Kevin Carreathers
Director broadens student perspectives
“Committed to diversity.”
The importance and the meaning behind
these words are a serious part of one man’s
life. It is his dedication to the ideal behind the
phrase that has made him an important part of
both the administration and student body of
Texas A&M University.
Kevin Carreathers, director of the depart
ment of multicultural services, says providing
a broad perspective of cultures to the A&M
family is the first step in commitment to diver
sity.
"This can be done by offering more specific
programs for those who want to learn more
and have a greater commitment to diversity
and being able to have a campus that respects
these programs,” he says.
Carreathers grew up on college campuses.
His father spent his days in the area of student
services, and it is from these roots that Car
reathers has mustered his desire to help stu
dents.
“Knowing how important it is to have a black
mentor on a white campus,” he said, “I knew I
wanted to be in a position of multicultural serv
ices."
Carreathers graduated in 1979 from North
Texas State University with a bachelor's de
gree in psychology, and he received his mas-
By Terri Welch
ter’s degree in counseling and guidance in
August 1980 from Prairie View A&M.
Starting out in the department of student ac
tivities at Texas A&M in 1983, Carreathers
worked there for five years and now has been
in the multicultural services department for
three and a half years.
This job takes 24 hours, 7 days a week. Car
reathers says he spends a lot of time with stu
dents in both social settings and family set
tings.
A typical day ranges from talking to a num
ber of students about personal and academic
matters, attending various meetings across
campus, and laying the ground work on multi
cultural issues in other areas.
“It is the students and top-level administra
tion that keeps me here," Carreathers says of
A&M. "Dr. Mobley and his administration have
been extremely supportive in the things we’re
doing.”
Carreathers says the students at A&M could
use the department more, especially Anglo
students.
Concerning the location of the multicultural
center, he says, "I would like the department
to be in the center of campus life. If that is the
MSC, then I’d like for it to be there." The office
is located in Room 148 of the MSC.
Carreathers wants the students of A&M to
know that the changing demographics of this
country, and in particular this state, are of
great importance to diversity.
“This is probably the number one reason
that people from all ethnic backgrounds will
have to come together as one to make this a
great nation and great state,” he said.
People working together in all areas need to
have respect for the culturesthat make up the
nation, Carreathers says. He feels this idea
can begin within students.
Aside from work, Carreathers has a lot
going on in his life.
He pledged the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha in
the spring of 1976 at North Texas State Uni
versity, and says his father and family mem
bers also belong to the fraternity.
He is not married and enjoys spending his
free time visiting with family and friends. Car
reathers plays raquetball, likes to bowl and lis
tens to jazz music.
“I also like to watch my 13-year-old nephew
grow and develop into a young man,” he says.
For the last ten years of his service, Car
reathers says, he would like to work at a
smaller university in the same position dealing
with students.
page 4
February 21,1991
ZZ owod t X 25 VCODA.K S063 TX
■ ■■■■■ I ■■■■■■■ 1 ■
A&M Club saddles up
for Houston convention
By Lisa Young
Have you ever had the thrill of rac- Sanders says college students will
ing a wild horse, working a rodeo or be coming from all across the nation
hog-tieing a calf? If you’re a member to attend the convention. “Students
of Texas A&M’s Saddle and Sirloin will be coming from as far away as
Club, then your answer is probably Bangor, Maine and Washington state
yes. to attend the convention,” he says.
Texas A&M’s Saddle and Sirloin Sanders says the conventions are
Club is an organization affiliated with designed to educate animal science
the National Block and Bridle Club students on new developments in
and sponsored by the animal science their fields. “We have scheduled
department. Club president Stacy guest speakers to discuss everything
Sanders says it is one of the oldest, from meat export and trade to embryo
largest and most active clubs on transfers,” he says.
A&M’s campus. The students will not only get a lec-
“Our club was first organized in ture on animal science technology,
1920, and we now have around 350 but see it at work on various farms
members,” Sanders says. "Besides across the Southwest,
the Corps, the Saddle and Sirloin Club "The club will conduct a tour of
has the greatest membership and is farms and ranches in the Southwest
one of the oldest organizations on region of Texas and in Mexico," Sand-
campus,” he says. ers says. “Students will get the oppor-
Every year, the National Block and tunity to see the technology and pro-
Bridie Club holds its national conven- cedures that we learn about and use
tion in conjunction with the Houston in everyday farm life.”
Livestock and Rodeo Show, Sanders The convention also promotes the
says. development of leadership qualities in
This year, Texas A&M’s Saddle and young adults, Sanders says. “Joe
Sirloin Club has the honor of hosting Townsend, an A&M professor, will talk
the national convention in Houston, he about the importance of having good
says. “It’s really an honor and priv- leadership abilities in the business
ilege to host the national convention,” world,” he says,
he says. Workshops will be conducted at the
Prior to the convention, A&M stu- convention to promote creative think-
dents get the opportunity to partici- ing and new ideas, Sanders says. “We
pate in the Houston Livestock and Ro- try to get clubs to tell everyone about
deo Show, Sanders says. "Students some of the unique things they do as
get the chance to go to Houston to fund raisers.”
help run various shows for a week at a Sanders says that awards and
time." scholarships are given at the conven-
nized at the convention," he says. "An stock centers and shows,” he says,
outstanding college junior and senior The Saddle and Sirloin Club works .
are awarded scholarship money to closely with the Bryan High School
help them complete their college edu- chapter of Future Farmers of America,
cation.” “We sponsored three FFA members to
One of the Saddle and Sirloin go to their national convention,” Sand-
Club’s main functions is to provide ers says.
service for the community. The club The animal science department has
has participated in blood drives, col- recently implemented a new program
lected toys for children and helped to recruit high school students to
with the Special Olympics. A&M. The Aggie Reps go to junior
The Saddle and Sirloin Club takes a livestock shows to recruit high school
special interest in programs that in- students that are interested in futher-
volve the youth in the Brazos area, ing their knowledge about animal sci-
Each year the club sponsors the pro- ence, Sanders says,
gram “Children’s Barnyard” to famil- The Saddle and Sirloin Club be-
iarize children with the many types of lieves that the key to its success is to
livestock. stay involved in the community, Sand-
“The ‘Childrens Barnyard’ is a ers says. “We really try to stay as busy
three-day event that brings in children and as involved as we can,” he says,
from all over the Brazos County,” "The more people we touch, the more
Sanders says. “The club’s members we can share our knowledge about
take about 2,500 kids to various live- the animal science industry.”
page 9
Lite Style magazine