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Seniors share their overall experience at Lamar and plans after graduation

For all departments at Lamar, some graduation ceremonies have already taken place while others are set for the next few days. Every graduating senior this year has their own story while they attended Lamar and plans for what they will do after finishing school. 

Communication major and graduating senior Alexis Doub from Vidor, Texas is one of the seniors set to graduate on May 12. For the majority of her time at LU, she has taken mostly online courses but still had her fair share of in-person courses. She chose to come to Lamar because it was close to home.

“My overall experience at LU was pretty good,” Doub said. “The highlight I loved during the semesters here were all my coffee shop study sessions.”

Doub’s coffee shop study sessions were formed with close friends and together they would study, work on assignments together, and hang out. Although some of her study partners were from different degree plans, they were still invaluable in helping her with her study goals. 

“One of my study partners was in a dentist program at LSCO and another was a business major here at LU,” she said. “The company, help, and accountability from other students with a mutual goal to graduate are extremely beneficial.” 

Prior to attending college, she was torn between several ideas of what she wanted to do for her career. At one point, she was interested in being a veterinarian but was later glad that she decided against that pursuit. 

Eventually, she decided to major in communication because of the potential careers her major could help her in, such as human resources, public relations, journalism, management, and broadcasting. 

“I do think that my degree will be useful for the career I hope to get,” she said. “I want to work in radio, social media management, or television.” 

During her sophomore year, Doub faced one of the biggest challenges for her as a college student.

“(Around that time) I struggled heavily with my mental state and I lacked the energy and motivation to keep up with my courses,” the senior said. 

Her grades suffered, so she decided that she would have to take at least one semester off so that she could focus more on herself and “put effort into (her) thoughts and health”. 

“This was the best and hardest decision I have had to make,” she said. “When I was ready to come back and register for classes again, I felt so accomplished– I am now doing much better, both (in) my grades and mentally speaking, and I am so proud of myself.”

The day after graduation, Doub plans to have a celebratory brunch with friends, and then in June, she plans to meet up with her family to have a mini-vacation to travel together for about a week to Kemah and then to San Antonio. 

As far as general advice for prospective LU students, Doub did have some words she would like to share: “Get involved! Lamar has so many opportunities for students to get hands-on experience, meet like-minded people, and learn new skills,” she said. 

No matter where students or prospective students are in life, she encourages them to not compare their personal situation with other people’s. 

“At college, everyone is at a different time in their lives,” she said. “Be comfortable where you are at every moment, but strive for better.” 

Port Neches Communication major, Callie Melancon is another senior set to graduate on May 12. 

Growing up, Melancon had attended Lamar games with her dad so she was already familiar with the university but had ultimately chosen to attend as a student herself because it was close to home and family. 

“I think that my time here at Lamar has been pretty positive and what I remember most about my time here were my professors,” she said. 

Before attending college, Melancon dreamed of having a career in baseball and still hopes to make that a reality even after graduation. 

“My highest ambition is to someday work for the Astros or for Major League Baseball at their headquarters in New York City,” she said. 

Just like any other student, Melancon had her share of hardship as a college student. 

“What I struggled most in college was balancing school work, my job, and life in general,” the senior said. “I had to constantly remind myself that there was light at the end of the tunnel and give myself a break whenever I needed it.” 

Despite her struggles, she pushed herself to keep going forward and was glad that she did not stop. To help her stay on top of everything, practicing effective time management, not cramming all her work in short periods of time, and enjoying herself in her free time all helped her immensely in the long run. 

“After all these years, I learned that I was stronger, smarter, and more resilient than I ever imagined,” Melancon said. “I never knew what I was capable of until then.”

After graduation, Melancon intends to take a trip with her long-distance boyfriend at the end of May and has planned several activities: including visiting Houston, going to a zoo, and attending an Astros game.

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Lamar students talk about how they pay for college and budget their resources

Nowadays, the cost of attending college in Texas can cost thousands of dollars for just a single semester. According to the US Department of Education website, the average cost of attendance for Lamar is around $23,000 and after financial aid the average cost can drop to around $12,000. 

Lumberton native and Human Resource Manager major Arielle Hickerson shared some of her insight on the matter. 

“Whether it is from Lamar or not, apply to as many scholarships as you can,” the junior said. “If you are paying for your tuition out of pocket, you’ll need a budget.”

Even with a mix of financial aid, scholarships, and grants, Hickerson has to also pay the rest of her tuition out of pocket. As a student resident, to make her meal plan last each semester, she divides her dining dollars and dining hall swipes by each month while she is on campus. With this method and mindful rationing, she has not yet ever run out.

Shawn Nguyen, a Mechanical Engineering junior from Nederland, Texas also shared some advice as a non-resident.

“Work hard, spend time on your grades, and be careful to meet your scholarship requirements– they pay attention to your grades,” he said. 

To help cover the rest of the expenses of his tuition after financial aid, Nguyen works for a company called Fastenal as a contractor and has a side hustle of selling 3D print work. 

“By discounting my 3D printing services, I receive more revenue and a bigger customer base,” Nguyen said. “Due to technological advancements, 3D printing is the future– so I want to inspire others to do it too.” 

However, not all students utilize financial aid to help pay for school. Hailing from Beaumont, Sophomore Cassidy Wrinkler and Graphic design major instead covers her tuition with scholarships, grants, a photography side hustle, and a free-lance media director job at Lamar BSM. 

Even when a daunting tuition balance seems to be far above affordability and a student is unsure if they are able to cover the full cost, Wrinkler encourages them not to give up. 

“Work hard even if you don’t think you’ll be able to get it,” she said. “Hard work always pays off.” 

To make sure a meal plan on campus lasts, she advises all students to “organize a game plan ahead of time”. 

To help reduce expenses, students such as junior Elijah Kelly from Conroe, Texas buys food to eat within the dorm in addition to their meal plan. 

“I usually don’t have breakfast but that is just a personal choice,” the Mechanical Engineering major said. “I prefer to buy cheaper food alternatives and smaller options like snacks to eat throughout the day.” 

To cover his tuition expenses, Kelly receives financial aid, family assistance, and works part-time as a lifeguard on campus for Lamar aquatics. 

Although all resident Lamar students are required to have a meal plan, if a student has a medical condition and the appropriate documentation by a physician or has at least 90 credit hours they may qualify for a meal plan exemption.

If needed, students may recharge their dining dollars by increments of $50 and $100 dollars whenever they want by visiting the Lamar website. 

For students who are struggling to pay for their tuition balance before the start of the semester, they may also apply for an Emergency Deferment Loan. The loan acts as an alternative payment plan with two designated payment dates and holds the student’s classes for the semester. 

To learn more about meal plan exemptions, visit https://www.lamar.edu/forms/finance/meal-plan-exemption.html

To recharge your dining dollars, visit https://epay.lamar.edu/C20117_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=142&SINGLESTORE=true 

To learn more about payment plans, including the Emergency Deferment Loan, visit https://www.lamar.edu/students/paying-for-school/cashier-payment-options.html 

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LU student-athlete shares her passion for softball and dreams to teach abroad

Softball is a fast-paced game that is sometimes mistaken for baseball. However, they each have their respective differences– from the basic rules, the type of ball that is used, and even how the players play the game.

“For starters, we play with a bigger ball and it is bright yellow, and softball pitchers have a big windup and pitch underhand compared to baseball where they pitch overhand,” Student athlete Audrey Fleming, a Human Development major and senior said. “In softball, you cannot take a lead off the base before the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand– if you do, you’re out.”

Softball games typically last about seven innings but can last much longer. An inning consists of two rounds when two teams that are against each other take turns to bat and field, said Fleming. 

Although Fleming grew up in a military family and moved from place to place often, she considered Forth Worth to be her hometown. After high school, she was recruited to play softball for Lamar. There were several factors that played a role in her decision, such as the coaches at LU and the goals of LU’s softball team.

“I chose Lamar because it was different from where I was back home, I felt like I could thrive here, and I really liked the atmosphere,” Fleming said. “Campus has such a cozy feel, and coming here just felt right.”

As she grew up, aside from playing softball Fleming played other sports like basketball and volleyball. She strove to be the best in all she did and softball became her favorite sport. 

“One of my biggest passions is softball– I strive to be the best and when it gets challenging the fans, coaches, and teammates are what make it worth it,” she said. “I love how competitive it is and to me, it just feels like second nature.”

However, being an LU student-athlete is not always easy, and with that comes pros and cons. 

“Being a student came first– it is very important that (our) grades are good so that we could play and for me, that was the hardest part of every semester,” she said. “When I was a sophomore, I had to travel a lot, and being able to do classwork while on the road can be a bit stressful, so trying to manage that stress in the right way was a big struggle.” 

Despite any hardships and stress that can come from juggling her time between academics and sports, Fleming found a way to help her balance them out. 

“At the end of the day, it is just a game and this game that I love to play does not define who I am,” Fleming said. “It will get tough at times and what helps me stay calm when the game gets too big is to remember why I play or who I am playing for.” 

While in a team, players can get the opportunity to make new connections and form new relationships or bonds. 

“My softball team is like one big family– we are all like sisters and just like sisters, we do not always get along but what I like about my team is that we can play for each other no matter the situation,” she said. “The relationships made with teammates, coaches, and classmates along the way are one of the most valuable things to me.”

Aside from the relationships that can be made, there are other rewarding aspects to being part of the LU softball team. 

“Being there in the team and playing for Lamar is proof of what you can do– your own hard work you put in to win in the classroom and the field led to that,” she said. “The communities love and respect you and having a fan base that loves to watch you play is the best feeling.” 

To help achieve success, Fleming’s softball team has formed a culture that every player is expected to uphold and be a part of.

“We have started to build a culture surrounded by waking up for someone else– I think of my team as a tiny army and we make sure no man is left behind,” the student-athlete said. “Our softball team will not be successful if everyone plays for themselves so we take pride in playing for someone else and taking the pressure off of each other.”

When off the field, Fleming likes to spend her free time learning new languages such as Korean, spending time with her friends and loved ones, and playing softball whenever she can. 

“I have always wanted to be bilingual and my dad, being a marine, had spent time in Korea for about a year and inspired me to learn Korean,” she said. 

Eventually, Fleming hopes to become a polyglot and continue to play softball after college but her dreams do not end there. 

“The biggest goal that I wish to achieve is to teach abroad and travel to as many places as possible while immersing myself in the cultures that I visit as much as possible,” she said. 

When it comes to academics, Fleming found that when she was faced with challenges in the classroom utilizing Lamar’s resources as much as she could helped her immensely.

“I talk to teammates to see if they’ve had a class I’m taking before, I do tutoring when I need it, and touching base with my teachers often has helped me a lot,” she said. “Something that I’ve learned that I hold onto nowadays is that success is never as much fun as the struggle– so do not be discouraged if the ball doesn’t land in your court.” 

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Discussion 3: Summary of SMS plan

Since I posted late, there have been no peer responses to my SMS plan, at least as of March 9, 2023. However, I did learn some things from some of my other peer’s posts or at least appreciated how they went about their SMS plans in their own way. Several of my peers used unique designs in their posts with graphs, graphics, colors, and other interesting photos. I did not add much of that in mine, especially regarding an overall aesthetic and organized design that is pleasant to look at and helps bring together all my info. As far as revisions I plan to make would revolve around fixing simple errors I missed, making it much easier to follow and specific. Perhaps I can design my own SMS plan a bit more so it can be much more organized, have more visuals, and have an added touch of colors that expanded beyond mere text.

With enough time, I think I would like to remain steadfast with my original goals but also be mindful of my intended audience targets. Posting content that engages my audience targets want should be a priority as well, aside from my main goals to inform the public of the Navy and promote their cause.

Portfolio SMS link:

Social Media Strategy
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Social Media Strategy

Executive Summary

Need: The public may not be aware of the Navy and may find that a career in the military may suit them should they learn more

End Goals: To educate and inform the public of the Navy, increase the Navy’s good reputation, promote their cause, and increase engagement, exposure, and interactions with all social media accounts.

Timeline: February 7- May 31. Over the course of this period, the first posts will be observed to determine how effective they are and feedback taken from them will be used to plan future posts

SMG (Social Media Goals)

Goal 1#

  • By March 25, we will have increased public awareness of the United States Navy.

Goal 2#

  • By May 2nd, we will have increased engagement by at least 10% via clicks, views, comments, and followers

Target Audiences

Client 1#

High school students

-as young as 16 (with a wavier) -19 years old

-must have or plan to graduate high school or have a GED equivalent

-looking for a promising career right after high school aside from College or the traditional workforce

-Content about inspirational real-life stories and future benefits that the Navy career can offer

Client 2#

College students

-Those looking to pay for college or take college courses on the side

-People in this group may have a Bachelor’s degree or higher or aim for one

-Open to flexible schedules

-Content related to higher education, perks related to college courses and how it ties into the Navy

Client 3#

-The everyday American

-Ages 20-36

-Out of school and have the minimum of a high school diploma or GED

-Content related to monetary incentives/bonuses, miscellaneous perks, general informative posts about the Navy and the opportunities it can offer

Rivals

The Army

-2.8 million followers on IG

https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/

– 1.8 million followers on Twitter

-Has unique hashtag, #BeWhoYouCanBe to unify and engage with their audience

-Similar content, but caters to another branch

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: is the nation’s primary forward deployed force, sizeable followings on all official social medias

Weaknesses: Has smaller followings on social media platforms IG and Twitter compared to the Army, less active duty and reserve forces

Opportunities: Career advancement, chance to rise in the ranks, health care, monetary incentives

Threats: Other branches having a superior public reach, higher followings, and higher numbers (I.E, the Army)

Content Strategy

-Do more promotional events/posts, such as Black History Month, Womens History Month, and so on. For example, during Women’s History Month, more general posts advocating for women in the Navy– like posts recognizing servicewomen in the Navy for their efforts. These posts could be on the special day/holiday or be posted throughout the month

-New unifying hashtag, like #ForgedSalior to connect all saliors who have served in the Navy for some time to share their experiences on social media

-Easy, short, digestiable content. Such as: short interesting videos of what happens in the Navy, memes, or other humorous posts to connect with today’s generaton and keep users attenton and promote engagement at least once a week on Mondays.

Social Media Accounts Status

As of March 4, the offical account for the Navy has 2.1 million followers on IG and 1.6 followers on Twitter. As of March 4, the mock accounts I created for both IG and Twitter have no followers and little enagament. However, with my social media plan I hope to increase fruther awareness of the Navy, gain more followers and engagement, and encourage users to explore the Navy.

What should we continue doing?

  • Remain consistent with posts
  • Continue to share infomative posts about the Navy and mission

What should we stop doing?

-Don’t forget to add hashtags or relevant links

What should we start doing?

-More event/holiday themed posts

-new trendy or unifying hashtags

-keep up with the times and post funny/meme-like/feel-good content

-measure popularity of posts to see what the audience likes best in order to retain them

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Measuring Alpha and Beta Posts

Post 1#

https://twitter.com/navy_for_US/status/1632073399479549953

The platform for this post is Twitter. For this post, here are some analytics provided by Twitter about my post.

all00-twitterDownload

Post 2#

The platform for this post is Instagram. For this post, here are the analytics I obtained from Instagram.

all00-igDownload

Within a short period, the post on Twitter appears to have received a higher reception in comparison to Instagram, at least regarding views, clickability, and exposure.

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Alpha and Beta posts

Alpha post:

The platform I chose for the Alpha post was Twitter. For this post, I hoped to inform the audience of some of the core goals of the Navy. Knowing this, the audience may become more aware of the purposes of the Navy, such as why they should exist or do what they do in the first place. Plus, if any American citizens wish to support the Navy’s cause and enforce these goals, they should become aware of them first.

Beta post:

The platform I chose is Instagram. For this post, I hoped to inform the audience of one of the benefits of joining the Navy and meeting the set requirements in order to receive the GI bill. Through a post like this, incentives such as the GI bill may appeal to the target audience and promote the Navy’s cause.

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Class Reflection

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Overall, I thought this class was pretty interesting and pushed us to sharpen our communication and debate skills in a real-life context. In a classroom setting, it was much more comfortable to perform speeches, try to engage with an audience, and actively argue a position with another live person. I am not particularly good at debates or public speaking, so I wasn’t exactly ecstatic about a course like this but I knew that I could do it. I think that the main things I took away from this course were that practice makes perfect, preparedness is key, and how to act or engage with an audience. For instance, I knew you should try to make eye contact with a person you’re speaking to, but the same applies to multiple people– if you happen to be giving a speech. I tripped over my words several times and left typos in my outlines, but I still thought I did okay at least when it came to my performances. This class reminded me that speaking skills and the ability of articulation are incredibly valuable.

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Policy Paper Reflection

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For my policy paper, I was unable to finish– I originally planned to talk a bit about one of my favorite YouTuber’s cancellations, the recent scandal with Balenciaga, and mention another example or so of a cancellation within the affirmative or negative positions. I planned to do it over the Thanksgiving break, but I got sick as soon as it started and was also swamped with other assignments that I tried to do throughout the days. For the potential solutions, I did find an article that mentioned a solution and I had begun to type it in my essay but did not get to go in depth. I do wish I was able to complete it much before the final deadline– but that did not happen. If I could do it differently, I would trudge on working on the essay every day– even if it were a small portion every day until the final deadline despite how I felt.

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CX Group Debate: Immigration Reform

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Summary:

For the CX group debate project, my team took the affirmative position for immigration reform and my members were Allyssa, Tumi, and Brian. Our opponents were Halli, Tre, Deonte, and Jane who took the negative position on our topic. For my team, we concentrated our two main constructive arguments on how the current system is already difficult, clunky, and expensive. An immigrant seeking citizenship in the U.S. must go through countless hurdles to make sure that they complete the entire process correctly and legally. There are various documents that need to be done, interviews, a health checkup, and a long waiting time. The money poured into the process does vary, but if the immigrant so much as faces one thing going south, such as a document getting declined for one reason or another or they fail an interview, they must restart the entire process. This can lead to that individual wasting a lot of time, money, and resources.  Immigration should be reformed so that when an immigrant does try to go through the process to be an American citizen legally, it can be much smoother. Immigrants coming into the U.S. stimulate the economy, allow more room for innovation and increase the size of the labor force. For our rebuttals, my team brought up the fact that the effect that immigrants have on wages is minimal. Therefore, Americans do not have to worry about losing their jobs to immigrants. Immigrants may also take on blue collar jobs, such as working as a janitor or at a fast food place. Some ideas my team proposed for reform were shorter queue times, not having to restart the entire process from scratch, and increasing the number of immigrants that can go through the process. My team acknowledged that it is not ideal to allow every single immigrant to come to the U.S., the system we have today should at least be smooth for the select ones that go through the process legally and try to get the privilege to be a U.S. citizen.

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SPAR Debate 2: Why Lying is Sometimes Justified

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I took the negative argument for why lying is sometimes justified and my partner took the affirmative. Here is my outline, which contains only my parts of the debate:

Hello, my name is Ambour Leal and I’ll be taking the negative argument of why lying is sometimes justified. 

Cross exam-neg:

While most of us tend to tell the occasional white lie or may lie for less-than-innocent reasons throughout our everyday lives, I am here to talk about why lying is not always justified, even sometimes. 

When you’re given the choice, to tell the truth, or lie– which would your first choice be? Telling lies of any degree to yourself or to others can have various repercussions– whether they be positive or negative. 

Telling intentional lies to others can impact their mental health, trust in people and in you, and could sour even the best of relationships. 

According to an article on Learning Mind, lying to others can lead the recipient to lack empathy in the future, stir their negative emotions, feel disrespected, and cause them to be more suspicious of other people (Davies, 2022). 

Furthermore, the article goes over why people may lie, according to expert psychologist Dr. Ekman: some of the reasons include but are not limited to: 

to protect others, avoid consequences of their actions, for power and control, to make themselves look good, to protect themselves from harm, to spare someone’s feelings, to keep a matter private, and for personal gain, among other reasons (Davies, 2022). 

Regardless of your reason, consider why you wish to lie in the first place. I understand telling the truth in certain situations may be difficult or not the easiest thing to put into practice, but it is oftentimes the morally right thing to do and if you have been telling lie after lie, finally releasing the truth can be very freeing as you get it off your chest. 

Negative opening:

If you were considering telling a lie– consider putting yourself in the shoes of the person you may lie to. Would you want to be lied to in that situation? 

Telling a lie can lead to more lies being told. In a lecture, clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson associates telling lies with a hydra– after the first lie is told, one may have to tell more lies to keep up with the first, and the matter becomes much more complex than before. The heads represent the complexities we may face when telling lies and how at times these complexities simply continue to grow (Side Effects of Telling Lies, 2017). Whereas with the truth, you just have to tell it how it is, rather than worry about lies piling up or having to remember what you first lied about. 

Choosing to not tell lies when you don’t have to could help you maintain your inner peace, mental health, and relationships, and is the morally right thing to do.

Regardless of your beliefs, religion, or background, I think we all can agree that telling the truth more often than not is better for society and the way we deal with relationships, ourselves, everyday life, and daily situations. 

Negative closing:

Telling the occasional white lie is not necessarily a good thing for you, the people you’re around, or those you come into contact with. Needlessly telling lies that are obviously untrue, save face for you, or are morally gray could land you in hot water or make things needlessly complicated. I reassert the notion that it is better to tell the truth when you can as often as you can and that lying is not always justified. 

Doing so may allow you to lead a simpler, honest life that is what it is. According to sociologist Christie Carter, living honestly and speaking one’s truth are very different things. For example, if a close friend asked you about their appearance, such as if they look bad in a dress and you have an opinion that might not be what they want to hear, you can instead not say it at all and instead ask them what they think about themselves (The Power of Truth Telling, 2017). There are times to keep your truth to yourself and to know when to speak it– and when silence is better than telling a lie. If you do not wish to lie but cannot tell the truth either– saying nothing at all is an alternative to consider. 

Although being honest may not always have a positive outcome or telling a direct truth may reveal something unwanted, the truth of the matter is that although telling a truth and a lie both do have pros and cons. It is your choice to make the morally sound decision and be as direct and honest as you can in everyday life or to lie.

However, context does matter. Sometimes telling the truth is as simple as ripping off a band-aid, and is not as difficult as we may think in our minds. It is just a matter of whether you’re willing to choose to do it.

Citations: 

Davies, Janey. “8 Psychological Effects of Being Lied to (and Why People Lie).” Learning Mind, 15 May 2022, https://www.learning-mind.com/psychological-effects-of-being-lied-to/. 

“Jordan Peterson – Side Effects of Telling Lies.” YouTube, uploaded by Bite-sized Philiosphy, 5 May 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23gRI_j5InA. 

“The Power of Truth Telling”. YouTube, uploaded by Tedx Talks, 24 March, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgywq8sQxMo

For my partner’s argument, they had focused on the idea that telling white lies occasionally is harmless, similar to how parents tell their kids about Santa or say a tooth fairy will come to collect their teeth if they leave them under a pillow. Other times, if you wish to spare someone’s feelings, then you may be inclined to tell a white lie. For these reasons, lying is sometimes justified.

However, for my argument, I focused on the idea that lying less (or not at all if you can help it) is much more ideal and could help you avoid complicated or messy situations. By living a more honest life, you could also live more freely and simply, without any worry of keeping up with the original lies you came up with or worrying about any situations getting worse because of dishonesty.

For this debate, I thought I did pretty well throughout it, at least when it came to speaking about what I had written for my outline. I tried to be engaging by making eye contact with my classmates and speaking loudly and clearly. However, there was a typo toward the end of my closing speech– one of my parts was written in such a way that it didn’t make sense and when it came time for me to read it aloud, I messed up my flow, tripped over my words, and had to flounder for something to say that made sense on the spot, so that did not look very good.

This could have been avoided if I had corrected the error beforehand, but it was missed. Looking back now, I would have been more throughout with my notes so that way when it was time to do my part and present my side of the debate, I won’t have to struggle the same way again.

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SB1 Issue Brief

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Affirmative SB1 Argument 

The recent legislative changes with Senate Bill 1 are more good than bad. Texas has recently joined other Republican states with this change following the 2020 election. Once the bill is fully approved and provided there is nothing else to hold it up, it will take effect just in time for 2022’s primary election (Ura, 2021). The bill will put forth new voting restrictions and make other changes that relate to voter access. 

Republicans hope to standardize election practices and prevent voter fraud and the new bill will help make those ideas become reality. When the bill comes into effect, one of the changes that will take place will be an increase in early voting hours (Ura, 2021). People who choose to vote by mail or envelope must provide their diver’s license or the last four digits of their SSN and the numbers must match the numbers in their voter record (Ura, 2021). Other restrictions will further alter mail voting, ban overnight early voting hours, and do away with drive-thru voting. According to Gov. Greg Abbot, the bill will make it “easier” to vote and with measures like these, the American people can be assured the entire voting process is trustworthy and lawfully made for the sake of integrity (Ura, 2021). 

The new restrictions and changes do not just raise barriers– they are set in place to make sure that not just anyone can vote but rather ensure that all the votes that are cast are authentic and are done so legally by American citizens. These measures will also make it more difficult for there to be voter fraud and will help standardize voting practices. To protect our country’s voting process and maintain the trust of the American people, SB1 must be passed.

Negative SB1 Argument 

The recent legislative changes with Senate Bill 1 are more bad than good. Texas has recently joined other Republican states with this change following the 2020 election. Once the bill is fully approved and provided there is nothing else to hold it up, it will take effect just in time for 2022’s primary election (Ura, 2021). The bill will put forth new voting restrictions and make other changes that relate to voter access. 

The new restrictions and changes to voting could disproportionately negatively impact voters from colored or marginalized groups. Additionally, voters with disabilities may also be negatively impacted by the bill. Those who give voter assistance or take initiative to distribute applications to vote can face criminal penalties, even if for the latter the applications are provided to voters that do qualify to vote by mail (Ura, 2021). These are just some of the changes that the bill will bring and while Republicans push the narrative that the bill will help standardize voting practices, make voting easier, and prevent voter fraud, it is evident that the potential effects this bill could have on the American people could miss the mark completely, especially when it comes to the overall ease of voting. 

According to the article, the bill “creates new hurdles and restrictions that will suppress voters and violates the U.S Consitution and numerous federal laws,” (Ura, 2021) which states plainly why the SB1 is not good for our country or for the American people as a whole. Considering all these cons, is passing a bill like this really worth it? If passing a bill into law that violates preexisting laws, wouldn’t that alone be conflicting enough? If one takes a moment to ponder these questions, the cons of the bill, and how it could affect every Texan, then it is easy to see that the SB1 must not be passed.

Citations:
Ura, Alexa. “Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Texas Voting Bill into Law, Overcoming Democratic Quorum Breaks.” The Texas Tribune, The Texas Tribune, 7 Sept. 2021, https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/01/texas-voting-bill-greg-abbott/.

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SPAR Debate 1: Doja Cat vs Snoop Dogg

Photo by Suvan Chowdhury on Pexels.com

For this SPAR debate, I had taken the position that Doja Cat was a better singer than Snoop Dogg. My reasons for this were because of her versatility as a music artist within the industry (since she can rap, sing, and dance), her youth and relatability, and how likable her personality is. Plus, she doesn’t take the industry and songwriting business too seriously, so she knows how to have fun as she writes catchy lighthearted bops. My partner took the position that Snoop Dogg was a better singer.

Overall, I thought my first SPAR debate went okay, considering it was the very first one I had ever done. I have a tendency to stumble over my words and mispronounce words, so this is a common issue throughout all my debates in this course. I did not think to ask questions or anything, so I noticed that someone of my classmates tended to ask each other questions during their debates. I thought all my other classmates did very well– some of their topics did not always rely solely on research and dealt more with morals/ethics, which can be subjective but it can also offer interesting debates when there are two sides that do not share the same argument.

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Syllogisms, Enthymemes, and Toulmin’s Model: An Argument Against Headphones

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

Listening to loud music with headphones daily will lead to slight or severe hearing loss over time. Most teenagers suffer from slight or severe hearing loss in our modern age. The article I chose did cite outside sources and research to back up its claims, such as how as much as thirty-three percent of teens with some degree of hearing loss has increased since 1994 and this info is from a published study by the American Medical Association (Heffernan, 2011). Further statistics from this source shared by the article state that many modern teens seem to have trouble making out certain sounds such as falling raindrops and certain consonants due to their hearing loss (Heffernan, 2011). However, the article pulls information from more than one source, which does strengthen its main argument, such as referring to an older 2008 European study that pointed out that people who listen to MP3 Players, smartphones, or iPods at high volumes regularly are at a high risk of having permanent hearing loss after a duration of five years (Heffernan, 2011). Since many teens in countries like the US nowadays have more access to headphones and devices which allows them to listen to music at high volumes for as long as they please, they are more susceptible to hearing loss today than several decades ago. 

Toulmin Essay: An Argument Against Headphones

In our modern age, as of 2022, technology has become a vital and common aspect of our daily lives, at least for the US and other first-world countries like it. Technology is much more accessible to people of all classes and backgrounds, at least compared to several decades ago. Nowadays, it is very common for the American youth of today to have devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers from which they could access the internet, communicate, listen to music, and do a plethora of other things. With headphones, they could privately listen to whatever music or sound they want, at various levels of volume. Teens today suffer from hearing loss from regularly blasting sound from their devices through headphones. 

The article points out a study done by the Journal of the American Medical Association which shares the startling figure that there has been a 33 percent increase in the amount of teens who have slight hearing loss since the 1900s (Heffernan, 2011). Furthermore, since the 1990s, with children now growing up with more advanced technology and the use of smart devices and headphones is the norm, experts associate this slight hearing loss with consistent headphone use (Heffernan, 2011). Even if a person does not play music on their headphones, sound is still sound. Anyone with common sense would know that blasting sound with headphones too loudly is bad– but that alone is not the only thing to be concerned with when it comes to headphone users. Whether it is listening to a video clip online, a podcast on an app, or anything that has some sort of audio, consistently listening to that said audio on a daily or semi-daily basis can still lead to hearing loss. Another study done in 2008 found that teens who consistently used headphones to listen on their devices for more than an hour a day risked permanent hearing loss after five years (Heffernan, 2011). 

The connection to hearing loss and headphone use to listen to sound is clear. Headphone users that listen to some sort of sound on a daily or semi-consistent basis could also deal with hearing loss after a prolonged amount of time. There are two possible solutions– if one decides to take some kind of action. Headphone users should try to reduce how often they use headphones to listen to sound in an effort to protect their hearing rather than quit cold turkey or they can play whatever audio they want to listen to out loud (Heffernan, 2011). Both solutions can help headphone users protect their hearing and take some measures to do so. After all, even if a headphone user doesn’t want to give up their headphones that easily, the next best thing is moderation. One may also wonder whether sound played too loudly without headphones can also lead to hearing loss– of course it can. However, consistently playing any kind of audio at a reasonable decibel level aloud is more ideal than listening to audio with headphones– as pointed out by the studies mentioned in the article. 

Citation:

Heffernan, V. (2011, January 7). Against headphones. The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/magazine/09FOB-medium-t.html 

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D1 Social Media Bill

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

My summary:

For the first discussion, I believe there are pros and cons for the social media bill that should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and can also be incredibly subjective. However, the cons of the bill should also be considered. I think the passing of this bill deals with politics quite a bit, perhaps to the extent that it was primarily politically motivated. 

Here are two of my classmates posts:

This was a hard decision for me to come to. When I first read about it I thought that it did sound kind of crazy that social media companies can just block or get rid of any user without any notice or explanation. But then I remembered when Trump was banned from Twitter, and then subsequently other social media platforms. I was happy at the time. Same with Andrew Tate recently being kicked off multiple social media sites. I’m happy about that too. This bill is no doubt in response to Trump being banned. When I saw that it was a Republican-backed bill, I had to question myself, did I actually agree with Republicans at first? Yeah, I did. I was shocked. But then I read it again and looked more into the bill. The keywords here are “prohibit social media companies…from blocking, banning, demonetizing or discriminating against a user based on their viewpoint”. There are some very harmful people, with very harmful ideologies on social media. Those people should be banned from spreading their viewpoints, especially since the demographics of social media usage gets younger and younger every year. While I do believe in freedom of speech and self expression, if someone is spreading hateful or harmful information, they can do it on sites that don’t take action against them.

By Gabrielle Gaspard 

I think that the wording of this bill is way too vague. On the surface level, a bill that requires social media companies to disclose the reasons why they ban people and that limits the reasons why users can be banned sounds like a good idea. However, due to the vague terms that they outline in the bill, I worry that it can be misused to defend people who deserved to get banned. Many people view homophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, and sometimes racism or misogyny as “just what I believe”- could these viewpoints be unbannable under SB 12? At the end of the day, I doubt any social media platform is banning users for discussing their political beliefs or saying that they want different policies. What they are banning people for is being openly bigoted. While we have free speech, we aren’t free from the consequences of what we say. If someone is being hateful or bigoted, I believe that they deserve to be banned.

I do believe that requiring social media companies to disclose their moderation policies is a good idea. However, if we’re looking into how moderation happens, I would like to actually fix the broken systems that many social media companies have instead of simply requiring them to be disclosed. Accounts having content removed for seemingly no reason or getting suspended, banned, or shadowbanned with no explanation is a serious problem on many social media sites, and that’s a problem that I feel needs to be addressed.

In theory, this bill is a good idea- many social media platforms have bad moderation systems that should be corrected, but that’s not the focus of the bill. The part of the bill that worries me is the anti-ban section. The wording is too vague and in theory, could allow for people to argue against being banned for espousing bigoted views. Because of that, I do believe that this is a “bad” bill. I believe that social media platforms have the right to decide the kind of content they want on their platform to an extent. They shouldn’t be banning people for things they can’t control, like their race, gender, or sexual orientation, but if a company doesn’t want hateful or harmful views being expressed on their platform, they have the right to remove that content or the account that posted it.

By Allyssa Circello 

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Up and coming Student Organization for Crypto, NFTs, and Blockchains

By Ambour Leal UP contributor

With cryptocurrencies becoming more prevalent, crypto, NFTs, and blockchains are gaining more global use and popularity. Brothers Thanh and Tien Nguyen wanted to bring a part of the crypto world to Lamar. They founded the Blockchain Student Society in the fall of 2021. 

“Simply put, if you want to know what crypto or Blockchain is then it is a new paradigm of the internet,” junior computer science major Tien said. “It’s a new way to think about how structures are set up today, in terms of government and business.” 

The Port Arthur brothers were first inspired to get into crypto by their mother, who was the first person to push their curiosity further into the crypto interest sphere through Bitcoin. The youngest brother, Tien, first wrote off Bitcoin as a scam.

“I found out it’s more than the mainstream headlines– Bitcoin is a digital asset that’s scarce, cannot be replicated, and is somehow worth thousands of dollars,” he said. “It’s a revolutionary technology that shows how digital assets have scarcity and can be used to transfer assets across time and space in a very efficient way versus how we have it now.”

Bitcoin is one kind of cryptocurrency that the brothers believe is a good starting stone for newcomers to start learning about these new concepts. 

“We have a lot of people here that have never even heard of Bitcoin but they know the name from somewhere– they have no idea what it is,” Tien said. “If you’re just starting out and feel like you’re left behind or that it’s moving very quickly, don’t be discouraged. There’s always something new coming out.” 

Recently, non-fungible tokens have been on the rise, which is one example of a digital asset that BSS teaches about. 

“Non-fungible means it is not replicable or easily replaced, so NFTs are just a way to create digital tokens that are unique from each other,” senior mechanical engineering major Thanh Nguyen said. “So an example of something that is fungible is a dollar and something that is not easily replaced or irreplaceable would be the Mona Lisa– you can’t just redraw it and even if I tried to redraw it stroke by stroke, the museum in Paris isn’t going to take mine.”

The organization primarily uses Discord to stay connected and communicate. 

“We were just talking about crypto one day, and then he(Thanh) came up with the idea,” Tien said. “Lamar doesn’t really have blockchain or crypto stuff related to it. ‘What if we can bring that blockchain aspect to Lamar and get Lamar plugged into the future of the internet?’”  

Other large universities like the University of Houston have student organizations and classes for blockchain development, but Lamar didn’t yet have a single student org before BSS, Tien said. 

“We wanted to bring an organization that allows for a community of students, professors, and anyone interested to get into a space to learn about it, get interested, and interact with the space safely and efficiently,” he said. “Right, and also teach them the mistakes that we’ve made in the past where we’ve lost money as well.” 

Since the org began, around 300 people have joined the Discord in the span of about 4-5 months and has become one of the largest student org servers at Lamar. 

“We’ve seen the students interested in wanting some resources to go to, people to talk to, mentors, connections, and networking,” Tien said. “We’ve seen BSS go from a very small organization to growing at a very rapid pace.” 

Some of the BSS activities include monthly giveaways for active discord members, random draw giveaways for Bitcoin, game nights, Crypto and Bitcoin meetups, weekly Blockchain101 seminars, one-on-one mentoring, and trading events. 

“Ask questions– People are afraid to ask questions in general. There aren’t any dumb questions,” Thanh said. “Anyone new, just ask questions and focus on learning.”

BSS was originally created by students for students, but anyone with an interest in crypto can join. 

“BSS could potentially become a talent pool for recruiters and employers since you know you aren’t just a computer science, business, or art student,” Tien said. “You’re a BSS member and being part of an organization that focuses on cutting edge new technology could allow you to have an advantage over other people.”

Most BSS events are educational and students who join can buff up their resumes to help them stand out.

“A lot of things went really fast, but I don’t think they’re going fast enough,” Thanh said. “We don’t think we’re doing enough honestly but overall I’m satisfied with it (BSS).” 

Big achievements BSS has had so far are a Blockchain Expo, one Redtalk, and most recently the organization won the New Student Organization of the Year award. 

“I know people look up to me when I say I’m co-founder so they expect me to have honest knowledge,” Tien said. “BSS is not just an organization that allows people to communicate and have a community, it’s also personally for me a way to push myself to learn about the space so I can be a good representative for others who are interested.”

For Thanh, the current president of BSS this semester, the meaning of crypto and digital assets is liberation and regaining control. 

“This is the most liberating tech we have and this is giving the world an opportunity to take back their own power,” Thanh said. “To me, it’ll just be a way of life in the future and we won’t have to think about it.”

In the near future, BSS hopes to create a sister chapter at a different university, increase member engagement, create their own discord currency for members, secure more organization funding, and gain at least 400 members by the end of the semester.

“We have over 300 students on the discord and yet we see maybe three to seven of them (in person),” he said. “It’s never an easy thing and building a community is pretty hard.”

Blockchain and crypto does have its risks. For example, a person who uses MetaMask to store their cryptocurrencies will be responsible for their master key phrase, which is a series of 12 words generated for the user. If another person gains access to the master key phrase, then they will gain complete access to the user’s wallet and funds. 

“You don’t need to put in your social security number or go to a bank, you just need the internet and some kind of device to connect to the internet,” Tien said. “If you have a Bitcoin wallet, then you can receive money from anywhere across the world in under ten minutes.”

The brothers do feel that many people have misconceptions about the space, especially when it comes to newer forms of digital assets such as NFTs or that the space is full of scams.

“The misconception is that scams and stuff are rampant, but in actual numbers, it is less than 1% of the entire activity,” Thanh said. “It’s not as bad as people think–it still shouldn’t happen but that’s the current battle.”

The risks within the crypto space are not always obvious but education, not giving away your key phrase, not investing more money than you’re willing to lose, keeping an open mind, asking questions, and being wary of things that seem too good to be true can help you avoid losing money to scams, theft, or needless mistakes. 

“I think people have some bad misconceptions of crypto and things like NFTs, at least in the very beginning, some with good reasons and not so good reasons,” Tien said. “If they’re open to it, I can show them just how much good can be done, not just what good that has been done.”

Every Monday in the Maes Building, room 208, BSS will hold a Blockchain101 teaching seminar from 12:30 p.m – 1:30 p.m for any who wish to attend until the end of the spring semester. 

“If you’re interested in learning about the future of the internet, how crypto could affect your career, or investing in crypto, join BSS,” he said. “We’ll get you started– we’ll tell you what it is and if you’re not interested, it’s fine. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but at least give it a shot before dismissing it.”

To learn more, join the BSS Discord at https://discord.gg/VtjQuWvp6z or email them at blockchainstudentsociety@gmail.com. 

Thanh Nguyen (middle) speaking during a Blockchain101 seminar at Lamar University.

https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2022/04/up-and-coming-student-organization-for-crypto,-nfts,-and-blockchains.php

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Cut Your Ex Out Event

 

The resident assistants at Monroe Hall took a different approach to Valentine’s Day this year for students by creating the Cut Your Ex Out event to help students relieve stress, get free food, have fun and socialize at the same time. 

RA Michaela Layman, Orange senior, said they created the event to promote social interaction, to let dorm residents get to know one another better, and to have a positive experience during the week of Valentine’s. 

“Valentine’s Day is a very, very popular event and I know not everyone has a Valentine’s,” Layman said. “We wanted to give students an outlet, so we thought we could celebrate releasing our stressors in our lives, like school or homework, instead of thinking about the downsides of Valentine’s Day.” 

Students were invited to bring something to shred, such as old homework, a picture of exes, and other items. 

The free food included fruit, vegetables and boneless wings. 

“I enjoyed the event and it was a great time to get out of my room and hang out with my fellow peers,” Laquasha Batson, Jasper junior, said, “I think that the activity has definitely helped me destress, you know, from studying and life, and it felt pretty good.” 

Psychology major Destiny John, Dallas senior, said she wished she’d brought something to shred.

“I initially just came here for the food, and I don’t have nobody’s picture to cut up, but I feel like it would help me if I did,” she said, “I might try to get some of my homework, though, since I read we could bring that.”

To learn more about RA events which are open to all students or to request information, visit https://www.lamar.edu/admissions/student-life/housing-residence-life.html

RAs Michaela Layman, Orange senior, left, and Laquasha Batson, Jasper junior, participate in the Cut Your Ex Out event in Monroe Hall, Feb. 17.

Link: https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2022/02/ras-host-valentines-event.php

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Volleyball’s last home game set for Nov. 13

The Lady Cards volleyball began the 2021 season in August under the cloud of the continuing pandemic as a new member in the Western Athletic Conference. 

As the team winds down their season, the players and head coach Jordan Lay reflect on their efforts.

“This season has come with a bunch of challenges for us that we didn’t see coming, from random injuries and things like that,” Lay said. “But that is just part of any athletics program.”

Notable players, such as junior Malaysia Murdock. She was noted as a formidable force near the net early on in the season and for hitting .384 and averaging 2.5 kills per set at one point. 

“I think Malaysia Murdock, our junior middle, has had an outstanding year,” Lay said. “She’s been really solid for us all year long and with her experience, she has definitely delivered.”

After a few matches into the season, the Lady Cardinals had a strong open victory against Prairie View A&M and then suffered losses against Oral Roberts, Lousiana-Monroe,and UL-Monroe to name a few. 

The team is 4-19 overall and 0-9 in conference. However, as the end of the season approaches, Lay said he hopes that the team will qualify for the WAC tournament, which will take place from Nov 18-20. 

Despite the losses the team faced throughout most of the season, there were still some wins that the team scored. In the match against Eastern Kentucky in the Mississippi Invitational, the Lady Cardinals were victorious. The victory against Eastern Kentucky was considered a highlight moment for the team and so far, one of the toughest and biggest wins Lay said. 

The team’s final home games at MacDonald Gym are against Abilene Christian on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.  and Tarleton State Nov. 13. at 6:30 p.m. 

“I think volleyball is a tremendous sport to watch and be part of and we just want to thank all the fans who came out and supported (us),” Lay said. “You know, we look forward to representing Lamar at it’s very best.”

Lamar students can freely attend matches and they can also be viewed on the WAC Digital Network at www.wacdigitalnetwork.com/

Published story link: https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2021/11/volleyballs-last-home-game-set-for-nov.-13.php

Malaysia Murdoch spikes during game in MacDonald Gym. Photo courtesy Jeff Kellum
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Fanfest will be a bigger and better event this year

The Fanfest tailgate event will be the focus of Homecoming activities Nov. 13, from Noon – 4 p.m. at the A-5 parking lot next to the Montagne Center. 

The Homecoming parade was cancelled so that Fanfest would have more resources poured into the event, associate director of programming and events Canaan Daniels said. He hopes thatthe shifted focus will raise attendance and make the event more exciting.

Fanfest is free for students and the general public to attend. 

“Homecoming is an opportunity to bring back the alumni and engage with our local community with who we are as Lamar and the spirit of Cardinal Nation,” Director for the office of community relations Teresa Simpson said. “Fanfest is a component of the overall Homecoming Lamar experience, particularly tailgating.”

Some of the contributors participating in Fanfest include ExxonMobil, a Southeast Texas museum, the southeast Texas food bank, Jason’s Deli, Sub Zero, the Spindletop Shop center, Harvest of Lost Souls, Chick-fil-la, and several others. The Humane Society will also be there with kittens and puppies for attendees to interact with.

Vendors will contribute to Fanfest with their own activities, games, merchandise, food that can be purchased, or they may offer more information for anyone who would want to get more involved with the community. 

“We’ll have live entertainment, some other attractions such as food,  a live band called Champagne Room, games, music, you name it,” Daniels said. “We’ll have it all at Fanfest.”

Some of the activities that are planned to be there include carnival rides, tailgating, the chance to try custom craft beer, a food drive, and much more.

“It’s gonna be a really exciting time and I hope everyone comes out,” Daniels said. “Get tickets to the game, come and hang out.” 

Tickets for the game can be purchased on the Lamar website on the Homecoming Fanfest page. The Homecoming game will start right after Fanfest, at 4 p.m. at the Provost Umphrey Stadium and Lamar will play against Jacksonville State. 

Cardinal NEST will also play a role in this year’s Fanfest as part of an outreach initiative. 

“One of our biggest events, our initiative for the last couple years has really helped promote and create a college-going culture for our local students,” Simpson said. “We have just over 12,000 invitations that will be sent out to local school districts.”

Elementary, junior high, and high schools are included in the outreach initiative to engage younger community members. 

“We want younger local students to experience Cardinal Nation early so that they have Lamar on their radar really early on in their educational experience,” she said. 

The Office of Alumni Affairs will also be part of Fanfest and there will be a tent for visitors to get out of the elements or socialize.

For more information, you can visit the website, https://www.lamar.edu/homecoming/fan-fest.html

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The Budding Geologist

Patrick Pessink is one of the few students pursuing a Geology major at Lamar. 

He is currently a freshman who is from Kileen, Texas.

“I took a geology class in high school and it was the most interesting class I took,” Pessink says. 

His initial interest for Geology stemmed from a high school Geology class. Mrs. Morin, the high school teacher for the Geology course taught the content in such a memorable way that left a lasting impact on him. 

“I was a Christian and she was able to mix the two, which is very strange because Geology talks about evolution,” he said. “It was so cool to see how she was able to mix two worlds that don’t collide and connect them.” 

Although the science and theories of evolution would have conflicted with his beliefs, he still found a way to accept both and nurture a passion for Geology. 

Pessink also has a great interest in minerals and rocks. 

“Oh, I love minerals,” He says, “when you get close to them and see all the details, it’s so impressive and beautiful.”

He likes to collect them when he can and has visited a few places that sell or display various mineral samples, such as a geology convention in Conroe, Texas once. One of his favorite kinds of minerals is Malachite. 

“I really like rocks, and that was one of the main reasons I took Geology,” he says. “I’m still trying to keep that spirit going.” 

One of Pessink’s goals with his major is to be an exploration geologist and to go out in the field, especially on untouched lands or areas. 

“I want to do that because I love exploring things and that was one of my goals,” he says. “ You know, goals change every now and then and you kind of flip-flop on things, but the main thing is I’m trying to keep my mindset on that.”

Pessink has considered pursuing another major, such as Psychology, but decided to stick with Geology for now. 

“One of the hardest things is learning all the theories and remembering all the concepts,” he says. “But it’s interesting at the same time and that’s why I like it so much.”

Aside from Pessink himself, there is only one other Geology major at Lamar that he is aware of.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Pessink says. “There’s plenty to explore in this world and we’ll just have to take it one step at a time.”

Freshman Patrick Pessink observes a sample of Malachite as he sits outside at the back of the Setzer Center during a sunny afternoon on Oct. 13. Malachite is one of his favorite minerals that he owns.

Published story link: https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2021/11/people-the-budding-geologist.php

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Health Center Offers COVID Vaccines

Student Health Center Assistant Director Nancy “Danette” Dover shared information about the current Lamar vaccine and COVID testing situation in an interview Friday, Sep. 24.

For any students who wish to obtain their own vaccine or have a COVID test done, they can schedule an appointment with the SHC on the Lamar website or they can call the SHC number. 

“Once you get a vaccine, that information has to be put into a Texas state site and is tracked,” Dover said. “We give you your vaccine card which lists the days of your vaccine, what vaccine you got, and the lot number.” 

COVID vaccines may be taken by all Lamar students, faculty, and staff and are free of charge. However, the general public outside of Lamar may not receive the same services from the SHC, mainly due to them not being in the banner system.

The SHC also offers COVID testing which can be done with two methods. The polymerase chain reaction test, or PCR, and the rapid antigen test are both done through nasal swabs on each side of the nose, Dover said. The SHC does not currently do saliva COVID tests. Compared to the PCR test, the rapid antigen test produced results in about 15 minutes, rather than with PCR test which may sometimes take three or four days. As of this moment, COVID testing is not offered to Lamar faculty or staff. For students, COVID testing can be offered free of charge. 

“We will keep doing the vaccine for as long as it is needed,” Dover said. “It all really depends on what COVID does and I do not see testing going away.” 

For the foreseeable future, the SHC will continue to offer COVID vaccines and testing she. 

“Taking a vaccine is a personal (choice) and even though I encourage people to do that, that is a decision you have to make on your own,” She said, “Regardless of that decision, the decision needs to be respected.” 

At the Student Health Center, or SHC, there are currently two types of COVID vaccines being offered, which are Moderna and Pfizer. Dover said that both Moderna and Pfizer are the same type of vaccines and the main differences between the two deal with how they are prepared, such as how Pfizer needs to be mixed, while Moderna is already in the vial. With Moderna, after the first shot, the person may need to wait about four weeks before getting the second shot. With Pfizer, after the first shot, the person may only need to wait about three weeks before getting the second shot. 

“Once Pfizer got their FDA approval, we saw a large interest in Pfizer and I think a lot of people were waiting for that,” she said. Both Moderna and Pzifer have seen positive responses.

Students can ask medical personnel at the SHC about any questions they may have related to the testing and vaccines offered there.

“I suggest, research and educating yourself about the vaccine,” she said. “On social media, there is a lot of false information.” 

For students who live in the dorms and test positive, they can then self-report, and afterwards they are encouraged to tell their resident advisor, or RA. Arrangements can be made for food to be delivered, and they are encouraged to self isolate. If the student has a roommate, they are encouraged to inform their roommate and isolate as best as they can in the same environment. 

“If done the right way and you keep everything clean, wash your hands, sanitize, wear a mask, you can keep other people from getting sick.” Dover said, “It can be done.” 

Shared spaces such as the common area or bathrooms can be sanitized and cleaned after every use or daily, depending on the circumstances.

“Our nurses will go and check up on these people, not only about how they’re doing but also (to  check on) their symptoms,” she said. 

The nurses ask to make sure the student that tested positive has everything they need from drinks, food, and so on. Medical staff at the SHC may also offer other resources and information related to COVID for the patients. 

Most patients are given Vitamin C and D, zinc, to aid the immune system. For patients who have asthma, they can be given inhalers. However, each COVID case may differ, depending on the person and their medical history. In the future, the SHC may also begin to offer COVID booster shots. 

“If you’re going to be around a big group of people and if you’re concerned, wear a mask,” Dover said, “You cannot get away from good hand washing and sanitizer.” 

For more information, call the SHC at 409-880-8466

Or visit, https://www.lamar.edu/students/student-engagement/student-health-center/index.html

Link to published article: https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2021/09/health-center-offers-covid-vaccines.php

The Student Health Center entryway on a sunny day, Aug 24.

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Book Club Play Rescheduled

Held by the Department of Theatre & Dance, The Book Club play will now be held on Oct. 10th, at 2 p.m.

The play is directed by Ashley Galan and written by Karen Zacharias. The story of the play focuses on books, book lovers, life, and friends.

Ticket prices range from about $7-15 dollars.

“I love the Book Club Play. I think it tackles some serious issues in relatable and humorous ways, and it also features a variety of personality types, so it’s fun to see how all of the character interact with one another,” Senior student and stage manager of the play Katelynn Haynes said, “I’m also a reader, so it’s been fun for me to see some new interpretations of books I’ve either already read or been exposed to, as well as given me an opportunity to expand my reading list!”

Work on the play began at the end of last semester.

Students who participate in the play typically do so for extra credit and if they excel or show interest in a particular area, then the professors who assign them their jobs make it a point to give the students an opportunity to gain as much experience as possible, Haynes said.

“As the stage manager, it’s my job to run all of our rehearsals and shows, as well as maintain communication between all of our cast, crew, and designers,” she said, “I’m the one telling everyone what to do and when to do it; every light, sound, and projection change happens when I call it.”

Haynes’ job also deals with keeping track of everyone involved with the play, making quick decisions such as deciding where props should be, creating a specifically made script as she follows along with the actors movements through a method called blocking, and generally taking care of everyone else.

“No one outside of the theatre world knows “stage manager” is even a job, but you can’t do a play without one,” she said.

The Book Club Play is Hayne’s first time stage managing.

“I can honestly say it’s been an absolute dream to work with this cast and crew and this show is almost entirely student-driven, so to see everyone show up ready to work and communicate and make art together has been very inspiring,” Haynes said. “I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”

In preparation for the presentation night, rehearsals are being held every Thursday and Tuesday night. For Haynes, that also means that she must get to the theatre early, unlock the space and set it up, get the time sheets sorted, and then take detailed notes of everything that happensduring that time.

“I think everyone who has a chance to come see this show should absolutely do so and we’ve put so much time and hard work into this production and want to share our craft with anyone and everyone who can see it,” she said, “If for no other reason, it’ll be a fun way to spend two hours of your weekend.

For more information, you can check the Lamar website about The Book Club Play, https://www.lamar.edu/events/2021/10/the-department-of-theatre-and-dance-presents-the-book-club-play3.html

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About Me Essay (As of Fall 2021)

My name is Ambour Leal and currently I am 20 years old. My major is comm journalism and I am a junior student at Lamar University. I was raised in the countryside near a small town called Freer, in southern Texas. To further describe myself, I would say that I am more on the introverted, reserved, and quiet side.  

One of the reasons I chose my major is for my own personal love of writing and storytelling. I wouldn’t mind a job or career related to me writing or telling a story as work, however my true love is for writing and coming up with my own stories. In other words, I do like to write fiction(among other genres) for fun and to help me express myself. Regardless, I opted for a comm journalism major to explore the possibilities of what I can do career/job-wise and if possible, travel the world. Either way, I would still write and story tell on the side. If I find any good and safe opportunities to travel due to my career or because of the opportunities from my career, I would love to take it.  

Some goals and aspirations I have now that I am 20 years old are pretty much the same as they were that I have had for the last few years. Granted, these can change over time, but I can share the current ones that I have for the moment. Firstly, one of my main goals in my life is to be good. I want to lead a fulfilled, peaceful, and good life with no regrets. Although I do not believe in religion, I am inclined to believe in spirituality and that there could be a higher power, the universe, or God. To me, to be good would be to be the best that I can be, doing what I am meant to do, and trying to achieve what I feel that would make me be good or better that what I was, even if I may never be that.  

One other goal that I have mentioned earlier in my essay is the desire to travel—which is a wish I have had since my days in high school. Some of the places I have a strong desire to visit are several Asian and European countries, as well as various other states here in the US that I have yet to visit (and of course Canada). Although for a long time in my youth, especially in my teens I absolutely hated the idea of going out or traveling to places with big crowds (and to some extent, I still have a bit of the latter feeling, which can be a bit faint at times), ever since I gained an interest in learning foreign languages during high school, that sparked a goal to travel the world.  

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Media Engagement and a Reflection of Authority

Discussion 6

I believe holding anyone accountable, regardless of status or standing. In a way, the media does sometimes play the role of “watchdog”, such as by questioning or exposing certain figures or leaders in today’s society. However, regardless of whom they choose to throw the spotlight on, it would be just as much likely to say that that same media source may also be biased to varying degrees or have some sort of agenda when they do choose to take such actions. 

I am a firm believer anyone has some ability to question or stand up to authority, however, not all may have the willpower, desire, or confidence to push through with the action. One example to stand up to authority could be something like this: if a media firm favors particular people over others, the workers can possibly choose to react to this by signing a petition, not showing up to work collectively, or simply quitting to find other better, fair work opportunities. This could be some ways to stand up to authorities. To get others to “join in” may be as simple as telling them how it is, what should be done, and the blunt truth. 

I think the media can have both positive and negative effects. For example, one negative effect could be when certain ‘trends’ gain attention, such as when people would go into random stores, lick the tops a random ice cream pint in its container, and put it back as they filmed/posted the entire thing. Giving this attention over various other things could have much more of a negative impact over the masses, which could then inspire more people seeking slithers of attention and recognition from doing this kind of challenge. 

An example of a positive impact could be when the media uses its platforms to raise awareness for good causes, such as during these times during the pandemic when certain food banks or places may be giving away supplies and aid to those who need it. Raising awareness for these events or places could truly make a good impact on people’s lives, especially if it is needed. 

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Reflection on the Social Media Train

My score was 1/40 (https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/NPI/). Although for some questions, I did experience both so I opted for the most realistic answer/the one I tended to do more. Perhaps my score is a bit higher, but this is what my answers have scored me as.

1. I think apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were designed to try and keep people’s attention as well as their interest. The creators and designers don’t want you to put it down or lose your attention for something else. The ‘social interaction’, the popular feeds, the likes, these features are things that people tend to want. Some might want to use that platform spread awareness, for attention, self promo, or as an outlet. Whatever the reason, these apps are some of the biggest social media platforms in the west for a reason. 

2. I think balance is the best way to go about most things, including social media. Even if one doesn’t necessarily struggle with fomo or narcissism, handling social media in a balanced way (ie such as not spending too much time on it, obsessing over how you look online or having it unhealthily influence your life) could just be the best route when dealing with today’s social platforms. 

3. With or without social media, fomo and narcissism still exist. If this Narcissus guy from thousands or hundreds of years ago dealt with it, why can’t we? 

I feel like it’s more about mentality. Maybe we may be prideful about ourselves, thinking in ways that come from what we’d prefer to believe or how’d we want to be perceived as. Another explanation could just be because of how the person was nurtured. If they grew up constantly getting complimented and always having their way, then when they get older would likely live in a completely different world than another person who didn’t receive the same treatment/experiences. Maybe they could form some sort of complex in their minds. 

With soMe, 

here are some pros:

-higher awareness of what’s going on in the world, as well as with others

-self promo

-increased contact with the rest of the globe (not people in person, but in other countries for example)

cons:

-a new form of escapism /something that can influence the masses

-can lead to unprecedented unhealthy behaviors/perceptions ( perhaps the spread of lookism, superficiality, narcissism, isolation etc)  

-can promote addictions (addiction to social media, etc)

With any thing in the world, there will be the good and the bad that comes with it. It is up to us how we react and handle it.

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Online vs physical classes amid the Covid-19 Outbreak

I feel like having classes on campus or in the physical setting has its own set of pros and cons, it could be much better than just staying at home. On campus, if you see the professor every day, you can easily ask questions when you do see each other, rather than wait ages to respond via email, texts, calls, or through bb, or blackboard. I think staying at home has its comforts, but you can also easily get distracted and your learning schedule is more dependent on you, despite the factors of deadlines. This matters since every student learns differently and has their own preferences. Some students may love the prospect of staying at home and doing classes online until further notice, while others wish desperately this entire situation can just be over with and things could get back to normal. Truthfully, I think I’m among the latter group of people. I am a bit frustrated with the situation. My parents live in a ranch, the wifi is very slow and limited, and we are so far away from the city. My parents prefer this kind of lifestyle, but I do not. I’d rather have this epidemic be over with so things can move on. 

I feel bb could use an overhaul. The system sometimes doesn’t alert us for certain things that are due, such as discussions and other unique assignments that must be directly submitted into blackboard. 

I like how there’s more freedom to do our classes on our own schedules. There’s no time constraints except for deadlines, we have nearly all the tools we need to do our work without paper or other materials, and we can do everything without having to worry about going anywhere or being late (for the most part, unless there are live meetings or lessons). On the other hand, we would have to rely on the basics: a roof over our heads, electricity, a strong enough wifi connection, and a PC or computer. 

With this covid-19 outbreak, things can take a turn. If our families or if we can’t find a means of supporting ourselves, we could find ourselves in a difficult situation. What if we can no longer afford the wifi, buying groceries, or if the computer breaks? Online classes would be the least of our worries then.

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Personality Profile of a Classmate

TyZhane Joy Babineaux is currently a student at the university with big dreams of fame, opening a dance studio, and success.

“I would already want to have beautiful popular music out, fans, a TV and radio show,” Babineaux said.

Aside from the wish of being the “IT” girl, she hopes to be a role model for her family. Rather than being averse to the idea of fame, she welcomes it.

“I want to be famous, yes, and for the right reasons. The fame I want will be pure, hopefully,” Babineaux said.

Considering herself to be extroverted, proud, strong, a homebody, funny, and loving, Babineaux felt that her past experiences shaped who she is today.

“I have the gift of vibe reading, sometimes it’s on point but sometimes I learn my lesson that I can’t trust anyone.” Babineaux said.

One of the most memorable experiences for Babineaux was when she was promoted to General, or head captain, in her dance team despite naysayers telling her she could not accomplish such a feat.

“I knew I could do it,” Babineaux said, referring to the possibility of being promoted to General.

Although Babineaux’s father is striving for self-change apart from the family, her mother remains present and works just as hard to support her daughter.

“My father was working hard to change himself; I just wish he was still here to continue his change.” Babineaux said.

Since she was as young as two, Babineaux had always loved to dance. She views dance as something to look forward to after a tough day, especially when stressed.

Although TyZhane is her first name, Babineaux prefers to go by the name Joy.

“My mother said when she had first seen me, I looked like joy,” Babineaux said.

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Covid-19 and news coverage

I simply hope that the COVID 19 and its effects will pass quickly, especially if things will get worse before they get better. I feel that the U.S may have possibly underestimated the virus or simply didn’t take it that seriously in the beginning. As of right now, each time my family turns on the news, there always seem to be a segment about Covid 19 updates and anything related to it, which would be good especially if the virus is present all across the nation and could threaten the people and the country as we know it. However, I do not appreciate wild articles or news segments that only exist to spread fear and misinformation regarding the pandemic, such as articles emphasizing ‘news’ such as “all hope is lost” or false statistics. One good news coverage could be an article that recently came out explaining that the G20 plans to unite against the covid 19 by helping to stimulate the global economy. Another one of bad coverage could possibly be an article that gave attention to a woman who intentionally coughed over the produce, baked goods, and food within a supermarket. If certain people saw this, it may inspire some people to adopt this ‘trend’ or behavior for whatever reason. 

As far as I know, the main complaints seem to be about fear-mongering and misinformation. Within the media, it feels like the more important points tend to be covered sooner or more quickly, but with press releases, there would be some delay. However, with the latter, the stories or segments would be lengthier. When it comes to misinformation, the best way to combat this would simply be the truth. Even if it would cause panic, spread hope, or whatever consequences, the truth is the best way to avoid misinformation. Aside from that, ensuring that the information or sources the media or news outlets rely on are correct and credible can go a long way too. 

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What news topics I think are oversaturated or poorly covered…

Poorly covered:

Lately I’ve stumbled upon some news about a locust outbreak in Africa and possibly other countries. I wouldn’t have known about this event if I hadn’t stumbled upon a video online by chance. I feel like topics like these should get more attention, especially if it is far-reaching and serious.

Oversaturated:

As of 2020, it could just be that more people might know the most recent gossip and drama behind today’s celebrities in comparison to other topics, like the recent locust outbreak in other countries or the latest updates about the novel coronavirus. Personally, since I don’t really like news topics about celebrity drama and gossip anyway, I think excessive coverage is really necessary and simply isn’t as important in the grand scheme of things.

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