Randi Larson
News Editor

PHOTOS BY DR. EDDIE HENDERSON | During 2008, education graduate students studied the history, culture, religion, art and architecture of Southeast Asia and then traveled to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia to help tribal children.

The “Go Global” program is part of the College of Education and Social Sciences

“Go Global” offers students the chance to expand their horizons simultaneously through travel and community services, helping others in an attempt to better the global community.

The first faculty-led trip was to central Mexico in 2006.

During the trip, students and faculty worked at a home for abandoned and negleted children ages four through 15.

The next “Go Global” sponsored trip is scheduled for June 12 through June 23, to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, and offers credits for education courses, criminal justice courses, as well as graduate credits.

“Our focus here isn’t necessarily tourism; our students can give and experience rich cultural opportunities,” Cindy Lewis, education instructor and faculty sponsor, said.

Regardless of the job the students go into, they can learn in a more personal way than they could’ve before [by going on the trip].”

The trip is also the first one that the criminal justice department has been able to participate in.

PHOTOS BY DR. EDDIE HENDERSON | During 2008, education graduate students studied the history, culture, religion, art and architecture of Southeast Asia and then traveled to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia to help tribal children.

“This is something very unique for the students in the criminal justice program to explore,” Dr. Harry Hueston, associate professor of criminal justice and faculty sponsor, said.

This traveling opportunity, while a wonderful tourism experience, is also imbued with a mission as well: this is a repeat visit to San Miguel de Allende.

By returning to the same place with several different groups of students, the hope is that the consistency will benefit those in San Miguel de Allende.

While in Mexico, the criminal justice department also plans to help further its students’ appreciation of the American justice system.

“We’re looking forward to the chance to sit and talk to federal, state, local and tourist police forces, touring the police department and see the different types of equipment and training,” Hueston said.

It’s a learning experience; comparing the Mexican criminal justice system to the American as well as the treatment of those in their criminal justice system versus ours.”

Both Dr. Eddie Henderson, dean of College of Education and Social Sciences, and Dr. Angela Spaulding, associate dean of College of Education and Social Sciences, have worked to promote the “Go Global” initiative at WT.

A proposed program expansion will include programs in criminal justice, sociology and social work in the future.

Randi Larson
News Editor

PHOTO BY AIDA BALDIVIEZO | TOGETHER FOR A COMMON PURPOSE: Aida Baldiviezo, international student from Bolivia , joins other students from across the world to study at WT and build skills from an international perspective.

International students account for 2 percent of the overall student population at WTAMU, representing about 35 different countries.

“Foreign students become aware of WTAMU in two ways: they do research and learn about us through the United States language center in their country, or by our active recruiting done in their country,” Kristin Combs, director of the international studies program, said.

Similar to recruiting done here in the United States, employees from the International studies offices go to high schools in other countries and present the programs and benefits offered at WT.

“We target high schools that have a high percentage of sending students abroad, we recruit the same way as it is done domestically, we just do it abroad,” Combs said.

International student from Bolivia, Aida Baldiviezo, senior mass communication major has enjoyed her time here.

“I came to WT because my brother was here and we had an American in Bolivia in charge of the paperwork and recruiting that helped me get here,” Baldiviezo said.

“It’s a good school, and it’s a good community, and by coming here I became more independent, and gained more opportunity.”

Combs will be recruiting in Quito, Ecuador as well as Cuenca next month, from March 1 to March 8 teaching about the benefits of WT.

“I will be meeting with local high school students, and doing a presentation in the evening at the United States Educational Advancement center that will be open to the public,” Combs said.“I’ll be speaking about WT, the process it takes to get here from another country, and the requirements.”

The personal touch required in recruiting is vital when selling the University to potential students from another country.

“It’s important to have that personal contact, a familiar face in a new country, it’s especially important to parents to know that on another side of the world, that their child is being taken care of,” Combs said.

Baldiviezo has gained an edge in her field of mass communication, by learning in a different country.

“By networking in a different country, in a different language, I think it’s going to make me a better professional,” Baldiviezo said.

Combs attributes WT’s success in their program to the University’s availability.

“Our scholarship department works with us, and it helps to be able to converse with the people in their own language, several on the staff as well as myself are bilingual. It’s about going to the country and being available,” Combs said.

Randi Larson
News Editor

The WTAMU Department of Communication has a week filled with activities for its annual Communications Week Feb. 16-20.

The theme this year is, “Are you smarter than a communication major?” pulled from the popular game show of a similar name.

The week’s activities are designed to inform and involve students in activities that emphasize the importance of communication in a variety of ways.

The Communications Week Committee is comprised of students communication students Jill Whitfield, Amber Meredith, Danielle Collins and Keith Penn, and two faculty advisors: Dr. Leigh Browning and Dr. Trudy Hanson, all of which have contributed to the week’s activities.

“I think there is a lot more excitement because of the communication week committee, their enthusiasm and ideas were incorporated into what we’re doing,” Dr. Trudy Hanson, department head of communication, said. “This is an event doctored by the communications department to bring visitors to our department and what our majors offer,” said.

The committee worked hard to achieve the level of interest they hope to attain this year.

“We’ve put public service announcements on the radio, we did posters, we’ve had good advertising,” Meredith said.

Last year we had a good turn out, but we wanted more people to get involved and see what we do, it’s going to be really fun.”

Communication Week will kick off with an alumni panel in Legends of the Jack B. Kelly Student Center Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.

The panel includes WT Communication Alumni Zenobia Harris, currently serving as a law clerk in Austin; Ryan Loyd, who works with a non-profit organization in Midland and serves as an adjunct professor at UT-Permian Basin; and Kenna Pruitt, unit coordinator of marketing and promotions for Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

The panel discussion aims to teach students more about careers in communication.

Next on the agenda will be the “Are You Smarter than a Communication Major?” contest between four teams made up of one speech major, one broadcast major, one advertising public relations major and one graduate student on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre.

Questions will be asked about the communication field to determine if participants truly are smarter than a communication major.

“The show is going to be really fun, in ‘Are you smarter than a communications major’, we’re going to ask different questions from communications majors, and quiz everybody, we split up the majors so it’d be fair,” Meredith said.

On Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the foyer of the Fine Arts Complex, there will be a book signing for “Pride of the Panhandle” written collaboratively by former WT communication instructor, Dave Wohlfarth.

Students will also be performing narratives from the book.

The week will end on Friday, with a presentation by Sandra de Castro Buffington, followed by a reception and a showcase of works done by students in the program.

De Castro Buffington is from Hollywood, Health and Society and will give a presentation demonstrating how TV medical dramas are serving to inform the general public about health issues.

De Castro Buffington will show how storylines involving health issues serve as a springboard for the public to learn from an entertainment series.

“We have been doing this event every year since 2005, however, this is only the second year it’s been a department wide event, prior it was only the speech communication department,” Hanson said.

All events are free and open to both students and the general public.

Photo by Amanda Garcia.

Randi Larson
News editor

Jean Walker has been an employee of WTAMU since 1980.

She is a member of the finance faculty, teaching in the college of business and she has been the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) advisor for 15 years.

Walker grew up in Panhandle and resides there today, commuting to and from Canyon every day.

As an undergraduate student, Walker went to Texas Tech University, however, she holds her bachelors and masters degrees from WT.

As SIFE advisor, she and her students focus on teaching and learning market economics, entrepreneurship, focus on business ethics, financial literacy, success skills and more recently environmental sustainability.

“All of the student’s projects are done over the course of the year, and their general idea is to inspire others to better their lives,” Walker said.
SIFE co-president Luis Cruz has worked with Walker for three years and has high regard for her advisement. “She’s an expert on SIFE, and she’s very confident,” Cruz said. “She gives us confidence. When we make a mistake she lets us know it’s not the end of the world, and she helps us correct it.”

Co-president Carolina Barbery said that as an adviser Walker is very understanding and helpful, and very passionate about what she does.

During the summer, Walker continues in her quest to teach others.

“I do workshops for teachers of elementary, middle, and high school teachers, showing them how to teach economics in their classrooms at the K-12 level,” Walker said.

Through her years of teaching others Walker believes that her favorite part is the students.

“I enjoy seeing students mature as they go through their years of college and meet the real world as graduates,” Walker said, “What makes her a great teacher and advisor is that she really cares about the students,” Cruz said, “one of the first things she tells us is not to hesitate to call her.”

“The way that she explains thing is clear, and she is very understanding in the classroom,” Barbery said.

As for her prowess as the SIFE advisor, the success speaks for itself.

“I was never unsure of winning the regional competition because we had her,” Cruz said.“She’s a great teacher and anyone who takes over SIFE after her is going to have some big shoes to fill.”

Randi Larson
News Editor

The WTAMU Alumni Association has recently acquired an interim director following the resignation of former director, J. Frank Kiker, in December.

Jennifer Ashley, senior development officer, was chosen to replace Kiker until a permanent replacement can be found.

Dr. Neil Weaver, vice president of institutional advancement, helped choose Ashley to serve as interim director.

“Jennifer is well-suited to the job,” Weaver said. “She happened to already be working on a couple of projects that related to the alumni association. She’s accustomed to being in public venues that include alumni.”

Thus far, Ashley has met the positions’ challenges well.

“This is probably the most fun job on campus,” Ashley said. “I get to meet the alumni and they all have different experiences and different reasons for reconnecting to WT.”

Her duties as interim director include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the alumni association, liaising with the board and ensuring that the alumni can reach out to the University.

“We’re conducting a nationwide search for a full time replacement,” Weaver said. “This position is important to the University and to the alumni.”

Randi Larson
News Editor

Pippa’s Coffee Shop in Cornette Library recently changed management.

The shop is now being run by the staff of the library, as opposed to its previous management under the campus food service.

“The library is hoping to realize some savings in operating the coffee shop,” Paul Coleman, university librarian, said.

We want to try our hand at service and we feel that we can operate it successfully.”

The decision was not one made arbitrarily.
In order to legally run a food service area, there must be someone with a food management license on site: in this case it’s Shawna Kennedy-Witthar, assistant university librarian. Also assisting at this point is special collections librarian Sidnye Johnson.

“This is a good service to offer people, and to make them feel comfortable while they’re here.” Johnson said. “I hope that people will take advantage of the service and offer ways we can improve.”

So far, the changes have had a good turnout.

The addition of selling Donut Stop donuts as well as offering a free cup of coffee with the purchase of a Pippa’s mug for $6.95, with each additional refill being 79-cents is included. Refills of a non-Pippa’s mug are priced at $1.09.

Even better for the library is that now the coffee shop can serve as a functional service desk due to its personnel.

“When we had others working here, they were hired to work here and didn’t know anything about the building,” Kennedy-Witthar said. “It’s opened a new avenue of communication with students and faculty who are using the library.” Coleman said.

Randi Larson
News Editor

The Oskar Schindler exhibit opens with a reception at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 with the sound of shattering glass.

Prior to the opening of the exhibit, students of several history classes taught by Dr. Elizabeth Clark, associate professor of history, will hold a Kristallnacht Commemoration on the Pedestrian Mall.

Also speaking during this time will be Toni Lachman, president of Temple B’Nai Israel, and Tibor Stern, a Holocaust survivor.

Kristallnacht, known as the “Night of Broken Glass,” was the first act of the Holocaust.

On Nov. 9, 1938, Nazi forces in Germany proceeded to destroy Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues, and to transport a large number of Jewish people to concentration camps.
The main event is the Schindler exhibit procured, in large part, by the efforts of Reeves Easley-McPherson, a project coordinator with University Research Alliance.

“Several years ago I took a graduate course with Dr. Elizabeth Clark and that’s when I discovered the National Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.,” Easley-McPherson said.

“They have several traveling exhibits and I worked with the coordinator to get on the waiting list, and when they closed in Ohio, we were next on the list.”

The exhibit is about 600-square feet long and consists of approximately 10 panels with information about Oskar Schindler and his actions rescuing over 900 Jewish workers during the Holocaust in World War II.

It will be placed on the first floor of Cornette library and be held from Nov.10 through Dec.10.

“We’re very happy that the people who got the exhibit and brought it here decided to put it in the library, we’re very glad that they recognized our space,” Paul Coleman, university librarian, said.

At 7p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the lecture room, the film Schindler’s List will be shown in the library. Dr. Elizabeth Clark and Dr. Bryan Vizzini, associate professor of history, will introduce the film.

“Faculty members knowledge-able about Schindler will be here to speak, they’ll introduce the movie, and likely answer any questions following the film,” Coleman said.

“The event is open to the public; anyone who wants to attend the exhibit is welcome,” Easley-McPherson said.