Eye On Eagles

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Have you noticed all the smiling faces around campus? Students and faculty shared what they think are the most attractive qualities about our university.

Professor of History, Dr. Tom Wagy with fifty years of teaching experience, thirty-four of which have been in the Texarkana area, imparts that he likes the freedom to teach how he chooses and appreciated his obligation to serve students in the hopes that they positively can change their lives. Dr. Wagy believes students with a frontier spirit will find a home at TAMUT, and those who want to complain about the lack of some resources should rejoice in the fact that the universities long-term success rests in all of our hands, “TAMUT is being built before their eyes, and students have a chance to make a real difference.” Dr. Wagy admits that he is not an expert on the current pricing of universities, but believes that TAMUT is a great value for the local community compared to the price of “going off” to seek a higher education.

Eighteen-year-old freshmen Jordann Schuler considered other colleges, but after considering the cost decided to attend TAMUT and is happy with her choice. “I like the friendly environment. It’s like a big family.” Jordann would recommend TAMUT to anyone graduating high school.

Forty-two-year-old graduate student of history Melinda Zwirn appreciates “small classes in which passionate teachers teach.” She would recommend TAMUT to younger students, as there is not an abundance of online or night courses that older students need to help juggle a forty-hour work week. Melinda would like to see more attention paid to the various scholastic competitions that TAMUT students take part in.

Associate Professor of Mass Communication Dr. Drew Morton compares his teaching experience at UCLA and Cal State to TAMUT. He likes the small class sizes, diversity of content he is allowed to teach, and says that he has the opportunity to have relationships and discussions with students as well as Intimacy of classrooms.

“I think Texarkana-A&M is a great value because students are able to have accesses to PhDs as professors whereas at most major universities you would have teaching assistant in a certain area and you might have a PhD for an upper division class that you would actually get contact hours with. Career teachers are here and they are expected to teach well first and foremost.”

Twenty-year-old sophomore Sage Altenbaumer appreciates TMAUT’s quality professors and likes the small class sizes. He would recommend TAMUT to anyone looking to further their education. Sage would like to hear more success stories about recent graduates.

Students and professors agree TAMUT is a great place to learn due to the small classes, the availability of passionate professors that are well-qualified, and the reasonable tuition. How will TAMUT continue grow and gain the prominence that other larger universities have attained? Our university’s long term success lies in the hands of every student that graduates and goes forth into the world to reveal the inner light that was kindled within these halls.

From City to Country

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City life is known as being fast paced and high-toned. With a variety of places to go and things to do in my experience, a major metropolis is anything but boring. A common theme throughout American literature and film is the small town boy or girl dreaming of a big city life, looking for change in both culture and pace. The Journey song “Don’t Stop Believing” can be recognized in any crowd by its opening words “Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world.” There is a common theme about this desire to leave the small pond to conquer the large. To many people, especially young people, it is foreign to switch those desires.

How would one know to adjust from growing up in the fast paced city to a small town with a population smaller than his or her graduating class? From places to go and things to see to being 30 miles away from even the nearest Walmart? To many, this concept would be foreign, but I have loved the change from Houston, Texas to the small town of Avery, Texas.

Here are some simple luxuries I occasionally miss from the city: Grocery stores are everywhere, and they’re open all hours of the night. The selection of stores and items in stores offers a larger variety of foods than small town grocery stores. It’s also true what they say: the city never sleeps. No matter your schedule, there is always something open for the restless. The late night coffee shops, the 24-hour restaurants, or the parks without hours are just a few available options. Living in a large city also offers endless amounts of sights to see and history to be seen. In Houston, for instance, the museum district always has a museum opening a new exhibit. There are multiple amusement attractions also such as Kemah Boardwalk and The Aquarium and more. The main difference between the city and the country is variety of life, of food, of people and culture, of sights to see, and things to do.

The country may not offer a list of luxuries but there is something too beautiful to sum up about a simpler life. Sure, things may not be as easily accessible with so long a list of options, but it doesn’t really make a load of difference. One advantage of the sparse amount of people is the higher speed limit. Though 30 miles seems quite the trek just for groceries, you can make it in about the same amount of time it takes to get 5 miles in the city. There are fewer stop lights and people to navigate around. The city cannot compete with the beauty of nature. Cities are like concrete jungles, with a beauty of their own to be sure, but no competition when it comes to mother nature. Many things to see and so much to do even in the small towns, especially if one is able to tap into a creative mindset. Not to mention the cost of living will never empty your wallet like a city lifestyle will. The air is clearer and the folks are friendlier. Friday Night Lights are exciting between rivaling towns and the traditions are endless.

From city to country or country to city, life is a beautiful gift. There are pros and cons no matter the road you travel, though having experienced this transition myself I found myself in love with the small town atmosphere and nearly every aspect of country living. I used to tell myself I would never adapt to this small town, but here I am three years later converted forever. Life is unexpected and change can be very obtrusive when unwelcome, but time works miracles for skeptical like myself. No matter which end of this transition you find yourself experiencing, the beautiful moments of life will always find you.

Support for Emotional Support Animals

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The official definition of a service animal is any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, whether physical, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual. The official definition of an emotional support animal (ESA) is a companion animal that a medical professional has determined provides a benefit to an individual with a disability, such as improving at least one symptom of the disability.

There are differences between the two according to state law. A service animal is classified for disabilities both visible and invisible. Emotional support animals are considered a support to the person, but they do not have the same parameters as “regular service animals”.

Shannon lives in the dorms with her ESA Star, a German Shepard. Shannon suffers from depression and anxiety, many stemming from her childhood experiences. She uses Star as a way to help cope. Shannon has raised Star from a puppy and has her trained extremely well. The problem she is facing is that Star is not registered as a service dog, so Shannon  cannot take her anywhere on campus except her own dorm room or outside. This means that if she needs emotional support while on any other part of the campus, she does not have it. I asked her what having Star with her while in class would do. Shannon replied that it would help her focus and help her calm down. I asked about the issue with Star’s large size. Shannon said she feels having a large dog is more beneficial because even though Star looks like she could cause problems, she knows how to handle situations that involve many people, like walking through the UC, better than a smaller animal. Shannon thinks that ESA animals should have the same privileges as other service animals because mental disabilities should be cared for as physical disabilities are because they are as much of a problem, and deserve to be treated properly.

I talked to a former student named Daniel, an Army veteran with a PTSD service dog named Maggie, a pitbull/lab mix. I asked him what having Maggie with him meant, and he replied that it meant comfort and feeling like the world wasn’t collapsing around him. I asked about the stigma around PTSD, and Daniel told me it was unlike anything that anyone knew. It felt like a constant war zone and Maggie was the only thing that helped on some days. Daniel said there are so many invisible disabilities that should be the same category as visible ones. “You can’t see my PTSD, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Same for depression and other mental illnesses.”

Best Week Ever at TAMUT

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The Office of Student Life, along with other organizations on campus, will host its annual Best Week Ever the week of August 27, 2018.

The assistant director of Student Life, Celeste McNeil, is already beginning the planning process. This week is a time for new and returning students to immerse themselves back into the college lifestyle before classes are in full swing.

The Best Week Ever will involve many of the organizations on campus. During this week, the students will have a plethora of events to choose to attend. In the past, there have been events such as trivia night, bingo, music, and entertainment.

As usual, the week will consist of the Spotlight on Texarkana. This event gives the 50+ organizations on campus an opportunity to market themselves to students. This event also hosts local businesses, such as banks, insurance companies, and restaurants to let everyone know about things to do in Texarkana.

Co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, the week promises to be exciting and engaging for students coming on campus. The Office of Student Life, with the help of the TAMUT family, will put on a lovely week of fun-filled experiences for new and returning students.

For more information about the Best Week Ever and how to get involved, contact Celeste McNeil at (903)-223-1351.

 

 

Alfred Athletes and Carson Crossing Meet

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Bowie County Special Olympics is holding its annual local Track and Field meet on Friday, May 18, 2018 at New Boston High School. This annual event is held each year in memory of Buddy Alfred, who started the event in Bowie County and in memory of Carson, son of Special Ed teacher Connie Thompson.

The Alfred Athletes and Carson Crossing meet gives local special needs children and adults to compete in sporting events they may otherwise not be able to. The athletes are from all over Bowie County and is available for participates ages 8-99. The athletes participate in several different events; softball throw, 50-meter dash, wheel chair obstacle race, 4×100 relay, and many more.

Parade and open ceremonies start at 9:00 a.m. Some of these athletes will participate in Area on April 27-28, and go on to State on May 24-27. Both meets will be held in the Dallas area.

Residents can help these athletes by donating or volunteering. For more information on how to get involved or help, contact Mrs. Dianne Melton, coordinator and head coach, at 903-628-6551.

College Night Life in T-Town

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It’s 7 p.m. on Friday and you wonder, “What is there to do?” You text your friends and ask them if they want to go out and they agree. It’s now 7:30 p.m. and everyone is in the car ready for a night on the town. However, you guys sit in the car contemplating, “What is there to actually do in Texarkana?” Welcome to small-town college life.

Over the past 2 years, my friends and I have unfortunately discovered that Texarkana is not a college town. With the majority of restaurants closing by 11 p.m. and the town spanning two states, options seem limited. Texarkana seems like one of those retirement towns that is unfortunately placed 1 hour away from Shreveport and approximately 3 hours from DFW. So, what can you do? Welcome to a guide for college students in Texarkana.

Food. Texarkana has a lot of options for different foods. From nationwide businesses to local delicacies, you can find anything you want if you talk to the locals. If you’re looking for restaurants close to the campus that isn’t Sonic or Domino’s, you can try Bubble Tea or Mooyah. There are many options for food both fair priced and expensive. Check out the link to see the top 10 according to Trip Advisor.

Attractions. When it comes to attractions in Texarkana, options are limited. If you’re looking for something that is fun for you and a group of friends, bowling is always a wonderful fallback. There are two bowling alleys here in Texarkana: College Bowl and Holiday Bowl. If you’re on a typical broke college student budget, I suggest College Bowl. If you aren’t really into the bowling scene, there are two trampoline parks: G-Force and iJump. Trampoline parks can be pricey though since you typically pay per hour. There is also the Fun Country Park with attractions like an arcade and go-karts.

Shopping. There are many different opportunities for shopping in Texarkana. Whether it be local businesses or going to the mall, there are a number of options. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how much you like shopping.

Texarkana has so much untapped potential. There are many hidden gems here that are waiting to be discovered by us. However, I wish you the best of luck in getting there before they close for the evening!

‘May’ We Support Our Troops

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OPINION

Unbeknownst to many, May is Military Appreciation Month. We see all the videos on Facebook and YouTube of homecomings, but we forget one of the most important things, to support the ones around us.

Here at Texas A&M – Texarkana, we have plenty of veterans and active duty members on campus. One does not have to go to the Student Veterans Association meetings of the Veterans’ Service Office to know these individuals. One can tell from the manner in which they carry themselves, the way they speak and the attention that they pay to what they say.

These veterans and active members are just as active as many of the non-military students on campus. We see these service members in Student Government meetings, walking around campus, in the fitness center or just sitting on the couches in the lounges on campus. Just like those of us who do not serve, they have families and enjoy a night on the town. The question is, why don’t we ever sit down and say thank you?

Nearly three-fourths of women service members feel under-appreciated.  Many would argue that we send them boxes of supplies and we hold up signs and have bumper stickers on the back of our trucks that say, “We support our troops.” However, support is more than a poster or a bumper sticker.

The best way to show your service members that you support them is from your own actions. If you see someone in uniform, kind gestures are always a way of showing thanks. If you know a service member personally, sit down and talk to them. Ask them about their experiences and show them that you care. When votes are held that concern them, don’t sit at home idly. Go to the booth and show your support. Vote to prevent wars, make the difficult decisions that count. It’s the little things that can show them that we care. Appreciate our service members every day, not just this May.

Equality Texarkana’s Day of PRIDE

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On June 9th, 2018, you’re invited to join Equality Texarkana in celebrating PRIDE in historic downtown Texarkana. This year Equality Texarkana combined its Pride Picnic and Pride March into one event.

We have special guest Stephanie Rice serving as the Grand Marshal of the Parade!

If you’re interested in volunteering, click here.

If you’re interested in being a part of the parade, click here.

If you’re interested in setting up a vendor booth at the event, click here.

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Infinity Martial Arts Grapples to Raise Funds

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Infinity Martial Arts prepares for its first ever grappling tournament. The tournament will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018. The tournament will be called Take Down Battleground. The tournament is being held to help raise money for the family one of the students. The student lost a parent and the family is in need of financial assistance. Registration is $35.00 a person. The tournament will begin at 11 a.m. that Saturday at 101 S Runnels St, De Kalb, TX. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come watch.

There will be an extra special event at the end of Take Down Battleground, called King of the Battleground. At a set entry fee of $25, any of the finalists from Take Down Battleground are able to face off for a chance to win $100. Stephanie Bunch, co-owner of the martial arts school, has been working with MMA teacher John Kim Jones to get this all set up. Allen and Micah Bunch, teachers at Infinity Martial Arts, are very excited to be hosting the tournament and having some of their very own students participating.

Beauty All Around Us

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OPINION

When did being a size zero, having long hair, or being “light skin” make you beautiful? We see it all the time on social media and television. I’m sure no one meant for it to be like that but no one has spoken up about it being wrong either. For the ones that don’t fit that description, they can be looked at as not pretty enough, not skinny enough or just not worth a glance. We as people have created stereotypes of what we accept as beautiful and sexy but we’ve forgotten that everyone was made beautifully in their own way.

We all come in different shapes, sizes, and skin tones but that is not what makes us. Social media portrays women as a trophies or sexual objects which makes the world have a need to create an image of what a woman needs to look and act like. The women that do not fit the description, like myself, can feel like less of woman, unattractive, too fat, bald headed, and so on. We compare ourselves to others and do things like exercising and starving ourselves to death to make sure that we fit the image the world expects us to be, but that is wrong, completely wrong.

We need to start loving ourselves the way we are. You don’t have to be a size zero to be cute. You can be petite or what i like to call “slim thick” and still get you a man girl. You can flaunt your pixie cuts and short bobs. You can be a dark skin female and parade your melanin around because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. It is time out for letting the world make you think that you are not enough. You do not need to fix what God has already put his paint brush on. Instead, we are going to embrace ourselves and encourage the next female to do the same, and grab a Big Mac and a large fries to go along with it! It is time to love yourself.