The SFA campus lit up on Tuesday night November 27th in celebration of the Christmas season.
Tag Archives: CAMPUS
Pine Log is hiring for spring
The Pine Log is a SFA student-run newspaper that runs twice a week for the SFA community’s observation and they are hiring for the spring semester.
This newspaper consists of several positions all held by students that work in and out of the office to create a paper that grabs attention campus wide.
“We aim to keep students informed about world issues, campus events, and to also allow students make their voices heard. We want to give students ‘real world’ experiences where they will leave college with knowledge of what it is like to work for a newspaper,” said Hannah Cole, Editor.
Staff:
- Managing Editor
- Editor
- Opinions Editor
- Entertainment Editor
- Sports Editor
- Copy Editor
- Photo Editor
- Staff Writers
- Photographers
- Cartoonist
- Advertising Reps
Each editor are in charge of laying out their specific page. For example, the Entertainment Editor is expected to pull stories and photos over events that are seen as entertainment, and lay them out in a style that will grab the attention of readers.
The same goes for other page editors. Everything included on their page is in relation to the specific focus of the page. This includes opinions editor, sports editor, and editor who often puts together page one.
Working for the Pine Log:
Working for the Pine Log gives students the opportunity to venture out and gain experience with what they are interested in. For example; interviewing, writing, editing, taking photos, page layout, are all different skill sets that students can learn depending on the job they apply for and get offered.
“As sports editor, facilitating writers so that the various sports at SFA are covered is always an exciting challenge. Many times, I will cover the games myself, but because we have so many successful sports on campus, it allows a tremendous opportunity for writers to be featured in the Pine Log,” Jordan Boyd, junior, said.
College is a place where professors prepare students for jobs post graduation. The Pine Log presents opportunity for students who are in the Mass Communication field particularly, with opportunity to build their resume.
“I love working for the Pine Log. It’s something extra I have done for three years. I’ve always loved writing and reading. I am glad to have some background working at a publication. I think any number of diverse jobs i can have, will make me a more rounded person. The skills I’ve learned at the Pine Log can transfer to a lot of careers,” said Jessica Gilligan, Managing Editor.
Students who work for the paper will have hard copies of what they write, layout, and/or take photos of. This will allow them to build their portfolio on top of building their resume.
“Working for the Pine Log is definitely a learning experience. You learn a lot about working with a deadline and I get to work with a fun group of people. I also enjoy getting to learn a lot more about the newspaper world,” Copy Editor Jessica Layfield said.
Test it Out:
For students who are unsure of how they will like working for the paper, they can write for the Pine Log as contributing writers. Meaning, they will not get paid, but they will have their writing published.
How to Apply:
The Pine Log application consists of basic background information such as name, birthday, address, etc. It also asks for a job background, resume, and the option of adding a cover letter.
When filling out the application students should take into account what they have done previously that could benefit the position they are looking to fill. They should also list any classes they have taken that could help. For example, copy editing, layout and design photojournalism, news writing, etc.
Many of the positions are paid and and little experience is required.
Return applications to Student Publications, Room 2.308 BPSC or apply online.
To apply go to the link provided below:
http://www.thepinelog.com/work-for-us
The deadline for editor applications is Monday, November 24, and the deadline for all other positions is Monday, December 3.
gab.rambo@gmail.com
Let The Games Begin!
Freshman Traditions Council member, Sarah Bizzell, was one of many Traditions Council members who put in extra time on Sunday to help create homecoming decorations.
Homecoming week starts this Monday for Stephen F. Austin State University.
The student run organization, Traditions Council, has run homecoming since their formation in 2006. They are responsible for planning and executing a majority of the Homecoming events.
Homecoming court is decided on a point system. Candidates will get points for participating in events in addition to the points they get for popular vote. The top three candidates for Senior King and Queen will then have an interview with a board of faculty and staff members. The interview counts for 25% of the total points, making it the first time that the king and queen will not be solely decided by students.
The Involvement Center is also offering a “board game” style schedule that, once completed, will enter students into a raffle to win 250 dollars or a Kindle Fire. They can pick up the schedule in the Involvement Center. Students take the schedules to the Homecoming Headquarters set up at every event where their “board game” will get the corresponding sticker for that event.
This year’s theme is “Let the Games Begin.” Decorations will go up Sunday night. There will be characters from different games placed throughout the campus.
“Each day will have its own game theme and the decorations will be dispersed across campus,” said Nicole Lejeune, Vice President of Traditions Council.
The themes for each day (in no particular order) are Pokemon, Scrabble, Monopoly, Dominos, Candyland, and Madden.
Monday
Monday morning the Homecoming week starts off with Opening Ceremonies at 10 am at Surfin’ Steve. The court candidates will be announced and the fountain water in Surfin’ Steve will be dyed purple. Online voting on Axes, SFA’s new social network, will be open until 5 p.m. To vote online students can go through MySFA. Here is how students can reach online voting.
- Login to MySFA
- Click on the “my services” tab
- Scroll down and click on the “AXES: The Web Portal for Student Involvement at SFA” link located in the middle of the page.
- Create an account (new users only)
- Find the link that states “2012 Homecoming Court Election ends 10/15/2012 5:00 PM Vote Now!”
- Click “Vote Now!”
- Vote for your desired candidates
- Students can only vote once, so students who vote online will not be allowed to vote in person.
The organizations competing for the Spirit Organization Award will be announced during the Homecoming Kickoff. Organization boards (ply wood that is decorated by competing organizations) will be presented. The Spirit Organization Award will be decided by a point system just like Homecoming Court. Organizations will gain points by participating in and winning events. Then Kickoff will shift gears. Participating organizations will run game themed tables in the plaza. Students who participate will earn raffle tickets to enter drawings for movies and electronics, like iPod speakers and a printer.
Tuesday
There will be a blood drive starting at 9 a.m. and going until 5 p.m. Organizations and court candidates can give blood or have others give blood in their name to earn points. Physical voting for Homecoming candidates on the plaza will start at 10 a.m. A validated student ID must be presented in order to vote.
The day ends with the Amazing Traditions Race, a campus scavenger hunt. The winning team earns the prize of 100 dollars.
Wednesday
Voting for Homecoming Court on the plaza continues until 2 p.m. when voting is stopped for counting. The campus recreational center invites all students to come by and tie dye a shirt at 4.
Homecoming Court candidates and organizations can gain points by participating and winning in the ODK (Omicron Delta Kappa, Leadership Honor Society) Trivia Bowl at 5. Groups of 4 to 5 students compete against each other in a battle to see who knows the most trivia.
Thursday
The organizations will be competing with each other once again at 2 p.m. on the plaza for the Big Event Food Drive Build. All through the week organizations will be turning in cans for the food drive into the Involvement Center. They will use those cans to build an object pertaining to the theme selected by the judges.
At 5 o’clock the Homecoming Court will be revealed at the Cheer Competition/Court Reveal in the Grand Ballroom. There will be ten students in the court, a duke and a duchess from each class plus a king and queen from the senior class. After the court is reveled organizations will compete by performing their cheer in order to obtain more points in the race for the Spirit Organization Award.
Friday
The day starts off with two golf tournaments hosted by the Alumni Association. The tournament for traditional golf will be held at 10:30 in the morning while the tournament of disc (Frisbee) golf will be held at 2 in the afternoon.
At 8:30 p.m. the torch light parade will begin. Glow sticks will be handed out to students. The king and queen and the court will lead the parade with a torch in hand. They will march from Surfin’ Steve down Raguet Street to Starr. From Starr they will head towards the intramural fields to the spot where the bonfire will be held.
After the bonfire is lit there will be a Bonfire Pep-Rally. During the pep rally Lumberjack’s head football coach J.C. Harper will come and talk to all the students and the winner of the Spirit Organization Award will be announced.
At 9:30 after the pep rally local Texas Country star, Aaron Watson, will hold a concert on the intramural fields, hosted by Student Activities Association.
Saturday
The final day of the Homecoming week starts at 8 in the morning with a 5k run at the parking lot behind Schlief Tennis Complex on the corner of Wilson and Starr.
Then at 10 o’clock the Homecoming parade will be held on Main Street downtown. Campus and local organizations along with the Homecoming Court will be on floats supporting their organizations and local businesses.
The final event of homecoming will be the football game at 3 in the afternoon as the SFA Lumberjacks face the Nicholls State University Colonels. The Lumberjacks come into the game as the favorite. Lumberjacks are 2-4 (1-1 in conference) while the Colonels are 1-5 (0-2 in conference). Both teams are coming off a game from the same opponent. Lumberjacks played Sam Houston Bearkats on October 6th and lost by eight points. This past weekend the Colonels faced off against the Bearkats and lost 41-0. During half time the homecoming court will be introduced a final time to all those present at the game.
For a full schedule of all the events and information or forms to register for the parade visit the Involvement Center or Homecoming web page at http://www.sfasu.edu/studentaffairs/94.asp.
A Brief Look At The Stone Fort Museum
Some time in the 1970’s a rumor developed that stated, “If you go into the Stone Fort Museum you will not graduate.” The myth is exists to this day and is common knowledge to SFA students.
History
The Stone Fort Museum opened to the public on the Stephen F. Austin campus in Nacogdoches Texas in 1936. The Stone Fort is a replica of the original Stone House built by Antonio Gil Y’Barbo in the late 1700s.
Y’Barbo was one of many citizens forced out of East Texas by the Spanish Crown’s New Regulations of 1772. Y’Barbo travelled down to Mexico City to try and reverse the new law and was eventually allowed to return to East Texas. Five years after being forced to abandon his home he had helped around 350 people to resettle in a town called “Neustra del Pilar de Nacogdoches,” now known as Nacogdoches.
Y’Barbo built the Stone House and used it as a store where he sold goods to the townspeople. Y’Barbo sold the Stone House in the very early 1800’s to Jose de la Bega. From that time until its destruction in 1902, the house was used as a “grocery store, restaurant, lawyers office, courthouse, cobbler shop, jail, military barracks, saloon, and a fortification” (Stone Fort Museum).
The Stone House was never meant to be a fort and did not inherit that nickname until the mid 1800’s when the owner of the building named his saloon “The Stone Fort.”
In 1901 the Perkins family purchased the building and eventually had it torn down. A women’s group known as Cum Concilio Club rescued the bricks of the building and dumped them in a vacant lot where they sat for about five years. In 1907 the club used the bricks to build a memorial building. It was used as a library, museum, and a meeting place for local clubs and teachers.
A more accurate replica of the Stone Fort was built on the SFA campus in October of 1936. This replica is used as a museum to showcase east Texas history.
The Stone Fort Museum staff is currently taking down “Cornerstones of the Community: African American History in Eastern Texas” and preparing for an exhibit on George Louis Crockett, an East Texas preacher.
Before the Stone Fort Museum was built SFA had a certain fascination with the Stone Fort. The Stone Fort is the namesake for Stephen F. Austin State University yearbook. In fact, the 1924, the very first yearbook was titled ‘Stone Fort.’
Student Response
Despite the myth (about not graduating) being proven wrong, most students still refuse to enter the museum until they graduate. Sunshine Kemp, junior, and radio/television major said that she is not going to enter until she graduates because school is hard enough as it is, she doesn’t need a curse working against her as well.
“I’ve been wanting to visit since freshman year, but due to tradition, you just don’t go. So, in a few months, I look forward to walking across the stage and right into the fort.” Said Katy Macrae, senior and film major.
However, there are some students who denounce the curse.
“I’m graduating in December. Everything is set in stone. The curse does not exist.” Said Monica Mayfield, senior Education major and Stone Fort student employee (as she stood inside the stone fort).
“If you’re going to be in a city, the best thing to do is learn about the history of it… The stone fort is very instrumental in Nacogdoches history. People should learn more than just Nacogdoches history, they should learn about East Texas history and the Stone Fort Museum is full of it.” Said Julissa Lopez, junior, communications major and Stone Fort student employee.
Information on the Museum
Their hours are
Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
You can find out more information about the Stone Fort Museum at their website: http://www.sfasu.edu/stonefort/
Sources:
All information was obtained from the Stone Fort Museum, Curator Carolyn A. Spears, and the museum website (listed above).
fluegeldd@titan.sfasu.edu
Beating the Economy
SFA student, Roland Solomon, beats the economy by saving gas and riding a bicycle to local destinations.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Probate
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority as they unmask a line of 17 new members on the stairs of the Rusk building at SFA
mjrjr1991@gmail.com
3rd Annual project Unity
This past Friday, April 20, 2012, the office of multi-cultural affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University put on the 3rd annual project unity step show for the student body. It brought out a crowd of about 1000 people from many different Greek and non-Greek backgrounds.
The show consisted of 3 teams composed of mixed Greek organizations. These organizations were Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega, Omega Delta Phi and Delta Delta Delta, and Sigma Lambda Beta and Zeta Tau Alpha. Each team worked together to promote greek unity across the SFA campus. The teams practiced for months at a time to put on the performance of their lives in front of a panel of judges that consisted of members of SFA faculty and staff, but the real judges were the people sitting out in the stands.
To start off the show, SFA student, Virginia Durham, sung the national anthem and then the main part of the show began. Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega started off the show with a performance that was themed Mafia. They began their performance breaking into the bank and stealing the money. Then they were trying to figure out how they were going to get out of the bank without getting caught. Alpha Phi Alpha showed Alpha Chi Omega their way of getting out then Alpha Chi Omega did the reverse. If they were to get caught they had to come up with a way to persuade the cop to let them off. If it was to be a girl cop the boys would serenate them with some risqué dance moves to persuade the woman cop while Alpha Chi Omega chose to seduce the male cop.
Next up to perform was Omega Delta Phi and Delta Delta Delta; they did not have a theme to their performance. So to wow the judges they stepped hard and danced harder. Their steps were together and even the girls from Delta Delta Delta were getting down and stepping just as hard as they boys. Of course they could not leave the stage without wooing the crowd; they put on a tasteful sexual dance that was a crowd pleaser for some.
Last but not least was Sigma Lamda Beta and Zeta Tau Alpha with a theme titled “Stomp the Yard 11.” They were trying out to be in the movie Stomp the Yard in New York City. To show they deserved to be in the movie they stomped their hearts out. Once they made past their audition and they found out they got the part in the movie they went to New York and stepped and of course they could not be left out with the sexual dances.
In between the performance to give the judges a chance to tally up their points and collect their thoughts of each performance they had intermission. During the intermissions there were different performances, Kierra Dixon did her own rendition of Alicia Keys Unthinkable; she had the crowd standing with applause. Then Krumping Slow Dance Organization did a dance routine that had the crowd watching in amazement.
After the deliberation the teams were brought back out and the winners were announced. In second place was Sigma Lambda Beta and Zeta Tau Alpha. They received a trophy as their prize for their performance, in first place was Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega. They received a larger trophy and a grand prize of $5000 to split between the two organizations equally. Alpha Phi Alpha is now on a 2 year win streak and have hopes of continuing to win for years to come.
“I look forward to this time of the spring semester every year. Stepping is what I live for. Its how i clear my head.” He went on to say,” This unfortunately will be my last stepshow. I am going to retire as step master and pass the torch to one of my younger neophytes. I think I’ve prepared them to bring home another trophy without me,” said Step master, Mario Perez.
Below is a video link of the winning teams step.
Alpha Phi Alpha And Alpha Chi Omega Winning Performance Clip
Online Courses: Heaven or Hell?
As registration for next semester is underway on the SFASU campus, many students have to make a vital decision: To take an online or a traditional course?
During the registration process, many students hit a brick wall when trying to piece together required classes that clash schedule-wise. You may have to take a course that is only offered at the same time as another, with no options for a second section number or a different professor.
In times like these, students must ask themselves if they can take an online course. At SFA, students can register for online courses through Banner in the same process as regular courses.
However, before making a hasty decision to take online courses, one must take several things into account.
Primarily, you must have the independent work ethic to get on your computer and NOT get distracted. This means that when you need to check Blackboard, you do not have several tabs open with Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, YouTube and who knows what else. To succeed in online courses, you have to have the determination to finish work ahead of time. As there are no class meetings, you must set your own schedule in order to get your assignments completed in time.
Next, students must realize that it is much more difficult to pay attention in an online class. The professor is not available to talk freely, and everything is conducted through text – e-mails, messages, and online discussions. If you are a student who is an auditory learner, an online class probably is not the best idea for you.
Also, online classes are wrongly perceived to be easier for students than traditional courses. This is not the case: just ask a student who has taken an online course through SFA.
“I thought I’d take this online Media class so I wouldn’t have to do as much work for it. (Laughter) Oh, that’s not what happened. I’ve had so much work in that class, you can’t even imagine,” says Logan Warren, Nacogdoches Political Science senior.
Most traditional classes do not have daily homework, even weekly homework. However, it is much easier for online professors to give work to students to “make sure they are paying attention and learning.” In traditional classes, simple attendance says a lot, but not here.
Taking online courses can either make or break a student. Heed this advice: before taking an online course, sit down and think about how you behave as a student. If you do not think you have the willpower to sit in your room and turn off Facebook to read an online lecture for an hour (this is reality), then maybe you should stick with traditional courses.
Each department is different on campus and has different guidelines for students and registration. For help with registering for classes and deciding what to take, you should see your advisor or a Counseling Center employee.
It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like December!
SFA students bundle up to keep out the cold this week, as the weather actually feels like December.