News

The Tyler Civic Theatre aims to serve as a community outlet for diversity during the holiday season with two events from its December lineup.

Scheduled a day apart from one another, the Chanukah-Klezmer Concert and the Tyler Community Band Christmas Concert provide audiences an opportunity to experience both a Jewish holiday celebration as well as traditional Christmas festivities.

PersonalWeb, a Tyler, Texas-based technology company, released a beta version of StudyPods™, an educational social networking product, to a select group of University students on Dec. 6 for initial testing and feedback, according to a news release.

StudyPods is a new social learning platform that enables students to connect, collaborate and share academic knowledge with each other at their own universities or colleges worldwide.

As part of its testing phase, Office of Marketing and Communications officials have posted a preview of the new University website, which is set to launch Jan. 13, according to a news release.

“We’re so excited to provide the campus with this preview,” Beverly Golden, director of the office marketing and communications, said. “Marketing and communications has invested a great deal of research, training and funds into the development of a new site that meets the needs of current and prospective students.”

In the past two years, off-campus housing facilities have been the crime scenes for burglaries, robberies, a drive-by shooting, alleged manslaughter and homicide.

Talk of budget constraints and campus expansion filled the University Center Theater on Nov. 9 as administrators gathered to address questions from students, faculty and staff at the Student Government Association Town Hall meeting.

The meeting gave students the opportunity to pry campus leaders for answers to questions regarding a proposed smoking ban, online faculty evaluations and dining services.

Those wishing to get into the holiday spirit will be provided a charitable opportunity to do so later this month. The 2nd Annual Habitat for Humanity Heroes & Hope Benefit Concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 at First Presbyterian Church of Tyler.

Proceeds from the concert, coordinated by non-profit organization affiliate Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, will be used to provide low-income families a chance at homeownership.

Two members of the University debate team are ranked the No. 1 parliamentary team in the nation by the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence.

Seniors Alex Warren, economics major, and Travis Smith, speech communication major are currently the top parliamentary debate team in America.

The Tyler Type One diabetes foundation plans to facilitate an Endurance Challenge fundraiser to benefit children like Faith Wilson.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Oct. 29 at Bergfeld Park.

Faith was diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of nine months.

After taking her daughter to the Emergency room and being sent home with a simple flu diagnosis, Sarah Wilson said she knew “something was not right.”

The University plans to launch a new website in January, modifying content, organization and navigation and appearance.

“It’s part of the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance our customer service,” said Beverley Golden, director of marketing and communications.

Webmaster Robin Kelly said the site has been under production for almost a year.