Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Carmen Tafolla reads Estrellas of Possibility during the Inauguration.
(March 21, 2018) -- UTSA President Taylor Eighmy received a very special gift this week. To commemorate his inauguration as the university’s sixth president, Carmen Tafolla, the 2015-2016 Texas Poet Laureate and a professor in the UTSA Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, presented him with “Estrellas of Possibility”, the Inaugural Poem. Tafolla’s poem celebrates Eighmy’s vision to make UTSA a flourishing community that drives prosperity.
“I was intrigued and enthused that we had a new President who, although academically trained in the sciences, showed great appreciation of the humanities, and stated as a high priority the involvement of our beautiful, multicultural, but often-neglected community,” Tafolla said. “When I heard the stories about he and his wife courting each other via the poetry of Pablo Neruda, the idea was born for ‘Estrellas of Possibility.’”
Tafolla adds President Eighmy’s interest in reaching both the English-speaking and the Spanish-speaking communities freed her to write the inaugural poem in her native code-switching Tex-Mex, to solidify his connection with both language communities.
With UTSA advancing as San Antonio’s university of the future, Tafolla also wrote about the connection between the city and the stars.
“The images of exploding stars, filled with energy and possibility drove me, and the distinct image of a billion drops of water bonded together and unstoppable touched both on his love of rivers, and of our city’s millennia-old heart, the San Antonio River,” said Tafolla.
Learn more about UTSA’s vision for the future.
Learn more about UTSA professor and poet Carmen Tafolla.
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Roadrunner Nation! Show off your UTSA pride by sporting blue and orange UTSA swag to celebrate the start of the fall semester. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and Roadrunner families on and off-campus are encouraged to participate.
EverywhereThe UTSA community is invited to attend a series of Community Networking Socials hosted by the Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion during Roadrunner Days. Various opportunities will be available that will focus on our diverse population in a come and go setting.
H-E-B Student Union Harris Room (HSU 2.212) and Travis Room (HSU 2.202), Main CampusThe UTSA Involvement Ambassadors invite students to stop by the Paseo and take a picture celebrating the first day of classes. Share with friends and family via social media using #UTSARRDays.Theywill also be passing out 1st Day of Classes goodie bags and telling students about ways to get involved.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusStop by the Sombrilla for a free paleta and say hello to President Eighmy and celebrate the start of the new school year.
Sombrilla, Main CampusThe Roadrunner Life Hacks is a series promotes ways to utilize campus resources, solve problems and make the most of what UTSA offers to all students. These workshops provide information about common issues and questions students have as they navigate university life.
H-E-B Student Union Harris Room (HSU 2.212) or Travis Room (HSU 2.202), Main CampusThe Fraternity|Sorority Life New Member Information Session gived students information about the diverse organizations, their membership requirements, the benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority, as well as discussing important information about hazing guidelines and the responsibilities of joining these types of organizations.
Student Union Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02), Main CampusThe UTSA community is invited to attend a series of Community Networking Socials hosted by the Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion during Roadrunner Days. Various opportunities will be available that will focus on our diverse population in a come and go setting.
H-E-B Student Union Harris Room (HSU 2.212) and Travis Room (HSU 2.202), Main CampusThis open house features fun activities, refreshments and information on student services including tutoring and academic success coaching.
Durango Building Tomás Rivera Center (DB 2.114), Downtown Campus