Happenings: VATS Golf Tournament

Veterans Alliance at Texas State to host golf benefit for local VFW

Veterans Alliance at Texas State (VATS) is a chartered student organization that supports student-veterans.

By Billi London-Gray

The Veterans Alliance at Texas State (VATS) is sponsoring its third annual golf tournament on Friday, April 19, at Quail Creek Country Club in San Marcos. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3413, located in San Marcos.

“The VFW has a long history of supporting the surrounding community and providing veterans with a voice in local, state and national government,” says Jeremy Casselberry, a Navy veteran and president of VATS.

Happenings: Peace Paper Project

Artists to bring transformative papermaking process to campus

Detail of a print on handmade paper by participants in the Peace Paper Project

By Billi London-Gray

As an artistic activity, papermaking dates back nearly 2,000 years to ancient China. The process of creating paper by hand — pulping fibers into a watery slurry, then straining the slurry with a screen to form the sheet of paper — has not changed much in the intervening millennia.

As part of the 2012-13 Common Experience theme, “A Global Odyssey: Exploring Our Connections to the Changing World,” Texas State University will help students and the community explore the art of papermaking by welcoming the Peace Paper Project to campus April 11-16.

Happenings: Women and Gender Research Collaborative Symposium

Gender issues highlighted during National Women’s National History Month

By Audrey Webb

Political, social and environmental issues, such as climate change, have an impact on gender equality.
(Photo: Duda Arraes / flickr.com)

On March 3, 1913 — just 100 years ago — 5,000 women marched to the White House to demand their right to vote. In the U.S., women have won many fundamental rights since then, but both here and around the world, gender inequality remains an issue to be addressed.

The third annual Women and Gender Research Collaborative Symposium, which will take place in the LBJ Student Center Multipurpose Room this Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., draws international scholars to present their research on a variety of topics that have an impact on gender equality, such as food security, climate change, domestic violence and women in sports.

Happenings: Feria del Mariachi

Annual festival celebrates music
of Mexico, young performers

Texas State’s Mariachi Nueva Generación will perform at the Feria del Mariachi concert March 23.

By Audrey Webb

The origin of the word mariachi has been the source of some debate. Some linguists believe it comes from the French word mariage (marriage), while others claim its origin is in the name of the wood commonly used for dance floors in Mexican dance halls. If you want to know the true meaning of mariachi, we suggest you leave the lingo wrangling to the historians and just attend this weekend’s 14^th annual Feria del Mariachi.

Happenings: Alternative Spring Breaks

Bobcats plan to give back through alternative Spring Break trips

By Billi London-Gray

Texas State is known for its warm sense of community and welcoming atmosphere. Each spring, groups of Bobcats dedicate time over the March break to share that ethos of helpful generosity by volunteering for service projects and events around the state.

Bobcat Break — Harris County

Student Volunteer Connection (SVC) organizes the annual Bobcat Break service trip.

Texas State’s Student Volunteer Connection (SVC) organizes a service trip — Bobcat Break — each year during Spring Break. With a focus on habitat issues, Bobcat Break projects include travel to and service in a community that is living with a particular habitat problem. This year, Texas State volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity in Northwest Harris County, outside Houston, to build affordable housing and serve the community.

Happenings: Bobcat Build 2013

Bobcats build good will with
San Marcos residents

Bobcat Build is one of the largest student-run volunteer events in all of Texas.

By Audrey Webb

Every guest knows it’s common courtesy to say thank you to your host. That’s the basic premise behind Bobcat Build, an annual volunteer event that salutes the citizens of San Marcos for hosting the Bobcat family in their hometown.

Bobcat Build volunteers perform a variety of tasks based on requests made by San Marcos citizens. In last year’s event, approximately 3,400 students, staff and faculty members participated in a variety of 168 community-building activities, such as weeding a community garden to washing windows to painting a house to removing debris from a vacant lot. 

Happenings: Imagine 2013

Texas State RRC hosts 5th annual
Round Rock Arts ‘Imagine’ event

Imagine 2013 signature artwork: Agave Movement by Michael Hammons

Developing a city into an arts and culture hub takes vision — and a lot of effort. With plenty of both, the Round Rock Area Arts Council is transforming Round Rock into a nexus of support for the visual and performing arts. And Texas State University is helping by hosting the city’s marquis arts event this year.

Imagine 2013: An Evening of Art and Music will take place on Friday, February 22, 2013, from 7-9 p.m. at the Texas State University Round Rock Campus. A celebration of visual and performing art and music from Round Rock and surrounding areas, the evening will feature an expansive art exhibit (including works by more than 75 local artists), live music, theatre performances and a silent auction.

Happenings: Ballet Folklórico

Ballet Folklórico’s colorful costumes capture Mexico’s rich cultural history.

Dancers deliver a taste of Mexico

By Audrey Webb

If most of what you know about Mexico was learned at a Taco Bell drive-through, take advantage of an on-campus opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of our neighbors to the south by attending a performance of The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA)’s Ballet Folklórico.

The internationally acclaimed troupe, now in its 43^rd year, will stop at Texas State on Sunday, February 17, as part of its current tour of Alegria Temporada 2013. The performance combines culture and colorful costumes in choreography that blends contemporary movement with traditional folk dances of numerous states and regions across Mexico.

Happenings: Study Abroad Fair

World of opportunity at the
study abroad fair

Studying abroad is a great way to see the world.

By Audrey Webb

Texas State professors don’t encourage daydreaming during class, but they do encourage you to take a class that feels like a dream come true.

Each semester, Texas State professors teach credit courses in far-off locales that enhance the learning experience. Philosophy in India, agriculture in England, art in Italy – these are just some of the options  available. The Study Abroad Fair brings information about all these opportunities to one location so you can learn about the numerous once-in-a-lifetime study options available to you.

Around Campus: New Year’s Resolutions for Texas State Students

By Andrew Osegi ’13

Welcome to 2013, Bobcat Nation! On behalf of the university, I hope all students, new and returning, enjoyed the winter holiday.

Always be thinking ahead.

As we ring in the new year with the spring semester, now is the best time to thaw that lackadaisical frame of mind we’ve embraced over the break and set our eyes on the future.

In addition to the resolutions you may have set for yourself this year, here are five more every Texas State student should consider: