North Texas Daily - 6/10/2016

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016

VOL. 107 No. 1

BEYOND DAX’S HEARING Surgeries to save boy from malignant tumor in ear bring complications

NTDAILY.COM SCIENCE

Abbey Underground under fire again for alleged LGBT discrimination

By Adalberto Toledo Senior Staff Writer @adaltoledo29

By Bennett Morris Staff Writer @bennettlmorris

Anooj Thakker (far right), Lisa Thakker (middle) and Becky Wukits (far left) show emotion as a nurse explains surgery results. Hannah Ridings |

Everyday life for elementary school children should be simple.

Their concerns include how long they’ll play at recess, whether they have food they love packed inside their lunch boxes to munch on come lunch hour and the short stretch before bedtime they’ll have to escape into their favorite video games after their homework is done. Many children don’t afford these subjects a second thought and don’t have to.

Eight-year-old Dax Thakker is one of these children. From a tightly knit cul-de-sac in Flower

Mound, he has always loved playing Minecraft on his iPad and running across both grass and asphalt chasing soccer balls with friends. He’s fascinated with the latest Star Wars movie and can be counted on to devour one or two hot dogs.

But, after these past six months, Dax’s childhood is no longer that simple.

Dax has a rare condition called congenital cholesteatoma, which was discovered nearly a year ago after his school’s nurse performed a routine hearing check and recommended he receive further examination. The cholesteatoma is material that formed a malignant tumor, and if it were left untreated,

WEATHER

LIFE

By Matt Payne Features Editor @MattePaper

Today H: 80°F L: 65°F 7-Day Forecast Saturday H: 90°F L: 65°F Sunday H: 92°F L: 64°F Monday H: 85°F L: 64°F Tuesday H: 87°F L: 67°F Wednesday H: 87°F L: 68°F Thursday H: 82°F L: 66°F TRENDING

@ntdaily @thedose_ntdaily @ntd_sports

#POTUSonFallon President Barack Obama met with musician Madonna June 9 on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Slowjamming the news and yet another mic drop were the main features.

#StanleyCup

The San Jose Sharks forced a game 6 beating the Penguins 4-2 on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The series will return to San Jose.

#TrumpSecretService“Hair Farce One” and “Trumpty Dumpty” were among the several creative monickers assigned to the presumptive nominee.

EDITORIAL ON PAGE 8

YOU ARETHE CAUSE, I AMTHE EF-

it would’ve gradually eliminated his sense of hearing in his left ear only to expand to destroy his taste, smell and sight. The tumor has since been removed, but not before it destroyed his left ear’s incus bone.

Surgery No. 1 replaced the original incus bone with a prosthetic model and partially restored his hearing. The operation was critical for Dax to undergo, but even months after the tumor removal complications still remain.

“It’s traumatic seeing him wake up from a surgery, face completely whitewashed,” Dax’s grandmother, Becky Wukits, said.

“At this point, you could call us

hospital veterans.”

Wukits and her husband have been present for both of Dax’s major surgeries. Six months after his first visit to Cook’s Children Medical Center in Lewisville, Dax was back for another surgery to adjust the prosthetic bone that began to agitate his eardrum. In a waiting room where only he and his family sat, he dragged his small limbs across the top of a tiny alcove just big enough for children to seclude into, nearly silent and only mumbling indistinct words.

He hadn’t eaten for 12 hours in preparation for the appointment, and his stomach roiled from the fatigue of hunger. His younger sister, Olive, had to be moved

out of his eyesight. Her snacking caused Dax too much agony.

It wouldn’t have normally been an issue for him, as one consequence of Dax’s first surgery on his left ear was the loss of taste on the left side of his tongue. During the invasive procedure, doctors accidentally severed a nerve responsible for transmitting the sensation of taste to his brain. Foods that were once salty sometimes taste sweet, and certain entrees now strike him as salty. Dax used to love chicken tenders, but can no longer agree with the altered taste.

SEE SURGERIES ON PAGE 4

The Abbey Underground is once again under fire for a controversial incident involving the LGBT community, this time involving gender-specific bathrooms.

Sven Wilde, 24, was born male and identifies as “nonbinary,” and said Wilde was out dancing the weekend of May 27 at Abbey Underground when Wilde was told by a bartender to “just use the men’s bathroom.”

“I was mis-gendered and asked to use a bathroom of someone else’s choice,” Wilde said. “I no longer had power over my own body because some random woman didn’t like my gender presentation.”

Tim Trawick, co-owner of Abbey Underground, said a woman had complained to Abbey Underground staff that there was a “guy” in the women’s bathroom.

Afterward, Wilde said people saw Wilde in distress and thus approached, at which time the woman who had made the complaint shouted something inaudible and left.

SEE LGBT ON PAGE 3

POLITICS

Hitchhiker lands in Denton after rocky past UNT

By Nealie Sanchez Staff Writer @NealieSanchez

Nestled in a store front on Sunset Street is an old, wooden door with a golden mail slot.

Behind this door is a miniature gallery filled with canvas paintings. Behind the counter is tattoo artist, Darian Fulks, whose eyes stay focused as he cracks a smile, and knuckles read “home sick.”

Fulks’ past, since age 15 when he ran away from Denver, Colorado, includes hitchhiking, family, motorcycles and bar fights.

He left because of the sudden move from the quaint familial life in Arkansas he was used to.

“It was a completely different way to live. Kids there were experiencing things I had no idea about. Whether it was

music, fashion or this and that,” Fulks said. “Combined with the fact that I didn’t really know how to deal with the Fulks-side of the family’s expectations of me or deal with socializing with my peers I was completely lost.”

His cumbersome family situation and social differences fostered a will to become independent.

“Growing up in Arkansas and just kind of being who I am developed this kind of independence pretty early on.

It was clear to me that I was who I was,” Fulks said. “I had a hard time with people trying to change that.”

He set off on his own by way of hitchhiking. Sometimes stopping to “do a little high school here and there” at Valley View High School in Valley View, Texas. The spirit of freedom was ingrained inside of him.

“I want to experience things

that are above average that aren’t normal,” Fulks said. “I began to thrive on it.”

He would end up leaving Texas to hitchhike to Cortez, Colorado until the age of 17.

From there, he hitchhiked around the country until age 21.

Through this time, Fulks made money doing day-labor.

“You just learn how to get by somehow. You do what you need to do,” Fulks said. “You just kind of live real lean.”

SEE TATTOO ON PAGE 5

By Matthew Reyna Staff Writer @bucko_rodgers

Darian Fulks, Red River Tattoo Company owner, settled down in Denton after a life of hitchiking and traveling across the country.

Fulks opened his shop on Sunset Street. Dylan Nadwodny | Staff

VEGANISM

Denton Vegetarian Society looks to expand community’s vegan knowledge through new leadership facing theft charges

By Kayleigh Bywater Senior Staff Writer @KayleighBywater For TWU nutrition junior Tara Hughes, there are certain phrases she hears daily: “Isn’t that actually an unhealthy lifestyle?” “What do you even eat?” “What’s the point?” and “I could never give up cheese.”

Hughes, who has followed a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle since she was 12 years old, always has the perfect responses for these questions. And for her, the answers are quite simple: “Actually, it’s a lot better for your body than eating meat is,” “It’s a part of a much, much bigger picture” and “Cheese is honestly terrible for your body.”

Through her philosophies and informative facts, Hughes runs the

Denton Vegetarian Society, which aims to foster the community’s knowledge about not only veganism, but what it means to live a healthier lifestyle.

“I’m super compassionate about veganism because I think it’s really important for people to understand it instead of getting offended by it,” Hughes said. “This group helps push my passion even more.”

Starting fresh The group, which started as a UNT campus organization, has slowly branched into Denton.

While they started as proponents for people to at least adopt a vegetarian lifestyle on campus and educated the public on animal suffering, it has become more focused on promoting veganism, a diet without meat or dairy

senior set for Texas House campaign

products.

DVS’ main way of reaching out to the community is through potlucks where anyone - vegan or not - can bring vegan or vegetarian food and congregate to try new things and make new friends.

“We are not trying to force anything down anyone’s throat,” Hughes said. “We just want people to know there is a lot more to veganism than they may think.”

Although Hughes runs DVS, she has only been in Texas for a short amount of time. Hughes spontaneously moved to Texas from Virginia in January after a Christmas visit to see her family.

Hughes, who not only saw Denton as a fit to her personality, felt it was a great way to discover new ventures. She did not, however,

expect for it to lead her to running a group.

That all changed in February when Hughes went to the Valentine’s Day-themed potluck with friends. There she met Christie Norris, who took the group under her wing a few years earlier.

Norris, who would be moving soon, left Hughes in charge of DVS after meeting her to discover what she was all about.

“She seemed passionate about veganism and offered to help,” Norris said. “We had mutual friends, so although I’d just met her, I knew she’d fit the role so well. I want to see this group live on and grow for many years, and she can do that.”

SEEVEGANISM ON PAGE 6

At the Nov. 8 general election, a 58-year-old Sanger veterinarian will face off against a 22-year-old UNT student for the Texas House District 64 representative chair.

Connor Flanagan, a media arts and political science senior, narrowly won the Democratic primary in March over 55-yearold retired firefighter Paul Greco, who was endorsed by the Dallas Morning News.

But Flanagan’s inexperience has yet to become a road block for his campaign to Austin.

“What I lack in experience I have in my passion for what this is,” Flanagan said. “That shines through in me getting out and doing this. I care so much about what happens in this district and statewide.”

Every candidate who ran for the District 64 seat has expressed admiration for Flanagan’s gutsiness. The respect for Flanagan ventures across the political spectrum, from Greco to his November opponent, Lynn Stucky.

“He’s a positive young man and he has the guts to step out there and do it as a 22-year-old,” Stucky said.

Although Flanagan’s confidence isn’t waning despite his young age, nagging questions about his campaign remain, particularly in the bankroll.

SEE POLITICS ON PAGE 2

NEWS Page 2

NTDAILY.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016

CITY COUNCIL

City Council lays out plans for Renewable Denton Plan

By Matthew Reyna Staff Writer @bucko_rodgers

The Denton City Council made the next step in its Renewable Denton Plan on Tuesday, presenting plans for two gas plants during an afternoon work session and listening to public concern at the evening meeting.

The Renewable Denton Plan would involve building a new natural gas plant in hopes of increasing Denton’s renewable energy from 40 percent to 70 percent by 2019.

When the floor was opened to public comments, Denton citizens Larry Beck and Ken Gold said they were skeptical of the project. Beck presented what he said were 600 letters from citizens opposing the proposed gas plant.

“There will be heavy costs to building these plants,” Beck said. “I’m skeptical that RDP is our only option.”

Beck said the only acceptable plan is one that distances Denton from fossil fuels and works toward making the city completely renewable.

Gold said a public policy decision as important as the Renewable Denton

Plan should be left to the citizens to decide.

“Trust the public to make the right decision,” Gold said. “Possibly it will confirm, support, validate and ratify the plan, but the other possibility is that it will save us $250 million we can invest in another way.”

Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Roden of District 1 said there is a lot of misinformation being distributed about the proposed policy.

“If someone’s telling me they are going to pollute my air and kill my kids, I might say I’m against it too,” Roden said. “I get the concern, but we are doing something very progressive, very aggressive, and I look forward to voting on it.”

Electricity in parks, Fire Department accusations The city council also approved Tuesday the use of parts of North Lakes Park and Northpointe Park for non-park use that will allow the city to maintain electric transmission through the park with power lines.

Jim Mays, the Superintendent of Planning and Construction for Denton Parks and Recreation, said the power lines were necessary and would not

affect the parks, and that the non-park usage meets the requirements of a state law.

The law mandates if a portion of a public park is used, there must be no reasonable alternative to the project and must minimize harm to the property.

Willie Hudspeth, Denton County NAACP president, contributed to the meeting multiple times during public hearings and accused the Denton Parks and Recreation Department and the Denton Fire Department of not being diverse.

“They come up with their own segregated situation, and I have to pay for it,” Hudspeth said. “I’ll come up with my own fire department.”

Roden and Councilman Dalton Gregory, at large Place 5, said Hudspeth’s accusations lacked a factual basis.

“We don’t want to discriminate, and I don’t think we have,” Roden said.

“We’ll look at that, but lowering your standards is never a good policy for a fire department.”

Awards, Appointments and Karaoke The City Council also recognized members of the community who have

made significant contributions to the city.

Dan Leal, the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County, presented an award to retiring Denton police officer Virginia Nichols for fighting child abuse throughout the last twelve years.

“She is actually the longest tenured police detective in Denton County working consecutive years on child abuse cases,” Leal said.

Mayor Chris Watts honored Colonel Wesley C. Reed, a 1982 graduate of Denton High School, with a proclamation recognizing his military service and declared June 8 “Colonel Wesley Reed Day” in Denton. Reed retired at the beginning of this month.

“Don’t give me the mic, holy hell,” Reed said. “I grew up in Denton, Texas.

If you told me I’d be here receiving this award 34 years later, I’d have said no way.”

The City Council also appointed officials to city bureaucratic organizations. Ed Steele was appointed to the Public Art Committee, and David Higgins was appointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

During closing statements, the

Kevin Roden, Mayor Pro Tem of District 1, tries for clarification on The Brattles Group presentation of the Denton Municipal Electric’s proposed Renewable Denton Plan June 6 at city hall.

City Council promoted the AllStar Karaoke event hosted by the Greater Denton Arts Council at Dan’s Silverleaf on Saturday, June 18. All proceeds from the event will benefit the GADC and the arts in Denton.

“I guess they’re considering local politicians all-stars,” Roden said. “I hope there will be more interesting

people on the docket.”

Councilman Gregory hinted that visitors could be surprised with what they see.

“Last year the mayor sang, and I had no idea what talent the man had,” Gregory said. “I will be part of the chorus for sure.”

POLITICS

UNT senior faces uphill battle for Texas House seat

Flanagan has been outspent, outflanked and out-advertised in the lead-up to his much-tougher race against the more experienced Stucky. His most recent financial report shows he received $0 in campaign contributions and had the same amount of cash in hand during the last period.

The financial report Stucky posted before he won his runoff against Read King shows $131,313.75 in campaign contributions and revealed he had $32,005.69 cash in hand at the time.

“During the primary, I wasn’t worried about money or trying to get money,” Flanagan said. “I definitely wanted to get out as much as I could rather than spend money on things like mailers. We’re definitely trying

to ramp up campaign contributions so we can spend money on a larger scale.”

Making matters more difficult for Flanagan, the District 64 seat has been traditionally held by Republicans, including the last 16 years by outgoing representative Myra Crownover, who has endorsed Stucky.

Crownover’s endorsement also carries weight, considering her popularity with District 64 voters.

She won all of her general election campaigns uncontested or by dominant majorities.

Flanagan also faces an uphill battle in regards to voter turnout.

According to the Denton County Elections Administration, only 7,858 voters participated in the

VOTING

With less than 20 percent of millenials nationwide turning out to vote in the 2014 mid-term elections, many politicians are left scratching their heads wondering how to coax them to the polls.

According to CIRCLE, a Tuft University center that studies civic engagement, 19.9 percent of people ages 18-34 voted in 2014.

One factor contributing to this trend is a pervasive lack of registration among young people.

As they move away from home to attend college, many students are unaware of simple measures that can allow them to cast a ballot on election day.

Denton is no exception. “[Students] can go to VoteDenton.com and download an application, and they can fill it out and mail it in to the elections office,” Lannie Noble, elections administrator for Denton County, said. “Or they can come into the office, fill out an application and hand it to us.”

Noble also said students who renew their driver license at the department of public safety could register to vote while doing so.

The deadline to register is 30 days before the general election, which takes place on Nov. 8.

With millennials recently overtaking baby boomers as the largest voting bloc in the United States, the lack of millenial voting has party affiliates looking to organize ways to connect with young and uninterested voters.

“Anybody who lives on a campus can register to vote,”

As a UNT student, Flanagan’s most natural constituency is students interested in casting a ballot for one of their own. Possibly knowing his best path to victory revolves around college students, Flanagan lists higher education as the top priority on his campaign website.

“I believe that no matter a person’s economic background, if they work hard and are successful in school, it should be tuition-free,” the policy reads. “An educated workforce is what separates strong economies from weak ones.”

But Stucky is no stranger to educational policy himself. He served on the Sanger ISD school board for 15 years and has been noticed by his peers for his contributions.

Denton County commissioner Hugh Coleman, Precinct 1, endorsed Stucky during the Republican primary because of Stucky’s experience in the schools.

“In Denton, we have three big state institutions: UNT, TWU, and the State School,” Coleman said.

“We need someone who is going to work actively to support these organizations. I feel Dr. Stucky is the best man for the job.”

Although Stucky continues to maintain his momentum, he isn’t taking Flanagan lightly. He said he respects how Flanagan has made it as far as he has, considering his lack of resources.

“People are tired of the personal attacks,” Stucky said. “He beat [Greco], and he [will graduate]

from UNT. He’s got that going for him. I consider him a legitimate candidate.”

Flanagan reciprocated the admiration for his opponent and said he’s enjoyed getting to know him – a change of pace from the common narrative in national politics.

But Flanagan still has his eyes set on the prize, despite how lopsided the table may seem on the surface, and said he believes he can win in November.

“I would say he’s beatable,” Flanagan said. “There hasn’t been an open seat here for over 16 years, and I think the people are ready for new blood.”

MUSIC

UNT students can register to vote in Denton County

By Harrison Long Editor-in-Chief @HarrisonGLong

Democratic primary, while 20,769 voters participated in the Republican primary on the same day.

Additionally, Stucky’s campaign sign can been seen all across District 64. Flanagan does not have widely distributed campaign paraphernalia.

Stucky has the advantage on social media, boasting 1,885 likes on his regularly updated Facebook page, which is listed as “very responsive.” Flanagan’s Facebook page shows only 50 likes and has not been updated in 2016.

“My team is trying to ramp up on social media,” Flanagan said.

“Money is going to be hard to get, but social media is free and you can get to thousands and thousands of people without spending any money.”

Phyllis Wolper, chairperson for the Denton County Democratic Party, said.

“Even if you’re in a dorm or apartment, it doesn’t matter.

You can register to vote here.

We will be doing extensive registration on college campuses.”

Wolper said she expected the number of voters to cast their ballots in Denton to match or exceed that of 2008, which had an extremely high turnout. She also said registration is nonpartisan, and even if voters are being registered as members of a certain party, they aren’t likely to see any emblem.

On campus, student government is also leading the charge in helping students engage in local and national politics.

“We’ve had booths in the past and have bused voters to polling sites from dorms,” SGA president Grant Hale said.

“Voter apathy is a real thing.”

Hale also joked that sometimes it can be difficult to even get students to vote in campus elections, where ballots are cast online. In the SGA spring run-off election, 11 percent of UNT students voted.

But as far as convincing UNT students to vote in the general election in November, Noble said they’re aiming to urge millenials to be proactive to avoid the long lines that appear on Election Day. “We’re encouraging people to take advantage of that first week of early voting, where you can vote at any precinct,” he said.

College of Music appoints new dean

By Adalberto Toledo Senior Staff Writer @adaltoledo29

One of UNT’s biggest claims to fame is its esteemed College of Music, known for Grammynominated ensembles like the One O’clock Lab Band and Grammywinning alumni like Norah Jones and the musicians of Snarky Puppy.

So when James C. Scott stepped down as dean of the College of Music after nearly 15 years at the helm, some large shoes were left to be filled.

Long-time music educator John Richmond was tabbed to carry the torch.

“It would be wrong for me to go in and say, ‘Well this is one of the great colleges of music in history, but I’m going to tell you what to do now,’” Richmond said. “First of all it’s wrong, and second of all it’s arrogant. I’m not that guy.”

Richmond is the current director of the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but will leave

the cold winters of Nebraska for the Denton heat starting August 1.

With 13 years of experience UNL, a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music and a Ph.D. in music education from Northwestern University, Richmond said he’s ready for a new challenge.

“I feel I have a great ability to listen and a great ability to facilitate, organize and serve as an advocate,” Richmond said. “I think those are essential qualities for a dean.”

From an early age Richmond was surrounded by music. His parents encouraged him to pursue music in his own way, which allowed him to excel at trumpet, piano and become self-taught at guitar.

“I was encouraged without being compelled,” Richmond said. “You know, you hear stories about parents with all the best of intentions that push hard, but my parents were always encouraging

and allowed me to pursue the musical interests that I’ve had.

They just allowed me to do it at the rate, pace and direction that felt right to me.”

Though he no longer plays trumpet, he frequently attends church services at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he sings in the choir with his wife.

With a background that consists of formal music education training and choral performance and direction, he does everything in his power to be able to go to church and sing every Sunday.

“I don’t direct the choir because I can’t take on that responsibility with the other duties in our wheelhouse,” Richmond said.

“But it’s a great outlet for us musically.”

Richmond’s passions have not always been in music. While in school for his Ph.D., he became interested in law and took courses in educational law, even writing his dissertation on philosophical law.

It proved to be advantageous in

John Richmond | Courtesy of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of Communications

his career, with arts funding being cut across the country.

According to the Washington Times the Chicago school system decided to close over 50 schools due to lack of funding, causing them to lay off over 1,000 teachers.

Ten percent of the lay-offs were music and arts teachers.

As dean, he hopes to bring the conversation to the future of music and education.

With UNT being one of the first universities to offer a jazz program, he said the university should be a leader in the discussion.

“The question that we’re asking ourselves now is what kind of musical engagements ought to be a common part of the conversation,” Richmond said. “For example, the DIY music scene that’s happening spontaneously outside the college, should that be a part of the curricular conversation within the college? And there’s also an awful lot of opportunity in film and in gaming, and we need to look at that carefully and have those conversations.”

The challenge of growing an already f lourishing music program has Richmond excited to take the reins. After long conversations, multiple interviews and a review of his professional life, he said he feels good about coming to UNT. “The reputation of the University of North Texas in music is stellar and international, so I’ve known about that institution for a long time,” Richmond said.

“I’m really excited and honored to come to UNT, and it’s an amazing place with such a storied reputation in music. It’s a thrill to be a part of it.”

NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 3 CONSTRUCTION

Campus construction to focus on aesthetics during summer semesters

By Adalberto Toledo Staff Writer @adaltoledo29

Construction crews are set to continue mostly aesthetic work on the UNT campus this summer while a majority of students are away from campus.

With the University Union now complete and as the university moves further into its master plan, the familiar sounds of drills and hammers will continue to be heard.

“There’s over 65 projects going on on campus this summer,” associate vice president of facilities David Reynolds said.

“That’s from interior renovations of dorms, to roof repairs, mechanical systems and other small remodeling jobs. It’s a very busy summer.”

The bigger projects include renovations to the Language Building courtyard, facade renovations to the research building, and interior work and renovations to Mozart and Bruce Halls.

Language Building The language building is set to receive a new courtyard that will open up and face businesses on Fry Street by the end of the summer.

“We’re going to be replacing a lot of the concrete around the building,” Reynolds said. “We’re working on some drainage around the building and water infiltration issues.”

Construction is set to remain

inside the current fences around the Language building and should not affect access. Some work may be done to the north side of the building, which faces Voertman’s and Big Mike’s Coffee, and fencing will change accordingly.

“There’s also going to be different landscaping around the area,” Reynolds said. “The whole point is really to give that area a facelift.”

Research building Through January 2017, the Research Building will have two projects going on.

Exterior work to the facade of the building will finish by July, according to Reynolds, but the inside renovations on the first and second floors will not be finished until January.

Super Pit Reynolds said it’s challenging to set out a schedule to renovate the Super Pit because it gets so much activity year-round, including everything from camps to visiting groups and orientation.

Still, he said renovations are necessary.

“We really just want to kind of freshen it up in there,” Reynolds said. “Right now it looks pretty tired.”

He said the project hasn’t entered the design phase yet, but he still has a vision for the upgrades at the home of Mean Green basketball.

“The plan is to redo the concourse area around the building on the inside, where

the concession stands are and the bathrooms, and give it a nice Mean Green appearance,” Reynolds said.

He said it is still too early to tell whether construction will disrupt the basketball schedule.

Residence Halls Renovation crews have walked up an down the hallways of Bruce Hall for the past two summers due to renovations being done on the third and fourth floors.

This summer, updates to Bruce will complete with final renovations in the first and second floors, while Mozart and Clark are to receive some upgrades as well.

“We’re doing some really nice things in the residence halls,” Reynolds said. “We have further renovations to Bruce Hall, some minor touches in Mozart and a new bakery project in Clark Hall.”

Walkway The controversial walkway, which will r un from the Gateway Center to Hurley, was set out in the 20 02 campus master plan but will not break ground until the late summer months, possibly not even until the fall semester.

Students have voiced their concer ns with the pathway, which would eliminate 86 parking spaces from the Clark Hall parking lot with no plans to develop new parking lots or parking str uctures.

Other Projects There is no set plan yet as to the renovations to the former Sack n’ Save building on Avenue C and Interstate 35E, but Reynolds said a design is in the process of being created.

Reynolds does not expect any work to be done to the building until the fall and said a lot of the work depends on the expansion of I-35. He said construction crews will also deal with smaller projects, such as roof repair, mechanical and electrical updates and other small remodeling jobs.

“It’s going to be a very busy summer for the crews,” Reynolds said.

I-35 near the North Texas Blvd and Bonnie Brae St exit. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor

North Texas Blvd closed due to construction on I-35. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor

SPORTS

UNT Athletics ranked highly in academics in 2014-2015, per report

By Nealie Sanchez Staff Writer @NealieSanchez

Despite many subpar performances on the field, UNT athletics found success in the classroom, finishing 2014-2015 with high APR scores, according to an NCAA report.

A team’s APR score is comprised of both student athlete GPA and retention of athletes. Each student athlete can receive two points for his or her team: one for passing, and one for staying with the team.

UNT had multiple sports with perfect scores: men’s golf, women’s cross country, tennis, women’s track & field and volleyball, while various other sports ranked among the top in the NCAA. The football team finished with an APR of 993, which is the top 10 percent of all NCAA football teams.

Men’s and women’s basketball finished with an APR score of 938 and 939 respectively, placing them in the bottom 20 p e r c ent i n t h e NCA A.

O ut goi ng U N T a t h let ic d i r e c t o r R ick Vi l la r r e a l s a id these types of i m p r ovem ent s a r e p o s sible because the a t h let ics d e p a r t m ent p r io r it i z e s a c a d em ics. “ My ph i lo s o phy i s t h a t t h e r e’s s om e k id s t h a t we h ave t h a t a r e go o d enoug h t o go t o t h e n ex t level. But out of t h e 2 5, 0 0 0 st ud ent a t h let e s i n t h e la st fou r ye a r s, we’ve go t f ive of t h em m a k i ng a l iv i ng [i n sp o r t s], a nd t h e r e st of t h em a r e out wo r k i ng i n t h e r e a l wo rld,” Vi l la r r e a l s a id. “ I’ve a lways m a d e it cle a r t o ou r ent i r e st a f f t h a t t h e d eg r e e h a s go t t o c om e f i r st.”

Fo r c r o s s - c ou nt r y h e a d c o a ch St efa n ie Slek i s, t h e i m p r ovem ent i s s om et h i ng t h a t d o e sn’t go u n not ic e d. “ T h i s ye a r we h a d ou r h ig h e st s em e st e r GPA eve r, a 3. 6 4,” Slek i s s a id. “ My f i r st s em e st e r c o a ch i ng h e r e it wa s a 3. 0 4. It’s g r e a t t o s e e how mu ch t h ey b r oug ht up t h ei r GPA.”

Upgrading academic spaces UNT was docked scholarships in 2009 for poor academic performance, but it has made strides in ensuring student athlete success since then.

One step Villarreal took during his tenure was improving the student athlete academic center.

“When we came here in 2001, we worked in a room that was probably 20 feet by 16 feet, and it had two tables and eight chairs with no computers. That was kind of our study hall for student athletes,” Villarreal said. “Unfortunately, at that time graduation rates were about 32 percent for student athletes, and so that to me has always been one of my main focuses.”

The improvements included a larger space, technological upgrades, staff members and an entire program dedicated to coaching freshman into a successful first year at college.

Track & field senior Connor Bey is one of many studentathletes who has used the

center since the beginning of his college career and said it’s clear how UNT prioritizes academics.

“Freshman year, all student athletes have eight hours of mandatory study hall,” Bey said. “So it really sets the tone for how important it is.”

The study hall remains mandatory for any athlete with a GPA under a 3.0, but students with higher GPAs can still utilize the space.

Student athletes also have the added pressure of doing homework while they travel with their teams for away games.

“It’s important to get our schedules so that they can do work while they’re on the road or before they’re on the road, or make arrangements if they’re going to miss a particular test while they’re out of town for three days,” Villarreal said.

With many classes emphasizing online coursework and the use of blackboard to turn in assignments, getting homework done on the road has become easier, Bey said.

“Online helps a lot and

everything is sort of online now. I’ve taken my laptop with me out of town for homework,” Bey said. “I was at conference last year on a Wednesday and Thursday, and I had an assignment turned in on Thursday night.”

From classroom to field Each Mean Green team seeks the same thing: students who excel in classes so their dedication originates outside of their uniform and carries over while wearing it.

“A lot of the same work ethic translates [to classwork], and we try to find good students to join our program,” Slekis said. “They’re working really hard to finish what they started here at UNT, and it shows the dedication levels of the athletes in our program.”

While every university is competing to win on the field, Villarreal insisted UNT would never sacrifice the academic success for a few wins here and there.

“We want to win as much as anybody, and so we’re not excit e d t hat we don’t wi n,” Vi l la r rea l sa id. “But

t he f a c t t h a t w e k n o w that our students here are doing what they came here to do - they have made academ ics a p r i o r i t y, a n d i t ’s b e e n a priority across the board for ever ybody i nvolve d i n ou r p r og r a m.”

St udent-ath lete success in the classroom w a s o n e o f V i l l a r r e a l ’s biggest points of pride before stepping down as athletic director last month.

“When somebody asked me what my greatest accomplish ment is, was i t b u i l d i n g a s t a d i u m?

Wa s i t m o v i n g u s f r o m noncompliance Title IX to compliance Title XI? F o r m e , i t ’s t h a t w e h a v e set up a system that our k ids academ ica l ly have g raduated a nd st ayed in school at numbers that compare with the best in t h e c o u n t r y, ” V i l l a r r e a l s a i d . “ T h a t ’s t h e b i g g e s t t h i ng t hat I ca n ever hope st ud ent s do.”

LGBT

Abbey Underground under fire again for alleged LGBT discrimination

Wilde added the whole situation angered Wilde and forced Wilde to leave Abbey Underground.

Trawick said via e-mail that Wilde had been previously observed using the men’s bathroom and that the bartender’s request was inappropriate given the circumstances.

“At Abbey Underground, there is no policy to restrict the use of our bathrooms, nor will we ever,” Trawick said. “Regardless of all of this, Wilde was not happy.”

Wilde explained that Wilde often uses the male restroom “to police [Wilde’s] own gender for safety.” Wilde said it’s to avoid being “constantly mis-gendered” and harassed by women in bathrooms.

“All this [situation] shows [is] that no matter what I wear or what I look like, people will still have something to say,” Wilde said. “I am not a bully asking for scathing reviews. I’m just a person asking for basic rights.”

After the incident, Wilde left a comment on a review on Abbey Underground’s Facebook page, which prompted Trawick to reach out to Wilde directly on Facebook messenger.

Trawick was sympathetic about the incident and admitted they handled the situation incorrectly, but also could not commit to creating a “policy against bigots, transphobics, queers, etc.” due to potential lawsuits.

In the message to Wilde, he said Abbey Underground is “trying to stand on the line and be objective” to avoid creating strife for the business.

He added that Abbey Underground is “a little inexperienced with these matters” and saw any potential response as a “trap,” or lose-lose situation.

Near the end of his message to Wilde, Trawick said “every time [Abbey Underground] has one of these incidents, [the LGBT community] tries to bully us.” He also told Wilde Mable Peabody’s and Abbey Underground are some of the only bars in Denton where the LGBT community can feel welcome, saying Wilde’s comments were “making [Trawick] wonder if [he] should change that.”

Wilde felt Abbey Underground had responded too defensively.

“Why is it anytime anyone stands up for themselves, they suddenly become the attacker?” Wilde said.

“For simply wanting the right to not be berated? Something cis heteronormative people don’t have to ask for because its default? Ask for what they already have and suddenly you’re imposing on their rights to hate you simply for existing.”

This is not the first time that Abbey Underground has had troubles with the LGBT community. Kat Ralph, co-founder of Keep Denton

Queer, said in a Facebook post four years ago she was “singled out, gay bashed, and told by the manager at Abbey Underground that he wasn’t going to do anything about it.”

Ralph added she feels for the situation Wilde is in.

“I know how it feels to be singled out, to feel alone, to be overwhelmed and uncertain on how to proceed,” Ralph said. “When I heard about what happened to Sven, I was immediately exhausted because I knew just what they were going through.”

Ralph said the reason for cofounding Keep Denton Queer was to prevent these types of situations from happening and to provide safe spaces for people in Denton.

“With Keep Denton Queer, we wanted to tell people, ‘Hey, this business supports you, no matter your identity, orientation, or otherwise,’” Ralph said in a Facebook post. “Fast-forward four years later, and here I am responding to another incident at the exact same bar.”

Ralph said she reached out to Trawick on June 1 to see if they could repair their relationship and start an initiative to “move Denton forward.”

Ralph said they chatted for awhile and that he was appreciative of the gesture.

“I gave him 24 hours to respond

TAbbey Underground - 100 W Walnut Street Hannah Breland | Staff Photographer as to whether or not he wanted to partner with me and host an ally training for businesses,” Ralph said.

“Unfortunately, I have not heard from him, which brings me to my point: Abbey Underground is not a safe space for the queer community.”

Though he empathizes with the issues facing Wilde and the LGBT community, Trawick said the incident has brought him, his partners and his business “under attack” in a manner

he feels to be unjust.

“We welcome the opportunity to improve our understanding, so myself, my partners and members of my staff will be attending the Denton Ally training this Sunday [June 12],” Trawick said. “We may be imperfect, but we continually strive to be better.”

Trawick said he has apologized on two separate occasions for the incident, but Wilde said it took him too long and that the whole incident

is about discrimination – not a bathroom.

“Everyone seems really focused on this as a ‘bathroom situation,’ and that is not the case,” Wilde said.

“This is about a bigot patron having more power over my body than myself and the Abbey being O.K. with that.”

NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 4

SURGERIES

A nurse wheels Dax Thakker toward the operation room. Hannah Ridings | Contributing Photographer

BEYOND DAX’S HEARING

“He’ll never be obese, if there’s any bright side to all of this,” Wukits said about her grandson’s aversion to formerly favorite foods. “But it will forever be a shame to see him lose so many things he used to enjoy.”

Between visits to the medical center, Dax’s grandparents have also made sure to visit him and his family in Flower Mound to ensure they can enjoy sleepovers eating candy and playing board games for family fun. Fun to supplement all his time in examination chairs, operating tables and the several activities Dax has had to be extracautious toward to protect his ear.

food from McDonald’s.

Going under

Lisa Thakker, Dax’s mother, slowly approached her sickly son as he curled amid the linen covers of the operation bed. She had to be careful with her steps, as she was in the last trimester of her third pregnancy.

“All he wants to do is be a kid like any other,” Wukits said. “We try and help with that in any way that we can.”

Joined by the father, Anooj Thakker, they remained within a few inches of Dax’s face as the 8-year-old began to feel the precarious high of the anesthesia pill taken minutes before the surgery. Anooj’s hand fully covered Dax’s small hand as all he could muster were faint moans while his arms and legs slithered between the metal guardrails of the operating bed.

He laid in painful silence among pastel cushions and cheerful murals on a beautiful summer day before the surgery.

Through his faint murmurs, both his grandparents and parents were able to discern a request for something most kids are allowed to enjoy any day, but was currently denied to him: some

Soft whispers consoled the boy as he began to succumb to the temporary slumber. Though he was losing consciousness, Anooj’s palm never left Dax’s increasingly limp hand. Both parents vetted themselves with an attitude of intentional optimism for the entire ordeal that has continued for nearly a year now.

“We’re fortunate to be able to have the same doctor and facility. Having to go back and forth has made the doctors really passionate about figuring out Dax’s situation,” Anooj said.

“And going to the doctor for multiple reasons over these past months has made us realize that importance.”

Not only has the series of operations and several check-ups in between naturally taken its toll on Dax, but in combination with Lisa and family having to rush to spontaneously rush to the ER twice because of her pregnancy, one of the family’s vehicles smashed into by a robber during a short visit to Olive’s daycare and Dax’s ear needing constant awareness, the stress is felt across the board by the Thakkers.

During a recent family cruise, for instance, Dax had to sport a neoprene band over his ear that held smashed wax in place that would prevent any water from splashing into it. He was unable to swim and only got to watch as the other children present were able to indulge in the summer pastime.

“Having to watch out for his ear has become simple at this point.

More so than watching out for fellow children who choked him at recess,” Anooj said, recalling a recent incident when Dax was attacked by a fellow student at his school.

As his parents reflected upon their journey up to this point where the incision tick-marks from a black marker returned to Dax’s earlobe, all they could hear were doctors asking him if he were “happy yet,” if the pill had taken its full effect.

“Daddy, is Dax where he used to be?” Olive asked her father.

“Yeah, they just wheeled him back.”

Growing pains Just past 5 p.m., past the janitorial staff that began to clean the now-dimmed waiting room and into the recovery suite, all that could be heard outside the silence of a closing medical facility was the constant pulse of the heart monitor wired onto Dax

as he laid unconscious.

His latest surgery was complete, and cartilage was harvested from one portion of his ear and placed in between his prosthetic incus bone and left eardrum in order to cushion and prevent further friction.

“Now, the main concern is Dax’s hearing,” said nurse Cecelia Keil. “[The surgery] was essentially what we expected to happen, with few things different.”

One of the few things the doctors weren’t expecting to happen was the resurfacing of the cholesteatoma.

In order to drain Dax’s left ear of the tumor material, a hole was drilled inside his eardrum.

Though Dax was showing signs of progress since his latest examination in January and could increasingly hear his mother tapping her fingers outside of his ear, the hearing in his ear after the surgery is temporarily disabled.

Recovery will last a total of eight weeks as Dax’s eardrum recovers.

And as he grows through childhood, Dax will never be able to go without medical examination. New bone material has begun to develop alongside his prosthetic incus bone and other ear bones.

“If he goes six months without any of the cholesteatoma returning, we’re out of the woods,” Keil said. “But Dax’s condition is something we will always have to pay attention to.”

Through an indefinite number of surgeries, procedures, examinations and never-ending caution for safety, Dax’s main concern is the restoration of his hearing.

But beyond Dax’s hearing is the desire for a healthy lifestyle outside of constant medical attention that carries ramifications into his everyday life.

“He’s been my little trooper through all this,” Lisa said, caressing her unconscious son’s face and closed eyes. “My little man is just a normal kid.”

FEATURES Page 5

NTDAILY.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016

GALLERY

Art competition a learning experience for student artists

By Tomas Gonzalez Visuals Editor @tomasgvisuals Vivid colors flourish through the corridors in the art gallery at the College of Visual Arts and Design building. Several pieces hang on the walls and sculptures flaunt their beauty sprinkled throughout the showroom.

Each piece is significantly different as 48 students from the College of Visual Arts and Design contributed to the gallery. The students’ artwork was chosen as part of the 56th Annual Voertman Student Art Competition this past April.

The competition was started in 1960 by Voertman’s founder Paul Voertman, Voertman told the North Texan magazine in 2011 that “art is pretty subjective, and when one person may say it’s magnificent, someone else may say, ‘I don’t want to show it.’ It’s a good

learning experience.”

Rachael Cozad, a private art dealer and consultant, judged the competition this year.

Cozad is an expert in 19th and 20th century American art who curates exhibitions for major museums and is a certified appraiser with the Appraisers Association of America.

“One thing that I noticed was that a fair amount of the work seemed to be quite personal in nature,” Cozad said. “I thought that was really positive.”

UNT galleries director and curator Tracee Robertson helped direct this year’s competition by getting Cozad to curate. Cozad had a variety of medias to choose from that made the exhibit unique.

“Instead of gravitating toward a particular medium,” Robertson said. “Ms. Cozad selected artworks in a variety of media, which showcases

the breadth of study by our students.”

The exhibit hosts a variety of media such as digital, canvas, ceramics and wood.

The materials used are just as diverse including oil and mesh.

Robertson also said that although Cozad works alone, she keeps what the audience will ultimately end up seeing in mind and truly appreciates work when she places art in the showroom.

“Like many art curators, she spent time alone with the artworks, just staring as it would seem,” Robertson said. “But actually carefully considering the nature of each artwork and how they relate to each other to create a fluid viewing experience for visitors to the gallery.”

The Voertman Student Art Competition will continue until July 23.

The UNT College of Visual Arts and Design hosted it’s 56th Annual Voertman Student Art Competition April 14 to July 23rd in the art building. Featured Art: Grayson Fair; Ceramic; Der Flammenwerfer. Sarah Ellis; handmade book containing lithography, monoprint, chine collé, and xerox transfer; Expire. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor TATTOO

Cross-country hitchhiker lands in Denton after rocky past CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

One particular rough patch would serve as a turning point for Fulks through his hitchhiking journey.

He was roaming at 5 a.m. through Nebraska and hitched a ride from a truck driver. They stopped for a while, and Fulks felt a certain vibe.

“It was the first time I kind of felt like I was OK, and everything was pretty clear because you’re in a situation where your options are pretty limited,” Fulks said. “You go try to survive or you don’t. That philosophy started to drive me and formed the way I deal with life.”

After having this self-realization, Fulks ended up in Tucson, Arizona where he went to school at an art institute. In art school, Fulks focused on film, but through his drawing and painting classes, he learned how to communicate what was going on inside through art work.

“Paintings are the only way that I really can communicate with the world honestly and unfiltered. Because it’s not a direct communication,” Fulks said. “It doesn’t go through my brain, so I can say what needs to be said through painting.”

Fulks returned to Arizona from there and made a little living off of selling landscape paintings and doing construction work. During that time, he and his wife, who he was married to for three years, were foster parents and he decided to try Christianity out.

“I was just tired of running around.

I was looking for something more stable,” Fulks said.

His bout with Christianity ended when his friend Cathy lost a battle with cystic fibrosis. Now, he considers his relationship with God a personal one. Fulks described the last six months of her life as a struggle with how she didn’t have enough faith in order to be healed.

“I thought, ‘I wish that I was just around her as a human being having fun and doing fun stuff instead of trying to get her healed somehow,’” Fulks said.

After splitting with his wife he met somebody who he started a band with for a short time. His brother-in-law happened to own some tattoo shops in Tucson where Fulks did his first tattoo on his band member.

“It was awful because I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was doing, and the problem was that I was making a ton of money, so I didn’t care,” Fulks said. “It was the first time I had that much cash for doing something so cool.”

Fulks worked at that shop for a year until realizing he should get some instruction. He ended up at another shop in Tucson called Black Rose where the owner, Mack, was a member of a motorcycle club and Fulks decided he had arrived at where he was supposed to be.

“It was a job and a situation that made it easy to be reckless and it would be O.K.,” Fulks said.

Fulks stayed at that shop for a while and eventually moved to a shop associated with the same club back in

Darian Fulks, Red River Tattoo Company owner, smiles while talking with Justin Crutsinger as he applies the tattoo to Crutsinger’s skin.

Denver which proved to be the same thing but on a larger scale.

This job generated enough money for an apartment right on Mission Beach with a monthly rent of $1,400.

Then, the 2008 stock market crash took Fulks by surprise when people spent less money on tattoos.

“It came out of nowhere. I wasn’t paying attention,” Fulks said. “I’m sure other people were but I wasn’t.”

Fulks packed up and headed back to Tucson. The dip in customer base became a source of anger in Fulks.

He started to get into bar fights and, in one altercation, was left with a cracked skull.

“Something that I loved was starting to become something that I couldn’t deal with anymore. I became really angry,” he said.

The tattoo industry had changed and he couldn’t find the life he had before. When he met his friend Julia from the flower shop in front of the tattoo parlor he worked at, he didn’t realize yet that she would be crucial to the recovery of accepting that the life he was missing could not be found.

“I went back trying to get that [old life] back because I needed stability and it just wasn’t there,” Fulks said.

“I couldn’t deal with it and I just went even deeper out of control.”

On the way back to Tucson, Fulks stopped in Denton to hang with his cousins and get to know them. A week after visiting Denton, he made a friend and a decision that made his life into what it is at present: being charged with a DUI on the Square.

“I decided I wasn’t going to go anywhere. It didn’t make sense to go to another state and have to go back and forth,” Fulks said, remembering staying in Texas for court dates.

“I decided to make the best of the situation and with some money that was set aside. I decided to open a tattoo shop here in Denton.”

Overall, settling down in Texas has proved to be a positive experience.

Fulks’ DUI became a lesson learned and helped straighten him out and establish an air of professionalism for his business.

“All the things that go along with opening a shop and having a business just put a lot into perspective, and I can still capture that feeling of freedom and excitement,” Fulks said. “I poured everything into opening this place up and making it work.”

Left to Right: Leah Flook; Untitled. Jim Wilson; Run, Dog, Run; two panels. Joycelyn Jimenez; Rain Rain Go Away and As My Eyes Adjust. Tabatha DiLoreto; Portal. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor

Left to Right: Robert Jennings; Eatineatupeatout. Julie Libersat; House Fire and Sundivision Wallpaper. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor

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NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 6

Courtesy|DentonVegetarianSociety’sFacebook

VEGANISM

Denton Vegetarian Society looks to expand community’s vegan knowledge through new leadership Hughes, who had barely even started her classes at TWU, was now in charge of running an organization that had been a part of Denton for many years.

Because of this, Hughes has big plans for the future of the group.

“I’m ready to get the ball really rolling,” Hughes said.

“There have been some hiccups already, but I know the group and Denton’s vegan population can only go up from here.”

Domino effect The biggest event for DVS is their monthly potluck gettogethers. The event has a different theme every month and anyone, vegan or not, can bring in vegetarian and vegan dishes to share with fellow Dentonites.

Since summer just began, Hughes dubbed this potluck the “Potluck Picnic.” Guests would bring salads, quinoa dishes and vegan desserts.

Nevertheless, guests must be careful to ensure that all food is vegetarian or vegan so it does not compromise any one’s lifestyle choices.

“It’s important to respect everyone’s health choices, and I think the most special thing about these potlucks is that we make sure everyone can eat everything that is brought,” Hughes said. “And it’s great because it’s like everyone already understands that. Even those who aren’t necessarily vegetarian respect that.”

This buffet-style gathering provides vegans with recipes

for new meals and those who eat meat the chance to try something they may not have tried before.

For political science and economics junior Jesse Anyalebechi, going to the potluck as someone who does eat meat did not make him feel left out in the least bit. Rather, he saw it as an opportunity to expand his understanding of various lifestyles and get familiar with another group in Denton.

“I was invited by my vegan friend,” Anyalebechi said.

“The potlucks are a great way for people to learn more about vegan culture in a friendly, nopressure situation. Dentonites can come and share their vegan recipes, and you also have this

opportunity to meet some great people.”

Although Hughes wants to provide a safe place for vegans to meet others with similar lifestyle choices, she said her ultimate goal with the group is to reach out to those who question her lifestyle choices.

She also wants to bring more people in, such as Anyalebechi, who may just want to know more about the lifestyle.

UNT graduate Rena Farlow works with Hughes to organize events and getting more people to come. Farlow was with DVS early in her college career and said that over the past few years, what used to be a group full of older people has quickly garnered more college kids to learn about veganism.

Farlow said she feels that even though the population of their group may be growing, they need to get their mission out.

“Our culture is centered around animal products,” Farlow said. “Look at fast food places or holidays like Thanksgiving.

Sometimes people are just afraid or don’t want to take that challenge, and although they definitely have a right to their opinion, they need to know the hard facts about what’s best for them.”

Although it will take time, Hughes said she is ready to see what the future holds for DVS. The group’s next potluck in July will be called “Fruitluck,” allowing for attendees to bring in the favorite fruit dishes,

fruit desserts and more.

She does not want to stop there, however. While she wants to get DVS involved in the community market, selling tofu scrambles and vegan muffins, she also wants to provide a comfort for vegetarians, vegans and even meat eaters in D-FW. “I want to provide that source of information and food for anyone and everyone,” Hughes said. “I don’t want people to ever think we are going to judge them for the questions they ask or turn them away if they show up to the potluck without a dish in hand.

I’m looking to make ‘vegan’ a positive word in everyone’s eyes.”

EXPO

The Dose: Fan Expo brings to light a bigger picture about nerd culture

By Kayleigh Bywater Senior Staff Writer @kayleighbywater The terms Spiderman, Star Wars and Stan Lee fail to bring about any special sense of nostalgia for some, but for about 50,000 fans this weekend, these pop culture terms meant more than just a hit movie or a famous celebrity. It meant a once-in-a-lifetime experience and lasting memories.

Dallas Fan Expo welcomed more than 50 celebrities and over 100 vendors to come celebrate nerd culture.

Although the event is not nearly as large as San Diego or New York Comic Con, Fan Expo is like no other event that happens in Texas. From autograph sessions to rare collectibles, every genre was represented in many ways.

Want to take a selfie with Jack Gleeson, who, despite playing evil King Joffrey Baratheon in “Game of Thrones,” was more than happy to meet his fans?

Go right ahead. Want to meet a 10-foot-tall realistic-looking

Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy?” Be my guest. Do you have the urge to go eat breakfast with Marvel comic creator Stan Lee? Of course you do.

The con, which followed Dallas Fan Days that happened this past February, provided guests with photo opportunities, signing stations, Q&A panels and more to not only celebrate common interests, but to also provide a real experience that coincided with so many peoples’ passions.

Let me tell you, I almost broke down in to tears when I walked up to Stan Lee to get a picture with him. I also could not contain my joy when I was able to have a conversation with Candice Patton, who plays Iris West on “The Flash.” And although my bank account was not very happy with me, I have all my Fan Expo merch on display proudly in my apartment.

There’s more to Fan Expo than what’s on the surface, however.

As you walk through the aisles of vendors and autograph

sessions, it’s as if everyone knows everybody at the event.

People laugh. They cry over fictional deaths. They fawn over favorite characters. They swap fan theories. It is like a big family reunion. But - let’s be honest - way better.

Fan expos and cons allow for all nerds to gather together to meet their childhood heroes and live out their bucket list desires, free of judgment, stereotypes or insecurities.

“Thank you so, so much for my childhood,” said one attendee in a Marvel comics shirt to Stan Lee. “Thank you for teaching me that there really is magic out there,” said another to James and Oliver Phelps, who experienced magic themselves as the Weasley twins in the “Harry Potter” series.

“Even though you play mean characters, you’re actually really sweet,” said a little girl as “The Walking Dead” and “Daredevil” star Jon Bernthal reached down to hug her.

At their roots, cons are about being a part of something

bigger. It is about knowing that even if you spend your free time reading comic books, scouring the Internet for collectible Pop! Funko figures or rewatch TV episodes 10 times to make sure you did not miss any Easter eggs, you are not alone, and you should not be ashamed of it.

In fact, there are thousands of others who are doing the exact same thing.

So who cares if you spent $100 to take a picture with your hero? Why does it matter if you spend almost 10 hours a day soaking in all the nerdiness you can? The memories made at Fan Expo this weekend, for so many, are some that will never be forgotten. And it was right in our backyard.

Fan Expo was such a treat and, despite time hiccups and some celebrity cancellations, really provided an unforgettable weekend from people all the way from Dallas to New York and beyond. While SDCC is hopefully in my future, Dallas sure is lucky to call this Con “home.”

There were many large sculptures and artifacts surrounding the convention center, including Star Wars props, the Ghostbuster’s car and the Agents of Shield van. Kayleigh Bywater | Senior Staff Writer

ART

Tatto o a r t i s t’s w o r k l e ap s f r o m p e o p l e o n to p l a c e s

By Austin Cox Staff Writer @austinox_ The pervasive sound of buzzing and soft folk music greet you as you enter. You see a tall man with long hair covered by a wide-brimmed hat and a face outlined by thick-rimmed tortoise shell glasses. He extends his arm out and welcomes you with a warm and friendly tone, a far cry from the surly nature many come to expect from a tattoo artist.

Tristan Bradshaw’s style, defined by bold lines and even bolder colors, has made him one of the premier tattoo artists of Denton. His work can be seen on the skins of anyone: college students getting their first piece and die-hard ink-enthusiasts. His homestead, Ace’s Tattoo, has come to be defined by its team of artists who mostly specialize in traditional American tattooing.

Besides creating a portfolio of tattoos and clientele, Bradshaw has had his artwork featured in West Oak Coffee Bar as part of their local artist showcase series. Most recently, he completed work on a mural on the newly extended rooftop bar of LSA Burger.

This project was a new artistic horizon for Bradshaw. Having no prior experience painting a large-scale mural, he saw it as an opportunity to showcase his distinct style.

“I have honestly never painted a mural before, so I attempted it and I tried to do something really simple,” Bradshaw said about giving LSA a touch of his style. “It was fun.”

Drawing from a rich knowledge of Americana imagery, Bradshaw has a penchant for juxtaposing melancholia with energetic colors in order to stay well-rounded as an artist.

“I just wanted to do something folksy and weird-looking. I like folk art a lot, but that term is kind of rocky - honestly because people who aren’t necessarily talented will tag their stuff as folk art as kind of a cop out,” Bradshaw said. “But I just do what I love and hopefully people like it.”

Tattooing as an industry is subject to fluid trends, new styles or commonly tattooed pieces that become more and more demanded.

The rise of social media and tattoocentric reality TV shows have both been a boon and a hindrance on the industry, as many have preconceived notions about certain artists or have unrealistic expectations.

“When people get tattooed, they want it to be a mystifying and lifechanging experience,” Bradshaw said. “People bring their family, and everyone is snapping pictures and wanting it to be this special thing, so that definitely brings an additional pressure. Not only do I have to do a good piece that meets my standards, but I also need to provide what the customer wants.”

As far as the future is concerned, however, Bradshaw isn’t ready to abandon tattooing in lieu of becoming a full-time mural or large-piece artist. His bread and butter still lies in providing people with memorable tattoos.

“LSA gave us complete freedom.

I honestly feel kind of spoiled with this being my first mural because, artistically, it was very liberating to not be confined whatsoever,” he said. “Tattooing already has a lot of restrictions, so If I’m going to do something besides that, I would like more creative freedom, not less.”

LSA has been in operation for over two years, and in that time they have supported and showcased several local music acts. But with the mural, it gives LSA a chance to display the work of great artists who encapsulate

the artistic spirit that lies in the heart of Denton’s culture.

Bree Cunningham, a manager at LSA, has noticed a significant positive reaction to the mural since its unveiling to the public.

“We have been wanting to be more involved with local artists. We had six different artists and gave them free range to do what they wanted creatively as long as it stayed appropriate for a family restaurant,” Cunningham said. “We celebrate Texas music and Texas artists, and what better way to show that than letting six artists decorate our patio’s wall?”

As with any profession in service, building a strong clientele is key to getting more exposure for your work and ensures people will return again for pieces that adhere to a personal aesthetic. Bradshaw has cultivated this from years of studying American tattooing, and Ashely Prather, a returning client of Bradshaw’s, was initially drawn to his work for its clean and distinct look.

“A lot of my friends had been to Tristan before, and I saw how clean and professional his work was… he does a lot of traditional work, so I wanted something that would be

timeless and not just trendy,” Prather said as she looked at the dagger tattoo on her arm. “Tristan does his own thing with his tattoos and really gives it a personal touch which, in my opinion, really differentiates him from other artists. His attention to detail is impeccable.”

Longevity is key to an artistic career, and Bradshaw is very much aware of this. Eventually it’ll be time for him retire from tattooing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean retiring from art.

“There’s goin be a time when my hands go bad and they start to cramp up, and there’s no retirement in tattooing; it’s pretty much dictated upon how long your hand can stay steady,” Bradshaw said. “Tattooing comes and goes with various cultural trends, I just try to really just keep persevering with my various artistic endeavors, and try not to be too dependent on one avenue to express myself creatively and artistically.”

Tristant Bradshaw works on a client. Tomas Gonzalez | Visuals Editor

OPINION Page 7

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016

ANIMALS

Maybe we shouldn’t have zoos

By Victoria Baghaei Staff Writer @Chorizotacoss Zoos play quite a few roles in society. They are where we take our kids to educate them on different animals in the world, and they help preserve and reintroduce endangered species.

However, they also put animals on display for our entertainment, where our kids can fall into pits and animals sometimes get shot.

So the question comes to mind:

Are we responsible enough to have zoos?

As I walked around the Fort Worth Zoo last weekend, I slowly started realizing the zoo was a sad place. It had been years since I last visited the zoo, so I was excited to see animals play around in their exhibits. Instead, I was met with confusion.

There were massive animals in what I consider very small enclosures. Two or three snakes were in about a gallon sized tank.

About 20 penguins had a small

pool to swim in. Three to four crocodiles shared a tiny tank inside the cafe.

The animals looked sad.

Children beat on the glass to get the animals to respond, but they just sat there like nothing was happening.

Some people leaned over the balconies screaming at the monkeys to wave back, but the apes just continued to eat their food and payed the people no attention.

I took notice that parents were very attentive to their children, which could be attributed to the recent incident at the Cincinnati zoo, where a a gorilla was shot after a 3-year-old fell into the pit. But this tragedy also brings something else into the light: maybe we shouldn’t

have zoos at all.

People became obsessed with zoos, with the gift shops, the outof-control children beating on the glass and the water parks inside them that we lost sight of what the zoos could have been.

It is our job to fix what we broke. Putting these animals on display for the rest of their lives feels wrong, and putting them in the danger of having to be shot due to human error, again, feels even more wrong. If you had to stay in only two places for the rest of your life, with no freedom to truly move where you want, with people screaming at you every day and children beating on the glass, you would go crazy.

People came to the realization

LETTERS

Letter from the editor:

By Harrison Long Editor-in-Chief @HarrisonGLong Su m mer is a t i me to t a ke r isk s.

W het her it b e t a k i ng a va n c ross- cou nt r y for t he f i r st t i me, or f i na l ly bu i ld i ng up t he cou r age to ju mp out of a p er fe ct ly go o d a i r pla ne, t hose glor ious mont hs b et we en p enci ls, b o ok s a nd d i r t y lo ok s is when legends a re b or n.

T he sa me pr i nciple ca n b e put i nto plac e for t hose of us at t he Da i ly.

We have foregone ou r t rek home so t hat, i nst ead of soa k i ng up su n or lou ng i ng ab out i n a d a z e of apat hy l i ke ma ny of ou r p e er s, we ca n rema i n vig i la nt a nd engage d i n order to ensu re t h is pap er st ays spr y a nd t i mely.

We have ma ny g reat

proje ct s t hat we a re eager to sha re wit h you.

Some of t hem a re f u n, c er t a i n a re i nvest igat ive a nd ot her s st i l l a re de eply felt a nd mea nt to b ot h engage a nd excit e. T houg h we wi l l on ly have t h re e issues over t he cou r se of t hese next few mont hs, we i nt end to f i l l t hem wit h cont ent you won’t so on forget.

Nor t h Texa s Da i ly is i n it s 10 0 t h yea r a nd for d a m ne d go o d rea son: it just ke eps get t i ng b et t er. As ma ny of ou r reader s l i ke to rem i nd us, we a re not p er fe ct – a nd wh i le no news orga n i zat ion is, we never cla i me d to b e. O u r on ly cha rge is g row t h a nd expa nsion i n b ot h cover age a nd reader sh ip.

T houg h we a re sad to se e ou r for mer e d itor-

Samuel Wiggins | Staff Illustrator

i n- ch ief Nichola s Fr ie d ma n depa r t f rom h is p ost, t he moment u m a nd energ y he lef t us wit h is u npa r a l lele d a nd shou ld thrill reader s a s much a s ou r st a f f. T houg h my t enu re is on ly for t he su m mer, I exp e ct to se e a n out p ou r i ng of qua l it y cont ent f rom each of memb er of ou r st a f f, a nd I wa nt ever yone en l ist e d du r i ng t h is t i me to l ive by t he words of Te ddy Ro osevelt a nd “d a re m ig ht y t h i ngs.”

T h is u n iver sit y is g rowi ng, a nd new st udent s a s wel l a s t hose ret u r n i ng shou ld f i nd a rea son to get energ i z e d. Mea n G re en Fo otba l l is shapi ng up to b e somet h i ng wor t h pa i nt i ng up for, t he st udent gover n ment is con ne ct e d a nd com m it t e d to t he

ne e ds of it s st udent s a nd t he Nor t h Texa s Da i ly is, a nd wi l l rema i n, a prom i nent sou rc e of news for t he su r rou nd i ng a rea. W hat a t i me to b e a n E agle.

Plea se k now t hat we a re in of f ic e a l most ever y d ay, a nd encou r age a s ma ny of you a s p ossible, whet her a jou r na l ism major s or not, to come by GA B 117 a nd say h i. You get out of you r scho ol what you put i nto it, a nd I ca n honest ly say t hat a s my sen ior yea r at Nor t h Texa s ea ses i n, I fe el a cu lt u re cha nge t hat ca n a lt er how ot her s p erc eive U N T – or, more i mp or t a nt ly, how we p erc eive ou r selves.

Enjoy you r su m mer, a nd we’l l se e you a l l out t here. I n t he mea n t i me, G o Mea n G re en!

NTDAILY.COM that SeaWorld was wrong thanks to the documentary Blackfish. The similarities between SeaWorld and the zoo is undeniable. Both feature animals taken from the wild or born in captivity. Zoos should be taken just as seriously as SeaWorld.

They both display animals who were either taken from the wild or breed from captivity, that are made to sit in enclosures for the rest of their lives. Some zoos have even taken a step to try and help endangered species by implementing breeding programs to regrow the populations.

But don’t fret, there are plenty of ways for you and your children to still get the ‘zoo’ experience, such as visiting wildlife sanctuaries.

We can look into programs that

support the rehabilitation of these species and donate to them. There isn’t truly a way for zoos to be done right, because we can never truly be sure if a child isn’t going to get away from their mother for enough time for them to climb over a fence; and we’ll never have enough room to truly accommodate and give these animals the proper amount of space.

People don’t always get what they want, so sometimes we need to learn to sacrifice for the good of something else. Here are some animal sanctuaries in Texas you can visit instead: http://www.bigcat.org/ http://www.insyncexotics.org/ http://www.easttexasgators. com/

NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 8 EDITORIAL

‘Youarethecause,Iamtheeffect’ The Editorial Board In the United States, our justice system makes sure some words go unread. Voices frequently are trampled.

“I stood there examining my body beneath the stream of water and decided, I don’t want my body anymore. I was terrified of it, I didn’t know what had been in it, if it had been contaminated, who had touched it. I wanted to take off my body like a jacket and leave it at the hospital with everything else.”

Those are the words of a 23-year-old woman who was raped, written to a California judge who let a 20-year-old man walk with merely six months to serve behind bars — after a jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault.

“I was not ready to tell my boyfriend or parents that actually, I may have been raped behind a dumpster, but I don’t know by who or when or how. If I told them, I would see the fear on their faces, and mine would multiply by tenfold, so instead I pretended the whole thing wasn’t real.”

Raped behind a dumpster, but the man who did it was deemed unworthy of due punishment. Judge Aaron Persky ruled the man, a swimmer whose name is not worthy of our ink, should get off easy because he’s too privileged.

“I tried to push it out of my mind, but it was so heavy I didn’t talk, I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t interact with anyone. After work, I would drive to a secluded place to scream. I didn’t talk, I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t interact with anyone, and became isolated from the ones I loved most.”

Twenty minutes of action, as the swimmer’s father put it, is OK. And so is the lifetime of pain this woman will endure.

She is forced to live in her body, drained and isolated, while the assaulter gets to dive back into the pool. Cases like this undermine con-

fidence in our justice system. What’s more haunting, is in this woman’s letter, she predicts the outcome.

“He’s going to settle, formally apologize, and we will both move on. Instead, I was told he hired a powerful attorney, expert witnesses, private investigators who were going to try and find details about my personal life to use against me, find loopholes in my story to invalidate me and my sister, in order to show that this sexual assault was in fact a misunderstanding.”

There is not much about sexual assault that is confusing. It’s illegal, immoral and shouldn’t be tolerated. The judge did the swimmer a favor, but he violated the victim even more.

Like the sexual violation at Baylor University, let this be a reminder to UNT administrators, faculty and staff: do not try to conceal sexual violence; please continue to be advocates for victims.

“I had to fight for an entire year to make it clear that there was something wrong with this situation.”

She had to fight — again — to prove there was a problem. This should call out to you, to remind you of how imperfect we are as people. And how much of a damn shame our justice system really is.

The swimmer had his privilege stamped, and he boarded a train to a life of those who can afford big attorneys, Stanford tuition and swimming lessons. That is a violation, though we’re not surprised. To be outraged by rulings in 2016 is so normal that frustration seems to be the new status quo.

“To sit under oath and inform all of us, that yes I wanted it, yes I permitted it, and that you are the true victim attacked by Swedes for reasons unknown to you is appalling, is demented, is selfish, is damaging. It is enough to be suffering. It is another thing to have someone ruthlessly working to diminish the gravity of validity of this suffering.”

Samuel Wiggins | Staff Illustrator OPPOSING SIDES

Google:

I love Google, but our curiosity is at stake

Google opens new doors, expands minds Victoria Baghaei @chorizotacoss Did you know the human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet? Or that your nose has the ability to remember 50,000 scents? Neither did I until a Google session on organs turned into me clicking every blue highlighted word that I came across.

Google has become the tool of our time. The instant gratification of finding what you need has not only increased the intelligence of those who use it, but has become one of the main tools in the educational world.

There is a way to find scholarly sources. You can search and find the name of that movie you watched when you were five despite being able to remember only a single line. Google has become everything we need while teaching us more. It guides our interests by providing multiple sources and answers to our one question.

I don’t buy the argument

that Google has distracted our curiosity, because if I get curious in the middle of the night, I can Google it. And I find the answers – then some.

If you are looking for an answer on Google and can’t find it within the first page, chances are what you typed it wrong, google’d something that doesn’t exist, or you’re not reading the source descriptions.

The loss of curiosity and mystery can be put to rest by the increasing demand for having more than one source as your viable proof, as well as actually caring about the topic that you are researching.

Google is used constantly for school projects, wherein the source requirement has only increased. Instant gratification isn’t wrong when it calls for an increase in your educational standing.

So, if you feel as though Google has attributed to taking mystery and curiosity from the world, then you’re using Google wrong.

rious subjects. Research includes the possibility for follow-up questions, a chance to stray from the path.

When you search for something From an early age, we all tend to online, the possibilities are all very be a little curious. For children, this direct, thanks to semantics. Most sometimes includes sticking their people don’t run to an encyclopedia hands in or on things they shouldn’t. when they have a question; they turn Most mothers have a story of their to Google. Curiosity has a lot to do children getting their fingers stuck in with your effort, and these days effort a hole or burning their hands on the is hard to come by. Your feeling of stove. accomplishment is diminished by As humans, we have a natural hitting the enter key. curiosity. We want to know how With the availability of finding things work, why they are the way nearly anything you search for, they are and how we can make them Google has managed to diminish better. With the development (and dependence) of technology, however, our interests into a shallow pool. The instantaneous answers allow us to humans have lost this natural spark. know a little about a lot of things.

Google is incredible. There’s Instead of having a deep-rooted no denying that. In seconds, it has answers to age-old questions like why attentiveness to a few things, we are in an endless game of leapfrog from the sky is blue or gives a somehow one topic to the next. simple explanation of string theory.

Our questions skim the surface, It’s the instant gratification we receive the obligatory “best” answer have come to depend on. If the answer to these questions aren’t in the deemed by the search engine, and first page of results, we stop looking. then we move on to the next topic.

We aren’t engaging, we’re consumAnything that might be challenging to find is suddenly deemed not worth ing in an idle, haphazard pattern. We know enough about a topic to answer the effort. Google has made us lazy. a pointed trivia question, and nothing Part of why curiosity is so fun more. is the fact that it isn’t always easy.

That’s certainly fine, if our lives People spend many years holed up in libraries and research labs chasing cu- functioned like a game show.

Morgan Sullivan @sadsquadch

North Texas Daily Editorial Team

Harrison Long, Editor

northtexasdaily@gmail.com

Scott Sidway, News Editor

s.sidway@gmail.com

Matt Payne, Features Editor

mattpayne1994@gmail.com

Tomas Gonzalez, Visuals Editor

ramiro.gonzalez92@gmail.com

Dalton LaFerney, Opinion Editor

laferneyd@gmail.com

Chelsea Watkins, Copy Editor

chelseawatkins@my.unt.edu

Jynn Schubert, Design Editor

jynnschubert@my.unt.edu

COLUMN

It’s time the media hold Brock Turner accountable Morgan Sullivan @sadsquadch Throughout the past week, a case known to many as the “Stanford swimmer” trial has erupted over social media, wreaking havoc as many try to understand the situation.

For those who may not know, the Stanford swimmer case is a sexual assault trial. The accused, Brock Turner, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl behind some dumpsters after a party on the Stanford campus.

The question here is not whether Turner was guilty - as he was found unanimously guilty by the jury on three separate counts. The outrage is over Turner’s sentencing and apparent privilege because of his swimming capabilities.

With the maximum sentencing of 14 years, Turner will spend only 6 months in jail for his crimes.

News outlets nearly refuse to label him as what he is - a criminal.

Instead, they focus on Turner’s swimming abilities and all that he will lose now that he has been found guilty.

According to Judge Persky, anything heavier than a six-month sentence would have a “severe impact on him” and the judge did not believe Turner would be a danger to others.

Yes. You read that correctly.

A man accused and found guilty of sexual assault would not be a danger to others. Going to jail would have a severe impact on his life. It should because his victim will have to deal with the psychological side-effects of his actions for the rest of her life.

This egregious statement clearly outlines a problem in our society.

In any other situation, Turner would be forced to serve a much longer sentence. Due to the fact that Turner can swim quickly, he is classified with an elite privilege that of an athlete.

When the story of the victim’s sexual assault broke, the reporting news outlet had the audacity to mention Turner’s swimming times.

Turner, 19, is accused of sexual assault. He was found on top of the victim, who was unconscious.

He was tackled by two men, who were riding their bikes to another party and could tell something was wrong. One was crying and so distraught, he couldn’t speak about what happened. Oh, by the way, he’s a really good swimmer.

When athletes commit crimes, news outlets always find a way to mention how incredible the accused is at their sport, as if that somehow excuses anything they’ve done. Sure, he committed the crime. No one is arguing that.

But, come on, he’s a really good swimmer.

If Turner seemed genuinely apologetic for his actions, perhaps a lighter sentence would be okay.

However, he chose to go through with a trial, hoping to be found not guilty.

The way the justice system coddled him is a stark resemblance to how society does. When not properly punished for their actions, criminals will continue to push the system. Brock Turner might never learn personal boundaries -- or the meaning of consent.

It is our justice system that has failed him.

Turner’s father argued that his son has paid his dues because he doesn’t enjoy the same foods anymore. He can’t eat steak anymore. As if being turned off by steak is somehow an acceptable punishment for his crimes. His father argued that his son has paid enough for his “20 minutes of action.” This ignorance is perhaps why Turner believed that what he did was acceptable.

When “boys will be boys” is an excuse for things that men do, rape culture continues. Turner’s “20 minutes of action,” as his father explained it, were criminal. He didn’t swim a race. He violated a woman’s personal space without her consent.

Turner’s father dismisses his wrongdoings like he took his father’s car for a joyride. His actions were not a silly, forgivable thing. When fathers dismiss their son’s actions as excusable, their sons learn how to get away with egregious acts.

Turner believes his actions were based on the amount of alcohol he consumed that night. Instead of apologizing for his actions, he is using party culture as a scapegoat.

Alcohol doesn’t make you sexually assault women. There are plenty of people who drink regularly and have never committed the act of sexual assault.

Alcohol doesn’t excuse what Brock Turner did. Just as it is never the reason someone is assaulted or raped, it cannot be the reason these acts happen. As some say, drunk words are sober thoughts.

Perhaps Brock Turner is sicker than we think he is - and he just couldn’t hold out any longer.

One thing is for sure: our justice system needs to hold criminals accountable. No matter what their personal achievements are, or how much money they have, a criminal is a criminal. Brock Turner is a criminal and is getting away with gross misuse of our legal system

EDITORIAL

Goodbye Rick V The Editorial Board In November, a plane circled over campus towing a message for the Hurley Administration Building: “Fire Rick Villarreal.” Seven months later, that plane landed.

Villarreal told the university community that he was leaving his post as athletic director. Good for UNT. At a time when the university is sailing full steam to be Dallas-Fort Worth’s choice school, the three money making sports have routinely come up short.

In an interview, Villarreal said he and UNT President Neal Smatresk “came to this decision and felt like it was best.” Publicly, Smatresk has been grateful for Villarreal’s service.

But Villarreal’s departure is a clear reminder that Smatresk and other leaders are serious about turning North Texas athletics into more, shall we say, tier-one programs.

Villarreal will be the athletic director until June 20, but the effects of his 15 years here will linger. The football program, a sore thumb, has a new coach, Seth Littrell. Villarreal hired him. New head women’s basketball coach Jalie Mitchell: hired

by Villarreal.

For a long time now, Villarreal has built a kitchen without a cook.

Smatresk and others must quickly hire a new athletic director who can press these new coaches and enforce excellence.

We need an athletic director who will not be defensive about their flaws. In some interviews, some Daily reporters and editors say, Villarreal’s attempts to spin questions about substandard game attendance were almost laughable. In one interview, Villarreal told a reporter “I hope I’m not disappointed” with the ensuing article.

That’s not how this works.

On forums like GoMeanGreen. com, alumni, donors and fans roast Villarreal for the school’s poor athletic performance. They yelled about Villarreal’s empty promises of a baseball program. People stopped buying season tickets; they stopped showing up to games.

Online posts turned into bricks, thrown at UNT’s Mean-Green facade, shattering it like glass. Good for UNT, for listening to its people.

It’s clear that banner over campus hit its target.

And stop quietly raising our athletic fees while you field losing teams.