an email

Dear University of Texas Development Department,

I write this email with some hesitation. I am a very proud University of Texas Graduate. I treasure the time I had there, the friends I made, the many things I learned, and the experiences gained from being a student of such a great University. That is why this email has been hard to write.

I completely support the new Campaign that is currently taking place, however, I do not, in any way, support the harassment that I have experienced for the past two weeks.

I received a phone call a couple of weeks ago from the number 512.475.7371. They asked for money for University of Texas programs, I kindly replied that I am not in a position to that right now and it was left at that. I received a call from that number the next night and almost daily since. I have not answered since the first night.

After doing some research as to where exactly this number is coming from (perhaps not from the Campaign, but I assume it is because of the timing) I have found forums where person after person has posted how irritated they are with the persistent phoning night after night, sometimes well into the evening (some calls come in around 8:45 PM). I am obviously not the only one being harassed.

This is not the best strategy to get money that people want to give. Perhaps the strategy is to harass those of us low on the totum pole until we give you the $20 we have left each month after paying the government back for the years spent at UT? If so, it might just work. I can't imagine your high end donors are getting these calls night after night.

I just ask for an explanation as to why they come in time and time again. As a former employee of another University's development department, I'm a bit dumbfounded as to how this system could possibly work.

Thank you,

Erin Jepson
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Class of 2004

For you Texas Fans...

I made this necklace, just for you Longhorn fans out there.

Soon to be found in my Etsy shop. And for those of you who root for a team a bit more local to where I am, once I find supplies, you'll have your necklace too.

In Preperation

I received good news from one of my best friends yesterday. My roommate from college, Barbara, will be coming up in September to watch the Texas vs. Arkansas game right here in Fayetteville. They are playing in Austin, but getting tickets to that game is impossible so I convinced her to come wear some Texas gear here in the Ozarks and help me root for our team.

That is when the panic set in. I don't have any Longhorn shirts that were not from my time in Austin. They are old, some have holes, and most have stains. Thankfully, the University Co-op makes it easy to do a bit of shopping online and new shirts were purchased. Crisis avoided. This is one of the two I bought -

The other one is navy blue, which looks super with burnt orange. I cannot wait for game day on Sept. 14. Hook 'em Horns!