Today, LEAP Center students hiked up to Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona. With narrow spaces and lots of steep “steps”, the hike up was slightly more challenging than our previous hike, but we knew the payoff would be worth it. The trail was steep but offered shady spots that we took advantage of when we would stop to admire the red rock of the canyon (and catch our breaths). The narrow path was lined with prickly pear cacti, tall century plants and hikers sitting to get some water and rest for a moment. Once we made it to the top of the bridge, we knew all the climbing had been worth it. The views from Devil’s Bridge were breathtaking.
Just as we began feeling brave, we met a man who asked us to take a photo of him doing a handstand on top of the narrow bridge, putting us all to shame.
While on the bridge, we made a small cairn, which, according to Professor Yawn, officially made us hikers.
After admiring the views from Devil’s Bridge, we began the trek down, but not without a few pitstops. We went down and caught a quick glimpse of the bridge from below.
The trip down seemed much easier as we were all still so amazed at what we had just experienced.
After a quick bite to eat at The Wildflower Bread Company in Flagstaff, Arizona, the LEAP center explored the town square. The square on Friday evenings is vibrant with people shopping and eating at the unique food joints.
We visited a cool little bookstore where there was a live performance from a local band while the small crowd sang along to a song about mermaids.
After our group slowly made our way around the store reading the back of books and discussing ones we’ve read, we headed to a local favorite co-op art gallery and window shopped. Unfortunately, the gallery was closed, but we were still able to admire the beautiful works of art within. Next, we headed to a mystical store called Crystal Magic, where we all shared a few laughs about the shops interesting perspective. We continued our way around the square admiring local cuisine and the different types of people around each corner. Finally, we made our way through their local mall, which offered fashion of all types and a fun candy shop. I had never tried chocolate covered orange peels and surprisingly liked them! One thing I thought was interesting about Flagstaff was how active the square was on a Friday night, there were people everywhere! It really added to the fun and easy-going vibe of the town. I thought it was neat how all the restaurants were locally owned, each offering their own unique menu. Flagstaff is a town I would enjoy visiting again and hopefully trying out a few of the favorite food joints.
Today, the LEAP Center hiked Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The peak rises to an elevation of 3,169 feet and offers a 1.75-mile trail exploring the area. The weather was beautiful and the views were incredible. Pinnacle Peak offered scenery of towering saguaro cacti, strawberry hedgehog cacti, jumping cacti and many other forms of dry desert plants and shrubbery.
We chose a relatively painless hike for our first day to get ourselves acclimated to the weather in Arizona.
We enjoyed seeing such perfectly groomed golf courses and pools at the bottom of the rugged, dusty mountain. What is interesting about the trail is, instead of forming a loop around the mountain, the trail ends at a separate point and hikers must return the way they came, making the hike a total of 3.6 miles!
Some of us increased our field of vision by climbing on big rocks and boulders scattering the landscape.
Our new vantage points showed us just how high up we really were! These risky attempts certainly paid off and we were able to capture some great shots of the mountains around us.
Pinnacle Peak is a man-made trail and is kept up by maintenance for the safety of hikers. One thing we all learned was that jumping cacti do attack!
Professor Yawn was the unfortunate victim of these dangerous predators and had to have a small bundle of barbs removed from his hand.
My favorite part of the hike was climbing on a boulder over looking the side of the mountain, offering an unusual view.
One thing I experienced that was new to me was the different type of climate here in Arizona; instead of the suffocating humidity we know all too well in Huntsville. Arizona air is drier and easier to function in,but can quickly turn dangerous if you are not diligent about staying hydrated. Overall, the hike was a great experience and I look forward to the many more hikes during our trip to Arizona and Utah!
Phoenix Art Museum, by Ryan Brim
After some time to recuperate at the hotel after the hike, the LEAP Ambassadors headed to the Phoenix Museum of art. There, in the permanent collection, we saw many of our favorite artists: Maya Lin,
Alexander Calder,
Sol LeWitt,
and Louise Nevelson,
and many others.
We were even able to see a painting by Kehinde Wiley, the artist that did the official portrait of Former President Barack Obama.
The temporary exhibit by Valeska Soares, titled Any Moment Now, was a series of sculptures, media, and interactive art that were linked by the motif of time.
Some of the installments include suspended disco balls of various sizes…
…spinning at different speeds…
…a barrier of light bulbs with long cords attached to the ceiling…
…and a wall completely lined with the covers of books with time-related titles.
The artistry that went into the pieces was impressive: one example was an assortment of pillows, mattresses and other usually-soft furniture items made from marble that looked comfortable enough to take a nap on.
We also saw works by Anish Kapoor…
…and other pieces of which we were particularly fond.
We couldn’t stay long, as the museum closed at 5:00, so we decided to look around the outside of the Arizona State Capitol and the surrounding war memorials, including monuments for the Navajo Codebreakers…
…those who lost their lives in WWII from Arizona, and elements from the USS Arizona.
After a short trip around the grounds…
…we found a small coffee shop, Green New American Vegetarian, to wait and sip on coffee for a little while before we went to Papago Park at sunset.
Sunset and Dinner, by Dillon Glass
One of the great places to see a sunset is Papago Park’s “Hole in the Rock.” As the name suggests, it is a hole in a large rock–almost a mountain–in which visitors can perch and watch the sunset.
We set up in different locations, set up our photographic equipment, and recorded the sunset and enjoyed each other’s company.
Following sunset, the LEAP ambassadors headed to Rustler’s Rooste for dinner to cap off a day full of activities. At the main entrance to the restaurant there’s a Longhorn laying in his pen; and being from Texas, everyone truly felt at home. When walking into the building, the country twang is immediately felt, but with an Arizona twist. While waiting on a table, the LEAP ambassadors enjoyed listening to a live band performing classic country music (from the likes of Hank Williams, Brooks & Dunn and many more) as fellow patrons line danced.
Once seated, everyone tried fried rattlesnake and cactus for the first time; and it was delicious!
The fried rattlesnake and cactus was just the beginning. Once finishing that, everyone shared a huge platter of “Cowboy Stuff”….
…which ranged from steak and fish kabobs, to pork ribs and chicken wings that literally fell off the bone.
After a great day full of exploring, learning and enjoying some fantastic food, the group was ready to head back to the hotel and recharge for another insightful day in Arizona.
Our first event of the 6-day forum was a workshop run by Dr. Teri Varner, Associate Professor at St. Edwards University. The workshop focused on making impactful introductions for speakers. I found this extremely helpful as a LEAP Ambassador because the steady stream of speakers and guests that we regularly bring to campus need introductions. Naturally, this program was first because we are expected to use it to learn about our various speakers, and then each of us will use this material to introduce a subsequent speaker.
Then was the panel titled “Women in Politics.” The panelists included Dr. Susan Heinzelman, the Director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Texas; Maggie Buchanan, President of Maggie Jo Consulting; and Kimberly Inez McGuire, Senior Program Director at Conway Strategic. Also included in this panel was none other than Nancy Bocskor, the President of the Nancy Bocskor Company.
Nancy has been a guest speaker for the LEAP Center many times, and she was a FIR (Faculty in Residence) for the Forum. The women in this panel focused on their experiences in politics and the challenges and triumphs that came with those experiences.
DAY 2 – Friday
Our first event of the day was a panel titled “Why YOU Should Consider Running for Office,” and it featured Gina Hinojosa, a Texas State Representative; Delia Garza, an Austin City Council Member; and Sheryl Cole, a Texas State Representative Candidate. Also included in this panel was another one of the LEAP Center’s previous guest speakers, the Chairman of the Railroad Commission, Christi Craddick (who gave a wonderful talk to SHSU women in January!). The four women talked about their respective journeys before, during, and after getting elected to their respected offices. The panelists also shared many of the difficulties they faced in getting to where they are now.
The next workshop was titled “Networking and Making Connections” and was led by Karen Landolt, a professor for the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
Ms. Lundolt talked about the importance of using weak ties like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Weak ties are connections that you’re able to make over social media with people that you wouldn’t have been able to connect with otherwise, and they’ve obviously become increasingly important in the 21st century.
After lunch, we had a short walk across campus to the Texas Union through the hill country heat. We were headed to hear from the Forum’s keynote speaker, Representative Mary Gonzalez.
She shared with us her education, how she got her start in Texas politics, the daily problems that face her constituents and what she is doing to try and help them, and the different challenges that she faces as a woman in a field dominated by men. After the keynote address, we posed for a quick group photo with her…
…and then we were welcomed to a spread of fruit and sweets in the next room as a part of a reception that the Forum hosted for Representative Gonzalez and us.
Day 3, Saturday
Our third day began with a workshop that explored our different leadership styles. Susan Billmaier is a Program Officer at the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and she specializes in workshops that support and encourage personal journeys, leadership styles, diversity and inclusion, and conflict resolution. By the end of the session we found ourselves divided into four different groups, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and we all thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about each other in this type of setting.
After a small coffee break, the Community Advocate Panel began. This panel was geared towards getting young women to become more active on a local level. The three panelists were all active in the Austin area. The panel shifted towards the panelists giving advice to all the young women of the forum. The main message that all three panelists could agree on was to stay true to yourself and your cultural identity.
The next workshop was titled “Texas Civic Health Index Report and Civic Reflection.” The goal of this workshop was to get the students involved in interactive civics exercises. We took a quiz to determine our level of civic engagement and compared our responses with our peers. We then discussed the factors that may contribute to some of us being more civically engaged than others. We learned that education is one of the main factors that impacts civic engagement.
Our last workshop of day 3 focused on Unconscious Bias. The workshop was run by Yulanda McCarty-Harris, and it focused on recognizing unconscious bias, who has unconscious bias, and how to combat it. Ms. McCarty-Harris was incredibly animated and everyone was engaged and interested. The second part of the Unconscious Bias workshop was a panel that featured Courtney Chavez, Dr.Ted Gordon, and Lana Petru. They all gave their insights as to what our society can do to combat unconscious bias.
DAY 4 – Sunday
Our first session of the day was “Political Fundraising” by Nancy Bocskor.
Chairman Christi Craddick, Victoria McClendon-Leggett, and Nancy Bocskor
She gave a rousing speech on her experiences as a democracy coach around the world. She shared with us the same fundraising principles that she’s taught to people in all 50 states and in 27 different countries across the world. We learned how to utilize organizations that we are involved in, and that people we know are twice as likely to donate to any cause we ask them compared to strangers.
Our second session of the day was a panel titled “How Tech is Shaping Politics,” and it featured three panelists who were experts in the field of technology and politics. They talked about how they use technology in their careers, and the different ways that technology can help and hinder political action.
“Managing your Message” was a session led by Jenifer Sarver, a professor in the Moody College of Communications at The University of Texas. Her presentation focused on effective communication. We touched on how to present yourself, considering your audience rather than simply the message that you want to convey, and working to establish your credibility. She also stressed the importance of using visual aids when attempting to get your message across.
DAY 5 – Monday
Our fifth day began with us grabbing a quick breakfast and loading up on a charter bus to head to Austin City Hall for a tour. We learned about the building’s architecture and how it was created to have a low impact on the environment. We also observed all the art pieces inside the building and we learned that they were all done by local artists. At the end of the year, Austinites are able to cast a vote to pick their favorite piece, and the City of Austin purchases that piece and adds it to its collection. We paused for a group picture up on one of the terraces of the building before heading back inside for a panel titled “Women in City Leadership.” The panel consisted of women that work in various city government positions within the City of Austin. They gave us advice on finding mentors, balancing our families and careers, and finding our passions after graduating college. When the panel ended, we were presented with certificates of congratulations from the City of Austin for completing the NEW Leadership program.
After our time at Austin City Hall, we stopped by Scholz Garden for lunch.
It was a German Restaurant where we were, somewhat incongruously, served fajitas. A few of us finished early and went outside to pose for a few photos with our newfound friends while we waited for the charter bus to come pick us back up to head to the State Capitol Building.
When we arrived at the Capitol, it was many of the NEW Leadership participants’ first time there. We took a special tour that focused on the women that helped shape our state’s history. For instance, we learned about a woman named Obedience Fort Smith who followed her son to Texas and owned 3,368 acres in what is now of the City of Houston. Tranquility Park, a park commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing is a part of the land that was presented to her in 1845.
We then heard from four different women involved in Texas Politics. We heard from Donna Howard, a Texas State Representative, and then Lauren Hadley who is the Director of Constituent Services for Representative Howard. Then we heard from Terri Williams, Vice-President of Government Relations for the American Heart Association, and Linda Battles, Deputy Commissioner for Agency Operations and Communications for the Texas Higher Education Board. They shared with us their struggles and triumphs they’ve experienced throughout their years in the political sphere.
After a group photo in the capital…
…we headed back to our dorm rooms on UT’s campus. We changed out of our business casual attire for once and were able to just comfortably lounge while we worked on our political action projects that were due to be presented the next day.
DAY 6 – Tuesday
In the morning we began our day by presenting our Political Action Project that we had been working on periodically throughout the week. The project was a mock hearing on House Bill 316 (a reformation on Texas’s Law of Parties). Some students played the role of representatives that were either for or against the bill, some students were reporters asking questions of the representatives about the bill, and some students played the role of family members and friends offering testimony about how Texas’s Law of Parties had impacted their lives. The mock bill passed, and those of us that had been in opposition good-naturedly recognized our defeat.
After presenting our political action project, we heard from Lizzie Robbins, the State Program Manager for IGNITE Texas. IGNITE is an organization designed to teach young women to be civically engaged and step into public service. She gave us information on how to start IGNITE chapters on our own college campuses. We also learned that online students still can be active in the organization by joining the chapter on the college campus that is closest to them.
After lunch and a debrief it was time for us all to head home. Some of us had much longer drives than others, and after hearing from 52 speakers and sitting for 35 different panels and sessions throughout the week, we were all a bit worn out. It was a bittersweet ending to the week. We were all going to miss each other and the supportive and positive environment we had all created, but we also all wanted to see our own friends, families, and beds. We all exchanged hugs and contact information and said our goodbyes. There was laughter and tears, but also the realization that many of us had created lifelong friends this week, and that NEW Leadership Texas really had opened doors for many of us.
With much business ahead of us, we headed to the Gonzalez Convention Center for our third day of business. On this day, we would hear speeches by Stephen Willeford (the citizen who stopped the Sutherland Springs shooting), RR Commissioner Ryan Sitton, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, and Senator Ted Cruz, while also finalizing our platform.
Willeford was told about the church shooting by his daughter, and he grabbed his rifle, ran to the scene, and shot at the perpetrator, hitting him twice. The culprit survived those shots, jumped in his vehicle, and drove away–followed by Willeford and another man, who called 911 and stayed on the line as they chased the shooter. Hurt from his injuries, the church shooter eventually lost control of his vehicle, crashed, and fatally shot himself in the head. Willeford stayed at the scene until authorities arrived.
It was good to hear Willeford speak directly. Many of the politicians who dropped his name at the convention did so in blustery tones, incongruent with the sad, somber incident in which Willeford found himself called to. Wisely, Willeford adopted a different tone, and he spoke quietly and humbly during his speech.
Sid Miller was less quiet. The Texas Ag Commissioner and long-time supporter of Donald Trump, is something of an easy caricature.
But he acts independently on occasion, and on this day he gave a humorous speech, while also softening his image somewhat when his wife joined him onstage.
Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton must be the youngest of the state-wide office holders (he is 43), and he typically eschews the cowboy attired common among Texas office-holders.
He is a better speaker than he was when beginning his political career, and he did a competent job conveying the RR Commission’s job to a crowd eager to hear from Senator Ted Cruz.
Senator Cruz has a reputation for being somewhat humorless, but he gave an effective and, in the end, quite funny speech. He detailed seven priorities he has (although didn’t mention the immigration crisis that he would propose legislation for just days later)…
…interjected humor, offered the crowd some Republican red meat, and closed with a very funny video highlighting his one-on-one basketball game with Jimmy Kimmell…in which he closed…”See how a third-ranked night-show talk host can finally finish second at something…” The crowd loved…
Despite this fun, the delegates still had a lot of work to do: namely voting in the Party’s Platform. In the end, this took about three hours, a deadline met only because the delegates had to vacate the building by 6:00pm.
The platform prompted much discussion–as often as not driven by minor concerns rather than large policy visions–and long lines at the microphones.
Each convention, the party runs into the same problems, and then tries to solve them based on what went wrong last time. Last convention, most of the discussion time was spent discussing one of the first platform planks (secession of all things) and, consequently, we ran out of time to discuss the next 250 or so planks.
This time, the convention decided to allocate a specific amount of time to each section of planks (Human Services, Economy and Market, Governmental Affairs, etc.). This sort of helped. But the amount of time allotted was brief, only enough to discuss approximately two planks out of 30-100. So priorities were basically set by whichever delegates got to the microphone first, meaning we were just as likely to spend fifteen minutes discussing a minor matter as we were a matter of great importance.
Smaller groups huddled together to discuss specifics of importance to them…
…while others grappled as best they could to amendments to amendments.
In the end, we were given about 30-45 minutes to read approximately 335 platform planks and record them to scantron–as debate continued on the stage!
Many people didn’t finish and, after all the sound and fury, every plank passed. One plank did away with vehicle safety inspections, which means that a person could drive a car without working brakes. It passed without discussion. Another plank allows people to be attorneys without having a law degree. It passed with an 84 percent approval rating. One plank was printed unfinished and read only: “Spending Limit: adopted under the heading budget federal.” We were advised by the Chair to disregard it or vote “no.” It passed with 68 percent approval.
Few complained, however, as the voting brought things to a close. After three days among the party faithful, delegates left alternately energized and exhausted. Some to return home, others to enjoy time on the Riverwalk of San Antonio with a margarita and reflections on a full three days.
The longest convention day is the second, when much of the body’s work should get done. Today was a long day, but it wasn’t as productive as it had the potential to be.
The day began with 8am meetings organized by Senate District, in which we set our preferences for SREC reps and recommendations for State Chair. Our County Chair, Linda McKenzie, led the delegation in the pledge…
After being delayed by some late arrivals, we got down to business. Our SREC Reps, Nita Davidson and Mike McCloskey, both won reelection as our SREC Committee members. Davidson won without contest, and McCloskey won overwhelmingly…
…despite opposition from a young delegate who was quite an effective speaker. While the delegation had a positive view of the young person, there was wide-spread satisfaction with McCloskey’s hard work over the past two years.
The race for State Chair among Senate District 5 delegates was much closer, with Cindy Asche coming out on top, approximately 60-40 percent. As it turns out, though, she won only nine senate districts out of a possible 31.
As we would later learn, this have important consequences for the productivity of the day’s meeting.
Most immediately, however, we were entertained by speakers who stopped by to alternately inform and pander to the group of die-hard Republicans. These speakers included Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick…
…Senator John Cornyn…
…and Texas Senator Charles Scwhertner, who graciously recognized his long-time Chief of Staff, Tom Holloway, who will be leaving the Texas Senate later this year.
With the conclusion of the business and speeches, our Senate District meetings were complete. The afternoon business of electing a Chair and selecting the platform was before us.
But first, our delegation took a moment to honor Ila Martinez, who passed away earlier this year after a life serving her community and the party. She had hoped to make it to one more state convention, but her failing health prevented her from adding to her impressive total of 11 state convention appearances.
Ila Martinez in Blue/White Shirt and White Pants (middle left) Being Sworn in with Precinct Chairs
Shortly before this year’s convention, however, her son and daughter (Russell Martinez and Andrea Scott) met with Terry Stivers and Linda McKenzie and asked them to wear Ila’s scarves at the convention, so that she could be present one more time, at least in spirit. And she was.
The delegates were then treated to a series of speeches by leading Texas officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, who was literally introduced with fireworks…
…and then proceeded to go longer than his allotted time…
Not to be outdone, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also went long, which was doubly tough because his long speech resulted in an (1) abbreviated lunch hour for the delegates and (2) his material was pretty much the same as what he told the senate districts earlier in the day…
The afternoon brought some less strident speakers. Railroad Chair Christi Craddick gave a fine speech, one that attempted to focus on achievable and positive results….
…Land Commissioner George P. Bush was met with boos (presumably over some of delegates’ perceptions of what he is trying to do with the Alamo), but forged on stolidly…
…And Senator John Cornyn gave a no-nonsense speech, introduced by a funny “Big John, Big Don” speech that highlighted the relationship between Cornyn and Trump to Jimmy Dean’s “Big John.”
Also in the category of outfits, we found this character, who won for “unique costume,” and good-naturedly allowed us to take his photo.
The afternoon was not as uplifting, but it was interesting.
Asche, having received more than 20 percent of the Senate Delegations, was given the opportunity to bring her fight for chair to the convention floor, and she did, with fireworks.
As people rose for points of order and interruption motions and other items difficult for newcomers to follow, the RPT Accountant announced her resignation from the floor. She attempted to explain why she resigned–apparently a protest of incumbent Chair James Dickey’s “honesty”–but was cut off by the acting Chair (Vice Chair Amy Clark, who did a wonderful job holding the gavel during a difficult period) for being out of order.
When it was her turn to speak, Asche pleaded for an opportunity to explain her positions and to provide context to the Accountant’s resignation, but she was met with boos from the audience, many of whom perceived this three-hour floor fight as a dilatory measure.
In the end, Asche’s time ran out, and there was an awkward impasse, as the acting Chair and other officials weren’t sure how vigorously to enforce the time expiration.
Thankfully, Asche wrapped up quickly, alleviating the need for additional controversy.
In the end, Dickey won by a pretty wide margin–wider than earlier in the day. He made a short speech, urging everyone to unite.
Perhaps prudently, he concluded that the delegates were not up for an additional fight over the platform, so he invited motions to adjourn, which was approved overwhelmingly. It was a welcome respite after a long day, but it would make for a nearly impossible workload on Saturday, when we will have to complete Saturday’s workload and a good portion of Friday’s workload as well.
But, as we know, anything is possible in Texas, and we’re sure we’ll manage to get the work done, while also having a good time.
While a current LEAP Ambassador enjoyed six days in Austin as part of the New Leadership Texas program, two recent graduates were spending days in San Antonio as elected delegates to the State Republican Convention.
For those who have never been to a state convention, it’s an experience. While many delegates meet on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to attend committee meetings, most of the rank-and-file delegates show up on Thursday to participate in votes, listen to speeches by the state’s leading public figures, and to enjoy special events hosted by the party and its leaders.
For Karla Rosales and Christina Perez, it was an opportunity to move into leadership positions. Karla, who was making her second appearance as a delegate, was appointed delegate counter for Walker County, at least for the first day. For Christina, a first-time delegate, it was a chance to make new connections, learn about the process, and do some work for her new boss, Congressman Kevin Brady, at his Saturday “Kolaches with Kevin” event.
The official business began on Thursday, June 14, when delegates met in General Session for a “get-acquainted session,” but also to hear speeches from the two candidates for State Party Chair: (1) the incumbent James Dickey and (2) challenger Cindy Asche. Both spoke in the general session, asking for votes and laying out a vision.
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When the general session convened, delegates headed to rooms sorted by Senatorial District. Walker County delegates headed to Senate District 5–a district more or less controlled by the populous Williamson County–where business was tended to.
The business included electing permanent officers for our senate district meetings; and electing members to the credentials, rules, platform, legislative priorities, and state nominations committees. When these positions were contested, they involved taking votes, and Karla had a chance to perform her duties as “vote counter.”
During this process, the Senate District voted in Walker County’s own Madeline Loosier as a member of the Legislative Priorities committee.
This “get-acquainted” day ended early, leaving delegates the opportunity to attend various social events or to do their own thing. For Karla and Christina, this involved heading to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, where much fun was had.
One of the key exhibits was “Immersed,” which included four artists–including Andy Warhol’s film “Sunset”–whose work involved immersing yourself in the experience of art. The first of these, “Pleasure Principle,” by Chris Sauter, was quite an experience, with odd lights shining through holes in a “home” that was unusually decorated.
Perhaps the most fun of the installations was Phillip Worthington’s “Shadow Monsters,” which allowed visitors to be part of the art. Visitors stood in front of a light, which transmogrified the visitor’s appearance, while also allowing them the opportunity to access numerous props, which were similar transmogrified by the screen.
Also intriguing was Yayoi Kusama’s…
… “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity,” a hall of mirrors type installation, which also included lighting effects.
This was another of our favorites, and was doubly interesting because we had seen a similar work by this artist at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Our least favorite was “Sunset,” by Andy Warhol, which was a 33-minute abstract-like film of a sunset.
In the midst of these installations were fun interactive “art” games that we quickly jumped into, while also branding LEAP at the McNay.
The McNay isn’t as large as the major museums in Dallas or Houston, but it has a very nice collection, with a smattering of works across diverse times and regions. There were 19th century European masters such as Van Gogh…
…Monet…
…Cezanne…
Plus, much modern and contemporary art, such as Picasso…
…Pollock (far left, below)…
…OKeeffe (center, above; and below)…
…Alexander Calder…
…Louise Nevelson…
…Sally Skoglund…
…Donald Judd…
…Robert Indiana…
…and SHSU alum Danville Chadburne.
Their sculpture garden is smallish, but has a very nice collection of artists such as Lois Jimenez…
…the aforementioned Robert Indiana…
…and Joel Shapiro….
It was a fun start to the convention and site-seeing, and a nice way to mix art and politics.
Houston recently acquired “Cloud Column,” which is also called “The Upright Bean.” It’s a work of art by Anish Kapoor, whose most famous work is the “Bean” (formally called “Cloud Gate”) in Chicago. Houston’s acquisition of this work has spurred a heated exchange between Houston and Chicago. In this exchange, a Chicago writer called Houston a “cultural abyss” and a Houston writer referred to Chicago as a “has-bean.”
While we’ll leave it to others to argue about the merits of Kapoor’s various works, we keep visiting them when we get a chance! Our first chance was at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works by Claes Oldeburg, Louise Bourgeois, and Jesus Moroles overshadowed a smaller Kapoor piece. But that wasn’t the case in Chicago, where the famous bean caught the students’ attention.
And, of course, with the “Cloud Column” in Houston, we have new opportunities to explore Kapoor’s art, such as when Christina Perez visited…
…or when Karla Rosales visited a few days later.
More or less simultaneously, separate LEAPsters were in Phoenix checking out Kapoor’s “Upside Down, Inside Out.” Unlike most of his work since 1995, this piece isn’t stainless steel, but it is reflective and curved, distorting space and perception.
We’re not sure which of the ones we’ve seen are the best, but we are sure we are pleased to have one close to home!
Just one day after hearing three appellate cases in the Kerper Court Room, the Leapsters were back and ready for more!
Today, we were going to take part in a Voir Dire training for the Texas Special Prosecution Unit. The SPU was established in 1999 to handle cases involving sexual offenders who have been convicted of two sexual offenses, incarcerated for at least one of them, and are about to be released back into society. The cases they work are to determine if the individual has a behavior abnormality and should be sent to a rehabilitation facility. These cases are unique in that they are civil cases, but they still have a twelve-person jury decide the outcome. Hence, the Voir Dire team is there to understand each person as an individual and see the potentiality of being fair and impartial throughout the trial, which is not always an easy process. During Voir Dire, the prosecution and the defense will ask a series of questions in order to select the best possible jury for their client.
After receiving the background information about the Special Prosecution Unit, we were given a fake identity to role-play for the Voir Dire. My identity was a single, 28 year old, with no children, who worked at a correctional facility. I knew, according to my provided profile, someone who had been sexually assaulted, but I could still be fair and impartial.
The prosecutors then took turns asking us questions and giving us hypotheticals.
If an individual agreed or disagreed with a statement, the prosecutor would ask that individual more questions.
Everyone in the Courtroom had a different character they had to play.
They were give certain guidelines such as mine but it was up to them to play their part as best as possible.
After the Voir Dire session, some students stayed to ask the prosecutors questions about Voir Dire process….
…how they became a part of the SPU…
and the cases they have worked.
I asked Erin, one of the prosecutors, how many cases have there been where the jury found that the individual did not need to go to the rehabilitation facility. She replied with very impressive numbers. She stated that the Special Prosecution Unit has handled a little over 400 cases and out of those cases, only five individuals were found by the jury to not have a behavioral abnormality.
Out of all the individuals who have been sent to the rehabilitation facility, only six have been released back into society and none of them has reoffended. Likewise, the other lawyers had very similar stories to tell and experiences that they went through. We also received law school advice, such as in Karla’s case who wants to go to Texas Tech. One of the lawyers was a Texas Tech alumni, and so they spoke about the different opportunities that Texas Tech had to offer. Everyone was sad to leave, as the conversations were very interesting. However, we all learned so much from this experience, not only of the process of Voir Dire and law school.
Many thanks to the Texas Special Prosecutors Unit, particularly Jack Choate and Erin Faseler, for partnering with SHSU on this rewarding activity.
The trip down seemed much easier as we were all still so amazed at what we had just experienced.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 