Wrist injury hampers A.J. Lawson as he adjusts to new role PAGE 7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
VOL. 112 No. 1
NTDAILY.COM
Democrats debate for TX-26 seat By Lizzy Spangler @LizzySpangler Democratic candidates for the TX-26th congressional seat Will Fisher and Linsey Fagan discussed health care, impeachment, higher education and Democrat disillusionment in a debate hosted Saturday at UNT. The debate, held in the Lyceum theater and moderated by WFAA’s Jason Whitely, featured the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent representative and Republican Will Fisher Michael Burgess. The Denton County Democratic Party and UNT’s College Democrats hosted the event. Among the attendees of the debate was Texas House District Linsey Fagan 64 state representative candidate Andrew Morris, who came to support the Democratic party and prepare for his own debate on Jan. 25. The debate began with a question on how each candidate would vote if the Articles of Impeachment were brought to the floor of the House. Both candidates agreed that Trump has done impeachable things, with neither giving a definite answer as to how they would vote. “Impeachment should not be taken lightly,” Fisher said. “What I can promise is that as with any decision, I will review all of the facts and information in front of me, particularly the results of the Mueller investigation, and make a decision based on what I feel is best for the country.” Fagan spoke about Republicans choosing Trump and what she considered turning a blind eye to what Trump does. “I think it sets a dangerous precedent, working to impeach him as a Democrat because then what’s to say that when Democrats get a president in office, that Republicans aren’t going to do the same thing?” Fagan said.
SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 3
Communication design students bounce back after program rejections
DENTON’S OWN ‘INK MASTER’ Local artist Deanna Smith makes Denton proud in journey to try to become an ‘Ink Master’ By Anna Orr @AnnaMOrr97 When Deanna Smith walked into Dark Age Tattoo shop, she captured the attention of the room immediately. With her blazing red hair and intricate tattoos, she’s hard to miss. The 25-year-old has been the center of attention in Denton since her appearance as a contestant on season 10 of “Ink Master.” Smith earned herself the position on the show after winning “Ink Master: Angels,” a spin-off of “Ink Master.” With a win on Angels, she was automatically guaranteed a spot to compete in season 10. “‘Ink Angels’ gave me a tiny taste of
the show since it forced me to be more comfortable around cameras,” Deanna said. “It definitely prepared me a little bit, but not as much as I would’ve liked because on ‘Ink Master’ it’s almost like there’s a whole other rule book.” Deanna’s position on “Ink Master” is rightly earned and came after years of hard work and trying to perfect her craft. Her relationship with tattooing began when she was still a high school student attending the well-respected Booker T. Washington for studio and visual art in Dallas. Phyllis Smith, Deanna’s mother, said after watching her daughter craft impeccable
SEE PROGRAM ON PAGE 4
Design freshman Tatum Doherty was not accepted into the communication design program in the College of Visual Arts and Design when she applied last fall. Since being rejected, Doherty has changed her major and found new routes for pursuing her interests. Sara Carpenter
NEWS
Bottom: Deanna Smith is a tattoo artist who works at Dark Age Tattoo Studio in Denton. Smith is a contestant on the current season of “Ink Master.” Jake King
SEE INK MASTER ON PAGE 5
By Rachel Linch @rachel_linch At the end of every fall semester, close to 200 pre-communication design students put their art to the test to see if they have what it takes to continue in the competitive UNT program. For many, however, the path toward a career in communication design is cut short. In fall 2017, 180 hopeful students went in, but only 84 remained in the program during finals week. It’s a monumental week for those who do make it, but for the other 96, the week signifies something different. Though the elimination process might seem harsh from an outsider’s perspective, it’s an important aspect of the program. “UNT has long emphasized quality over quantity,” Clinton Carlson, UNT communication design undergraduate program coordinator, said. “We want a select number of dedicated students who are serious about a career in design.” As a byproduct of the competitive process, UNT’s program is ranked the No. 1 graphic design
Top: Deanna Smith tattoos a woman at the nape of her neck. Jake King
Campus construction: a guide to ongoing projects By Jackie Guerrero @gagaart1 As the new semester begins, UNT is in the midst of multiple ongoing construction projects and renovations on campus. Some projects create obstructions for pedestrian walkways and streets, and include building additions and road reconstruction. Here’s the breakdown:
Athletic Facilities Track and Field complex The new track and field complex has been under construction since October 2017 and is set to be completed by late July 2018. The new complex is being built south of the Warranch Tennis complex, located at 1499 south Bonnie Brae St. The sidewalks along the site will be blocked to pedestrian traffic.
SEE CONSTRUCTION ON PAGE 2
Tractors and other construction vehicles sit unused at a UNT construction site. Garen Powers
Bradley, Smart honored with C-USA Player of the Week awards By Matthew Brune @mattbrune25 The leading scorers on both the men’s and women’s basketball teams have been rewarded for their standout scoring last week, earning Conference USA Player of the Week honors. For the women, junior guard Terriell Bradley averaged 22.5 points per game in her two games last week. She led the team to two home wins over Old Dominion University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition to her 22.5 points, Bradley averaged 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 7-of-12 from 3-point range and 12-of-21 from the field. This is Bradley’s first career player of the week award despite leading the team in scoring for the past season and a half. The Mean Green are now 11-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play with a twogame road trip coming up. On the men’s side, sophomore Roosevelt Smart only played in one game last week, but it was the
Man killed while crossing I-35 pg 3 Danny Walton, 29, was killed Monday night after a vehicle traveling north on I-35E struck Walton while he was crossing the highway near exit 462.
best shooting performance in North Texas history. Smart made a school record 10 3-pointers on 17 attempts and scored the fifth-most points in school history with 42. The Mean Green needed all 42 points as they defeated Rice University 85-78 Saturday afternoon on the road. The Mean Green are now 10-8 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Smart also grabbed seven rebounds and was 10of-12 from the free throw line. The driving ability of the Mean Green guards gave Smart just enough room to fire away, and this was one of those games where he just could not seem to miss. Smart is now shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range and nearly 89 percent from the charity stripe this season. This marks Smart’s second player of the week award with the last one coming just two weeks ago. The sophomore sharpshooter is starting to gain more recognition for his play in the conference as North Texas gets into the thick of C-USA play.
IN THIS ISSUE
ARTS & LIFE
An old basement for a new generation pg 4 After 16 months, shows started again at the Dirty Ol’ Basement at J&J’s Pizza on the Square. The all-ages music venue opened back up as a space for new artists and bands.
SPORTS
North Texas sophomore guard Roosevelt Smart (3) drives the ball up the court against Old Dominion. The Mean Green finished the game behind 63-60 on Jan. 6. Courtesy | Rick Yeatts Photography/ Colin Mitchell
‘Manager Games’ offer basketball support staff an outlet on the court pg 6 While these former college basketball players do the majority of their work behind the scenes, this underground league gives them a chance to get back onto the court.
OPINION
Why Oprah should (or shouldn’t) be president pg 8 In the aftermath of the current presidency and the wake of celebrity mock campaigns, one has to wonder whether electing another celebrity in office would be beneficial or detrimental.
NEWS Page 2
North Texas Daily Editorial Board
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
NTDAILY.COM
Denton celebrates MLK Day
Editor-in-Chief Kayleigh Bywater @kayleighbywater Kayleigh.Bywater@unt.edu Managing Editor Kayla Davis @kaylajeann19 KaylaDavis@my.unt.edu News Editor Sarah Sarder @sarderrr Sarah.Sarder@unt.edu Arts & Life Editor Alec Spicer @Spicer_Alec AlecSpicer@my.unt.edu
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha perform a dance at the MLK Jr. Rec Center before giving a presentation about Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and history. Mallory Cammarata
(TOP) People held signs at the Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative march. The march was organized by fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. (BOTTOM) The Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative march continued through town as marchers made their way towards the MLK Jr. Rec Center. Mallory Cammarata
Sports Editor Brady Keane @BradyKeane BradyKeane@my.unt.edu Deputy Sports Editor Matthew Brune @mattbrune25 MatthewBrune@my.unt.edu Opinion Editor Nina Quatrino @ninaquatrino ninaquatrino@my.unt.edu
Members of fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha link arms and walk through town during the Martin Luther King Jr. march. Mallory Cammarata
Participants of the march held signs as they walked from the University Union to the MLK Jr. Rec Center. Mallory Cammarata
Bob Brown assumes interim CFO position
Visuals Editor Jake King @King_Jake1st JakeKing@my.unt.edu
By Ta’Corian Tilley @datboytilley
Production Team Design Editor Kelly Fox @kellythefox1 KellyFox2@my.unt.edu Designer/Copy Editor Marshall Cearfoss @JustMarshalling MarshallCearfoss@my.unt.edu Designer/Copy Editor Kaitlin Pennell @k_itlinn KaitlinPennell@my.unt.edu Designer/Copy Editor Kiera Geils @KieraGeils KieraGeils@my.unt.edu Social Media Manager Kenli Gunter @kenliiiii KenliGunter@my.unt.edu Illustrator Ari Solorio @Ari_solo28 ari.solorio.28@gmail.com
Business Director Adam Reese 940-565-4265 Adam.Reese@unt.edu
Faculty Adviser Gary Ghioto 940-891-6722 Gary.Ghioto@unt.edu
To pitch a story, or contact the Editor-in-Chief, please email northtexasdaily@gmail.com
A sign displays an artist’s rendition of the plans for the new building for the College of Visual Arts and Design. Garen Powers
Campus construction continues in 2018 CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Coliseum The Coliseum, known as the “Super Pit,” located on 600 Ave. D, is currently being renovated. The project started June 2017 and will be completed by April 28, 2018. The renovations include the addition of ticket booths, office space and restrooms. Residence Halls Kerr Hall The southeast section of Kerr Hall, located at 1413 Maple St., will be blocked until Feb. 26, 2018, the date the new welcome center and residence hall are set to be completed. Parking Lot 1 and grounds east of Kerr Hall are the affected areas. Matthews Hall The east side of Matthews Hall will affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic until Jan. 30, 2018, the project’s end date. The building is being sealed on the east staging side of Matthews Hall for the duration of the construction. Infrastructure Improvements Bain Hall The area between Bain Hall and Ken Bahnsen Gym, located along West Highland Street, will be blocked to pedestrian traffic due to an infrastructure upgrade. The Bain Hall infrastructure upgrade includes the replacement of sidewalks and new sewer and storm drains in the area. The project will be finished by Jan. 30, 2018. Eagle Drive The north side of Eagle Drive between Central Avenue and Avenue C is obstructing pedestrian and vehicular traffic due to the burying of overhead power lines placed by the Denton Municipal Electric. The improvements will be completed by the end of April 2018.
Bob Brown, UNT’s vice president of finance and administrative operations, took over as interim vice chancellor for finance (Chief Financial Officer) on Dec. 1, 2017, following former Chief Financial Officer Janet Waldron’s resignation. A national search is underway to find a long-term replacement, with plans to fill the position during the spring 2018 semester. UNT’s CFO is responsible for overseeing the financial obligations of the UNT System along with human resources and information technology services. As the interim CFO, Brown will be responsible for maintaining operations while the search for a new CFO continues. High-ranking members of the UNT faculty indicated their belief that the interim CFO will perform just as well as Waldron did during her tenure. “Our interim vice chancellor for finance, Brown, is a respected leader and a dedicated UNT [alumnus] — we are confident in his ability to lead our financial system,” Roe said. “Bob will have full authority of our financial system during this interim period.” Waldron was the CFO for three years before her resignation and her co-workers said she was excellent at her job. “Janet was wonderful to work with and had really great experience that she accumulated over the years while working for the University of Maine,” UNT System spokesperson Paul Corliss said. “She was the head of finance for both the University of Maine and the chief financial officer for the state of Maine at one point in her career. She had wonderful experience, and on top of
Bob Brown. Courtesy | UNT having that experience and being qualified, she was a really wonderful teammate and a good person to work with.” Waldron resigned in late December with plans to return to Maine and be with her family. While Brown maintains the position, a national search is taking place to find someone to control operations in the long run. The UNT System partnered with the consulting firm Wheless Partners to ensure a qualified candidate will take over the position. Though no names of potential hires have been released, Corliss said the search is going extremely well. “We feel very good about the search and its progress,” Corliss said. “We look forward to likely filling the position sometime later this spring.”
Oak Street The Klein Patio on Oak Street is undergoing a gas piping and electrical systems upgrade. The project started in November 2017 and will be completed by Jan. 30, 2018. Pedestrian traffic in the patio area will be blocked for the duration of the project upgrade. CVAD Parking Lot 50 and the adjacent sidewalks will be blocked due to the new College of Visual Arts and Design building and design addition. This project is taking place along the east side of the art building at 1201 West Mulberry St. The new building and design addition is set to be completed by late October 2018 and has been in the works since January 2017.
Bob Brown, left, speaks with Charla Friday. Courtesy | UNT
NEWS AROUND CAMPUS Online graduate education program ranked among best in the nation
College of Music performance of “Ray of Light” to be held in Dallas
Doctoral music student receives funds to research mariachi in Mexico
UNT College of Music to offer the world’s first doctoral degree in performing arts health
UNT’s online graduate education program is ranked No. 4 out of 275 schools in the nation by the U.S. News & World Reports. Last year the university ranked at No. 16, jumping 11 spots up since. “We’re trying to close the distance between research-based knowledge and educational practice,” said Randy Bomer, dean of the College of Education. “It’s so gratifying that our outstanding faculty’s work is receiving this kind of acclaim across the nation.”
The College of Music will perform “Ray of Light” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at the Moody Performance Hall located at 2520 Flora St. in Dallas. The event will cost $10 for the general public, $8 for UNT faculty, staff and alumni members and is free for current UNT students. Tickets can be purchased at the Murchison Performing Arts Center online or by calling the box office at 940-369-7802.
UNT College of Music doctoral student José R. Torres-Ramos received the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship, allowing him to study mariachi in Mexico for a year. TorresRamos is currently the first and only UNT Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology field to earn this honor. He wants to explore the culture while doing research at institutions in Mexico City and Guadalajara to determine how the relationship between mariachi music and body language intertwine and how masculinity factors into the performance.
Starting in fall 2018 the College of Music will offer the world’s first Ph.D. in music with a concentration in performing arts health. The purpose of the doctoral degree is to educate and give awareness to musicians on how to protect their bodies, said Kourtney Austin, teaching fellow in performing arts health. “In the case of vocalists, they need to know how to prevent overuse, misuse and abuse of their voices,” Austin said. “Instrumentalists need to learn the proper ways to hold their instruments to prevent potentially careerending injuries.”
By Jackie Guerrero
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
Fundraiser supports downtown after mini mall fire By Devin Rardin @DevinRardin Two Brave Boys, a weekly comedy broadcast, hosted a comedy show fundraiser Tuesday night at Dan’s SilverLeaf to benefit the Locust Street apartments damaged by the Downtown Mini Mall fire. Six local comedians performed, accepting donations from guests to help cover any damages the apartment complexes cannot pay for. The comedy show was part of the four-alarm fundraiser week, a series of benefit shows that will help Locust Street after the Downtown Mini Mall fire. The shows are organized by Deep Wax Productions, an executive production company that sponsors local artists including Two Brave Boys. Each show will benefit different groups affected by the fire and all proceeds will go toward those groups. Guests are encouraged to donate anything they can when they enter the different venues.
Downtown Mini Mall Courtesy Jake King/DRC
“All the comedians in Denton came together to put these shows on,” Mark Zimmerman, CEO of Deep Wax Productions, said. “We have to do something. We have to step up and do something to help the community when it’s in need.” The shows on Monday through Wednesday featured performances by Denton comedians. The Bearded Monk, a bar on the Square, hosted performances by local musicians on Thursday night and the final show Friday was a variety ball with magic, comedy and musical performances. The final show starts at 8 p.m. Friday at Andy’s Bar on the Square, just down the street from the Downtown Mini Mall. “It shows that something can happen and the community can organize to try to help it,” said Taylor Higginbotham, member of Two Brave Boys. “It’s almost like an unspoken safety net for when something bad happens.” The show on Wednesday benefitted La Di Da, a women’s clothing store which suffered damages from the fire. The Thursday show benefitted Jupiter House, a neighboring coffee shop which was also damaged. The donations from the variety ball will go towards the vendors for the Mini Mall. The Downtown Mini Mall caught fire on the morning of Dec. 26, leaving the 37-year-old antique store destroyed. Jessica Rogers, city of Denton public information officer, said the building is back under control of the property owner, Leo Will. At this point, the city is in charge of the fire investigation and inspecting the structural integrity of the building. The cost of damages and origin of the fire is unknown. “Our fire marshal’s office is still investigating the cause of the fire,” Rogers said. The four-alarm fire also destroyed most of the inventory at La Di Da and Shop the Barn, a furniture store on Locust Street. Jupiter House may not be safe for occupation and some employees have started looking for new jobs.
Comedian Josh Johnson performs his stand-up set on Jan. 9 at Dan’s SilverLeaf in Denton. The night of comedy helped raise money for those impacted by the fire that destroyed the Downtown Mini Mall this past December. Julian Esparza The Downtown Mini Mall 2, located two shops down from Mini Mall 1, reopened on Dec. 28, according to its Facebook page. Will’s family members have set up GoFundMe accounts that will directly support the Mini Mall building and the vendors. As of Jan. 10, donors contributed $1,900 toward the building and $280 for the vendors.
Zimmerman said the four-alarm fundraisers are important because the community took a hit from the fire. He said Denton survives because of its residents and they have to support each other. “A lot of people were affected by the fire and they are our neighbors,” Zimmerman said. “It’s our duty to help our neighbors out whenever we can. That’s what makes us people — that’s humanity.”
UNT to get first stand-alone dining hall by 2020, construction begins in August By Sean Riedel @SeanRiedel UNT will have its first stand-alone dining hall on the corner of Maple Street and Avenue A by 2020, with construction set to begin in August 2018. The plans were revealed at a UNT Board of Regents meeting in November 2017. The approximately 36,000 square foot dining facility will be able to hold 700 people, as well as have a 2,500 square foot retail dining concept. The dining hall will aim to provide a modern dining experience and increase the accessibility of freshly prepared foods. The new dining hall is set to replace the existing Kerr Hall dining facility and is part of the Maple and Avenue A-Master Plan. “We were planning on doing renovations to Kerr,” Danny Armitage, associate vice president for auxiliary services, said. “But we found it was too small and didn’t have enough space for what we needed. It made better sense to build something new instead of renovating.” The new facility will have a serving area about twice the size of Kerr’s, Armitage said. “Some of our dining halls are exceeding capacity, meaning we’ve got a lot of customers but we don’t always have the proper amount of space to serve them,” Armitage said. The facility will follow the whole foods model,
serving only fresh ingredients. James Maguire, the vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction, gave a brief presentation at the Board of Regents meeting highlighting what is currently known about the project. “The master plan calls for the intensive development of this area for housing and student life,” Maguire said. “Three projects are on the boards and just getting underway in terms of construction.” The three projects include a new 500-bed residence hall which will define the southern edge of campus and Gateway at the corner of Avenue A and Eagle Drive, a visitor’s center and the new dining facility. Forensics freshman Justice Robinson said she is happy there will be another eating option in the future. “I think the dining halls can be a little crowded, and it’s nice that we will have another facility to help the congestion in the dining halls we already have,” Robinson said. “Crowding is in every cafeteria and with a new one I won’t have to strategically plan out which one to go to.” Armitage talked about plans for the future of the space where Kerr dining is currently located. “We’re taking a look at that space to see what we can do with it,” Armitage said. “Kerr Hall is a little low on community space and student activity areas. I’m hoping we’ll be able to capture some of that space and make good use of it.” Armitage said that other possibilities for the future
Kerr Hall File of the space could be a Living Learning Community or even creating classrooms. As for the 2,500 square foot retail dining area, Armitage said the university is currently looking into national brands that will add some flare to the retail dining we already have. Some of the names being thrown around as possibilities include Panera Bread, Panda Express and Steak n’ Shake, according to Armitage.
In a search for inspiration, Armitage said the university has been looking at other dining facilities all over the country to see what new and exciting aspects can be included to make this new facility unique. “We’re somewhat challenged because the dining here is so creative already,” Armitage said. “But I think it’s going to be really exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together.”
Nominees debate topics including Franken, Trump impeachment DEBATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The College Democrats of the University of North Texas and the Denton County Democratic Party held the TX-26 Congressional Debate on January 13th. The debate was between democrats Will Fisher and Linsey Fagan. Rachel Walters
Another hot-button issue Whitely asked both candidates about was whether they thought Minnesota senator Al Franken should have resigned after sexual harassment allegations arose. Fagan spoke of a reckoning occurring for women who have been silenced then transitioned to discussing restorative justice. She repeatedly said she did not know the answer before reaching a yes-or-no response to Franken’s resignation. “I would lean yes,” Fagan said. “I think a lot of women, we’ve really just had enough, and we just want to live in an environment that we’re not in danger. I think anyone that proves to be a danger to us, maybe they do need to go.” Fisher answered the Franken question from a political perspective and spoke on the standards applied to Democrats. “As a representative, yes,” Fisher said. “I’m going to tell you, Democrats, you’re going to be held to a higher standard because what we are telling the Republicans
in Congress right now is that they’re screwing up, so we need to make sure that we are holding a high bar for ourselves and our representatives.” Fisher said Democrats can’t give Republicans the opportunity to look back and say, “Ah, you guys do it too.” Whitely asked about health care during the debate, with Will Fisher speaking about singlepayer health care, which he is a strong proponent for, and Fagan talking about making an argument to Republicans for Medicare-forall and its inevitability. A topic both candidates agreed upon was the importance of community college, brought forth by a question about the accessibility of higher education for low-income families due to rising costs. “My plan is that within the first four years after 2018, I want to see tuition-free community college,” Fisher said. “Community college has one of the highest ROIs so we need to, from a federal perspective, be funding community college degrees and
programs.” Fagan, while touching on the importance of community college, also spoke about Pell Grants and early childhood education expansion. The debate ended with each of the candidates asking the other their own question. Fagan used her question to ask what Fisher liked about her, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience, while Fisher asked her about her plan to transition to single-payer health care. English major Joseph Sweeney, who identifies as a Democrat, had seen Fagan before but was disappointed by her performance during the debate, particularly with her response regarding Franken. “I’ll support whoever wins the primary,” Sweeney said. “Vote for Fisher, but if Fagan wins, I will give her my vote.” Early voting begins Feb. 20 and continues until March 2. The primary election will take place on March 6.
Pedestrian killed on I-35 By Zaira Perez and Devin Rardin @zairalperez — @DevinRardin Danny Walton, 29, was hit by a car and killed while crossing the 4000 block of Interstate 35E late Monday night, according to a press release by the Denton Police Department. The incident took place in the northbound lane of the Interstate. Walton died on impact and the driver of a 2004 Infinity G35 lost control of the car after the collision near S. Mayhill Road. Denton PD
and fire rescue responded at about 11:30 p.m. The vehicle lost control and crossed the northbound service road before coming to a stop in front of a business on the 3900 block of S I-35E, the press release stated. The driver was taken to a hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries and was questioned by police. Police confirmed on their Twitter that the crash was not ice related and roadways were dry around the scene. The northbound lanes were shut down while the Denton Police Traffic Unit investigated the crash.
ARTS & LIFE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
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Old basement, new generation The return of J&J’s music scene brings local bands By Slade Meadows @SladeSe7ens The sound of guitars and saxophones rise through the floorboards of J&J’s Pizza on the Square for one of the first times in 16 months. In the reopened Ol’ Dirty Basement, up-and-coming bands play for a packed audience and their number one fan — a portrait of the Virgin Mary watching over a Schlitz-filled world. The Ol’ Dirty Basement, one of Denton’s best hidden gems, is a event venue which lies below J&J’s Pizza.
The basement served as one of the most notable music venues in Denton for many years before the owners of J&J’s lost ownership of the basement and were forced to close the venue in August 2016. However, the basement reopened in December 2017, once again providing a home for local performers. “We’ve been open for two weeks, and everyone seems ecstatic about it,” said Gerardo Reyes, who works booking and sound at J&J’s Pizza. “Even the grand opening show we had last Saturday was phenomenal. You could tell the energy was back — we had this place packed from side to side. It was
amazing.” After the closing of the Ol’ Dirty Basement and similar venues, such as Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, there was a sense of vacancy among the Denton music community. Many house show venues emerged in the wake of the closures, but house shows occasionally have issues with sound quality, police and neighbors. J&J’s provides a more controlled environment for the artists to perform in at no cost. “It’s just a magical place because it is a DIY place,” Reyes said. “You can put on a dream show because you don’t have to worry about any costs. We provide the
Brotherhood performs on Saturday, Jan. 13 at J&J’s Pizza’s “Dirty Old Basement,” along with a lineup of local bands. The basement often features artists such as comedians and bands. TJ Webb
J&J’s Pizza “Dirty Ol’ Basement” reopened recently after just over one year of closure. The venue is seen locally as a significant culture hub for the DIY scene. TJ Webb Madaline performs at J&J’s Pizza. J&J’s Pizza “Dirty Ol’ Basement” reopened on Saturday with a lineup of local bands. TJ Webb
sound person, we provide the space, you just have to put on the show. It’s pretty much like a house show, but in a real space.” An equal-opportunity venue One feature that makes the Ol’ Dirty Basement unique is that the venue is open to all ages. Often, many underage artists have issues finding spaces to perform in traditional venues, such as bars or house shows. Inversely, it is difficult for teenagers to attend local concerts for the same reasons. The ska band Brotherhood organized and performed a show in the basement Friday night. The band consists of siblings ranging in ages of early college and late high school, down to their 8th grade drummer. “It was a lot of hustling and making a lot of phone calls,” said George Bernard, the lead singer of Brotherhood and coordinator of the show. “It’s funny because my brother was sick one day, so he missed school, and I said, ‘Hey man, let’s go to Denton.’ We were trying to put this show together, but we still hadn’t found a place. We literally walked all over Denton, like we talked to everyone, we even talked to places that didn’t have a music venue or scene at all, but J&J’s was really cool and let us come in and play.” While J&J’s does serve alcohol, the venue is first and foremost a pizza parlor, which allows the restaurant more leeway than many of the venues in Denton. J&J’s is unique in that it provides a niche for younger performers and patrons. “It’s all ages you know,” Reyes said. “You have these kids that are like 15 being on these big shows that they have always dreamed about, but no venue will ever give them a chance to do, until they are like 23 or so.” Friday was more than just another show for another young band on the bill, however. For Super Nothing, it was nostalgic. “I’ve been to so many shows here for other bands,” said Brandon Ling, member of Super Nothing and junior at W.E. Bosworth High School. “Ever since eighth grade, my friends have played here. But performing here, it’s crazy. It’s a rush, it really is.” First impressions Considering the basement was vacant through 2017, many new UNT students are just now discovering the venue as they return to Denton after the holidays. “It’s a really cool environment to be in for sure,” said Caisa Charleston, a media arts freshman at UNT. “I’ve been trying to get out more and find different music scenes and artistic areas, and this is really nice.” Long-time employees of J&J’s are excited about the reopening of the basement, and the function that it will continue to perform for the Denton community: to provide a start-up space for new artists and a new generation. “We give a DIY space for anybody to do whatever they want with as long as it is respectful,” Reyes said. “Tonight we have punk, but tomorrow we may have hip-hop, a magic show, or we may just have somebody doing an art show with no music.” Though the Denton art community felt incomplete without it, Reyes believes the iconic venue still maintains the same spirit and mission in its new revival. “It’s really just for people in Denton to have a space where they can put on whatever they want without having to spend out-of-pocket,” Reyes said.
Keep moving forward: Graphic design students press on after rejection PROGRAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 program in the southwest by the Animation Career Review. This selection process still means rejection for those who don’t make the cut. But, for three students who received the rejection email from the program, they used it to impact their life for the better. Passion over rejection Sitting in her adviser’s office, pre-communication design freshman Tatum Doherty talked about the new possibilities that were open for her future. Majors like psychology and business were mentioned — majors that Doherty hadn’t even considered until a couple weeks ago when she received the news that she was cut. “We didn’t have class that day, so I was just hanging out, and I got the email and was like, ‘Oh no,’” Doherty said. “I was sad about it at first, and I mean, I’m still bummed about it, but it’s not the end of the world.” Not making it through the fall 2017 portfolio review was something her professors had prepared all of their students for, but it wasn’t until she read the words that it quickly became her reality. Without a backup plan, Doherty started to determine which major she should turn to next. She remembered design management, a career one of her friends was pursuing that Doherty had been somewhat interested in before she was cut from her original major. Now, a little more than a month later, Doherty has realized design management is a better fit for her than communication design would have been. “I haven’t officially changed my major yet, but I think I will do that,” Doherty said. “With a design management degree, I have the potential to be an art director, and I have always preferred that job.” Being cut from the program did unexpectedly redirect Doherty’s path, but it hasn’t changed her passion for art and the people she gets to do it with.
Through the rejection, Doherty insists she has learned that art will always be a part of her life, even if she pursues it in a different way than she expected. Now, as she looks forward to her new future pursuing her passion while looking back on her semester as a communication design hopeful, Doherty doesn’t regret time spent in classes or with professors. “They all want the best for you, but it’s good to keep in mind that they can’t take everyone, so it’s important to have an optimistic yet realistic point of view,” Doherty said. “It’s possible you could be the one to get cut and if you do, it’s going to be OK.” Your major is not your identity Taking a step back, Chase Christensen looked at the last piece of his portfolio review submission that he spent all night working on. Closing his eyes, he thought back to the moment he had decided to reapply to the communication design program. “Maybe I romanticized the idea of the program and learning the academic side of design,” Christensen said. “I just started to think a lot about the hardship of the program and about making it. I just wanted to know that I could do it.” It had been almost a year since he had opened the letter of rejection in front of his family. The first time he applied, Christensen felt a sense of being left in the dark about his work and his future in the program. This time, he would feel more confident than ever before that this program is what he was meant to do. “I think that being cut benefited me,” Christensen said. “It kind of created a trial that I had to respond to, and for me it made me realize how badly I wanted to learn design.” The work he submitted when he reapplied that December morning in 2014 was enough for him to be accepted into the program. Now, in his senior year as a communication design student, Christensen still holds on to the lessons he learned from not making it
into the program the first time around. “I think the cuts are hard, and they do make the program really good, but I think everybody has to figure out their way of doing it in a healthy way,” Christensen said. Though it was initially a tough pill for him to swallow, Chisrtensen looks at the experience as a lesson that trying is more important than the potential of being rejected. “It’s hard to see failure as part of the process, especially when you get grades for it,” Christensen said. “You have to get to a point where you’re not thinking about failing, you’re just thinking about moving forward and creating.” One door closes, another opens As she read the words on the screen, sophomore Ivy Cole felt what one would expect for not getting into the program. As she processed what this meant, she flashed through frustration, sadness and uncertainty. However, it wasn’t long before she felt an odd sense of relief wash over her as her parents reminded her of another passion of hers — interior design. It wasn’t the path she chose after transferring to UNT in the fall of 2016, but it was the one that still had its door open. “I think everything happens for a reason,” Cole said. “When I didn’t get in [communication design], it solidified my passion for interior design, which is what I’m studying now.” Like Doherty, Cole also considers her rejection from the communication design program as the decision that pushed her into what she is really supposed to be doing for the rest of her life. “I feel like this decision kind of forwarded my whole life,” Cole said. For most people, not getting accepted into their intended major’s program may seem like the worst thing that could happen in their academic career. But for Cole, it was the best thing that could have happened.
Senior Chase Christensen was rejected from the communication design program but was accepted after reapplying one year later. Sara Schreiner
Sophomore Ivy Cole discovered her true passion lies in interior design and saw the rejection as a relief. Sara Schreiner “I kind of stopped for a second,” Cole said. “I kind of quit moving forward because I wasn’t sure if I should transfer or try again. The biggest thing I learned is that there’s always a ‘plan b,’ and you can get through anything. Life goes on.”
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Babe Bash celebrates local female music talent By Jenelle Garcia @jenellerenea As the middle floor of Andy’s Bar slowly begins filling up on a cold January night with people of all ages and styles, the eclectic atmosphere began to form with both locals and new faces eager to hear new, unique modern music, along with a mix of old school rock ‘n’ roll.
Sydney Wright, now a lead singer for her self-titled band, helped develop Babe Bash. Ashley Gallegos
Local music hub Andy’s Bar celebrated female talent featured in their annual Babe Bash concert on Saturday. With a stacked lineup, this year’s bash featured acts like Tricounty Terror, The Red Death, Hen and The Cocks and solo artist Sydney Wright. The original idea for Babe Bash dates back to 2011 when now-lead singer for The Red Death Kitty Holt and friend Sydney Wright came up with the idea of creating an opportunity for women to take part in Denton’s live music scene. “[We] really wanted to encourage women to go out and try stage performance,” Holt said. At the time, the two women were part of a Runaways cover band when they regularly found themselves playing shows at the now-closed Hailey’s Club in Denton where they quickly noticed the crowd’s continued support for local female artists. Fast forward seven years later and Wright and Holt are taking the stage on an all-female bill at Andy’s to a packed crowd for the third annual Babe Bash. “It’s all about bringing the people together and celebrating female artists,” said Blake McDaniel, general manager of
Andy’s Bar. As Denton’s audience made its support for female talent clear, the success of Babe Bash isn’t going unnoticed by the venue, either. “There is a possibility for an expansion, such as a two-day event,” McDaniel said. Though the show focuses around the idea of highlighting female talent specifically, Babe Bash is a part of the bigger picture for some attendees who see it as an asset to Denton’s nightlife. “Having this annual event at Andy’s brings the community together for regulars and the new people, too,” Babe Bash attendee Savannah McBroom said. While being in a room filled with people who enjoy watching female artists perform, each act brought the crowd together with a welcoming evening for anyone who walked through the door. Among the welcoming artists was Wright, a now well-known local female artist and Denton native, who traveled back home from Austin where she now lives and works as a sound engineer. Wright’s enthusiasm to be back in town, surrounded by friends and excitement to perform once again, was evident throughout the
LOCAL TALENT: INK MASTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 drawings at a young age, she made sure Deanna was enrolled in an arts magnet school. “Deanna was an artist from the minute she came out of my womb,” Phyllis said. “Wherever we were, she was always drawing something.” Phyllis said her aspiration for her daughter was always to go to college and get a degree. She set up college tours whenever she could, but it wasn’t long before Deanna fell in love with a new kind of art — tattooing. Unsurprisingly, this newfound love led to Deanna receiving her first tattoo when she was just 16 years old. While the tattoos may not have been perfect, she said being exposed to tattoos as a new art form opened her mind. “I’ve always been a fine artist, and that’s what I’ve prepared myself to be,” Deanna said. “As terrible as these [first] tattoos were when I got them, it was life changing. It made me realize there was a whole other category of art that I wanted to get into.” With a new goal in life, Deanna quickly realized her parents’ plan for her to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York wasn’t a life she saw for herself. While Phyllis was devastated at first, she was proud that her daughter decided to do what she loved even if she was going against the expectations at Booker T. In a high school where the atmosphere was geared towards preparation for college, Deanna’s decision was unheard of. Phyllis still gets choked up when she thinks of the courage it took for her daughter to go against the odds and pursue her dreams. She said there were many times people did mean acts to her daughter out of jealousy. “I’m so impressed with her, she had teachers saying that she wouldn’t become anything as a tattoo artist,” Phyllis said. “She studies her craft constantly. She had the natural talent, but she still works her butt off. She never stops, and is always learning.” Luckily, Deanna’s parents eventually came around and educated themselves to help them understand why she chose to be a tattoo artist, and they are now her
Sydney Wright performs at Andy’s Bar on Jan. 13 as part of Babe Bash, Andy’s Bar’s annual concert series celebrating female musicians. Ashley Gallegos building. However, the atmosphere of excitement did not just end with Wright. Cameron Holt, guitarist for The Red Death and brother of vocalist Kitty Holt, shared his enthusiasm about performing for the first time with band after a few months of taking a break.
“Letting people see what we’ve been working on and seeing the crowd’s reaction to a new song is my favorite part of getting to perform here,” Cameron said. What started as a desire for more female artists to be able to do what they love and enjoy has now become a reality of excitement for locals and band members
to participate in this successful event. Though Babe Bash remains a highly anticipated event among locals every year, by the end of the night, the third installment proved the bar of support for female musicians in Denton can only continue to be raised.
Denton tattoo artist welcomes new competition in latest ‘Ink Master’ season
biggest supporters. At the age of 17, Deanna began her apprenticeship at Artistic Encounter in Dallas. Often times, hopeful tattoo artists struggle with realizing great artists don’t necessarily make great tattoo artists. That wasn’t the case for Deanna, as she saw tattooing as learning to draw again on a harder and completely different medium. Deanna said she appreciates the knowledge she gained during her five-year apprenticeship, but the start of her career was by no means glamorous. She was responsible for the grunt work of the shop but always saw it as a way to get her foot in the door. Tasks like taking out the trash and sweeping the floors became a daily routine for her during her apprenticeship, but Deanna also became more acquainted with the ugly side of the tattoo industry. “I was hazed a lot — it was almost like joining a gang at some points,” Deanna said. Even after having to stand outside in floaties holding a sign to advertise the shop during summer, working noon to midnight, to eating petroleum jelly and drinking milk until she puked, Deanna was committed to making her dream come true. “That’s why you have to go through blood, sweat and tears to become a tattooer because it’s so rewarding,” Deanna said. “Apprenticeships really weeds out the people who don’t want it bad enough.” Mastering her ink When she landed her spot on this season of “Ink Master” after her success on “Ink Master: Angels,” Deanna saw the hard work she put in for years finally paying off. “I went through a lot to get to where I am today, and I am finally just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so it feels good.” Deanna said. The premise of this season of “Ink Master” is different than previous seasons. There are three teams lead by three coaches, each of which are previous “Ink Master” winners: Team Steve, Team Anthony and Team DJ (the team Deanna is on).
The coaches will mentor the artists throughout the season as the 16 artists compete for a chance to win $100,000, a feature in “Inked” magazine and the title of “Ink Master.” The three coaches will then compete against each other at the end of the season for a chance to win another $100,000. The coaches will be able to pull artists from the different teams to help them win. “Without even being on the show for that long, I’ve already learned so much about tattooing,” Deanna said. “I wanted to work with tattooers that I’ve been looking up to since I was 16 years-old.” Shooting for the show often begins promptly at 4 a.m. and oftentimes doesn’t end until 10 p.m. The days are long and weary. Deanna said the hardest part is the stress and time constraint. The contestants must handle the pressure of the cameras, the judges examining their work with a microscope and only having several hours to complete a project. “It’s almost set up for you to fail, and you just have to fight against the odds,” Deanna said. Deanna is one of the very few female competitors on “Ink Master” this season. She is used to this, though, after years of working in the tattoo industry. She said bonding with the other female competitors was empowering as the feeling of being outnumbered by male competitors can’t be ignored. “Sometimes I feel like my voice isn’t heard very much, but that’s how it’s always been in the tattoo industry for me,” Deanna said. However, Deanna said she feels lucky to work at a shop like Dark Age where she is given the respect she deserves. Kelly Graff, manager at Dark Age Tattoo, said Deanna’s talent has improved immensely since she came to work with them. “Deanna has definitely improved quite a bit since she’s been here,” Graff said. “She was a good artist when she started. She’s very open to criticism, and the two owners of this shop are good at constructive
Deanna Smith poses for a photo in front of her tattooing chair at her station at Dark Age Tattoo studio. Smith is slated to appear in the newest season of “Ink Master,” helping this Denton artist to gain global exposure. Jake King criticism.” Graff said the entire staff is celebrating Deanna’s success. “Everybody here is super proud of her — there’s no jealousy,” Graff said. With her presence on the show, Deanna now has more opportunities than she ever could have imagined during her days as an apprentice. “My favorite part about being a tattooer is being able to travel wherever I want, going to conventions and being able to hang out with other tattooers,” Deanna said. “It’s really hard, but you’re always learning, getting to know really cool people and travel, and making money while doing it.” Although even with clients from near and far trying to get booked with Deanna, she’s unsure if she’ll ever get used to going outside and being recognized by fans of the show. The only major downside? Having her natural creativity put under heavy pressure by the ruling of the judges. In the real world, Deanna isn’t critiqued so harshly in such a stressful environment. While the analyses may help her as an
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Dark Age Tattoo Studio is a popular tattoo parlor on the Downtown Square in Denton. Jake King
artist, she is worried her nerves may alter the appearance of the tattoos she produces. “I want to let loose and put my creativity into whatever I want to do in a tattoo, but with all the pressure in mind, I am restrained,” Deanna said. “I am confined to a little bubble of what I can and can’t do, and I’m afraid to go outside my comfort zone.” Though she has enjoyed her time on the show, she makes it a point to make clear that what you see in a short hour it isn’t always a complete representation of the contestants as artists. Deanna said the Instagram accounts and online portfolios of the competitors are where viewers should investigate to observe the truest work of the artist. Deanna looks forward to the future and what it will bring for her career.” “I see myself as being a better tattooer, and I would love to just be able to travel anywhere in the world and book appointments,” Deanna said. “I would love to be known more so she could tattoo more.” To see Deanna in action, tune in to “Ink Master” at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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Managers rank No. 28 in underground league By Jordan James @JordanJamesTV “Let’s go, let’s go,” North Texas men’s basketball coach Grant McCasland screams emphatically at his team. During all the commotion, two graduate student assistants stand with militarylike focus, waiting on McCasland’s instructions. In a sport where the ball is always moving and the clock is constantly ticking, having the opportunity to unwind does not come often. But when it does, the graduate assistants savor the moment on the court. Luis Lopez and Chris Blakeley are both graduate assistants for the North Texas men’s basketball team. While each day brings new challenges, a majority of their time is spent working tirelessly behind the scenes on player development and scout preparation. The two spend up to 40 hours a week helping coaches with game plans and facilitating practice – all while working toward obtaining a master’s degree from UNT. Before they started the quest to become basketball coaches, they were driving down the court and dishing out assists during their undergraduate days of playing college basketball. Blakeley played at Abilene Christian University while Lopez was a team captain at Oklahoma Christian University. “We do anything and everything with this program,” Blakeley said. “Anything and everything to win.” Despite both playing careers being over, the two still get to experience the ecstasy of competition every time they compete in the Manager Games. Along with those two, three other members make up North Texas’s manger team. Each player plays a
vital role within North Texas basketball program, from serving as a team manger to overseeing basketball operations. Lopez even managed to convince the strength and conditioning coach, Phil Baier, to join the team. Student managers and members of the athletic department at Michigan State University established the Manager Games, an underground basketball league, back in 2014. The founders believed managers and other members of the support staff needed an outlet to break up the monotonous schedule of working for a Division I basketball program. “It’s pretty fun just to go out there and compete against guys that you’re just now meeting for the first time,” Lopez said. This is the first year North Texas has ever been involved in this type of league. Typically, head coaches prefer those who work behind the scene to focus on ensuring the team is preforming up to standards. McCasland has embraced this challenge though and is one of their biggest supporters. “The day after the game he sometimes ask how did the game went and stuff,” Lopez said. “He’s all for us putting in the work and doing what we got to do. When there is some free time go out there and compete which he loves to do. So, we like doing that.” Since the league was established, its participation has increased dramatically. Within the first two seasons, 165 DI programs played in more than 657 games. A new incentive was added to the league by creating a postseason tournament for the top 64 teams. Ultimately, eight teams will be chosen to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship title in San Antonio during the NCAA Final Four weekend in March.
The basketball managers pose for a photo during practice. Courtesy All games are played the night before each collegiate team competes against its respected opponent, usually on Wednesday and Friday nights. At North Texas practices, the team often emphasizes the importance of being competitive. Lopez has tried to hold up his end of the bargain by averaging 25 points this season — 12 times the amount he averaged as a senior in college. “I didn’t have the opportunity to score very often, so I’m definitely transitioning into a scorer now,” Lopez said. “There’s no practicing involved. We just lace them up
and go out there the minute before. It’s fun. A lot of fun.” The Mean Green manager team is ranked No. 28 out of 144 teams and is expected to climb in the standings. They sit 2-1 on the season with the only loss of the season coming against the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, the Charlotte 49ers. In a league like this, filled with basketball enthusiasts and players aging from 18 to mid-40s, one might think they would take it easier on one another, but it is actually the complete opposite. “It’s tough basketball,” head team
manager Bryce Gibson said. “It’s kind of funny, but at the same time very hard. The guys are out there to win.” Since North Texas joined the league it has allowed a hardworking group of student coaches the opportunity to do something they rarely get the chance to do during the season —relax. “We work hard a lot, especially for guys like Chris and Luis who are here from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day,” Gibson said. “We all played at some point at some level. So, it’s a good way to relax and enjoy ourselves a couple hours a week.”
The story behind the numbers: a look at North Texas basketball By Matthew Brune @MattBrune25 Numbers are the first thing people see when they watch sports at any level. Novices unfamiliar with a player’s name or appearance will immediately say the player’s number as their reference because it is the easiest way to identify an athlete on the court or field. Therefore, a number can mean a lot to a player. It is their one chance to be unique from their teammates aside from their name. The men and women on the North Texas basketball teams all have their own reasons for the numbers they don on game days, and the starters described the story behind their numbers. Women’s basketball Brittany Smith, junior point guard Number 3 Smith wanted number 23 when she got to Denton, but junior Terriell Bradley has had that number since last season. “TB has 23 so [3] is just the number closest to my original number,” Smith said. “My sister was 23, and it just so happened that I liked Michael Jordan and LeBron
Mean Green Basketball Players Micayla Buckner (34) and Trena Mims (24) Guard Texas A&M International in a game November 14. Madison Gore
James.”
Terriell Bradley, junior guard Number 23 Here’s the funny part: Bradley wants to be number 3, and Smith wants to be number 23, but they didn’t know that until asked about their number selection this week. The reason Bradley originally started wearing number 23 is because all the other seven-year-olds on her first basketball team took the other numbers, so she was forced to wear the most famous number in all of basketball. “I played my first organized basketball, and that was the only number left in my size,” Bradley said. “I wanted my number to be number 3 when I was seven, but 23 was the only number left, so I just stuck with that number.” Lauren Holmes, freshman guard Number 33 Holmes wore 33 all of her basketball life including her years at Fayetteville High School in Arkansas. Similar to Bradley, she chose the number at a young age and not for a specific purpose. “I didn’t really have a reason [at first], but now I guess you could say it’s because I like shooting 3-pointers,” Holmes said. “Ever since I started basketball I was 33. I just picked it.” Grace Goodhart, junior guard Number 2 Goodhart has started most of the games in Conference USA play so far and has more of an attachment to her number than most of her teammates. Her brother shares the number 2 with her on the football field. “It’s a family number and my brother wears it,” Goodhart said. “Both of us like the number, and he plays football at Princeton.”
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Micayla Buckner, junior post Number 34 Buckner had a sentimental moment when she got the number 34, and it was a cool moment for all of her family at Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas. “My sister was 34 in high school,” Buckner said. “And when I was an incoming freshman she had just graduated, so she passed down her number to me at the high school banquet, and I just kept it throughout my high school and college career.” Men’s basketball Ryan Woolridge, sophomore point guard Number 0 Another example of a player not getting the number originally desired — Woolridge came in last year wanting number 3, but once he found out it was taken, he quickly thought of his favorite NBA players. “I had been number 3 all my life,” Woolridge said. “Once I got here, JaMichael Brown had number 3, so I chose zero because at the time I was watching [Russell] Westbrook and Damian Lillard.”
Roosevelt Smart, sophomore guard Number 3 Number 3 was Smart’s fourth option when it came to preferred numbers, with the other three being taken by his teammates who were already on the team last year. The always optimistic Smart has already found a silver lining in it, though. “I couldn’t get five because Allante had it, couldn’t get zero because Ryan had it, and A.J. was one,” Smart said with a laugh. “I played AAU with number 3, and I guess it brought me back. Then when I hit a 3-pointer I can put up a three sign, and it’s my jersey number too.” A.J. Lawson, sophomore guard
North Texas sophomore guard AJ Lawson shoots the ball against Old Dominion. North Texas finished the game behind 63-60 on Jan. 6, 2018. Rick Yeatts Photography/Colin Mitchell Number 1 While a lot of players look to carry on numbers from their siblings or parents, Lawson went a different route after his freshman season. Number 12 was his family’s number which he wore as a freshman at North Texas and during high school. But entering his sophomore season, he once again wanted to start on his own trail with a new number. “In high school I started to get out of the shadows of my family members,” Lawson said. “When I went to number one in high school, it was me being different and being myself. Last year I wore [number 12] for [my father] and my grandparents, so transitioning to one is me finding my identity again.” Shane Temara, senior forward Number 50 Temara comes from an athletic family. His mom once had a triple-double against
Georgetown in 1984 when she played for Syracuse. Wanting to carry on the tradition and perhaps strive to be as good as her, Temara chose the number 50 when he got to North Texas. “When my mom was back in college, at Syracuse, she was number 50,” Temara said. “I went DI, so I have to wear number 50.” Zachary Simmons, freshman forward Number 24 Simmons, a lifelong fan of the Diesel, calls Shaquille O’Neal, “the best big man to ever play the game,” so number 32 was his initial choice as a kid. Once he got to high school, though, he changed to 24, but not because of Kobe Bryant. “I had always been 32 because I was a big Shaq fan,” Simmons said. “But when I moved to Cedar Hill [High School], I had limited options, so I chose 24, and I just didn’t feel like changing it.”
Littrell elected to AFCA board of trustees at convention By Matthew Brune @Mattbrune25 A 9-5 season and back to back bowl campaigns have led eyes from across the country to take notice of what North Texas head coach Seth Littrell has done in Denton. The eyes are also those of fellow coaches. As a result, Littrell has been selected to join the American Football Coaches Association board of trustees along with Stanford head coach David Shaw and North Dakota State University head coach Chris Klieman. All of whom were voted in by board members on Jan. 9 at the AFCA convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Littrell has roots spanning throughout college football, starting in his playing days for Oklahoma University under Bob Stoops. From there, he coached under the minds of Mike Leach at Texas Tech University, Mike Stoops at University of Arizona and Larry Fedora at the University of North Carolina before finally
becoming the head coach at North Texas. “Seth, at this stage in his career, being put on that board just shows the respect people have nationally for the person he is, his integrity, his coaching abilities, but beyond that, his leadership abilities,” athletic director Wren Baker said. “It’s good for North Texas, and it’s certainly good for Conference USA to have voices on that board, and it’s a great honor for us that two years into his tenure he’s been put on there.” The board of trustees has a voice in what the coaches think and what gets heard when in communication with the NCAA or other outlets. The AFCA is independent from the NCAA, though, and serves for the best interest of the coaches, which shows the amount of trust in Littrell who is only 39 years of age. He can also be a voice for Conference USA. “Seth updates the conference coaches on where AFCA is on different issues when the conference football coaches have their meeting,” Baker said. “They discuss all of the [prominent]
issues, and they’ll take a vote and come back with an opinion and have discussions with their athletic directors.” Being on a board that represents every college coach in the country and has over 11,000 members in total, it is easy to see why this position comes with so much attention. However, this will not consume too much of Littrell’s time as the meetings are brief and conversations or votes are usually not in person unless they are at the convention which meets once a year. For Littrell, Baker and the North Texas football program as a whole, it shows just how far everyone has come in the past two years. “The work of [the AFCA] is important,” Baker said. “You look at all of the things that have changed nationally in college football from player safety to additional cost of attendance stipends. The AFCA has a voice in that process, and they have become more organized when talking about those issues.”
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
Lawson pushing through nagging wrist injury By Matthew Brune @Mattbrune25 Monday, Jan. 8, was a normal day at practice for the men’s basketball team. Numerous drills predicated on shooting and communicating in transition defense took place while head coach Grant McCasland and associate head coach Ross Hodge pointed out every little area where the team could improve — often loudly. But on the side opposite of where the team’s bench sits during home games, sophomore guard A.J. Lawson was running up and down the stairs of the Super Pit. When he finished there, he grabbed a basketball and dribbled around the court, using only his left hand. Afterward, he went for a drink and adjusted the brace he has had on his right hand at numerous times throughout the season. He turned to a staff member on the team. “You ready,” Lawson asked while finishing adjustments on his brace. “For what,” the staff member replied. “I’m out against Rice,” Lawson said. Saturday, Jan. 13, marked the first game Lawson missed in his North Texas career. He averaged 26.4 minutes in 47 games over the last two seasons. Lawson has a sprained wrist that has plagued him throughout his sophomore year. It is something more serious than many Mean Green fans realize as the team approaches the second half of the 2017-18 season. “I was supposed to have surgery before the season, but I wanted to play with my teammates, so I didn’t have the surgery,” Lawson said. “It affects me dramatically. It hurts to shoot, [even] on free throws, honestly. I just have to toughen it out and as soon as the season is over have my surgery.” For McCasland, it has been a precarious situation to deal with. Lawson, when healthy, is one of the most versatile scorers on the floor while providing length in the backcourt on defense — but his health comes first. “First of all, we have a great medical team that we trust,” McCasland said. “I don’t have a say in any of that and I meet with [A.J.] regularly and tell him, ‘We want to make sure you’re healthy enough where you can play and play how you want to play, and if you can’t, you just have to say.’ That’s something that is monitored very closely. For him, there could be some games where he doesn’t play.” Saturday’s game against Rice was the
first of those games. In his breakout freshman season, Lawson led an 8-22 North Texas team in scoring with 11.4 points per game. This year, Lawson is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game despite playing five more minutes per game than last season. The Mean Green are now 10-8 overall and 3-2 in Conference USA play. While the injury appears to be the protruding issue for Lawson, the change in talent around him and a new coaching staff have led to small adjustments in his game, which have forced changes in where he gets the ball and when he can attack. “This year we have a different offense,” Lawson said. “When I come off ball screens, I’m not coming off looking for myself. I’m looking for a roller or a guy coming off of a flex screen.” Lawson is shooting 6.5 percent worse on 3-pointers this season while getting clean looks at the rim in what has been a more fluid offense. He’s at his best this season when he puts the ball on the floor and attacks the rim, where he can use his body and touch to score instead of relying on his hampered shooting wrist. As a result, Lawson is shooting a solid 48.9 percent from inside the arc this season. Another returning starter who has experienced the change in Lawson’s game is sophomore point guard Ryan Woolridge. These two both have seen the lows of last year turn to improvement as the Mean Green have already surpassed their win total in 15 fewer games. “[A.J. is] a slasher who can crash the boards, and he can guard a big body, so his role is pretty much the same as last year,” Woolridge said. “[He’s improved on] guarding the ball. He can stay in front of people with ease now.” Offensively, Lawson mentioned he has a smaller workload than last year. That, along with a renewed intensity from new coaches, has created more urgency from him defensively this season as he is often the second biggest guy on the court and, as Woolridge said, is guarding bigger bodies. Lawson has also become the team’s best charge-taker, which the coaching staff enjoys because offensive fouls essentially function as a steal. “He’s a guy that has been a versatile mismatch guy for us in lineups,” McCasland said. “His length is tremendous and he’s a good rebounder. It [used] to be hard for him to maintain that physicality. Now, he can go long stretches and continue to
Top: AJ. Lawson was the leading scorer on the North Texas basketball team as a freshman but has adjusted to a new role this season while also battling a nagging wrist injury. Courtesy |Colin Mitchell
rebound, and that’s benefited our team.” While his role in the team is similar to the role held last year, offensively he now can pick and choose his spots instead of falling into a pick and roll or isolation late in the clock. While the scoring numbers have decreased, he has already matched
last year’s block total in 13 less games and is averaging 1.1 more rebounds per game. The activity is still there, just in a different way. Excluding Saturday’s game against Rice, Lawson has played in and started every game this year, showing a resolve
Bottom: North Texas sophomore guard AJ Lawson shoots the ball against Old Dominion. The Mean green finished the game behind 63-60 on Jan. 6, 2018. Courtesy | Rick Yeatts Photography/ Colin Mitchell
and versatility that has motivated his team and impressed the coaches. Now, it’s just about getting through this season with his team and giving all he can before getting back to 100 percent in the offseason. “My role in the offense is kind of the same as last year,” Lawson said. “It’s just a little bit smaller. We don’t depend on me to score every game. [With] that said, I’m pretty sure if I wasn’t injured I’d probably be doing more than what I am.”
Smart makes history in win over Rice By Matthew Brune @Mattbrune25 Sophomore guard Roosevelt Smart could not believe his eyes. He ran to the corner against Rice University’s 3-2 matchup zone as the offense ran its set, and time after time the Owls left him open. He hit his third 3-pointer, then his fourth, then he got up to six — but still, nothing changed. The Rice defense continuously found itself with a late contest or no contest at all as Smart nailed his seventh and eighth 3-pointers to tie a school record. “[I wasn’t surprised] at first, because we knew how their 3-2 zone was, they help off the baseline,” Smart said. “But in the second half when me and DJ were open in the corners, it was surprising. Like, ‘they’re still leaving us open’.” Rose continued to take advantage of the situation, swishing his the ninth deep ball with about five minutes left — but Rice was still in range. The 10th 3-pointer was essentially the dagger as it put North Texas up 80-74 with under two minutes left. The Mean Green (10-8, 3-2 Conference USA) held on for an 85-78 win with Smart dropping 42 points on 11-of-22 shooting Saturday afternoon at Rice. “[We had] great spacing and Ryan, Allante and Mike did a good job of delivering the basketball and driving,” head coach Grant McCasland said. “[In the second half] we were able to move the basketball quicker and it got us some wide open looks and got Rose going and that was the difference in the game.” The other beneficiary of Rice’s (4-14, 1-4) lackadaisical 3-point defense was sophomore guard DJ Draper, who came entered the day averaging 2.4 points per game. He had only played in one of the previous four C-USA games. Draper scored a career-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 6-of-9 shooting from deep.
“He’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever coached, maybe the best,” McCasland said of Draper. “He just makes open shots and his deal is confidence and stepping out there knowing that we need him.” Draper stepped up as he essentially filled the shoes of sophomore guard A.J. Lawson, who was out with a sprained wrist. While Lawson’s size and defensive abilities were missed, as was evident from Rice’s 50 percent shooting mark, Draper competed defensively and stretched the floor in ways few lineups do with him on the bench. With that spacing, the driving lanes were opened up — not for scoring inside, but for another open 3-point shot. North Texas ended the game with the second most 3-pointers made in program history as the team went 17-for-31 from behind the arc with 17 assists. “Ryan did a good job of penetrating and drawing two and kicking it out to us,” Smart said. “[Allante] did a nice job too of finding me and DJ, and DJ gave me a couple passes as well so everyone contributed tonight.” The Mean Green defense was shaky at times as Rice guard Connor Cashaw scored 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting and Ako Adams pitched in 20 of his own, shooting 7-of-12 in the game. “That was the disappointing part of this win,” McCasland said. “We didn’t get stops guarding the ball. There’s some grit we’re missing and as a team, we have to keep getting better on that side of the ball.” Smart’s 42 points rank No.5 in school history for a single game and breaking the 3-point record felt like something that was only a matter of time away as the sophomore shoots over 40 percent from behind the arc on the year. After his record-breaking performance, Smart is already ready to do it again. “Finally,” Smart said with a laugh. “I just made shots and was fortunate enough to break the record and hopefully next time I can break it again.”
i’ve gotta go!
North Texas sophomore guard Roosevelt Smart (3) shoots the ball against Old Dominion. Courtesty | Rick Yeatts Photography
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OPINION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018
Page 8
THIS OR THAT
NTDAILY.COM
THIS OR THAT
Oprah Winfrey for president No more celebrities in office
By Jade Jackson @IAMJADETHEGREAT Ever since Oprah Winfrey graced audiences with her acceptance speech at the 2018 Golden Globes, the idea that she should run for president arose, and it’s taken over the media. Though she isn’t actually running, Winfrey is said to be “intrigued” with the idea. This sparked interest and debate on whether or not another celebrity in office could actually work. In my opinion, Democrats would want to have their own celebrity in office the same way Republicans have their reality TV star as president. Before we boot a black woman who has exemplified more regal flair than our current president, let’s actually consider for a moment if she did decide to run. What would America do next? The main difference between the two? The legacies each have made. Winfrey has already created those international relations by simply traveling and sharing her experiences with massive
audiences. She subtly familiarized herself with many nations, which is a major pro in knowing our allies and enemies alike. Winfrey highlighted the poor slums of Mumbai by humanizing the families that lived there. She rubbed shoulders with Indian royalty when invited to a palace event by the royal family of Jaipur. Winfrey connected with the progressive people of Copenhagen, Denmark. She visited the remains of a Holocaust camp with known survivor and author Elie Wiesel in Poland. She has brought to light the women of China who subject themselves to married men. In 2006, Winfrey opened up the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, or OWLAG, in South Africa. The first graduating class has gone on to attend Ivy League schools in America, as well as top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). She took a leap of philanthropic faith in order to change the lives of girls who she says, “reminds her of herself.” Having the first woman president be black as well would be inspirational to a lot of women. Winfrey has garnered a following from women worldwide since the initial airing of her show in 1986, and one has to wonder if the same following will remain loyal with her being a Democratic candidate for America — considering some women didn’t support Hillary Clinton. Winfrey embodies the American
dream. If any celebrity were to be allowed to be leader of the free world, I think we can all agree that Oprah Winfrey would have us sleeping comfortably at night. As Trump’s relentless actions stray us farther and father apart as a nation, the mere idea of Oprah saving the day in 2020 gives me the type of hope that I haven’t seen in this country since 2008. If we don’t want to implement the idea of celebrities taking political offices, maybe we need to take a closer look as to why we don’t trust actual politicians with their jobs.
Illustration by Gabby Evans
By Macy Jackson @maccolljackson It is not the first time celebrities have been mixed up in American politics. In fact, this isn’t even the first time celebrities have been criticized for snagging the highest office in the American government. Many critiques of 40th United States President Ronald Reagan and his administration was because of his past career in Hollywood. At the time, many argued that his previous career as an actor was un-presidential, and that he brought a certain level of dishonor and lack of professionalism to the White House. Even so, Reagan did have some political experience. Prior to being elected president, Ronald Reagan served as the governor of California throughout the 1960s and 1970s. President Donald Trump, on the other hand, is something new. Trump is distinct in his absence of political experience. The U.S. presidential office is the first, and only political office he has ever
been elected to. Trump has never been appointed to any political or bureaucratic position, and he has no military background to speak of. He is unique in his lack of qualifications for the presidential office, and I hope very much that he remains unique. As the 2020 election approaches, many celebrities’ names have been thrown into the ring, including American rapper Kanye West. Most recently, Oprah Winfrey has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Sure, Oprah is eloquent and inspirational, but her election in terms of political experience would be a mistake. The current trend towards supporting popular public figures who have no concept of what it really means to run a government is disturbing. What is the point of even having representatives if they have no more of an understanding of the law and government than the people they represent? The entire purpose
of electing representatives is to have individuals who are more informed make decisions that forge a compromise between the people’s interests and the realities of government. The issue isn’t that Winfrey, or any other prospective famous candidate, is a celebrity. The issue is that they have no experience that would truly prepare them for being president. Trump’s inability to bring most of the items on his agenda to fruition and inability to be “presidential” prove just how unprepared he was for his time in office and just how foolish it would be elect anyone with a similar level of experience in his stead. Being a politician isn’t just about having opinions, it’s about understanding how to actually get things done and how to adequately represent your constituency. If you have no political experience, how are you supposed to have the skill set necessary to even accomplish that?
Illustration by Ari Solorio
Letter from the Editor: New faces. Fresh content. Same passion. By Kayleigh Bywater @kayleighbywater For over 100 years, the content produced at the North Texas Daily has sparked online debates, covered controversial topics and showcased the good in people. It has also given college students – like myself – the opportunity to pursue their passion, get first-hand experience and make a difference. Students are the roots of this publication. Every word you read, photo you see and printed page you hold in your hand was written, photographed or designed by a student at UNT. And I’ve been a part of this whole exciting process for three and a half years. My name is Kayleigh Bywater, and I am editor-in-chief this spring at the North
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Texas Daily. I was selected last November by a committee of 19 faculty members, peers and university administrators to run the Daily this semester, and I’ll be editorin-chief until I graduate this May. I’ve been on the Daily since my freshman year. I started as a staff writer for the arts and life section and have held many positions on staff: senior staff writer, arts and life editor, copy chief and – now – editor-in-chief. The journey has been full of late-night writing sessions and driving all around Denton County for interviews, but I wouldn’t trade a second of it. Even though I’ve been on staff for years and the Daily has been around for a century, there are a few changes you can expect to see throughout the semester. Visuals are a huge part of the Daily, so this semester will be full of photo galleries,
intriguing graphs and high-quality video. Various forms of multimedia open up opportunities to bring in new elements that we’ve never utilized before. In the few days that we’ve been operating for the spring, we’ve already produced a photo gallery, video and added multiple photos to every story – and we’ll only grow from here. But that’s not it. It’s no secret that the opinion section gets a lot of traction in the Daily – and I love reading what our readers have to say. This semester, we’re starting a new series called “This and That.” We will take one topic and have two of our opinion writers face-off on both ends of the debate. Whether it’s over Oprah for president or not to raise the student athletic fee, people have very different opinions on extremely important
topics. I’m excited for this series, and the opinion editor and I are always open to ideas on the next “This and That” articles. As a staff of journalism students, it’s our goal at the Daily to be as transparent and upfront as possible. Have a concern? E-mail us. Have a question about content? Give the office a call. Want to join the staff? We are always looking for staffers – regardless of your major or grade classification. Feel free to come by our office in Sycamore 230 — I’ll be more than happy to look over letters to the editor, show off pictures of my golden retriever Gus (he is very cute) or talk with you about television shows or Pop! Funko figures. So, as my Letter from the Editor comes to the end, I urge you – pick up a copy of the Daily on newsstands every Thursday.
Wearing a color for a cause is bare-minimum activism By Nimat Hossain @NimatHossain In the wake of the recent #TimesUp campaign at the 2018 Golden Globes, we are finally seeing accountability and karma for sexual abusers in the film industry. The #TimesUp movement was a great thought, but it was not great in practice. Spreading awareness of sexual abuse and harassment by wearing black to the Golden Globes? Sounds revolutionary, right? Wearing a certain color for a cause does little to ensure action against the monstrous atrocities of those in positions of power, especially when the people who are wearing
that color can do so much more. Celebrities like Justin Timberlake, who wore black to the Golden Globes and even showcased support for the #TimesUp movement in a recent Twitter post, also actively worked with sexual abusers like Woody Allen — who was accused of sexually abusing his daughter, Dylan Farrow. However, this was not the only example of hypocrisy displayed at the Golden Globes. Many of the celebrities who wore black also took part in giving Kirk Douglas, another sexual abuser in the film industry, a standing ovation. Douglas had a long-lasting career in Hollywood and because of his hard
work, he was awarded a standing ovation. Nevertheless, Twitter users let it be known that Douglas was accused of raping actress Natalie Wood when she was only 16 years old. The central theme of the #TimesUp movement was to give victims of sexual harassment and assault survivors a voice, with prominent figures wearing black to show their solidarity for the victims. However, with celebrities still working and giving standing ovations to accused sexual abusers, it felt rather like a slap in the face than actual solidarity, further proving that wearing a color for a cause is absolutely pointless—unless you are, well, actually
Check out our website – it’s updated every single day. We’re here to work and learn in order to be the best possible news outlet we can be for UNT, Denton and North Texas. It might not always be pretty or easy, but we’re here. And I am so excited to see what this talented staff is able to produce this semester.
putting forth action toward the cause. If one is in a position of power to help the marginalized, but only offer “thoughts and prayers” or wear a color for the cause, then it is a cop-out. Thoughts and prayers, as well as spreading awareness, are always important. However, real change comes from action, and if one is in that position to pursue action, but does not, it is therefore not activism. When it comes to sexual misconduct, it is important to hold abusers accountable, regardless of their impact or success in their field. Once we start putting action behind our words of support and actually start giving a solid platform for assault victims to project their voice, is when the continuous cycle of suffering will end.
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