Sarah Fields-Thomas

University police officials say they hope to revive their self-defense training program — Patriot Defense — through sponsorships. The course began in 2006, but it hasn’t been active for more than a year. The lack of student involvement forced officials to reconsider how to maintain the program.

Now instead of waiting for interested students to come to the course, organizers hope school organizations or groups will sponsor training courses for their members, Officer Pedro Flores said.

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954, resulted in integrated schools. The Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. Affirmative action took hold in 1965.

Notice anything?

All legislation for equality is more than 40 years old. During the 40 years since an executive order was necessary to enforce equality, America has made tremendous strides in making success and advancement in society available to all.

I disagree with the media’s attack on former presidential hopeful, Gov. Mike Huckabee. Also, had I been in charge of Maurice Clemmons’ request for clemency, it would have been denied.

Clemmons “was a person of interest” for the shooting in a coffee shop in Washington State that left four police officers dead.

Police arrested a Tyler Junior College student on a murder charge in connection with the Wednesday morning shooting death of a 20-year-old Hallsville man, according to Tyler police reports.

Jeremy Jarrod Walker, 20, a criminal justice major, remains in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $752,000 bond, according to jail records.
Walker initially was arrested on Wednesday for an unrelated burglary warrant from Fort Bend County. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant on the murder charge for Walker on Thursday, according to police reports.

The following information is an effort to make people aware of steps they can take to lessen the likelihood they will be victimized. Mike Medders, University police chief, said one of the biggest mistakes people make is not being aware of his/her surroundings.

“Trust your instincts. If someone or something does not look or feel right, take an alternative route,” Medders said. “Do not walk into a situation that you do not feel comfortable with.”

DISCLAIMER: I am not, nor will I ever be a financial consultant. I do not, nor will I ever understand the stock market. However, I will spend the remainder of this column giving you advice about things I know nothing about.

Many people believe the financial crisis occurred overnight. We were all enjoying caviar and $400-dollar-a-bottle wine when the bottom suddenly fell out from under us. Unfortunately, that is not true.

We did not wake up one morning and discover we had to give up our luxury life style because of the financial meltdown.

I am a 28-year-old IQ test virgin.

I have never allowed this gigantic brain of mine to be poked, prodded or dissected by questions about planes, trains, automobiles and who would get to your house first if we each left here at the same time.

However, I have always wanted to give it a try so I could prove what I’ve been telling my friends all this time—I am as smart as Einstein. Just check out that mug of me to the right of this text.

What do you think? Smart…not smart?

After taking four online IQ tests, I’m going to have to go with the latter.