If the eyes are the window into our soul, then a faculty member’s door may be the opening into their reality.

Some doors are used as political walls to express opinions. Others post events to keep students informed. A couple of clever quotes cover the rest. Seven doors, however, required special attention.

One of the doors is located in the Faculty Office Building, Room 116. The door, which demands reading all the quotes,comics and

articles, belongs to Bob Richmond, Assistant Professor of English. Three-fourths of the door is plastered with articles and comics

Richmond’s door has an ironic comic with two devils trying to inflict punishment on a happy worker. Grammar-related comics are also scattered throughout the door.

“Offices, I think do reflect, as do doors, the person inside,” said Richmond. “The person who occupies the space. So I want my spaces a little messy, but it’s comfortable.”

Down Richmond’s hall, the other doors had an average amount displayed, except for the one that belongs to Alfredo Gil Alvarez Jr.,Assistant Professor of Mathematics in FOB, Room 126.

Alvarez’s door had gigabytes of mathematical information arranged in interesting scenarios. The mathematical problems Alvarez presents are embedded in real-life problems. The outer lining of the door is completely laced with assignments and practice finals for students in his courses.

In his office, a mountain of boxes blocks visitors into following a slanted path, which leads to his seat. Everything he needs is within arm’s reach.

Further down the hall from Alvarez in the FOB, Room 133, was a door without quotes or articles, but its art told a thousand stories. This door belongs to Ellen Shull, Professor of English.
Most of the art and photos on her door are Hallmark-sized. Shull gets her art from brochures and magazines.

On her door, you will find a variety of pictures from the Virgin of Guadalupe to detailed finger paintings. A Japanese picture and a futuristic city can also be found in the mix. A photograph of flowers from New Mexico is on her door, along with a particular photo that sparked some keen attention.

“When I Turned Around,” by Cecilia Michelon is the photo, and it was on the cover of an English journal.

A building away, in General Education, Room 241, the next door to visit belonged to Karen Marcotte, Professor of Humanities/IDST.

Marcotte’s door is filled with items from a variety of newspapers and comics that disturb or interest her. She copies and blows up many tidbits on her door. There is a quirky comic about Mad Cow Disease. Motivational quotes are also scattered on her door.

In Marcotte’s office, the most interesting thing is a sticker labeled ‘Eracism.’ Eracism is an organization in New Orleans founded by women who helped bring tranquility to a mixed ethnicity problem through drug awareness and literacy programs.

On the other side of campus in the Social Science Building, Room 117, there is a door that belongs to Norman “Louie” Armstrong, Instructor of History.

Armstrong’s door has two sheets that are devoted to famous quotes from former Presidents and First Ladies. Pictures and articles of Willie Mayes are also there. Quotes and a humorous day-to-day philosophy are on his door. Pictures and articles of the Kennedy family also are on his door.

Armstrong also lives and dies by this quote, “I don’t believe in miracles…I rely on them.”

Further down the hallway, Room 123, is Peter Myers, Assistant Professor of History, who has a disturbing picture of a World War I veteran displayed.

The veteran has most of his face blown off. Another image of the same man is positioned above it, and it shows a skillfully made face covering the disfigurement. There are also some political comics that express what war is really about and who we should really fear. A Statue of Liberty crayon drawing done by Myers’ children is also on the door.

Myers put a picture of Emma Tenayuca on his door to raise awareness of San Antonio’s less mainstream heroes.

“She led a pecan shelling strike here in 1938,” said Myers. “She organized the Latinos and Latinas of San Antonio--the Mexican-Americans and many of them first generation Mexicans against the unfair labor conditions that they had to face in shelling pecans.”

In the Applied Science Building, Room 114, there is a door completely cluttered with crayon drawings that belongs to Linda Ibarra-Gonzales, Instructor of Biology.

Ibarra’s door has drawings from her children all over the door. There are all sorts of crayon pictures on different types of worksheets scattered arbitrarily on the door.

She uses her children’s drawings as strength. “There’s a lot of stuff here,” said Ibarra. “I like my daughter’s work: ‘I miss my mom. I love my mom.’ Those things mean a lot because I’m a working mother, and it’s a struggle every day of my life.”

These faculty members’ doors are windows into who they are. They show passersby their philosophies, interests, information, humor and motivation. Take a tour around campus and enjoy them for yourself.