Hailey Decker, New Editor-​in-Chief of the Odyssey Online at Trinity University

Hailey Decker, new editor-in-chief

of the Odyssey Online at Trinity

Photo by Samantha Luzader

By Samantha Luzader

Hailey Decker, a first year student​ at Trinity​ from Grapevine, Texas,​ right outside of Dallas, exudes a confidence and self-assurance that one rarely finds in an 18 year old.

After graduating from high school a year early, Decker started at Trinity when she was only 17.​ Within a year of her college life, she has already accomplished ​a lot.

Decker​ is the current editor-in-chief of the Trinity division of the Odyssey Online​, a national media platform where college students all over the country can write about ​a wide range of topics from politics, pop culture to college life.

​Trinity Men’s Basketball Clicking after Rough Seasons

Trinity basketball players (left to right) Nik Oakes, Tyler Peavy, 
Tyler Sawyer, Colin Jones, Josh Ingram, and A.J.Pulliam 
during a game against Colorado College
Photo by Bennett Soriano

By Kate Irvin

At the end of the 2016-2017 regular season, which ended ​last week, Trinity men’s basketball team achieved a record of 12-13. This was a great improvement from last year’s record of 10-16, and much better than their 2014-2015 season record of 5-20.

The story of the team overcoming adversities and becoming, once again, a winning team, can be seen as a prime example of how a team can face challenges and still find a way to positive team chemistry and victories.

After two straight losing seasons (2014 through 2016) and the struggle to end the win drought, the team faced a lot of adversity. This was a new situation for a team that not long ago had won three straight conference championships. They learned to maintain a positive attitude amid negativity. They learned to have patience, trust the process, and work their way to improve every year, until their 12-13 season this year.

7-Eleven Targets Millennials in New Business Strategy

7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto speaks about millennial marketing trends
at the company conference in early February
Photo by Abby Tisdale 

By Abby Tisdale

Earlier this month, more than 7,000 employees, franchisees and executives of 7-Eleven gathered at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas for the company’s annual conference, 7-Eleven Experience (7EE). At the conference, they discussed their business agenda for 2017, and targeting millennials is one of the topics.

CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc., Joe DePinto, said one of the strategies the company will use to attract millennials is the idea of “eating differently." By eating differently, millennials are looking to spend more of their money on eating food out of home, with healthier, fresher options.

The franchise has provided fresher, healthier food options, including salads, pastas, sandwiches, and cut fruits and vegetables in stores nationwide to attract millennials consumers.

Trinity Theater Production Debuts "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"

The simplistic stage of Trinity's production of 
A Midsummer Night's dream

Photo by Andrea Acevedo

By Andrea Acevedo

Trinity theater’s production of the Shakespeare classic, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," debuted Friday.

The play, a comedy, was written in the late 16th century. While it has seen countless adaptations, many with extravagant stage design and props, Trinity’s production features minimal stage design. Instead, the show wowed its audience with the acting and light design. The lighting imitated the light effects in a forest, where the play is set.

The acting was also unusual as characters like Hermia and Lysander were played by two actors at once, who said the same lines and synchronized their motions side by side. This made their voices louder and emotions more visible.

Joshua Poole: From World Record Breaker to Presidential Inauguration Staff

Joshua Poole showing the campaign Tshirt
Photo courtesy of Joshua Poole

By Matt Barnes

Before even beginning his college career, Joshua Poole, 22, set two world records in the sport of competitive shooting. His story of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities continues into the political sphere, as he was the only student from Trinity to attend the 2017 presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.

Poole, of Crawford, Texas, is a senior in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish at Trinity University. One day, he received a phone call that changed his life. “In about Mid-June of 2016, I got a call from someone at Giles Parscale, a San Antonio based marketing firm, asking if I was interested in working for the Trump for Presidency campaign. Of course I said yes and was packed and ready to go within hours.”

He became one of only 10 interns at this marketing firm working for Donald Trump’s campaign.

Historian Douglas Brinkley Discusses Trump’s Environmental Stance

Douglas Brinkley addresses the crowd during

 the discussion following his lecture

Photo by Katie Welch

By Katie Welch

Last night, Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University and CNN commentator, shared with people in San Antonio his outlook for the national park system under the Trump administration, during a lecture at Trinity University.

Brinkley, who authored several books about American political and environmental history, came to Trinity's campus to talk about Theodore Roosevelt and the history of environmental conservation in the United States.

In front of a crowd of over 150 people, most of whom were members of the general public, Brinkley's talk focused on Roosevelt's legacy and his protection of national parks.

Fourth Communication Day Brings Together Alumni and Current Students

By Andrea Acevedo

Panel featuring the youngest alumni at Communication Day
Photo by Josie Liu

Faculty, alumni, and both ​current and ​prospective communication majors came together on Friday for a packed day of alumni panels, networking, and a keynote speech during​ the fourth annual Communication Day organized by Trinity’s Department of Communication.

​​The alumni panels divided speakers into communication department graduates from the past five years, the past 20 years, and other classes. A total of 13 alumni formed the panels, representing varied professions such as journalism, public relations, practice of law, and teaching.

City Vista Forum Addresses Student Questions and Seeks Feedback

Heidi Lounge was packed
 at the town hall meeting
Photo by Carlie McCrory

By Carlie McCrory

Price and privacy were the biggest concerns expressed by students at Wednesday’s town hall meeting about the future use of City Vista, an apartment complex recently purchased by Trinity University.

Student Life and the SGA organized the meeting, which attracted over 30 students to have a conversation with the university’s administration.

Dean of Students David Tuttle said the property will be set up like off-campus living, even though it is technically on campus.

Spring 2017 Career Fair Features More Than 40 Employers

The Spring 2017 Career Fair
Photo by Joel Kumahata

By Joel Kumahata

Representatives from more than 40 companies had job talks with hundreds of Trinity students at the Career Fair yesterday.

Company tables filled the sunken stage of Laurie Auditorium, offering opportunities from the paid internships of philanthropic organizations like Public Allies, to employment with the United States military. Several big name companies were at the fair, including Dell, HEB, Valero, and Edward Jones.

Annie Cutler, employer coordinator for Trinity University’s Career Services, which hosted the fair, said several companies became sponsors of this career fair, such as the Houston Branch of Capgemini and Valero.

Trinity Lecture Series Explores Immigration and Gender through Film

Maria DiFrancesco thanks students after the lecture.
Photo by Johnna Guillerman

By Johnna Guillerman

As a crowd filed into the basement of Northrup Hall last night, students, faculty and members of the community could be heard speaking in mixed Spanish and English. They were discussing a film, “The Skin I Live In”, the subject of the second lecture in the Álvarez Seminar.

Maria DiFrancesco, a professor at Ithaca College, did a presentation about the gender and sexuality issues in the film. She opened her slideshow with a diagram of a stick figure explaining the differences between gender, sex and attraction. After the lecture, audience members asked questions about issues of queerness and transphobia in the film.

Kendall Hayes, a junior Spanish and Chinese double major, appreciated DiFrancesco’s commentary. “I thought Dr. DiFrancesco proposed a really passionate analysis of the movie. Her comments about the inherent sexuality and gender of objects is something I registered but never analyzed.”

University Students Unsatisfied with Mayoral Election Town Hall

Manuel Medina (left), Ron Nirenberg and Mayor Ivy Taylor at the town hall
Photo by Andrea Acevedo

By Andrea Acevedo

Better public transportation, lower homelessness rates, and representing the interests of the San Antonio people were promised Tuesday night at a mayoral town hall debate. Yet for college students, the event left much to be desired.

The town hall was hosted by the Rivard Report, a local nonprofit online news organization. San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor and her mayoral election challengers, city councilman Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina, participated in the debate.

A handful of college students joined about 150 community members in the low lit Pearl Stable, hoping to get better insight on the city politics. Zabdi Salazar, sophomore business major at Trinity University, is from Austin. “While this does not have a direct effect on me right now, if I ever choose to stay in San Antonio, it will be important to be informed,” she said. “I think that undergraduates need to be involved in these sorts of events because right now it is the older populations that mostly come to these events.”

Michele Norris Talks about the Race Card Project at Trinity

Michele Norris on race and identity
Photos by Emma Lucero

By Emma Lucero 

Renowned journalist Michele Norris gave a public speech about the Race Card Project yesterday at Laurie Auditorium, which attracted hundreds of Trinity students and San Antonio residents.

Norris, a former host of the NPR program " All Things Considered," founded this project in 2010. She printed postcards asking people to discuss, in six words, their opinion or experience about race. She left the postcards everywhere she travels, from hotels to airports. People started mailing the postcards back to her, telling their stories related to race.

All cards are archived, and some are displayed on the website. The website also has a section where people can include the backstory for their six words. Norris believes that “in six words, people can share a lot of depth.

Trinity Women’s Basketball Defeated Texas Lutheran University to Reach 20-1 Record

From left to right: Allison Staley (44), 
Grace Horn (12), Micah Weaver (25), 
and Abby Holland (15) defend TLU.
Photos by Elizabeth McEnrue

By Elizabeth McEnrue

Trinity students from all over campus were packed like sardines in the student section of Webster Gym at 4 p.m. on Saturday to watch the Trinity women’s basketball team play their rival, Texas Lutheran University (TLU). With a 19-1 record, the women looked calm and ready to play the only team to which they have lost this season.

“It’s funny,” said coach Cameron Hill ‘99, 40, about the packed stands. “Trinity students don’t typically come to our games, and we really appreciate having them.”

Hill also had some advice for the new fans. “When the other team’s at the foul line, they need to make noise. That’s how you participate as a fan. But I’m very satisfied with them showing up, so we’ll take baby steps. But next step, make noise.”

Greek Life Welcomes New Members on Bid Day

Trinity Greek Life celebrates Bid Day on Friday
Photos by Samantha Luzader

By Samantha Luzader

Despite the dreary weather, hundreds of Trinity Greek Life students gathered around the Miller Fountain on Friday to celebrate the annual Bid Day.

The students came dressed in every outfit imaginable, from tutus to body paint to roller skates, in bright color and interesting materials. The campus around the fountain was abuzz with excitement and fun, as each organization got ready to welcome their new members.

Older members meet the new members on Murchison lawn, and then run them up the fountain, where their new club waits to welcome them.

David Cameron Conveys Message of Optimism During Speech at Trinity

By Matt Barnes



There was an aura of excitement in Laurie Auditorium last evening as an estimated 2,500 people attended David Cameron’s lecture. Cameron served as the prime minister to the United Kingdom from 2010 until his resignation in 2016.

The primary message of Cameron’s talk of about 45 minutes was optimism. “The theme for tonight is: ‘Where do we go from here?' And to answer that, we must ask ourselves: 'How did we get here'?,” he said at the beginning of his speech. The rest of his speech delivered a rather bright outlook on the future of the United States and Great Britain, a future largely dependent on a better understanding of the current unease of globalization and what lies ahead.