Sul Ross State University

News Release for May 1, 2008

FORMER SUL ROSS PROFESSOR'S BOOK PUBLISHED

"Ghost Schools of the Big Big Bend," by former Sul Ross State University dean and professor Dr. Albert B. Tucker, has been published by Howard Payne University Press.

Tucker compiled the research prior to his death in 1999. Since then, his wife, Jan, and sons Robert Lee and Jeffrey worked to complete the manuscript and publish the book. Tucker was a professor of Education and later dean of Professional Studies at Sul Ross from 1985-98 before moving to Howard Payne, where he served as a professor of Education and dean of Continuing Education.

According to a press release from Howard Payne, "The schools of the West Texas frontier are nothing but abandoned adobe ruins today. But there was a time, some one-hundred years ago, when they were bustling centers of learning that served a diverse student population. They might even provide model for today's schools.

"Ghost Schools of the Big Bend...is the first detailed investigation of the schools of the frontier in this region. The book unearths details of the teachers, the parents, the students, the hardships and triumphs, of a people long dead but strangely familiar to modern-day readers. Tucker's detailed study covers a 60-year period and brings these "ghost schools" back to life and invites us to get to know the founders, the teachers, the principals, the students, and the parents.

"It is not fiction but rather a scholarly investigation of historical fact; but the impressions it leaves on the heart and mind compare to that left by great literature. Perhaps the sheer detail of the analysis that provides such compelling images. Anyone who reads this account will gain an unforgettable picture of this region and time, and likely be forever marked by the romance attached to it.

"The book is a result of a lifetime study. Tucker was originally from a town not too far away, and he settled in mid-life in Alpine. He became transfixed by these small and collapsed adobe structures that were once schools. He wondered about their teachers and students and how they worked. His investigations took him to far-flung places, interviewing anyone who could tell him stories and provide pictures and data. It was the teachers, in Tucker's view, that shaped and built the culture of this region. And truly, they were amazing people, mostly women but some men, too."

Tucker was born March 18, 1938, in San Marcos and died Jan. 22, 1999 in San Marcos. He received a B.A. from Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, in 1959; an M.R.E. (1962) from Golden Gate Seminary; a M.Ed. (1970) from the University of Texas El Paso; and Ed.D. (1982) from Texas Tech University, Lubbock. He authored many scholarly articles, on reading pedagogy and Texas folklore.

The book is available through Lulu.com. For more information contact Jan Tucker, jtucker@bwoodtx.com or jtucker@hpu.edutx.

BFA EXHIBIT BY SUL ROSS STUDENT KELLY SUFFICOOL THROUGH MAY 9

"Desert Mirage," an exhibition of printmaking by Sul Ross State University student Kelly Sufficool, Alpine, will be on exhibit through May 9.

The exhibition is in compliance with her bachelor of Fine Arts degree. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 2, 6-8 p.m. in the Main Gallery, Francois Fine Arts Building. There is no admission charge and the public is invited.

Sufficool's prints are a reflection of growing up in the desert and an expression of the nature of the desert in the Big Bend area. She has been drawing most of her life and enjoy the manifestation of the mark. She realized a few years ago that carving her drawings into plexiglass. was much like drawing and she could achieve different effects using different methods of carving the plexiglass.

Adding a second piece or pieces of different colored or textured paper onto another larger sheet of paper before printing changes the way the image is interpreted. This method of Chine` colle is very influential in her work.

REGENTS VICE CHAIR TRISHA POLLARD MAY 10 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Trisha Pollard, vice chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System, will deliver the commencement address during Sul Ross State University's spring graduation exercises, scheduled Saturday, May 10.

Ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine Campus and at 7:30 p.m. in the Del Rio Civic Center for Rio Grande College. An estimated 241 students are candidates for degrees, 175 on the Alpine Campus and 66 at RGC.

Pollard, Bellaire, is vice president of Pollard Development, L.P. She was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2007 by Governor Rick Perry. An attorney, she has also had a lengthy career in the natural gas industry and been active in civic and church volunteer activities.

She received a bachelor's of Business Administration degree (1974) from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, and a Juris Doctor degree (1980) from the South Texas College of Law, Houston. She was appointed by Perry to a three-year term as a Public Member of the Texas One-Call Board in 2003.

Pollard has served as a director of the Sam Houston State Alumni Association, as foreman of the Harris County Grand Jury for three terms and as chairman, Building and Standards Committee, City of Bellaire. During

her career in the natural gas industry, she was assistant general counsel at Kinder Morgan, Inc.; vice president -- Legal & Human Resources at PennUnion Energy Services; and Attorney at Transco Gas Marketing Company, after working as Manager, Gas Purchases and in other business positions at Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation.

She is a Presbyterian Elder and is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Houston. She also serves on Houston Bar Association committees, was chair of the Oil & Gas Section of the Houston Bar Association and is a member of the State Bar of Texas. She has been active in both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as an assistant Boy Scout Leader and troop secretary.

Pollard and her husband, Randy, a CPA, have three children, Matthew, a student at Texas A&M University; Jenny, who attends Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacagdoches; and Jonathan, a middle school student.

SUL ROSS BUSINESS PROFESSOR MAZIE WILL TO RECEIVE STATE TEACHER OF YEAR AWARD

Mazie Will, Sul Ross State University associate professor of Business, has been named State Collegiate Business Teacher of the Year by the Texas Business and Technology Educators Association (TBTEA).

Will, who has taught at Sul Ross since 1979, will be honored in July during the TBTEA Professional Development Conference in Dallas. The award is given to a collegiate educator who has made a significant contribution in preparing students for business careers and/or teaching business education. The TBTEA will also make Teacher of the Year presentations to secondary and post-secondary (community college) recipients.

"I am extremely honored to receive this award," Will said. "My reward for teaching is being able to have contact with former students and alumni and to know they are being successful in their careers. I consider them my colleagues at this point."

Many of Will's former students are active as business education teachers in Texas, and many more graduates hold positions in business and government positions across the state.

Will received her bachelor's (1972) and master's (1977) degrees in Business Education from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. She has since completed additional graduate study at the University of North Texas, Denton, and Sul Ross.

She belongs to a number of professional societies and has authored several publications. She holds the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) titles. She was named Region 19 Business Teacher of the Year by the Texas Business Education Association. In 2007, she was recognized for 15 years as adviser to the Sul Ross chapter of Delta Mu Delta, the international business administration honor society. Recently, she served on the Hospitality Committee for the National Business Education Association conference held in San Antonio.

Will has developed and taught numerous classes to help her students acquire marketable skills for their chosen careers and has implemented the new Bachelor of Arts degree in Administrative Systems & Business Technology. Her courses have evolved to meet changing needs of the workplace. Recently, she developed a course focusing on blogs, podcasts and other social networking skills.

For more information, contact Will, (432) 837-8072 or mwill@sulross.edu.

C-SPAN'S ELECTION 2008 BUS TO VISIT SUL ROSS MAY 1

Sul Ross State University will be one of the C-SPAN Campaign 2008 bus stops, with a visit scheduled Thursday, May 1.

C-SPAN's bus will be parked in front of Morelock Academic Building from 10 a.m.-noon May 1. The Sul Ross Student Government Association, College Republicans and University Democrats will conduct voter registration during the non-partisan event.

"With all eyes on the 2008 election, we are thrilled to be making a trip to Alpine with our newly renovated Campaign 2008 Bus," said Erin Patton, a C-SPAN marketing representative. "It will be a wonderful opportunity to talk with students - many of whom are first-time voters - about what issues are driving them to the polls."

The 45-foot mobile production studio is on the campaign trail to promote and enhance C-SPAN's comprehensive political coverage, touring state capitols and traveling to major political events such as the recent Pennsylvania primary. Since its January 2007 launch, the bus has been to 22 state capitals and 150 schools, where 200 elected officials, 2,500 teachers and 13,000 students have been on board.

The Alpine/Sul Ross visit, in partnership with Sul Ross, US Cable and the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, is part of the bus's inaugural "Road to the White House" tour, named after C-SPAN's renowned political program that marks its 20th year on the air in 2008.

C-SPAN's political coverage can be viewed on the C-SPAN networks, C-SPAN Radio,C-SPAN.org, or the one stop 2008 election web site: CampaignNetwork.org. In Alpine, C-SPAN can be seen on Channel 11.

A revamped version of the network's award-winning School Bus, the Campaign 2008 bus sports a new exterior design wrap in election themes along with interior modifications that include the latest television production equipment.

C-SPAN Classroom, www.c-spanclassroom.org, a free membership service for middle and high school teachers, offers a selection of free, downloadable video clips picked from the network's extensive political programming including "Road to the White House" that are updated weekly and "classroom-ready" allowing teachers to readily incorporate a study of presidential politics into their curriculum. C-SPAN, the political network of record, was created in 1979 by America's cable companies as a public service. C-SPAN is currently available in 91 million households, C-SPAN2 in 84 million households, and C-SPAN3 in more than 15 million households nationwide. For more information about C-SPAN, visit www.c-span.org or the MySpace page at www.myspace.com/campaignbus2008.

SUL ROSS RESEARCHERS PROPOSE REINTRODUCING PRAIRIE DOG

A proposed research study by Sul Ross State University would reintroduce native black-tailed prairie dogs to a family ranch in southern Brewster County.

Once thought to be a detriment to grazing land because of their impact on the vegetative structure, prairie dogs are now viewed in a more positive light.

"Many people believe that prairie dogs compete with livestock because they eat grass," said Dr. Bonnie Warnock, assistant professor of Natural Resource Managment. "As the science of range management has developed, ranchers have gained a better understanding of grazing land dynamics. There is a mounting body of evidence that many of our previous beliefs about prairie dogs were erroneous which has contributed to changes in landowner viewpoints."

These burrowing, colonial herbivores play three major roles in grassland ecosystems — they are important prey species, they create burrows, and they graze vegetation. Prairie dogs serve as a prey base for many birds and mammals, including ferruginous hawks, Harris hawks, golden eagles, red tail hawks, badgers, coyotes and fox.

Burrows provide shelter and nesting sites for other species, such as the burrowing owl and kit fox. The act of burrowing benefits the soil. It redistributes nutrients and minerals, improves infiltration and moisture retention, and mixes subsoil and topsoil.

"Prairie dogs can overgraze an area just as any other herbivore, which can result in less livestock forage," Warnock said. "However, prairie dogs can be managed like other wildlife species and livestock. Experience and studies have demonstrated that we can balance wildlife and livestock populations through proper management and increase the overall revenue for the ranch, the diversity of species that the grassland supports, and enhance the overall health of rangeland ecosystems."

According to research studies, at least 146 associated species benefit from prairie dog colony sites: Nine species directly depend on them for survival and reproduction, 20 species opportunistically benefit, and 117 species have a history that suggests a benefit from associating with prairie dogs.

If the population is managed, prairie dogs reduce the overall height of grass in an area but do not kill the grass plants; much like mowing a lawn makes it more healthy, Warnock said. In addition to changing grass height, prairie dogs also enhance digestibility, nutritional value, and productivity of grasses and forbs within the town area. The decreased stature of the grass and the enhanced quality attract other grazers such as pronghorn antelope.

The short vegetation also attracts other species that prefer to forage in more open terrain, such as mountain plovers and blue quail. The continuous clipping of plants also alters the types of plants in an area potentially removing and controlling woody plants such as mesquite. This is the focus of the proposed research study.

"As a member of a long-time ranching family in Brewster and Pecos counties, I have had the opportunity to experience ranching with prairie dogs on a first-hand basis," said Warnock. "The ranch where I grew up always had several colonies of prairie dogs. Rather than trying to eradicate them, my father saw them as a source of revenue and recreation on the ranch. Hunting was managed and through this, population numbers were kept in check, and the towns did not spread across the entire ranch, even though there was plenty of additional suitable habitat.

"Our cattle used the area year-long for grazing and loafing, and it was the preferred grazing area in the spring because the grass in the prairie dog towns greened up first. Despite the pervasive notion that cattle and horses can break their legs in the holes, I never experienced that misfortune and have not known anyone that it has happened to. The stories I was told always began 'a friend my friend knew…,' but I am unaware of a documented case of having to put an animal down because it injured itself in a prairie dog burrow."

The most serious concern associated with prairie dogs, as with any rodent, is disease. Fleas are the vector that spread sylvatic plague. The plague kills prairie dogs and can devastate a colony. If someone is in close contact with prairie dogs in an outbreak, the fleas could spread the disease to humans.

When prairie dogs are moved they must be quarantined and dusted with flea powder to insure no disease is spread from one colony to another. Studies have shown that the Trans Pecos area has the lowest potential for plague in prairie dogs within Texas.

The potential reintroduction that has been discussed on the Midland news involving Sul Ross and the City of Midland is in early planning stages and is still just a possibility. If the project reaches fruition, the vagaries of the reintroduction process are still great and the possibility of failure is high. The reintroduction would take place on private land at the request of, and with the full cooperation of the land owner.

"The proposed reintroduction would occur in a small isolated area to ensure no spread to neighboring properties. The colony, if it becomes established, would be monitored to study the impact prairie dogs have on mesquite and mesquite seedlings in restored desert grassland.," Warnock said.

"A study following a prairie dog reintroduction is a natural outgrowth of successful existing grassland restoration occurring in this part of the Big Bend Region and is a natural fit with the type of research Sul Ross State University undertakes to enhance the productivity and sustainability of our ranching communities."

For more information contact Warnock, (432) 837-8706.

SUL ROSS STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO DELTA MU DELTA BUSINESS HONOR SOCIETY

Twelve Sul Ross State University students were inducted into the Zeta Upsilon chapter of Delta Mu Delta, the international honor society in business administration.

Induction ceremonies were held April 24 in the University Center. Keys, certificates and honor cords were presented.

New inductees and their hometowns include:

ALPINE: Tanya Romero, Melissa Smith, Liliana Mason

FORT DAVIS: Eduardo Fierro

FORT STOCKTON: Ida Casias

MARFA: Christian Celis

PECOS: Angie Barreno, Angelica Metcalf, Josefina Samaguey

PRESIDIO: Juan Nieto

SPRING: Stephanie Jackson

TRENT: Melinda Pulattie

Delta Mu Delta, the Phi Beta Kappa of business education, was founded in 1913. Delta Mu Delta was incorporated in 1952 and in 1963 was admitted to membership in the Association of College Honor Societies. In 1992, the Society established an affiliation with the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) whereby future chapter establishment occurs only at college and universities with business programs accredited by ACBSP at the baccalaureate/graduate level.

Sul Ross' Zeta Upsilon chapter was chartered in November 1993.

SUL ROSS PROFESSOR RANGRA INVITED TO CHINA EDUCATION FORUM

Dr. Avinash Rangra, Sul Ross State University professor of Chemistry, has been invited to be a member of a U.S.-China Education Forum Science Delegation to China in November.

Rangra was invited as part of the People to People Ambassador Programs, established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. As a member of the Education Forum, Rangra will represent his profession while advancing the ideals of People to People International, a non-political, private-sector organization dedicated to promoting international understanding.

Discussion topics may include: organizing and managing innovative science teaching and learning; science literacy across the curriculum through thematic teaching; curriculum reform as related to current science standards; informal science opportunities and community partnerships; assessment methodologies and teacher training; and technology use in science education.

"I am grateful for the People to People invitation and look forward to this opportunity," said Rangra, who joined the Sul Ross faculty in 1967. "This will be my first experience going outside the United States on an educational exchange."

A native of India, Rangra received his bachelor's (Hon's, 1959) and master's (Hon's, 1960) degrees in chemistry from Panjab University, HoshiarPur, Panjab, and his Ph.D (1967) from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.

For more information, contact Rangra, (432) 837-8116 or arangra@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS TO HOST MAY 7 SCHOOL BOARDS WORKSHOP

The Texas Association of School Boards and the Sul Ross State University Education Department will host a spring workshop for school trustees and administrators on Wednesday May 7.

The program will be held in the Espino Conference Center of the University Center Sign in and refreshments begin at 4 p.m.

Following the welcome by Sul Ross President Dr. Vic Morgan, The first general session, "Leadership: Is it Nature or Nurture?" will start at 4:30. Dinner will be served at 5:45, followed by the second general session, "The Platinum Rule: A Valuable Tool for Working with People."

The third general session, "New Responsibilities for Boards and Superintendents from the 80th Legislature," begins at 7:45 p.m.

Registration information has already been sent to school districts. The cost is $25 per person or $100 for four or more people from the same district. Completed registration forms with a payment check should be sent to: Dr. Kip Sullivan, Sul Ross State University, Box C-115, Alpine, Texas 79832.

Those attending will receive 3.5 hours of school board continuing education credit. Workshop coordinators are Debbie Farnum and Ernesto Martinez, TASB, and Sullivan, Sul Ross

For more information, contact Sullivan, (432) 837-8394 or sullivan@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS BIOLOGY FACULTY, STUDENTS TO PRESENT PAPERS AT BOSTON CONFERENCE

Dr. Keith Sternes, Sul Ross State University professor of Biology, and seven students will present papers at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) general meeting in Boston, Mass.

The 2008 general meeting will be held June 1-5 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Sternes and Sul Ross student Emmalee Sternes, Alpine, will present "Survey of Pathogenic Bacteria in Restrooms Along Insterstate Highways in the Southwest United States." Students Jackie Haynes, Alpine; Raquel Acosta, Big Bend National Park; Sajag Bhattari, Lainchour, Kathmandu; and Lucia De La Rosa, San Antonio; will assist in the presentation.

Sul Ros microbiology lab manager Karen Little will present a second paper, "Bacterial Pathogens in the Rio Grande Basin," authored by Sternes, Little and David Sauerzopf. Acosta, Haynes and Bhattari will assist with the presentation.

Also attending the ASM general meeting will be Sul Ross student Aldo Carrasco, Presidio. Carrasco and DeLaRosa are McNair Program Scholars.

For more information, contact Sternes, (432) 837-8111 or ksternes@sulross.edu.

WIND ENSEMBLE, CONCERT CHOIR TO PEFORM MAY 1 AT SUL ROSS

The Sul Ross State University Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble will perform in concert Thursday, May 1 in Marshall Auditorium. The 7:30 p.m. concert is free and open to the public.

The Concert Choir will perform music composed by our director, Dr. Donald Freed along with other selections including music from the musical and recent film, "Sweeney Todd.'

The Wind Ensemble will perform music by Bach, John Williams (from "Schindler's List"), and James Swearingen.

For more information, contact Dr. Justin Badgerow, (432) 837-8222 or jbadgerow@sulross.edu.

SEMINAR ON MEETING EFFICIENCY MAY 7 AT CENTENNIAL SCHOOL

The Big Bend Region Minority and Small Business Development Center will present a free two-hour seminar, "Getting the Most Out of Your Meetings," from 2:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesday May 7 at the Centennial School Building in Alpine.

The seminar will be conducted by SBDC counselor Mike Murphy, who will address the differences between "good and bad meetings," while presenting a roadmap of how to plan, prepare and facilitate meetings. Topics include facility layout, conducting the meeting, when to use facilitators and facilitation techniques, as well as ground rules and goals and other considerations to "get the most out of your meetings".

This seminar will be of value to anyone who is now or will be involved in the planning or conduct of a meeting. Pre-registration is not required but is appreciated. To pre-register call (432) 837-8813.