Friday, October 30, 2009
Local News: Organizing for America in Waco Pushes for Health Care Reform
Obama Supporters Working Phone Bank in Waco to Push Health Care Reform
By Michael W. Shapiro (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
Almost a year after President Barack Obama’s election, some of the volunteers who worked in Waco to put him in office are regrouping in the hopes of building support for the administration’s top domestic priority — health care reform.
For the past two weeks in a small office at Columbus Avenue and North 10th Street, one paid employee and a group of volunteers have been calling members of the community to talk about health care.
The group, Waco’s branch of Organizing for America, a political committee run by the Democratic National Committee, has been holding phone banks Tuesdays and Thursdays, which volunteer Jan Forney described as part advocacy and part education.
A roomful of volunteers on cell phones were engaged in conversation Tuesday afternoon, supplied with talking points listed on a large piece of paper on the wall about reform proposals, the Obama administration’s position and the existing state of health care in Texas.
The volunteers have been urging area residents on the phone to call their members of Congress — Rep. Chet Edwards and Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison — to support health care reform.
“It’s clear that the (2008) election was one piece of it, but it wasn’t the whole picture,” said Forney, who worked for the Obama campaign last year.
“It’s an effort to really piggyback on the momentum we had during the election.”
During the summer as Congress went on recess, conservative groups and Tea Party groups, including Waco’s chapter, pushed back against Democratic-led health care reform efforts. In town hall meetings across the country, members of Congress were met by sometimes raucous audiences that included sizable contingents of people who called reform efforts fiscally irresponsible.
Concerned about the fate of health care reform and by what he described as misinformation that was dominating what should have been a more objective debate, Ta-Wei Lin, 26 and a recent Baylor alumnus, decided to temporarily drop his plans to get a degree in public health to intern at the Waco Organizing for America office.
Lin said he’s motivated to do his part to reform health care before he delves into the field professionally, pointing to issues like insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions as just one of the glaring problems with the U.S. system.
He said he’s particularly concerned with the tone of the debate, singling out the level of discourse at town halls over the summer.
“It’s an issue that’s become highly politicized, and I wish it wasn’t,” Lin said.
Republican County Party Chairman Chris DeCluitt is on the opposite side of the health care debate, though he echoed Lin’s calls for respectful discussions.
“There’s room for firm, calm debate,” DeCluitt said, “but the party is very concerned with reform and the potential dismantling of our entire health care system.”
If anything needs reforming, he said, it is Medicare and Medicaid, entitlement programs that both have been projected to grow dramatically in the coming decades.
Battle lines in Washington mirror the differences between local Republicans and Democrats in Waco, with politicians mostly aligning with their parties.
But Edwards, who has six Republicans lined up in a primary to unseat him, is so far an exception. Edwards’ spokesman, Josh Taylor, described the Waco Democrat as neutral on a Democratic health care bill that had not yet been unveiled late Wednesday but was set to be rolled out this morning.
That means for Forney and other volunteers at the Waco Organizing for America office, the mission becomes that much more clear, she said: “to let Rep. Edwards know there are people out there who care about health care reform.”
Published on Thursday, October 29, 2009
By Michael W. Shapiro (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
Almost a year after President Barack Obama’s election, some of the volunteers who worked in Waco to put him in office are regrouping in the hopes of building support for the administration’s top domestic priority — health care reform.
For the past two weeks in a small office at Columbus Avenue and North 10th Street, one paid employee and a group of volunteers have been calling members of the community to talk about health care.
The group, Waco’s branch of Organizing for America, a political committee run by the Democratic National Committee, has been holding phone banks Tuesdays and Thursdays, which volunteer Jan Forney described as part advocacy and part education.
A roomful of volunteers on cell phones were engaged in conversation Tuesday afternoon, supplied with talking points listed on a large piece of paper on the wall about reform proposals, the Obama administration’s position and the existing state of health care in Texas.
The volunteers have been urging area residents on the phone to call their members of Congress — Rep. Chet Edwards and Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison — to support health care reform.
“It’s clear that the (2008) election was one piece of it, but it wasn’t the whole picture,” said Forney, who worked for the Obama campaign last year.
“It’s an effort to really piggyback on the momentum we had during the election.”
During the summer as Congress went on recess, conservative groups and Tea Party groups, including Waco’s chapter, pushed back against Democratic-led health care reform efforts. In town hall meetings across the country, members of Congress were met by sometimes raucous audiences that included sizable contingents of people who called reform efforts fiscally irresponsible.
Concerned about the fate of health care reform and by what he described as misinformation that was dominating what should have been a more objective debate, Ta-Wei Lin, 26 and a recent Baylor alumnus, decided to temporarily drop his plans to get a degree in public health to intern at the Waco Organizing for America office.
Lin said he’s motivated to do his part to reform health care before he delves into the field professionally, pointing to issues like insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions as just one of the glaring problems with the U.S. system.
He said he’s particularly concerned with the tone of the debate, singling out the level of discourse at town halls over the summer.
“It’s an issue that’s become highly politicized, and I wish it wasn’t,” Lin said.
Republican County Party Chairman Chris DeCluitt is on the opposite side of the health care debate, though he echoed Lin’s calls for respectful discussions.
“There’s room for firm, calm debate,” DeCluitt said, “but the party is very concerned with reform and the potential dismantling of our entire health care system.”
If anything needs reforming, he said, it is Medicare and Medicaid, entitlement programs that both have been projected to grow dramatically in the coming decades.
Battle lines in Washington mirror the differences between local Republicans and Democrats in Waco, with politicians mostly aligning with their parties.
But Edwards, who has six Republicans lined up in a primary to unseat him, is so far an exception. Edwards’ spokesman, Josh Taylor, described the Waco Democrat as neutral on a Democratic health care bill that had not yet been unveiled late Wednesday but was set to be rolled out this morning.
That means for Forney and other volunteers at the Waco Organizing for America office, the mission becomes that much more clear, she said: “to let Rep. Edwards know there are people out there who care about health care reform.”
Published on Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Young, Conservative, and Intolerant
The Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas is a group of the most conservatives students on the most conservative college campus in the nation. However, the YCT contends that Texas A&M is not as conservative as it is portrayed. The mission of the YCT, as articulated by the Chairman, is to “turn a passive, silent, oblivious majority of conservatives into an active, vocal, aware majority” and to “defend and revive conservatism among the American people…before we lose what has made Texas and this country great and blessed.” So how exactly are they going to accomplish their mission? By fighting “liberalism wherever it may be.”
A new tool being used by conservative activist is CampusReform.org, which was created by The Leadership Institute, a Virginia based training organization for potential conservative political leaders. The Leadership Instituted, which labels itself as a “a non-partisan educational organization,” includes such notable “non-partisan” alumni as Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist, and the “non-partisan” Karl Rove.
As Campus Progress reported, the Leadership Instituted launched a social networking site CampusReform.org so students can report and organize against professors that they view as politically biased. One of the main features of the site is the ability of students to rate professors anonymously, using a scale ranging from liberal to conservative.
There where five faculty members of Texas A&M University that where listed: Antoin Schwab, Ben Harper, Kimberly Brown, Tanya Weathers, and Terence Lamb. Besides being labeled as liberals they all have one thing else in common: all of them are African-American. According to the Office of Diversity, of 2609 faculty members at Texas A&M 93 are African-American (3.5%). The probably of choosing five African American faculty at random is 5x10^-6%, or one in 19,000,000. This gives the perception of racism because it insinuates that African-American professors are "not like the real A&M", and "not like us".
Professor Kimberly Brown was the only professor for which a “review” has been submitted, and the review was submitted by a former student who has not taken a class with Professor Brown. However, according to the review “it is clear from the 2008 Freshman Convocation keynote address that she gave and from her public support of Bill Ayers, the Weather Underground terrorist and Marxist, that she is a far-left wacko.” The review does not give any substance to the claim that she teaches with a liberal bias, which is the whole point of the web site.
The writer of the review, the former Chairman of the Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, wrote on the site that he’s active on CampusReform to “smash left-wing scum.” This is also coming from someone that wrote a blog stating that “not all cultures are created equal. Cultural relativism is a pernicious sham.” And wrote another blog asking the question “how can homosexuals possibly take pride in their homosexuality?”
It is difficult to take anything seriously declared by an organization that could very well be called the Young Caucasians of Texas. This organization has a history of racist and homophobic activities. From the subtle racism against African-American professors to the blatant racism of an “affirmative action bake sale,” the YCT has risen being privileged and intolerant to almost a Zen like state.
Universities are places that are designed to foster debate, but in many ways it seems like the Young Conservatives are not interested in debate. From the rhetoric that is expressed it seems much more like they are more interested in telling anyone who holds a different point of view that their views are wrong. It is this type of political discourse that has become indicative of the larger national political discussion, the idea that concessions on any issue or compromise on any level is out of the question.
The Young Conservative have never seemed interested in meaningful debate or an attempt to reach consensus, they are much more interested in engaging in political combat. Some of us, on both sides of the ideological isle, are more interested in actually making meaningful contributions to the larger political discussion. Some of us understand the irony in shouting “No more taxes!” while attending a public university. Some of us still believe that public service is not something that should be mocked, but something that should be encouraged. Some of believe that it is what you believe in that should define you, not just what you are against.
Update:
Notice from CampusReform.org: CampusReform.org was alerted to the post, and within an hour, the four names that had no description were removed from the webpage. As soon as content as flagged, we investigate. If it violates our Terms of Service or is inappropriate, it is deleted immediately.
A new tool being used by conservative activist is CampusReform.org, which was created by The Leadership Institute, a Virginia based training organization for potential conservative political leaders. The Leadership Instituted, which labels itself as a “a non-partisan educational organization,” includes such notable “non-partisan” alumni as Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist, and the “non-partisan” Karl Rove.
As Campus Progress reported, the Leadership Instituted launched a social networking site CampusReform.org so students can report and organize against professors that they view as politically biased. One of the main features of the site is the ability of students to rate professors anonymously, using a scale ranging from liberal to conservative.
There where five faculty members of Texas A&M University that where listed: Antoin Schwab, Ben Harper, Kimberly Brown, Tanya Weathers, and Terence Lamb. Besides being labeled as liberals they all have one thing else in common: all of them are African-American. According to the Office of Diversity, of 2609 faculty members at Texas A&M 93 are African-American (3.5%). The probably of choosing five African American faculty at random is 5x10^-6%, or one in 19,000,000. This gives the perception of racism because it insinuates that African-American professors are "not like the real A&M", and "not like us".
Professor Kimberly Brown was the only professor for which a “review” has been submitted, and the review was submitted by a former student who has not taken a class with Professor Brown. However, according to the review “it is clear from the 2008 Freshman Convocation keynote address that she gave and from her public support of Bill Ayers, the Weather Underground terrorist and Marxist, that she is a far-left wacko.” The review does not give any substance to the claim that she teaches with a liberal bias, which is the whole point of the web site.
The writer of the review, the former Chairman of the Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, wrote on the site that he’s active on CampusReform to “smash left-wing scum.” This is also coming from someone that wrote a blog stating that “not all cultures are created equal. Cultural relativism is a pernicious sham.” And wrote another blog asking the question “how can homosexuals possibly take pride in their homosexuality?”
It is difficult to take anything seriously declared by an organization that could very well be called the Young Caucasians of Texas. This organization has a history of racist and homophobic activities. From the subtle racism against African-American professors to the blatant racism of an “affirmative action bake sale,” the YCT has risen being privileged and intolerant to almost a Zen like state.
Universities are places that are designed to foster debate, but in many ways it seems like the Young Conservatives are not interested in debate. From the rhetoric that is expressed it seems much more like they are more interested in telling anyone who holds a different point of view that their views are wrong. It is this type of political discourse that has become indicative of the larger national political discussion, the idea that concessions on any issue or compromise on any level is out of the question.
The Young Conservative have never seemed interested in meaningful debate or an attempt to reach consensus, they are much more interested in engaging in political combat. Some of us, on both sides of the ideological isle, are more interested in actually making meaningful contributions to the larger political discussion. Some of us understand the irony in shouting “No more taxes!” while attending a public university. Some of us still believe that public service is not something that should be mocked, but something that should be encouraged. Some of believe that it is what you believe in that should define you, not just what you are against.
Update:
Notice from CampusReform.org: CampusReform.org was alerted to the post, and within an hour, the four names that had no description were removed from the webpage. As soon as content as flagged, we investigate. If it violates our Terms of Service or is inappropriate, it is deleted immediately.
Video Lunch: When Patients are Denied: The Battle Over Mental Health Benefits
Some therapists and patients contend that insurance companies have been routinely denying coverage for sexual assault victims requesting long-term mental health services. Stories of how victims of sexual assault can get tangled in the health insurance system have been one result of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund's citizen journalism project, which is calling on readers to provide information and anecdotes about the inner workings of the insurance industry.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tonight on Biased Transmission
There has been much discussion about the economics of healthcare lately, but this week on Biased Transmission, we will be discussing quality of healthcare -in the form of physician-patient communication. Our guest will be Dr. Barbara Sharf, Professor of Communication at Texas A&M, and she will be discussing physician-patient communication, and its effect on the health outcome of the patient.
Having studied and taught this subject for many years, a few years ago Dr. Sharf faced her own health crisis, and experienced firsthand the value of a compatible doctor-patient relationship, and the influence that communication can have on a patient's sense of participation in their own "health story" and how that role can affect the health outcomes in such a narrative. We will be discussing this and many other aspects of our current healthcare system, and the role that communication plays in increasing the value of that healthcare.
So tune in this Wednesday, and listen to Biased Transmission tonight on 89.1FM KEOS College Station-Bryan from 6-7pm, to hear Teddy Wilson, Michael Alvard, Danny Yeager, and Ann Preston. If you have a question or comment you can post it here, or call the KEOS Bell Studios: 979-779-5367.
Biased Transmission on Facebook
Biased Transmission Online Archive of Shows
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Coalition for Life Lies to Women
Every day during 40 Days for Life protesters stand in front of the fence at the Planned Parenthood in Bryan, and every day they spread misinformation and lies to the patients that utilize the clinic for reproductive health care. The protesters regularly attempt to pass information to the clients of Planned Parenthood both verbally and in written form. However, much of the information that the protesters try and give the clients is both intellectually dishonest and factually incorrect. Often false information is given about the services provided at Planned Parenthood and the facts about abortion and reproductive health care.
One of the pamphlets that are often given to clients, titled “10 Reasons to Avoid Planned Parenthood,” includes several factual inaccuracies and misrepresentations. The first claim listed is that the services at Planned Parenthood focus only abortion, and that while over 6,000 abortions were performed less than 300 women received prenatal care. The truth is that according to annual reports abortion only makes up 7% of the total services provided at Planned Parenthood. Also Planned Parenthood does provide both prenatal care and adoption refers for women that chose not to terminate a pregnancy.
According to the Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas 2006 annual report, 87% of the patients visited Planned Parenthood for family planning: 89,611 out of the 103,004 patients. Also, 4,969 people were tested for HIV and counseled on prevention. Only 6,811 patients who visited all of the area Planned Parenthoods, including the Houston metropolitan area and Bryan-College Station, terminated pregnancies.
Another distortion of the facts include implying that surgical abortions are dangerous, even though less than 0.3% of abortion patients experience a complication that requires hospitalization.
The pamphlet also claims that the free condoms available at Planned Parenthood are “ranked dead last” in a study by Consumer Reports. This particular study used the airburst method instead of the “gold standard” water burst method, and all of the condoms tested in the study are FDA approved. While two Planned Parenthood where ranked 23rd and 24th in the comparative study of condoms, although another Planned Parenthood condom was ranked 14th in the same study. Consumer Report recalled the study after it was found to be flawed. It should also be noted Coalition for Life and its supporters are against all forms of birth control.
Free services such as pregnancy testing and STD screening are advertised in the pamphlet to be available at the local crisis pregnancy centers, and it claims that Planned Parenthood “is not the cheapest place in town.” However, Planned Parenthood does offer free pregnancy testing, and because Planned Parenthood is a medical facility medical grade pregnancy test are used and onsite STD screenings can be performed. Planned Parenthood also accepts Medicaid.
These distortions and outright lies are part of the propaganda that is spread by the protesters from the Coalition for Life in front of Planned Parenthood. The Coalition for Life does not care about the women of the Brazos Valley, as their advertisements proclaim, the Coalition for Life only cares about attempting to preventing women from having access reproductive health care.
Video Lunch: Crisis Pregnancy Center Abortion Education LIES
This is a multimedia project we worked on that regards the false information and false pretenses of crisis pregnancy centers and abortion-only education.
Local News: Deployments of Texas Army National Guard to Iraq Continue
Texas Army National Guard Unit Prepares for Deployment in Iraq
By Regina Dennis (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
The 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard once again will be deployed to Iraq in 2010, and the unit already has jump-started training efforts.
About 170 troops from the division’s Austin headquarters recently wrapped a two-week, multinational training exercise in Cairo, Egypt. Operation Brightstar, a biennial exercise done in collaboration with such countries as France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom, focuses on training troops for combat, counterinsurgency and stabilization operations in a battle zone.
The exercise will be particularly beneficial to the troops as they prepare to be deployed to Iraq next year. Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin, of Big Spring, Texas, said he learned that the 36th Infantry Division would be deployed to Iraq in fall 2010 as the unit was preparing for Operation Brightstar. This will be the division’s fourth Iraq deployment since Sept. 11.
“This exercise is a great opportunity for my staff to start working on all the processes and work that they’ll be asked to do in Iraq,” Spurgin said. “This command-post exercise is very much in line with how we will operate once we get into theater, and it’s a great opportunity for my guardsmen that are here.”
The number of Central Texas troops to be deployed has not been determined, though Spurgin said sending 800 to 1,000 has been discussed. The troops will return to Texas this week, with preparations for Iraq in the coming months as more details of that mission are finalized.
A portion of the troops who participated in Operation Brightstar will be called on for the 2010 Iraq deployment. That group also may include guard members who participated in previous deployments to Iraq, such as Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson L. Early, who was among the 3,000 troops from the division’s 56th Brigade Combat Team sent to Iraq in 2005.
Early said Operation Brightstar covered combat scenarios that the troops likely will encounter in Iraq, including improved technologies for battle tracking.
“Working with the different coalition forces that we have here . . . we get to experience different cultures, and we get to learn how other armies conduct business,” Early said. “We get to take some of their lessons learned and combine them with our lessons learned, and we share that information. The whole team-building experience of working and learning from other armies helps us tremendously.”
Besides the training exercises, Early said, the troops must prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for battle, a lesson he learned from his deployment to Iraq.
“One of the things I would take that would help in this deployment is to help our soldiers with the different types of situations they may encounter over there and teach them how to be resilient in our deployment,” Early said. “Sometimes it can get depressing, even with the communications we have today, (trying to) keep in contact with our families to make sure they’re safe.”
The 36th Infantry Division also has been called to duty in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia. Spurgin said he considers it an honor that the unit has been chosen for so many assignments in the often tumultuous Middle East.
“I think this just points out that the Texas Army National Guard is no longer a strategic reserve,” Spurgin said. “We are now what I would consider an operational force . . . and I think that just illustrates that the professionalism of our citizen soldiers and the relevance that the Texas Army National Guard has that we are being called on by the president and the Department of Defense to be deployed to combat theaters.”
Published on Monday, October 26, 2009
By Regina Dennis (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
The 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard once again will be deployed to Iraq in 2010, and the unit already has jump-started training efforts.
About 170 troops from the division’s Austin headquarters recently wrapped a two-week, multinational training exercise in Cairo, Egypt. Operation Brightstar, a biennial exercise done in collaboration with such countries as France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom, focuses on training troops for combat, counterinsurgency and stabilization operations in a battle zone.
The exercise will be particularly beneficial to the troops as they prepare to be deployed to Iraq next year. Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin, of Big Spring, Texas, said he learned that the 36th Infantry Division would be deployed to Iraq in fall 2010 as the unit was preparing for Operation Brightstar. This will be the division’s fourth Iraq deployment since Sept. 11.
“This exercise is a great opportunity for my staff to start working on all the processes and work that they’ll be asked to do in Iraq,” Spurgin said. “This command-post exercise is very much in line with how we will operate once we get into theater, and it’s a great opportunity for my guardsmen that are here.”
The number of Central Texas troops to be deployed has not been determined, though Spurgin said sending 800 to 1,000 has been discussed. The troops will return to Texas this week, with preparations for Iraq in the coming months as more details of that mission are finalized.
A portion of the troops who participated in Operation Brightstar will be called on for the 2010 Iraq deployment. That group also may include guard members who participated in previous deployments to Iraq, such as Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson L. Early, who was among the 3,000 troops from the division’s 56th Brigade Combat Team sent to Iraq in 2005.
Early said Operation Brightstar covered combat scenarios that the troops likely will encounter in Iraq, including improved technologies for battle tracking.
“Working with the different coalition forces that we have here . . . we get to experience different cultures, and we get to learn how other armies conduct business,” Early said. “We get to take some of their lessons learned and combine them with our lessons learned, and we share that information. The whole team-building experience of working and learning from other armies helps us tremendously.”
Besides the training exercises, Early said, the troops must prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for battle, a lesson he learned from his deployment to Iraq.
“One of the things I would take that would help in this deployment is to help our soldiers with the different types of situations they may encounter over there and teach them how to be resilient in our deployment,” Early said. “Sometimes it can get depressing, even with the communications we have today, (trying to) keep in contact with our families to make sure they’re safe.”
The 36th Infantry Division also has been called to duty in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia. Spurgin said he considers it an honor that the unit has been chosen for so many assignments in the often tumultuous Middle East.
“I think this just points out that the Texas Army National Guard is no longer a strategic reserve,” Spurgin said. “We are now what I would consider an operational force . . . and I think that just illustrates that the professionalism of our citizen soldiers and the relevance that the Texas Army National Guard has that we are being called on by the president and the Department of Defense to be deployed to combat theaters.”
Published on Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Video Lunch: From Vietnam to Afghanistan
As President Obama decides what to do in Afghanistan he must learn the lessons of Vietnam. Daniel Ellsberg is a former US military analyst employed by the RAND Corporation who precipitated a national political controversy in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret Pentagon study of US government decision-making about the Vietnam War, to The New York Times and other newspapers.
Local News: Brazos County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Holds Vigil
Candlelight Vigil in Honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
By: Katy Ralston
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Tuesday night a flicker of light will represent a flicker of hope when candles will burn bright for the victims and survivors of domestic and dating violence.
The Brazos County Coalition Against Domestic Violence will have the 15th annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Brazos Cotton Exchange in Bryan.
"The vigil brings community members together with those who help victims of domestic and dating violence every day in order to learn more about the domestic violence issues impacting our community; honor survivors who are now leading violence-free lives; and remember all of those who have died as a result of domestic violence," said Ashley McCollum, the coalition's, public outreach committee chairwoman.
In 2008, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported 193,505 family violence incidents across Texas. That year, 136 women and 11 children were killed as a result of domestic violence, one of which was on1-year-old Bezni Que King of College Station.
"Unfortunately, it is common and we need to raise the awareness and educate our young ones because we don't want them to fall into the same lines," said University Police Department Crime Prevention Master Police Officer, Kristy Hosea.
According to the BCCADV, domestic violence is defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.
McCollum said the vigil, which drew a crowd of 250 community members last year, fulfills many purposes.
"It is our hope that community members will leave the vigil not only with a deeper understanding of this issue but also with the knowledge of what they can do to help when they suspect or witness an animal, child or adult is being abused," McCollum said. "Survivors and families of victims often find great comfort in attending candlelight vigils. They know everyone in that room cares and wants to help."
Each year the vigil features speakers on different issues relating to domestic abuse. This year's theme is "Family Secrets: Exploring the Link Between Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Animal Abuse."
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported that more than 80 percent of families being treated for child abuse were also involved in animal abuse, and in two-thirds of the cases the abusive parent killed or injured the pet. In one-third of the cases, a child victim continued the cycle of violence by abusing a pet.
Keynote speaker Ashley Wesp, executive director of the Brazos Animal Shelter, will discuss the link between families being treated for child abuse and the rate of animal abuse along with instances where animal cruelty and child abuse or domestic violence occur simultaneously.
Students and faculty on campus have also taken an active role in promoting Domestic Violence Awareness month.
"As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, we have been doing the Silent Witness Program, we just finished doing These Hands Don't Hurt program, and we still have the Silent Witness figurines and the Clothesline Project on display in Rudder," said Merna Jacobsen, director of the Women's Resource Center on campus .
The Silent Witness Program is a national initiative to stop domestic violence, domestic abuse, family abuse and assault on women and kids.
"The silent witnesses are figurines, each which represents an individual who has been murdered by an intimate partner," Jacobsen said. "The purpose of this project is to call attention to how much relationship violence there is and let people know that this goes on in their local community."
Each figurine has a breastplate describing how they were killed. Four of this year's figurines displayed are Aggies.
In the last few years, hundreds of Aggies have participated in the These Hands Don't Hurt project where contributors make a pledge not to raise their hands in relationship violence by leaving their painted handprint on a canvas.
In the Clothesline Project, Aggies can decorate T-shirts with messages about domestic and family violence that are then put on display in Rudder.
Hosea said programs like these and the vigil are important to raise awareness in the community and provide an opportunity for people in these kinds of relationships to see how they can make a change.
"It shows that you are not the only one involved and that there are people out there who can help," Hosea said.
The BCCADV also provides education to teens and college students on healthy and unhealthy dating relationships to give them the information necessary to make good choices in dating and build strong relationships.
"We discuss the importance of respect, trust and communication in relationships; the forms of abuse; indicators of potentially abusive partners; and how to get help if they or someone they know is involved in an abusive relationship," McCollum said.
For more information about domestic violence or to find out how to get help go to www.bccadv.org.
Published on Monday, October 26, 2009
By: Katy Ralston
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Tuesday night a flicker of light will represent a flicker of hope when candles will burn bright for the victims and survivors of domestic and dating violence.
The Brazos County Coalition Against Domestic Violence will have the 15th annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Brazos Cotton Exchange in Bryan.
"The vigil brings community members together with those who help victims of domestic and dating violence every day in order to learn more about the domestic violence issues impacting our community; honor survivors who are now leading violence-free lives; and remember all of those who have died as a result of domestic violence," said Ashley McCollum, the coalition's, public outreach committee chairwoman.
In 2008, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported 193,505 family violence incidents across Texas. That year, 136 women and 11 children were killed as a result of domestic violence, one of which was on1-year-old Bezni Que King of College Station.
"Unfortunately, it is common and we need to raise the awareness and educate our young ones because we don't want them to fall into the same lines," said University Police Department Crime Prevention Master Police Officer, Kristy Hosea.
According to the BCCADV, domestic violence is defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.
McCollum said the vigil, which drew a crowd of 250 community members last year, fulfills many purposes.
"It is our hope that community members will leave the vigil not only with a deeper understanding of this issue but also with the knowledge of what they can do to help when they suspect or witness an animal, child or adult is being abused," McCollum said. "Survivors and families of victims often find great comfort in attending candlelight vigils. They know everyone in that room cares and wants to help."
Each year the vigil features speakers on different issues relating to domestic abuse. This year's theme is "Family Secrets: Exploring the Link Between Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Animal Abuse."
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported that more than 80 percent of families being treated for child abuse were also involved in animal abuse, and in two-thirds of the cases the abusive parent killed or injured the pet. In one-third of the cases, a child victim continued the cycle of violence by abusing a pet.
Keynote speaker Ashley Wesp, executive director of the Brazos Animal Shelter, will discuss the link between families being treated for child abuse and the rate of animal abuse along with instances where animal cruelty and child abuse or domestic violence occur simultaneously.
Students and faculty on campus have also taken an active role in promoting Domestic Violence Awareness month.
"As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, we have been doing the Silent Witness Program, we just finished doing These Hands Don't Hurt program, and we still have the Silent Witness figurines and the Clothesline Project on display in Rudder," said Merna Jacobsen, director of the Women's Resource Center on campus .
The Silent Witness Program is a national initiative to stop domestic violence, domestic abuse, family abuse and assault on women and kids.
"The silent witnesses are figurines, each which represents an individual who has been murdered by an intimate partner," Jacobsen said. "The purpose of this project is to call attention to how much relationship violence there is and let people know that this goes on in their local community."
Each figurine has a breastplate describing how they were killed. Four of this year's figurines displayed are Aggies.
In the last few years, hundreds of Aggies have participated in the These Hands Don't Hurt project where contributors make a pledge not to raise their hands in relationship violence by leaving their painted handprint on a canvas.
In the Clothesline Project, Aggies can decorate T-shirts with messages about domestic and family violence that are then put on display in Rudder.
Hosea said programs like these and the vigil are important to raise awareness in the community and provide an opportunity for people in these kinds of relationships to see how they can make a change.
"It shows that you are not the only one involved and that there are people out there who can help," Hosea said.
The BCCADV also provides education to teens and college students on healthy and unhealthy dating relationships to give them the information necessary to make good choices in dating and build strong relationships.
"We discuss the importance of respect, trust and communication in relationships; the forms of abuse; indicators of potentially abusive partners; and how to get help if they or someone they know is involved in an abusive relationship," McCollum said.
For more information about domestic violence or to find out how to get help go to www.bccadv.org.
Published on Monday, October 26, 2009
Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 26, 2009
The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready for the start of the World Series, and it presents to you its weekly highlight reel as we await the first pitch.
quizas of South Texas Chisme wonders about the US detaining a Mexican human rights activist.
WWJD on Carter Avenue? TXsharon wants to know if Chesapeake Energy or anyone in Fort Worth government has stopped to consider the answer to that question. Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
Bay Area Houston wonders if the Hispanic community will dump their endorsement of Gene Locke.
WhosPlayin lost a fight with the Lewisville ISD, whose board voted unanimously to define media as print and broadcast only and give itself permission to shut out bloggers. (includes video of meeting)
Not sure how to green up your life? Lucky for you, there's a whole series of tips to that topic at Texas Vox, the Voice of Public Citizen in Texas. This week's suggestion:Start a compost pile! Even in your freezer...
The Texas Cloverleaf picks up on the "Pay to Play" system, alive and while with Rick Perry and the TABC.
Problems for the Democrats in 2010? Harry Balczak at McBlogger uncovers something that says that's what we're exactly heading toward.
Dembones at Eye On Williamson Posts on TX-31 Rep. John Carter's latest hypocrisy Carter’s income disclosure problem spoils GOP tactic.
Progressive Coalition candidates for Houston city council (and a Socialist running for mayor) are the subject of PDiddie's post at Brains and Eggs.
Neil at Texas Liberal suggested that voters in Houston consider Progressive Coalition candidates running for Houston City Council. It is hard to see how voting for Democrats year-after-year in city elections has been of great benefit to the people of Houston.
Over at Texas Kaos, libbyshaw provides a public service by providing a Republican hypocrisy score card. Check out her Texas GOP Hall of Hypocrites. You can't tell the hyprocrites without a scorecard. Wait, you can almost. If there is an "R" beside their names, the odds are better than even....
Off the Kuff notes that a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit between Democrats and the Harris County Tax Assessor's office over allegations of voter suppression.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Tim Wise: On White Privilege
For years, acclaimed author and speaker Tim Wise has been electrifying audiences on the college lecture circuit with his deeply personal take on whiteness and white privilege. In this spellbinding lecture, the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son offers a unique, inside-out view of race and racism in America. Expertly overcoming the defensiveness that often surrounds these issues, Wise provides a non-confrontational explanation of white privilege and the damage it does not only to people of color, but to white people as well. This is an invaluable classroom resource: an ideal introduction to the social construction of racial identities, and a critical new tool for exploring the often invoked - but seldom explained - concept of white privilege.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Week in Headlines
Activism
Ten Years After SeattleMedia
Congress' CALM Act Aims to Quiet TV Commercials
Foreign Policy
Getting Out of Afghanistan
War and Peace
Sorting Out the Facts of Afghanistan
Veterans Issues
Senators Seek Review of Military's Personality-Disorder Discharges
Labor
Supermarket Janitors Demand Green Cleaning Standards
Health
Mercury In Blood Of Autistic Kids No Higher Than Normal
Environment
Reality Check From the Brink of Extinction
Reproductive Rights
Oklahoma Abortion Law ‘Like Undressing Women in Public’
Women’s Issues
Female Circumcision Still a Vote Winner
GLBT Issues
Senate Passes Hate-Crimes Measure
Race and Racism
What Would You Do? Multiple Perspectives on an Urban Encounter
Local News: Thirty Candidates Being Considered for President of Texas A&M
30 Considered for A&M Presidency
By Vimal Patel
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Texas A&M has more than 30 candidates for the university's presidency, including nationally recognized names and individuals who have been "highly placed" in federal government, officials said Thursday.
Not on the list are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a former Aggie yell leader, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a former Texas A&M president, said Richard Box, chair of the 16-person search committee looking for the leader.
Thursday was the soft deadline for applications, though Box said "great candidates" would still be considered if they applied.
The candidates are from academia, business and government, though a breakdown wasn't immediately available, Box said. He disclosed no other details, including where in federal government they may have served.
"If I did that, I'd almost be telling you who they were," said Box, an Austin dentist.
The applicants will remain secret throughout the process, as they did in the 2007 search for Texas A&M president, Box said.
"It allows them to be considered as serious candidates without putting their current positions in jeopardy," Box said.
The search began in July following the controversial resignation, widely believed to be forced, of Elsa Murano as the university's 23rd president.
Murano's departure came after the public release of a February performance evaluation of her by Texas A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney. The former president rejected the review in a response to the Board of Regents.
Gates and Perry, both rumored to have been in the running, were each contacted by the search committee after their names were among more than 200 nominations.
Gates said he wanted to move back to Washington state with his wife when he finishes as secretary of defense, and Perry is focused on winning re-election, Box said.
Anyone could nominate an individual for the presidency. A candidate, meanwhile, is a nominee whose resume has been examined and who expressed serious interest in the position when contacted, Box said.
The committee is working on a flexible timeline of January to forward three or four names to the Texas A&M System Board of Regents, which is expected to make the final call in February.
Box is a member of the nine-member board. Two other regents also are on the search committee, which also consists of students, former students, faculty and administrators.
Perry's influence has been suspected in past Texas A&M presidential searches. He was said in 2002 to have supported Phil Gramm, who was never officially confirmed as a candidate or vetted by the search committee.
Box, before it was announced last year that he would become a regent, was treasurer to the governor's campaign fund, Texans for Rick Perry. Box said Perry has had no improper influence in the current search.
"I think it's been blown out of proportion," Box said. "He has not played any role in this search process at all. He cares about Texas A&M and he wants Texas A&M to have a good president. That's the extent of it."
Published on Friday, October 23, 2009
By Vimal Patel
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Texas A&M has more than 30 candidates for the university's presidency, including nationally recognized names and individuals who have been "highly placed" in federal government, officials said Thursday.
Not on the list are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a former Aggie yell leader, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a former Texas A&M president, said Richard Box, chair of the 16-person search committee looking for the leader.
Thursday was the soft deadline for applications, though Box said "great candidates" would still be considered if they applied.
The candidates are from academia, business and government, though a breakdown wasn't immediately available, Box said. He disclosed no other details, including where in federal government they may have served.
"If I did that, I'd almost be telling you who they were," said Box, an Austin dentist.
The applicants will remain secret throughout the process, as they did in the 2007 search for Texas A&M president, Box said.
"It allows them to be considered as serious candidates without putting their current positions in jeopardy," Box said.
The search began in July following the controversial resignation, widely believed to be forced, of Elsa Murano as the university's 23rd president.
Murano's departure came after the public release of a February performance evaluation of her by Texas A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney. The former president rejected the review in a response to the Board of Regents.
Gates and Perry, both rumored to have been in the running, were each contacted by the search committee after their names were among more than 200 nominations.
Gates said he wanted to move back to Washington state with his wife when he finishes as secretary of defense, and Perry is focused on winning re-election, Box said.
Anyone could nominate an individual for the presidency. A candidate, meanwhile, is a nominee whose resume has been examined and who expressed serious interest in the position when contacted, Box said.
The committee is working on a flexible timeline of January to forward three or four names to the Texas A&M System Board of Regents, which is expected to make the final call in February.
Box is a member of the nine-member board. Two other regents also are on the search committee, which also consists of students, former students, faculty and administrators.
Perry's influence has been suspected in past Texas A&M presidential searches. He was said in 2002 to have supported Phil Gramm, who was never officially confirmed as a candidate or vetted by the search committee.
Box, before it was announced last year that he would become a regent, was treasurer to the governor's campaign fund, Texans for Rick Perry. Box said Perry has had no improper influence in the current search.
"I think it's been blown out of proportion," Box said. "He has not played any role in this search process at all. He cares about Texas A&M and he wants Texas A&M to have a good president. That's the extent of it."
Published on Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tonight on Biased Transmission
Biased Transmission, 6-7pm, October 21, 2009, 89.1FM KEOS. Our guest will be Hugh Stearns. The discussion will focus on the upcoming ballot measure to decide the fate of the red light cameras in College Station, and the influence of outside corporate interests on the vote.
So tune in this Wednesday, and every day, but just this week, plan to call in and pledge your support! Listen to Biased Transmission tonight on 89.1FM KEOS College Station-Bryan from 6-7pm, to hear Teddy Wilson, Michael Alvard, Danny Yeager, and Ann Preston. If you have a question or comment you can post it here, or call the KEOS Bell Studios: 979-779-5367.
Biased Transmission on Facebook
Biased Transmission Online Archive of Shows
Aggies for Choice: 365 Days of Choice
Local activists are uniting to send a clear message to the community: We support Planned Parenthood and we support the right to choose!Join with other Aggies for CHOICE this Thursday in the Academic Plaza from 2:00-4:00pm! Feel free to bring signs with positive messages! Examples of this are found on the Facebook event page! We are liaising with Planned Parenthood on this so be sure to email and ask about any slogans you think might be controversial!
Spread the word! Share our message with other like-minded community members. We are here to support reproductive rights, accurate health information, and the volunteers and staff of Planned Parenthood in Bryan.
Note: you do NOT have to be an Aggie to attend this rally! Community members are welcome too!
-Supported by local activists and Fair and Feminist, a locally produced radio show discussing woman’s issues in the Brazos Valley. Fair and Feminist airs Sundays at 6pm on KEOS 89.1 and at LiveStream.com
Video Lunch: Women Can't Lose
Anti-choice politicians and their allies could take away insurance coverage for abortion-care in the new health-care system. See what they're saying about health-care reform, and then visit We Must Win to take action. Tell your members on Congress that women can't afford to lose.
Local News: Governor Perry and Secretary Gates Not on List
Presidential Search Committee Says Perry, Gates Not Possible Candidates
By: Travis Lawson
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gov. Rick Perry are not possible candidates for the new president of Texas A&M University, said the chairman for the search committee.
"Both were contacted and Gov. Perry is in the middle of a campaign for re-election and Dr. Gates is the secretary of defense so at this point in time that is where we are with both of those individuals," Box said.
Box said when looking at candidates' academic record, Gates did not fit the criteria.
"There was a concern about the academic qualifications and whether the person is from academia or business," Box said. "I pointed out that Dr. Gates came out of the government, and he would not be considered an academic."
Box also said he could not disclose any candidates for president because of the effect it may have on their career or reputation.
"We have a confidentiality agreement with people under consideration," Box said.
The 15 members on the Presidential Search Committee are expected to deliver three top candidates in early January 2010. The committee was assembled in late July after former president Elsa Murano resigned.
Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By: Travis Lawson
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gov. Rick Perry are not possible candidates for the new president of Texas A&M University, said the chairman for the search committee.
"Both were contacted and Gov. Perry is in the middle of a campaign for re-election and Dr. Gates is the secretary of defense so at this point in time that is where we are with both of those individuals," Box said.
Box said when looking at candidates' academic record, Gates did not fit the criteria.
"There was a concern about the academic qualifications and whether the person is from academia or business," Box said. "I pointed out that Dr. Gates came out of the government, and he would not be considered an academic."
Box also said he could not disclose any candidates for president because of the effect it may have on their career or reputation.
"We have a confidentiality agreement with people under consideration," Box said.
The 15 members on the Presidential Search Committee are expected to deliver three top candidates in early January 2010. The committee was assembled in late July after former president Elsa Murano resigned.
Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Teaching in Aggieland: Infrequently Asked Questions - How to Talk to a Professor
Dear college students,I present you with a guide to speaking to your professors. Really, it's a guide to give you the best chance at getting what you want. Hopefully, you want knowledge, inspiration, respect, and to be challenged. But this will give you a good shot at getting a re-do on a grade too.
10 things to keep in mind when speaking to your prof in office hours
1) If you missed class, please don't ask if you "missed anything important"
2) Approach me with respect. Even if you're positive that something was graded wrong, be respectful. We are humans, sometimes we add numbers wrong. Sometimes we can even be persuaded that a test question was a bad question. But only if you begin with respect. Understand that I am in the position of authority.
3) Talking to your prof. is often student's first chance at learning professional communciation. Don't say things to your prof that you wouldn't want your parents or boss to overhear.
4) Don't lie, and understand that we are going to be suspicious that you are lying. It comes with the territory. A colleague of mine had a student fake a pregnancy to get out of a bad midterm paper. At the end of the semester, other students teased him "I can't believe you fell for that. She's 'gotten pregnant' every semester since she's been here!" If there's something you can bring me a note for, do it. If i don't ask for it, you're golden. Please don't be offended if I do.
5) Don't call me names. This means that if you think a test was unfair, don't call ME unfair. Say that the question was unclear, or that you would like to understand the question better. Don't put me on the defensive.
6) Don't start a discussion with what you want. Build up to it. "I have been reviewing my assignment and had a couple questions" is so much better than sitting down and saying "I want an A on this."
7) Use provisionalism in your language. Say things like "maybe" "probably" or "it seems."
8) Take responsibility. Guess what, I was in college too, and I know that some days you sleep through your alarm and miss a paper deadline. Tell me, take responsibility. I'm much more likely to give you a break
9) Don't argue. If you present your point of view, and I respectfully disagree, that's it. Cut your losses and go home. You're not going to get anywhere by arguing. For example: If you think a grade was unfair and you say "the study guide wasn't posted until the night before" and I say "actually, it was posted 2 weeks before, and I sent an email out to let you know when it was. It's important to read my emails." Pack up, smile, say thank you, and go home.
10) Don't email the department head about something you haven't even discussed with me. This can't happen in the workplace, it can't happen here. If you want to appeal a decision I've made, okay. It would be courteous to let me know, but at least have the foresight to discuss it with me and let me have a chance to deal with it.
*Note: Ms. Litia is a pseudonym. It stands for liberal-teaching-in-aggieland. Mostly because I want to be honest and I don’t want to lose my job.
Video Lunch: President Obama Speaks at Texas A&M
President Obama speaks about volunteerism and public service in College Station at Rudder Auditorium.
Local News: College Station Set to Vote on Red Light Cameras
Red Light Camera Vote Looms
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Supporters of College Station's red light cameras say they're a matter of safety.
Opponents say the issue's all about rights.
This week, voters in the city will begin the process of settling the matter.
Early voting begins Monday on a ballot measure that would ban the cameras from the city. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Voters across the state are also being asked to decide the fate of 11 proposed amendments to the state's constitution.
The Red Zone
College Station Mayor Pro Tem Dave Ruesink said the overwhelming majority of people he's heard from on the issue are in favor of keeping the cameras.
"I've had a lot of people tell me that they got a $75 ticket for a rolling stop but will still vote in favor of it," he said.
Ruesink said there is a lot of misinformation about the red light cameras, such as the notion that the city sees them as a tool to make money.
"That is not at all the reason we incorporated the camera system to begin with," he said. "We are watching the uses very carefully, of course, to be sure we're in the lawful use of the money."
Ruesink said the city's portion of the money collected from the caught-on-camera citations goes toward safety measures that would not otherwise be funded.
The cameras, which began snapping pictures of red light runners in February 2008, are operated through a long-term contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions.
Revenue from the cameras -- more than $1.4 million so far -- is split between the state and the city, with the state's portion going to fund trauma centers. The city spends its half on transportation improvements, such as LED traffic signals, battery-powered backups to operate the signals when power goes out and pedestrian crossing timers.
The city has collected more than $435,000 from camera-issued citations since the program began.
Crossing the Line
The cameras activate when a vehicle enters the intersection after the signal turns red. The camera records two images and a 10-second video to document the violation, which is reviewed by a police officer and, if warranted, a citation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Drivers have 30 days to pay the $75 fine or request an administrative adjudication hearing, or face a $25 late fee.
The law assumes the owner of the vehicle is driving when the violation occurs, so the owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying the fine even if he wasn't driving. The law allows the transfer of liability only if the identified owner didn't own the vehicle at the time the violation occurred, the owner is in the business of renting or leasing vehicles, or if the vehicle was stolen, according to the city's Web site.
A Different Light
Two groups have formed to lobby for voter support: Take Back Your City was created after red light camera critic Jim Ash collected enough signatures to send the measure to the ballot, and Keep College Station Safe, which is led by a consultant hired by American Traffic Solutions.
Take Back Your City member Cliff Eggers said he worked with Ash to collect signatures during the petition drive and thinks voters should have had a say in the matter from the beginning.
Eggers said he opposes the cameras because residents have been stripped of their due process rights to trial and appeal.
"I think it's a gateway to other infractions on your constitutional rights," Eggers said,
Emily Reiter, the leading voice of residents in favor of the red light cameras, said members of Keep College Station Safe have been busy trying to spread the word about the value of the cameras.
"This is such a matter of safety for our community," she said. "It's obviously making a better and safer community for all of us."
The cameras only have to save one life to be worthwhile, she said.
"We really can't let a vocal minority dictate what happens," she said.
Published on Sunday, October 18, 2009
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Supporters of College Station's red light cameras say they're a matter of safety.
Opponents say the issue's all about rights.
This week, voters in the city will begin the process of settling the matter.
Early voting begins Monday on a ballot measure that would ban the cameras from the city. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Voters across the state are also being asked to decide the fate of 11 proposed amendments to the state's constitution.
The Red Zone
College Station Mayor Pro Tem Dave Ruesink said the overwhelming majority of people he's heard from on the issue are in favor of keeping the cameras.
"I've had a lot of people tell me that they got a $75 ticket for a rolling stop but will still vote in favor of it," he said.
Ruesink said there is a lot of misinformation about the red light cameras, such as the notion that the city sees them as a tool to make money.
"That is not at all the reason we incorporated the camera system to begin with," he said. "We are watching the uses very carefully, of course, to be sure we're in the lawful use of the money."
Ruesink said the city's portion of the money collected from the caught-on-camera citations goes toward safety measures that would not otherwise be funded.
The cameras, which began snapping pictures of red light runners in February 2008, are operated through a long-term contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions.
Revenue from the cameras -- more than $1.4 million so far -- is split between the state and the city, with the state's portion going to fund trauma centers. The city spends its half on transportation improvements, such as LED traffic signals, battery-powered backups to operate the signals when power goes out and pedestrian crossing timers.
The city has collected more than $435,000 from camera-issued citations since the program began.
Crossing the Line
The cameras activate when a vehicle enters the intersection after the signal turns red. The camera records two images and a 10-second video to document the violation, which is reviewed by a police officer and, if warranted, a citation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Drivers have 30 days to pay the $75 fine or request an administrative adjudication hearing, or face a $25 late fee.
The law assumes the owner of the vehicle is driving when the violation occurs, so the owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying the fine even if he wasn't driving. The law allows the transfer of liability only if the identified owner didn't own the vehicle at the time the violation occurred, the owner is in the business of renting or leasing vehicles, or if the vehicle was stolen, according to the city's Web site.
A Different Light
Two groups have formed to lobby for voter support: Take Back Your City was created after red light camera critic Jim Ash collected enough signatures to send the measure to the ballot, and Keep College Station Safe, which is led by a consultant hired by American Traffic Solutions.
Take Back Your City member Cliff Eggers said he worked with Ash to collect signatures during the petition drive and thinks voters should have had a say in the matter from the beginning.
Eggers said he opposes the cameras because residents have been stripped of their due process rights to trial and appeal.
"I think it's a gateway to other infractions on your constitutional rights," Eggers said,
Emily Reiter, the leading voice of residents in favor of the red light cameras, said members of Keep College Station Safe have been busy trying to spread the word about the value of the cameras.
"This is such a matter of safety for our community," she said. "It's obviously making a better and safer community for all of us."
The cameras only have to save one life to be worthwhile, she said.
"We really can't let a vocal minority dictate what happens," she said.
Published on Sunday, October 18, 2009
Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 19, 2009
The Texas Progressive Alliance celebrates the start of early voting for the 2009 elections with its always on time weekly blog roundup.
Human tragedies are mounting in the Barnett Shale as study after study shows high levels of toxins in the air. The only ones who can't seem to find anything wrong are the regulators. TXsharon asks, "Will the EPA intervene in Texas?" at Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
Why did the US forcibly detain a Mexican human rights advocate? CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants to know.
Bay Area Houston says Tort Reformers in Texas suck.
The Texas Cloverleaf presents the Kay Coward Bailey Hutchison plan for health care mediocrity.
Off the Kuff takes a look at Cameron Todd Willingham's supposed confession, and finds the evidence for it lacking.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson states that no matter what you hear Transportation schemes are continuing, despite “death†of the TTC. EOW also had a guest post this week on the PEC, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC): Who’s Electing Your Board Representative?.
"Other big names" may enter the Republican primary for governor if Perry and Hutchison can't get their acts together, according to a right-wing talker in D-FW and passed along by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.
The folks at Texas Vox would like to thank everyone who participated in Blog Action Day on Climate Change last week. Following that trend, check out our round-up of Texas Blog Action day posts, let us know who we're missing, and read up on the Business of Climate Change.
WhosPlayin posted an update on gas drilling in Lewisville, and also breaks the story that a local group is looking to ban smoking in public places in Lewisville.
refinish69 reopens Doing My Part For The Left with the latest installment of his series Homesless in Austin-An Insider's View Part 7.
Mean Rachel got to see President Obama speak in College Station on Friday.
We have known for a long time that Governor Perry is a bottom feeder, but letting an innocent man die and then refusing to get at the truth about his execution? Well, I would not want that on my conscience. Let Libby Shaw bring you up to speed in his posting, All the Good Hair on the Planet Won't Make the Cover Up Go Away.
Neil at Texas Liberal ran a picture he took this week of the confluence on White Oak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou in Downtown Houston. This spot, important in the founding of Houston, is still a place of connection. If connection could be found in the hot and Hell-like Houston of 175 years ago, we can find connection even in tough circumstances.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Covering the Protest at Texas A&M
Left of College Station will be covering the protest and counter-protest at Texas A&M University during President Barack Obama’s speech to the Points of Light Institute.
Stay tuned for a report on the day’s events, photographs from around campus and the protests, and video interviews from both the protest and the counter-protests.
To follow live updates from the protest follow Left of College Station on twitter.
To follow live updates from the protest follow Left of College Station on twitter.
Video Lunch: Companions for Choice Part 2 of 2
Companions for Choice examines the role of volunteer escorts in the on-going battle over abortion rights. Shot at the height of Operation Rescue's direct action campaign against the city's women's health care facilities in 1992, Companions of Choice documents the struggle to preserve a woman's right to choose. Combining interviews with pro-life and pro-choice advocates and actualities of public demonstrations, Companions of Choice offers new insight into the tensions between religious values, individual freedom, and health care policy.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Coalition for Life and 40 Days of Harassment
“The idea is to bring awareness in our community and an end to abortion in the Brazos County community.” The mission of the Coalition for Life, as articulated in a Texas A&M Battalion article by communications director Bobby Reynoso, is not as clear as the Coalition for Life would like you to believe. While raising awareness might be a part of their mission, the large part of the mission harassing patients outside of Planned Parenthood. While ending abortion might be a part of their mission, they oppose ever policy and program that actually reduces abortion. When a woman walks into the Planned Parenthood in Bryan the Coalition members and protesters often say that Planned Parenthood does not care about women, however, the reality is that Planned Parenthood (and other reproductive health care facilities) do more to meet women’s health care needs than the Coalition and the protesters ever have.
Over the course of forty days in the fall the Coalition organizes a protest that also takes place at reproductive health care facilities (primarily Planned Parenthood clinics) throughout the country. The protest is staged again in the spring during Lint, which was the time period of the original protest. During what is called 40 Days for Life, protesters stand outside of the clinic for twenty-fours a day. They hold signs, pass out pamphlets, and talk to anyone that will listen. Reynoso said that the protesters are “there to educate people, make sure that people have taken an honest look to what abortion does to women.” However, what the protesters say about abortion, family planning, and Planned Parenthood is anything but honest.
The Coalition for Life reported to the Battalion “abortion rates have dropped by 28 percent in the Bryan-College Station community since 2004, and more than 1,500 cases have been documented where mothers said that, because of the actions of the volunteers, they chose not to have an abortion.” However, the Coalition’s number conflict with the facts, and they have not produced and evidence or documentation that supports their claims. According to Planned Parenthood their records show that the numbers of all of their services, included abortions and other health care services, have increased during the time period that the Coalition claims they have declined. While the Coalition claims that there have been 1,500 cases of women choosing not to have an abortion as a direct result of protesters, what becomes clear from talking to reproductive health care professionals is that usually women return to the clinic after the rare occurrence that they choose not to have an abortion. This is actually dangerous for the women, because abortions are safer when they are performed as earlier as possible into the pregnancy.
The truth about these protests is that the Coalition and their supports are not interested in the truth or raising the awareness about anything but their particular ideology and narrow interpretation of Christian dogma.
Over the course of forty days in the fall the Coalition organizes a protest that also takes place at reproductive health care facilities (primarily Planned Parenthood clinics) throughout the country. The protest is staged again in the spring during Lint, which was the time period of the original protest. During what is called 40 Days for Life, protesters stand outside of the clinic for twenty-fours a day. They hold signs, pass out pamphlets, and talk to anyone that will listen. Reynoso said that the protesters are “there to educate people, make sure that people have taken an honest look to what abortion does to women.” However, what the protesters say about abortion, family planning, and Planned Parenthood is anything but honest.
The Coalition for Life reported to the Battalion “abortion rates have dropped by 28 percent in the Bryan-College Station community since 2004, and more than 1,500 cases have been documented where mothers said that, because of the actions of the volunteers, they chose not to have an abortion.” However, the Coalition’s number conflict with the facts, and they have not produced and evidence or documentation that supports their claims. According to Planned Parenthood their records show that the numbers of all of their services, included abortions and other health care services, have increased during the time period that the Coalition claims they have declined. While the Coalition claims that there have been 1,500 cases of women choosing not to have an abortion as a direct result of protesters, what becomes clear from talking to reproductive health care professionals is that usually women return to the clinic after the rare occurrence that they choose not to have an abortion. This is actually dangerous for the women, because abortions are safer when they are performed as earlier as possible into the pregnancy.
The truth about these protests is that the Coalition and their supports are not interested in the truth or raising the awareness about anything but their particular ideology and narrow interpretation of Christian dogma.
Tonight on Biased Transmission
Our guests tonight on Biased Transmission will be three slam poets who will appear at the Rock the Republic spectacle that will take place at several venues in downtown Bryan October 15-17. The poets are: Buck Hogue, Owen Gilbert and Stephen Sargent. Buck won the recent slam poetry contest at the Village Cafe to represent the area at the spectacle. Owen is the ninth ranked slam poet in the country. Stephen is a popular slam poet in the area and is one of the organizers of Rock the Republic. Find out about the spectacle and hear these excellent poets recite their poems.
So tune in this Wednesday, and every day, but just this week, plan to call in and pledge your support! Listen to Biased Transmission tonight on 89.1FM KEOS College Station-Bryan from 6-7pm, to hear Teddy Wilson, Michael Alvard, Danny Yeager, and Ann Preston. If you have a question or comment you can post it here, or call the KEOS Bell Studios: 979-779-5367.
Biased Transmission on Facebook
Biased Transmission Online Archive of Shows
Rock the Republic:
Rock The Republic (RTR) is NOT a festival; it’s a Spectacle of Sight and Sound! Rock The Republic is a three night event featuring the best up and coming musical acts, spoken word performers, and artists from the Lone Star State. Never before has an event so prominently fused the world of rock & roll with the dynamic slam poetry movement. And unlike many music “festivals” that rush bands on and off of stages, Rock The Republic will feature concert length performances allowing participants to fully enjoy their favorite artists ... A mind blowing experience that leaves you asking; what just happened to me? In addition to bringing you amazing musical performances RTR will feature the All-Star Poetry slam with ten of the best performance poets you’ve ever experienced, Stomp The Republic where the best step teams in Texas will take the stage hostage, The RTR Beat Expo where the best producers in the Lone Star State will showcase the sickest tracks this side of the Mason-Dixon and more!
Local News: Aggie Allies Support GLBT Community at Texas A&M
Aggie Allies Offer Nonjudgmental Listening Ear and Open Door
Students, Faculty and Staff Provide Equality Support
By: Melissa Appel
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
With the goal of uniting the Aggie family, Aggie Allies provide an open door and a listening ear to students who wish to speak about gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues.
"Allies is a safe-zone program," said Brad Dressler, chairman of Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "We're dedicated to providing visible support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Texas A&M and beyond."
Allies can be recognized by the "Aggie Ally" placard outside of their office or dorm room. Students can also search for an Ally by visiting the Aggie Allies Web site at allies.tamu.edu.
"The majority of feedback we get from the GLBT community is that seeing the Aggie Allies placards all over campus and knowing that a support network exists helps to put their minds at ease," Dressler said. "Students often tell us that they feel comforted knowing that when they see an Aggie Ally placard, they can let their guard down and not have to worry about prejudice or being judged by that individual. The placard signifies that person is an Aggie Ally and will be supportive."
"I wanted to know how I could be a better advisor and a better resource for my students," said Rebecca Taylor, an advisor in Student Activities and member of the Aggie Allies Executive Committee.
"I became an Ally because I believe that there needs to be visible support for the GLBT community on this campus," Associate Director of Student Life Studies Darby Roberts said. She serves on the Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "When I started, which was shortly after it began, it was particularly important to provide that support because there wasn't really that effort across campus."
By becoming an Aggie Ally, individuals are not signing up to be activists or counselors. Instead, the primary focus of an Ally is simply to show acceptance to those with whom they speak.
"You are committing to be someone who is willing to provide a safe space," Taylor said. "We ask that our Allies are role models about being open and accepting and someone who challenges homophobia when appropriate."
Aggie Allies is an organization started in 1993 through the Department of Student Life and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Resource Center. The group consists of faculty, staff and students who have volunteered time and services to support Aggies in the GLBT community.
Aggie Allies has 768 members, which represent a mix of faculty, staff and students. More than half of the Allies identify themselves as heterosexual.
People interested in becoming Allies are first asked to attend an Advance, the three-hour workshop covers topics such as terminology, situations members of the GLBT community encounter, coming out and discrimination.
"The idea is that you're advancing your knowledge about the GLBT community," Dressler said. "I've yet to know anyone who has gone through it that hasn't learned quite a few things."
Allies express a variety of personal reasons for becoming a member, all with the goal of serving others.
With almost 800 members, Aggie Allies are a strong network of individuals with little turnover beyond graduation and job changes. Nonetheless, Allies are always looking for more individuals to get involved.
"We're really doing a big push on outreach," Taylor said. "We're trying to assess our strongest population of Allies and where we can do more outreach-whether in certain departments or places on campus."
In all of their actions, the primary purpose of uniting Aggies remains the goal of all Allies.
"We're basically saying if you need someone to talk to, we're here," Dressler said. "Aggie Allies is about being nonjudgmental and supportive."
In recognition of the actions of Allies and in an effort to increase community awareness, the GLBT Resource Center and Aggie Allies are hosting Ally Appreciation Days this week. Thursday there will be a GLBT Aggies Resource Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Koldus Plaza. Sixteen GLBT-friendly organizations will be showing the variety of resources and support available in the A&M and Bryan-College Station community. Organizations include churches, on-campus organizations and the Brazos Valley Community Health Center, which will be offering free, confidential HIV testing.
Allies will gather for the Allies Across Campus Meet and Greet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Everyone is invited to attend the event, where Allies will provide a presentation, recognize a few specific Allies, and discuss future plans and events. Light refreshments will be provided.
Published on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Students, Faculty and Staff Provide Equality Support
By: Melissa Appel
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
With the goal of uniting the Aggie family, Aggie Allies provide an open door and a listening ear to students who wish to speak about gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues.
"Allies is a safe-zone program," said Brad Dressler, chairman of Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "We're dedicated to providing visible support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Texas A&M and beyond."
Allies can be recognized by the "Aggie Ally" placard outside of their office or dorm room. Students can also search for an Ally by visiting the Aggie Allies Web site at allies.tamu.edu.
"The majority of feedback we get from the GLBT community is that seeing the Aggie Allies placards all over campus and knowing that a support network exists helps to put their minds at ease," Dressler said. "Students often tell us that they feel comforted knowing that when they see an Aggie Ally placard, they can let their guard down and not have to worry about prejudice or being judged by that individual. The placard signifies that person is an Aggie Ally and will be supportive."
"I wanted to know how I could be a better advisor and a better resource for my students," said Rebecca Taylor, an advisor in Student Activities and member of the Aggie Allies Executive Committee.
"I became an Ally because I believe that there needs to be visible support for the GLBT community on this campus," Associate Director of Student Life Studies Darby Roberts said. She serves on the Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "When I started, which was shortly after it began, it was particularly important to provide that support because there wasn't really that effort across campus."
By becoming an Aggie Ally, individuals are not signing up to be activists or counselors. Instead, the primary focus of an Ally is simply to show acceptance to those with whom they speak.
"You are committing to be someone who is willing to provide a safe space," Taylor said. "We ask that our Allies are role models about being open and accepting and someone who challenges homophobia when appropriate."
Aggie Allies is an organization started in 1993 through the Department of Student Life and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Resource Center. The group consists of faculty, staff and students who have volunteered time and services to support Aggies in the GLBT community.
Aggie Allies has 768 members, which represent a mix of faculty, staff and students. More than half of the Allies identify themselves as heterosexual.
People interested in becoming Allies are first asked to attend an Advance, the three-hour workshop covers topics such as terminology, situations members of the GLBT community encounter, coming out and discrimination.
"The idea is that you're advancing your knowledge about the GLBT community," Dressler said. "I've yet to know anyone who has gone through it that hasn't learned quite a few things."
Allies express a variety of personal reasons for becoming a member, all with the goal of serving others.
With almost 800 members, Aggie Allies are a strong network of individuals with little turnover beyond graduation and job changes. Nonetheless, Allies are always looking for more individuals to get involved.
"We're really doing a big push on outreach," Taylor said. "We're trying to assess our strongest population of Allies and where we can do more outreach-whether in certain departments or places on campus."
In all of their actions, the primary purpose of uniting Aggies remains the goal of all Allies.
"We're basically saying if you need someone to talk to, we're here," Dressler said. "Aggie Allies is about being nonjudgmental and supportive."
In recognition of the actions of Allies and in an effort to increase community awareness, the GLBT Resource Center and Aggie Allies are hosting Ally Appreciation Days this week. Thursday there will be a GLBT Aggies Resource Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Koldus Plaza. Sixteen GLBT-friendly organizations will be showing the variety of resources and support available in the A&M and Bryan-College Station community. Organizations include churches, on-campus organizations and the Brazos Valley Community Health Center, which will be offering free, confidential HIV testing.
Allies will gather for the Allies Across Campus Meet and Greet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Everyone is invited to attend the event, where Allies will provide a presentation, recognize a few specific Allies, and discuss future plans and events. Light refreshments will be provided.
Published on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Video Lunch: Companions for Choice Part 1 of 2
Companions for Choice examines the role of volunteer escorts in the on-going battle over abortion rights. Shot at the height of Operation Rescue's direct action campaign against the city's women's health care facilities in 1992, Companions of Choice documents the struggle to preserve a woman's right to choose. Combining interviews with pro-life and pro-choice advocates and actualities of public demonstrations, Companions of Choice offers new insight into the tensions between religious values, individual freedom, and health care policy.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Teaching in Aggieland: Fairness and Bias in the Classroom
Sometimes, I have a really hard time being "fair" to my students.I know, it's a shock, but teachers are actually PEOPLE. We have biases, subjectivities, and pre-dispositions.
Let me give you an example: One student emailed me that she had to miss class because her son is sick. She is a student, has a job, a son, is in the reserves, and has a husband who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. When a child is sick, you can't take him/her to daycare, so she has no choice but to stay home with him. Technically, this isn't a university excused absence. If she went to a doctor and got a note, I could submit that documentation and it would satisfy my superior. But there's no way on earth I'm about to email this woman and tell her she has to go to the dr., if she can get an appointment, and likely maker her pay a co-pay, so she can verify that her son does indeed have a cold and needs to stay home. Could she be taking advantage of me? Certainly.
Let me give you another example.
A student missed two class periods because of her sister's wedding. Students in the small course I teach are allowed 3 unexcused absences (if you knew what class you'd understand why the req't). So, naturally, when she informed me that she would be missing the next two classes b/c of sis' wedding, I said "ok cool, have fun, turn your assignment in before you leave." Upon her return, she brought me a copy of the wedding invitation. "Oh, I don't need this" I remarked and handed it back to her. "It's not excused, so I don't need documentation." It is NOT university, department, or course policy to excuse people for weddings. I'm doing what I'm told.
Long story short, student throws a tantrum in an email to my boss. She says that not excusing the absence is like me telling her that her sister's wedding isn't important. Seriously the email is like 5 paragraphs long. Keep in mind, she hasn't actually talked to ME about any of this. Boss forwards me the email, and suggests I excuse one of the two absences and I take her advice.
Can I just say, the University DOES think your sister's wedding is important, that's why you can miss 3 times, no questions asked. And if you are out of sick/vacation days at a job, you can't appeal your boss' decision to not let you off by whining to that person's boss. Bad idea.
One more example: I have another student who receives a letter from the athletic department excusing him of classes to clean and prepare equipment for the football team. And I have to accept it as an excused absence.
As these stories illustrate, the University's policies regarding absences are gendered. That is, they cater to the male student population. I would argue that both males and females would benefit from a parent absence leave policy. But I digress. I was telling you how biased I am.
So, you can see, in the first story, I had no trouble excusing the absence without documentation. In the second, I followed policy and was not rewarded. In the third, I followed policy even though I vehemently disagree with it.
And there we have it, the truth, pure and simple: I am biased. And easily persuaded by good stories.
Sometimes I think I favor racial or ethnic minorities in the classroom. I can't help it, as much as I try.
Women and latinos and blacks and immigrants spent SO LONG outside of the classroom looking in, I want to encourage them to succeed as much as possible. If you have a child, or share a car with your family, or work full-time, you're going to get more compassion from me when things come up. I expect a lot from my students, and if you work 10 hours a week and someone else (e.g. parents) are footing your bill for college, apartment, keggers, football tickets, books, etc., I expect that you manage your time effectively. You are privileged. That includes the athletes in class, some of which do, and some complain non-stop about how busy they are. When they do, I want to tell them to get a grip and spend a day in the first woman's shoes.
*Note: Ms. Litia is a pseudonym. It stands for liberal-teaching-in-aggieland. Mostly because I want to be honest and I don’t want to lose my job.
Local News: Queer Studies at Texas A&M
Queer Studies at A&M Benefits Members
By: Katy Ralston
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
The Queer Studies working group, a branch of the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities, meet once a month to provide an outlet for faculty and students to voice opinions and examine perspectives.
The Glasscock Center working groups are topically oriented discussion forums for faculty members and graduate students interested in the same topic to interact with others.
The Queer Studies working group focuses on the meaning of sexual identities, performances, discourses, practices and representations throughout history and in everyday life.
As a group, they meet in different places on campus to discuss and peer-review works in progress by group members related to queer theory. The group collectively studies books and films dealing with queer studies and also engages in active dialogue rejecting and destabilizing ideas about sexuality, gender and race.
"I have had a chance to have my work by the people in the Queer Studies group and critiqued, which is a great help to my own scholarship," said member Christopher Carmona, an English graduate student. "It has certainly added to my theoretical education and helped me to be able to think more critically about all aspects of my work and society."
English graduate student Rebecca South said one reason she became involved in the group is it is good to be in a community of scholars who work in a similar field.
"The real benefit for me of being in the group is being able to discuss readings, films or lectures with other people who work in the same field that I do," South said. "It is helpful to be able to circulate ideas about the field itself and about individual topics within Queer Studies in order to get a broad range of perspectives."
The Queer Studies working group was created seven years ago by two professors looking for an outlet to share research. Confronted with a lack of formalization, they started the working group to bring scholars interested in the subject together.
Since then, the group has grown significantly, said the group's co-facilitator Rebecca Schloss.
"The people and the interest were there - It only became clear just how many people were using Queer Studies when the group was formalized," Schloss said.
Advantages of the community are the interdisciplinary aspect - allowing exchanges of different perspectives, ideas and opportunities for academic feedback, said co-facilitator and English department associate editor Krista May.
"If you are working in isolation that can be really difficult," May said. "The idea is that they are interdisciplinary to draw people from different fields."
Disciplines represented in the Queer Studies group include sociology, history, film studies, women's studies and English.
The working group has helped Schloss, she said in her academic career. Schloss published a book this summer about the final 50 years of slavery in Martinique.
The book explores how debates about race and sexuality shaped cultural and political life in the colony and the ways historical actors where grappling with what they thought it meant to French, white, men or women during this period of volatile change.
"I have found queer studies to be incredibly helpful for me to think about the different ways people in the past could realign all of the things they thought they were supposed to do or be in their lives," Schloss said.
May teaches a first-year seminar, Contemporary Queer Culture, through the GLBT Resource Center challenging understandings of ideas such as sex and gender, masculinity and femininity and homosexuality and heterosexuality, through daily life experience and the world's perception.
May has found many parallels between the course and the Queer Studies working group discussions. She said she has seen many "aha" moments of students exposed to Queer Theory for the first time and discovering the different perspectives.
"That is the exciting part, seeing people getting this the very first time," May said. "That's when I realize how important queer studies is."
The group aims to benefit more than just the members.
"There are a lot of different ways that we try to engage with the academic community and also the broader community," Schloss said.
The group provides outside speakers on campus for community-wide lectures, and co-sponsors a number of other forums including film screenings and performance artists that deal with queer studies.
In the past two years the group has seen increased undergraduate turnout at sponsored events, May said.
"It is nice to see interest and desire to know more, and I think it shows growing interest and awareness in the student population to intellectual interests in general," May said.
Humanities Working Groups
Africana Studies
American Culture Studies
Brain, Language, and Animal Behavior (BLAB)
Cognoscenti
Countercultural Movements
Creative Writing and Genre Theory Studies
Critical Geography
Digital Humanities
Disability Studies
Discourse Studies
Early Modern Studies
Film Studies
History of Art, Architecture, and Visual Culture
Indigenous Studies
Literacy Studies
Medieval Studies
New Modern British Studies
Queer Studies Reading Group
Religion and Culture
South Asia Studies
Textual Studies
Women's and Gender Studies
Published on Monday, October 12, 2009
By: Katy Ralston
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
The Queer Studies working group, a branch of the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities, meet once a month to provide an outlet for faculty and students to voice opinions and examine perspectives.
The Glasscock Center working groups are topically oriented discussion forums for faculty members and graduate students interested in the same topic to interact with others.
The Queer Studies working group focuses on the meaning of sexual identities, performances, discourses, practices and representations throughout history and in everyday life.
As a group, they meet in different places on campus to discuss and peer-review works in progress by group members related to queer theory. The group collectively studies books and films dealing with queer studies and also engages in active dialogue rejecting and destabilizing ideas about sexuality, gender and race.
"I have had a chance to have my work by the people in the Queer Studies group and critiqued, which is a great help to my own scholarship," said member Christopher Carmona, an English graduate student. "It has certainly added to my theoretical education and helped me to be able to think more critically about all aspects of my work and society."
English graduate student Rebecca South said one reason she became involved in the group is it is good to be in a community of scholars who work in a similar field.
"The real benefit for me of being in the group is being able to discuss readings, films or lectures with other people who work in the same field that I do," South said. "It is helpful to be able to circulate ideas about the field itself and about individual topics within Queer Studies in order to get a broad range of perspectives."
The Queer Studies working group was created seven years ago by two professors looking for an outlet to share research. Confronted with a lack of formalization, they started the working group to bring scholars interested in the subject together.
Since then, the group has grown significantly, said the group's co-facilitator Rebecca Schloss.
"The people and the interest were there - It only became clear just how many people were using Queer Studies when the group was formalized," Schloss said.
Advantages of the community are the interdisciplinary aspect - allowing exchanges of different perspectives, ideas and opportunities for academic feedback, said co-facilitator and English department associate editor Krista May.
"If you are working in isolation that can be really difficult," May said. "The idea is that they are interdisciplinary to draw people from different fields."
Disciplines represented in the Queer Studies group include sociology, history, film studies, women's studies and English.
The working group has helped Schloss, she said in her academic career. Schloss published a book this summer about the final 50 years of slavery in Martinique.
The book explores how debates about race and sexuality shaped cultural and political life in the colony and the ways historical actors where grappling with what they thought it meant to French, white, men or women during this period of volatile change.
"I have found queer studies to be incredibly helpful for me to think about the different ways people in the past could realign all of the things they thought they were supposed to do or be in their lives," Schloss said.
May teaches a first-year seminar, Contemporary Queer Culture, through the GLBT Resource Center challenging understandings of ideas such as sex and gender, masculinity and femininity and homosexuality and heterosexuality, through daily life experience and the world's perception.
May has found many parallels between the course and the Queer Studies working group discussions. She said she has seen many "aha" moments of students exposed to Queer Theory for the first time and discovering the different perspectives.
"That is the exciting part, seeing people getting this the very first time," May said. "That's when I realize how important queer studies is."
The group aims to benefit more than just the members.
"There are a lot of different ways that we try to engage with the academic community and also the broader community," Schloss said.
The group provides outside speakers on campus for community-wide lectures, and co-sponsors a number of other forums including film screenings and performance artists that deal with queer studies.
In the past two years the group has seen increased undergraduate turnout at sponsored events, May said.
"It is nice to see interest and desire to know more, and I think it shows growing interest and awareness in the student population to intellectual interests in general," May said.
Humanities Working Groups
Africana Studies
American Culture Studies
Brain, Language, and Animal Behavior (BLAB)
Cognoscenti
Countercultural Movements
Creative Writing and Genre Theory Studies
Critical Geography
Digital Humanities
Disability Studies
Discourse Studies
Early Modern Studies
Film Studies
History of Art, Architecture, and Visual Culture
Indigenous Studies
Literacy Studies
Medieval Studies
New Modern British Studies
Queer Studies Reading Group
Religion and Culture
South Asia Studies
Textual Studies
Women's and Gender Studies
Published on Monday, October 12, 2009
Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 12, 2009
The Texas Progressive Alliance is enjoying the fall weather too much to think of a clever opening to this week's blog roundup.
This week on Left of College Station, Teddy writes about what it is like to share a birthday with a war and how we have been unable to learn from the mistakes we have made during the last eight years. In the weekly guest column about teaching in Aggieland, Litia writes about the reasons why they are a teacher. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notices that Republicans running Texas agencies don't care whether doctors are bad as long as you can't sue.
WhosPlayin investigated complaints by parents that schools were allowing church groups on campus during lunch hour to proselytize, while preventing parents from accessing their kids.
Communities all across the nation are watching DISH, Texas to learn how natural gas drilling is threatening our health but TXsharon wants to be sure you don't forget about the public meeting Monday, October 12th at 7:00PM.
Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about a 17th-Century book by Rhode Island founder Roger Williams that was ahead of its time in offering respect for Native Americans and women.
The Texas Cloverleaf watches as Denton County comes out for LGBT equality.
Justin at Asian American Action Fund Blog provides detailed coverage of the Houston Asian American Mayoral Forum.
Off the Kuff notes that at least some conservative candidates are not interested in learning from the mistakes of others.
At Texas Vox read about how Tom Craddick Laundered Money through Jobs PAC to House Dems and Texans for Public Justice files a complaint.
Over at McBlogger, Captain Kroc takes a look at the latest GOP plot to make people think they actually care about the poor.
Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman announced her retirement, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs threw the names of a few Democratic and Republican potential successors into the rumor mill.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson TxDOT again says the Trans-Texas Corridror (TTC) is dead, but How many times will the TTC die?.
Over at Texas Kaos, libby shaw asks: Republicans Are On Board with Corporate Communism?. They can't make up their minds, but it is sadly funny to read about.
Burnt Orange Report explores the value, or lack thereof, of proposing an opt-out of the public option as a strategy to pass the health care bill out of the U.S. Senate.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Week in Headlines
Media
BlackBerry or iPhone, Which is Better for Journalists?
Politics
Second Coming of Sarah Palin
War and Peace
Eight Years and Counting
Environment
Don’t Frack with Our Water!
Education
Student Sex Column Movement
Economy
Bank Overdraft Fees Increase By 35%
Health Care
Lack of Universal Health Care is a Mass Killer
Civil Rights
Court Rules Voter ID Unconstitutional in Indiana
Human Rights
Too Many Women Dying in Childbirth
Reproductive Rights
Hard Times Equals Hard Choices
Women’s Issues
UN Security Council Condemns Sexual Violence in War
GLBT Issues
Hate Crimes Passes House, Senate on Deck
Race and Racism
Latinos Have Scant Access to Higher Education
From the Blogs
VetVoice:
Americans Suddenly Care About Afghanistan Again
Burnt Orange Report:
Red States To Be Collateral Damage In Public Option Opt-Out?
Simple Green Frugal:
Diet for a Small Planet
Video Lunch: Equality & Our March
Staceyann Chin is a spoken word poet performing artist and political activist. She wrote a poem about equality and the need to march for our rights in D.C. The video was produced and directed by Jeremy Kotin. From the National Equality March team, we thank them both for creating this wonderful piece to support the march. Staceyann will also be one of our speakers at the rally on the West Lawn of the Capitol. The rally is October 11 and starts approximately at 2:00 p.m following the march. To learn more about Staceyann go to Staceyannchin.com
Local News: Another Ethics Complaint Filed in College Station Red Light Camera Debate
Brown Responds to Ethics Complaint
Reporter: Ashlea Sigman
From KBTX Channel 3
A brochure the City of College Station hasn't even mailed yet, is already causing problems for City Manager Glenn Brown. Wednesday, red-light camera opponent Jim Ash filed an ethics complaint against Brown.
Ash claimed Brown authorized a mailer that Brown knew included false information. Ash received a copy of the red-light camera brochure through an open records request.
He takes issue with the city claiming the red-light cameras have reduced crashes by 54%, and cites an e-mail he received through an open records request that states red-light crashes increased from three to seven the year the cameras were installed.
Ash said he confronted Brown about his concerns, but didn't get anywhere, then filed the complaint.
Thursday, Brown said he was disappointed.
"The information was not wrong, I thought the information was correct, but if it's clouding the issue, we'll just take it out so the irony is we had already changed the brochure that we're planning on sending out, after we talked to Mr. Ash," said Brown.
Brown said he is confident the commission will find he did not violate the law.
Ash is also the subject of an ethics complaint.
Published on Friday, October 09, 2009
Reporter: Ashlea Sigman
From KBTX Channel 3
A brochure the City of College Station hasn't even mailed yet, is already causing problems for City Manager Glenn Brown. Wednesday, red-light camera opponent Jim Ash filed an ethics complaint against Brown.
Ash claimed Brown authorized a mailer that Brown knew included false information. Ash received a copy of the red-light camera brochure through an open records request.
He takes issue with the city claiming the red-light cameras have reduced crashes by 54%, and cites an e-mail he received through an open records request that states red-light crashes increased from three to seven the year the cameras were installed.
Ash said he confronted Brown about his concerns, but didn't get anywhere, then filed the complaint.
Thursday, Brown said he was disappointed.
"The information was not wrong, I thought the information was correct, but if it's clouding the issue, we'll just take it out so the irony is we had already changed the brochure that we're planning on sending out, after we talked to Mr. Ash," said Brown.
Brown said he is confident the commission will find he did not violate the law.
Ash is also the subject of an ethics complaint.
Published on Friday, October 09, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Local News: Downtown Bryan to Host Rock the Republic
Bryan's About to Be Rocked
By Maggie Kiely
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Watch out, Bryan. You're about to be rocked.
An upcoming event will feature more than 100 Texas entertainers at various venues in downtown Bryan.
Rock the Republic, which is also the name of the company staging the event, is set for 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 15-17.
Five men formed the entertainment business in January with the event in mind. They hope to make Rock the Republic an annual Bryan blowout.
Unlike other concerts, Rock the Republic will include more than music, said John Wesley, the director of entertainment.
"That's why we don't call it a festival, we call it a spectacle," he said. "No one has ever taken the best bands and musicians from the state and all the best spoken-word or slam poets and all the urban artists and combined them together."
Wesley said the idea behind Rock the Republic came from a discussion he and his brother, Stephen Sargent, had about events that incorporated art and poetry as well as music.
"Basically, we were trying to think if there was ever an event that combined the best of all worlds. We couldn't think of any event that had ever done it," he said. "And so we were like, 'Hey, let's do it.'"
The brothers ran with the idea and, in January, started organizing the event, Wesley said. To his knowledge, this will mark the first time art, music and poetry have been featured during the same event in Texas, he said.
Organizers said they wanted Rock the Republic to go beyond providing the community with entertainment. They said they were trying to enhance the Bryan culture.
"It's about the community we love," Wesley said. "Bryan is a wonderful place that's blooming with art and culture and there's a desire here to see great art and experience great music. When people think of these events, they think of Austin, Dallas. But there's something for everyone here."
Sargent, the company's director of contracts and sponsorships, said downtown Bryan had always been good to him.
"I came here in 2005, and if it wasn't for hanging out in downtown Bryan, if I didn't have that outlet, I wouldn't have been able to survive socially," he said. "It really became an outlet for creative people. A place where we could all get together and just hang out."
Wesley said he expected Rock the Republic to sell out, although he would not disclose the number of tickets available or how many had been purchased. Tickets are $10 for one night and $25 for a three-day pass and can be purchased online at rocktherepublic.com until Monday.
IN SHORT BOX
* Rock the Republic is set for 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 15-17 in downtown Bryan.
* Tickets are $10 for one night and $25 for a three-day pass. Tickets can be purchased online at rocktherepublic.com until Monday.
* For more information, including a schedule and lineup, visit rocktherepublic.com.
Published on Thursday, October 08, 2009
By Maggie Kiely
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Watch out, Bryan. You're about to be rocked.
An upcoming event will feature more than 100 Texas entertainers at various venues in downtown Bryan.
Rock the Republic, which is also the name of the company staging the event, is set for 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 15-17.
Five men formed the entertainment business in January with the event in mind. They hope to make Rock the Republic an annual Bryan blowout.
Unlike other concerts, Rock the Republic will include more than music, said John Wesley, the director of entertainment.
"That's why we don't call it a festival, we call it a spectacle," he said. "No one has ever taken the best bands and musicians from the state and all the best spoken-word or slam poets and all the urban artists and combined them together."
Wesley said the idea behind Rock the Republic came from a discussion he and his brother, Stephen Sargent, had about events that incorporated art and poetry as well as music.
"Basically, we were trying to think if there was ever an event that combined the best of all worlds. We couldn't think of any event that had ever done it," he said. "And so we were like, 'Hey, let's do it.'"
The brothers ran with the idea and, in January, started organizing the event, Wesley said. To his knowledge, this will mark the first time art, music and poetry have been featured during the same event in Texas, he said.
Organizers said they wanted Rock the Republic to go beyond providing the community with entertainment. They said they were trying to enhance the Bryan culture.
"It's about the community we love," Wesley said. "Bryan is a wonderful place that's blooming with art and culture and there's a desire here to see great art and experience great music. When people think of these events, they think of Austin, Dallas. But there's something for everyone here."
Sargent, the company's director of contracts and sponsorships, said downtown Bryan had always been good to him.
"I came here in 2005, and if it wasn't for hanging out in downtown Bryan, if I didn't have that outlet, I wouldn't have been able to survive socially," he said. "It really became an outlet for creative people. A place where we could all get together and just hang out."
Wesley said he expected Rock the Republic to sell out, although he would not disclose the number of tickets available or how many had been purchased. Tickets are $10 for one night and $25 for a three-day pass and can be purchased online at rocktherepublic.com until Monday.
IN SHORT BOX
* Rock the Republic is set for 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 15-17 in downtown Bryan.
* Tickets are $10 for one night and $25 for a three-day pass. Tickets can be purchased online at rocktherepublic.com until Monday.
* For more information, including a schedule and lineup, visit rocktherepublic.com.
Published on Thursday, October 08, 2009
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