Dr. Bladimir Ruiz: ​Decade-Long Commitment to ​the Madrid Program

By Sophia Scearce

Launched in 2005, the Madrid Summer Program has enabled hundreds of Trinity students to experience a summer of learning and interning in Spain’s capital. At the center of the program is Dr. Bladimir Ruiz, associate professor of Spanish at Trinity University.

“There is something about creating a space that is not only a physical space in a classroom, but that allows for an interaction that is deeper than just sharing knowledge,” said Ruiz regarding his experience educating students in Madrid.

​Ruiz has led the program for the past 9 years and is about to lead it for the 10th time in May. ​Through his decade long ​involvement with the Madrid Program, Ruiz emphasized the importance of learning outside the classroom. “I think what these programs are providing us with is the opportunity to have the classroom in the country and in the city, and to have the city as a classroom.” This kind of immersive learning outside the classroom also attracted many students.

Jacob Hurrel-Zitelman: Trinity Student Turned “Coffee Guy”

By Paige Johnson

Jacob Hurrel-Zitelman has established himself across campus as the coffee guy. He can be found using his own handheld brewer and beans wherever he is, just to avoid Starbucks. When he’s not brewing coffee, Hurrel-Zitelman stays busy any way he can.

“I get really antsy when I do not have something every single second of the day,” said Hurrel-Zitelman, 20, who studies entrepreneurship and marketing at Trinity. “I’m very ambitious and I want to keep doing something all the time.”

He is the founder and owner of Quick Sip Coffee, a company that sells specialty cold brew across San Antonio.

SGA Held Marathon Meeting to Decide on Funding

SGA members at Monday's meeting (photo by Victoria Abad) 

By Victoria Abad, Sophia Scearce and Sarah Wysocki

The SGA voted to cut funding for most University Sponsored Organizations (USOs) ​and other campus organizations ​at their last meeting of the semester Monday ​night. The cut was due to a $20,000 deficit SGA was facing as a result of the funding requests for the 2018-2019 school year.

The meeting, which Senator Emeritus Samy Abdallah, a senior, described as “the biggest budgeting meeting ever,” lasted more than three hours and went through several waves of heated debates.

Marisa Kwiatkowski: Investigative Reporter Who Broke the USA Gymnastics Sexual Abuse Story

Marisa Kwiatkowski having a conversation with Trinity students 
(The Roar photo) 

By Jacob Rossitter

Marisa Kwiatkowski, who recently visited Trinity University, is an investigative journalist for the Indianapolis Star, a daily newspaper in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2016, Kwiatkowski, along with a small team of investigative reporters, broke the story of USA Gymnastics covering up female gymnasts’ allegations of sexual abuses by several coaches. At the time, two former gymnasts came forward to accuse the team doctor, Larry Nassar, of repeated sexual abuse of female gymnasts. Kwiatkowski and her colleagues followed up with the Nassar story. Since the publication of their stories, more than 250 people have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Nassar.

On Wednesday, April 11, Kwiatkowski gave a talk to around 100 Trinity students and faculty about her experience investigating the USA Gymnastics story, as well as other of her investigative pieces. Her talk demonstrated how having a voice can make a difference, and how investigative journalism can give voice to the voiceless.

Alumna Applied Knowledge Learned at Trinity to Educate Her Own Children

By Joy Camp 

Christi Shaw couldn’t wait to finish school and move on with life outside of college.

Finishing her studies at Trinity University in only three and a half years, she graduated in 1972 and began her work in the state capital of Texas as an administrative assistant to Representative Joe Sage. 

In 1976, Shaw met the man of her dreams, Thomas Moorman, and they married on Dec. 20th of that year. About three years later, their first child, daughter Muffin, was born. Before she knew it, Mrs. Moorman was a mother of six.

Seizing the Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: Trinity Students' Involvement in the NCAA Final Four

By Lauren Bagg

Trinity student Amanda Gerlach, a sophomore communication and Spanish double major with a sport management minor, was an ambassador for Westwood One Radio Row during the NCAA Final Four, held in San Antonio earlier this month. Her job was taking past and current coaches, players and other people involved with college basketball for interviews at different radio stations.

Gerlach saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because she was able to “spend time talking with them too, which was really nice!” she said. “I even got a picture with Bill Walton.”

Kelly Grey Carlisle: Searching for Personal Truth through Writing

Kelly Grey Carlisle in her intro to non-fiction class
(photo by Sarah Wysocki) 

By Sarah Wysocki

Kelly Grey Carlisle, Trinity professor of creative non-fiction writing, searches for the truth about her past and her mother’s murder in her newly published book, We Are All Shipwrecks. Though she did not know what she would find in her investigation, she dove in to her mother’s cold case, at the time, decades old.

Many know the professor side of Carlisle--a funny, well-read and well-written woman who cares deeply about her students. Some even know a bit of her personal side--41, married, mother of two young girls, who are 6 years and 19 months old. But there’s more to the story than what is seen on the outside.