such policies.
The Hours in the White House: You work 7am-8pm on weekdays, significant hours on Saturday, and you work many Sundays. You need an understanding spouse to work in the White House, and the pay isn’t great, but it’s an honor.

Ethnicity and Success: I think race has helped me at times and hurt me at times. Some people rooted against me to become the first minority partner in my law firm. But President Bush also explicitly said that my ethnicity was a factor in picking me for the Supreme Court of Texas. Texas has a significant Hispanic population, and he wanted that fact reflected on the Supreme Court.
Merrick Garland and a Senate Vote: Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland deserves a vote by the US Senate. A senator can vote for or against according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, but the nominee deserves a vote and the public deserves to know how each senator voted. (This point was particularly appropriate in Dr. Evans’ US Congress class, in which we were covering Legislative-Executive relations).
Working in the White House: It was “great.” I didn’t miss a day because of illness, because I wanted to be there and had much work to do. It was an honor every day to go into work.

Gonzales also provided career-specific advice. He encouraged us to open up as many doors as possible, noting that you never know when a person in a position of power might be paying attention to who is and who isn’t working hard and worthy of additional opportunities.

With these words of encouragement in mind, the LEAP Ambassadors headed off to their classes, to study, or to their LSAT Prep Courses, hoping for additional opportunities!

The LEAP Center would like to thank Colonel David Yebra for arranging these meetings!

Appeals on Wheels: 10th COA Rolls into SHSU

If it’s spring, it’s time for the 10th Court of Appeals to hear four cases at Sam Houston State University. This year’s cases proved remarkably diverse, and students received a live, up-close education on the application of the law.

The 10th Court of Appeals first came to SHSU six years ago, in 2011. It was the brain-child of Chief Justice Tom Gray, and his colleagues Justice Al Scoggins and Justice Rex Davis enthusiastically agreed to come to Sam Houston. Professor Mike Yawn and the group “formerly known as the Junior Fellows” soon got into the act, and there has been much legal fun since then.

The education isn’t only watching the cases in action; it’s also seeing the courtroom procedure unfold. From the “All Rise, Oyez, Oyez, Oyez”

…to Justice Gray’s explanations of courtroom decorum…

…to the attorneys, who are able (only in this setting) to explain the facts of the case to us…

…to watching the attorneys’ behavior outside the courtroom…

..the education is unique–and that’s before we even talk about the cases!

Speaking of which, this year’s cases ran the legal gamut. The 10am session (Capstone v. IES Contracting) actually involved SHSU, with the University believing that construction of Sam Houston Village was faulty. This was a complex case, one involving multiple subcontractors, mergers, and much elapsed time.

The 11am session (Annette Knopf and Stanley Gray v. William and Karen Gray) involved a disputed will, which had been written by Ms. Vada Allen. She left property to her son, but confusion resulted from her will. In particular, there was a question as to whether some of the property was a life estate–that is, given to her son for his lifetime–or whether he had outright ownership. This was not only an interesting legal situation, but also a good life lesson about the difficulty of writing your own will. (Interestingly, this case involved the legal firm for which Kaitlyn Tyra works as a courier.)

As has become our custom, the Justices broke for lunch, and we were able to join them, along with other legal professionals in the community. Just before we ate, Justice Tom Gray presented Professor Yawn with a signed copy of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s autobiography, a nice touch to a nice day.

Also nice was the lunch conversation…

…which touched on school issues, our hopefulness about our legal careers, and the cases of the day.

Following lunch, we again worked the doors for the two most interesting cases. The 1pm (in re Troy Paul) session involved Troy Paul and Destiny Spillers, who may or may not have been informally married. They weren’t formally married, but Destiny argued that their relationship constituted a “common-law” marriage, which entitled her to spousal support–support, that is, beyond the $250,000 Mercedez that she was bought by Mr. Paul. The case involves not only the question of support, but also of legal fees to the tune of $425,000.

The final case of the day (Noe Cosino v. The State of TX) involved the cutting-edge issue of a blood draw in the absence of a warrant. The courts have previously held that such draws could be made in “exigent circumstance,” but more recent decisions have blurred the lines.

Following the cases, we spent a little more time with the Justices, taking photos and asking them to sign the case descriptions.

It was a fun morning and afternoon, a wonderful in-depth education for the LEAP Ambassadors, and for more than 200 SHSU students, a nice exposure to our legal system.

The CIA and FBI come to SHSU: Philip Mudd

After an exciting evening at Let’s Talk, the LEAP Center’s guest speakers and students began what would prove to be another eventful day filled with learning. Philip Mudd, former deputy director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center and FBI National Security Branch, spoke to students Friday morning on: how to catch terrorists, current events in the world of terror, and advice on how to prepare for a successful career.

Additionally Mr. Mudd briefly discussed his book, The Head Game: High Efficiency Analytic Decision-Making and the Art of Solving Complex Problems Quickly, which teaches readers how to effectively sort and analyze the mass amount of information thrown at us by society.

Mr. Mudd started working for the CIA in 1985, and he continued in government service through 2010. He worked for both the CIA and FBI, and his specialties were Asia and the Middle East. His work there brought him expertise not only in these regions and in intelligence gathering but also in decision-making processes.

Although his lecture was brief, Mr. Mudd packed in quality advice and insight to his career. Mr. Mudd spoke about strategies on how to catch terrorists and answered questions about current events relating to terrorism. The best take-away for students, though, were his life tips for success.

Although he offered numerous, the top three were to 1. read every day (and all the time!), 2. write every day, and 3. speak in front of audiences. As an honorable mention, he also emphasized the importance of working with people you don’t like.

Doing each will help students enhance their communication skills, which is a large part of many careers. Mr. Mudd also stressed finding a passion to do something you love. If you love what you are doing, you can enjoy your job.

Mr. Mudd actively engaged his audience throughout the entire lecture and students listened intently to his advice.

Once Mr. Mudd finished speaking, students also had the opportunity to ask questions and to get their books signed. We are thankful for the opportunities to learn from top leaders in the country! Thank you to Mr. Mudd for speaking to SHSU students!

Advanced Politics: County Conventions

After all kinds of hands-on political education in the last few weeks, we took another step forward by participating in our parties’ County Conventions.

This is a process that is a mystery for most folks, even those who vote, and we walked into it not knowing the exact process. To be a participant, you have to vote in your party’s primary. Three of us participated in the Republican Primary. One of our fellow POLS majors, Heather Robbins, voted in the Democratic primary, and she served as a delegate to the Democratic County Convention.

Whatever the party, the process is similar. Local parties (county parties) establish a date for the precinct and the county convention. The precinct conventions consist of whoever shows up, as long as they voted in their party’s primary from that precinct.

At the precinct convention, which can consist of anywhere between 1 and 40 or so people, the delegates submit resolutions (e.g., “We support a living wage for all working Americans”) and elect a slate of delegates to the county convention. The number of delegates that each convention can elect is determined by the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election from each precinct.

Once a slate of delegates is elected, those people are welcome to attend the county convention, which is where we–Republicans and Democrats–spent our Saturday on March 19 (Democrats at the Walker Education Center; Republicans at the HEARTS Veterans Museum).

The county conventions are a bit more intense.

They are divided into the following committees (which some of us served on for the Republican Convention and Heather served on the Nominations Committee in the Democratic Convention), and which conduct the business of the conventions:

Permanent Committee–sets permanent committee officers
Credentials–ensures that only duly elected delegates are given voting privileges for each convention
Rules–determines whether convention should deviate from default rules for speaking
Nominations–reviews nominations for delegates and alternates to State Convention
Platform–synthesizes the resolutions into clear and discrete resolutions to be voted on by the entire convention

It was a great learning experience for all of us! We arrived a couple of hours early for committee work and setup…

…and once we began, the entire process took about 3.5 hours, which we were told was quicker than usual.

The nominations committee elected 25 delegates and 2 alternates to the State Convention. The permanent committee elected Judge Sorensen as Permanent Chair, Stephanie Fors as Secretary, and Earl Carter as Parliamentarian.

The platform committee came up with 23 different resolutions which were voted on, most of which passed.

Republican_Convention_Thomas_Speaking_2_Web — Thomas Leeper Advocates Against A Resolution

In the end Alex Galvan, Megan Chapa, and Kaitlyn Tyra were elected to the Republican Convention which is held May 12-14 in Dallas, TX.

On the Democratic side, POLS major Heather Robbins was elected to the State Convention, which is held in San Antonio, TX, June 16-18.

	Highlights from the… on Glazing-A-Trail with Lauren…
	The Civic Leadership… on Foundational Activities of the…
	The Civic Leadership… on The Philosophical Foundations…
	LEAPing Into Action… on The Philosophical Foundations…
	Jada Cook on SHSU Students LEAP Across Five…