Immigrant Lawyer Discusses Issues with U.S. Immigration System

Erica Schommer gives a lecture on representing immigrants
in Texas (photo by Nick Smetzer)

By Nick Smetzer

The immigration systems in the United States is laden with various problems, from historical bias to contemporary challenges, immigrant lawyer Erica Schommer told an audience at Trinity University on Wednesday.

Schommer said the U.S. has a “history of exclusionary motives,” which has contributed to the shaping of the nation’s immigration policy and its flaws. She outlined how politics and policy were once used against immigrating Catholics, Asians and Jews, before recent political discourse turned towards demonizing immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Sara Heridia: Advocating for Philanthropy

By Miranda Smith

Despite only being in her junior year, Sara Heridia is already planning her financial contributions to Trinity. In fact, she can often be found encouraging other students to do the same.

A Political Science major, Heridia, 21, is the associate director of philanthropy and service of the Student Ambassadors at Trinity. Her job is to promote university donation among current students. She believes that increasing charitable gifts to Trinity will help make attendance more affordable and accessible to a larger number of students.

“It’s important that we encourage students to give by reminding them that someone invested in them, which will eventually give them the salaries they earn in their future careers,” Heridia says. Herself a recipient of institutionally-based aid, Heridia acknowledges that her ability to attend Trinity is almost entirely due to the generous gifts of donors.

Tigers for Life Hosts Lecture About Biology Research

Gabriela Rennebeck talks at the Tigers for Life meeting. 
(photo courtesy of Tigers for Life)

By Jackson Beach

Tigers for Life, Trinity's student pro-life group, met on Thursday to hear biologist Gabriela Rennebeck talk about embryonic development.

Rennebeck has a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and works as the laboratory coordinator in several biology courses at Trinity.

She discussed the latest findings of her research, which involves examining the quaking gene in zebrafish embryonic development. Rennebeck noted that the quaking gene found in zebrafish is also found in humans and her research is part of a larger movement towards personalized medicine.

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.