DCTA makes A-Train rides free for college faculty, students NEWS: PAGE 3
Serving the University of North Texas and Denton since 1916 NTDAILY.COM
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018
VOL. 113 No. 5
Death to myths: The truth behind the Rudra Center’s historic pagoda By Claire Lin @claire_grace_ Some locals might have seen the large pagoda sitting serenely on Locust Street in Denton. The top of its layered eaves can be seen peeking into the sky surrounded by trees. But, many have little knowledge about it, and even the people who dwell there constantly make new discoveries. “To this day, there are so many things on the land that I don’t know about,” neuro-linguistic programming trainer Aaron Bowley, 28, said. “I ask Silver [the caregiver at the Ashram], ‘Has that statue always been there?’ And he says it’s always been there.” This pagoda has a name — the Rudra Center for Enlightened Awareness. Having been open for more than 40 years, the center has quite a history. While also having undergone its more-than-fair share of gossip and rumors, its spirituality has only lent itself as heat to the embers of strange myths and scary local folklore. So, what is the Rudra Center for Enlightened Awareness?
The Rudra Center has a shrine dedicated to Swami “Rudi” Rudrananda, its founder who died in 1973. Photos by Josh Jamison
A brief and accurate history Founded in 1971, the Rudra Center has also been known as the Kundalini Yoga Ashram, Inc., purposed as an organization that provides impactful spiritual experiences for individuals seeking to find a higher meaning and purpose. It is and has
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Tai chi instructor Ross DeOtte also teaches qigong at the pagoda. The yoga space on the property is also used for dance and other martial arts.
Top: Ross DeOtte, Jenny Baker and Zack Mitchell (left to right) shed light on some of the myths surrounding the pagoda. Left: The pagoda near Greenhouse Restaurant on Locust Street is home to a yoga institute and other elements of Eastern Asian culture. For years, myths of various sorts have surrounded this establishment and its practice.
SGA plans to give free feminine products to students across UNT
27-year-old Denton bar closes for renovations By Devin Rardin @DevinRardin The 27-year-old bar and grill, Riprocks — located on Hickory Street and adjacent to Fry street — closed July 1. Although there is no official date for its reopening, the bar will be undergoing renovations for a minimum of three months. While there is currently no cost estimate, Cody Farmer, manager of Riprocks and Cool Beans, confirmed the bar will have a ground-up renovation. The renovations include the addition of a gender-neutral bathroom, an ADA accessible wheelchair ramp, electrical and plumbing work and expansion of the bar and patio. Farmer said Riprocks will be like a brand new, clean stocked bar. “It’s a super old building, so it
needs some love,” Farmer said. The bar, which opened in 1991, has seen Denton develop, so it’s time for it to be modernized as well, Farmer said. Riprocks is surrounded by bars like Lucky Lou’s, Caskey’s and Cool Beans. “We have a really strong relationship with Rip Rocks as well as Cool Beans, so we are all kind of a family on this side of the street,” Lucky Lou’s manager Jazz Binning said. Farmer said Riprocks is a strong part of the UNT community as UNT faculty, staff, alumni and students frequent the bar. Riprocks, Lucky Lou’s and Cool Beans have also been presidential council supporters of UNT’s athletic program for 20 years. Riprocks sponsors a shuttle service on football game days to transport fans to Apogee
North Texas Daily @ntdaily @ntdaily
By Rebecca Najera @RebeccaNajera42
Riprocks bar and grill will be closed for the next three months for renovations. Among those include adding a gender neutral bathroom, wheelchair ramps and expanding the patio. Josh Jamison Stadium. Most of the Riprocks staff are current and former UNT students as well.
NEWS
“This bar is [almost] just as much a part of UNT as the
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IN THIS ISSUE
Torchy’s Tacos opens new location in Denton off Highway 380 pg 2 The popular Austin-based taco chain will be opening on July 17 and will have an opening party the day before that will feature free tacos and drinks.
On June 12, the Student Government Association conducted a poll on Twitter asking UNT students what applicators were preferred when it came to tampons. The poll Gabrielle Tilley represents the first step in The Right to Menstrual Hygiene Products initiative that is currently in the works for SGA. “The Student Government Association believes that by providing free feminine hygiene products, we are ensuring equal opportunity and inclusivity
for members of our UNT community,” SGA governmental affairs director Gabrielle Tilley said. “I am currently researching the most effective, most efficient and most environmentally sustainable products to bring to campus” Hearing about this initiative caught visual art studies senior Kari Mitchell’s attention. In one of the women’s restrooms in the art building, students had already started their own system. “Basically, this girl did a performance piece that involved putting a box in the bathroom to contribute pads and tampons to,” Mitchell said. “I think it started out as a donation thing, like they were going to take it somewhere,
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ARTS & LIFE
OPINION
Willis Library’s “Dawn to Dusk” art exhibition opened this week pg 4 The annual summer art exhibition on the fourth floor of the library showcases library staff ’s artistic talents.
Denton’s unique music sound is a reflection of its offbeat culture pg 7 Why two local Denton bands perfectly epitomize the city’s unique blend of music and culture.