Volleyball sweeps Oklahoma in front of biggest crowd in program history PAGE 6
VOL. 111 No. 5
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
NTDAILY.COM
UNT Annual Security Report shows increase in rapes, drug violations By Sarah Sarder Senior News Writer UNT’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, published Wednesday, shows the number of reported rapes have nearly doubled from 2015 and drug violation arrests have increased by 66 percent. Statistics on rape Dean of Students (DOS) Maureen
McGuinness pointed out the increase in reported rapes may not be representative of an increase in total rapes, as not all survivors report rape to either the DOS or the UNT Police Department. The figure comes from a combined total of DOS and police department reports. None are counted twice, even if reported to both departments. Rape numbers do not include statutory rape. The 13 reported rapes must legally
Drug and alcohol violations The published crime statistics showed 201 drug violations in 2016 — a significant rise from 134 in 2015 and 128 in 2014. Non-arrest campus referrals for drug and alcohol violations decreased significantly. “I don’t think that we have more drugs on campus,” UNT Police Chief Ed Reynolds said. “I think as a police
include those cases which the DOS investigates and in which they find the respondent not responsible. The report is compiled primarily by the UNT DOS, the UNT Police Department and the Emergency Management division of UNT’s Risk Management Services. Representatives from each department meet regularly throughout the year to discuss campus safety.
SEE REPORT ON PAGE 2
Year Crime
Rape Drug Violation
2015 2016 7
13
134
201
The above graphic shows the number of rapes and drug violations that occurred in 2015 and 2016, according to UNT’s Annual Security Report.
Local puppeteers pursue an uncommon comedy By Amy Roh Senior Arts & Life Writer
UNT President Neal Smatresk delivers the State of the University address on Sept. 21 at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. Smatresk talked about the achievements and future of UNT. Sara Carpenter | Senior Staff Photographer
At Mark Gale’s touch, the horse springs to life. Its fiery orange mane and bulging foam eyes become vibrant as it starts to talk, throwing out jokes and annoying the humans nearby. For Gale, a professional puppeteer and Denton resident, this is an average weeknight. Gale has been a part of puppetry for nearly his entire life, performing on shows like “Sesame Street” and “Between the Lions.” “I was always fascinated with puppets and animatronic robots like the ones at Disney World,” Gale said.
“Learning how to work them was the first thing I was interested in. Later on, I was more interested into developing characters, [the acting] and the writing.” At 3 years old, Gale showed a special interest and potential in puppetry. Other kids his age sat down and watched the Muppets when “Sesame Street” came on. Gale, on the other hand, showed up with his own. “My parents bought me a Cookie Monster puppet and when ‘Sesame Street’ would come on, I would work the puppets myself, and I started teaching myself that way,” Gale said.
SEE PUPPET ON PAGE 5
State of the University
Record freshmen enrollment, national rankings highlight 2017 address By Joshua Cassidy Staff Writer UNT President Neal Smatresk spoke at the fourth annual State of the University address on Thursday afternoon in the Winspear Performance Hall. The State of the University is a yearly address where the president presents a speech over the successes and adversities faced by UNT in the year prior, as well as laying out future plans and goals. The State of the University address began with an overview of some of the past year’s highlights. Highlights from fiscal year 2017 The enrollment for the fiscal year
topped at 38,000 with an additional 1,200 students at the UNT New College at Frisco. One highlight Smatresk mentioned was the number of freshmen. This year’s class is the largest ever at UNT, with freshmen enrollment increasing 3.3 percent from last year. In addition to freshmen coming in at a higher rate, the qualifications of these freshmen have also improved with regards to class rankings and SAT scores. “Their qualifications were wonderful,” Smatresk said. “We have more students in the top 10 percent and with high SAT scores. Our SAT scores jumped six points this year.” Freshmen are not the only subset to see a marked growth. UNT welcomed 26 new
UNT faculty writes letter denouncing Trump Jr. speech By Julia Falcon Senior News Writer An online letter signed by nearly 100 UNT faculty members denouncing Donald Trump Jr. being invited to speak as part of the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series was posted online Sept. 22. The letter says faculty are “shocked” and “embarrassed” by the decision to bring in Trump Jr. President Donald Trump’s oldest son is being paid $100,000 for a 30-minute speech on Oct. 24 at AT&T Stadium. According to organizers, Trump Jr. will speak about “freedom of speech.” Reaction from students, faculty and staff have been mixed about UNT’s decision to sponsor Trump Jr. In the letter, whose contents were confirmed to the North Texas Daily by UNT associate history professor Nancy Stockdale, faculty members “call on the UNT Board of Regents to rescind the invitation to Mr. Trump and
to suspend the Kuehne Speaker Series until UNT administrators can devise a shared-governance process that will bring more of UNT’s stakeholders – including UNT administrators, faculty, staff and students – together to select speakers.” The letter also states how the invitation of Trump Jr. “does not represent our university community or our shared values.” The faculty goes on to claim “this invitation evinces a stunning disrespect for women, people of color, LGBTQ members of our community, and others, and it cannot stand.” Political Science professor Elizabeth Oldmixon said she signed the open letter because faculty were not given an opportunity to provide input regarding the Trump Jr. invitation. According to Stockdale, the open letter was not sent directly to UNT administrators.
@falconjulia22
National Merit Scholars to its ranks. This increases the total to 55 scholars. Rounding out the growth among the student population, Ph.D. enrollment grew 5.7 percent. Smatresk noted the importance of this and calls Ph.D. enrollees and their freshman counterparts “the bookends of reputation.” In addition to the influx of new students, 35.7 percent of students graduated in four years. This is up five percent from 2016 and approximately double the rate from 2008. On the academic side of things, UNT now has 69 programs ranked nationally in the top 100, up seven programs from
SEE UNIVERSITY ON PAGE 3
By Sarah Sarder Senior News Writer The UNT Student Government Association (SGA) Senate voted 19-2 Wednesday night to pass a resolution supporting the removal of the Confederate monument on the Denton Square. Wednesday’s meeting included a two-hour discussion followed by the vote. The Senate heard the first reading of the resolution in their meeting on Sept. 20 and had a period of questioning about its contents. College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Senator Jordan Villarreal was one of six senators who signed and submitted the resolution. He was also its principal author. Villarreal said though the resolution had some opposition, it was not enough to sway the vote. “I feel ecstatic that we, as an organization, are speaking out against revisionism, hatred and injustice,” Villarreal said. “We can’t sit aside and do nothing. Doing nothing is a tacit endorsement of the status quo.” Now that the Senate has allowed Speaker Lisa Hume to sign the resolution, it must be signed by SGA President Barrett Cole within the next two weeks to pass. Cole has the option to veto the bill if she chooses. If Cole approves, Vice President of Student Affairs
IN THIS ISSUE
Denton’s Oaktopia music festival moves to Deep Ellum By Grace Cottingham Staff Writer
SGA passes resolution supporting removal of Confederate monument
SEE SGA ON PAGE 2
Puppeteer Mark Gale adjusts puppet “Frank the Horse.” Gale has worked with The Walt Disney Co. and “Sesame Street” in the past. Rachel Walters|Staff Photographer
One weekend out of the year, the Denton alternative music scene steps back from their notorious house shows and takes over venues all over the city instead with a much-anticipated festival — Oaktopia. However, this year, a new home is in store — Dallas’ famous Deep Ellum neighborhood. Oaktopia experienced perhaps their most exciting lineup to date in 2016. From Grammy-winning UNT alumna Norah Jones to popular artists like Rae Sremmurd, Best Coast, White Denim and Dr. Dog. The festival was widely popular among Dallas-Fort Worth fans and delivered a weekend full of great music and art.
Fans can now mark their calendars for Oaktopia 2017, which will take place Nov. 17-18. 21 Savage and Phantogram are the festival headliners while STRFKR, A-Trak, Baauer, BoomBox, Com Truise and many others are also planned to grace Deep Ellum’s stages this fall. Matt Battaglia, Oaktopia founder and UNT alumnus, explained that Oaktopia’s time in Denton was always a hit. Some limitations occurred with the Denton location that inspired the move to Deep Ellum. “The past Oaktopia festivals have been very successful but could always be better,” Battaglia said. “There are difficulties that come from holding it in a small town.”
SEE OAKTOPIA ON PAGE 4
Oaktopia, one of Denton’s most popular and fastest growing festivals, has been moved to Deep Ellum. Sara Carpenter| Senior Staff Photographer
NEWS
ARTS & LIFE
SPORTS
OPINION
County officials are called into question about Confederate monument pg 3 Two dozen residents of Denton County brought assertions of potential violations by city and county officials regarding the Confederate monument.
Denton vintage store curates retro apparel and fashion history pg 5 Janie Shoto owns and operates Denton’s “best and only” vintage store, despite having a condition that affects her eyesight.
Column: North Texas football needs students in attendance pg 6 The Mean Green are averaging 37.8 points per game this season, but attendance still remains underwhelming. Senior Sports Writer Matt Brune calls for more students at Apogee.
The struggle and honor of being a firstgeneration student pg 8 Being a first generation college student can be an eye opening experience. First generation student Jade Jackson tackles the issue.
NEWS Page 2
UNT releases annual security, fire safety report REPORT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Editorial Board
department we are doing a little better job on enforcement.” Reynolds said the department has made an attempt to decrease the number of violent crimes by deterring drug and alcohol violations, which he said are often involved in such crimes. UNT police target areas with consistent drug and alcohol violations at peak times to prevent violent crimes at a lower level.
Editor-in-Chief Reece Waddell @ReeceWaddell15 ReeceWaddell@my.unt.edu News Editor James Norman @JamesTNorman_WL JamesNorman@my.unt.edu
Burglaries and other crimes There were 11 burglaries in 2016 — down from 15 in 2015 and 25 in 2014. Reynolds said he was hesitant to identify the decrease as a trend, but identified increased cooperation with housing authorities as responsible. Reynolds said most burglaries are crimes of opportunity and occur in the residence halls when doors are left open or unlocked. “With crime sometimes you have to be careful
Arts & Life Editor Abby Jones @abbyfjones28 AbigailJones3@my.unt.edu Sports Editor Brady Keane @BradyKeane BradyKeane@my.unt.edu
with taking credit for lower crimes, especially when you’re dealing with small numbers,” Reynolds said. “I do think the numbers have gone down because we have done a much better job working with housing on crime prevention.” Four crimes were classified as unfounded in 2016. They included one sexual assault, two vehicle thefts and one burglary. Only law enforcement officials can classify a crime as unfounded and only if they find the facts of the case clearly support there was no crime. Reynolds was not able to comment on the unfounded sexual assault without reviewing the specific case. Reynolds clarified vehicle theft reports are common early in the fall semester when new students forget where they parked their car. Students are not penalized for such reports because they did not intentionally make a false report. The report includes a section on non-arrest campus referrals, which are cases where a student is referred to the DOS for violating the student code of
Production Team Design Editor Julia Contarelli @ContarelliJ JuliaPaschoal@my.unt.edu
The Student Government Association voted yes to sending a resolution to remove the Confederate statue by a 19-2 vote. Kelsey Shoemaker | Staff Photographer
Copy Chief Kayleigh Bywater @kayleighnic0le KayleighBywater@my.unt.edu
Designer/Copy Editor Kelly Fox @kellythefox1 KellyFox2@my.unt.edu Social Media Manager Alec Spicer @Spicer_Alec AlecSpicer@my.unt.edu Illustrator Max Raign @maxothelioma MaxRaign@my.unt.edu
Business
Director Adam Reese 940-565-4265 Adam.Reese@unt.edu
Faculty Adviser Gary Ghioto 940-891-6722 Gary.Ghioto@unt.edu
To pitch a story, or contact the Editor-in-Chief, please email northtexasdaily@gmail.com
@sarderrr
SGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Opinion Editor Clay Massey @Clay_FC ClayMassey@my.unt.edu
Designer/Copy Editor Kayla Davis @kaylajeann19 KaylaDavis@my.unt.edu
conduct. Violations may include actions which violate the law, but may not be reported to the police if they are considered minor. One example of such a violation could be underage drinking in the residence halls. “They might violate the law, or they might violate the code,” McGuinness said. “But they’re not dealt with at the police department.” One racially motivated hate crime occurred in 2016, which involved defacing a surface in a dorm with a derogatory term. Residents of the involved hall attended mandatory training after the occurrence. McGuinness said students’ most important takeaway from the report should be regarding resources: how to report, who to go to and when to contact the DOS and police. “Crime for a community our size is relatively low,” Reynolds said. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your safety seriously.”
SGA votes 19-2 for supporting removal of monument
Visuals Editor Colin Mitchell @CJHMitchell ColinMitchell@myunt.edu
Designer/Copy Editor Circe Marez @CirceMarez CirceMarez@my.unt.edu
NTDAILY.COM
Elizabeth With will add the final signature needed to officially pass the resolution. Although the resolution passed by a wide margin, it faced some opposition during Wednesday’s meeting. Some senators were against the resolution because they did not consider the issue within the SGA’s jurisdiction, or thought the topic was too partisan. Others emphasized UNT’s proximity to the Square and its connection to UNT and its students. “I think the issue is quite definitely political, and I believe we should be making political statements,” College of Science Senator Ram Prasanna said. “I believe they should be really wellresearched and I believe this bill was.” Although the resolution is simply a recommendation for state, city and county officials, senators hope it will
create pressure and lead to action. “I feel proud of the students and people who supported sending a message calling for the removal of this racist statue,” CLASS senator Luis Avila said. “I do however want people to know that this is just a starting point. We will work hard to make sure there is action.” Villarreal said next steps will include trying to convince members of the Graduate Student Council, UNT Faculty Senate and Texas Woman’s University SGA to approve similar resolutions of their own. “It’s time for us to make our voice heard, to the historical commissions, to the city council, and especially to the commissioner’s court,” Villarreal said. “We hope our efforts push the commissioners towards the right side of history.”
@sarderrr
UNT Police train to handle mental health crises By Bianca Mujica Staff Writer Through accreditation by two agencies, special training, constant communication with other departments and a close relationship with the local mental health authority, UNT Police are working to ensure their department can properly handle mental health crises on campus. “Having [mental health] training is a good opportunity,” retired captain Jim Coffey said. “It allows us to quickly identify special mental issues with people and create understanding between them and the officers.” UNT Police Chief Ed Reynolds said the department communicates daily with the Dean of Students and the counseling center as part of the Care Team, a group of faculty members across campus who identify and help students in crisis or danger. Reynolds, who has been on the team since it began, said police are frequently the first responders for calls about someone in need of immediate help. He said early intervention is the key to helping students who are struggling. “Our role is to review cases where we have an individual that may present a threat to themselves or others,” Reynolds said. “Most of those we deal with is someone who has threatened self-harm. Our role is to get them the help they need.” Every officer in Texas receives Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) while in the police academy or within the first year of working in the field. UNT police are trained by instructors from Counseling and Testing Services on campus, Denton County MHMR or UNT officers with a mental health certification. Some officers travel the state or country to receive additional training. Captain David Owen said a “significant portion” of calls related to mental illness also involve suicide, so all officers go through CIT before and throughout their careers. The training
is required to take place at least every two years, but it is typically an annual event covering new topics. Owens said this year’s training focused on conflict de-escalation and learning specific symptoms for a variety of mental illnesses. Coffey, who retired and now works part-time with the department, said they learn about disorders from schizophrenia to depression. He said the latter is the most common. “The fact is that in college there’s a lot of stress,” Coffey said. “The work for each class and deadlines complicate a situation that’s already very complicated for people with mental health issues.” To guarantee the department follows the highest and most comprehensive standards for police, the UNT Police Department remains accredited through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), each with their own requirements and assessments every three years. The accreditation agencies do not mandate specific procedures, but they do look at what is practiced and the extent to which it succeeds in the environment. They do, however, require departments to have procedures for specific circumstances. CALEA has 294 standards to be met, one of which is how to approach “persons suspected of suffering from mental illnesses.” Nothing further is specified. IACLEA requires departments to have a written directive that “establishes procedures for handling mentally ill individuals” affiliated or not with the university. This directive must include the process of accessing and referring individuals to mental health resources, initial and refresher training related to mental health crises, as well as how to recognize indicators. IACLEA also has a requirement for behavioral threat assessments,
meaning those who pose a threat to themselves or others and identifying their violence potential to determine necessary treatment. These mandates are met through the department’s presence on the Care Team, the annual training and working with MHMR. “We take our procedures and give it to our Dean of Students or Counseling and Testing Services to say ‘Hey, can you look at this? Does this meet the needs our community?’” Reynolds said “We know what the standard says and we know what the state and federal requirements are for training. But when you get done with that we try to get the stakeholders to look at our policy to make sure what we’re doing is correct.”
“
“
North Texas Daily
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
I do have a greater sense of empathy for people suffering from mental illness.
Corporal Craig Simons received his Mental Health Peace Officer training in June 2016 from the Denton County Sheriff’s Mental Health Investigative Unit. He said he has always been fascinated by the “science of individual behavior” and has an undergraduate degree in psychology. “The training mainly consisted of understanding various mental health conditions, and numerous people came in to speak with us about what they struggle with,” Simons said of the 40hour, five-day course. “We also went through mental health crisis scenarios and were trained on what the Health and Safety Code says about mental health detentions.” Although Simons has not been in the situation where his training is necessary, he still believes it was a good investment.
“I do have a greater sense of empathy for people suffering from mental illness,” Simons said. “I feel more prepared if the need should arise involving a mental health call.” He said he and his fellow officers have been asked to take individuals from Counseling and Testing Services to MHMR for evaluation. The escort and treatment are voluntary and thus not usually dangerous, but he said there is still an “unpredictable element” when mental illnesses are involved. Owen said because of this possibility, officers have to use their training and experience to find the appropriate actions for a particular situation. “Our officers are responding using their best judgment,” Owen said. “Not everybody can respond the same way, so we are not dependent on a step-bystep process.” The UNT Police 60-day crime log shows five reported incidents of someone having a mental health crisis, all in September. Although there is no follow-up with the officers once the person is taken to a treatment center, Coffey said the interaction they do have is still crucial. He said the most effective approach any officer can take is to listen. “It’s not always natural for us to listen but it’s the most important,” Coffey said. “When we start interacting it escalates the situation, so when we listen, you get to the cause of what’s happening.” Reynolds, Simons and Owen all echoed the same sentiment – they want to use mental health training as a way to better serve the campus and help students struggling as best they can. When they help someone in a crisis, especially those who are suicidal, their number one priority is to keep everyone safe. “Nothing is worth leaving this earth for,” Coffey said. “No matter how bad it gets, tomorrow can always be better.”
@bmujica96
NEWS AROUND CAMPUS UNT breaks its fundraising record UNT’s Division of Advancement reached $30.1 million in annual fundraising during the 2017 fiscal year — the division’s highest total ever, according to a press release from UNT. Some highlights from the totals include an increase in major gifts, which increased by almost 50 percent from last fiscal year, the Wingspan Gala and the Kuehne Speaker Series generated almost $1.5 million in total revenue and UNT donors also created 39 new endowments with the UNT Foundation.
Six alumni to be honored at Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards UNT’s Alumni Association will be honoring six outstanding alumni at the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards dinner, according to a press release from UNT. This will be the 52nd anniversary of the program and honors alumni for “distinguished professional achievement.” The awards will coincide with UNT’s homecoming week.
UNT professors receive grant to better mental health practices
Three UNT professors have received a grant of more than $1.5 million to provide “culturally competent mental health services to underserved communities,” according to a release from UNT. The professors are Angie Wilson and Peggy Ceballos in the College of Education, as well as Chandra Carey of the College of Health and Public Services. The grant is a fouryear $1.272 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
UNT professor wins conservation award for research and environmental ethics A UNT professor in the Department of Philosophy received the 2017 Enrique Beltran Prize for the Conservation of Natural Resources from the Wildlife Society of Mexico, according to a press release from UNT. Professor Ricardo Rozzi, has researched conservation and environmental ethics in his native country, Chile, since 2000. He is also a member of the board of directors for UNT’s Center for Environmental Philosophy.
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 3
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Group accuses county officials of dishonesty By Sarah Sarder Senior News Writer An informal group of about two dozen Denton residents submitted a document to the Denton County Commissioners’ Court Tuesday morning outlining multiple alleged offenses on the part of commissioners and city officials. The document called for the immediate appointment of a citizen’s monument committee regarding the Confederate monument on the Square. Bryce Goodman, one of the citizens involved in researching the report, introduced the document during the public comment section of the meeting. “Our goal is to show the malfeasance surrounding Horn and the Commissioners’ Court,” Goodman, who will be running for the Precinct 4 seat, said. “I don’t care what action is taken, I just want action to be taken.” The document alleges that Denton County, under Judge Mary Horn, is “incapable of recognizing its failures to protect and preserve the historical significance of the monument, facilitating community or city involvement to support such efforts, or working with the Texas Historical Commission in an open, honest, and satisfactory capacity.” Judge Horn began Tuesday’s meeting by stating her intention in putting the creation of a monument committee on the agenda solely in order to have the correct historical context on the plaque near the monument. She added the first person to be on the committee would be Willie Hudspeth. During the public comment section of the meeting, Horn said any new wording suggestions for the plaque from the committee would be passed by the court before being sent to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for approval. The submitted document alleges the court violated this rule twice in the past. Horn said the court had not violated any laws in implementing the different plaques and had notified the THC of changes, though she could not confirm that with certainty The document is dubbed the “Citizens’ Report” and addressed to Judge Horn, the Commissioners’ Court, the Texas attorney general, the Denton County Historical Commission, the THC, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Mayor Chris Watts and the Denton City Council. Throughout five sections, the document attempts to show a pattern of negligence on behalf of the county and the resulting decline of the Confederate monument on the Square, referencing 26 exhibits which include official government documents and newspaper articles. Authors of the report included
“suspected violations” of actions they think might have violated the law. There are potential violations listed under nine sections of the report along with specific legal codes and agreements that would disallow the stated actions. Hudspeth, 71, said the group’s original goal was to get on the monument committee being put together by the commissioners. That changed after the citizens found what they consider proof of unacceptable practices. “Our committee who’s been researching this came up with this bible,” Hudspeth said, referring to the report. “That has produced a switch in our strategy. Now we’re just trying to get this information out.” Failure to report incidents Citizens behind the report could not find records of the court discussing the monument in meetings or reporting significant incidents to the THC, as required, through public information requests. Such an omission could be a violation of the Texas Administrative Code and could result in the county being fined $50 to $1,000 a day while the offense is occurring. Denial of access One of the document’s most serious allegations is that Judge Horn intentionally denied Willie Hudspeth, a local activist on whose behalf Horn had submitted a permit application to the Texas Historical Commission, from accessing the approved permit. In April 2003, Horn responded to Hudspeth’s questions about funding to repair the fountains on the monument with an explanation of the funding in question having been meant to repair the fountain fixtures, not to make the fountains operational. In her correspondence with Hudspeth, Horn cites a letter from the THC dating July 2000. Her quotes give an incomplete picture of the letter’s tone and message, which is encouraging of further consultation in order to restore the fountains. Additionally, Horn makes no reference to the more recent communication from the THC: the 2002 permit allowing for the fountains to be restored, and for the monument to be disassembled to install plumbing. Horn said the permit was not put into use because an architect from the firm ArchiTexas, the historical preservation company hired by the county said after an evaluation it would damage the monument. Providing false information
State of the University highlights changes UNIVERSITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 2016. UNT’s research expenditure has grown as well. This past year UNT added 50 patents filed, eight patents issued and six licenses executed. Recent hires at UNT have also given the university its largest faculty to date. Facilities at UNT have been the subject of a few changes. Ground was broken on the new College of Visual Arts and Design building, and new work has begun on both a new dining and residence hall as well as the Eagle Visitor Center. In business, UNT has partnered with the Toyota Production System, continued to work with the Dallas Cowboys on mutually beneficial educational programs and joined leagues with China-based NetDragon. NetDragon, China’s biggest gaming company who also does work in education, is working with UNT to create advanced educational software. The partnership could fundamentally change how UNT does business, Smatresk said. “We have established a partnership with them to work together to build new products, develop new technologies, move into an advanced world of online education that is next generation — not your grandmother’s online,” Smatresk said. “And we are currently working on projects that I believe have the capability of revolutionizing how we gather our students to learn and how we make it easy for our faculty to engage.” Potential challenges and how to address them The university is faced with several challenges heading into the future. Fewer high school graduates are increasing the recruitment competition, UNT transfer schools have declining enrollments, Master of Science and international students are leaving the university and due to increased system charges and legislative cuts, the university is set to lose $10 million in annual revenue. In order to combat these issues, the university is further committing itself to building on research, improving student access to education, improving learning via new technologies and working with the private sector to build better curricula. With regards to research, UNT is adding on new institutes such as the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder Studies. The university is also expanding doctoral funding and building a new wing at Discovery Park for Biomedical Engineering. To help with education, the university will be refining its financial aid and international recruiting efforts. It will be working with Dell and Collin County Community College to streamline the transfer process. UNT is also attempting to increase retention by removing barriers to graduation, improving financial aid delivery and expanding advising support. Future Goals UNT’s primary goal for this year is to make the university a “Next Generation Research University”. In short, keep the university on the cutting-edge of education worldwide. Smatresk explained that in order to do this, UNT will be working with its aforementioned partners to improve course design, learning outcomes and operations. “This is going to be a revolution,” Smatresk said. “This is going to be something that happens this year that’s really exciting. So we will work with NetDragon, Toyota, the Cowboys, Frisco, Denton, Dallas. We’ll work with everyone who wants to bring something to the game to help us move ahead to help our students.”
@jcassidy1996
In her April 2003 letter to Hudspeth, Horn states “it would be necessary to completely dismantle the monument to install new plumbing and this is not acceptable to the THC,” in direct contradiction to the THC-issued permit from 2002. Horn adds the fountains could not be turned on, saying they could not be made compatible with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the water would damage the limestone of the monument and that the THC would not allow new plumbing to be installed. The document refutes all three claims using documents obtained via public records requests. Horn said she could not explain the situation without looking through records from the time of the letter. ADA compatibility options Emails from February 2002 show multiple suggestions from Robert Posey, a program specialist at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, that would allow the fountains to be ADA compliant if restored. The document from the group of citizens states the issue could be resolved by adding a fountain at either the northeast or northwest corner of the Square because it would be located within 250 feet of the monument.
Composition of the monument The report points out multiple sources which have referred to the monument as being made of granite or marble, not limestone. The monument being made of limestone and its resulting fragility has been cited as reasoning for not being able to restore the fountains or relocate the arch. Denton County Civil Attorney Bill Schultz said in an email from Sept. 7, 2017 the county has “no definitive answer to its material but our best guesses are that it is made of granite, with marble insets and a marble statue.” ArchiTexas also refers to the statue as marble in a structure report from 2000. A Denton Record-Chronicle article commemorating the monument’s dedication in June 1918 also said the monument is granite. Adding plaques to the monument The citizen-submitted report provides documentation for three separate plaques which were installed near the monument and contends that only the first had a permit. The initial plaque wording was approved as part of the THC Courthouse Preservation Grant in July 2002. It was submitted by the firm ArchiTexas. The court passed new language for the
plaque using suggestions from Hudspeth in November 2002 and made no request for a permit according to the report. Finally, the court approved the plaque with the current expression in March 2010, removing a reference to segregated fountains from the previous plaque as “historically inaccurate.” The report’s authors allege that, again, no permit was requested. “I can assure you that we didn’t do anything without consulting THC before we made any changes,” Horn said in response to these allegations. “I mean, good heavens, we don’t even change the flowers around the flower bed outside the building without talking to the THC.” After one individual’s public comment encouraged the commissioners to follow proper procedure in regards to changing the monument, Horn said any suggested changes in plaque wording would be passed by the committee and the court before going to the THC. Commissioner Mitchell interjected, saying it could be regarding a change to another aspect of the monument. Horn responded they would talk about it. “There’s no disagreement,” Horn said. “My original intent was to have historically accurate context put together for a new plaque or plaques. If commissioners want to put together
@sarderrr
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, residents of Denton County gather at the Courthouse on the Square to speak during the public comment section of the Commissioners’ Court. The court was called into session to discuss the formation of a historical monument committee. Cameron Roe | Staff Photographer
UNT puts freeze on open student org parties By Celeste Gracia Staff Writer The UNT Student Affairs office placed a hold on all open parties hosted by student organizations. The hold began Sept. 13 and will continue until a committee determines recommendations for open party practices. Open parties are events held on campus where people not affiliated with the university are invited. The main factor that triggered the freeze happened in early September when two assaults occurred at an open party in the Union, said Elizabeth With, vice president for student affairs. With said there have been multiple incidents, such as arguments or altercations over the years with open parties that involve people from offcampus. This freeze is solely for the protection of UNT students. “The whole point of the evaluation is risk and safety,” With said. “We’re trying to look at that because I feel like that’s my responsibility to make sure we provide as safe an environment as we can.” Melissa McGuire, assistant vice president for student affairs, is the co-chair of a committee dedicated to determining better safety measures for UNT students at open parties. Assembling the committee members is still in progress, but McGuire said there will be students on the board to make sure their voices are heard. She said once the meetings start, they hope to finish in four to five weeks. With said she hasn’t experienced students getting into fights or causing issues at open parties. McGuire also oversees the Event Safety Committee, a board that works with student organization leaders on planning oncampus parties that have certain risk factors. She said one reason why she thinks students act more appropriately is because of their commitment to the university. “I have no doubt in my mind that UNT
students care about our institution and don’t want to do something detrimental to the institution,” McGuire said. “If you are someone not affiliated with the university in any way, you have no allegiance to our campus so it’s easier to behave in a way that you wouldn’t normally behave.” Kinesiology sophomore and member of the University Program Council Gabrielle Dominguez said she agrees safety is very important and worth reevaluating. “UNT itself is its own community,” Dominguez said. “We’re here to create these events for the students so I do feel maybe that the hold is the right thing to do for now to see how everything is going.” The current process for hosting open parties on campus begins with student organizations registering their event on OrgSync. As they fill out online forms explaining their event, there are certain factors that signal “red flags,” With said. Events that have too many risks are directed to the Event Safety Committee.
“There are certain things on that form that make it a high-risk party: the more people that are coming, if you’re serving alcohol and if you are allowing off-campus people,” With said. “The event safety committee works with the student organization to manage the risk. Just because these things are happening doesn’t mean you can’t have the party, it just means that there have to be certain risk management practices in place.” McGuire said she believes the process works. “This committee really makes sure that students have the tools they need to have a safe event,” McGuire said. “I do think we need to do a better job of training up front so that students have more time to develop programs the way they want to, but by and large its positive experiences.”
@celllyg
Students attend a University Program Council event on the Library Mall. These events were not affected by the open-parties ban by the student affairs office. Kady Shirley | Staff Photographer
ARTS & LIFE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Page 4
NTDAILY.COM
Denton vintage store curates retro apparel and fashion history By Kayla Henson Staff Writer Among the row of retail shops around the Square, a single burgundy door leads to the entrance of the sole vintage shop in town. Filled with clusters of eclectic retro clothes, funky accessories and top radio hits booming through an old-fashioned speaker system, Circa 77 Vintage ensures that each garment comes with a unique, rich history in every stitch and seam. Located on 225 West Oak St., the store sprang to life nearly 13 years ago by Janie Shoto and her daughter when they desired to bring an unexpected retail experience to locals. Shoto said the store was the perfect way to combine their love for fashion, although their appreciation for clothing originated in different ways. “[My daughter] has always done vintage, ever since she was a little girl,” Shoto said. “I’m the one who didn’t understand it at first. I only believed in designer stuff.” Though Shoto was diagnosed with full-blown retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at 18 years old, she didn’t begin to lose vision until her early 50s. Determined to not let her RP
affect the business, Shoto quickly learned to use her sense of touch and knowledge of fashion to correctly assess and price the clothes sold to the store. “I’ll take the clothes and flip it over to see how it’s sewn [and] whether it’s an open seam or it’s been surged.” Shoto said. “That way I’ll know if it’s newer or older. Then I’ll always check the zipper to see if it’s metal or invisible. I just go through a whole process through each item.” From there, interns like fashion merchandising/digital retail junior Kassi Reyna will also assess the garment and then Google search the clothing’s brand to make sure it’s legitimately vintage. For Reyna, working at the store means being constantly surrounded by history in the form of fashion. “That’s the most fascinating part to me, knowing that the garment’s [history] won’t just fade away with time,” she said. “There are stories in everything here.” Her job includes pricing garments, running errands for Shoto and helping with the store’s social media presence. The store’s Instagram page, @circa77vintage, is known for featuring customers and their buys. Reyna believes the implementation of social media is
Clothes from various decades are displayed in Circa 77 Vintage on West Oak. The shop has been open for 13 years. Paige Bruneman | Staff Photographer
Owner Janie Shoto stands in front of Circa 77 Vintage with her dog, Orzo, and her two interns. The shop is sometimes described as the “best and only” vintage shop in Denton. Paige Bruneman | Staff Photographer an accurate representation of the store’s place in the community. “I like having cool pictures of the shoppers in their clothes to incorporate customers in our Instagram,” Reyna said. “It gives us more of a local business feel.” Merchandising senior Jessica Colligan has been interning at the shop for two years, but began her credited internship about a year ago. Her lifelong passion for antique fashion is what made her desire to work at the store. “What drove me to work here was my love for vintage,” Colligan said. “I’ve always liked old movies because of the vintage clothing. Working here means getting to work with it and also try it on and wear it around.”
She works closely with Shoto when buying clothes from customers. She also frequently redesigns the layout of the store to display different clothes and consistently showcase unique items. Colligan believes the biggest misconception people have about the vintage store is that it’s the same as a thrift store. “People will come in here thinking it’s a thrift store, but thrifting is very different from vintage,” Colligan said. “Vintage is more expensive because of the quality of the clothes.” Fashion merchandising and digital retail freshman Adele Witt was once just a frequent shopper. She became so encapsulated by the store that she began interning
there this semester. “I love vintage,” Witt said. “I’ve always loved it because my grandma liked to sew. I’m really at ease in this setting.” Witt used to volunteer at an Austin thrift store and helped with its Etsy site. Witt felt that working at the Denton vintage shop was a logical next step to deepen her study of genuine vintage clothing. While some customers misconceive the clothes’ sizing as being exclusive to only small body types, Witt says it’s just how the clothes were made in that time. “Some people get upset about sizing differences here, but it’s old clothing,” Witt said. “It’s survived 40, 50 [or] who knows how many years. They are likely used to
department store clothes, but some things run smaller here because many people wore some form of shapewear back then.” Shoto said that while many vintage stores have opened and closed in the last 13 years, her store stayed dedicated to servicing the community’s needs. This is what makes Circa 77 Vintage stand the test of time. “To me, customer service is the most important,” Shoto said. “We’ve added other things like rentals and custom clothing. If there’s something going on and we can help the community, we don’t mind doing that at all. Anything we can do to help, we will.”
@kayla_hensonn
Oaktopia moves to Deep Ellum, Denton’s live music scene still thrives OAKTOPIA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Even though the festival is now occurring in Dallas, Denton’s music scene still has other opportunities to prosper. Longtime member of the Oaktopia team and Oaktopia performer Danielle Longeuville is firm in her beliefs that this scene is still strong even with the absence of the festival. “Things are always happening in Denton,” Longeuville said. “There are house shows, live venues and small specialty festivals happening every weekend.”
Big-name Oaktopia performers brought a wild, massive crowd that put pressure on the festival team. From issues like venue sizes to financial demands, Oaktopia appeared to have been busting at the seams in its previous location. “There is a lack of space and lack of hospitality opportunities for ticket guests like Airbnb, hotels and campgrounds,” Longeuville said. “[These] are factors that make Denton a hard venue for festivals.” It is common for festivals to be held in big cities or in places with wide open spaces. For example, popular Texas music festival
Austin City Limits might not have reached the caliber it is on today without its home in the spacious Zilker Park. Oaktopia organizers hope to have a more concert-friendly and crowd-friendly experience as an outcome of the move, with shows being held in highly-frequented Deep Ellum venues including Trees and The Bomb Factory. Even though Denton must bid farewell to one of their annual music events, locals are persistent on keeping the city’s musical spirit alive and well. “We are working on an event like Oaktopia being held in Denton
in 2018,” Battaglia said. “This event will be more suitable for the Denton community, with new concepts and ideas in comparison to Oaktopia.” Slow Drip Shows is another example of fresh concepts brewing within Denton’s music scene — even in the absence of Oaktopia. As an up-and-coming production and booking company, Denton-based Slow Drip Shows had a major hand in creating Oaktopia 2017. Run by Battaglia and his partner Brent Camp, Slow Drip has taken over Monocle, his former booking company.
Monocle helped organize previous Oaktopia festivals but is now no longer in existence as Slow Drip continues to book some of Denton’s larger-scale shows. “Slow Drip Shows is brand new,” Camp said. “We went live pretty recently. We had an older production company called Monocle that brought most of the big shows through Denton. We created this new company to take a step back and rebrand.” Slow Drip already has relatively large-scale concerts coming up, such as Ugly God at BackYard on Bell on Sept. 30. The team hopes this will help
fill the void from Oaktopia’s move. Additionally, both Battaglia and Camp speak confidently about the possibility for a new festival in Denton’s future. “We have some concept ideas for a festival in 2018,” Camp said. “Not much detail yet, but we’ll be having another festival in Denton closer to summer.” Announcements on future concerts, events and maybe even hints at Denton’s next music festival can be found on www. slowdripshows.com.
@GraceCottingham
Equipment updates and upgrades in store for Pohl Recreation Center By Anna Orr Staff Writer Many regulars of UNT’s Pohl Recreation Center tend to frequent the facilities prior to the summer to get in shape. However, the building itself went under its own makeover during the vacation. With the addition of new group exercise classes and cardio and
weight machines, UNT’s gym is welcoming some upgrades for the upcoming school year. Joe Chaney, fitness coordinator for the rec center, was involved in recreation sports throughout his college career. He was excited to be running the programs at the Pohl when he moved to Texas in 2013. “We have eliminated a few pieces that hadn’t been utilized
as much as other pieces on the floor,” Chaney said. “So we got rid of about six pieces, specifically resistance training equipment. We have shuffled cables and things to accommodate two more power racks.” Power racks are versatile equipment that can be adjusted to work upper and lower body. These gym staples, mainly used for
Students enjoy their Tuesday afternoon workouts at the Pohl Recreational Center on campus. The rec center is expecting many changes to equipment, group workout classes and overall experience for students this year. Sarah Schreiner | Staff Photographer
weights, can be utilized in many forms, depending on the user’s workout style. The rec center currently has five squat racks and two power racks. Two new additional power racks were expected to arrive at the beginning of the semester, but their delivery was delayed due to confusion about the shipping address. Chaney is hoping to receive them by the end of the month. “We are a little hesitant to put an arrival date on it since it’s up in the air right now,” Chaney said The area upstairs has been oriented to provide more space, accommodating an assortment of workout styles. Several cardio machines were added to the lower level and spin bikes are also expected to be added upstairs. However, the anticipation is highest regarding the arrival of the power racks. “We chose power racks since it is the biggest piece that is in demand for students,” Chaney said. “In the evening, there’s always a line for squats.” Kinesiology senior Lydia Turner has been a rec center employee since July 2016. Turner loves helping maintain the facilities and utilizes the gym by lifting every
day. “We mostly have to clean and watch the weight room and make sure all the rules are being followed,” Turner said. The gym staff has been busy, as the rec center sees peak attendance during the first month of each semester. As time goes on and classes pick up, the crowd thins out bit by bit. The new arrangement of the rec center has allowed for improved “flow” of the space, but gym-goers will have to adjust again when the two power racks arrive and envelop the space that is currently open. “People have been using all the machines that we do have and are adjusting to it, so the rec has been flowing pretty nicely,” Turner said. Fashion design sophomore Allie Galvan utilizes multiple aspects of the gym, but she particularly enjoys lifting and playing volleyball on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Galvan said she enjoyed the arrangement of the equipment last year and is adjusting to the new setup. “I like the arrangement of the weights,” Galvan said. “It creates a little more open space toward the mirrors. I also like the way they grouped everything together.” Turner also sees an increase of
students utilizing the numerous methods of exercise the rec center offers. Students have the opportunity to pay $55 for an unlimited amount of group exercise classes for the semester. There are 50 to 60 group exercise classes including yoga, pilates, spin classes, strength classes and Zumba classes. In addition to special programs like kettlebell boot camp, a new program has been added called 2fit that allows students to go through an exercise class with a workout partner. There are also eight personal trainers on staff that students can access. The trainers can help instruct beginners on form or tailor an exercise program for specific individuals. Turner sees the rec center as a positive, healthy environment that welcomes any student seeking any form of exercise. “There is something there for everybody,” Turner said. “People don’t even know [all that] we offer. There are so many free events that happen every other week along with climbing and the Outdoor Pursuits Center.”
@annaornah
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 5
Talking heads and unseen hands
Denton Event Radar September 28, 2017
Denton County Honey Tasting Where: D&L Farm and Home When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. $5
September 28, 2017 UPC Live Music Series Where: Library Mall When: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free
September 29, 2017
Milpa’s Grand Re-Opening Where: Milpa Kitchen and Cantina When: 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m. Free Puppeteer Mark Gale (center) poses with puppets (from left to right) Frank the Horse, Country Smolders, Egghead, David and Dean Marvel. Gale is one half of “DillionGale,” a puppetry duo that creates comedic web content. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer PUPPETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 By the time he was 17 years old, he had joined the Puppeteers of America and was performing at festivals across the country. Gale was a talented kid among a crowd of adults, which eventually caught the eye of main “Muppets” performer Frank Oz. Oz introduced Gale to Muppets creator Jim Henson and the Muppets themselves. “Early on, it was such a thrill being around the ‘Muppet’ puppets themselves,” Gale said. “They’re such an iconic presence, [and they’re] just sitting on a pole next to you — that was a big thrill.” Gale soon enrolled at the University of Connecticut’s puppet arts program, which was the only puppetry degree offered in America. “It was, at the time, the only college in the nation where you could get a degree in puppetry,” Gale said. “I certainly got a lot of raised eyebrows when I said I was going to puppet school.” Upon graduating, Gale started his extensive work at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He later worked on shows like “Kermit’s Swamp Years” and “Sesame Street.” As extensive as his experience goes, Gale said the physical work of operating puppets never gets easier. “It’s a physical beating,” Gale said. “You’re holding
them up in the air under the hot studio lights, and it’s a [pain]. But it’s great when it’s done.” Now, Gale and fellow puppeteer Ryan Dillon host their own podcast and puppet series called DillonGale, where they chat about pop culture, experiences in the puppet industry and swap personal life stories. “If you take pop culture for the last 50 years, put it in a blender and wrap it in fake fur, you get a good sense of their humor and aesthetic,” said Patrick Holmes, another fellow puppeteer and longtime friend of Dillon and Gale. The two started DillonGale a couple of years ago and they gradually began to create characters that could be incorporated into small skits. In total, they ended up with 10 original characters, ranging from a crotchety grandpa named Lewis to Gale’s main puppet, Frank the Horse. “We were spending too much time on the podcast that we weren’t really doing what we wanted to do, which is to do a show,” Gale said. “So we put the podcast on the shelf and started developing skits and routines with the characters.” These characters are often highlighted with some of their own segments in short clips on their YouTube channel. Every Thursday night, they also hold livestreams with fans, answering them with the same group that they call the “DillonGale Idiots.” “Muppets” puppeteer Frankie Cordero acts as the
human moderator for the neurotic puppets on camera. “Mark has described my role in the livestreams as maintaining a calm and grounded demeanor while these insane characters go on rants, sing and flip out around me,” Cordero said. “This can often be a challenge, as these are two of the funniest guys I know.” The two recently filmed a pilot for a DillonGale series and are looking for investors to turn it into a television show. Gale said doing the work is difficult, but promoting it is half the battle. “We’re creative idiots,” Gale said. “Now we’re forcing ourselves to be businessmen, which is difficult, but we’re working on that. That’s the hardest part — figuring how to sell yourself.” Gale said they still have faith that the show will appeal to different audiences with its Adult Swimesque humor. “It’s a little weirder than the ‘Muppets,’” Gale said. “But we think people who like the ‘Muppets’ will love us, too. We’re just a little bit more out there.” Gale said it can be a slow-going process, but the end goal will be worth it. “I love the final product that we can look at and laugh at and think [is] great,” Gale said. “[I love] when it’s really funny and we say, ‘Wow, we really made something great.’”
September 30, 2017
First Annual DCBC Cornhole Tournament Where: Denton County Brewing Co. When: 3-7 p.m. Free
October 2, 2017 Oktoberfest Where: UNT Union When: 6-8 p.m. Free
October 3, 2017
UPCinema: Mean Girls Where: Lyceum When: 8 p.m. Free
October 4, 2017
Yoga Wednesdays Where: Golden Triangle Mall When: 8:30 p.m. Free
@rohmyboat
Oxygen bar refreshes Discovery Park In a college town, an oxygen bar may not be the first type of bar that masses of students would choose to visit to alleviate stress. But at this bar, oxygen flows through tubes into students’ noses, allowing them to inhale the soothing aromas to relieve their anxiety and refresh themselves. On Sept. 19, Discovery Park supplied an oxygen bar for students to enjoy and take advantage of its relaxing qualities. Breathe It In at Discovery Park brought students from all over campus to try out the oxygen bar. Social work major Melissa Chavez, the student assistant of the Center for Student Affairs at Discovery Park, helped organize the event to give students the opportunity to relax in a unique way. “We think it is a great way to bring students together and enjoy the variety of aromas they offer,” Chavez said. “It is soothing and calming, and it allows students to take a moment out of their busy schedule and breathe.” Oxygen bars offer a number of aromas people can breathe in to alleviate stress and clear their mind, including vanilla and lavender. These bars are becoming especially popular with students who may need a healthy way to wind down and forget about the pressure of classes. “Aromatherapy is one of the many ways students get to relax here on campus,” Chavez said. “The oxygen bar is known to strengthen an individual’s concentration and memory, relieve their muscles and restore energy levels. This allows the body to calm the mind, which is exactly what students need and request after a long day of hard work.” Discovery Park has had successful oxygen bar events in the past. The Center for Student Affairs hopes to have at least one a semester to meet the demand. “We get it requested very often, and the high turnout shows in the card swipes,” Chavez said. “Our students love them, and to be quite sincere, our office enjoys them too. It is great way for students to interact with our student workers and vice versa.” Mechanical and energy engineering senior Sergio Patino has tried oxygen bars in the past and loves the soothing benefits he gains from it. “After getting out of class you just get to sit down, relax and try all the smells,” Patino said. “It can be really calming.” Aromatherapy in the form of oxygen bars began in the late 1990s but is currently increasing in popularity all over
the world, especially in college towns. The stress-relieving benefits of the scented oxygen attract students hoping to unwind without any health risks. Even those new to oxygen bars recognize the extent of their benefits. Material science and engineering sophomore Christian Garcia had never tried an oxygen bar before attending Breathe It In. “I saw the oxygen bar there, and it looked kind of interesting,” Garcia said. “It really did help me feel relaxed.” UNT students enjoy the on-campus oxygen bars because they stand out among other campus events. Breathe It In provides an uncommon form of stress relief that contrasts with the typical activities planned on campus.
“
It definitely stands out from our movie showings and bingo nights.
“
By Ashlee Winters Staff Writer
WHERE
FRESH & FAST MEET
™
“Students appreciate the atypical approach this event brings to Discovery Park,” Chavez said. “It definitely stands out from our movie showings and bingo nights.” Breathe It In also gives students a chance to try something they may never have done before while getting to experience the soothing effects of the aromatherapy. “Breathe It In is an event that is unique and light-hearted for the students,” Chavez said. “For many, it is their first time to ever experience an oxygen bar, and we are glad we get to be the ones to allow them this opportunity.” Chavez hopes the oxygen bar and other campus events will succeed in helping students take a break from the anxieties they may face every day and instead enjoy the fun activities offered to them. “We have a simple goal — to make fun and exciting memories for our students,” Chavez said. “The Center for Student Affairs strives to set up events to enjoy throughout the semester. From big events to small ones, we do anything to help students ease their mind and focus on their academics without getting overwhelmed.”
@ashwinters221
WE DELIVER! VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU
A student adjusts their oxygen flavor. This oxygen bar was offered to students at “Breathe It In” at Discovery Park. Mallory Cammarata | Staff Photographer
SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Page 6
NTDAILY.COM
UPCOMING GAMES North Texas celebrates around senior Holly Milam after sweeping the University of Oklahoma Wednesday night. Milam became the first player in North Texas history to reach 900 kills, 600 digs and 250 blocks in a career. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
Friday • Volleyball: vs. UTSA – 7 p.m. •Swimming and Diving: North Texas Relays (Lewisville, Texas) – 4 p.m. Saturday • Football: @ Southern Miss – 6 p.m. • Tennis: @ All-American PQ – All Day Sunday • Soccer: @ Western Kentucky – 1 p.m. • Volleyball: vs. La. Tech – 1 p.m. • Tennis: @ All-American PQ – All Day Monday • Women’s golf: @ Johnie Imes Invitational (Columbia, Missouri) – All Day through Wednesday Tuesday • Tennis: @ All-American Q (Pacific Palisades, California) – All Day through Wednesday
CONFERENCE USA STANDINGS
Conference USA West Conf.
Overall
La. Tech
1-0
2-2
Rice
1-1
1-3
UNT
1-0
2-2
S. Miss
0-0
2-1
UTSA
0-0
3-0
UAB
0-1
2-2
UTEP
0-1
0-4
Conference USA East Team
Conf.
Overall
Marshall
0-0
2-1
ODU
0-0
2-2
FIU
1-0
2-1
MTSU
0-0
2-2
Charlotte
0-0
0-4
FAU
0-0
1-3
WKU
0-1
2-2
Players of the Week C-USA honors Wilson, Moore After playing a key role in a 46-43 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jeffery Wilson (Offense) and Trevor Moore (Special Teams) were named Conference USA Players of the Week.
Record crowd sparks sweep of OU By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer Late in the first set, the University of Oklahoma led North Texas 22-20 and had seized the match’s momentum. Then the scoreboard went out. While the delay lasted no more than five minutes, both teams felt it. North Texas (14-2, 1-1) went on to score five straight points and steal the first set 25-22. From there, the Mean Green settled in and defeated Oklahoma (3-12, 0-2) in straight sets (25-22, 25-18, 2516) at home Wednesday night in front of a record 719 fans. The crowd was the biggest in North Texas volleyball history. “Yeah, it did [help],” head coach Andrew Palileo said. “It slowed us down a little bit and we talked about staying focused and moving forward with each play, and we were able to do that to pull out that set.”
The seating capacity of the Mean Green Volleyball Complex is 600. The band, and everyone who showed up later than five minutes before the match began, was restricted to standing shoulder-toshoulder to watch the Mean Green. Most of the time, the teams could not hear the coaches or players next to them after a rally. The energy was radiating through the gym. “Our fans are always great and our band is always great,” Palileo said. “When it’s a sell out like this with the amount of people we had in here, that definitely drives our energy, and I’m glad we were able to play the way we did in front of them.” The defense settled in for the Mean Green after winning the first set and suffocated most attempts by the Sooners to get easy kills or tips over the North Texas blocks. The outstretched arms of senior middle
blocker Amanda Chamberlain and senior outside hitter Alexis Wright wreaked most of the havoc for the Mean Green defensively. North Texas finished with nine blocks and only allowed Oklahoma to connect on 33 kills. The Sooners committed 26 errors attempting to create offense.
“
We always talk about character and discipline.
“
Team
“We just locked in,” Chamberlain said. “We always talk about character and discipline, and after the first set we focused
on doing our [job] on our side and everything else will fall into place.” Chamberlain also had a solid night offensively, amassing 14 kills on 23 attempts. She was joined by senior middle blocker Holly Milam who tallied 12 kills on 17 attempts. Overall, North Texas had 41 kills and 17 errors, finishing with a .240 attack percentage. “There was a huge crowd tonight,” Milam said. “I think we were all too hyped up that first set, and the second and third set we found our rhythm and really went after it.” While the attendance set a record, Milam and Chamberlain also penned their names in the record books Wednesday night. Milam became the first player in North Texas history with 900 kills, 600 digs and 250 blocks while Chamberlain moved up to sixth all-time in career block assists and eighth all-time in career blocks.
“I’m just proud, I guess,” Milam said. “I know I couldn’t have gotten here without my teammates pushing me and just playing around them, they inspire me all the time and my coaches just really helped me along the way.” The Mean Green are now 4-1 against Power Five schools, and have won 13 of 17 sets in those matches. The team knows games against bigger schools are important as they look to build confidence for Conference USA play. “This win was another one of those Power Five schools we beat,” Chamberlain said. “So it’s a big win and it’s going to be really big in [conference play].” Next up: North Texas takes on the University of Texas at San Antonio at 7 p.m. on Friday at home.
@mattbrune25
COLUMN
North Texas football needs students in attendance
By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer The administration has done its part. The football team has done its part. Now it’s on you, the students of the University of North Texas. The football team could use – no – the Mean Green football team deserves your attendance at Apogee stadium six times a year for about three hours at a time. Doing so will create a real homefield advantage for the team and create a real college football environment. I know, North Texas is not known around the country for its athletic history. UNT students are often focused on music, science, history and preparing for their rigorous courses because, historically, the university has far more to offer academically than athletically. But we are talking about one of the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in the country here. It’s an emerging program with fun players who make exciting plays to entertain everyone at North Texas. Those who are at the games, at least. This is not Alabama or Oklahoma-level football, but it is high-quality football missing just one thing. A high-quality atmosphere. “It’s great to look up and see the fans there, believing,” senior running back Jeffery Wilson said. “We need that every week and even more. To see those stands packed and filled up, it gives us the energy to go that much harder for them.” A decent crowd, which is what North Texas has by other FBS standards, helps the home team. It does not, however, disrupt the away team much at all. That’s what great crowds do.
You see it every week on TV. Opposing quarterbacks frantically wave their hands around motioning to receivers and lineman without using words because even yelling is pointless with a deafening crowd. Eventually, teams are forced to burn a precious time out or run the play despite lack of organization. That’s what great crowds do. They impact the game. “The fans are great, if we come out flat they’re right there behind us,” sophomore quarterback Mason Fine said. “We had a great turnout at our [last] game, hopefully there will be more fans [at the] next home game, but we just have to keep winning and they’ll have our back.” Athletic director Wren Baker and associate vice president Jared Mosley have done everything in their power to increase interest in the athletic program. Whether it’s through marketing plans, enticing clubs and organizations to come out or a thoughtful promotional ploy, they’ve been extremely proactive in attempting to fill Apogee six times a year. In the end, though, the university gives free admission to the near 38,000 students enrolled. It’s up to you to make those numbers jump in next four home games. The only question left to ask now is: how good
does this football program need to be for Apogee to consistently host an attendance closer to the capacity of just under 31,000? In 2014, the football team went 4-8 and scored 27.2 points per game. Their average announced attendance per game was 19,271. During the dismal 2015 campaign, North Texas averaged just 13,361. Last season, with Littrell and company taking over, the Mean Green went 5-8 and averaged 24.8 points per game. They averaged an announced attendance of 19,878. This year’s team is 2-2 and averages 37.8 points per game. They have explosive players and a lot of returners from last season’s team that advanced to a bowl game in the first year under Littrell. The excitement should be there. The seats should be filled. Right? Not quite. In two home games, this year’s football team has an average announced attendance of 19,867. I’m calling you out students. The next home game is a big rivalry game against University of Texas at San Antonio at 5:30 p.m on Saturday Oct. 14. I’ll see you there.
@mattbrune25
Avg. Attendance Numbers by the Year Since Apogee Stadium opened in 2011
2011: 18,864
Record: 5-7*
2012: 18,927
Record: 4-8*
2013: 23,509
Record: 9-4*
2014: 19,271
Record: 4-8*
2015: 13,631
Record: 1-11**
2016: 19,878
Record: 5-8***
2017: 19,867
Record: 2-2*** Head coach * Dan McCarney ** McCarney, Mike Canales *** Seth Littrell
North Texas football fans celebrate after North Texas scores a touchdown against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 23 at Apogee Stadium. Sara Carpenter | Senior Staff Photographer
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 7
Family, NFL aspirations drive safety McClain By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer In high school, Kishawn McClain’s driving force was a desire to play college ball. In his first season at North Texas, it was about breaking onto the collegiate football scene. During his sophomore campaign, he sought to establish himself as the ball-hawk safety the Mean Green defense needed. In early February 2016, during the months leading up to his junior year, his motivation shifted. The seasons ahead were no longer only about football. His newborn son, Brayden McClain, was an important part of the picture. “He gave me a new reason,” McClain said. “A new reason to keep pushing and keep my head up in everything I’m doing right now.” With even more to play for, he had his best season in 2016 with a team-high 91 tackles and three interceptions. McClain was named a second-team All-Conference USA selection. The National Football League McClain has always had aspirations of an NFL career on his mind. As his senior year continues, those goals have continued to become more prominent with the birth of his son and the reality of the end of his career at North Texas drawing closer. “I’m going to do all I can to go to the next level and keep playing,” McClain said. “[I’ll get there] by just playing football. Not doing too much, staying healthy and just making plays.” His versatility will help him in this endeavor. Coming out of Rosenberg Terry High School he was a top-12 athlete in Texas and even played quarterback during his high school career. All of that experience helped mold him into a lethal safety at the collegiate level. “It [helps] knowing what you have to do and calling out what you see,” McClain said. “You’re like a quarterback on the defense so it’s the same thing.” McClain certainly has the numbers over his four seasons to catch the eyes of NFL scouts in need of a fearless ball hawk at defensive back. In his career at North Texas, McClain has 261 tackles in 41 games, 9.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and forced four fumbles. “His knowledge of the game in general [has grown],” senior running back Jeffery Wilson said. “He’s always been a great ball player but now that he’s got the game down and an understanding for the game, it
makes him a better player than he already was.” Leadership McClain is strong enough to take down running backs and smart enough to drop into coverage and make a play on any deep ball. His attributes as a leader, however, far outweigh his skills on the field to fellow defensive backs and coaches. For a preseason first-team all-conference selection, that says a lot. “He’s been a leader since we’ve got here,” Troy Reffett, defensive coordinator and safeties coach, said. “He’s assumed the role and has a lot more responsibility this year because he’s a senior. He’s a guy the kids look up to. He’s one of the hardest workers we have, so he does a lot for this team.” McClain has naturally stepped up into a larger role in his final season with the program, but the importance of that role rests in the fact that the Mean Green have two new starters in the secondary. With newcomers Khairi Muhammad and Kemon Hall ascending into the starting lineup, McClain has become more of a teacher than in previous years. Muhammad, who lines up alongside McClain at safety, has grown immensely from his freshman to sophomore year and credited that growth to McClain’s leadership as he watched and learned from McClain’s production throughout the past year. “He always has a positive attitude,” Muhammad said. “He holds people accountable, he’s just a great guy and I learned a lot from him. He’s just a tremendous player.” In his time at North Texas, his role on the defense has clearly grown since he thrived as free-firing sophomore attacking opposing running backs or receivers catching an underneath pass. Now, McClain also shoulders the role of ensuring the rest of the secondary is ready to go pre-snap. “[My role] is getting the proper call, proper alignment and getting people lined up,” McClain said. “[Then] doing what I need to do. That’s pretty much my role.” While his character and leadership abilities are what make him a great teammate and captain, McClain’s play and production on the field are what he hopes will get him a job at the next level. Senior year With McClain having led the Mean Green in tackles for two straight years, opposing teams have taken notice early in 2017. Passes have started going to the other
Top: North Texas senior safety Kishawn McClain points toward the crowd after breaking up a pass. Colin Mitchell| Visuals Editor
side of the field, and opposing blockers now search for the green number six before the play begins to try to slow him down and make others step up into the role he once held as the team’s leading tackler. Senior Nate Brooks has seen this first hand throughout the season. Brooks struggled in last week’s game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but he, like McClain, entered the season as an important leader in the secondary. “They don’t really target [McClain] and my side [as much],” Brooks said. “[Teams]
went at the young bulls pretty good, but they have handled it really well.” As a result, McClain currently ranks fourth on the team with 21 tackles through four games. He also has an interception and 1.5 tackles for loss. The numbers will not pop off the page anymore because he’s forcing teams to change how they attack the Mean Green defense. That has led to Muhammad stepping up and making plays when needed as he sits atop the leaderboard with 34 tackles and 2 TFL.
Bottom: North Texas senior safety Kishawn McClain tackles a SMU running back. North Texas lost the game 54-32. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor
That’s fine with McClain, though. In this final season, he remains consistent in his goals when he takes the field – help others and do his job effectively. After everything he has done for the North Texas football program since 2014, he’s now looking for the metaphorical cherry on top. “I just want to finish strong and be a team player,” McClain said. “Don’t do too much, do what I need to do and make sure everyone else knows what they need to do.” As a player, McClain is a malleable piece in Reffett’s defense. He moves across the field with an intention to create havoc. But off the field, his focus is to reduce the chaos and uncertainty for his son and family. Football seems like a viable way to do just that. “Like I said, [Brayden] gave me a new reason to go hard and to push myself,” McClain said. “I want to do it not just for me, but for him and my family.”
@mattbrune25
TCU transfer Pena returns to golf course By Malik Wright Staff Writer After missing the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Sabina Pena is back on the golf course with her sights set on a breakout year. Pena, who attended Sharyland High School, began her golf career at 11 years old. The game runs in the family, as her father has been golfing for the majority of his life. Pena picked up the game around the same time as her brother, and the two started to follow in their father’s footsteps. By her junior year, Pena accepted an offer to golf at Texas Christian University. But after arriving on campus, she struggled to develop a relationship with TCU coach Angie Ravaioli-Larkin. Her first year in Fort Worth ended up being her last. “We did not get along and I wasn’t growing as a golfer or as a person,” Pena said. “I did not fit in with the team and that led to me not to trying my best in the classroom or on the course.” Pena was in search of a new place to call home, but did not want to leave Texas and was hopeful to stay in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. North Texas stood out from the crowd, and Pena reached out to coach Michael Akers shortly after he was hired. With Akers in the process of laying the foundation for a new program and the new Maridoe Golf Club facility nearing completion, the move to Denton made a lot of sense. “Coach Akers was good with communicating with me from the start,” Pena said. “He seemed like he believed in me from the very first time we spoke. That, plus me getting to see the new practice facility sold the school well for me.” Akers was just as sold on the idea of a Big 12 prospect joining the roster. Pena may not have enjoyed her time at TCU, but she was still able to put together a solid freshman year. She competed in seven tournaments, and shot a career-low 215 at the Big 12 Championship. Akers wanted to get Pena on campus as soon as possible. “Her top 5 finish at the Big 12 Championship really
Junior Sabina Pena transferred to UNT after a year at Texas Christian University. Pena played in the Big 12 championship in 2016 tying for fifth place. Cameron Roe | Staff Photographer
stood out,” Akers said. “She was a blue-chip prospect out of high school. Her personality also was very laid back, but at the same time she wants to do well and also wants the team to do well.” The Mean Green didn’t have any scholarship money for Pena last season as she redshirted, but the program made enough of an impact on her to clinch a commitment. “Having to miss the season felt boring and I missed competing,” Pena said. “But it pushed me to practice and come back better than ever.” Pena is still getting back into the swing of competition this season after missing last season, but the potential for a successful career is there. She feels more comfortable with the coaching staff and team already, making for a much healthier atmosphere on the course. “I’ve tried to help her with her transition to Denton,” assistant coach Kendra Little said. “I want to make her feel welcomed and be there for her. I also let her know she is appreciated, and that is the foundation of building that relationship.” Pena returned to the course in the team’s season opener and posted an 11-over-par in the Minnesota Invitational, and followed that performance up with a 20-over-par finish at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational. After the slow start, Akers is confident a turnaround is imminent. “She has not played up to her full potential yet,” Akers said. “She is getting back to competitive form and I feel she will be breaking par soon.” Pena is focused on embracing her new role with the Mean Green, and hopes she can move on from her time in Fort Worth. For a former top high school prospect who placed third in a American Junior Golf Association event as a senior, this may be just the beginning. “I just want to do my best and learn from each of my mistakes,” Pena said. “I know that with this new opportunity I can do great things.”
i’ve gotta go!
@_teammill
940.535.5555
...because even the best of us can be a DICK
OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Page 8
NTDAILY.COM
Trump’s attack on the NFL and national The struggle and anthem protests is hypocrisy at its finest honor of being a firstgeneration student By The Editorial Board
President Donald Trump has called his use of Twitter “modern day presidential.” But time and time again, Trump has ignited firestorms over Twitter. Whether it be a feud with just about the entire mainstream media, prodding North Korea, calling Snoop Dogg’s career failing or continuing to go after former President Barack Obama, the list goes on and on – and those are just since Trump has become president. Then last Friday before the weekend’s NFL games kicked off, Trump came out of left field calling players who kneel during the national anthem “sons of bitches.” He went on to add that players should be fired if they kneel. How hypocritical can you be, Mr. President? Just over a month ago you said a group of white supremacists that ended up mowing down someone with a car in Charlottesville “very fine people.” You defended their right to protest. What makes NFL players any different? It just seems like you are upset at how they are protesting. You may have been able to insult other people on Twitter, but last weekend, you finally ignited a firestorm no one can escape – you went after the NFL and everyone in it. Not only does it feel dirty that the White House is trying to dip its hands into the multi-billion dollar corporation that is the NFL, Trump put his hypocrisy on full display.
However, it did not start with football. Trump’s attacks last week initially started by rescinding a White House invitation to the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, and more namely star point guard Stephen Curry. Mr. President, it’s obvious you do not agree with the stance these athletes are taking. So that means they should be silenced? Unfortunately, you did not stop there and instead called upon team owners to fire dissenting players who took a knee. Funny how that backfired. Even your backer, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, stood with his players. Jerry Jones, who adamantly disagrees with kneeling during the anthem, used the divisive
comments you made to pull his team together. Trump hoped to divide the NFL, and he did not. He pulled it together. Trump hoped to silence these anthem protests by getting dissenting players fired, but all he did was get the entire country talking. Is that not the point of a protest? Trump has done nothing on Twitter but throw temper tantrums and create social media storms that are, frankly, an embarrassment to our country. Mr. President, it is time to stop tweeting. It has been for a while. But your disregard for what you claim you believe in, and obvious bias towards racial injustice, is blinding. Now everyone will see that on the gridiron Sunday.
@ntdaily
Access codes should not be an alternative to physical textbooks
By Spencer Kain Staff Writer
Access codes began to rise in popularity among universities, but just how useful are they really? There are 25 varied universities in Texas that have moved major classes to being strictly online or partially online. This will require students to purchase access codes to do their homework or to even just begin the class. Some classes require students to purchase just an access code instead of a physical textbook anymore. Using only access codes in place of physical textbooks yields far too
many negatives to students. Some physical textbooks include an access code along with the book, but most of the time the access code is the only thing which needs to be purchased. And most of the time, the access code alone is more expensive than the already ridiculously priced physical textbook. When students already spend hundreds of dollars on physical textbooks, the last thing students want to buy is an access code for an already purchased textbook or pay extra to have an unnecessary code included in a bundle with the textbook. If students are already purchasing the required physical textbook, why is having
the access code even necessary? Why must some necessary parts of the course be locked behind a paywall, especially when a textbook has already been purchased for that specific course? The high prices are not the only problem with the access codes, however. The contents of the access codes are only able to be accessed on a computer and with a wireless connection, so students are not able to access the textbook readings or assignments whenever they would like to if they are not near a computer or laptop or if they do not have a wireless connection. The physical textbook can be used anytime and anywhere which is extremely beneficial to students. Most students will find themselves looking to get homework in at any possible opportunity. Access codes are also only for a single use, so there is no sharing with friends or anyone else. And when the class is over, students are stuck with an already used code which has no value to yourself or anyone else because it cannot ever be redeemed again. So, it cannot even be resold to a used bookstore for a little extra cash like the physical counterpart. Call me afraid of technology, but access codes are not a good alternative to physical textbooks. Paid access codes for textbooks are not necessary for the most part, but especially when the code is used to access homework. Paying for the book to access another paywall feels a bit cruel.
By Jade Jackson Staff Writer
Being a first-generation college student can be a bittersweet experience, especially if you are your parents’ only child. A student can feel as if this large responsibility is placed upon you all at once. The feeling of honor at being the first from your family to go to college can quickly be overshadowed by the notion of not feeling prepared for the experience. At times it can feel like you are the trailblazer for your family. Everybody is looking to you to fulfill something that has not been done yet and is something to be proud of. Then you become blind sided and hit hard when you are finally dropped into the college experience. Applying for financial aid, scholarships and all that comes with registering for college can be overwhelming. It can be tough even with support from family who have done so before. In cases of not being supported by family at all, a student can especially feel lost. Integrative studies senior Kendra Eakles has overcome this obstacle. “My mother and stepfather didn’t value education like I do,” Eakles said. “They didn’t try helping me even get financial aid. My main memory was the first time I tried to fill out college applications, my parents were clueless, so I relied a lot on teachers in high school.” Filling out financial aid for parents who have never done it before led to roadblocks for Eakles. “It was so hard,” Eakles said. “My mother refused to put her information in fear that it’d reflect badly on her credit. My stepfather refused as well. I was completely alone in trying to figure out how to get student loans and grants. It’s difficult trying to educate your parents about the importance of these things.” It can feel like everybody else gets something that you do not because there is so much you have not been prepared for up until this point. That causes a lot of self-doubt, which can translate into your academics and overall experience. Eakles often felt alone. She was perceived as anti-social and had to force herself to open to others. A lot of students in these circumstances can miss out on the social aspect of networking or knowing where to go to ask for help. UNT has a lot of resources to help students adjust and become well equipped. The Division of Student Affairs has a list for first-generation college students to utilize. It offers tips on how to navigate through the struggles they often face. Business sophomore Brooke Roberson is a transfer student. Roberson came to Denton after her freshman year at Louisiana State University. “When I finally got to college, I was completely overwhelmed with just how much books cost, how much food was and the entire cost of school,” Roberson said. “My mom couldn’t be of any help to me, so I ended up leaving after only a month at LSU.” Roberson said she was not prepared financially when she started because nobody told her. She assumed college would be something similar to high school. Now she is a lot more equipped because of the experience and feels that, when she has children, she would be better able to navigate them through the process. College has changed drastically since most students’ parents attended, and most students’ parents may have not even had to attend college. This can lead to a blind leading the blind situation and gives people a false sense of what college is. College is more than the financial aspect. It is the academics, the living situations and the connections with others as well. Having the knowledge of the process to get to college and access to the resources to help combat those difficulties should be a top priority for universities in helping students know what they have to do. UNT is doing its part.
@spencer_kain
BEST Combo since
corn dogs anD mustard Save 25% with DCTA/State Fair of Texas ticket combo*! Purchase at DCTADeal.net or at the Downtown Denton Transit Center.
IT’S SENIOR DAY EVERY THURSDAY! FREE FAIR ENTRY FOR AGES 60 AND OLDER!
accelerateyourmba.unt.edu
@IAMJADETHEGREAT
All illustrations by Max Raign