ITC Marks the 40Th Anniversary of the Party That Changed San Antonio
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The University of Texas at San Antonio Spring 2008 MAGAZINE Vol. 24, No. 2 ITC marks the 40th anniversary of the party that changed San Antonio Also in this issue: A GREENER CAMPus UNIVERSITY EXPERts TELL YOU HOW TO … SPRING 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES 16 HOW TO … Want to learn how to hit a home run? Need help preparing for your big job inter- view? We asked people from throughout the university to share their expertise with us, from practical matters such as how to properly wash your hands and man- age your money, to more amusing pursuits like how to win Rock, Paper, Scissors and play the bagpipes. 24 ORANGE AND BLUE AND GREEN Education programs, recycling initiatives, energy audits, a chartered energy conservation committee and signs of renewed student activism are all part of a nascent movement to make UTSA a greener, more environmentally sustainable campus. 28 SAN ANTONIO’S INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD On the 40th anniversary of HemisFair, Sombrilla looks back at the party that changed San Antonio. UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures is marking the event with a yearlong exhibit. DEPARTMENTS 5 In the Loop Downtown Campus celebrates 10th anniversary; Nobel laureate begins Distinguished Lecture Series; interactive geometry exhibit helps students understand math concepts; university dedicates Kleberg Commons; social work program earns accreditation; and more campus news. 10 Investigations Physics graduate students participate in NASA small explorer mission that launches this summer; engineering professor Mo Jamshidi’s students’ robots travel by air, land and sea; and education students teach children with developmental disabilities in Motor Development Clinic. 12 Roadrunner Sports Say “howdy” to the new Rowdy! Athletics department unveils new roadrunner logo at Homecoming. 16 Syllabus In a campaign year characterized by frank discussions of sexism and racism, Cynthia Perez McCluskey and her students examine how women and minorities are treated in the criminal justice system. 32 Class Notes Profiles of legendary Tejano musician René Ornelas ’77 and WNBA team PR manager Veronica “Ronnie” Ramirez ’04. Plus, alumni office launches Brick and Bench campaign and sets the date for the 2008 Gala. 36 Looking Back A live oak tree planted 18 years ago to honor POWs/MIAs who fought in Vietnam still stands in front of the University Center … despite surrounding construction. On the cover First Lady Lady Bird Johnson arrives at the HemisFair ’68 opening day festivities flanked by Texas Governor John Connally and Nellie Connally. See “San Antonio’s Introduction to the World,” page 28. On this page Shooting hoops in Bill Miller Plaza at the Downtown Campus. Photo by Patrick Ray Dunn. 2 UTSA Sombrilla Spring 2008 3 in the UTSA Sombrilla Magazine LOOP Spring 2008, Volume 24, Number 2 EDITOR’S Note The University of Texas at San Antonio Ricardo Romo, President Shades of green DowNtowN CAMPUS ceLEBRAtes 10TH ANNIVersARY Editor: Rebecca Luther or using low-VOC (volatile organic s part of Homecoming 2008 Jesse Zapata, Art director: Karen Thurman compound) inks. The folks who print events, the Downtown Associate editor: Lety Laurel Downtown Campus Sombrilla, Capital Printing in Austin, Campus celebrated its 10th vice provost Copy editors: Judith Lipsett, Lorna Stafford A Contributors: Andrea Archer, James Benavides, recently began the process to become anniversary on Feb. 27. At an and dean of the College of Tim Brownlee, Wendy Frost, Lynn Gosnell, certified by the Forest Stewardship opening ceremony in Bill Miller Public Policy, Ashley Harris, Lesli Hicks, Marianne McBride Lewis, Council, and we applaud them for that. Plaza, President Ricardo Romo, plays keyboard at Jenny Moore, Analisa Nazareno, Kris Rodriguez, As our partner, Capital is committed Downtown Campus Vice Provost the fourth annual Rick Smith, Kyle Stephens to continuing this dialogue with us. Jazz in the Plaza. Photographers: Patrick Ray Dunn, Mark McClendon Jesse Zapata and alumnus Michael Assistant director of publications: Frank Segura You, our readers, also are our part- Rosales ’02, ’05, chief executive Director of publications: Elton Smith ners, and you can help, too. Share this officer for the Aztec Project magazine with a friend. Recycle it. And Development Ltd., all spoke about Office of University Advancement Soon after assigning the article on if you’d prefer to not receive the printed the campus’ role in the community Vice President for University UTSA’s efforts to create a greener cam- magazine and to read it on the Web Advancement: Marjie French and the partnerships that helped pus (“Orange and Blue and Green,” instead, drop me a note at sombrilla@ Associate Vice President for Communications establish it. page 24), we realized it would be utsa.edu, and I’ll take your name off and Marketing: David Gabler “The establishment of UTSA’s Director of Alumni Programs: hypocritical to run such a story with- the mailing list and add it to the e-mail Downtown Campus has created a Jane Findling Burton out taking a look at the practices in notification list for Sombrilla Online. win-win situation for the university our own office. Sombrilla is produced Taking one name off the mailing list Sombrilla Advisory Board and the community,” said Zapata, in the university’s publications office. may not save any trees, but by each of Palmira Arellano ’86 who has been assigned to the Ernest Bromley ’78, ’80 We publish things such as magazines us doing a little, it can add up to a lot. campus since it opened. “Downtown Renée Crittenden-Garcia ’96 and reports and brochures and posters, And for some really good news about Marjorie George ’84 all on paper. Lots and lots of paper. what the university is doing to save a few is home to seats of government, The 2007–2008 academic year and College of Public Policy as lecturer in the School of Social Richard Lewis, UTSA The magazine you’re holding, very special trees, flip to the back page. culture, commerce, tourism and marks the 10th anniversary of the well as the Institute for Economic Service Administration at the Janice Odom, UTSA for example, is one of 54,000 cop- —Rebecca Luther so many industries vital to San opening of the Frio Street Building, Development, the Bank of America University of Chicago. Webber spoke Rick Riordan Antonio. Having an educational the first on the permanent campus. Child and Adolescent Policy about the role of urban universities Noe Saldaña ’91, UTSA ies of this issue, which were printed Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje ’80, ’87 on 16,203 pounds of paper. That’s institution just a few steps away When it opened in 1997, the Research Institute and the Mexico in their communities and discussed Martha Treviño ’97 the equivalent of 118 trees, accord- Letter to the editor gives our students a chance to get Downtown Campus served 900 Center. his 2005 essay, “Universities, ing to www.papercalculator.org. I am writing in regard to the article, out there for hands-on experiences, students and offered 51 courses. Events for the celebration Communities and Cities: Forging Write back! So why not just print on recycled “UTSA 2016,” in the Winter 2008 edition and it gives professionals an The campus now has an enrollment included an open house and a Sustainable Partnerships.” We welcome your letters pertaining to Sombrilla’s content. Please send them by mail or e-mail to the paper, you ask? It’s not so simple. of the Sombrilla. I was horrified at the opportunity to expand their skills, of 6,400 students, offers lecture by Henry Webber, vice The daylong festivities ended addresses below. Letters may be edited for length Recycled paper often is more expensive. opening line, which refers to UTSA as a making them more effective in the approximately 500 courses and is president for community and with the fourth annual Jazz in the or clarity. Sombrilla, in fact, used to be printed business. Hopefully most of us still real- workplace.” home to the College of Architecture government affairs and senior Plaza concert. —James Benavides on paper that contained a percent- ize there is a huge difference between Sombrilla Magazine is published three times age of recycled content. But as mail- businesses and our educational institu- a year by the Office of University Publications, UTSA, 501 West Durango Blvd., San Antonio, ing rates continue to rise (a bad thing) tions. Businesses are about making Texas 78207. It is mailed without charge and our mailing list continues to grow money and the bottom line is profit; edu- UTSA ADDS MASTER’S IN HEALTH AND KINESIOLOGY to alumni, faculty, staff and friends of (a good thing, because it means we’re cational institutions are about educating The University of Texas at San Antonio. graduating more students who can go people and the bottom line is an edu- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently approved of students, including graduates from UTSA and other universities; out into the world and help save it), we cated populace capable of making Editorial office: MNT 2.270 a master of science degree in health and kinesiology for the College of current teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree but wish to coach at the Phone: (210) 458-3138 switched to a more economical paper. informed decisions in a democracy. Education and Human Development. Classes will begin in fall 2008 collegiate level; students from other disciplines with an interest in E-mail: [email protected] But green publishing is about The taken-for-granted understanding more than just recycled paper. It’s also of UTSA as a business is really quite with an anticipated 40 to 50 students. health and/or kinesiology; professional staff in the healthcare industry; WE’RE ON THE WEB about responsible forestry practices worrying! The program will provide advanced professional training in the as well as military personnel who will be stationed at area military www.utsa.edu/pub/sombrilla and responsible printing practices.