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The East Texan E tra
Texas A&M University-Commerce Nov. 18, 2019
Student engineering group schedule to return By Brandon Ballard The Texas A&M University of Commerce electrical engineering department is re-establishing a student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers after shutting down in the early 2000s. IEEE is the world’s largest
IEEE students also host and compete in competitions that offer
the classroom and it gives students
faculty to take initiative and apply for
students the opportunity to develop
an opportunity to build positive
student chapter recognition from the
professionally. IEEE members serve
connections with peers in their major,”
IEEE.
as mentors to students, offering their
she said. “It also has the added benefit
expertise whenever needed. The
of giving students an avenue to create
organization also offers up a number of
a bigger network with IEEE student
educational tools and online resources
members across the globe.”
to their students.
technical professional organization dedicated to the advancement of technology with more than 2000 student branches at colleges around the world dedicated to helping guide and support students working toward a degree in their chosen field. The organization is beneficial for students looking to network with professionals, as well as giving students
The re-establishment of the
Nizar Tayem and Dr. Redha Radaydeh. Electrical engineering and
The organization held a University Police Department Walk in September and Cooper said, “The event was to help students get to know UPD better and to let students voice their concerns about problem areas they
“With the introduction of the Electrical Engineering program in the
technology department head Dr. Andrea late spring of 2017, we once again have Graham is overseeing the process. “The re-establishment of
In general, student organizations
Student input sought by SGA representatives
The organization focuses on students’ needs and helps with promoting activities like free STD testing and voting.
fall semester, developing a proposal and gaining backing from university personnel including TAMUC President Dr. Mark Rudin. The status of the
students.
on topics related to the engineering and the Electrical Engineering program.
faculty and staff.
branch recognition earlier in the
with help from assistant professors Dr.
exciting and value-added element to
Public relations officer Jaelyn Cooper said she enjoys letting students know they can and should interact with
petition to submit to IEEE for student
early 2000s due to a loss in interest from petition will affect when the student
host events all year, all over the world
Student Government Association representatives said they “love to hear new ideas” from their fellow students.
and electronics programs once had an
Carter began working on a
by distinguished lecturer Patrick Carter,
the IEEE student branch will be an
By Janae Blocker
The TAMUC computer science
student branch of IEEE is being managed active IEEE branch which folded in the
access to funds and grants. The IEEE
electronics fields.
encourage student engagement beyond students in 2017 to 100 in 2019 causing
IEEE student branch back to TAMUC,”
said. “We will elect vice-chairperson,
Carter said.
secretary and treasurer positions, and
The growing electrical engineering program has gone from four
By Ty Brown
The Department of Sociology
University- Commerce hosted the Texas Peacekeepers Movement for students, faculty and community members.
See Recycing Day Page 2
upcoming meetings and events.”
of the sociology and criminal justice department said. “The reason we didn’t have sophomores, juniors and seniors is because they have already had the training. We tried to get Greenville High School students but they have already been trained.”
The Texas Peacekeepers Movement, based in Houston, is a community partnership to help educate citizens on how to be safe during traffic stops and builds upon
Classes are also being taught to law enforcement personnel and residents taking driver education cases. “My understanding is every
the Community Safety Education Act
student starting ninth grade this year
to enhance the TEA, TCOLE and TRLA
has to be trained before they graduate,”
basic requirements to provide a training
White-Lewis said. “They have to be
session with dialogue, interaction,
trained in the State of Texas now.”
research, and best practices. The Community Safety Education Act of Texas was signed into law in 2017
The City of Commerce Recycling Day had bins for glass, paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard plus allowed people to recycle tires without the wheels attached, batteries, composite items metal, appliances and electronics. The event was sponsored by the Commerce Beautification Commission, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Hunt County, Commerce Chamber of Commerce and Commerce Cares Recycling. The National Day for Recycling is held each year to reach out to neighbors and the community to bring awareness to recycling. Individuals and community leaders can Google America Recycles Day and sign up for the Keep America Beautiful Program to make their community recycling friendly. A&M-Commerce has recycling bins around campus to make students more
make decisions concerning dues and
Peacekeepers meet to discuss community safety education and Criminal Justice at Texas A&M
National Recycling Day comes to Commerce and University
petition, hopefully later this month,
Branch meeting within 30 days,” Carter
“The ability to connect our students with our faculty and staff is so important, ” Cooper said.
https://www.tamuc.edu/ CampusLife/studentCenter/ studentGovernmentAssociation/default. aspx.
“Once the IEEE accepts our
and are in the process of bringing an
By Joel Brasier
Additional SGA information is available at:
TAMUC.
students interested in IEEE membership we will schedule our first IEEE Student
worry about when walking the campus, especially students who have classes late in the evening.”
She also stated that anyone who wants to attend meetings for the organization to voice their opinions, or to simply sit in, can show up on Wednesday nights in the Rayburn Student Center, in Room Legacy A&B at 6 p.m.
branch ultimately gets started at
and became effective Sept. 1, 2018. “It has become so important
The facilitators were on campus for two days. “We were invited by one of the facilitators, Dr. Everette Penn, who is one of the grant people here in Texas,”
in the state of Texas that the principle
White-Lewis said. “He goes around
that was here for our program along
the state putting on this program. If he
with a hundred and some freshman
wasn’t a grant writer, he was a grant
students from Commerce High School
recipient.”
were here,” Dr. Elvira White-Lewis, head
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The East Texan E tra Page 2
Mini golf art structure attracts attention on Talbot Hall lawn By Jazzlyn Enbysk The mini golf structures, outside Talbot Hall is part of an on-going project led by art professor Joseph Daun, are meant to represent different aspects of the university and reflect student life on the university campus. The eight sculptures were designed and created by the eight undergraduate students in Daun’s class. Daun is working on the ninth hole in order to complete the fully functioning mini golf course. “The idea was decided between the students and me, but we knew we had to make it university related since they had provided us with the resources and location in order to make it possible,” Daun said. “We decided to focus on specific disciplines and parts of the university that were well known.” He said some of the completed structures depict an apple, books and pencils. “This student decided to focus on the university’s history as a teacher school,” Daun said. “The sculpture is actually carved out of foam then covered in stucco and painted. The students were also responsible for building their own platforms and designing the hole for the mini-golf course.” One of the course holes is an homage to a notable alumni of the school, Trenton Doyle Hancock. The mini golf hole showcases aspects that can be found in Hancock’s abstract work and is one of the more complicated holes to play in the course. There are also sculptures for the planetarium, the climbing rock wall in the Rec Center, and the music program. As for the continuing work on the project, Daun said he would like to have the project finished by finals week so that student will have something to look forward to between tests and studying.
Mane Event attracts prospective students to campus twice a year
Better pportunities attract local couple to Commerce By Kehinde-Ayobami Olayiwola All Seasons Corner Store is a small establishment on Live Oak Street in Commerce best know for selling food, drinks, beauty items, family unit items and more. Owners Sophie and Chris opened All Seasons five years ago after they left Chicago in 2013, attracted by the slower paced life Commerce offered and a change for them and their three children. Chris said, “We moved here from Chicago for a better opportunity and because it is also very affordable down here, but coming from a fast city like Chicago to the country was very weird to us,” but it wasn’t difficult to adjust to the Commerce community because the people in the community were inviting to him and his family. All Seasons is opened MondaySaturday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
Tailgating popularity increases
By Kolby Cowart Mane Event Preview Day at Texas A&M University-Commerce, geared towards high school juniors, seniors, and transfer students, happens twice a year, giving prospective students an opportunity to discover what TAMUC has to offer, ranging from academics to student services and campus activities. Prospective students are able to visit the different student organizations, residential halls, tour the Jerry D. Morris Recreation Center, and meet future classmates. Besides the social aspects, students are also able to meet their respective professors to learn more about their intended major and the background behind the program. Honors College senior and president of Kappa Delta Sorority, Ashley Ramirez said, “This event is incredibly important because students are able to get a taste of what TAMUC is really like. From what I know, most of my friends came here because of Mane Event.” Ramirez also said she also decided to attend TAMUC as well because of the connections she made at the event in fall of 2016. Groups are encouraged to contact the Office of First-Year and Transition Programs for information. The spring Mane Event Preview Day will be March 7.
Sand volleyball courts - newest facility opens at Cain Complex By Diamond Larry The Cain Complex at Texas A&M University-Commerce added a new sports facility in April of 2019 when the new $750,000 sand volleyball courts opened. “The color scheme and the design of the complex complements the courts in a way that makes you want to play even if you don’t know how to play volleyball,’’ Alysha Davis, operations supervisor, said. The facility includes new lights, a new sand wash off station restrooms, sound systems, and a shade awning bleacher seating area to cool off after playing in the sand.
field, a softball field, and a practice soccer field. “One reason the court was built was because it gives the Commerce community a place to come together, hang out and it’s more space to play volleyball,’’ Davis said. “I really enjoy the time I spend here because I get to supervise all activities in and out of here which means I get to see and also be a part of all the fun that is happening. I am grateful that I get to be one of the first students to experience and live through the opening of such a place.” Davis added that she believes the moving of these courts will only bring more students and people from the community to come out and play more than ever.
Cain Complex, located across Highway 24, behind Smith residence Previous sand volleyball courts hall, is a multi-purpose facility that will be replaced with a patio area for consists of four sand volleyball courts, guest who comes in and out of the pool. six tennis courts that replaced a baseball Staff members: Brandon Ballard, Janae Blocker, The East Texan Extra is produced by Mul- Joel Brasier, Ty Brown, Kolby Cowart, Evans Dennis, Jazzlyn Enbysk, Mayson Hausler, timedia Journalism students during the Fall Jahonna Hinds, Andrew Ivery, Cameron Justice, 2019 semester. Content is the responsibili- Diamond Larry, Morgan Mouton, ty of the students. Kenhinde-Ayobami Olayiwola, Lindsey Wiley, Ambrasha Williams, Chaun Young.
By Drew Ivery Texas A&M University-Commerce and the athletic department host a variety of tailgating events on campus just outside of Memorial Stadium between the Music Building and the south endzone prior to each home football game. Tailgating is an event designed for everyone including students, faculty, staff, businesses, sororities, fraternities and alumni.
“...anyone is allowed to ...tailgate with us.” Sharod Williams “From my knowledge, anyone is allowed to come tailgate with us,” Director of External Operations Sharod Williams said on who all can participate in tailgating. “We don’t mind if you do want to come tailgate, you’re allowed to buy a spot if spots are available. We have a good bit of student organizations, they have spots out there provided through student affairs. A lot of the different fraternities, also sororities, Greek life, always have different tailgates. We have a lot of parents that come out and tailgate as well. We actually have a couple of spots that are ‘parents of the pride’ and so they do a lot of stuff with their tailgate and then a lot of our sponsors and local community members also have tailgate spots. So, realistically, anyone is allowed to actually come tailgate with us.” The 90 spots available each week at tailgate are separated into quadrants. Spots 1-24 are for donors and those each come with their own reserved parking spot, 1-17 have two parking spaces reserved and 18-24 have just one, and everything else is in an interior spot. “For Homecoming? I had no doubt that we would be sold out,” Williams said. “We already have some of them [tailgate spots] purchased for the whole season. You can buy a tailgate spot for the whole season or you can buy it per game.”
Texas A&M University-Commerce Nov. 18, 2019
Student callers contact university alumni, friends, supporters By Chaun Young Mane Messengers are Texas A&M University-Commerce’s student callers who engage with alumni and parents, supporters or friends of the university by making personal phone calls, building alumni relations, and keeping them updated with university information and activities on campus. Students, hired through Hire a Lion, who become a Mane Messenger work out of the McDowell Administration Building contacting alumni and friends of the university about how they can still be involved with the university. “Our primary focus is to involve, invest, and inform people on what does it mean to be a Lion for a student today,” Raymond Williams, manager of Mane Messengers said. Alumni also have opportunities to be guest speakers for classes or departments on campus and mentor students through Career Development. “Our hope is that we have solidified a pride in our alumni and our supporters to where they understand how important they are to the development of the university,” Williams said. The funds raised by the student callers can be put into specific departments or into the Greatest Need Fund. “It is a pool of money that the president of the university uses to his discretion of what is the biggest needs of this campus to develop the university altogether,” Williams said. For more information on Mane Messengers, contact the Coordinator of Communication Outreach, Mumbo Williams, at 903-468-8103 or Raymond.
Recycling Day Continued from Page 1
aware of the environment and teach them to recycle. Some residential halls have recycling bins in the lobbies and on different floors for students to recycle in their living areas. Claire Johnson, residential assistant at Phase 2 said, “ The recycling bins are changed about two times a month and have been in the lobby since August.” The National Recycling Month is April and was created in 1989 by President George W. Bush so the U.S. could reform their solid waste management. During this time America was producing about 160 million tons a year and solid waste landfills were beginning to overfill. In 2015, American’s were producing about 200 million tons of waste and 75 percent of it was recyclable, but only 30 percent was recycled.