Group Campfire and Petting Zoo Cap Off Mental Health Week

Trinity students gather by a campfire

outside the Murchison Hall

Photo by Nate Borchers

By Nate Borchers

Trinity students got to spend some time with chinchilla’s, lemurs and even a llama on Friday at the petting zoo set up near the Coates University Center as part of the Mental Health Week.

These animals are considered therapeutic and have been shown to help those dealing with mental illness, and students adored them.

"I do think that animals have useful medicinal purposes. There's just something about being around them that helps you feel calm and valued in a way," said Chelsea Runacres, a sophomore in Biology. "Even if you aren't currently experiencing a mental illness or know someone who is, the event still puts a smile on your face and helps you forget about the bad exam or assignment you might've just gotten back."

KRTU Spring Membership Drive a Success

J.J. Lopez, KRTU general manager, in his office
Photo by Juan Pineda

By Juan Pineda

Trinity’s jazz station 91.7 KRTU raised approximate $78,000 by the end of their spring membership drive on-air campaign that ended on Friday, surpassing their $75,000 goal.

“We definitely exceeded our expectations," said J.J. Lopez, the general manager of KRTU. The station is poised to raise another $10,000 during the post-drive to reach the overall spring fundraising goal of $85,000. The week-long on air membership drive contributed about 45% toward that goal.

“All this money goes directly into operations which include staff salary, production and operation costs,” Lopez added.

Trinity Baseball Loses Home Game

Trinity celebrates a home run
during Friday's game
Photos by Sara McCarty

By Sara McCarty

Trinity’s baseball team suffered a 8-4 loss to Texas Lutheran University (TLU) during a home game on Friday, losing their second conference game in a row after last week’s upset by Schreiner University.

TLU got momentum early in the game, scoring three runs in the first inning. Trinity was out hit by TLU 11-15 and the score reflected the absence of runs.

TLU’s pitcher mixed up his pitches very well, trying to get batters off balanced, as well as being very consistent, said Trinity pitcher Colin Serkowski.

Defensively, pitching for the Tigers was not as effective as it usually is. The Tigers went through four pitchers throughout the nine inning game. Coach David Smith said that the pitchers “needed to do a better job at executing pitches,” in order for the team to get outs that they needed to stop TLU from scoring more.

"The Mousetrap" Opens at Trinity

Guest artist, Andrew Thornton, performs alongside
Trinity University senior, Brianna Wood.
Photos by Abby Stigler

By Abby Stigler

After six weeks of grueling rehearsal, Agatha Christie’s most famous play was performed on the Trinity stage on Friday, with a bang, as the crowd for the opening night almost filled the Stieren Theatre.

"The Mousetrap" is a classic whodunit with murder and mystery. The play consists of eight characters: newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Ralston and the guests at their manor, including the young and quirky Christopher Wren, the old, grumpy Mrs. Boyle, the former soldier Major Metcalf, and a surprise visitor, Mr. Paravicini.

This production is directed by Dr. Stacey Connelly, who turned the Stieren Theatre stage into the living room of the Monkswell Manor in the 1950’s. The crew’s use of lighting and sound helped to create a mysterious ambiance and keep the identity of the murderer a secret until the very end, ensuring that the play keeps the audience guessing.

Live Coverage of KRTU Spring Fund Drive

KRTU station manager JJ Lopez makes
online announcements during the fund drive
Photo by Amy Drozdiak

Jeanette Reynolds, the director of development 

at KRTU receives a donor phone call.

Photo by Abby Stigler

The Roar reporters today came to the studio of 91.7 KRTU amid their spring membership drive to do live coverage through live blogging, live tweeting and videos.

11:16 a.m.
The money raised helps to cover royalty fees, streaming fees, operational costs, and staff and intern salaries. The money allows the station to provide quality jazz music 24/7 to its San Antonio community listeners. The funds will also support their switch to a radio tower that can broadcast music at a greater frequency, and have wider range of service, extending to listeners in Boerne and New Braunfels.

--Amy Drozdiak

11:06 a.m.
The spring membership drive at KRTU, Trinity University's nonprofit radio station, has reached 95% of its funding raising goal.
--Haylee Rodriguez

11:05 a.m.
Tomorrow is the last day of KRTU’s biggest event: the spring membership drive, which started on Friday. Their interns, volunteers and staff are working diligently to receive donations through phone calls and the internet. They have been receiving donations from all over the US. Annual membership starts at $60. It is $40 for seniors and $25 for students.
--Taylor Shelgren

Organizations Present Opportunities for Gap Year

The panelists give students information about their
organization (from left to right Jennifer Rodriguez,
Brendan Cavanagh, Melissa Cano and Sarah Ramos)
Photo by Katie Ramirez 

By Carlos Ealy

Representatives from several well-known organizations met with Trinity students to talk about potential gap year opportunities on Friday at the Coates University Center.

City Year, Peace Corps, Teach for America, and TU College Advising Corps joined the Gap Year Service Panel, sponsored by Trinity’s Center for Experiential Learning & Career Success and Trinity University Volunteer Action Community, as part of the Lunch and Learn series.

These organizations provide community service opportunities for students who what to take a gap year, or a year off from school to do something else. About 20 students attended the meeting.

Panel Addresses Gender Gap in STEM Fields

By Davis Mathis

Several Trinity University professors voiced concerns over the gender gap in the STEM fields on Thursday and shared their own experiences of gender discrimination.

Professors Kelly Lyons, in biology, Marilyn Wooten, in chemistry, Hoa Nguyen, in mathematics, Niescja Turner, in physics and astronomy, and Veronica McDonald, an engineer and Trinity alumnus, spoke at a panel hosted by Trinity Diversity Connection (TDC) and Trinity Women in Science and Technology (TWIST).

Science, technology, and math are widely known to be male dominated fields, but that isn't the full story, the panelists pointed out. To them, the discrimination and harassment they have experienced seems to be more of an active effort to keep women out rather than something that occurred naturally.