Greek Council Poised to Promote Sexual Justice and Diversity

Students gathered at the Greek U leadership retreat
on March 22 (photo by Jacob Tingle) 

By KaDarius Lee

At their first meeting of this year on Monday, Trinity's Greek Council discussed collaboration with university and city organizations to promote sexual justice and diversity on campus.

Ten members of the Greek Council Executive Board as well as two representatives from each sorority and fraternity on campus attended the meeting. Tayler Weathers, communications chair for Greek Council, said Trinity University’s Coalition for Sexual Justice and the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center "are interested in collaborating with Greek organizations in order to help in the fight for sexual justice on campus."

These organizations have reached out to Greek Council about collaborating and having a sit down with organizations to discuss how to raise awareness and tackle sexual justice issues on campus.

Saturday Morning Experience Lets Children Showcase Learning

The Saturday Morning Experience fair
(photo by Colton Hawkins)

By Colton Hawkins

The parking lot behind the Coates Library along Hildebrand Avenue was abuzz Saturday morning with booths, music, children, and Trinity students, as Trinity’s Department of Education held the Saturday Morning Experience Market and Educational Fair.

Dozens of students, in first through eighth grade, from San Antonio schools set up booths to showcase what they have learned about in class throughout the year, such as the environment and animal life. Students also came up with products related to their learning that they can sell to people, such as games or crafts that help protect the environment.

TigerThon Doubles Donation from Previous Year

TigerThon participants holding a sign showing the final amount of fund raised
(photo by Ian Nielsen)

By Ian Nielsen

The second annual TigerThon raised more than $14,600, doubling the $7,213 raised last year. The fundraising culminated in a five-hour-long dance marathon event on Saturday, held in the Calgaard Gym.

The event alone raised $10,150, exceeding its fundraising goal. Plus money raised before the event, TigerThon was able to set the new record. All proceeds go directly to the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Trinity Holds Vigil for Christchurch Victims

Members of the Trinity community gather at the 

Murchison Bell Tower for the vigil (photo by Jillian Cready)

By Jillian Cready

About 100 Trinity University students, faculty, and staff gathered at the Murchison Bell Tower on Wednesday for a vigil to honor the 50 lives lost last Friday at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Trinity’s Chaplain Alex Serna-Wallender and a few faculty and staff members, including Trinity’s Director for Diversion and Inclusion Alli Roman, started the vigil by speaking about how this tragedy affected Muslims worldwide. Members of Trinity’s Muslim Student Association read a few phrases from the Quran and reflected on how death is understood in the Muslim community.

Béatrice Coron Speaks on Creating Art by Cutting Away

 Béatrice Coron showing a paper cut art piece (photo by Nick Smetzer)

By Nick Smetzer

French artist Béatrice Coron demonstrated a peculiar way of telling stories: paper cutting, during a presentation on Tuesday at Trinity University.

“There are a lot of ways to cut paper, as there are a lot of ways to tell stories,” Coron told a small crowd of Trinity students and faculty at the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall, as part of the Stieren Guest Artist Series.

Having lived all around the world in places like France, Egypt and China, Coron’s unique personal history mirrored the distinct traditions of her unorthodox art form.

Students Warned of Drunk Driving Ahead of Spring Break

A totaled truck (photos by William Hinman)

By William Hinman

As students walked through the Coates Esplanade on Thursday, they were met with cautionary reminders of the dangers of irresponsible alcohol consumption, including a totaled red pickup truck.

A sign attached to the truck told a chilling story of a drunk driver hitting this red pickup, killing the mother of the family, and injuring the father and two children. At the bottom of the sign, printed in all caps and bold typeface, a line reads: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.

That was the main message of the event, hosted by TUPD. The Alcohol Awareness event featured free lemonade, hot dogs, and “cop corn,” as well as vendors such as the San Antonio Police Department, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, The Rape Crisis center, and the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness.

New SGA Committee Aims to Improve Relationships with Cultural Groups on Campus

SGA Diversity and Inclusion Committee meets on Thursday 

(photo by Alex Gereda-Gordon) 

By Abby Holland and Alex Gereda-Gordon

The Student Government Association (SGA) Diversity and Inclusion Committee met on Thursday evening to discuss measures of bridging the disconnection between Trinity student cultural groups and SGA.

“One of the main purposes of this committee is to make SGA more for the students,” said Taylor Volzer, Class of 2020 senator and head of the committee. “Right now there is a lot of miscommunication and SGA is missing a lot of issues on campus. A purpose of this committee is to be on the forefront and stop some of these issues from happening in the first place.”

One of these issues is unequal funding for cultural groups compared to that for other student organizations.

Mardi Gras Celebrations Animate the River Walk

River parade at the River Walk (photos by Luke Dias)

By Luke Dias

San Antonio is no New Orleans, but still had a blast with Mardi Gras, as thousands of people participated the annual Bud Light Mardi Gras River Parade and Festival on Saturday at the River Walk.

Now in its 10th year, this year’s event supplied over 40,000 bead necklaces, far more than previous years, according to Loren Reyes, the sponsorship sales director of the San Antonio River Walk Association. This nonprofit organization hosts 26 events at the River Walk annually, including the Mardi Gras celebration.

The highlight of Saturday’s event was the river parade, where the tour floats were decorated in the green, yellow, and purple Mardi Gras colors, and took two laps around the River Walk.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg Leads Fitness Council Meeting

Mayor Ron Nirenberg addresses the Fitness Council on Thursday
(photo by Sophie Dwyer)

By Sophie Dwyer

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg attended the Fitness Council meeting on Thursday in Trinity University’s William H. Bell Center.

He met with around 40 representatives from various foundations, fitness organizations, and companies, as well as dieticians, wellness coordinators, health app creators, and disability advocates. The discussion centered on ways of improving wellness services in the city, including physical activity, nutrition, and mental health.

“We should be talking policy-healthy policy,” Nirenberg said at the meeting. Attendees talked about various wellness initiatives such as introducing workplace recess, policies on purchasing healthy foods for employees, and making outdoor spaces safer so people feel more comfortable being active.

Trinity About to Hire Title IX Coordinator

Coalition for Sexual Justice held their first meeting. (photo by Jillian Cready)

By Nick Smetzer, Jillian Cready and Mark Tindall

Trinity University is in search of a new Title IX coordinator, said members of Coalition for Sexual Justice at their first meeting on Wednesday. 

With the new hire, the university will have someone especially equipped and devoted to handle Title IX-related issues, such as investigations of sexual misconducts, outreach, and policy making.

“Right now, Title IX is being handled by people without it in their job description,” said senior Hannah Braley, a leader of the coalition, formerly known as the Coalition for Respect. “It’s a lot of work, and we feel as though students’ needs aren’t currently being met.”

SGA Discusses Funding and Bringing Scooters to Campus

By Makenna Bentley and Samuel McWhorter

SGA did not approve funding for the Henna Night, for now, but pushed forward the discussion of bringing Trinity branded scooters to campus.

At the SGA meeting on Wednesday, Muslim Student Association (MSA) presented proposal for funding for the annual Henna Night, featuring performances, traditional costumes fashion show, and free food.

Maggie Cheatham, senior Psychology and Art major, was a volunteer for last years fashion show. “Each piece in the show was more beautiful than the next. I had a wonderful opportunity to wear a hand sewn piece from Nigeria,” she said.