april may june 13

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Volume LXVIII Number 4

April/May/June 2013


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The TACT Quarterly eBulletinApril/May/June 2013 - Volume LXVIII Number 4

In this quarters TACT newsletter...

Presidents Letterby Peter Hugill

Incoming Presidents Messageby Cindy Simpson

Executive Directors Reportby Chuck Hempstead

TACT Summer Meeting

Shooting Wars and Cultural Wars: The Battle of San Jacinto

Una Voc; One Voice

Membership

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Page 5

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Page 8

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TACT Board of Directors

2013-2014

President

Cindy Simpson

Houston Baptist University

Past President

Peter Hugill

Texas A&M University

VP of Financial Affairs

Matthew Capps

Midwestern State University

VP of Membership

Stacey Bumstead

Lamar University

VP of Legislative Affairs

Mary Jo Garcia Biggs

Texas State University

Directors At Large

Gary Coulton

University of Texas -

San Antonio

Elizabeth Lewandowski

Midwestern State University

Debra Price

Sam Houston State Universit

W. Allen Martin

University of Texas at Tyler

Donna Cox

Sam Houston State Universit

Executive Director

Chuck Hempstead

(512) 873-7404

Texas Association of College Teachers

5750 Balcones Dr., Suite 201 Austin, Texas 78731

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No part of this publication may be produced in any form without permission; Chuck Hempstead, Editor.

TACT
mailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=mailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=


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Contact us!5750 Balcones Dr.,

Suite 201

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The PresidentsColumn

Incoming PresidentsMessage

The ExecutiveDirectors Report

TACT Summer Meeting

Shooting Wars andCulture Wars

Una Voz, One Voice

GRF Contributors

Membership

CONTENTS

3

The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT

Presidents Letterby Peter HugillTACT President

TACT Presidents Column, June 1, 2013

FellowTACTmembers,thisismylastcolumnasPresident.Iwouldliketothank

youallforyourcontinuedsupport,nancialandotherwise,aswellasencourageyou

bothtocontinuethatsupportanddoyourbesttopersuadeyourcolleaguestojoinusUntilIbegantovisitAustinregularlytolobbyourelectedrepresentativesasyour

PresidentIdidntreallyrealizejusthowcrucialthatlobbyingis.

Althoughitshardtotellpreciselywhatwehavebeenabletoaccomplishoverthe

pastseveralyearsIbelievewehavedonealot,mostspecicallyin,thusfaratleast,

preventingthepassageofgunsoncampusandinstallingsomewhattheagenda

oftheTexasPublicPolicyFoundation(TPPF).Theseissuesarebynomeansin-

terlinked,butbothareimportanttofacultyandhavethereforebeenthehigheston

ouragendaatTACTalongsidetheusualbreadandbutterissuesofTexasGrants,

retirementcontributionsandthelike.

AlthoughIdontwishtoreducewhatwedoatTACTtoanythinglikeasingleissue,

thereisnoquestionthatthegunsoncampusissuehas,aboveallelse,beenTHE

issuethatmostconcernsfacultyintheStateofTexas.Atmyownuniversity,Texas

A&M,overeightypercentoftheentirefaculty,whenpolledbytheFacultySenate,

expressedoppositiontogunsoncampus,withmorethantenpercenthavingnoopin-

ionandlessthantenpercentsupportive.Giventherelativelyconservativenatureof

mycolleaguesIsuspectthat,onothercampuses,oppositionwouldlikelybehigher.

AndwhenItalktomyconservativecolleaguesmanywilltellmethatwhilethey

themselveshaveconcealedcarrypermitstheyregardthislegislationasillconceived

and,infact,dangeroustofacultyandstudents.TACThasdoneitsbesttocarrysuch

amessagetoourrepresentativesinAustin.

TheproblemsposedbytheTPPFareadifferentmatter,andprobablymuchmore

seriousinthelongrun,howeveremotivethegunsoncampusissuemaybefor

faculty.AsImsuremanyofyouareawaretheproblemwehaveinTexasisthat

ourpoliticsarebeingdominatedbyagroupofpoliticiansthatseemhavegonefar

beyondanyreasonabledenitionofconservative.Thisgroupispushingaradical

agendaviasuchorganizationsastheTexasPublicPolicyFoundationandtheirinu-

enceonGovernorPerry.Theyareradicalinsuchareasasbelievingthattheonlyrea

measureoffacultyworkshouldbehowmanystudentsweteachandhowpositively

thosestudentsevaluateusonthesimplestofevaluationinstruments.This


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groupviewseducationinalmostpurelyinstrumental,job-trainingterms.Itbelieves

forexample,thattheFederalGovernmentshouldhavenoroleinresearchandthat

theonlyresearchweshoulddooughttobesponsoredbyprivateinterests.They

havealsoconsistentlyarguedagainstteachingthehumanities.Throughtheirinu-

enceonPerrytheTPPFhasbeenabletogetseveraloftheirmembersandfollowers

appointedtotheBoardsoftheStatesuniversities,withtheirprimetargetsTAMU

and,currently,theUniversityofTexas.AtTAMUthereplacementofChancellor

McKinney,whowasveryclearlytheircreature,withChancellorSharp,whoisnot,

hassomewhatamelioratedtheproblem.FormerChancellorMcKinneyenjoysthe

dubiousdistinctionofbeingtheonlyTAMUadministratorevertobecensuredbytheFacultySenateandbyanoverwhelmingmajorityoftheentireTAMUfacultyfo

histoeingtheTPPFline.Evenso,theTPPFhasnotgoneaway,andiftheyaresuc-

cessfulatUTandTAMUyoucanbesurethattheiragendawillwidentoencompass

theentirestate.Currently,muchofthetensionthatUTisexperiencing,especially

theattacksonPresidentPowers,iscomingfromthisradicalgroup.

Itseemsclearthat,withinAustin,thereisconsiderabletensionbetweentheradical

wingofpoliticiansbeinginuencedbytheTPPFandamoreresponsiblegroupthat

iswellawarethatthecontinuingsuccessofacomplexhighereducationiscentralto

thecontinuingdevelopmentandsuccessoftheStateseconomy.TACTiscommitted

todoingitsbesttoinuencethelattertocontinuetoresistthedestructiveimpulsesoftheradicalelement.

Theissueofgunsoncampusislesseasilyisolated.MostRepublicansandsome

Democratsareconvinced,orhaveallowedthemselvestobepersuaded,thathaving

armedstudentsoncampuswouldbeagoodidea.Wehavedoneourbesttopersuade

themthatthedatadonotinanywaysupporttheirbeliefthatcampusesaredan-

gerousplacestheyareinfactthesafestlargecommunitiesinAmericafromgun

violence.Butmostcontinuetorespondnottoreasonbuttoemotionandideology.

OurfriendsandcolleaguesfromtheTexasConferenceoftheAmericanAssociation

ofUniversityProfessorshave,however,beenabletoinsertoppositiontogunson

campusintotheDemocraticPartyplatformandwehaveseensubstantialsupportinthejustnishedsessionfromSenatorssuchasKirkWatson.Thisissuewillalmost

certainlycomebackintheforthcomingspecialsessionLieutenantGovernorDe-

whursthassaidasmuch.Inaspecialsessiongunsoncampuscouldeasilypass,

andIcanonlyencourageallTACTmemberstopersonallycontacttheirrepresenta-

tivestoexpresstheiropinion.

Onceagain,thankyoufortheopportunitytoserveyou.IleaveTACTincapable

hands.

Presidents Letter (cont.)


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Incoming Presidents Message

DearFellowTACTMembers,

Asweenteroursummerbreak,Iwanttotaketheopportunitytoreectuponthe

past,contemplatethepresentandplanforthefuturebut,notnecessarilyinthat

order.First,Iwouldliketointroducemyself.IcurrentlyserveastheDeanofthe

SchoolofEducationandBehaviorSciencesatHoustonBaptistUniversity.IamexcitedattheprospectofservingasPresidentoftheTexasAssociationofCollege

Teachers.Iamalongservingmemberoftheorganizationandhopetocontinuethe

legacyestablishedbymypredecessor.

Thepastlegislativesessionhasbeenveryactiveforhighereducation.Itappearstha

effortstowardsstoppingthelegislationthatwouldallowforgunsoncampushave

beensuccessful,atleastforthetimebeing.Twobillswereled,butthemovement

ofthelegislationseemstohavestoppedattheregularsession.However,theywill

likelyre-emergeinthespecialsession.FundingfortheHazelwoodActseemstobe

movingthroughthelegislature.AsofMay10th,thebillmovedfromtheHouseto

theSenateandcurrentlyresidesintheSenateHigherEducationCommittee.Itisstillunclearastowhatextentinstitutionsofhighereducationmaybereimbursed,

butanythinghastobebetterthatwhatwaspreviouslyprovided.Iwanttoapplaud

theeffortsofChuck,andourownTACTmembers,includingseveralotherBoard

members,intheircontinuallobbyingofthelegislature.

Lookingforward,weareplanningforagreatfallconferenceOctober26-27th.

Lastly,IwanttothankPeterforhisleadershipthispastyearandextendawarm

welcometoournewestTACTboardmembers.

CindySimpson

by Cindy Simpson

TACT President


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Executive Directors Report

by Chuck HempsteadTACT Executive Director

Legislature gone and back

Whentherstspecialsessionwasconvenedanhourafteradjournmentofthe83rd

Regular,thebestquipwas,Damn,thatwasjustaone-drinkInterim.

Withthatinmind,thefollowingobservationsareintendedtoberstreactionsrather

thanacontemplatedanalysis.Inotherwords,everythingissubjecttochange.

Guns on CampusLikethepastseveralsessions,legislationallowingholdersof

concealedhandgun permits tobringweapons into classroomsseemedlikea slam

dunk. Second Amendment groups, limited government intrusion groups, state

ofcialsandlegislativeleadersexpressedsupport.Moreimportantly,billauthors

linedupamajorityofco-sponsors.TACTagainregularlyexpressedopposition,and

theymagicallygotcaughtupintheend-of-sessionbillmassacre.Aspromisedbythe

supporters,theissueisbackinthespecialsessionasSB9byBirdwell,andHB19by

Fletcher,iftheGovernoropenshiscalltoincludeit.TEXAS Grant -TACThasalwaysbeenavocaladvocateforTEXASGrant,the

states primary scholarshipprogram. Theprogram took a big hit last session as

appropriationswereslashed,butenjoyeda25percentincreasethistime.Everyone

stilladmitsthatitsnotenoughforthenumberofqualied,nanciallyneedystudents,

butitreversedthenegativetrend.

Teacher Retirement SystemSomeTACTmembersarevigilantthatTRSnotmorph

intoadenedcontributionplan,astheprivatesectorhaslargelydone,andthatagain

didnotgaintraction.SB1458,byDuncan,assurescontinuedactuarialsoundness

ofthedenedcontributionplanandpermittingacostoflivingincreaseforretirees

byannuallyratchetingup thepercentageofsalarycontributionbyactivemembers(6.4%risesto7.7%inFY2017).Italsoincreasesthecontributionsbyemployersand

increasestheageoffullretirementbenetsforthosenotyet50yearsold.

Higher Ed Funding/Faculty SalariesAsTACTreiterates,becauseoftheblock

granttypefundingofuniversities,thereislittletodoatthelegislativelevelbut

askforhigherstateappropriations,whichwasaccomplishedthistimetothetuneof

4.4percent,ortwo-thirdsofabilliondollars.Wepointedout thatfollowingcuts

twoyearsago,Texasfacultylostgroundtotheaverageoftheothertoptenmost

populousstates. Itisnowuptothefacultyatthecampuslevel tobe involvedwith

theirbudgetingprocesstoassurethatsomeofthisnewmoneygoestosalaries.


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theirbudgetingprocesstoassurethatsomeofthisnewmoneygoestosalaries.

Outcomes Based Funding-TACThasexpresseditsconcerntotheCommissioner

andLegislatureabouttheequitableimplementationoffundinguniversitiesafter

theyperformagainstquantiabletargetmeasures.Surprisingly,itdidnotpassmus-

terbutmayberevisitedduringthespecial.

Hazelwood Act - Providingfreehighereducationtoveteransandtheirbeneciaries

hadgrowntoasignicantunfundedmandate.Additionally,thecastwasnotevenly

distributedamonginstitutions.TheAppropriationsActaddedmoneytoreducethat

expense.

TACTwillremaininvolvedduringthisandanyfuturespecialsessionstoadvocate

forthebettermentofyourworkingconditions,andweappreciateyoucontinuing

yourcommunicationswithyourlocallegislatorstokeephighereducationonthetop

oftheirmindscomparedtothemanyotherdemandsforstateresources.

Executive Directors Report (cont.)


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TACT Annual Summer Meeting

Austin, TX June 2013

TACTBoardMembersinattendencewere,(fromlefttoright):GaryCoulton,

DebraPrice,ChadRose,MaryJoGarciaBiggs,CindySimpson,PeterHugill,

andStaceyBumstead.

PassingofTheGavelfromPasttoIncomingPresidentsPeterHugilland

CindySimpson.

Peterreceivesanewautomobilefrom

TACTinappreciationofallthemiles

putonhisoldoneinserviceoftheas-

sociation.ThankyouPeter!


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Shooting Wars and Culture Wars:

The Battle of San Jacinto and the New historyby Greg CantrellErma and Ralph Lowe Chair in Texas History, TCU

On the occasion of celebrating San Jacinto Day April 21, 2013

InJanuary2013,astudybyagroupcalledtheNationalAssociationofScholars

stirredquiteacontroversyamongthoseofuswhoteachhistoryinthestateofTexas

ThestudyanalyzedthecontentoffreshmanandsophomorehistorycoursesatTexas

A&MandtheUniversityofTexasandconcluded[andImquoting]:

thatalltoooftenthecoursereadingsgavestrongemphasistorace,class,or

gendersocial(RCG)history,anemphasissostrongthatitdiminishedtheattentiongiventoothersubjectsinAmericanhistory(suchasmilitary,diplomatic,religious,

intellectualhistory).Theresultisthattheseinstitutionsfrequentlyofferedstudentsa

less-than-comprehensivepictureofU.S.history.(Recasting History,p.5)

Now,Imnotheretodaytopraiseorcriticizethisreport,todebateitsaccuracy,or

assessitsmethodology.ButitmademethinkaboutthesubjectthatIwouldliketo

discusstoday,andthatsubjectistherelationshipofhistorianstothegeneralpub-

lic,andtherelationshipoftheacademicstudyofhistorytothepopularmemoryof

eventsliketheBattleofSanJacinto.

Whateveryoumaythinkofit,theNationalAssociationofScholarsreportwas

certainlyrightinidentifyingrace,class,andgenderasthreeareasofstudythatarepopularamongacademichistorianstoday.Therootsofthistrendcanbetracedback

tothe1960s,whentheCivilRightsMovement,thewomensmovement,andtherise

ofthecountercultureledhistorianstobegindoingwhatwasthencalledthenew

socialhistory,thatis,thestudyofcommonpeopleandofhistoricallyneglected

groupslikewomen,AfricanAmericans,andotherminorities.Bytheendofthe

twentiethcentury,thenewsocialhistoryhadgonemainstream,andthoseuniver-

sityhistorianswhoresearchedandwrotetraditionalhistoriesofbattlesandmilitary

commanderswereoftenconsideredbytheircolleaguesstodgyandbehind-the-times.

ItsnosurprisethatworksoftraditionalhistorythatappearontheNewYorkTimes

bestsellerlistareoftenwrittenbynon-academicwriters.AskmostAmericanstonameahistoriantoday,andyourelikelytogetnameslikeJohnMeacham,Doris

KearnsGoodwin,DavidMcCulloch,andevenBillOReilly,butonlyoccasionally

thenameofsomeonewithaPhDandauniversityfacultyappointment.

Aneventlikethisafternoonsbringstogetherthesetwodifferentworldsofhistory-

-theacademicandthepopular.Mostofusaregatheredheretodayfortworeasons:

Certainly,welovehistory.Buttruthbetold,wecouldprobablylearnmorehis-

toryspendingseveralhourswiththelatestscholarlybookontheTexasrevolution

thanbydrivingouthere,parkingourcars,waitingaroundfortheprogramtobegin,

listeningtotheceremonies,andthenndingourwaybackhomewhenitsallover.


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No,wecameherebecausewehaveanemotionalattachmenttothegloryandro-

manceoftheTexasRevolution,weadmiretheheroismofthemenwhofoughthere,

someofuswishtohonorancestors,andinsomewaywewanttoreliveitallby

beinghereandimaginingwhatitwaslikeat3:30p.m.onthatwarmAprildaywhen

SamHoustongavetheordertoadvance.

Thereisnothingwrongwithcommemoration.Weneedheroes.Thememoryof

eventsliketheBattleofJacintoisapartoftheimportantgluethatcreatesourcom-

monidentityasTexansandbindsustooneanother.Solemnceremonieslikethis

onetodayarettingandproper.Butcommemorationisnotthebusinessofhisto-

rians.Ourroleismoremundane.Itistondoutwhatreallyhappened,andmoreimportantly,toanalyzeit,toexplainwhyithappenedandwhatitsmeaningand

importanceare.

Inmylineofwork,Ihearthewordrevisionistalot,andusuallyitsnotemployed

kindly.Youreengaginginrevisionisthistoryisachargehurledbypoliticians

atoneanother,whenoneguythinkstheotherguyhasmadeupnewfactstosup-

porthiscase.Whenleveledatahistorian,thechargeofrevisionismusuallyis

intendedtosuggestthatthehistorianhasmaliciouslytriedtosullythereputationof

aveneratedherobyexposinghisawsorerrors.Buthistoriansunderstandtheterm

differentlythandomostofthepublic,usingitsimplytoindicatethatsomeonehas

uncoverednewfacts,orinterpretedtheknownfactsinanewway.Totheprofes-sionalhistorian,allhistoryisrevisionist,orelsetheredbenopointinwritingit.

WhichleadsmebacktotheBattleofSanJacinto.Afternearlytwocenturiesof

study,weknowalotaboutwhathappenedhereonApril21,1836.Istheremore

wecanlearnabouttheeventsthemselves--about,say,exactlywhereHoustons

rsthorsewasshotfrombeneathhim,orwhytheMexicansfailedtopostpickets

thatwouldvealertedthemtotheTexanadvance?Sure.Newrecordsoccasionally

cometolight,orsmartpeopleputtogethertheknownonesinwaysthatanswerold

questions.Butwhathistoriansmainlyhavetoofferafter177yearsarenewques-

tions,newwaysoflookingatthings.AndhereiswhereIwouldarguethatthenew

approachesdevelopedbyhistoriansinthepast25or30yearsapproachesthatincludethatunholytrioofrace,class,andgendercanactuallynotonlytellus

agreatdealaboutthebattleanditssignicancebuthelpkeepwhathappenedhere

relevanttotodaysgenerationofTexansandtogenerationstocome.Illofferjusta

fewexamples.

HistoriesoftheTexasRevolutionwrittenagenerationormoreagofocusedalmost

entirelyontheAnglomaleswhofoughtontheTexanside--andmostlyontheof-

cers.Butrelativelyrecentadvancementsinourunderstandingofraceinthenine-

teenthcenturyarenowsheddingallsortsofnewlightoneventslikeSanJacinto.

TowhatextentdidtheleadersoftheTexancauseseetheRevolutionasaconict

Shooting Wars (cont.)


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betweenwhiteandnonwhiteraces?WhatunderstandingsaboutraceledSamHous-

tontorstorderJuanSeguinandhisTejanocavalrymentostaybehindandguard

thecamp,onlytorelentinthefaceofSeguinsmilitantinsistencethathismenbe

allowedtoght?WhatcalculationshadSeguinandotherTejanosmadewhenthey

casttheirlotwiththerevolutionarymovement,andhowwerethosecalculations

shapedbytheirownunderstandingofrace?Recentscholarshiphasdemonstrated

thatrace(touseacademicjargon)issociallyconstructed,thatis,thatithasmeant

verydifferentthingstodifferentpeopleatdifferenttimes,andthatpeoplehave

oftenusedandmoldedtheconceptofracetofurthertheirowninterests.Weknow,

forexample,fromtheworkofProfessorFrankdelaTejaofTexasStateUniversity

thatsomeoftheTejanosintheTexasarmyhadgrandparentsorgreat-grandparents

whowereclassiedasIndians,mulattoes,ormestizosundertheSpanishcolonial

regime,butastheirfamiliesroseinprominencethegovernmentreclassiedthem

aswhite,eventhoughtheirskintonehadntchanged.Howmightsuchanexperi-

encehaveshapedTejanosattitudestowardtheRevolutionandthesocietytheyex-

pectedittoproduce?Didmalleablenotionsofraceleadthemtoanoptimisticbelief

that,overtime,theymightbeaccordedfullequalityunderanindependentTexas?

Thesocialhistoriansinterestinclasslikewisepromisestogiveusnewinsights

intowhathappenedherein1836.StartingwiththepioneeringworkofProfessor

PaulLackofMcMurryUniversitytwenty-veyearsagoandcontinuingtoday,his-

torianshavebeguntodissectthepersonneloftheTexanarmyandlearnmoreabout

them--andIdontjustmeantheofcers.GenerationsofTexanschoolchildrenwere

taughtthattheTexanswereghtingforfreedomfromMexicantyrannyandsurely

theywerebuthowmanyofthosesoldierswerealsopoormenwhosechancesfor

nancialindependencebackintheUnitedStateslookeddimcomparedtotheop-

portunitiesinanindependentRepublicofTexas?Indeed,howmanyofthemwere

recentarrivals,includingsomeindeterminatenumberofthemwhohadbeenactive-

dutyU.S.Armysoldiersonlyafewweeksearlierandwerestillwearingpartsof

theirAmericanarmyuniforms?

Itturnsoutashistorianshaveincreasinglyrealizedthatclassandraceactu-

allyintersectedincomplicatedbutimportantwaysinthenineteenthcentury,andthatrealizationpromisestoexplainmuchaboutthemotivationsofSamHoustons

soldiers.Notionsofwhatitmeanttobewhiteanidentityreinforcedbythe

existenceoftheinstitutionofslaveryshapedtheeverydayactionsofmeninways

thatweareonlybeginningtounderstand.MostofHoustonsmenwerenotslave-

holders,butmostdidcomefromtheSouth;howmanyofthemaspiredtothesta-

tioninlifetotherespectandhonorthattheownershipofslavesandaplantation

couldconfer,andthatcouldonlybehadinastatewhereracialslaverywaslegal?

ScholarssuchasProfessorAndrewTorgetofUNThaveaskedotherquestions

recently:Whatroledidtheboominginternationalcottoneconomyandthefortunes



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tobemadefromcottonandslaveryplayinbringingabouttheRevolutionintherstplace?HowimportantwerefearsofaslaveuprisingfearsstokedbyMexicos

antislaverypoliciesandSantaAnnasstatedintentiontoliberateTexasslavesin

bringingontheRevolutionandmotivatingthemenatSanJacinto?Theseareques-

tionsrarelyaskedagenerationago,andwhentheywereasked,theywereusually

dismissedasextraneoustothecentralquestionsoffreedomandtyranny.

Andevengender,seeminglytheleastrelevantofmodern-dayhistorianspreoccu-

pationswhenitcomestostudyingbattles,promisestoenhancethewayweunder-

standthe1836battle.JeffDunnsrecentpublishedessayonthewomenofSan

JacintofocusedattentionontheAnglowomenoftheneighborhood,onthesoldad-

eraswhowerewiththeMexicanArmyofOperations,andonacertainmulattogirl

namedEmilyWest,whomayormaynothavebeenentertainingelPresidentein

histentthatfatefulafternoon,butwhosurelyexistedandwaspresentatthebattle-

ground.Butperhapsevenmoresignicant,inlightofcurrenthistoriographical

trends,istheuseofgenderasacategoryofanalysistobetterunderstandthemindset

ofthebattlesparticipants.ProfessorJimmyBryanofLamarUniversity,forex-

ample,hasexaminedhowAnglo-Americannotionsofwhatconstitutedmanliness

ledyoungmentosignonformilitaryadventuresinplaceslikeTexas.SamHous-

tonssoldiersmayhavebeenghtingtofreeTexasfromtyranny,butsomeofthem,

atleast,werealsoghtingtoprovetheirmanhood.WhatmotivatedSantaAnnas

soldiersislesscertain,buttheinnovativecurrentworkofProfessorWillFowlerof

theUniversityofSt.AndrewsinScotlandsuggeststhatthetraumaofSanJacintoanditsaftermathplayedakeyroleincreatingasenseofMexicannationalidentity

forthersttime,andthereforethatthesignicanceofSanJacintoforthecourseof

Mexicanhistorygoesfarbeyondjustthelossofterritory.

Ifrace,class,andgender,then,areinformingrecentscholarshiponSanJacinto

inallsortsofproductiveways,soareotherongoingscholarlytrends.Illbriey

mentiontwoofthem.Oneisthegrowingscholarlyliteratureonwhatisoftencalled

collectivememory,thatis,thestudynotofwhatactuallyhappenedinthepastbut

ratherwhatasocietycollectivelybelieveshappenedandhowthosebeliefsthem-

selvesaffectedpeoplesactionsandattitudes.Anexampleofthisisthecurrent

researchofProfessorSamHaynesofUT-Arlington,whoisstudyinghowAmericansinthe1830scollectivelyrememberedtheAmericanRevolution,andhowthose

memorieshelpedtoshapeTexansresponsestoeventsinTexas.Sowelearn,for

instance,thatWilliamWirtsbest-sellingbiographyofPatrickHenry,published

in1817,almostcertainlyprovidedtheinspirationforWilliamBarretTravissfa-

mousVictoryorDeathletterfromtheAlamo,andthatHoustonsmenclearlyfelt

themselveslaboringunderaheavyburdentoprovethemselvesworthyheirstotheir

parents,whohaddefeatedtheBritishintheAmericanRevolution.(Howdoyou

liveuptotheachievementsofthegreatestgeneration?)



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Analtrendintodayshistoricalprofessionthatpromisesnewwaysofunderstand-ingSanJacintoisthenewbodyofscholarshiponcitizenship.Agrowingnumber

ofhistorianshavefocusedonthechangingmeaningofwhatitmeanttobeaciti-

zeninthenineteenthcentury,andatleastoneofthese,ProfessorEricSchlerethof

UT-Dallas,hasappliedthisanalysistotheTexasRevolution.Heasks,whatconsti-

tutedallegianceandpatriotisminthemindsofAmericansandMexicansinthe

1830s?Wasallegiance,andthereforecitizenship,principallyalegaldoctrineand

thusvoluntarilytransferable,orwasitsomethingmystical,amatterofbloodand

heritage?WhatdiditmeanwhenAmericansinthe1820svoluntarilytransferred

theirallegiancefromtheUnitedStatestoMexico,onlytoturnaroundinthe1830s

andwithdrawitfromMexicoandtransferittotheRepublicofTexas?Theseare

importantandfascinatingquestions(andtimelyonesatatimewhenthewordspathtocitizenshipareheardonadailybasis),andscholarsarehardatworkstudying

them.

So,aswearegatheredheretodaytorememberwhathappenedhere177yearsago

andtopaytributetothebravemenwhostruggledhere,letusalsorememberthat

thereisstillmuchthatwehaveyettolearnabouttheBattleofSanJacinto,and

muchthattheBattleofSanJacintocanstillteachusaboutourselves.Thestudyof

race,class,gender,collectivememory,andcitizenshipmayallbeacademictrends

thatseem,atrstglance,designedtomakeusignoreeventslikebattles,butinfact,

Iwouldarguethattheyholdthepromiseofgivingusamuchricherunderstanding

ofsuchevents.Indeed,aswespeak,someofournestprofessionalhistoriansareapplyingthesenewapproachestotheTexasRevolutionitself.Ourunderstanding

ofthisbattle,likeourunderstandingofallhistoricalevents,isconstantlyevolv-

ing.Butthisshouldnotbeacauseforconcern,acauseforhystericaldemandsfor

morestandardizedtestingorfortherevisionofcollegecurricula.Asweallarewell

aware,theTexasoftoday,likeitornot,isaverydifferentplacethantheTexasIwas

bornintointhe1950s.Inthe1950sitmayhavemadesenseforourunderstanding

ofSanJacintotobefocusedalmostentirelyontheheroicexploitsofAnglomales

likeSamHouston,ThomasRusk,andDeafSmith.Butin2013,about22percent

ofTexansarewhitemaleslikeme.Questionsofrace,gender,andcitizenshipare

centralconcernsofallofus.Forwhathappenedherein1836toremainrelevantto

todaysgenerationandtothegenerationstocome,weneedhistorianstocontinuetoexplainthoseeventsinwaysthatwillresonatewithtodaysTexans.Inthearchives,

libraries,andhallsofourstatesuniversities,thatworkisunderway.



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Icomefromsmallcommunityso,youknow,thatwasthebigissue--timeandmoney.

[Studentparticipant]

WhatchallengesfaceLatinorst-generationcollegestudents?Twostudent

fromTexasA&MUniversity-SanAntoniowereinterviewedwhileonatriptoaresearch

partnership with the College Station campus. The two students were graduating

seniorsintheeducationdepartment,andsharedanswerstoquestionsaboutcollege

adjustmentaskedbytheirprofessors.Mayo,MurguiaandPadilla(1995),discussed

therelationshipofsocialintegrationandacademicperformanceofminorityuniversity

students.Latinostudentsareinneedofculturalcapitalwhichwillassistthemin

theprocessofacademicachievement.However,theauthorsemphasizethatsocia

capitalwillonlybenetLatinouniversitystudentsastheymakeconnectionswith

facultyandfellowstudentsoutsideoftheclassroom.Theclassroomenvironmentgives

studentsanopportunitytointeractwithfacultyneverthelesstheresearchconrmsthabuildingrelationshipsoutsidetheclassroomisahigherleveloflearningandteaching

forbothfacultyandstudents.AnexampleofthistypeofInformalSocialinteraction

issharingcoffee,orattendingextracurricularactivitieswithstudents.Perhapsitmay

includeattendingbirthdayparties,orvisitingstudentsinthehospital,alloutsideofthe

classroom.

AccordingtoBrown,SantiagoandLopez(2003),alargenumberofLatinosin

highereducationarealsonontraditionalstudents.Theyareolder,work,attendcolleg

part-time,andoftenare alsocaring fora familyall characteristicsthat inuenceth

decisionsLatinostudentsmakeinparticipatinginandcompletinghighereducation

Basedonthereviewofliteratureofsocialandculturalcapital,wedecidedtointerviewtwograduatingLatinorst-generationcollegestudentswithregardtotheirexperiences

attheirundergraduateinstitution.Thesummaryofinterviewthemesisasfollows

Balancing school and family, nancing their education, and communication with

universityprofessorsandadministrators.Thestudentswerealsoaskedabouthowth

universitycouldbettersupporttheirgoaltocompletetheirdegreessuccessfully.The

studentsareidentiedasStudentA,whoismaleand32yearsold,andStudentB,who

isfemaleand28yearsold.

Una Voz, One Voice: Challenges

Faced by Latino First-GenerationCollege Students

by Amy Dicke-Bohmann &Nancy Compean-GarciaTexas A&M University-San Antonio


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Balancing School, Family and Work

Balancingschoolandfamilywasexceptionallyproblematicforthesestudents

because they had to navigate a university setting, based in a mainstream culture

withoutturningtheirbacksontheirfamilysLatinoculture.AccordingtoStudent

A,ChallengesthatIfacedweretime,money,andhowamIgoingtosupportformy

family,threekids,wifeshesalwaystakencareofourchildren.Icomefromsmal

communityso,youknow,thatwasthebigissue--timeandmoney.StudentBsaid

Thechallengesalsowerethetime,becauseIamthewife.WhenwillIcontribute

tomyhomeifIgotoschoolIhavetospendlotofmytimedoingmyhomeworko

assignments?

Whileconductingbothinterviews,thebalancingactwasthebiggestobstaclementionedbythegraduatingseniors.Whenaskedaboutfellowstudentsfromjunior

college,andwhytheydidnottransferwiththemtocompleteafour-yeardegree,the

studentsalsoreportedthatthebalancingactwastoomuchforthem.Forexample,

StudentBreportedthattheyareatapointinthelifewheretheyhaveafamily,they

buyanewhouse,theyhavetowork,andtheyjustpostponeit.Thesechallenges

maynotbeuniquetoLatinostudents,buttheyarecommonamongnon-traditional

students.ManyoftheLatinorst-generationcollegestudentsarenon-traditional,as

theopportunitiesforthemtoaffordeducationwereoftennotavailableatage18.

Financing their Education

Financing education is a huge issue for rst-generation college studentsParentswhodidnotattendcollegemightnotbesavingfortheirchildrenseducation

formanyyears,asthosewhodidattendcollegewoulddo.AstudybyRichardFry

(2002),foundthatMexican-originLatinoshavethelowestaveragehouseholdincome

amongthenativebornat$42,000.Therefore,thesocialandculturalcapitalneeded

tocreativelynancecollegeisoftennotavailabletoLatinorst-generationcollege

students.AccordingtoStudentA,Formethebiggestissuewasmoney,becausei

Igetintoloan,wellgovernmentisgoingtowanttogettheirmoneyback,somebody

isgoingtowanttheirmoneyback,andthat,knowingthatpart,andifIcantgetany

nancialhelp,maybe,isthereissomewhereIcangotothatcangivemesomemoney

managementskills?Thatissomethingthatalsowouldhavehelped.

Communication with University Professors and Administrators

Whenaskedwhatdidwork,andwhattheuniversitycoulddo forstudents

muchofwhatthestudentsreportedfocusedoncommunication.Theyneededfaculty

andtheuniversitytocommunicatewiththem. Theydiscussednotlearningenough

whentheyenteredcollege,andhowabetterorientationwouldhavebeenhelpful

whichismostlycommunicationfromtheadministration.Whenaskedaboutgood

thingstheyencountered,theymentionedthelibrarianhelpingthemtolearntondtheir

sources,andfavoriteprofessorswhocommunicatedwiththem,gavethemattention,

andcontributedtoaninvitingatmosphere.Forexample,StudentBdescribedhow

One Voice (contd.)


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oneprofessormadeherfeelwelcomeandhelpedherachievesuccess:shewasjust

verynice,veryhelpful,kindandjustprovidingwhateverresourcesIneeded,Iwouldjustgo,wheneverIwouldgospeakwithher,shewouldjustunderstandandprovide

methetoolsnecessaryformetocompletemyassignments

In1988,Changepublishedan article, TheUndergraduateHispanic Experience,

whichdepictedtheexperiencesandvoicesofHispanicstudentsinhighereducation

StudentsperceptionsofTAMU-SAprofessorsregardingcommunicationandsuppor

werealsosharedintheinterviews.StudentBsaid,Basedonmypriorexperience

whenIbeganIjustdecidedtogotherebecauseIwasntbeingsuccessfulatanothe

university,IjustappliedandstartedandthedifferencebetweenthenandnowIknow

that justalwaysmaintaininggood communicationswithyour professorshelpsou

alot,andlittletid-bitsofinformationsuchastheresearchthatmyprofessorshareabouttheadvantagesofjoiningastudentorganization.Inowknowthatthisconnection

willalwayshelpmetomaintainahigherGPAsoifstudentsknowthisimportan

researchastheycomeintheyhaveanadvantage.

In conclusion, the success of the Latino rst generation college student

dependedontheuniversitysabilitytogivethemplentyofattention,communicate

withthem,workwiththeirschedules,andprovideaninvitingatmosphere.Becaus

thesestudentsareoftenlackinginthesocialandculturalcapitalthatotherstudent

possess,itisimportantfortheuniversitytostepupandprovidewhatislacking, i

theuniversitywouldliketohavealargenumberofsuccessfulrstgenerationLatino

graduates.Thecommunicationthatthestudentscravecancontributetonetworking,whichispartofsocialcapital,andoffermuch-neededculturalcapitalaswell.Fo

example,facultyassumethatstudentsunderstandhowtousealibrarywhentheyente

college,but not everyonehas the sameexperiencesbefore enteringthe university

Facultyoftenforgetthatschoolexperiencesaresupplementedtoagreatextentby

familysfocusoneducation.Ifthistypeofculturalcapitalisnotexperienced,students

willbegincollegeseveralstepsbehindtheirpeers.

References

Mayo,J.R.,Murguia,E.,&Padilla,R.V.(1995).Socialintegrationandacademic

performance among minority university students. Journal of College Studen

Development,36(6),542-552.

Richard,F.(2002).LatinosinHigherEducation:ManyEnroll,FewGraduate.

www.pewhispanic.org,September.

S.E.Brown,D.Santiago,E.Lopez.(2003).LatinosinHigherEducation,Todayand

Tomorrow.http://www.EdExcelencia.org

Fiske,E.B.(1988).TheUndergraduateHispanicExperience:ACaseofJuggling

TwoCultures.Change:TheMagazineofHigherLearning.

One Voice (contd.)


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TheJamesM.Puckett,Ph.D.GovernmentRelationsFund

Forover50years,TACThasbeenonthefrontlinesofhighereducationissuesinTexas.

TheGRFassistsTACTwithakeycomponentofourmission:communicating TACTs

legislative agenda(viewablehere)inordertoimproveTexashighereducation.

YourvoluntarycontributiontotheGRFallowsTACTtopresentitsmembersagendatokey

lawmakersandlegislativecommittees.TheGRFisneverusedforcandidatecontributions,

onlyforactivitiesthatincreaseawarenessofissuesconcerningfacultystatewide.All

expendituresareapprovedinadvancebyTACTsPresident,President-ElectandLegislative

CommitteeChair.

ThankyouforstandingwithTACTtoimprovethequalityofhighereducationinTexas.

Click Here to Contribute

Thank you to the 2012-2013 contributors

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