April 2014

Dear 2016-ers,

As you draw near to the pre-registration period for Fall 2014, many of you are approaching an important college milestone:  declaring your major.    There are a number of good articles on the internet that can give you ten steps, five steps, etc… to choosing the right major, so I will not belabor those many excellent points.  I just would like to share some thoughts that might be helpful for the Trinity student contemplating that next step.


There are many reasons for choosing a major.  The two most cited by college students are to train for a specific career, or to learn as much as possible about a subject that one loves.  If you are certain that you want particular training, you should decide on the major that is can provide you with those skills, like education, engineering or business.  However, if there is a subject that you’ve discovered you cannot get enough of, you should choose that area in which to major.  It is important to recognize that with the latter, you do not necessarily have to find employment in the area in which you majored.  Those skills of discernment, critical thinking, and writing that you developed as a philosophy or art history major are sought after by employers, and will prime you for success in many fields.  more>>

Dr. M
Class Marshal




Spring Family Weekend
March 28-30, 2014
Spring Family Weekend is an exciting time for families to see your achievements after a year's worth of hard effort. The schedule of events during Spring Family Weekend spotlights students' talents and successes. Program highlights include: Friday Student Leadership Awards, Saturday Honor Awards Convocation and Trinity Spotlight Talent Showcase.

Click here for a full list of events.  If you want to stay connected to Trinity through social media follow Trinity at @Trinity_U and use the hashtag #TUSFW14 throughout the weekend.

April 1 Marks Changes in Package Pick-up
Starting April 1, most Mail Center operations will move from the Coates University Center to the Central Receiving area at 607 Kings Court. For the remainder of this semester, students will still retrieve mail from Coates boxes. However, package pick-up will take place at Central Receiving, down at the foot of the Prassel Parking Garage. Tentative plans for next year involve moving all student boxes to a central location on lower campus. Many small packages will be retrievable there. All of this is being done in an effort to make the Coates Center a better community space for current and future students. We appreciate everyone's patience during the last six weeks of the semester. 

Class of 2016 Scholarship Fund Committee
Are you up to the challenge?  The Class of 2016 Scholarship Fund Challenge is a great opportunity for us to come together to help future Trinitonians.  Alumni Sponsor Jim Boelens has issued a challenge for us this semester – if 70% of our class donates at least $10 to the fund, he will add an additional $1,000 to the fund.  All gifts go into a fund that will provide a scholarship to a student starting at Trinity in the fall of 2016.

Questions or want to make a gift? Come to the Sophomore Ice Cream Social on April 2nd to learn more.  We’ll have a gift table there for you to make your gift.  We accept cash, checks, credit cards, and Tiger Bucks.  We look forward to your support! 


“Getting What You Want from Abstinence”
Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m.
Woodlawn Room, 239 Coates University Center
The final topic is this year’s Pizza & Pleasure sexuality education series addresses what may seem to be a paradoxical topic: Abstinence.  Perhaps you heard a presentation on abstinence during middle school or high school that advocated “no sex until marriage.”   That is not the message sex therapist and educator Cay Crow will offer.  Cay will offer a different kind of message, one that recognizes that abstinence can be a self-affirming choice a sexual person might make whether for an evening, until marriage, or until the person and time is right.  Pizza & Pleasure veterans should note that the time of this P&P gathering is 7 p.m., not 7:30 p.m.  Sponsored by Counseling Services.
  
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
It’s often hard to know how to respond to a sexual assault survivor, but two things are of critical importance.  First, an empathic response that communicates your concern will show the survivor that you are willing to listen nonjudgmentally and offer support throughout the healing process.  You will want to communicate that the assault is not the survivor’s fault and that you are available to talk at any time.  Second, it is essential for a sexual assault survivor to have as much control as possible in handling the events following the assault.  This pertains to everything from how much information s/he chooses to share with you to decisions about whether to pursue any disciplinary or judicial action about the assault.  For more information about helping a survivor, click here, and visit Trinity’s Sexual Assault Web site. Survivors of sexual assault may wish to make an appointment with Dr. Kristin Eisenhauer at Counseling Services as well.  And survivors should also know of this off-campus resource, the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center, which provides free counseling regardless of when the sexual assault occurred.   


April is STD Awareness Month  GYT
On Wednesday, April 9, Health Services will have a table in Mabee dining Hall between 5 and 7 p.m. with information about STDs and testing.  Students can win free testing, t-shirt or other prizes.
STD testing is available in Health Services during regular hours.  No appointment is necessary.  If you would like to discuss testing with a nurse or just have questions, like “How often should I be tested?” or “What STDs am I at risk for? “  Come in to talk with one of us.   You can reach us by phone at 210-999-8111 or we are located in Myrtle McFarlin residence hall, behind Storch Memorial Building.


Student Health 101's Welcome Video Contest!
Here are the basics: Students will create their own videos
about a health topic of their choice. From the top videos selected by our tteam, students will then be asked to vote for their favorite video among the finalists. The winning video will be featured in an upcoming issue of Student Health 101 and cash prizes for the top three videos will be allocated as follows:

1st Place: $500.00
2nd Place: $300.00
3rd Place: $100.00

The deadline to submit videos is April 15, 2014. See the video contest link for more details.


Preparing for Registration?  One Less Roadblock…
In the past, you have been required to provide proof of health insurance in April prior to registering for fall classes.  If you failed to do this a registration hold was placed    No more.  You will not miss your registration time in April because you failed to provide the required information.  However, students are still required to have health insurance and provide proof of the coverage annually through an online waiver, available beginning April 1.

If the waiver is not completed by July 1, the premium for the student health insurance plan will be included on your electronic bill for the fall semester.  If you do not want that insurance you will have several weeks to provide proof of other insurance and have that charge removed from your bill.  Students who do not do so will automatically be enrolled in the student health insurance plan, after which the premium will not be refundable.

The Chaplain's Corner by Stephen Nickle



Quiet Places on Campus


2014 Summer/Part-Time Job Fair
April 2 (Wed.), 3-5p.m., Coates Lobby
Are you looking for summer employment? Stop by and talk face-to-face with employers looking to fill part-time or summer employment positions. This fair will be open to all Trinity students. Visit TigerJobs to view a list of all employers coming. 


Sophomore Ice Cream Social

Come to Northrup Lobby on Wednesday, April 2 from 6 – 7 p.m. to celebrate your halfway mark!  The Student Ambassadors and Trinity Alumni will be serving ice cream floats and sundaes to the first 200 sophomores in a keepsake cup.  Join us for free floats, sundaes, Frisbees, and fun!  



Dining Services
Your favorite theme night has almost arrived! Our Fiesta Night will be held on Wednesday, April 16. The fun evening will include delicious Mexican food, games and prizes. Be sure to stop by and join the biggest theme night of the year! Another exciting theme night will be held at the end of the month. Our BBQ Dinner will feature sausage, brisket, apple pie and more! Check out our newsletter for more information about these events and a few other programs we offer.

Summer Storage
Looking for summer storage?  Check out this list of companies near Trinity.

Trinity Spotlight
Trinity’s annual Spotlight Talent Show is coming up on Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 P.M. in Laurie Auditorium. The show will feature Trinity’s most talented students in a variety of acts. There will be free t-shirts given out to students. Check out the Student Programming Board’s Facebook page for more information.


SPB presents Senior Roast
Join SPB for this Trinity tradition!  Two lucky seniors will be roasted with embarrassing stories submitted by their closest friends.  Senior roastees to be revealed.  Open to all Trinity students. Thursday, May 1st at 8 p.m. in the Skyline Room.  Snacks, beverages, and a cash bar will be available (21+).

Trinity Diversity Connection is bringing Central Comedian, ELIOT CHANG, to Trinity!
Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium
Come check out Eliot Chang's standup comedy show and laugh all night! There will be drawings for prizes and entertainment you won't forget! Free admission and everyone is welcomed! Visit Facebook for more information.

Annual Trinity Diversity Connection's Taste of Diversity
Friday, April 4 at 3 p.m. in the Esplanade
Spend the afternoon tasting foods from various cultures. Free admission and there will be drawings for prizes! You don't want to miss this delicious annual event! Find out more information on Facebook.

February Student Leader Spotlight
CCI congratulates student, Gloria Borgardt, as the February 2014 Student Leader Spotlight Recipient! Gloria is currently a senior nominated by three individuals at TigerTV, Kathryn Boyd, Christina Armstrong, and Claire Richardson, for her outstanding leadership as the Station Manager for the student run TV Station- TigerTV. Click here to look at Gloria’s video and read her biography!




March Student Leader Spotlight 
Congratulations to Navid Leelani for receiving the March 2014 Student Leader Spotlight Recipient! Navid is currently a junior, majoring in Biology and Biomath, who was nominated by his peer, Laura Kalb, who serves as the director of the Student Programming Board. Navid was nominated for his outstanding commitment and leadership as the associate director of general programming for the Student Programming Board and as a staff member for Residential Life. Click here to watch his video!



Alternative Spring Break-Atlanta

Six Trinity University students spent their Spring Break in Atlanta providing service to various non-profit organizations. The picture shows Trinity students with Piedmont Park staff after their hard work at the community garden (L-R): Mia Garza, Breanna Willis, Emily Zhu, Shay Atkins, Olivia Mill, Rebecca Prager, Michael Paul of Piedmont Park, and Mary Yetter of Piedmont Park.







Alternative Spring Break- Dominica 
Trinity students spend their Spring Break at the Alpha Center in Dominica.









Plan NOW to be involved in the fall!

Team Trinity Move-in Crew
Per our annual tradition students are invited to participate in move-in day for new students. Student volunteers will be required to arrive by 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 20 to move in new students on Thursday morning, August 21. If you are interested, regardless of ability, please consider joining others by signing up through the Team Trinity survey link.

Be the First to Know
The Mirage and the Trinitonian are hiring staffs for 2014-2015. All majors and all experience levels are urged to inquire (mirage@trinity.edu; trinitonian@trinity.edu). These are not work-study jobs. You’ll be earning money while gaining experience essential for any career and skills that will distinguish you in competitive job markets. Plus, it’s fun. Consider becoming a reporter, copy editor, layout artist, photographer, sales representative, graphic artist, social media coordinator, webmaster, paper deliverer, or accountant. Help write Trinity’s history.

Anatomy of Injustice
Reading TUgether is a University-wide common reading program in which the entire campus community, including students, staff, faculty, families, and alumni, are invited to participate. This year, the selection comes from Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Raymond Bonner. “Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong” tells the gripping story of a grievously mishandled murder case that put a twenty-three-year-old man on death row.  more>>