The
For a look at Tiger basketball recruiting, see page 4
DAILY
Thursday 10.31.13
HELMSMAN
Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Memphis
Vol. 81 No. 038
www.dailyhelmsman.com
U of M set to host national research conference in 2017 By Patrick Lantrip
news@dailyhelmsman.com The National Conference on Undergraduate Research, NCUR, recently chose the University of Memphis to host its annual conference in 2017. NCUR, an organization dedicated to promoting undergradu-
ate research, scholarship and creative activity in all fields, selects a host university every year to hold the annual conference. “It’s a tremendous honor to have been selected,” said Shannon Blanton, vice provost for Undergraduate Programs. “I’m excited about the wonderful opportunity this provides to sup-
port and promote undergraduate research, both on our campus and across the county.” The conference is expected to bring several thousand students and their faculty mentors to campus and will allow participating students an opportunity to showcase their research in a professional setting.
While most academic conferences tend to focus on one field, NCUR allows students from all disciplines to submit their research from biomedical engineering, to creative and preforming arts, to social science and almost every field inbetween.
see RESEARCH on page 2
Students prepare for a spooky evening
PHOTO BY JONATHAN CAPRIEL | STAFF
Mason McGrew inspects the decorations for the Sigma Phi Epsilon haunted house. The fraternity is one of several groups at the University of Memphis hosting Halloween activities this year.
By Samuel Prager
news@dailyhelmsman.com All around Memphis, houses are decorated with orangetinged lights and draped with cobwebs. This year, the University of Memphis will be home to an array of Halloweenthemed events. One of the festivities hosted for this year’s Halloween celebration is the Memphis Role
Players Association’s Halloween party on Thursday evening. Chase Jones, vice president and a founder of the association, said the group enjoys playing various games, ranging from board games to tabletop games. “We play a lot of board games at our meetings, and people will talk about their own personal events that they are hosting,” Jones said. “For example, every Tuesday I have a group of friends
The Daily Helmsman is a “designated public forum.” Students have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The Daily Helmsman is pleased to make a maximum of 10 copies of each issue available to a reader for free. Additional copies are $1. Partial printing and distribution costs are provided by an allocation from the Student Activity Fee.
who get together and play a different game every week.” The group will host the Halloween party in the Shelby Room of the University Center at 6:30 p.m. and will be free to the public. “The Halloween party will have a lot of board games, including a few Halloween- and horror-themed board games,” Jones said. “There will also be small costume contests and pos-
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sibly a very small raffle. We’ll have food, drinks, a few prizes and a lot of games.” The organization owns more than $1,000 worth of board games, some specific games worth more than $100, ranging from popular games such as Monopoly to more specialized ones like the German game Ticket to Ride.
index
see SPOOKY on page 2 Tiger Tales
3 Sports
Iverson to sit out season opener By Meagan Nichols
sports@dailyhelmsman.com The NCAA suspended freshman Kuran Iverson for the season opening game against Austin Peay for a violation of the association’s rules. The four-star forward/guard, who ranked No. 89 in the country by ESPN for the 2013 recruiting class, played in an unauthorized summer league game in Hartford, Conn. this August. NCAA rules allow players to participate in summer leagues in either their home area or close to where they attend school, but not both. Iverson, a Connecticut native, did not request permission to play in the Hartford game. He had previously participated in the Bluff City Classic, which is a multi-week basketball series held in Memphis each summer. “All Division I players must limit their competition to one team in one league. If a studentathlete participates in a two-day activity those student-athletes cannot participate in any other organized basketball activity for the duration of the summer,” states the NCAA summer 2013 men’s certified basketball league. Men’s head basketball coach Josh Pastner said the University discovered Iverson’s violation a few months ago and immediately self-reported it to the NCAA. “I found out one evening, and we reported it the next morning,” Pastner said. “The NCAA ruled it a one for one (one game suspension for one game illegally played).” Pastner said Iverson was unaware he had done anything wrong. “Seventy-five percent to 80 percent of my job is spent on compliance, but this is college athletics and things happen, but this is a very, very minor issue,”
see IVERSON on page 3 4
2 • Thursday, October 31, 2013
The
www.dailyhelmsman.com
D AILY
H ELMSMAN Volume 81 Number 38
Editor-in-Chief Lisa Elaine Babb Managing Editor L. Taylor Smith Design Editors Faith Roane Hannah Verret Sports Editor Meagan Nichols General Manager Candy Justice Advertising Manager Bob Willis Administrative Sales Sharon Whitaker Advertising Production John Stevenson Advertising Sales Robyn Nickell Christopher Darling Contact Information news@dailyhelmsman.com Advertising: (901) 6 78-2191 Newsroom: (901) 678-2193 The University of Memphis The Daily Helmsman 113 Meeman Journalism Building Memphis, TN 38152
Research Page 1
Melinda Jones, director of the Helen Hardin Honors Program, said hosting the conference gives the U of M an opportunity to showcase the campus to students and faculty around the United States. “The NCUR is the largest undergraduate research conference in the United States. More than 3,500 students, faculty, and administrators gather to celebrate undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in all fields of study,” Jones said. The University submitted the bid to host in August. “It was a rather serious process,” Blanton said. “We initially submitted a letter of interest this past March and were then invited by the Council on Undergraduate Research to submit a formal proposal.” In the proposal, the Undergraduate Research Committee included a description of what the University and Memphis as a whole have to offer — including facilities, transportation and accommodation
Solutions on page 4
DOMINO’S PIZZA Across 1 Saw point 6 Etching fluid 10 Touches affectionately 14 Prenatal exam, for short 15 Body part that smells 16 Jump in a skater’s short program 17 Legend with an ax 19 Actress Hayworth 20 Dinner pair? 21 Like cough syrup 22 Indigenous New Zealander 23 Legend with a clarinet 26 Alcove 29 Not at all well-done 30 “Let’s Get __”: Marvin Gaye hit 31 Udder parts 33 Jamaican genre 36 Legend with a vine 40 Animal on Michigan’s state flag 41 Coffee shop cupful 42 Fishing tool 43 “Your Majesty” 44 It includes a bit of France 46 Legend with a bat 51 Betting every last chip 52 Hat-borne parasites 53 Toward the rudder 56 Charlatan, e.g. 57 Legend with a bathrobe 60 Sour 61 Actor Morales 62 Dutch pianist Egon who taught Victor Borge 63 Lime beverages 64 Holiday song 65 Important word for 17-, 23-, 36-, 46- and 57-Across Down 1 Packer’s need 2 Arab League member 3 Burden 4 Up to, briefly 5 Bindle carriers 6 Former U.N. chief 7 How some flirt 8 Life-cabaret link
plans and potential excursions — with support letters from Mayor Wharton, interim President Martin and the Faculty Senate. The Council of Undergraduate Research, a national organization composed of both individuals and institutions that represents more than 900 colleges and universities, sponsors NCUR. A group of chemists from a liberal arts college who wanted to share information about research founded the council in 1978. The mission statement of the council is to support and promote highquality undergraduate studentfaculty collaborative research and scholarship. In addition to enhancing research opportunities for students, the Council of Undergraduate Research also supports faculty development and helps university faculty members assess and improve research environment at their institutions. “This is quite an honor, and we look forward to providing a wonderful conference experience that will support and promote undergraduate research,” Blanton said.
550 S. HIGHLAND
9 Place to relax 10 Where to see floats 11 Self-evident truth 12 Flashy tank swimmer 13 Like many characters in Shakespeare’s dramas 18 Catering hall dispensers 22 Dashing inventor? 23 1885 Motorwagen maker 24 Reduce to small pieces 25 Inauguration Day pledge 26 Customary observance 27 Reference list abbr. 28 Bulletin board material 31 Icon on a pole 32 Immature newt 33 Goad 34 “Felicity” star Russell 35 Like the Flying Dutchman 37 “In space no one can hear you
323-3030
scream” film 38 Not, quaintly 39 On the safer side 43 Bypasses 44 Chickenpox symptom 45 Expletive replacements 46 Sicily neighbor 47 Epic that ends with Hector’s funeral 48 County on the River Shannon 49 Pond plants 50 Zero, to Nero 53 Prefix with war or hero 54 Forest floor flora 55 High school math class 57 Feathery layer 58 Club for GIs 59 “... but __ are chosen”
Spooky Page 1
“People who live on campus and in the city might not have something to do on Halloween, so we wanted to provide something that is safe, fun and that you will enjoy for Halloween. It’s all-inclusive, so anyone came come for free to hangout, play some games and eat some food, “ Jones said. “I’ve never seen someone have a bad time at our meetings, and it’s going to be scary how good our party is.” Another campus-based festivity on Halloween night is the 15th annual Sig Ep Haunted House hosted by the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. “We converted our fraternity house into a haunted house. Basically, we have the whole ground floor divided into six different rooms where different sororities will have free reign on what they want to do with the
room,” Eric Bourgeois, vice president of the fraternity, said. Along with the members of Sig Ep, several sororities from the U of M are also helping the fraternity set up for the annual celebration, which is a part of the organization’s philanthropy project. “In our backyard, our new guys, the Sigmas or pledges, have built basically a barn, enclosed and pitch black, which will be their own room, and will be the scariest and last room in the haunted house,” Bourgeois said. “Lambda Chi also decorated a room in the house this year.” The haunted house, which started Wednesday night, will last from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. Anyone, regardless of U of M affiliation, is allowed to attend. “We will have people coming in from all over the Memphis
see HAUNTED on page 3
The University of Memphis
Thursday, October 31, 2013 • 3
Tigers’ Ta es “I’m making my own Han Solo costume.”
Amy Tanner, Undecided freshman
“My friends and I are going to be classic horror movies. I am going to be Jason.” Isaac Erickson, Communication sophomore
“I’m going to be a 20’s flapper, because they were slutty and fun.”
Diana Perez, Undecided junior
What are you going to be for Halloween? By Jonathan A. Capriel
“I want to be a hot Catwoman with 12 inch heels.” Yazmeen Garcia, Fashion merchandising freshman
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“Miley Cyrus. I’m going to twerk it.”
Chandler Davis, Political science senior
Haunted Page 2
area, not just Greeks and not strictly U of M students — this is for everyone. We have radio spots going and ads in most of the city’s publications,” Bourgeois said. All proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. With sponsor proceeds alone, the fraternity has raised more than $2,500 for the organization. “This is an opportunity to bring everyone together. People usually rally around these causes where a fraternity or sorority puts on something fun and for a good cause,” Bourgeois said. “This haunted house is benefitting underprivileged kids that don’t have the amenities that we take for granted.”
Iverson Page 1
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Pastner said. Iverson will be allowed to play in the exhibition game against Christian Brothers University at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the FedExForum. The 2013-14 season opener against Austin Peay is slated for 7 p.m. at the FedExForum on Nov.14. “We want everyone to be able to be suited up, but it’s a rule and we have to follow it,” Pastner said. “We respect all rules by the NCAA.”
FALL FALL SPECIAL SPECIAL $125 $125
4 • Thursday, October 31, 2013
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Sports
Tigers’ success founded in recruiting
By Patrick Lantrip
news@dailyhelmsman.com After posting two top-five recruiting classes in the past four years, the University of Memphis men’s basketball team is poised to make some noise in the newly formed American Athletic Conference. The competition level in the nascent conference will be significantly higher than that of its previous home in Conference USA, but the 2013-14 season has the potential to be special. Led by a quartet of senior guards in Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Geron Johnson and Michael Dixon Jr., the Tigers possess a deep roster with what some have called the best backcourt in the country. Combined with a loaded 2013 recruiting class, Memphis hopes it has the right blend of senior leadership and impact freshmen to keep playing well into March, and perhaps longer. Jackson and Crawford were both members of the highly touted 2010 recruiting class — head coach Josh Pastner’s first — which was ranked fourth overall by ESPN.com at the time. This year’s class brings even more praise. The third-ranked Tigers were only behind the No. 2 ranked Kansas class, featuring Andrew Wiggins, who is generally considered to be the most anticipated prospect since LeBron James, and a Kentucky squad that Dave Telep from RecruitingNation called the best recruiting class since Michigan’s 1991-92 “Fab Five” team. Five-star recruit and local, Austin Nichols, who was ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect on ESPN’s Top 100, highlights the Tigers’ 2013 class. In addition to Nichols, the Tigers also bring in four other members of the ESPN 100 list in four-star recruits Kuran Iverson, ranked No. 33 overall, Nick King, ranked No. 37, Dominic Woodson, No. 90, and Rashawn Powell, No. 95. Rounding out the class is another local, Markel Crawford, listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN but considered a
Solutions
four-star recruit by Rivals.com Aki Collins, an assistant coach for the U of M men’s basketball team, cited a supportive fan base as one of the reasons the Tigers continue to draw top prospects. “There are very few places in the country where the fans are so in tune with what’s going on with the program,” Collins said. “There are only four or five places in the country that can rival the University of Memphis in terms of support.” Collins came to Memphis via Marquette last year and helped land several key pieces of the 2013 class. He said character is important in choosing which prospects to target. “It’s important to identify young men that not only can play at a high level, but also represent the University and the city as a whole,” Collins said. “You want to make sure the guys you have in your program represent the characteristics and values that head coach Pastner has.” However, all good things must come to an end, and all classes, no matter how great, cannot play at U of M forever. “After this year, we lose four
PHOTO BY DAVID C. MINKIN | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY HELMSMAN
The University of Memphis men’s basketball team’s season opener is scheduled for Nov. 14 against Austin Peay. On Wednesday, the team announced Tiger freshman Kuran Iverson will be suspended for the game for a minor NCAA violation. senior guards and David Pellom, so we have five scholarships to give,” Collins said. “We would like to get some backcourt help and maybe get
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one or two guys in the frontcourt.” So far, the Tigers have received commitments from four-star point guard Dominic Magee, No. 71 on
the ESPN 100 for the class of 2014, and five-star small forward K.J. Lawson, ranked No. 21 in the class of 2015.
Student Event Allocation Proposal Packets are Available! Student Event Allocation is a program that allows Registered Student Organizations to submit proposals for events and programs such as speakers, lectures, dance performances, etc. Proposals are submitted a semester in advance of the proposed program—the committee will hear proposals for Spring 2014 programs this semester.
Proposal Checklist: Proposal Packets Available:
Now through Friday, November 1st in UC 211 or online:
www.memphis.edu/student_leadership/eventallocation.htm
Attend a Proposal Training Session*:
Thur., October 10 @ 3pm [UC Memphis Rm. A] or Fri., October 11 @ 11:00am [UC Senate Chamber]
*Not mandatory but HIGHLY recommended
Submit a Proposal Packet:
by Fri. November 1 @ 4:30 PM [UC 211] No late packets accepted
Schedule a Pre-Hearing
to discuss your proposal:
November 4-8 [by appointment]
Proposal Hearings:
November 11, 18, & 25 [by appointment]
Questions? Contact Angie Norwood: ardunlap@memphis.edu