Month: August 2019

Professor Benavides signs on as editor of social equity publication

Yvette Benavides, professor of English, has signed on to be the series editor of “EQ: Creative Nonfiction on Social Equity” with Trinity University Press. The first issue will cover the issue of “Border” and will be out in the spring of 2020. Subsequent issues to be published in the next few years include, “Food,” “City,” and “Climate.” The series features creative nonfiction in all its many forms by a variety of authors. Professor Benavides is also co-author of “San Antonio 365,” which she describes as a social justice history of San Antonio. The book, published by Trinity University Press, will be out in spring 2020. Professor Benavides returned to Yale University earlier this summer to complete the THREAD summer program in multimedia storytelling. She previously participated in the Yale Writers’ Conference in summer of 2016. A long-time radio commentator and book critic, Professor Benavides has also been tapped to create and host a books podcast for Texas Public Radio. 

Saints volleyball closes out KCAC Fall Fling with pair of sweeps

The volleyball team played three matches at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Fall Fling this past weekend, and the Saints won all three 3-0. Their opponents were Bethany College, Friends University and York University. Their next match will take place against Texas Wesleyan University and Dillard University in the Huston-Tillotson University Tournament in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 31

OLLU welcomes Ryan O’Keefe as new sports information assistant

OLLU is proud to announce the addition of Ryan O’Keefe as the new sports information assistant.  He will be working side by side with Sports Information Director Patty Constantin.

“Working at OLLU has been great because I am Catholic and have a passion for sports,” O’Keefe said. “I look forward to contributing to the success of the athletic department and have enjoyed meeting everyone.”

O’Keefe comes to OLLU after a year with San Antonio Spurs and Entertainment as a communications specialist with the San Antonio Rampage. While there, he published previews and postseason article for the official American Hockey League’s Rampage’s website and social media outlets. He also conducted postgame interviews with the Rampage’s head coach and players. O’Keefe coordinated game-day information with National Hockey League (NHL) scouts, the Rampages coaching staff and players. He was also responsible for the Rampage’s gameday media.

OLLU Cares presents ‘Shattered Trust: A Conversation About Sexual Assault and Consent’

The OLLU community is invited to attend “Shattered Trust: A Conversation About Sexual Assault and Consent,” featuring Shari Karney, Esq., on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. in Thiry Auditorium.

Karney is an attorney, on-air legal pundit, author, speaker and survivor who began having memories of her own childhood sexual assault while defending a three-year old who had been molested by her father. During the trial, she began having flashbacks, which led her to attempt to strangle the perpetrator on the witness stand. After two nights in jail for contempt of court and subsequent therapy sessions, she was forced to come to terms with her own past. Now, Karney uses her personal story to help other victims of abuse find hope and healing. Inspired by her deep belief that the law can bring justice, she founded ROAR as ONE, a nonprofit to help sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual abuse survivors get justice.

Karney consulted with the California Women’s Law Center on the “Cosby Bill” to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for victims of rape, sexual assault and continuous child sexual abuse. The legislation was signed into law (SB 813) on Sept. 28, 2016. She is currently working on a historic landmark civil right legislation to protect the human and civil rights of victims of sexual assault, rape and continuous childhood sexual abuse. For the first time in history, victims would have their rights constitutionally protected under the same chapter that protects other human rights. She is the author of the book “Prey No Longer—A Step-by-Step Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse” (2012, Voice Publications), and is working on her new book, “The Perfect Family—From Pain to Purpose: A Memoir.”

This event is sponsored by OLLUCares and the Division of Academic Affairs. The event is free and open to the public.

Remarks from Faculty and Staff Convocation

The 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation held Aug. 19 included addresses from President Diane Melby, CDP Superior General Sister Pearl Cesar and the presidents of Faculty Assembly, Staff Advisory and the Student Government Association. At the request of many faculty and staff, the text of the speeches is being made available through the links below. The Student Government Association address was not available at publication time.

Remarks from President Diane E. Melby, EdD

Remarks from CDP Superior General Sister Pearl Cesar

Remarks from Faculty Assembly President Jane Grovijahn

Remarks from Staff Advisory Council President Marquita Eldridge

New procedures for Bookstore house accounts

The Finance Office has changed the procedure to obtain a house account with the Bookstore. Due to unauthorized purchases that were made at the Bookstore during the spring semester, all existing house accounts have been deleted. The new procedures are necessary to establish stronger controls to mitigate further risk of loss.

Departments wishing to obtain a new house account must apply for an account with the Finance Office. Click the link below to access the Disbursement Office Forms page on the myOLLU Portal. Once on the page, the updated procedures, application and other helpful documents regarding this change can be found under “Accounts Payable.”

https://myollu.ollusa.edu/UniversityResources/DisbursementOffice/Forms

For more information, contact Courtney Nevill at canevill@ollusa.edu.

OLLU welcomes new assistant women’s basketball coach Patty Medina

OLLU announced the addition of Patty Medina as the assistant coach for women’s basketball. She comes to OLLU after three years as a collegiate head coach. She spent one year at Westcliff University in Irvine, Calif., and two years at Bethesda University in Anaheim, Calif. Before that, she was an assistant coach at the community college level throughout Southern California for six years. Read full story.

OLLU to welcome new and returning students to campus this week

In anticipation of the 2019-2020 academic year, the OLLU community will welcome new freshmen and transfer students to campus this week during Blue Nation Welcome Week.

New students will begin moving in to the residence halls on Friday, which also marks the start of Blue Nation Welcome Weekend (formerly Blue Nation Orientation). The evening will end with Blue Nation Convocation in Sacred Heart Chapel and the OLLU Fan Fest Dinner in the Mall Area.

The first day of classes for the traditional session is Aug. 19.