Celebrating 100 Years of Journalism Excellence VOL. 108 No.9
Denton County reports record early voting numbers
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
NTDAILY.COM
Students offer cynical view of candidates
Lauryn Armor, left, and Katie Boldin attend a candlelight vigil on Monday in Bear Creek Park, Keller, Texas. James Coreas
By Julia Falcon The 10 largest counties in Texas, including Denton County, are having a record-breaking week at the polls as the number of early voting ballots has surpassed both the 2012 and 2008 early votes so far. In Denton County on Monday, the first day to vote early in Texas, 16,955 voters cast their ballots, according to the Denton County Elections Administration. In 2008, there were 10,000 first-day votes; 2012 saw 12,000 first-day votes. On Tuesday, election data show, 19,311 cast their ballots in the county. Another 19,753 votes were cast Wednesday. As voters show up in force, people seem, based on data from some polls, it is reasonable to think Texas might swing to the Democrats, a result that has not been seen in a presidential election since 1976, when Jimmy Carter was elected. There are 22 polling places across Denton County, including one on campus, at the Gateway Center. Despite reports of glitches at at least 11 of these locations, officials said, the early turnout in Denton County is among the most notable around the state. Denton County Republican Chairwoman Lisa Hendrickson released a statement after hearing concerns from fellow Republicans about the reported glitches. “I have fully expressed the concerns raised by my fellow Republicans to the elections administrator and his staff,” Hendrickson said. “They have advised me all machines are now fully functioning.”
@falconjulia22
Basketball student assistant starts clothing brand to help society
By Julia Falcon
MISSING:
Authorities say former UNT student Zuzu Verk in danger By Tiffany Ditto Police in Alpine, Texas, are searching for 22-year-old former UNT student Zuzu Verk after she didn’t return home from a date with her boyfriend, Robert Fabian, who police named a suspect on Wednesday. Verk attended UNT from fall 2013 to spring 2015, and
was last seen between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight Oct. 12. The reward for information leading to Verk’s return is currently set at $100,000. On the night of Oct. 11, Verk reportedly went on a date to the movies with Fabian. According to authorities, the couple had been on-again,
By Trevon McWilliams Sophomore Ipinoluwa “Ipi” Adedokun can often be found in the gym with a basketball in tote. As the student assistant to the Mean Green women’s basketball team, Adedokun spends countless hours working with the girls in preparation for the upcoming season. But Adedokun has a passion off the court that rivals his love for basketball: his clothing line, World Apparel Co. Adedokun describes his brand as a way of giving back to the world and intends on raising money to benefit organizations of the families of police officers involved in the Dallas shootings back in July. “When the Dallas police shooting was happening, I immediately wondered what could I do to help,” Adedokun said. “I just wanted to make my impact on this issue and other issues in the world the best way I can.” Entering his second year of college, Adedokun partnered with a few of his friends to form World Apparel Co. His slogan for the company is “youth is the solution.” “Our vision is to supply the youth for a time to come,” co-founder Tariq
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 6
Friends and family gather for a candlelight vigil on Monday in Bear Creek Park , Keller Texas. Zuzu Verk went missing Oct. 12 in Alpine. She transferred from UNT to Sol Ross State University in Alpine. James Coreas
off-again for some time, and it was unclear of where their relationship stood at the time of her disappearance. Authorities said the details of the night are “hazy, at best.” The facts Verk stopped responding to text messages and phone calls on Oct. 12. Her friends hadn’t heard from her and went to check her apartment, only to find that she wasn’t there. When her family realized she was missing, Verk’s father drove from their home in Keller to Alpine, he told NBC news. The search for Verk has spanned to Mexico. Glenn Verk, Zuzu’s father, described his daughter as a “friend to everyone.” The Fort Worth native studied pre-studio art at UNT before transferring her sophomore year to Sul Ross State University in Alpine to study conservation biology. Police are still searching for leads on Verk’s whereabouts.
What we don’t know It is unknown if Verk was with anyone at the time she went missing, but according to her father and Alpine police, Fabian may know more than he is telling authorities, CBS news reported. The police have also been investigating a number of vehicles in the case, a white Ford Mustang, a Mazda Miata and a Jeep Liberty, but it is unknown if any of these vehicles have turned over clues to police. Alpine police were not immediately available for comment, but the Daily will update the story.
@TiffanyDitto
SEE CONCERNS ON PAGE 2
New DART stop enables students to reach UNT Dallas By Kayla Davis Dallas Area Rapid Transit opened a new train station at UNT Dallas Monday as part of its blue line extension. The two new stops, UNT Dallas and Camp Wisdom, extend three miles from Ledbetter station. The train runs every day starting around 4 a.m. and goes until around 1 a.m. the next day. The train comes every 20 to 30 minutes and has connecting services to bus 415 to Ledbetter. The station was fully funded by DART along with a parking lot
with 475 spaces. Ashley Johnson, UNT Dallas spokeswoman, said having the station nearby will help provide additional access to the university for thousands of students throughout North Texas. “There will definitely be a significant increase in the number of students who take DART now that it comes to campus,” Johnson said. “Because up until now you had to take a bus to a train to get home. This is going to simplify that for a lot of students.” Johnson thinks the opening of the station is a significant milestone for the university and
will be looked back on in future years. “We are very excited to have partnered with DART and for DART to have considered UNT Dallas for this expansion,” Johnson said. Though not many students used the train Monday when it first opened, Johnson said this can be attributed to students already purchasing a parking pass for the semester. When more students realize the station is there, she believes more students will take
SEE DART ON PAGE 3
IN THIS ISSUE NEWS
Anyone with information leading to Verk’s location will receive a reward posted by Alpine police that came from donations.
With less than two weeks until the general election, students began early voting on Monday. But concerns remain among voters, both over the candidates and the voting process. Other than Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, there are the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein for voters to choose from. But the two major parties has left many voting “for the lesser of two evils.” Voters like Kayla Rivera, hospitality management sophomore, are voting for a major party candidate because they see third parties as fall-backs for the other two candidates. Rivera feels they simply do not qualify for the presidency and their policies are not supported with enough evidence. “Right now is not the time to vote third party,” Rivera said. “For me, I’m hoping nothing goes badly, we don’t know what will happen. This is a tense election. Donald Trump’s [policies] are extreme, it feels like some are very unrealistic, and I hope the policies will be downplayed. For Hillary Clinton, I think a lot of people will benefit, I hope she goes through with her promises. She also had to adopt a lot of Bernie’s policies to gain his voters.” But marketing junior Lauren Mayfield said she is voting for the third party because she does not want to vote for Trump or Clinton. “I am definitely voting, I don’t believe in the whole best of two evils, because it’s picking your poison,” Mayfield said. “Personally, I am a feminist, so I do not want Hillary being our first female president. She is a terrible role model. Don’t get me started about Trump, he is a nightmare.” For the students who do not agree with Trump, Clinton, Stein or Johnson, they are not voting at all. They are just hoping for the best. Human resources junior Jalen Montgomery said he doesn’t want to be stuck in a situation wherein all of the candidates are subpar.
Denton Sees Violent Crimes pg 2 A double robbery this past Thursday and a drive-by shooting this week. Authorities are looking for suspects and leads in a town marketed as safe for students.
ARTS & LIFE
Local Veterinarian Running for Texas pg 5 The race for the Texas House District 64 seat is running full speed, and Lynn Stucky, a local veterinarian, is facing off against UNT student Connor Flanagan.
SPORTS
The new DART blue line that stops at UNT Dallas for pickups comes through the station around 8 p.m. The new station is located in south Dallas just north of DeSoto and Lancaster. Hannah Breland
Basketball Coaches Host Media Day pg 7 Both the men’s and women’s head basketball coaches opened up Wednesday about their upcoming seasons. See the coaches’ plans to bounce back.
OPINION
We Have Enough Parties In D.C. pg 8 As early voting in Texas begins, the editorial board explores why the third party candidates are in the same class as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
NEWS Page 2
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
NTDAILY.COM
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD Islamic State using human shields in fight for Mosul In the fight to hold Mosul, the Islamic State has begun ordering people at gunpoint to enter the war-torn city to be used as human shields, according to The Associated Press. Islamic State militants have been going door to door, and so far hundreds of people have been ordered out of their homes and made to walk north across the Nineveh plains into the heavily fortified city. Islamic State fighters await a climactic fight for the future of their so-called caliphate’s hold on Iraq and Syria.
Venezuela morphs into dictatorship as protests escalate After Venezuela’s electoral authorities canceled a planned signature drive to oust President Nicolas Maduro, the country has transformed into a dictatorship, Reuters reported. The oil-rich country has been suffering deep economic and political struggles, and faces a crippling recession that has many poor families searching tirelessly for scarce food and basic goods. Maduro, elected to replace Hugo Chavez after his death three years ago, said the opposition is attempting a coup under the guise of peaceful protests. On Wednesday, Venezuelans took to the streets in Caracas to protest the government’s decision to disallow the recall referendum.
After France’s ‘Jungle’ cleared, future uncertain for migrants French authorities cleared the infamous “Jungle” in Calais of thousands of migrants in a massive operation that wrapped up Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reported. Aid groups said dozens of children have been left without a bed. There are reports of children wandering the streets of Calais looking for a place to sleep. The makeshift camp outside the port of Calais has seen numerous fires started by departing migrants, causing many to flee without their possessions.
Three earthquakes rock Italy, causing ‘apocalyptic’ damage Three major earthquakes struck central Italy Wednesday just two months after a previous earthquake left more than 200 people dead, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported. Early reports said no one was killed or seriously hurt by the quake. The first, measuring 5.4, struck at 7:10 p.m. Two quakes followed, 5.9 and 4.6 respectfully, a little more than two hours later and before midnight. The tremors were felt in Rome and other places hundreds of kilometers away.
North Texas Daily
The UNT Sullivant Public Safety Center, where the police headquarters are located. File photo
Campus police provide safety tips for students In light of the drive-by shooting in Denton this week and a double robbery just off campus last week, the North Texas Daily compiled a list of safety tips from the UNT police. Walking on campus When students head out at night, UNT police spokesperson Kevin Crawford said, they should avoid isolated areas, dress sensibly, and not wear flashy clothing. Additionally they should become familiar with campus walking paths and learn where the emergency phones are located. He also recommends students pay attention to their surroundings and walk in groups if possible. And he reminds students to never text and walk. Residence halls When leaving the dorms, Crawford said, students should always lock their room or apartment. Crawford reminds students to never leave any personal property unattended. Parking lots When out and about, students
should lock their vehicle doors, roll up windows and secure valuables out of sight, Crawford said. When out at night park your vehicle in a welllit area, and make sure you scan the area when exiting and entering your vehicle. Never park a vehicle in one area for a long time, and park where it can be easy to find. Always have your keys in hand ready to open the door when approaching your vehicle. And again, don’t text and walk. Personal safety Campus police remind students to trust their instincts and show confidence. Always have a cellphone handy, and make sure it is completely charged before going out and “use your cell phone as a lifeline,” Crawford said. Crawford suggests students should “create a safety plan at home,” to ensure personal safety. For more information on preparedness, tips to stay aware and campus or personal safety programs visit the UNT Police Department’s webpage at www.unt.edu/police. - Cory Smout
UNT police seek three suspects in robberies near campus By Kyle Martin late model car and may be occupied by more individuals than the three suspected robbers. UNT spokeswoman Margarita Venegas said the suspects in each incident are believed to be the same. The victims are students but specific information was not given about them at as not to interfere with the investigation, she said. No arrests had been made at the time of this report. Anyone with information on the robberies should contact the UNT Criminal Investigations Division at 940-565-3006 or UNT Crime Stoppers at 940-369-TIPS.
Two robberies took place between 12:30 and 1 a.m. this past Thursday near campus, according to a report released by UNT police. A man was robbed of his cell phone while he rode his bicycle around 12:30 a.m. on the 1600 block of West Hickory Street. There are three suspects, and no weapons were displayed or violent threats given during the altercation, the police said. In a separate incident, a man was robbed of his cell phone and backpack around 1 a.m. near the intersection of Beatty Street and Eagle Drive, the police said. Police describe the three suspects as a male wearing a white tank top, a female and a driver with no description available. Police said the driver’s vehicle was a 4-door, red,
@Kyle_Martin35
UNT guest Casey Neistat shares perspective
Editorial Board Dalton LaFerney | Editor-In-Chief
By Kyle Martin
Adalberto Toledo | Managing Editor Kayleigh Bywater | Managing Editor Reece Waddell | Managing Editor Preston Mitchell | Editorial Page Editor Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor Colin Mitchell | Deputy Visuals Editor
YouTube vlogger Casey Neistat attended the UNT Fine Arts Series event, “A Conversation with Casey Neistat,” Wednesday in University Union room 314. Several hundred attendees packed the sold-out guest lecture hall, where Neistat spoke on his experiences rising to movie making and YouTube fame. Neistat said it’s hard to define exactly what his career is and what it has become, but nonetheless, he is dedicated to his craft. The YouTube star has a detailed and complex history. After dropping out of high school to work as a dishwasher to raise his child with his friend in a trailer park, he’s come a long way from his childhood.
Production Team Hannah Lauritzen | Design Editor Jillian Lim | Deputy Design Editor Linda Kessler | Copy Chief Chelsea Watkins | Designer/Copy Editor Evan McAlister | Designer/Copy Editor Samuel Wiggins | Staff Illustrator
Business
“For me at that time in my life, when I was trying to figure out who I was, when I was an early teenager and confused, I was always told by everyone around me I was wrong,” Neistat said of his time growing up. “Looking back, I think I was able to focus on, or still try to sublimate, what was a very negative sort of energy, a very negative aspect in my life, and turn it into something positive.” After washing dishes and doing odd jobs to pay bills, Neistat maxed out his credit cards and bought a video camera to start on his journey into movie making. “What I like to do is share ideas and perspectives using moving images,” Neistat said. Neistat’s first major success in
the film industry was when he and his brother sold their TV show series “The Neistat Brothers” to HBO for close to $2 million. With such success, Neistat was only hungry for more and wanted to expand his talents far beyond a TV show. He said with growth comes failure, something successful people cannot be afraid of. “I think that the biggest successes in my life have also been my biggest failures,” Neistat said. “Failure is great. I’m not kidding, failure is wonderful.” Neistat is now a vlogger who uploads short movies to YouTube every day, sharing his personal experiences, insights, struggles and perspectives with his audience of more than 5.5 million subscribers.
Along with his YouTube channel, Neistat owns a social medium, called Beme, and works with several brands like Nike, Samsung and Mercedes Benz to produce and develop media projects. In his lecture, he emphasized his honesty and commitment to being true to himself and his convictions when he is on camera. “He’s exactly as I thought he would be,” marketing freshman Jacob Morton said. “He’s very charismatic and he doesn’t really care about what’s going on.”
@Kyle_Martin35
Despite high early turnout, students offer cynical view on election
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“I am not voting because I feel like, as an educated person, I have analyzed both candidates and I don’t like either of them,” Montgomery said. “I know you should vote lesser evil, but they’re both really crappy. For me, I don’t think there will be a good outcome. This is crappy, especially if this is supposed to be the best country in the world. I hope we can make it in the next four years.” This presidential election is the first official time Trump has
dipped his toes into politics, and voters, like EADP junior Gunnar Pierce, think Trump is not stable enough to be president. “I don’t know what to expect for this election, but I would be happy not having Trump as president,” Pierce said. “I don’t think he knows enough about politics, and I know that not a lot of people don’t like Hillary, but she is a professional politician, so when she lies, we know she’s lying but knows what she is doing. I don’t think we can trust Trump. He is too reckless to be president. I would like to see
Hillary be elected and Trump to disappear from politics.” Mayfield said her friends who live in other countries are keeping close tabs on the election. They comment on her Facebook profile about the latest election news. “I don’t think any other country would take us seriously, I think a lot of countries are looking at us,” Mayfield said. “Everyone is watching and waiting to see what happens. With that said, we have had terrible presidents before. No matter what, I think America
will be fine. It is just four years, and maybe they’ll get impeached.” Montgomery added the less powerful people in the White House will likely help run the country during the presidency. “I hope its like Obama: they get in and they realize they can’t do as much as they want to,” Montgomery said. “Congress will make the impact.”
@falconjulia22
TRENDING @ntdaily @thedose_ntdaily @ntd_sports
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Sharbat Gula, famously photographed in the 1985 National Geographic cover and known as “Afgan Girl,” was arrested in Pakistan.
#Apple
Apple announced that the wireless headphones it introduced in September will be released this month.
#TrumpStar
Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star was destroyed by James Otis.
#PatientZero
A new study found that HIV traveled to the United States from abroad in 1971, clearing the Canadian flight attendant dubbed “Patient Zero”
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 3
New reservoir coming to North Texas, aims to address future water deficits The first of many reservoirs to help the infrastructure of North Texas By Sadia Saeed The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment that will allow the construction of the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek reservoir to be expedited. The bill was introduced in May 2016 by Congressman Sam Johnson along with Rep. Pete Sessions, Rep. John Ratcliffe and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. An amendment has also been added that requires Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide a final permit allowing the construction of the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek reservoir to begin by the end of September 2017. The permit application was submitted in 2008. “We are working as fast as possible to break construction as soon as the permit is settled,” said Janet Rummel, spokeswoman for the North Texas Municipal Water District.
Lower Bois d’Arc Creek reservoir project has been in the works since early 2006, to provide fresh water to the North Texas Water District. Located in Fannin County, the reservoir will supply water to over eight counties, including Denton. Tom Kula, the executive director of the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek project, said the reservoir is necessary for North Texas’ infrastructure. The district currently serves about 3.6 million people, and with projected growth expected to double that number, Kula said, it’s vital to supply more water to North Texas residents. “This is a big step toward the goal of meeting our region’s needs today and ensuring that our children, and our children’s children, will have the quantity and quality of water they need in the future,” Kula said. The reservoir will meet water needs in the region until 2040 and will support expected economic growth. Expected to cost around $248 million, the engineers and environmentalist that are involved are making sure all goes well with the construction. Conflicts included gas pipelines, power transmission lines, roads and a cemetery, but with all that taken
A map showing the area where the proposed reservoir and the new pipeline construction will be. The Bois d’Arc Creek Project is currently waiting on its construction permit to be approved. Courtesy of Tom Kula - Executive Director of the project
care of the reservoir is ready to break ground. The Lower Bois d’Arc Creek reservoir is estimated to be roughly done by 2022, but it is just the first of many reservoirs that are planned to come to North Texas. Kula said it is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation and conserving water will not aid in supporting an evergrowing population, which is why starting construction as soon as possible is important. Even during its foundation, the reservoir continues to provide jobs to people in Fannin County and will increase after its construction, but right now, the passage of the amendment will lend a helping hand toward infrastructural progress. For Pete Sessions, one of the four representatives that introduced the amendment, the water reservoir is a means to prevent future water issues in North Texas. “This is not a partisan issue or a political issue,” Sessions said. “This is a regional issue that will affect millions of North Texans who will face higher prices, lack of water supply, and extreme rationing should this project not get done.”
The reservoir will also affect Denton County, one of the counties that NTMWD serves. With water conservation tactics already in place, Lower Bois d’Arc Creek will aide the county by maximizing available supply and providing more water to residents. The tactics in place will continue even if the Lower Bois D’Arc Creek is not completed in a timely manner. More reservoirs are necessary if North Texas wishes to avoid local water deficits projected to hit in 2021, Sessions said. Only one of the two permits have been passed and progress has been slow. The bill and its amendments will accelerate the foundation of the reservoir as the population increases. “This reservoir is essential to meet the needs of 90 communities in the 10 counties served by the North Texas Municipal Water District,” Kula said. “The passage of the bill proves just how important it is for the community.”
@SadiaSaeed97
UNT Dallas gets new DART stop, plans future growth DART CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 advantage of it. Business major Kyam Blakely gets dropped off in the mornings by his mother and takes the train home to Arlington, what used to be a two-and-a-half hour commute. “This gives me more time at school,” Blakely said. “I can just walk up to the station, I feel like it’s faster.” It is only a five-minute walk from the station to the campus, but 18-year-old Lizbeth Munoz says the uphill walk can feel long. Munoz starts her commute to school on the green line, totaling her trip time to over an hour. Now
The new DART blue line that stops at UNT Dallas for pickups comes through the station around 8 p.m. The new station is located in South Dallas just north of DeSoto and Lancaster. Hannah Breland
UNT College of Pharmacy breaks ground for construction of new building By Bina Perino Students and faculty lined up on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth Tuesday evening for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new UNT College of Pharmacy building. Optimism was abound as faculty and staff lifted shovels to mark the beginning of construction. The new pharmacy research building is projected to open in November 2018. “It’s a 173,000 square foot building with three floors of research,” Janna Morgan, UNT System senior project manager, said. “It will house the College of Pharmacy faculty, as well as better classrooms and new technology for research.” The students of the College of Pharmacy now have access to what is called “active learning classrooms.” Morgan said these new classrooms no longer have a set front of the room and utilize the full space of the room for interactive displays and collaborative work. Students such as Vincent Nguyen, a first year pharmacy student, are excited for the new opportunity that is being provided to those pursuing a degree in pharmacy. Nguyen said the new facility will provide students with a new and improved way of learning. “We’re excited to be the first students to step into it,” Nguyen said. “There will be 40 percent more space for research and increased opportunity to practice.” Nguyen and his classmates are optimistic about the new space that will be available to
them for research and studying. It’ll be a relief since they are currently studying under cramped conditions. “We share a building with physical therapy and several office spaces,” Mivielis Rivera, first year pharmacy student, said. “There are two classrooms and one lab for almost 300 students.” To Riveria and her peers, this new building means more space to collaborate and increase awareness of UNT’s pharmacy school. Having a building larger than the UNT Health and Sciences Center will increase attention and curiosity towards the program. “There will be more space to share ideas and skills while learning,” Rivera said. “The new technology and learning environment will keep adapting with times.” Pharmacy is an ever growing and changing field as we learn more about human health and diseases. This new facility will house technology that can further engage the student’s understanding of health by interacting and collaborating in ways they were not previously able to. Instead of staring at a textbook and taking notes in a lecture, they will be fully engaged by the new active leaning classrooms. “We have to be about the future,” Myron Jacobson, dean of the College of Pharmacy, said. “This pharmacy school is still new, but that means there is room for improvement.” His goal is to see increased team work in the new building as it is designed to educate health care professionals. The new state of the art research laboratories allow students to further their knowledge
of health care together. He also continued to describe not only the improved research labs and classrooms but also the one-of-a-kind facilities the building will house. A new demonstrative kitchen, for example, will give students and faculty access to watch the preparation of healthy meals. One of Jacobson’s concerns is that health care is more than just prescriptions and includes maintaining a healthy diet. “This is more than just pharmaceuticals,” Jacobson said. “I get excited every day about this building. It’s exciting to prepare for the future.” Although the college will provide a way for both students and faculty to learn together, Jacobson is looking toward what this facility will provide for the general public, as well. Jacobson’s biggest concern is the future of health care. He explained that one in five senior citizens are on medications and one in four prescriptions are never picked up. This room for error leaves an opportunity for growth. “We are educating doctors of pharmacy here,” Jacobson said. “We have to switch from pill to patient and help patients first.” The groundbreaking ceremony marks a big turning point for the College of Pharmacy. Although it will take at least two years until the building is open to the public, Jacobson said he is eager to see what is in store for the college and its students.
@BinaPerino
that the UNT Dallas DART station is open, her commute is simplified. “I would have to take the train to Buckner, get a bus to go to Ledbetter, and then get the one that would come here,” Munoz said. “So now I just take two trains.” Math major Arriana Leblank’s commute from Dallas used to be 20 minutes but since her car broke down it now takes her two hours. With the new station open, she hopes to spend less time traveling. “Hopefully it cuts [my commute] down,” Leblanck said. “Instead of having to wait for the bus it just takes me to the Ledbetter station.” UNT Dallas has plans to expand its campus to the train station and into the 264 acres of
woods surrounding the campus in the coming years. The university is opening its first 120-bed residence hall in the fall. The station will give students living on campus access to Dallas and the surrounding areas. “It also opens up more opportunities for our students to take classes, while concurrently pursuing internships and other service learning opportunities downtown,” Johnson said. Students can buy a day pass for $5 at the station or a 31-day pass for $80 online.
@kaylajeann19
ARTS Page 4
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
NTDAILY.COM
Yianni Arestis, left, and Bobby Mullins want to make beer that people remember. Being known for beers like Honey Please, they explain that the creation process is different for every beer they make. Zoee Acosta
New brewery in the works near Denton Square By Kyle Martin A new craft beer brewery is under construction on Bell Avenue next to Boca 31, courtesy of the boys at Armadillo Ale Works, Yianni Arestis and Bobby Mullins. The duo met at UNT after attending some local shows and drinking beer together. The 18,000 square foot building and 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, which used to be Sanford Muffler and Automotive, will transform into a craft beer haven by spring 2017. Mullins, co-founder and chief brewmaster at Armadillo, said he was introduced to craft beer after working at Metzler’s Food and Beverage while he went to school.
He then began his startup in craft beer when his brother bought him a homebrewing kit to try his wits on. Those first few trial runs peaked his curiosity in craft beer, and he said things took off from there. “I started making it in college, and it was terrible, but I was in college and my friends didn’t care because it was free beer,” Mullins said, joking about his first attempts at craft beer. Throughout college, Mullins noticed Denton beginning to explore craft beers, with more bars here and there serving special brews. Until recently, however, the town didn’t have too much craft beer exposure. After stepping away from Denton for a while after college,
Mullins found expertise working for Saint Arnold Brewing Company in Houston. “I went to work for Saint Arnold and really learned how to dial it in and make better beer, and make it consistently and work on a commercial level,” Mullins said. After moving back and teaming up with Arestis, the two began their pursuit of craft beer and brewing in Armadillo Ale Works, the brewery they dreamed of bringing to Denton, the town they think is perfect for such an endeavor. “All the breweries, bottle shops, growler shops and awesome bars, I really don’t think there are many places like it in Texas, or even across the country, where within a few blocks you can walk and just
hit up so many awesome places,” Arestis said. The duo launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2011 asking for a donation goal of $30,000 to bring their idea to fruition. With the Kickstarter, they crowdfunded $34,002 between May 12 and June 30 and began their journey into craft beer brewing. “I moved here for college and love the town,” said Arestis, CEO and co-founder of Armadillo Ale Works. “I’ve been here ever since. I think we just wanted to kind of plant our roots here.” A city ordinance adopted in 2015 allows for “craft alcohol production” within city limits as long as the brewery has a restaurant or brewpub attached. Because of this, Armadillo Ale Works is permitted to open its own craft brewery near the heart of Denton’s downtown area, within walking distance of the train station. Patrons will soon be able to travel from across Dallas-Fort Worth via the DART train to stop
and visit Armadillo Ale Works for a tour of the brewery and a pint or two in their showroom. “Denton’s going to be a big craft-beer destination I think here shortly,” Arestis said. Arestis and Mullins, who both consider themselves “foodies,” said their beer is more “culinary inspired” than some other traditional brews. Arestis said he has found a special fascination with fermentation where it’s used in food, be it in cheese, wine, beer or other foods and drinks, and has used this curiosity to specialize and perfect their beer recipes. Where a traditional German brewery might stick to a practice called the Reinheitsgebot, which includes strict guidelines for brewing only four specific ingredients, Armadillo Ale Works looks for more creativity by utilizing many ingredients to highlight each specific brew. “Most beers you have to brew a least a few times to get it right,” Arestis said. “Some many, many
times. But then others, you’re just like, boom, right from the beginning.” For now, Armadillo has two beers, Dapper Apple and Honey Please, out on tap for public consumption at close to 100 different bars and pubs across DFW. After teaming up and working together to build their brand, taking years to perfect their recipes and products, the two said Denton was the place they wanted to be. “We’ve always wanted to be part of the community and always wanted to make unique, interesting beers,” Arestis said. “People throw that word around a lot, but I feel like in Denton you really do get a good sense of community, whereas in a lot of other places, you don’t.”
@Kyle_Martin35
The future cold stroage of Armadillo Ale Works in Denton. CEOs Yianni Arests and Bobby Mullins plan to open a brewery in Denton by Spring 2017. Zoee Acosta
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NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 5 Dr. Lynn Stucky, left, and veterinarian technician Ashley Pollock give her dog a check up. Stucky is running for Texas House District 64 and has been a veterinarian in Denton County for about 33 years. Katie Jenkins
Denton veterinarian vies for Texas House Stucky races against Democrat Connor Flanagan, UNT student, for the Texas House District 64 seat By Julia Falcon When his father passed away when he was 11, Dr. Lynn Stucky and his five siblings had to learn how to survive on their family farm in rural Kansas. Now, Stucky is a member of school groups, veterinary groups and various Denton-focused organizations. He hopes to incorporate his years of experience in a representative capacity as the Denton County Republican candidate for Texas House district 64. His veterinary practice, located on a dirt road off Interstate 35 in Sanger, is bustling with his employees and animals by 9:30 a.m., the start of a busy day for Stucky and his crew. “My first job was farming and ranching at the age of 11,” Stucky said. “I got my temporary permit when I was 14, driving wheat trucks and combines. I did that with my brother. My first job out of vet school was in Denton. I knocked on doors of vets in Denton seeing who wanted to hire me. I got one job, and became a partner my first year-and-a-half in, then opened my practice in 1985.” Stucky said he credits his love of animals and experience working on his family farm in Kansas to making him the person he is today. Currently, he takes care of animals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Red River area and South Texas. During his spring break as a senior at Kansas State University, Stucky ventured to Texas with the desire to find somewhere warmer to live. In 1983 he came to Denton, and almost immediately wanted to give back to the community that helped build his life.
“I finished my degree in Kansas, then drove back to College Station and stayed in Texas after I took my [veterinary] exam,” Stucky said. “We loved this area from the very beginning. I felt it was very important to become a part of the community. I think it is important to give back to the community and to be immersed in it. My wife and I think that is very important.” Stucky and his wife, Lori, raised their son Evan and two daughters, Lyndi and Malori, in the same house that is located behind his practice. The kids grew up immersed in the veterinary lifestyle, hanging around the office all the time while growing up. “I would never have done this without the support of my family,” Stucky said. “My wife has been unbelievable in this process of supporting me. My children have been knocking on doors for me, handing out push-cards, making phone calls and voting. They are all very supportive and very helpful.” Stucky said he doesn’t know what he would do without his family’s aid and support during his campaign. Stucky has gotten a total of $15,476 in political contributions, spent $23,262 and has received no loans according to the Texas Ethics Commission. In February, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported Stucky was placed on probation for most of 2011 after the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners found he was giving out medication without fully diagnosing the patients. And according to a 2010 report by CBS 11, Stucky unnecessarily euthanized hundreds of family
pets at the Sanger animal shelter. Brittany Mendez, who has been working at Stucky’s office for three years, has taken over his wife’s job as the lead office manager in anticipation of their move to Austin. “Our biggest concern is if he would be here for us, but he has been very present here,” Mendez said. “We are all very happy for him. He’s balancing things very well, and I look up to him. His wife is also. You wouldn’t tell they’re running. They’re doing great. She is still here if I need her, and any time I need them they’re a phone call away.” When Stucky got off of the City of Denton School Board in 2012, he decided he wanted to further his difference-making by running for state representative. All three of his children are beyond their college degrees, and Stucky said he can now focus on more things beyond caring for his family, and trusts his practice will be in good hands if he moves to Austin. “I was thinking of what to do next while I have the energy and resources,” Stucky said. “I have always been involved, I think it is important to give back to where we live. Let’s devote time for going to Austin. I can do that. I have other vets who will do great here, I am not concerned about the care of my clients. It will run great, or better, without me.” But Tina Tarrant, a Sanger resident who takes her dog, Blue, to see Stucky, said she is glad he is running for this seat and thinks he will succeed if he wins. “I think as politicians go, he’s probably more down to earth than some; he strikes me as
fair,” Tarrant said. “I think when it comes to decision making, he would be fair and consider all sides. That’s one of the things I like about him being a vet. He genuinely cares about the animals, its reflective of his personality. He cares. I think he is running because he cares about the state of our world.” Mendez said days are crazy, seeing anywhere from 50 to 100 animals per day, but that is their normal. “We take the day head on and deal with it,” Mendez said.
“Everybody here has helped, during the primaries I was out campaigning on my days off. We all went to dinners with him. Were all a family, all 18 of us. We all really hope he wins, he is a great guy and we can’t wait to see him in office. Seeing him in this office, we can picture him in Austin. He will do great things.” Although Stucky is the Republican candidate, he said he wants to make things work for everyone and to come up with solutions together. “Work hard to get elected and
educate people why I will be a good representative for them,” Stucky said. “The polls in primary looked good for me, but I won’t and did not slow down campaigning. Till Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., I will continue to work hard.”
@falconjulia22
SPORTS Page 6
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
NTDAILY.COM
Women’s golfer Sol Lee dazzling in first year with Mean Green By Austin Jackson On the 18th tee box at Denton Country Club, a short golfer holds out her driver with one hand, like Babe Ruth calling a shot. The alignment method that has become part of North Texas sophomore Sol Lee’s preshot routine harkens back to the prediction she made at the Johnie Imes Invitational. After shooting a disappointing 82, she told
Sol Lee wedges the ball toward the green from the fairway. Jake King
Mean Green women’s assistant golf coach Kendra Little she would bounce back. “I was walking with Sol at the last hole, and she wasn’t having a good round, and she stands by me and says, ‘I’m gonna shoot under par next round,’” Little said. “And she did. She shot something like 69. That just speaks to how she operates and her mentality.” Lee was integral in setting a record that day for the lowest round in program history. Lee said her determination and grit are her strengths. “I don’t get discouraged when I play golf,” Lee said. “If I have a mess-up, I know how to come back strong, because that’s what motivates me. But it doesn’t hurt to hit it farther with the driver.” Lee found immediate success at North Texas after transferring over the summer from the University of New Mexico. Outside of the first round slip up in Missouri at the Johnie Imes Invite, Lee has scored in the 70s and 60s and carries the second-best scoring average on the team. Lee was born in South Korea and her mom was a gymnast on the Korean National Team, but her golf game was built on the American dream. Her parents both worked full-time after coming to America in 2001 and would drop Lee off at the course before work and pick her up once they clocked out. Lee said those long days practicing taught her independence. “It’s just you and the course out there,” Lee said. “You’re out there and you can’t hide
behind anything, you’ve got to show what you got. It’s very independent. You’re competing against other players but they don’t affect you — it’s all you.” Lee’s golf career took off in her freshman year at Coppell High School. She said she struggled to begin the year, shooting in the 90s. By the end of the season finished shooting in the 70s, earning her the most improved player award. “All the other girls were at high levels, but when I beat them, I knew I had it in me as well,” Lee said. Lee said with the independence and long days spent practicing came success that united her family. “My parents always cared deeply about my results in golf, and it was really cool because they’d be so in to it, and we don’t do very many family things, and it kind of brought the family together,” Lee said. After graduating from Coppell High School, Lee went to play at the University of New Mexico and despite playing well averaging 74.8 strokes per round, she didn’t feel like she was a part of the team. “It just wasn’t a good fit for me,” Lee said. “It was hard to be a part of the team when they were all European and I was just kind of off on my own. I was looking for a new school, Akers was kind enough to let me visit and I made my decision.” Head coach Michael Akers said Sol is an integral part of his plan to improve the team 100 spots in the national rankings by the end
Sol Lee takes a chunk of grass and soil out of the ground after hitting the ball. Jake King of the year. He said she’s galvanized the team, specifically raising the level of play for senior Eji Kwon, who has led the team in scoring average since her sophomore year. “Eji’s having the best year of her career so far,” Akers said. “Competition is always good and those two are pushing each other right now. If we had two more players step into that situation we would be very good.” But Little said Lee is a singular talent. “Sol is just impressive to me in a couple of different aspects,” Little said. “The way she hits the ball for the size she is something I’ve rarely seen. And I’ve seen the best of the best play, and just the way she compresses the ball is impressive.” Lee, who is just a shade over 5 feet tall, can’t describe how she hits it so far, but she did say she takes pride in bombing it past her opponents.
“I was prideful in high school about it,” Lee said. “It was great to tee off and then the other girls would tee off and I could just slowly walk to my ball and the other girls were still catching up.” Lee hopes her power will help propel her to a career in golf. She has chosen to study kinesiology to help teach the game in case a professional career doesn’t work out. But despite her hedging her bets, she’s confident she’ll get where she needs to go. “I believe as long as I work hard enough, I’ll get the results I want,” Lee said. “It’s not gonna be a straight road, there might be some curvature, I just know as long as I keep going the direction I’m going in going to reach it eventually.”
@a_jack17
IpinoluwaAdedokun handles clothing line,school and women’s basketball BASKETBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Washington-Walker said. “Many people, and especially children, are being affected by things such as a lack of water and resources.”
Despite owning his own fashion line, Adedokun is committed to the women’s basketball team. He said no matter how big his company gets, he still wants to work with the players and coaches
while he is at North Texas. “I would love to be here as long as coach Mitchell would have me” Adedokun said. “I feel like we will have a great dynasty here.” Some players on the team are
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Clothing designer Ipinoluwa Adedokun would like to make a Houston line next. Finding success with his Dallas line, Adedokun plans to start looking into other cities where he can make an impact. Zoe Acosta in addition to managing his own clothing line and a full course load. He is pursuing a major in finance. “Ipi is family to our basketball team, and family is important to me,” Mitchell said. “I will be supporting him and his clothing line, and I hope to represent his attire in the future.” Balancing his time has been quite the juggling act, and is no easy task. At times, things get challenging, but he manages to power through by keeping his priorities straight. “I always put my education first no matter what,” he said. “It’s been real tough, and throughout the day I’m in class and with the basketball team. At night I focus on my personal life and the clothing brand.” Adedokun’s sense of fashion
comes from people he sees on TV, in magazines, and even coaches, such as assistant Aisha Stewart. “Coach Stewart has a lot of kicks, and I want to be like her when it comes to shoes,” Adedokun said. “Soon I’ll have as many shoes as her.” Although humility is grounded in his personality, Adedokun is not bashful about one thing. Because in his opinion, no one on the team comes close to matching his style. “I’m the best dressed, without a doubt,” Adedokun said. “When I put on a suit, I feel as though no one can do it better than me.”
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starting to take notice of his love for fashion and intend to help him expand and develop it. “I’ve [known] Ipi for a long time, and he is a great guy to be around,” freshman forward Madison Townley said. “[The] team will help him with the clothing line and create an impact at North Texas and the world.” Adedokun’s drive and inspiration for fashion comes from several multi-billion dollar investors. He idolizes one person in particular, though, and hopes to one day be as successful as him. “People like Mark Cuban really inspire me,” Adedokun said. “The show Shark Tank gets me going, and is something I watch a lot.” While fashion and enhancing his brand are important to Adedokun, so is the team. The Mean Green are looking to build on last season, where they experienced improvement and a turnaround in head coach Jalie Mitchell’s first year at the helm. North Texas had a road upset over the No. 17 Oklahoma Sooners last year, and Adedokun is hopeful he can help continue their success. “He has a heart of gold,” Mitchell said. “He has been tremendously [supportive]. He gives a lot to this to team, and I hope he stays at North Texas.” Adedokun spends at least 40 hours per week with the team,
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NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 7 UPCOMING GAMES
Thursday: •Soccer @ FAU starting at 6 p.m. Friday: •Volleyball @ Rice starting at 6 p.m. •Swimming and diving @ Rice starting at 4 p.m. Saturday: •Football @ UTSA starting at 6 p.m. Sunday: •Volleyball @ Southern Miss starting at noon. •Soccer vs. Louisiana Tech @ 1 p.m.
MEAN GREEN QUICK HITS
Football: North Texas defeated Army 35-18 this past Saturday. The Mean Green are now two victories away from becoming bowl eligible.
North Texas senior midfielder Marchelle Davis (11) looks for a pass toward the middle of the field against Old Dominion on Sunday. Dylan Nadwodny
Mean Green soccer sets sights on C-USA crown By Matt Brune Winning is tangible when talking with North Texas head soccer coach John Hedlund. And after the team’s emotional win over Old Dominion University Sunday afternoon, he was not content with just narrowly getting by. “I’m happy with the win,” Hedlund said. “But we have to play better.” The Mean Green are 12-4-1 overall and 7-1 in Conference USA play, good enough for 21 points. Totaling 25 points will win the conference. That’s a win and at least a draw over the next two games, but Hedlund expects nothing less than perfection as the team ramps up its efforts for a second consecutive C-USA title. North Texas has made the C-USA championship game every year since joining the conference in 2013, and this year’s team is poised to contend again. “We know the pressure that [we have to go through] to get to the final,” senior midfielder Anna Flobeck said. “We also know how to handle that pressure and we’re able to lead the
underclassmen [through] it as well.” While this team has the intangibles to advance to the NCAA tournament, North Texas is not without its flaws. The two injuries to sophomore goalkeeper Brooke Bradley and senior defender Alexsis Cable have hurt the team’s depth. Fortunately for the Mean Green, the two girls filling in have done a nearly impeccable job of keeping the starting defense strong. As seen against the University of Texas at San Antonio when the team lost 3-0, the offense can become stagnant and solely reliant on athleticism, which gets them into trouble. The UTSA game also highlighted the importance of rest, showing the affect fatigue can have on a game. North Texas’ possession can also be spotty at times. It’s easy to play long balls to any of the speedy and elusive forwards, but occasionally they do not control the ball in the midfield as much as they need to, which makes it harder for plays to develop. And though the Mean Green’s weaknesses are few and far between, Hedlund conceded the team needs to
be more consistent on offense. “We’re playing pretty solid defense right now,” Hedlund said. “But obviously we’d like to score more goals. We’re just trying to get our offense where it needs to be.” North Texas is able to win games in multiple ways, which is one reason they have been so successful. Perhaps their biggest asset is athleticism, something Hedlund and the rest of the coaching staff have raved about on several occasions. He loves the speed of his team on both sides as forwards are able to get past several defenders to apply pressure on goal. This style of play reeks havoc on defenses and creates plenty of chances for the offense. The other intangible North Texas has at its disposal is leadership and experience. Seniors Marchelle Davis, Anna Flobeck and Rachel Holden can all help calm younger players during tense situations, which will be crucial in upcoming win-or-go-home games. The preparation for those matches has already started on the training ground. “The energy [in practice] is up,”
Davis said. “We know we’re in a good spot and everyone understands we still have [two] games left before we go to the conference tournament, and if we want a ring, we have to win those games.” The problems offensively are not alarming, though. The Mean Green have more two-plus goal games (8) than scoreless games (5). The offense is in the top-31 percent in the country in shots and assists per game. It ranks in the top-22 percent in shots on goal per game and top-18 percent in goals per game. Statistically, the offense has been above-average. Defensively, the team allows .87 goals per game and boasts a save percentage of .831, which is in the top14 percent in the country. Hedlund and the team attribute their success defensively to the numerous players that can come in at any time and make an impact. The depth not only keeps players fresh but provides a spark when Hedlund needs to mix things up. Seventeen players have played in 13 or more games, not including the two injured players.
Soccer: The Mean Green has two games remaining on its schedule. They need a win and at least a draw this weekend to claim the conference regular season title.
“You have to have depth to win the tournament,” Hedlund said. “If you get to the final, you’re playing three games in a span of five days. You can’t just roll one or two off your bench and expect to be at a high level come semi-final or final.” The C-USA tournament begins Wednesday and includes eight teams. Should North Texas be a top-two seed, it is likely to face the University of Texas at El Paso, Marshall University or Old Dominion University — all teams North Texas beat this year. Over the last 16 seasons, Hedlund has led his teams to 12 conference tournament finals and four NCAA tournament berths. Suffice it to say, he knows what it takes to get the job done. But in order to reach their goals, the Mean Green will have to win one championship at a time. “We put ourselves in a great spot,” Flobeck said. “We just want to get that ring and finish in first.”
@mattbrune25
Volleyball: North Texas is 5-3 in Conference USA, and 11-12 overall. Two wins this weekend would put them over the .500 mark.
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Men’s basketball media day: Time to win is now for Tony Benford and Mean Green By Clay Massey
Southern Methodist University in February and will become eligible in mid-December. Frazier is recovering from knee surgery, which he had about eight months ago. Despite setbacks, Benford is confident he will be a key contributor. “Keith is doing well,” Benford said. “He’s working hard, but he’s got to be more consistent. We’ve talked to him about being an everyday guy and that’s been his challenge. If he’s an everyday guy, he has a chance to be really really good.” Junior forward Jeremy Combs noted a change in the intensity surrounding him and his teammates from last year. Benford believes the change in maturity from his young squad has pushed them to be better. Alongside Combs, sophomore center Rickey Brice Jr. is expected to see an
expanded role, especially after the 7-footer dropped 30 pounds in the offseason. Combs was named to the preseason AllConference-USA team after averaging a doubledouble last season. All eyes may be on him, but he is not fazed. “I don’t feel pressure,” Combs said. Benford is excited to tap into the depth he believes his team boasts. In the 17 practices North Texas has participated in, he is impressed with the competitiveness many of the players are exhibiting. The competitiveness is what attracted Green to North Texas, and he said this could be the second most talented squad he’s ever been on. Green was on a Wichita State team that made it the Final Four and is expected to fill the void of forward Eric Katenda, who averaged
6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last year. He is now playing professionally with Le Portel in France. “We’re very talented in my opinion,” Green said. “I think we have a great chance of winning the conference, making it to the tournament and making some noise. I plan on winning.” The North Texas North Texas women’s basketball head coach Jalie Mitchell responds to questions during media day. The women’s team is season tips off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at projected to finish sixth in Conference USA this season. Colin Mitchell home against Sull Ross State University, and the entire team is eager to get back on the court. “Our guys have been working extremely hard,” Benford said. By Matt Brune “I’ve been really pleased it’s by example or it’s vocal. I have been extremely with our progress so Entering her second year as the head women’s impressed with them.” far. We are very deep at basketball coach at North Texas, Jalie Mitchell aims to Mitchell is eager about having a full roster with loads every position, and we improve on the team’s 11-19 mark from last season. of talent after last year, wherein she frequently had eight are very excited by that.” Mitchell begins the 2016 campaign with more talent players to use. She said the influx of talent and depth have at her disposal, which has raised the expectations across led to her plausibly having eight girls capable of starting. While the team struggled in many aspects last year, the Conference USA. Coaches voted the Mean Green to Mean Green was a solid rebounding team, averaging 35.3 finish sixth this year in C-USA, eight spots above last @Clay_FC rebounds per game. year’s final standings. And with the recent additions, they should be even With 10 new players on the roster from transfers and more tenacious on the glass. freshman, Mitchell has turned her attention to an element “I want to be a great rebounding team,” Mitchell said. of her job she believes is necessary to run a championship“We added some great rebounders. Our transfers are all caliber program. “What we built last year [was] a culture of hard work, a great rebounders when they want to be. It is something that culture of family, and consistency, pride and commitment,” we are stressing, and they just have to go out there and get Mitchell said. “I think those things stand, and I think they it done.” Six of the additions have previous experience with have to stand every year in order for us to be successful.” What the team gained in talent, though, it lacks in college basketball and will be tasked with contributing experience. North Texas has three seniors and two juniors. immediately. With 10 new players and three top players The seniors they do have, however, carry themselves returning, North Texas is expected to continue its growth in a way that gives this team enough experience to and potential it flashed last year. The Mean Green tips off its season at 6:30 p.m. on compliment the added talent. Friday, Nov. 11, at the University of Arkansas at Little Mitchell gets back three of her top four scorers in senior Rock. point guard Kelsey Criner, senior guard Candice Adams “We are trying to make another statement,” Mitchell and senior guard Terra Ellison. Those three combined for said. “I think we did a decent job of that last year, but year 54.5 percent of the team’s total scoring last season. two is about accomplishing even more.” The three will be asked to do much more than score for
In the final year of his contract at North Texas, men’s basketball head coach Tony Benford knows what he has to do to stick around – win. Benford has not posted a winning record since arriving in Denton in 2012, but he thinks he has the team to end that streak this season. Even with an all-time mark of 54-73 looming over his expiring contract, Benford remains focused on his players. “It’s not about me, it’s about this team,” Benford said. “Yeah, I think [I have to have a successful season to return.] Obviously we need to win.” Benford added six fresh faces to his roster and a new assistant coach, Dan O’Dowdfor the upcoming campaign. Benford was able to pickup graduate forward Derail Green, junior forwards Bryce Jackson and Shane Temara, freshman guards Ryan Woolridge and AJ Lawson, and senior guard Keith Frazier. Woolridge’s eligibility is in question as he is a transfer, but a waiver has been submitted to the NCAA to possibly have him eligible at the beginning of the season. Frazier is the headliner of the new crop of players, as he is the only McDonalds All-American to ever play at North Texas. North Texas men’s basketball head coach Tony Benford responds to questions at media Frazier transferred from day. Benford is entering the last year of his contract this season. Colin Mitchell
Women’s basketball media day: Newcomers contribute in Jalie Mitchell’s second year
the team this season. “In addition to [Criner and Ellison], my other senior, Candice Adams, has been amazing [as leaders],” Mitchell said. “They’ve all stepped up their roles as leaders whether
@mattbrune25
OPINION Page 8
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
NTDAILY.COM
PLEASE, BABY, NO MORE PARTIES IN D.C. The Editorial Board Early voting began Monday, and quite a bit is at stake for Republicans and Democrats. While a majority of Americans are pulling out all of the stops for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, there is still a subculture of people who identify with Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson or Green Party candidate Jill Stein. The current third party candidates, Stein and Johnson, however, exercise just as much idiocy as their blue and red counterparts. Whether it was Johnson asking “What is Aleppo?” without an awareness of its Syrian location, or Stein calling for an easy deletion of all student loan debt, it’s not hard to see why third parties have the lowest polling results every time an election takes place. The chances of even having a third party president are invariably slim, mostly because the person and their vice presidential candidate
would need 270 electoral votes to win over the Electoral College. And neither Johnson nor Stein are currently raking in the numbers to prove otherwise. As a matter of fact, these weird and surreal politics have made others wonder about the state of third parties once this election ends. But for right now, nothing is going to change. The main purpose of third parties is to give voters a
“proper say” if they do not affiliate with Democrats or Republicans. The Libertarian Party is necessary as it promotes civil liberties and laissezfaire (or free enterprise) economics, both of which are reasonable contrasts against the far-tooconservative U.S. Congress. The Green Party is
We should be worried about the environment By Morgan Sullivan The internet was set amok at the recent news that the Great Barrier Reef is dying. This seems to be just another notch in the never ending list of things that humans have ruined. We destroy everything we touch, and it’s not getting any better. In addition to climate change ruining the ozone layer and the polar ice caps, now we have the Great Barrier Reef on our conscience as well. Think about that when you go to sleep at night. According to the Mother Jones magazine, of the nine processes that support life on Earth, four are already at unsafe levels. These four processes are human-driven climate change, loss of biosphere integrity, land-system change and the high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen flowing into our oceans due to fertilizers. If we don’t start taking care of our planet soon, the effects will be irreversible. That’s why it’s so important not only for American citizens to be involved in environmental change, but politicians as well. Barring the talk surrounding a 2012 Donald Trump
tweet where he claimed climate change was a hoax invented by the Chinese, the current political election has seen very little talk about the environment.
In this crucial time in our planet’s history, we need to be doing all that we can to make real change. If politicians aren’t pushing an ecofriendly agenda, no change will occur. This is why it’s important to know a presidential candidate’s stance on climate change before voting for them. Even Hillary Clinton hasn’t said much about the environment, which should be incredibly alarming to early voters this week. We are living in a time when every thing we do matters. Every choice we make will affect the future of not only our country but our planet. It’s vital we create legislation to protect our
environment. The real problem seems to be that, without citizens prompting politicians to care about the environment and draft legislation, nothing will happen. We are more focused on all of the wacky things the candidates say and do than worrying about the policies they plan to implement. Although the Environmental Protection Agency regulates matters like vehicle emissions, it won’t be enough as there isn’t any real regulation on climate change. We can’t just tell the Earth to stop getting warmer. Ninety-three percent of the Great Barrier Reef has experienced bleaching due to changes in temperature and sunlight, according to Australia’s National Coral Bleaching Task Force. That doesn’t mean it’s lost forever, though. If we want to save it, we need to act now. The only way we can change the damage we’re doing to this country is by electing a president that will make environmental changes. Lobby your government to save our planet. We only have one, and we’re not taking very good care of it.
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further notable since they’re not only anti-war but are major proponents for ecological politics and progressivism; the latter being the key cause that millennials have rallied for since the 2008 presidential election. While it’s understandable to dislike Johnson or Stein, it’s also obligatory for every American to see why they’re in the running to begin with. We are the land of the free after all. While libertarian and green
politicos aren’t wasting their votes, the current percentages fail to do either party much justice. In several election forecasts, Johnson is accounting for about 5 to 10 percent of national votes while Stein has roughly 2 percent. Be that as it may, third parties only appear to garner publicity during elections, fighting their battles behind the scenes during every presidential period. Their
consistently low voter turnouts are routine as a result. In fact, only five other third party candidates have earned more than 5 percent in national polls since 1936, according to data from Gallup. Unless liberals and conservatives can somehow lose their legislative and executive grips, they will always be in charge of our political system. Despite what our titular Kanye West gag suggests, we’re not saying third parties should ever end. Quite the contrary, they fulfill demographics who rightfully deserve electoral representation. If nothing else, the gag functions as a sentiment so many Americans share, but haven’t taken the time to actually think about. Third parties will continue to be essential in U.S. politics, even if they only speak up every four years.
@NTDaily
Absence policies need more lenience By Victoria Baghaei When professors distribute their syllabi, the first thing students do is flip through to find how many points we need to get a good grade, and how many classes we can miss before letter grades are dropped. Many of the policies read something along the lines of: “You have a maximum of two absences in this class, and you are only allowed to miss one lab. You won’t pass if you miss more than one lab and you will be deducted a half (or full) letter grade for each in-class absence after 2 p.m.” The majority of UNT students are used to this kind of absence policy, as many of our professors feel they should implement a strict policy for the student to
truly grasp the concepts of the course. Though necessary, as we must all put in the work to get our degrees,
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the policies can be overwhelming and stress students more than help them. What can be more overwhelming is when you catch the flu and have a doctor’s note, but the professor won’t allow it because: “It’s college; you don’t get sick anymore and doctor’s notes do not work anymore.” So now you have officially exceeded your absent limit and can’t miss another class for the rest of the semester. As an adult who pays thousands of dollars for said professors, I find it annoying when they dismiss a student’s claims of sickness or other circumstances without taking any time from their day to allow an explanation. But don’t fret! There are some professors who understand that life gets in the way sometimes, take into consideration the kind of student you are, and then make their assessment deciding if you’re being honest and excusing it afterwards. Those are the best kinds of professors.
When professors are unwilling to compromise after students miss three classes instead of two, it makes us feel like they don’t really care that much about our GPAs or grades. One more absence shouldn’t mean that I drop
an entire letter grade. Students who put time and work into a class should be awarded the benefit of the doubt. Not students who frequently miss class, realize they can miss more than they should and then email the professors to figure a way out. No. I’m talking about real students who come to class, for the most part, actively participate and do all their work. Students like myself, who received my third and final absence after my car was flooded by massive amounts of rainwater and received an email of pity rather than positivity. That’s cool. I worked extra hard to get that grade in the first place. A car accident should be enough of an excuse to not decrease a letter grade and excuse the absence. To our professors: Have faith in your students. You have probably heard thousands of excuses from students and after a while, you begin thinking everything that everyone says is a lie because there’s no way 10 students’ grandmothers died in the same semester. It sucks, and there will always be students like that. More often than not, however, students want to do well and excel in your class. You can trust the people who we are. When you have a good student who has met every requirement but has missed an extra class or two for a good reason, please listen. We want our degrees the right way, too.
@chorizotacoss
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