Bobcat Faces: Darius Jones

Student touts lessons learned in University Ambassador experience

By Mary Kincy

University Ambassador Darius Jones was also a member of the 2011 Texas State Homecoming Royalty.

Darius Jones has learned a lot from Texas State, and he’ll be the first to tell you that: “I’ve learned to think fast on my feet and also to be flexible,” he says. “To be reliable and to be honest with people. It’s taught me patience, too.”

But Jones — at least in this case — isn’t talking about instruction received in the classroom. Rather, he’s referring to lessons learned during his time in service to University Ambassadors, a volunteer organization of student leaders who act as hosts for Texas State. 

Bobcat Voices: Back in School

Back in school: Tips from a fellow Bobcat to start fresh, save money

By Sarah Cobb

As a senior, I’m hustling through my final semester looking for the easiest ways and cheapest means of doing things. Looking back, I know that if I had asked around in the beginning —  as a freshman — I might have found a few resources very useful.

Here are some tips I now use to save money and sanity during the course of a semester.

Study Tips: Preparing for the Future

There’s no better time to prepare
for the future than right now

By Texas State SLAC

So many times we are reminded to live in the present, but we still need to prepare for the future. And if you are reading this, you have a future. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, listen well: It’s never too early or late to have a game plan.

But how do you start to prepare? In his article Advice for Students: Start Planning Now for Life After College, Dustin Max tells students not to view college as a break from real life but to start seeing it as a stage of real life. Here’s our summary of his tips:

1. Network. Start making connections by talking to potential employers, attending conferences, and joining or creating campus groups that deal with topics that excite you. Most importantly, get your name out there.

Happenings: Brown Bag Research Seminar

Noon event to explore the impact
of pregnancy and parenthood

By Mary Kincy

Teen pregnancy and its impact on relationships as observed by a Texas State researcher is the topic of an upcoming Brown Bag Research Seminar.

Chelsea Houska dropped out of her South Dakota high school during her senior year to give birth to a daughter. Thanks to popular MTV reality show “16 and Pregnant” and its spinoff “Teen Mom 2,” she has done so before an audience of millions.

Not every teen who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child does so in the spotlight,  however — and it is with these young women, who begin their journey as mothers in relative anonymity, that Dr. Michelle Toews, an associate professor in the Texas State University’s School of Family and Consumer Sciences, works.

Toews will share observations and information gleaned from five years of working with local teen parents during a Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies Brown Bag Research Seminar that will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, in the Family and Consumer Sciences building, room 177. The event is open to the public.

Faculty: Samuel Mungo

From world honors to local harmony, Mungo makes music at Texas State

By Catherine Harper

Many people may think of Bugs Bunny’s interpretation of Richard Wagner when they envision the opera; however, according to Dr. Samuel Mungo — director of Opera Studies and Coordinator of Voice Area at Texas State — opera is quite attainable.

“We all have this concept of opera that it is this inaccessible, high and mighty, hoity-toity thing,” Mungo says. “I’m kind of the Joe Sixpack of opera. It’s musicals, only they sing more.”

So attainable is opera, in fact, that Mungo has dedicated his 20-year career to it. From the music halls of universities to premier stages around the world, Mungo has transformed a love of the opera to a standing ovation.

Happenings: The Wittliff Collections

Texas State’s Wittliff set to kick off
new season of exhibitions, events

This photo of artist Frida Kahlo by Héctor García is part of a new exhibition at the Wittliff Collections.

A study in faces.

A retrospective focused on early 20^th-century Mexico.

A glimpse into a world of myth and mystery.

All are part of the lineup of upcoming exhibitions at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State, a repository of a broad range of archival materials perched at the top of Alkek Library.

The Wittliff is set to open Monday, Jan. 23, with exhibitions featuring journals, correspondence and more of author Rick Riordan; the photography of Hugo Brehme; and portraits by a range of artists. A permanent exhibition featuring costumes, photographs, screenplay drafts and more associated with the production of the hit television miniseries Lonesome Dove — adapted for film by Wittliff Collections founder Bill Wittliff — will continue as well.

Study Tips: Back to School 2012

New term brings new opportunity
to start right, stay focused

Have a great semester, Texas State!

It’s the first day of a new semester at Texas State University. There’s no better time than the first few days of class to set the tone and pace for the entire term. We’ve talked to experienced students, faculty members and learning resources staff on campus to gather the best advice for a great start.

Holidays: Martin Luther King Day 2012

Martin Luther King Day:
A time to reflect — and look to the future at Texas State

Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday and historic celebration of the life and influence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday celebrates King’s Jan. 15 birthday each year.

King’s voice was a major influence in the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s, leading to acts of legislation signed into law by Texas State alumnus President Lyndon B. Johnson including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Through King’s leadership, millions of people were able to find a voice against discrimination in the United States and gain inspiration from his legacy.

Today, the United States commemorates Martin Luther King Day with celebrations in all 50 states. Don’t miss the MLK Celebration at Texas State on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Happenings: MLK Celebration 2012

Texas State to honor MLK with
march, ‘I Have a Dream’ readings

MLK Celebration Poster: Click the image to enlarge.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was unarguably one of the most influential figures in the history of the United States. To honor his monumental civil rights work and his enduring legacy, Texas State University will host MLK Celebrations at both its San Marcos and Round Rock campuses on Tuesday, Jan. 17, coinciding with the first day of classes for the spring semester.

All MLK Celebration events are free and open to the public. Members of the San Marcos and Round Rock communities are encouraged to attend and take part in the festivities.

Happenings: Back to School 2012

Come to campus refreshed, ready
for another excellent semester

Eat 'em up, Cats!

Texas State’s spring semester begins Tuesday, Jan. 17. We know you’re busy gathering your books, hunting for your favorite highlighter and finalizing your parking strategy, but we just wanted to remind you that Texas State offers more than classes — we’re a community, here to enrich your life.

Below we’ve listed links to campus resources that can help you start well and finish strong this semester. After you’ve breathed a sigh of relief — because NSO is over, you’re moved in and your parents are back at home — take a minute to learn about the many opportunities you’ll have to get involved during the first few weeks of classes.