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.