The ICE ChestThe Monthly Newsletter of the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center 

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Director’s Message “Think for yourself. No one else is qualified.” Frank Vizzare At no time is this quote more appropriate than in the most recent weeks and months. It seems that with every political season we are being flooded with messages from candidates and political groups who are hoping that we will heed their words and cast our votes for them. While I can appreciate the creativity used in sharing the message, I often wonder whether the message can stand the “truth test”. More importantly, I often find myself saying, “do they really think we are that gullible”. The reality is that many of these groups rely on the hope that we won’t think for ourselves, but simply take their message at its face value and react to it. So I ask each of us to question whether we are really thinking for ourselves, or simply allowing others (family, friends, coworkers, teachers, etc.) to do the thinking for us. Everyone who knows me well, knows that I don’t lack for personal opinion and have no reluctance to share that opinion. In fact, some might say that I enjoy sharing my opinion with others. As much as I enjoy sharing my opinion, I get more enjoyment out of hearing other people’s thoughts and opinions because it shows me that they are thinking for themselves and are not afraid to share a different idea. So here’s my challenge for each of you who read this column. Every chance you get, think for yourself by taking the time to research the issues, learn more about a topic, and more importantly expand the conversation. By doing so, you will not only bring a variety of perspective, but also be that much more enlightened by the conversation. Marlon

November 2011 

Gala Latina was held Friday, October 14 in celebration of Latino Heritage Month. Gala Latina is an opportunity for UTSA students, faculty, staff, and their guests to enjoy a wonderful meal, a fantastic guest speaker, and to end the evening with a dance. This year’s featured speaker was Dr. Marco Cervantes, Assistant Professor Bicultural-Bilingual Studies. “I loved the cultural aspect of Gala Latina, and how it was enhanced by the entertainment, décor, and food this year,” Desiree Johnson, English senior from Kileen,TX, said.

Gala Latina

OXFAM Hunger Banquet & Can Drive - 11/9 VOICES is hosting the 2011 OXFAM Hunger Banquet 11/9 at 6pm in the Harris Room (tickets distributed at 5:30pm). They will also collect cans for the SA Food Bank 11/2-10 in the VOICES Office. For more info visit UC 1.216 or call VOICES at 458-4770. Playground Build/Literacy Fair at Parman Library – 11/5 Help CityYear San Antonio build a playground and encourage reading. Email mcano11@cityyear.org. Diwali San Antonio Festival – 11/5, 5-10pm Volunteers are invited to help with the sales and lighting of Diyas, small candles symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Email lisacruz@alamo-aacc.org. Adelante Scholarship Volleyball Tournament – 11/12 Teams and volunteers are needed to help Circle K with this fundraising event. Email Eventsbykacy@ymail.com Rock’n’Roll Marathon – 11/13 Volunteers are needed to make this a success! Sign up to help online at http://tinyurl.com/3dkr32r. We’ve Got You Covered Collection Drive – 11/6 Volunteers are needed to help collect donations at the DeZa-vala Walmart benefitting several local nonprofits. Visit http://www.wevegotyoucovered.org/ to sign up! Salvation Army Sleep Out - 11/18-19 Sleep out at the Salvation Army Hope Center to experience and raise awareness of homelessness. For more info Call An-nalisa at (210) 352-2000  San Antonio Public Library Tamalada! – 11/19-20 Each year the library kicks off the holidays with tamale mak-ing lessons and they need help! Shifts at 4 branches. Email Elizabeth.graham@sanantonio.gov for more info. Each One Teach One Adult Literacy Program Tutors are invited to help adults learn to read and pass the GED exam at Tripoint. Call Carolyn at 416-2632. SA Youth – Help for the Holidays Please consider sponsoring kids by donating gifts, hosting an angel tree, or sponsoring a holiday party at one of 17 centers in San Antonio. Call 223-3131x207 or email ja-son@sanantonioyouth.org. Lighthouse Hospice – Variety of Opportunities Volunteers are invited to visit with patients, help with admin-istrative work, make cards, and more. Email cbur-den@lighthouse-hospice.com or call 615-3691.

Triple-H Equitherapy – Multiple Opportunities Groups and individuals are invited to help out with projects and classes at this horse therapy center. Contact Kei-sha@triple-h.org or 830-510-9515 to get started. Animal Defense League – Multiple Opportunities Volunteers are needed to help at this no kill shelter. One time training required. Visit www.adltexas.org. St. Vinny’s Bistro – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily Volunteers are needed daily to prep and serve meals at Haven for Hope. Email rgesposito@svdpsa.org today. Communities In Schools – Mentors needed! Mentors are needed to help SAISD students go back and com-plete the 8th grade by meeting 2-4 times per month. Contact Maria at macosta@cissa.org or 777-3906 today. Big Brothers Big Sisters – mentors needed! Big Brothers and Big Sisters are needed. Mentor a child – it is flexible and all it costs is your time! For more information, call 225-6322 or visit www.bigmentor.org. CASA: Child Advocates of San Antonio Advocates are needed to assist abused and neglected children in San Antonio. Visit www.casa-satx.org today. Children’s Association for Maximum Potential Volunteers are needed to assist with year-round programs that service children & adults with special needs. Contact Sarah at 210-671-5229 - sarah.coulombe@campcamp.org. Other Resources: Assistant Director for Volunteer Services: please feel free to set up an individual appointment with Jennifer to brainstorm ways for you or your organization to get involved! Call 458-4770 or email Jenni-fer.Rames@utsa.edu. VOICES: Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service. This sponsored student org. has service events every week (Fall & Spring only) and the events are open to the UTSA com-munity. Visit www.utsavoices.org to get involved! Your Time Counts! As a volunteer, you can earn a US Presidential Medal of Service by logging your hours online: http://www.utsa.edu/ea/service.html

Volunteer Opportunities November 2011 Events and Projects

(highlight/italics indicate UTSA sponsored event)

Eliana Briceño, a Spanish and pre-law major from Houston, Texas, was awarded the Outstanding Latino Student Leadership Award at Gala Latina on October 14, 2011. “Leadership…is the responsibility and opportunity to guide a group of people into achieving a common goal for the better of society,” Briceño said. “It is through leadership that your character is developed, your confidence is tested and you learn that each bump in the road only gets you closer to success.” Eliana has held five positions within Student Government Association, served as founder and vice president of COLFA Student Council, and as a staff writer for the Paisano. She is also a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish honor society, and is a former member of Campus Activities Board. Eliana currently serves as president of VOICES, and has completed more than 350 hours of community service since 2008.

“Eliana Briceno has exemplified leadership at UTSA since the day she set foot on campus just over three years ago,” said Jennifer Rames, Assistant Director for Volunteer Services in the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center. “Eliana quickly became involved with many student organizations, but found her home with VOICES, the sponsored student organization for service at UTSA. Eliana served as a project leader many times during her first year, and served as the Trip Leader for Alternative Spring Break: Corpus Christi Habitat for Humanity. Her sophomore year, she served as the Fundraising Coordinator for VOICES and again as a Trip Leader for Alternative Spring Break: Amarillo Habitat for Humanity.” “She is truly leading the organization by example, through service to the other officers, members, and the communities of UTSA and San Antonio,” Rames said.

Outstanding Latino Student Leadership Award: Eliana Briceño

Student Organization Spotlight: Student Association for Volunteering Efforts

The Student Association for Volunteering Efforts (SAVE) was founded in 2007 with a mission to promote volunteerism, networking, and leadership in order to better serve UTSA students and the community. They focus efforts primarily on the Dream Runners program, a program that promotes higher education. Other service projects include, but are not limited to, Haven for Hope, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and other student organizations in need of volunteers. All students are welcome to come participate in SAVE activities at any time. To become an official member they ask for $20 in membership dues per semester. Membership benefits include awards, social events, intramural sports, t-shirt, and more. On November 18th, SAVE will be hosting the 1st

Annual Rowdy Chili Cook-Off to raise money for high schools that participate in the Dream Runners program to promote higher education. Other upcoming events include Elf Louise, the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, and more! General meetings are conducted on Monday nights from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Bexar Room (1.102). Learn more about SAVE on their website http://www.utsasave.org/ or on Collegiate Link (log-in at http://utsa.collegiatelink.net/). For more information please contact Devesh Patel, SAVE Recruiting Officer, at 210-995-5554 or by emailing recruiting@utsasave.org.

Leslianne ‘Leslie’ Garcia is a senior history major with a concentration in Social Studies from Somerset, Texas. Leslie has been at UTSA since the Fall of 2008, and has since been involved with Student Leadership Center, Leadership Conferences; Leadershape and the Texas Conference for Women. She has also served as a Peer Leader in Learning Communities for three years and is a 2010 & 2011 Alumni of the Adelante Leadership Institute. “The first event I remember attending at UTSA was Rowdy Wing Fling,” Garcia said. “This event gave me a glimpse of what to expect here at UTSA. I was impressed with the free food and the live band that played. It gave me a chance to meet new people and learn about what the university has to offer.” Leslie is looking forward to a successful end to our inaugural football season and to the

upcoming Civil Rights Movement trip that will take place in January. In her spare time, Leslie volunteers at the South San Filadelphia Food Pantry. “Leslie has set herself apart from her peers as someone they look up to and want to emulate; she embraces the essence of leadership by serving others,” Yvonne Peña, director of student leadership development, said. “She has proven herself an invaluable member of the Student Leadership team and we expect she will only go on to greater endeavors.” Leslie is part of the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows program, which is a semi-structured mentoring program for undergraduate students wishing to explore and better understand the field of student affairs and/or higher education. When she graduates in May 2012, she plans to attend graduate school for higher education administration.

Student Spotlight: Leslianne ‘Leslie’ Garcia

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Inclusion and Community Engagement (ICE) Center Staff

Marlon D. Anderson Ann Margaret Trujillo Director Associate Director Jennifer Rames Brian Jantz Assistant Director Administrative Assoc. Cristina Dominguez Corey Benson Graduate Assistant Graduate Assistant Eraldo Elizondo Charles Miles Senior Student Assistant Student Assistant

UC 2.01.04 210-458-4770

CELEBRATE UTSA!

All Different. All Roadrunners. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a special all-campus event, "Celebrate UTSA! All Different. All Roadrunners." This year's celebration is the 7th Annual!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 5:00 – 8:00 pm

University Center Paseo ~ Main Campus The event includes an onstage showcase with performances, readings and speeches, along with information tables and activities with valuable information about UTSA student organizations and departments. Special ethnic foods will be served, along with the opportunity to enjoy interactive programs, prizes, give-aways, and other fun and educational activities. Food and promotional items are free while they last. For more information about the event, please contact Ann Margaret Trujillo in the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center UC 2.01.04 or 210.458.4770. To sign up to have an information table, or perform in the showcase please use the form accessible at https://utsa.collegiatelink.net/form/start/6257.

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