The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 161, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2001 Page: 1 of 10
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The
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February 15, 20Q1 Volume 161 * Number 4
The following events are part of
Slack
Tarleton's Black History Month celebration:
avHiitoay
Thursday February, 15
•Soul Food at the Oscar P, 5-7 pm
% month
•You Don't Know Black Cameshow in the SDC
yk a
Gamerpom, 7 pm
—
Wednesday February, 21
•Jazz and Poetry Readings in the
SDC Ballrooms, 7pm
.. ;Wm
University
Weekly
N
w
■. i
PARENT'S DAY OUT
Baptist Student Ministries
offer a short vacation for free.
Page 2
UNDERSTANDING
WOMEN
Keri cuts the guys some slack.
Page 3
SOUL FOOD
. Honoring Black History
Month with taste.
Page 4
BREAKFAST ALL-DAY
Dana drops in on Peacock's.
Page 5
TEXANN SOFTBALL
Ladies break even.
Page 6
OSCARS PREVIEW
i
The academy has spoken.
Page 10
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Milisi
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V i i I l"'1 "if
re
moving
on up
By Keri Pritchard
Staff Writer
Late April is the anticipated
grand opening date for the new
science building according to
Ruben Walter, dean of the col-
lege of science and technology.
By mid March, Walter hopes
to begin moving faculty offices
and labs into their new home.
Furniture for the new building
began arriving this week and is
currently being installed.
When the time comes for stu-
dents to • move their science
classes into the new building,
they will be informed by their
instructor. >
"If a student is in class on
Wednesday, and we open the
building on Friday, their
instructor will tell them in class
where to meet in the new build-
ing," said Walter.
The original date of comple-
tion was December 31, 2000.
This date would have allowed
students to begin their Spring
classes in the new building.
"When you build a building
that big and that complex,
sometimes it just takes a long
The projected cost of the, new
SCIENCE See Page 9
Alexander to retire after 30 years of service
By Keri Pritchard
Staff. Writer
B.J. Alexander, provost and
vice president for academic
affairs has served Tarleton stu-
dents for thirty years. He
began in 1971 as an assistant
English professor and worked
his way through the ranks.
After earning the title of pro-
fessor, 'Alexander became the
head of the English department,
continuing on to become the
dean of the college of arts and
sciences. .Five years ago, he
reached his current position.
In the early 1980's, before he
was head of the English depart-
ment, he was head of the writ-
ing proficiency program and
administered the first writing
proficiency exam.
In 1983, Alexander received
the Tarleton Distinguished
Teaching Award, This honor,
which recognized Alexander
for his outstanding work as an
instructor was awarded by the
faculty senate as well as the stu-
dent senate. This award is only
given to one faculty member
. each
year,
Alexander also sits on the con-
vocations committee which
coordinates graduations and
University presidential inaugu-
rations.
"They are very special occa-
sions. They are feel-good ses-
sions for the University and cer-
tainly for the President. It is an
occasion' for us to look our best
and be very public in the things
we do with faculty processions
and music featuring Tarleton's
own musicians," said Alexander.
Alexander began his career in
the fall of 1960, when as a grad-
ual teaching assistant at
Mississippi State, he walked
into a freshman composition
class with very little experience,
but an abundance of enthusiasm
and willingness to work hard.
"I saw the students and
thought—I can help these stu-
dents. This is going to be a very
good relationship," said
Alexander.
Although Alexander's
official date of retirement is
September 7, 2001, he is not
leaving Tarleton. In January
2002, he will return to the
English department to teach.
He feels that he will be of great
value in helping lower-level
English students develop an
appreciation for and an under-
standing of literature.
"I would like to work with
students again. That is why I
got in the academic world in the
first place-to work with stu-
dents both in and out of the
classroom. I'd like to go back
and have some time in the class-
PROVOST See Page 9
Killeen celebrates first annual
National Black History Month luncheon
Special to The J-TAC
i -
New facility to showcase history
Special to The J-TAC
The W. K. Gordon Center for Industrial History
of Texas will soon become a reality as plans and
funding of the facility near the old-town site of
Thurber are being finalized.
Funded through a $1.2 million grant from the
Texas Department of Transportation and a
$300,000 private gift from Mrs. W. K. Gordon, Jr.
the research center, museum and visitors center
will be dedicated to the preservation, research and
recording of Texas industrial history. Because the
4.1 acres of land is located in Thurber, that town's
unique history, including coal mining, brick mak-
ing and oil and gas exploration, will be of particu-
lar importance.
In addition to the construction of the Center, a.
substantial gift from Mrs. W. K. Gordon will be
used to establish the, "Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Gordon,
Jr. Endowment Fund" at the Tarleton State
University Foundation, Inc. This will provide an
endowed chair in Texas Industrial History and
support the maintenance and operation of the
Center.
"This project represents a lot of collaboration
between Mrs. Gordon, Tarleton, Erath County,
Thurber citizens and the Texas Department of
Transportation," said Koy Floyd, vice president
for institutional advancement at the University.
"The Tarleton Foundation represented the
University and Erath County during the concep-
tual proceedings."
According to Floyd, once the Center is com-
plete, the Tarleton Foundation will transfer the
facility to the University. Tarleton will own the
HISTORY See Page 9
The spirit of diversity and inclusion was an
overreaching theme at the first Tarleton State
University - Central Texas Black History Month
luncheon Friday, February 9, at the Plaza Hotel.
"I believe that the spirit in which we come
'together today is indicative of the Tarleton spirit,"
said Dennis P. McCabe, president of Tarleton State
University. "Tarleton State University is a special
school., . , One of our major goals has been the
idea of having a campus and a culture of excel-
lence. In order to
have excellence,
we must be inclu-
sive."
The highlight of
the luncheon was a
presentation of the
first service award
bestowed by
Tarleton - Central
Texas. Steve
Vitucci, academic
dean, presented
the Tarleton State
University -
Central Texas
Community
Service Award to
Roscoe C. Harrison
Jr., director of com-
munity affairs for
Scott and White
Hospital and mas-
ter of ceremonies
for the luncheon.
More than 170
members of the
Killeen community gathered for the free banquet,
which many said spurred debate as groups of
people of all races gathered together long after the
banquet hall was cleared to discuss diversity and
inclusion. Killeen Mayor Maureen Jouett, a
Tarleton - Centra^ Texas student, said she was
impressed with the turnout and hoped to see
more University-sponsored community events.
"I am happy to embrace my community," Jouett
said in a welcome from the city. "This audience
today mirrors our community - each person a
member, each a contributor, no less."
Guest speaker Darryl M. Holmes drew atten-
tion to the theme of Black History Month 2001:
Creating and Defining the African American
Community. As a former Killeen City Council
member and current Executive Director of the
Richard Allen Community Development
Corporation of Killeen, Holmes said that the cata-
lyst to change is political action and, specifically,
exercising the right to vote.
Focusing on the future of political progress
instead of just on the past, Holmes said racism is
still alive today but can be overcome with educa-
tion, faith and
love.
"The his-
tory of African
America is still
being written,"
Holmes said.
"Black history,
' like white histo-
ry, is American
history."
Most
important in the
battle against
apathy, Holmes
said, is the
involvement of
community and
the commitment
of mentors to
today's at-risk
youth.
"A study
conducted in
1997... indicated
that there are
approximately
5,000 at-risk youth in Killeen," he explained,
adding that, even'historically, intervention by
adults helped save black children from medioc-
rity. "It took a village then, and it takes a village
now." ' .
"Roscoe Harrison's entire life has been demoted
to crossing boundaries and forging new paths,"
Vitucci said. "He was a trailblazer in journalism in
Central Texas - in 1960, he was the first African-
KILLEEN See Page 9
lliii
Special To The J-TAC
Roscoe C. Harrison, Jr. receives Community Service Award,
A i
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 161, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2001, newspaper, February 15, 2001; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141995/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.