upbeat-summer-2026

Summer 2026 • A University Press Magazine
INSIDE:
SOCIAL WORK,
COPS,
TRAVEL
AND MORE
TECH VS.
CLIMATE
Rise of AI creates
clash between
environment
and creativity
Page 8

CONTENTS
© University Press 2026
SUMMER 2026
A UNIVERSITY PRESS MAGAZINE
EDITOR
Rayna Christy
STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS
Josiah Boyd
Maria Rodriguez
Heather Harmon
Regina Ruiz
Presleigh Peveto
Emily Flores
COVER DESIGN
Depicting environmental
concerns of AI
UP staff
using Microsoft Copilot
STUDENT PUBLICATION ADVISORS
Andy Coughlan
Stephan Malick
A publication of the
U NIVERSITY PRESS
The student newspaper of Lamar University
125 Communication Building
Lamar University
Beaumont, Texas 77710
PEOPLE
PAGE 4
Behind the Campus Faces
DOWNSIDE OF AI
PAGE 8
Tech brings environmental concerns
SOME OTHER PLACE
PAGE 12
LU alum thrives in social work
EXPLORING MAINE
PAGE 16
Up close and personal with nature
POLICE RIDEALONG
PAGE 22
News editor recaps NPD experience
lamaruniversitypress.com
editor@lamaruniversitypress.com @uplamar

PEOPLE
Created
to create
Text and photo by Josiah Boyd
When NATHAN MARTIN first picked up a paintbrush in elementary school,
he knew he was born to create masterpieces. “Ever since I was a kid, I have always
been passionate about creating art,” the Beaumont junior says. “It really
started in the first grade when my teacher noticed my passion and started giving
me harder and more intricate projects to work on.” The studio art major had his
first commissioned work at age 10, when he was asked to do a portrait for his
pastor. “My grandmother had shown my pastor some of my art, and he was so
impressed by my work he had me do a painting of his wife to hang in their
home,” Nathan says. “That was my first commissioned piece of art, and it
opened my eyes to realize that people really like what I create, and that I have a
gift for this.” Art goes deeper than just a hobby, Nathan says. “I have not always
been the best with words, but my art gives me a way to express myself with
people better than I can through words,” he says. “It gives people a chance to experience
a part of me when they look at the works I have done.”
PAGE 4 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat

Faith and
free throws
A video of BRIAN “BB” KNIGHT gifting bibles to his teammates on
the Lamar University basketball team has more than 300,000 views, but
Brian does much more to share his faith through his collegiate basketball
career. He has played basketball since he was three years old, but during
his time at LU, has used his social media platform to spread the gospel
while posting his basketball highlights. “It’s constant ups and downs in
basketball as well as your faith and just life in general,” the business entrepreneurship
major says. While Brian may not consider himself a vocal
person, he makes sure to share his faith with the platform he’s been
given. “I just feel like with the way that God has worked in this past year
of my life, I’ll be doing myself and God a disservice if I didn’t share that,”
he says. The Houston senior says that basketball has grown his faith even
further. “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries since I played basketball, so I was
trying to fill that void with worldly things, and it just never worked,” he
said. “I was at my lowest, at the bottom, and God pulled me out of that.”
Text and photo by Rayna Christy
Dance of
the heart
VICTORIA AREVALO was introduced to the world of
Ballet folkórico three years ago by her mother. Ballet folkórico
is a traditional folk dance from Mexico that features
cultural clothing and choreographed dances. “I feel like it
was a fun opportunity to try a new hobby and connect with
my culture,” Victoria says. The general business major
says dancing was challenging at first. “Once you actually
get it down, it’s thrilling in a way,” Victoria says. Ballet folkórico
places a strong emphasis on Hispanic culture, the
Beaumont junior says. “The teacher will explain where the
dances originate, like the regions they come from,” she
says. Different regions have different costumes and
dances, such as the Jalisco style. “I would say it’s also my
favorite, because I really like how colorful it is,” she says.
“It’s really fun, and you get to show a part of yourself to the
audience.” The significance of Ballet folkórico is community
and self-expression. “I think for a lot of creative
people, performing can be an outlet or a way to get out
there,” Victoria says.
Text and photo by Maria Rodriguez
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 5

Dyeing for personality
“I think dyeing my hair adds intrigue to my look,
TRINITY LEVINS says. “I want to be interested when
I look at myself in the mirror, and I want other people to
able to identify me.” The Beaumont freshman has been
dyeing her hair since she was 13 years old after watching
one of her favorite YouTubers. “I wanted a cute color for
summer because we weren’t allowed to have colorful
hair at school because of the dress code,” Trinity says.
“Dyeing my hair has improved my confidence and affected
how I see myself. I think I am a colorful person,
and thus I want to have colorful hair.” The English major
says she would always be sad to dye her hair back to a
“normal” color when school started again. “I felt I had to
dull my sparkle so I wouldn’t get in trouble at school for
having colorful hair,” she says. Trinity’s hair is an extension
of her expression, and changing her hair reflects different
times in her life. Trinity has grown up a lot since
she started dyeing her hair and her current blue streak
represents her new life as a freshman and a new chapter
in her life. “It helps me express myself visually and
makes me happy to look in the mirror,” she says.
Text and photo by Heather Harmon
Rolling into action
For WILLIAM HAMMERS, fantasy isn’t just a pastime — it’s a way to connect,
create and explore sides of himself that everyday life doesn’t allow. The
senior psychology major from Deweyville first stumbled into Dungeons &
Dragons while serving in the Navy. “A lot of my friends when I was in the Navy
would go play Magic the Gathering,” he says. “I got bored one evening and went
out with them, but there was a group of people in the back playing Dungeons &
Dragons. They told me how to play, and I’ve always been big into sci-fi and fantasy,
so it just kind of grew from there.” Since then, he’s played a wide range of
characters, from heroic chaotic good types to more manipulative, social characters.
“What keeps me coming back is being able to portray myself in ways I
normally am not able to, and to build a story with a group of friends,” William
says. As a member of the LGBTQ community, William says D&D has helped
him find friends who share his interests. “It’s helped me find people who share
my interests and build friendships,” he says. The game has also helped William
embrace his identity. “I’m a lot more comfortable being true to myself,” he says,
adding that in moments when life gets overwhelming, D&D offers an escape.
“Being able to step into a fantasy world where good guys usually win feels really
nice,” he said. Whether he’s plotting a chaotic good character’s next move or
laughing with friends around a table scattered with dice, William is living proof
that sometimes the best adventures happen in the bonds one forms and the
stories we create together.
PAGE 6 • SUMMER 2026
Text and photo by Regina Ruiz
UPbeat

Welding her future
HOPE RYDER has always been drawn to hands-on work that allows her to build something from
the ground up. She first discovered her passion for welding in high school. “I was able to take a class
in high school and after that I wanted to learn more because I really enjoyed it,” the construction
management major says. What started as a single class quickly turned into a long-term commitment
and a skill she continues to develop. “I have been doing welding for five years now because I started
in 2021 and now I do it for fun and try to take on different projects,” she says. The Port Neches sophomore
says that welding is more than just a technical ability it is a way to reset. “My favorite part of
welding is being able to focus on one thing because when the helmet is on you can only see what you
are working on, and it makes my brain slow down,” she says. The quiet concentration and steady
precision needed in welding give her a sense of control. As she continues studying construction
management, Hope’s welding experience provides a solid foundation and insight into the field she
plans to build her future in.
Text and photo by Presleigh Peveto
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 7

DOWNSIDE OF AI
Story package
by Maria Rodriguez
with Rayna Christy
AI generated graphic
by Maria Rodriguez,
Examining environmental concerns surrounding AI usage
Almost everyone has heard of
ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google
AI. A good portion of those who’ve heard
of these systems have likely logged onto
these platforms and input a prompt or
two. In fact, a simple Google search will
bring up an artificial intelligence overview
that provides a summarized answer to the
search with links to validate the information.
AI is becoming the norm when using
the internet, as it’s showing up everywhere.
Generative AI can do many tasks
aimed at helping to make the lives of
human users more efficient and easier.
Generative AI also aids students by helping
them study by breaking down complicated
terms into simplified terminology.
AI was made to make lives easier.
However, concerns revolving around
the use of AI software have become more
PAGE 8 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat

apparent. It’s important to understand
what generative AI is and how it works.
WHAT IS AI?
Copilot, ChatGPT and Google Gemini
are the most commonly used AI systems.
However, what classifies as AI goes beyond
those systems.
The National Library of Medicine defines
generative artificial intelligence as, “A
system of algorithms or computer processes
that can create novel output in text,
images, or other media based on user
prompts.”
For example, imagine a person gives
ChatGPT the prompt, “Create a pink computer
wallpaper with hearts.” ChatGPT
would not solely search the web for a pink
wallpaper that met the requirements, but it
would use the text in the prompt to generate
a wallpaper itself.
Kimberly Conner, Lamar University director
for university innovation, said the AI
tool is not producing a new answer to a
question.
“It’s combing through the extensive data
sets it has access to and then identifying
patterns that would most likely respond to
your question, whether it’s just an answer
or generating content or video or audio —
but that’s how it works,” she said.
An article published by Microsoft explained
that generative AI systems are
“built upon the foundation of neural networks.”
These neural networks take inspiration
from the human brain, and they are
interconnected to exchange information.
Moreover, Microsoft notes that, “Generative
AI uses advanced machine learning
techniques to analyze large datasets and
generate new content based on the context,
style, structure, and tone of the original
data.” Generative AI continues to grow in
capabilities, with Microsoft noting that
ChatGPT showed a breakthrough in natural
language processing, such as showing
capabilities in producing relevant and natural
dialogue.
TRUE OR FALSE?
AI systems have started to become sophisticated,
perfecting their way of working.
They are blurring the lines between
reality and fiction.
It isn’t uncommon to see at least one AIgenerated
video on your “For You Page” on
TikTok. These systems can create videos,
advertisements and even entire songs.
More people are finding that the songs
they’re hearing on social media are created
by artificial intelligence software. As this
technology grows, it’s becoming increasingly
more difficult to determine if something
is real or generated. Where
AI-generated movements used to be obviously
fake, the more AI is studied and updated,
the harder the flaws are to spot.
There are multiple reasons why it has
become increasingly difficult to tell the difference
between what is AI and what is
real. AI is a mirror image of human information,
creating a digitalized format of information,
Conner said.
“It’s the digitalization of very old works
of literature or art pieces or pieces of music,
Graphic by Maria Rodriguez
production, human content that could not
have been digitalized at the time,” she said.
“But subsequently, we have found ways to
capture those in digital form. And so, the
mirror — what it’s able to reflect has become
much more detailed and much more
clear.”
Users must be wary about misinformation
when it comes to social media
posts. Fact checking and ensuring that
what is being posted is accurate will help
clarify if something is AI or not.
“It’s difficult to tell the difference between
human-generated and AI-generated,
because we haven’t had, in the past, to
AI — page 11
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 9

PAGE 10 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat

AI— from page 9
really sharpen our skills of discernment,”
Conner said. “And that means developing
the ability to cross-check information, to
read laterally, to ensure that the information
being presented to us is actually accurate.”
POSITIVES OF AI
AI is changing education, as it offers
new ways of accessing information, Conner
said, adding that it allows for tutoring or
supplemental learning, and increases the
ability to enhance digital accessibility.
“We are absolutely seeing and will continue
to see higher education changing,”
she said.
For example, if a student is struggling
with a topic in class and needs help to
break it down into smaller bits of information,
AI is there to help, Conner said.
“AI has the capacity to aggregate information
and find patterns for us that might
help us solve problems or find resolutions
to really sophisticated, complex problems
that we haven’t been able to solve in the
past,” she said.
The use of AI is also changing how to
plan more efficiently. AI can help support
better medical diagnosis, forecasting
models, infrastructure monitoring, and
even improve the operation of a power
grid, Thinesh Selvaratnam, LU associate
professor of civil and environmental engineering,
said.
“I’ll give you an example of Southeast
Texas,” he said. “Every time we get a hurricane,
they have what they call a cone of uncertainty,
because that’s based on multiple
models. Ideally, you want that as small as
possible, so we can plan, right? AI can help.
That’s the benefit of AI. It’s really good in
crunching data, and it can come up with
solutions.”
AI also aids in the environmental
sphere, where it is used to help in preventive
measures, creating a proactive approach.
AI — page 21
TEXAS DATA CENTERS
The state is currently home to 411 centers, including in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Austin
AI generated graphic
by Maria Rodriguez,
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 11

PROFILE
reaching
some other place

LU alum thrives in local social work setting
Rayna Christy
UP editor
When students graduate from Lamar
University many move away to seek different
opportunities. But one alum found opportunities
right here in Beaumont.
Christopher Robertson, a Brownsville
native, graduated from Lamar with a degree
in social work in 2016. He now serves
as the executive director of Some Other
Place, an organization with multiple programs
that serves the Southeast Texas
community.
However, Robertson said he didn’t really
think about higher education.
“I never did super well in high school,
and I never thought that college was for
me,” he said. “I’ve seen people for whom
college really isn’t for them. They have certain
skill sets that lead to a successful lifestyle.
I kind of thought that was me.”
Robertson said that he changed his
mind when he was hired to work at a nursing
home. Part of his job involved physical
therapy.
“The longer I was there, my bosses kept
telling me ‘You’re too smart,’” he said.
“You’ve got to go back to class. I started and
stopped a couple times at a couple different
colleges and didn’t think it was for me — I
was pretty sure of it. But then they kept
saying ‘I see something in you, you’re too
Courtesy photo
Christopher Robertson was named Lamar University’s
Social Work Student of the Year in 2016.
smart. You really need to give it a shot.’
“So, I took a deep dive into why I loved
what I’m doing so much and what the hesitation
(was) to go back. It was really that I
had found a job that allowed me to be helpful.”
The discovery led him to Lamar’s social
work program where he flourished. Robertson
became interested in “big brother” programs,
where organizations partner with
foster homes to provide mentorship. After
finding out Buckner did not offer such a
program he decided to start his own.
“In my mind, I thought ‘Oh, it’s possible,’”
Robertson said. “I looped in the student
association, and being part of the
student association gave me extra credibility.”
Robertson said he realized he was trying
to get Buckner to allow him to create a
backyard experience.
“I think growing up, people take for
granted even the smallest things, like being
able to go in your backyard and play with
your dog,” he said. “That’s something a lot
of kids don’t get to experience when they’re
going through the foster system.”
Robertson began putting his plan into
action. He talked to the Humane Society of
Southeast Texas, where his girlfriend was a
trainer.
“I was just trying to utilize what little resources
I had at my disposal,” he said. “It
took about a year of back and forth, and I
ended up creating something called ‘BFF’
through the Social Work Student Association.”
Alongside creating the BFF program,
Robertson completed an internship with
Catholic Charities and took up an interesting
hobby his senior year, he said.
“I had this hobby where I would actually
learn about local nonprofits, how they work
and what services they provide,” he said.
“Then, in my mind, I would modify them
logistically to what I thought would be
better outcomes. Like, if they did this better
or if they did this instead of this, it would
still serve the purpose of the agency and its
mission, but it might be a little more efficient.”
After graduation, Robertson said that he
had three main options for where he
wanted to go. He had forged relationships
with Catholic Charities, the Southeast
Texas Food Bank and Some Other Place.
Robertson ended up choosing to work
Photo by Rayna Christy
Christopher Robertson celebrates volunteers with a luncheon at Some Other Place.
UPbeat
NONPROFIT — page 15
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 13

PAGE 14 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat

NONPROFIT— from page 13
with Catholic Charities because he admired
CEO Carolyn Fernandez, who hails from
Holly Grove in New Orleans, a tougher area
similar to where he grew up.
“I felt like she just understood me,” Robertson
said. “I might have a little edge, but I
have a heart of gold. I very much am not
scared to get in the mud and really find out
what is going to help people. I don’t care if I
have to go through a bad neighborhood or
if I have to get physically dirty. I don’t care
what it is, I want to figure it out. She is very
much the same”
Robertson was program coordinator for
the hardship program, a rent and utility assistance
program. Another reason that he
chose Catholic Charities was it had the
funds to try new things.
When it comes to starting new things,
Robertson said there are two things that
are always the same, no matter the type of
program. The first is targeting the right
people.
“Every program was originally created
because someone needed it,” he said.
“That’s how I start every single one of my
programs — find the special population.”
Secondly, Robertson said the program
needs to be transitional.
“If you use the service, you’ll no longer
need the service,” he said.
The two ideas combine to create a template
that can change how people view social
services, Robertson said.
“The people who are not pro-social services,
it always comes down to they think the
system can be gamed, or people can take
advantage of it, or it’s a handout program,”
he said. “None of that’s true if you follow
my template.”
Robertson said he is not afraid to go
against the grain in an area that respects
tradition, which led him to create a pilot
program for disaster relief.
“My idea was that the money after a disaster
is declared (should) go to local nonprofits,”
he said. “They (can) issue out the
resources to their community, because they
know their communities better than anybody.
FEMA could oversee the nonprofits
that offer this money, and we could get it
directly to the people who need it.”
Robertson was able to fly to Washington
D.C. with Catholic Charities to help initiate
the pilot program, and was able to see it in
action during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
After the disaster relief program, Robertson
started “Market to Hope,” a grocery
store-style food pantry, in 2020.
“Two weeks before we opened the doors
to Market to Hope, COVID happened (and)
hit the city very hard,” he said. “I want to
say that we saw around 60,000 people the
first year of Market to Hope, so it was
another very successful, very amazing program.”
Robertson worked with Market to Hope
for two-and-a-half years before an opportunity
arose at Some Other Place.
“Paula O’Neal at Some Other Place said
that she was ready to retire and didn’t want
to hand the agency that she built over the
last 40 years to just anybody,” he said. “I
met with the board of directors, had an interview
and then (another) interview with a
bigger group, and they decided to let me
come over and take over Some Other Place
where I have been for going on four years.”
Even with years of successful experience
in the nonprofit world, Robertson said
Some Other Place posed a unique challenge
with how many programs the organization
offers.
“I’ve been a part of a lot of different programs,
varying from disaster response to
food pantries to rent assistance, but Some
Other Place is still its own animal,” he said.
“It is a lot of things in one campus, and so
taking that on and restructuring all of those
programs with what I do — the transitional
and vetting process for the special populations
— has been a full-time job for three
solid years, and we’re not where I’d like to
be yet even now working into year four.”
Robertson said that Some Other Place’s
many programs include the children’s
Christmas program and back-to-school
program, the Thanksgiving store, the soup
kitchen, the homeless day center, and
more. He said that they’ve seen success in
each of the programs, but there is work still
being done.
“I’m definitely still in the middle of what
I’m doing at Some Other Place, and I’m far
from done,” he said. “But, it’s incredibly
different from the time I stepped in until
right now. We’ve almost doubled the
numbers of the most served ever at Some
Other Place.
“It’s new. It’s improved. It’s phenomenal,
and it’s only going to get better.”
Robertson said he has seen an increase
in people interested in working at the
agency and has been able to recruit more
people. For anyone interested in social
service, he has some advice.
“Unless you feel a genuine calling to this,
it will be way too much work with way too
little money,” he said. “It’s a calling for you,
not a job. If it’s for you, you know it. I think
a lot of people will pick social services because
it seems like it might be easier than
whatever they were originally going to go
for. It’s not. It’s hard in its own way.”
Robertson said social services is a difficult
profession due to the mental load and
the effort it takes.
“Anybody who comes into my office is
likely having one of the worst days of their
NONPROFIT — page 20
Courtesy photo
Robertson flew to Washington D.C. alongside Catholic Charities to initiate a pilot program for disaster relief.
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 15

TRAVEL
Story package
by Josiah Boyd
TRAILS
LESS
TRAVELED
PAGE 16 • SUMMER 2026

EXPLORING MAJESTIC MAINE
BAR HARBOR, Maine — Tucked
away at the tip of the nation’s most
Northeastern state lies a nature
lover’s paradise stocked with all the
lobster tails and blueberry pies one
can eat. The town of Bar Harbor is
nestled on Mount Desert Island in
Maine’s Frenchman Bay, and
serves as a respite from civilization
among the towering mountains and
vast ocean views of Acadia National
Park.
As soon as one sets foot onto the
105-square-mile island, one is immediately
greeted with all the
beauty Maine has to offer. Mountains
tower overhead and sounds of
the ocean crashing against the bay
fill the air. The streets of Bar Harbor
echo with the sounds of the
tourists lining the sidewalks and
bustling about in search of the regions
delicious seafood and desserts
as they clutter the small
one-lane road locals call downtown.
Bar Harbor serves as the starting
point for tourists who rent golf
carts and bicycles to explore the
scenic 27-mile Park Loop Road,
which connects the town to the historic
Acadia National Park. After
renting a golf cart and packing a
picnic basket, we decided to make
the loop ourselves and make plenty
of stops along the way to see the
amazing sites the national park has
to offer.
As we ventured into the park, we
were greeted by majestic ocean
views and the sound of the waves
booming as they smashed against
the rocky coastline. After experiencing
the vastness of the serene
blue ocean reflecting the towering
cliffs around us, we decided to
conquer a mountain of our own.
About halfway up the side of Bee-
A tourist explores a trail, left, that connects Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park. The sunset over
Frenchman Bay, top, bathes the coast in light. A babbling brook, above, spills into a pond
along the Jordan Pond Path.
UPbeat
MAINE — page 18
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 17

MAINE— from page 17
hive Mountain, as I carefully
maneuvered steep rocks using
only the slick metal bars embedded
in the rock to keep from falling,
I realized just how high I
was. With sweating palms and
shaking legs, we managed to
conquer the famous Beehive
Trail and bask in the beauty to
be seen from the summit.
After our harrowing climb,
we arrived back in Bar Harbor
with just enough time to return
our cart and enjoy the sunset on
the Shore Path that snakes
around the edge of town. The
sky turned a radiant orange-blue
as the sun set across the harbor.
With what felt like a wink as if to
say, “That’s not all folks,” a massive
double rainbow appeared to
cap the evening off with yet
another breathtaking view.
Bar Harbor Maine is a mustsee
for all nature lovers and
tourists. Whether one comes for
the famous Maine lobster rolls
or the breathtaking views, one is
sure to leave with a smile and
great memories.
For more information, visit
BarHarborMaine.gov
Tourists line the streets of Bar Harbor, Maine, above left, to shop and take photos.
Rough-hewn steps allow for tourists to climb the Beehive Trail in Acadia
National Park. Seagulls sit on the rocky coastline of Maine’s’ Frenchman Bay.
PAGE 18 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat

NONPROFIT— from page 15
life and it’s on me to fix that,” he said. “It’s not a job you can
ever not be present at or slack off in. It’s something that you
dedicate your life to, and you have to be serious about it or
you’re a disservice to the field. (It) could have real world implications.”
Robertson’s social work has earned him many awards, but
his favorite came after graduation while working at Catholic
Charities in the rent-utility assistance program. The program
offered three levels of assistance with the third level being ongoing
case management.
“The first time I ever had a level-three client was this young
woman in a really bad situation,” he said. “Years later, she
came back and she had made me an award. We worked so
hard to get her out of her situation, and I was pretty sure she
would have never thought about me again, which is the case
for most of my clients.
“I hope that I’m the person they can come to when life is
bad, but I help them in a way that they never have to think
about me again. That’s ultimately my whole goal.”
The woman had moved to Atlanta and was working at a
school and building a family, Robertson said, but she had still
thought of him.
Robertson said that one of his favorite compliments came
when he got a call from a New York Times writer who was
doing a story for NBC during COVID.
“Turns out, their research led them to Market to Hope, because
there were spikes of hunger all over the United States
and they didn’t see the same spikes statistically in Southeast
Texas,” Robertson said. “When I was telling some of the
people on the phone about what I did, one of the ladies said
that I’m the Elon Musk of social services, in that every way
that I have approached regular old social services, I’ve done so
in a new and innovative way that has never been done — and
they’ve all been very successful. I feel like ‘The Elon Musk of
social services’ should be on my tombstone.”
Social services may seem daunting, but Robertson has
taken on the challenge again and again. While he may not be
the owner of Tesla, he has proven that innovators exist in all
fields and that Southeast Texas has one right here.
For anyone interested in volunteering with Some Other
Place, visit someotherplacebeaumont.com/volunteer-atsome-other-place.
PAGE 20 • SUMMER 2026
Courtesy photo
Photo by Rayna Christy
Christopher Robertson recognizes Some Other Place’s youngest volunteer, above, while
Robertson and Kaitlin McCarter, SOP special programs and outreach director, host a
table about the organization, left, at Lamar University.
UPbeat

AI— from page 11
“It can predict, ‘OK, there’s going to be a
leak,’” Selvaratnam said. “We already have
models, but AI can accelerate and help us
more. So, usually, when it comes to environmental
engineering or the environment,
it’s not AI versus environment.”
What is important is that AI is used for
good, without violating ethical standards
such as class guidelines or copyrights, Selvaratnam
said, adding that AI can also be
part of a solution to help communities.
“It has the potential to help communities
to make better decisions, respond more
quickly to risk and operate infrastructure
more efficiently,” he said. “It’s really important
for Southeast Texas. We talk a lot
about resilience these days. AI can really
help on that aspect.”
NEGATIVES OF AI
A criticism of AI-generated creative
works has been the erasure of human creativity.
An AI result produces an aggregation
of everything seen on the internet that
matches the search. Therefore, a person’s
intellectual property can be used without
recognizing it as intellectual theft.
“While the amount of data AI tools are
able to access can be very helpful, we also
have to be really mindful of using transparent
systems that allow us to see where that
data has been pulled from,” Conner said.
“And we must continue to advocate for fair
consumption. One way to think about that
is ensuring AI tools we’re using are not violating
copyright and are not violating artistic
creativity.”
An AI creation cannot replace human
creation, Conner said. The value of human
creation is held to a higher standard than
an AI artwork.
“Personally, I would much rather have
an imperfect human painting than an aesthetically
‘perfect’ AI-rendered painting,”
Conner said. “So, (AI) capacities are being
able to access information and iterate, to
find, to get responses, or generate helpful
artifacts. But the limitation is that we don’t
want to impinge on art or human creativity.”
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
While many words have been written about
the intellectual impact of generative AI, less
attention has been paid to the environmental
impacts of the data centers needed to
operate the systems.
Data centers are buildings that store the
computer hardware necessary to complete
AI’s functions, specifically that store and
process digital information. They are not
AI-specific, but with the growth of AI, they
have been popping up more frequently and
being built even larger.
According to Data Center Map, Texas is
second in the country with 411 data centers.
Bloom Energy reported that Texas is set to
become the leader in data centers within
the next three years. In the same period,
Texas could see a 142% increase in its share
of the data center market. There are several
reasons for this increase, Selvaratnam said.
“(The) economic climate in Texas is supportive
to industry in terms of taxation and
in terms of looser regulations,” Selvaratnam
said. “So, that’s why we are seeing this
massive boom in big tech companies. If you
think about Austin, it’s kind of like the next
Silicon Valley. That’s the main reason why
we are getting more and more, because the
regulations are not stringent compared to
some other states, specifically, environmental
regulations. And, most importantly, the
state level government is pro-business —
we don’t have state income tax to start with,
and the existing infrastructure is pro-industry.”
The environmental impacts from AI are
not just from the software, Selvaratnam
said. The impact is from the AI infrastructure.
“That’s the thing we need to remember
because AI depends on data centers, it
needs to have service,” he said. “All those
data centers need to have cooling systems.
They need electricity, and they need water,
and then they eventually need to replace
their equipment.”
Water cooling systems aren’t the only
issue with AI and its data centers. AI contributes
to the electronic waste problem.
According to a report by the UN Environment
Programme, electronic waste materials
from AI contains lead and mercury
which creates a problem for everyday life.
“They can move into the air,” Selvaratnam
said. “They can move into soil, and
they can eventually move into water. So, it’s
not just a disposal problem. They can directly
affect people who have worked with
it, and also nearby families and communities.”
Selvaratnam said once these hazardous
materials enter the water, it becomes a
widespread problem leading to other issues.
“It’s not just an environmental problem,”
he said. “As soon as they enter into
any of the streams, they become an economic
burden. If you think about these
metals, it’s gonna directly impact your
health. Then it’s gonna come with missing
work, missing school. That’s the economic
problem.”
Transparency and planning are some of
the most useful policies, Selvaratnam said.
They would be clear rules rather than broad
or punitive restrictions.
“The best practice of what we can do is
clear disclosure of electricity and water demand,”
he said. “Better coordination with
utilities and grid operators, stronger standards
for end-of-life equipment management,
and incentives for efficient cooling,
reclaimed water where appropriate, and
lower impact facility design. So, the key is,
when we are providing incentives think environment
in your mind, rather than, ‘OK,
we’re gonna just give you a blanket tax incentive.’
Give the incentives that tie to environmental
things.”
Being educated about AI allows users to
use it responsibly in each situation, including
the environment, Conner said.
“I know AI is a polarizing topic, and no
matter how we feel about AI, the more we
learn about it, the better we can leverage AI
in ways that feel authentic, transparent, responsible
and ethical to us, because it is a
ubiquitous technology,” she said “It’s not a
technology we can ignore, because there are
many times we are using artificial intelligence
or platforms that include artificial intelligence
technologies that we’re not even
aware of. You don’t have to be a fan of AI to
learn about it.”
Texas is facing a technological change
with AI and data centers coming to the
state in increasing numbers. Residents
must be taken into consideration during expansion
to ensure their livelihood isn’t
being infringed on.
“Texas does not have to choose between
innovation and environmental stewardship,”
Selvaratnam said. “The real challenge
is making sure growth in AI is matched by
smart planning for water, power and waste.
So, that’s my key. Texas doesn’t need to
choose between, ‘OK, we’re gonna go with
innovation or environmental stewardship.’
“We can make smart planning, so our innovation
and stewardship matches.”
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 21

FEATURE
experiencing
An episode
of ‘cops’ IRL

News editor joins NPD night shift
Emily Flores
UP news editor
Watching fictional cop shows make the
life of law enforcement seem like a high
intensity world of shootouts and car
chases. I was not prepared for a ridealong
with a four-feet tall giraffe named
Steve.
On a Saturday during spring break, I
signed up for a ride-along with the Nederland
Police Department. My 12-hour
night shift started at 6 p.m. with Chief
Rod Carroll introducing me to the night
shift officers, Sergeant Chase Romero
and Officer Gabriel Fitch, who were to
chauffer me around.
I worried it would feel like an interrogation,
especially in a small plain room,
but we exchanged pleasant small talk
with questions varying from basic background
information to the reasoning behind
the ride, and even opinions on
giraffes.
It was decided I would tag along with
Romero for the first half of the shift
which consisted of patrolling in the squad
car and coming back to the station to file
paperwork, before switching out with
Fitch.
Through the two card recognition
Nederland Police Department's Sergeant Chase Romero loads equipment into his squad car before starting the
night shift, March 13
doors into the spring break air, the department
was surrounded by flashing
lights, the smell of funnel cake, and the
noise of screaming people and loud
Photo by Emily Flores
UP news editor Emily Flores went on a ride-along with the Nederland Police Department and was able to experience
a night shift in the squad car.
Photo by Emily Flores
music coming from the Heritage Festival.
After loading in the equipment and
getting gas, we parked in the Fellowship
Church parking lot to watch for speeding
cars, and go over protocol and safety
procedures.
Romero said the speed meter that sat
directly above the steering wheel could
read the speed of cars from all sides of his
vehicle.
“Between which speed limit do you
give someone a ticket?” I asked, while
watching the cars that did slow down
when they noticed our car were already
going under the speed limit. Romero said
it depends on the individual cop, though
most in Nederland consider going 10
m.p.h. over the limit is speeding.
I’ve always been told cops ‘hand out
tickets like crazy,’ but the thought quickly
diminished as within the first few hours,
we ticketed nobody.
As we drove around with no activity
going on, Romero said that the officers
don’t use the Q-word — quiet — because
POLICE — page 24
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 23

POLICE— from page 23
anytime anyone used the word, chaos
would ensue. He also explained that most
cops have superstitions about the job,
even mentioned believing the full moon
that was out that night brought out the
worst in people.
We received intel from the Jefferson
County District Attorney’s office investigators
division in reference to a suspect
that had an outstanding Jefferson County
warrant for his arrest. As soon as the
message relayed, we quickly turned the
car and stepped on the accelerator.
The suspect was possibly staying at a
residence in town and the information
was disseminated to NPD officers. At approximately
8:52 p.m., an officer observed
the suspect exiting a vehicle in
front of the house. The NPD officer made
contact with the suspect and placed him
under arrest for the outstanding warrant
without incident.
I sat in the police car watching it all go
down. While the lights made it seem exciting,
in reality, it was a routine incident.
The night shift was half over and not a
shootout in sight.
Around midnight we met up with Fitch
in the parking lot of Langham Elementary
so I could tag along with him for the
rest of the shift.
After some time listening to ’80s rockn-roll
and lurking on the roads, dispatch
relayed a domestic abuse report that
needed to be checked out. Dispatch advised
officers that the suspect had displayed
a firearm and pointed at the
complainant. Upon our arrival, Fitch and
another officer located the suspect and
detained him. After receiving consent to
search the suspect’s vehicle they located
the firearm.
After investigation, it was determined
that the suspect had multiple municipal
warrants for his arrest and was subsequently
placed under arrest for the outstanding
warrants, as well as for
disorderly conduct and display of firearm
charges for terroristic threat of family
and household violence.
Later, we found ourselves back in the
station to file more paperwork and what
the officers called the downtime, between
3 a.m. and 6 a.m., where there’s usually
no calls.
During this, Steve, Fitch’s partner,
consultant and somehow his financial advisor,
had been brought up, and I was curious
about him. Fitch led us to the dark
dispatch office that was lit up by the huge
monitors covering the walls. Mesmerized
by the technology, I finally turned to see
“Steve,” a rather large plush giraffe that
was only about a foot shorter than me
hiding behind the door.
I was told he liked to intimidate the
suspects by staring at them through the
bars and even sitting with them in the
back of the cop cars.
When Fitch was a new officer, it is a
tradition with every new addition, the patrol
shift likes to find a way to harmlessly
pick on them. The joke started off where
Fitch was not allowed to call or ask
Romero questions before he had consulted
with his partner, “Steve.” One of
the dispatchers decided to bring a giraffe
plushie from home to the station which
brought the joke to life.
I tagged along with two officers dragging
Steve with me everywhere we went.
Fitch asked if I wanted to sneak up on
Sergeant Andrew Dupuis who was walking
around the fair as night security.
Officer Fitch drove while Steve and I
were Tetris blocks cramped in the passenger
seat, cruising silently in the car
through the desolate fair in between rides
and funhouses that felt eerily similar to the
last setting in Damien Leone’s “Terrifier
2.” I could only picture us as bad little kids
trespassing trying to sneak up on their
friend rather than peace officers on duty.
Steve the giraffe sits in the passenger seat of the squad car.
PAGE 24 • SUMMER 2026
Photo by Emily Flores
UPbeat

Photo by Emily Flores
Officer Fitch and Sergeant Romero stand next to an array of police equipment that might be utilized during a night on
the job.
Sergeant Dupuis quickly ended the
mission as he called Fitch and said he
saw us.
Between Dupuis and Fitch talking
and heading back to the station, the
town becomes quiet once again, leaving
officers the finalize paperwork
while I practice complex limits for
my upcoming calculus exam.
We ended the shift with the day
and night officers conversing at a
quarter before six in the morning to
signal shift changed. By now I was
surprised I had managed to go without
sleep for 24 hours, but my body
felt withdrawals as my eyes were
strained, my head felt light and my
stomach growled for food after only
surviving off Whataburger fries for
hours.
There are times, I’m sure, when
the NPD officers face real hazards
and threats to their lives. While that
may make for good television, I was
secretly quite pleased that my time
on the night shift had been relatively
quiet. And Steve agreed.
UPbeat
SUMMER 2026 • PAGE 25

DISHMAN
ART
MUSEUM
MUSEUM HOURS:
MONDAY - FRIDAY
9 AM - 4 PM
SATURDAY
12 PM - 4 PM
WE ARE FREE
AND OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC!
PAGE 26 • SUMMER 2026
UPbeat