NEWS
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
The University Star - Page 3
MEMORIAL: Family, friends gathered to share CENTER: HCWC seeking memories of professor who was ‘always smiling’ area volunteers to aid in CONTINUED from page 1
ceremony. Co-worker Lucy McDonald spoke about Peterson’s professional work. McDonald said that Peterson had the gift of teaching and the gift to inspire. Peterson received her bachelor’s in English from the University of San Diego, her master’s in Library and Information Science at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and her doctorate at the University of Texas. Peterson began her career in education as a high school English teacher and librarian in Louisiana. Peterson was an associate professor at Texas State since 1993. McDonald said that Peterson authored and co-authored more than 30 national and international scholarly publications. “But statistics alone don’t celebrate a life,” McDonald said. McDonald spoke about celebrating life on the horizon and related it to Peterson’s legacy at Texas State. McDonald said that Peterson especially helped “struggling students persevere to attain excellence.” Werner introduced Adrienne Whitehurst as Peterson’s “infamous best friend.” Whitehurst said she met Peterson at the University of San
In honor of Dr. Cynthia Peterson, a scholarship fund has been created. Contributions can be mailed to: Dr. Peterson Memorial Scholarship Texas State University 601 University Drive ED 3045 San Marcos, Texas 78666
Diego. “Most friendships burn brightly through circumstance and then whither naturally on the winds of change, but not with Cindy and me,” Whitehurst said. “We just clicked.” After Peterson moved to Louisiana, Whitehurst said many of their best memories were made during trips to New Orleans, especially for Mardi Gras. Despite the physical distance between the two, they remained best friends. “Cindy kept every letter and card that I ever sent to her. I think it’s safe to tell you that there’s no one else in my life who has done that,” Whitehurst said. Shortly after Peterson was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, Whitehurst was diagnosed with breast cancer. “We prayed together, expressed our fears together, but most often, we laughed,” Whitehurst said. “Cindy never lost her quirky and endearing sense of
humor.” Whitehurst said that Peterson achieved her personal and professional goals. “All of her life she was focused, determined and just plain stubborn,” Whitehurst said. Whitehurst said that Caverly was more beloved to her than anything. “She found her soul mate at last, the love of her life. No one could have been more supportive, loving or present than that man in this past year. He never gave up,” Whitehurst said. Whitehurst thanked Caverly from the bottom of her heart. Werner opened the floor to family and audience members. Ruth Little, Peterson’s mother, shared stories about Peterson’s way of doing things during her childhood. “She used to iron her shoelaces,” Little said. One of Peterson’s nontraditional students said that without Peterson, he wouldn’t be a teacher.
Nathan Bond, curriculum and instruction professor, said that Peterson was his mentor in the department. “She taught me to remain calm in the storms of life. She had a special way of making people feel comfortable and confident,” Bond said. “Cindy embodied what it meant to be a professor.” Bond told about how elegant and composed Peterson was on the surface and how much fun she was as a person. “Cindy’s life forced me to stop and examine my life and my legacy,” Bond said. Werner closed the service by asking the audience to take wildflower seeds from the baskets at the theater’s exit. “Peterson loved wildflowers,” Werner said. Following the service, audience members continued to reflect on Peterson’s life. “As a family member, I was aware of Cindy’s academic accomplishments, but I’m discovering more here,” said John Kral, Peterson’s brother-in-law. Margie Montana ordered books for Peterson in the curriculum and instruction department. “She was very neat. Even her books had to be a certain way. And she was always smiling. Always smiling,” Montana said.
CITY: Residents ASG: New collegiate media program presented in legislation weigh in on jobs, parks at annual town hall meeting CONTINUED from page 1
Anderson said. One of those contracts is the new transportation contract with Cognisa Transportation. The contract is slated to be reviewed by ASG during the next two meetings and will then be voted on by the student body, Anderson said. Anderson called the contract renewal “probably the biggest issue this semester.” Management junior and Sen. Israel Ruiz presented legislation that would bring the USA Today Collegiate Readership Program to Texas State. The program, according to the legislation, addresses the declining state of the current choices of news media that are
presented to students by offering three national or statewide newspapers at no up front cost to the students. The three newspapers will be chosen based on campus-wide surveys conducted by program representatives. The legislation offered suggestions for the use of the program. “This collegiate readership program could be introduced to the university seminar classes in order to allow freshman and transfer students to be involved in the knowledge of current events outside the university,” stated the legislation. Representatives from the program will attend next Monday’s ASG meeting to give details about the program before senators vote on the legislation.
GENERATION: Organization offers student guidance, encouragement CONTINUED from page 1
Najera said the FGSO is helping to sponsor a conference open to all students on April 18. Alfred Lubrano, author of Limbo: Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams, is expected to be the keynote speaker. FGSO also offers opportunities for mentoring. Najera said that besides offering student guidance, the group works to put together panel discussions with high school students. The purpose of these panels is to encourage students toward higher education and to encourage them to form clubs of their own in their high schools. Michelle Uballe, public relations senior and first-generation student, said she wished she would have known about the group when she first came to Texas State. Uballe, the youngest of
seven children, said she is the only one of her family going to college, and that neither of her parents graduated high school. Uballe said that a difficult part of being a first-generation student is not feeling able to talk about what she is going through to people back at home who have always helped her in other areas of her life. “It’s really awesome, because you’re the first, and it’s an overwhelming pressure to succeed,” Uballe said. “It’s like it’s supposed to be the door to money, and that’s just not always the case.” For more information about FGSO, contact Israel Najera at (512) 2452208 or contact the organization’s president, Denise Garza, at (512) 396-8413.
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she was fearful of losing places to raise a family. “As a family that’s just starting out, we’re having a very hard time finding places to live that aren’t getting saturated by the student population,” Paulin said. “I enjoy students, but I’m in a different phase of my life than a lot of my neighbors.” Paulin suggested a clear designation of student residential areas and family residential areas. Jim Cunningham, long-time resident, said he felt like the City Council should focus on creating well-paying jobs for young people who wanted to stay here and earn a living. “We need to put a very strong emphasis on the creation of more jobs that will sustain a higher level of income for the younger people of our community who want to stay and make a good living,” Cunningham said. Other ideas were the creation of bikeways and walkways, the addition of an Austin Community College campus in San Marcos, repairs to the Heavenly Way Cemetery, the creation of more parks and renovations to the animal shelter. “The City Council will use these notes at the visioning workshop and budget meeting,” said Collette Jamison, director of administrative services. “Before they got together, the City Council wanted to know how citizens feel and what their ideas were.”
Strange, but informative.
HELPline, HEARTeam CONTINUED from page 1
walking with a broken arm and her baby. Titus-Love said a people victims know.” situation such as this can hapTitus-Love said the shel- pen no matter where a victim ter has more family violence lives. reports than sexual assault “It can happen in a small reports annually, but she said town, a highly educated town, this may not be an actual rep- it doesn’t matter,” she said. “It resentation of the numbers. crosses the line of race, educa“People who tion level and have been vicgender.” tims of sexual For victims assault or under the age sexual vioof 17, HCWC lence are often provides serashamed and vices at Roxsometimes anne’s House. believe it is The counseltheir fault,” —Amber Titus-Love ing center is Titus-Love a place for Hays-Caldwell Women’s said. “They children to Center volunteer explain, feel it is their on fault if alcohol camera, any was involved or if they were at abuse they have suffered or someone else’s apartment or witnessed. were on a date.” Cindy “Robbie” Roberson, She said victims should nev- administrative assistant at er be ashamed. Roxanne’s House, said the in“It is not ever a victim’s fault, terview process at the counselno matter what happened,” Ti- ing center is done to prevent tus-Love said. the children from having to Titus-Love said victims may repeat details of the incialso fear they will have to face dent more than necessary. It the perpetrator, a step they also allows emotions to come may not be ready to take. At through that may not be apthe shelter, victims do not have parent in a written statement. to file a report, but instead “It captures demeanor,” they may use the shelter as a Roberson said. place to discuss their feelings Roberson said the interview and explore options. is also important because it “We would be taking on the takes the children away from role of an abuser if we told anyone they may be afraid to them what to do,” she said. talk to. The shelter began in 1978 “For kids, it is easier to talk as a center for women who to a stranger than a parent who wanted to support each other they think they might upset,” personally and professionally. Roberson said. “Even if it is The women wanted to share not their fault, they don’t like ideas about being indepen- to see their parents upset.” dent. The center then began In addition to Roxanne’s receiving calls from rape and House and victim assistance, violence victims who needed the center also provides counshelter and a place to stay. The seling for victims, a donation women realized there was not center and volunteers to speak a place for these victims in the to schools about various toparea and opened the shelter. ics, such as healthy relationOne of the first calls came ships and personal boundaries. from a woman who had es- Their services are free. caped her abusive husband Advocate training for volunin Kyle. She was picked up by teers will also be held in June the police when she was seen and October.
“I
t is not ever the victim’s fault, no matter what happened.”