Members of the Trinity University Development staff (including Trinity parents Ken Petty and Rick Roberts) drop some dough at the Women's Club Bake Sale on the Esplanade today. Proceeds from the sale go toward a scholarship for a Trinity female student. The Development staff is also celebrating Halloween with Mardi Gras-themed accessories.

August introduced the first full-year of the new Sophomore College. In the first week sophomores were invited to attend a panel discussion on what the new academic year would bring. Juniors shared advice and experience from their sophomore year to shed light on what to expect. From then on programs put on by Resident Assistants, such as bulletin board posts emphasizing the overall topic of civic engagement and the national election, hall and Sophomore College-wide attendance at campus lectures, plays, cultural events, service projects etc. ensued.  A new program, “Major Meals,” was implemented.  Students were invited to eat with faculty from academic departments in the student dining hall to meet and discuss possible major options.  Unfortunately, this event did not receive the attendance that was anticipated, and Residential Life is taking a new direction with the program for the spring by working in conjunction with the Association of Student Representatives (ASR).  Sophomores have also been encouraged to attend events by Career Services, such as a networking workshop and a résumé writing workshop this October, to address the need to continually look forward to eventual internships, graduation, and the working world.

 To address the concerns of the “sophomore-slump” students are living in communities made up of entirely sophomores.  Resident Assistants live on each floor and are still present in the community to assist with building relationships and creating a unique living environment.  Interviews of each resident on a one-on-one basis were conducted to find out what each student wants out of their sophomore year.  Various social programs are naturally present within Sophomore College as well. Just this month RA’s partnered with TUVAC (Trinity University Volunteer Action Community) to form service projects that uniquely fit the students on their halls.

 November programs will focus on studying abroad. The Study Abroad Series are information sessions on the various regions students can study abroad around the world.  Junior and Senior students will share candid information and experiences of the places they studied abroad in with time for questions and mingling. Sophomore College has a busy schedule ahead of it and it will be continuously evaluated to assess the needs of sophomore students and how those needs can be met.  Thus far the sense of community in the Sophomore College is very strong. To truly succeed, the staff hopes to continue to develop and revise programs and services to meet student needs in this important year for students. Click here to see the October 29, 2008 SoCol Newsletter.

Submitted by
Caldwell Chenault – Residential Life Coordinator for the Sophomore College (Prassel, Thomas, and North Halls)

Next issue: Junior and Senior Initiatives

Special Events Your Student Should Consider

"I have something to tell you..."

Note: October 16 was national coming out day. With permission, this article by Dr. Richard Reams, Staff Psychologist , is being re-circulated:

College is a time when some students struggle to understand their sexual orientation because at least some of their emotional and/or sexual attractions are toward persons of their own sex. For an LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual) person, the coming out process involves both coming out to self (self-recognition) and, typically, coming out to at least a few other people (self-disclosure).  When an LGB son or daughter comes out to parents, many react with shock and denial, especially those who had no clue. Once reality sinks in, however, a flood of emotions is likely to follow. 

 Typically, there is loss and grief, whether mild or profound. There may be fear or even disgust that is rooted in negative stereotypes of LGB people.  Many parents agonizingly speculate about that they did “wrong;” some blame each other.  Some are ashamed.  And for parents who regard homosexuality as sin, coming to terms with an LGB son or daughter takes on a challenging additional dimension. 

 Coming out to one’s parents is an act of faith, both in the parents and in the relationship with the parents.  The LGB son or daughter usually is trying to maintain or even strengthen relationship bonds with that parent, bonds that require mutual honesty, compassion, and open communication.  Although the student knows that coming out may strain the relationship in the short-term, the student’s long-term desire is usually more hopeful.

 As a general resource, a particularly good book is Beyond Acceptance: Parents of Lesbians and Gays Talk about their Experiences by Carolyn Griffin and Marian Wirth, parents of gay children.  For parents in the Christian tradition, consider Coming Out as Parents by David Switzer, Emeritus Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. The national organization called PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Gays and Lesbians) is a wonderful resource.  Many cities have a chapter through which parents can connect with each other for information and support.