NTCC Honors students to present at Mount Pleasant Library

On Thursday, March 1, at 12:15 p.m. in the Community Room of the Mount Pleasant Library, three members of Honors Northeast will present original essays on regional issues.

Matthew Chambers will present on the myth and reality of the Dallas elite during the era of the famous Dallas soap opera in the 1970s and 1980s.  Alicia Cantrell (center) will explore similarities in the careers of Texas feminists, Barbara Jordan, and Ann Richards.  Finally, Morgan Martin will present an argument on the sudden collapse of Pilgrim’s Pride in 2008.  An anonymous donor will provide pizza and drinks, especially to those who email Dr. Andrew Yox ahead of time at ayox@ntcc.edu.

All three speakers will address questions of relevance to Northeast Texas and the state-wide context.  Matthew Chambers examines the TV show, Dallas, which in its prime in the late-1970s, and early 1980s, reached 90 nations, including some communist countries.  It was a global showcase of our regional elite.  But how right or misleading were these shows?

Alicia Cantrell examines a fascinating disjunction between the ability of Texas feminists to out-position very powerful males in the twentieth century, and the loss of Hillary Clinton in 2016. What made the attacks of Richards and Jordan on George H.W. Bush, and Richard Nixon so successful, while Clinton’s attacks proved ultimately ineffective? 

Finally, what did happen to Pilgrim’s Pride?  Was it the fault of the federal government and their manipulation of corn and energy prices?  Was Pilgrim’s in some way another Enron that lost its accountability, or a company like Compaq Computer which suddenly lost its competitive niche?

NTCC Honors Director, Dr. Andrew Yox, notes that he is “particularly thankful for the apposite, successful character of these essays.  Alicia Cantrell will be one of two undergraduates in the state of Texas on March 10 to give an invited presentation at the meeting of the Texas State Historical Society in San Marcos. 

A panel of experts chose her essay on the Texas feminists, due for publication this spring, to represent the best in undergraduate research in Texas history in 2017. The Great Plains Honors Council (GPHC), meanwhile has accepted Matthew’s and Morgan’s work as entries in their annual interscholastic competition.  They along with Hannah Dickson, Brenda Godoy, Chesney Davis, and Rachel Jordan will represent the hopes of Honors Northeast and NTCC at the upcoming meeting of the GPHC at Oklahoma State University later in March.”

The Mount Pleasant Public Library at 601 North Madison has over 33,000 materials available for checkout.  It maintains a museum of Titus county with interactive displays, and a Caddo replica home.

Honors Northeast is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2018-19 academic year.  Contact ayox@ntcc.edu for information.  The program will also be featuring its film on Mary Kay, Friday, 16 February at 7PM at the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts.