North Texas Daily 9/6/18

NEWS, pg 2

SPORTS, pg 7

No free U-locks available from UNT police until October

A sneak peak into the UNT club lacrosse team’s upcoming season

OPINION, pg 8

Confident women are here to stay, regardless of naysayers

Serving the University of North Texas and Denton since 1916 VOL. 114 No. 2 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

North Texas Daily •

@ntdaily •

BRING ON THE SPIRIT

@ntdaily • NTDAILY.COM

2 robberies occur minutes apart early Tuesday night

By Zaira Perez @zairalperez

Life of dancers on and off the turf

By Nikki Johnson-Bolden @nikkinikxo

Top: With arms raised high, freshman Kristine Guerrara chants for the Mean Green as they play against SMU. Bottom: With pom-poms hugged at her chest, freshman Madison Huber cheers on the Mean Green at the Sept. 1 game against SMU. Jessika Hardy

It is well over 90 degrees, and the added humidity makes the air both sticky and hot, prompting most people to stay inside and blast the air-conditioner.

This is not the case for the North Texas Dancers, however.

The group of dancers are on the field at Apogee Stadium dancing with smiles on their faces, all the while sharing the field with the Green Brigade marching band, preparing to run through its routine before the first game of the football season.

Captain and psychology junior Joslyn Love, who just started her third year on the team, leads the Dancers through varying formations and routines throughout the afternoon.

This kind of extensive rehearsal, in which they go through every detail down to the national anthem, is reserved for Wednesdays — but the rest of the week entails more work.

“We have workouts on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 or 8 a.m.,” Love said.

“You can choose whichever one works

best with your schedule.”

The team is split into two squads: green and white, each having separate practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Everyone practices together on Wednesdays,” Love said. “We have tryouts for all our routines, and then we come out here with a band and the cheerleaders and [do] a game day run-through. Then we will meet back up on Saturdays a little bit before the game, do all the pregame festivities — tailgate, all that stuff — and then it’s game time.”

Love said she has to remain in-check for all of her commitments concerning school and the team to correctly balance the two.

“I have to schedule everything out,” Love said. “I look at my classes [and] see what needs to be done that day. From [there] I make sure it is doable — like, ‘OK, I have practice this day, so is this work really something I could get done this day?’”

Love first developed an interest in dance during her freshman year of high school. From then on, she has continued to pursue her passion.

“My sister was on the dance team in

By Slade Meadows @sladese7ens

UNT alumni earn PGA card Two former Mean Green golfers have been able to live up to the phrase “dream, believe, achieve.”

Carlos Ortiz and Juan Sebastian Muñoz were recently notified that they would obtain their PGA Tour Card and start competing on the Tour as soon as Oct. 4 of this year.

The two North Texas alumni qualified for the PGA Tour by being ranked in the Top 25 Earned Money list during the regular season on the Web.com Tour, which is considered the minor league tour for professional golf. Ortiz and Muñoz finished No.

SEE DANCERS ON PAGE 4

A robbery occurred Tuesday outside of the Speech and Hearing building on campus. Kelsey Shoemaker

Stitch and fix: A cosplayer’s journey

Courtesy Mean Green Athletics

By Bronte Hermesmeyer @BronteHerm

her high school, so seeing her made me be like, ‘I want to try it out,’” Love said. “My freshman year, [I] tried out for the team [and] made it, did it all four years, [then] decided to come to [UNT and] try out for their dance team.”

Another strong pillar for the group is co-captain Téa Jaime. The human development and family science senior said stepping into her role this year has given her a new perspective on being a North Texas Dancer.

“Being a captain and a leader for the team, you have to be more prepared,” Jamie said. “You have to be willing to take extra time out of your day other than just practice to help the team, help coach and just get ready.”

As an avid sports fan, being a member of the North Texas Dancers allowed Jaime to support UNT’s teams.

“I love sports, and I love dancing and cheering on Mean Green,” Jaime said.

“Sports are just a way for the university to get involved and cheer on other students.”

In addition to practicing routines, Jaime and the rest of the Dancers practice overall good health to prepare before

UNT police are actively investigating two robberies that occurred around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday near the 900 blocks of West Prairie and West Sycamore streets, according to an email released from the department.

The suspect got into a white sedan after both incidents, which happened just a few minutes apart, according to the email.

A woman told police she was walking eastbound on the 900 block at West Prairie Street around 8:27 p.m. while listening to music through headphones. Someone then pushed her to the ground from behind, took her headphones and ran eastbound, according to the email.

The suspect ran into a white four-door sedan that was parked near the entrance to Parking Lot 39.

Police responded to another call at 8:33 p.m. from an individual saying he and a friend were sitting on a bench in front of the Speech and Hearing Building when someone walked up to them, took one of their phones and ran into a white four-door sedan.

The woman described the suspect as a 5-foot-6 to 5-foot9 inches tall, thinly built, college-aged black male with an afro, a white T-shirt and dark shorts. The man from the second robbery said the suspect was black or Hispanic.

UNT police ask anyone with information to call 940-5653006 or leave an anonymous tip by calling 940-369-8477.

21and No. 7, respectively, on the money list.

Muñoz said the dream was there when he was a little kid, but golf later became nothing more than a hobby.

“When I was young, I wanted to be like Tiger [Woods],” Muñoz said. “But then around 11 or 12 years old, golf was not my priority anymore. I liked playing golf, but it was not my dream.”

It wasn’t until he was able to succeed and obtain the confidence he needed at North Texas to finally realize that becoming a PGA Tour member was a lot more obtainable than he thought.

“I didn’t think it would really be possible until my senior year in

SEE PGA ON PAGE 7

“Would you like to hold it?” Maggie McGehee said as she handed over a long, futuristic-looking assault rifle that stands taller than she does. “It’s much lighter than it looks.”

She rushes to her living room costume closet to rummage through the rest of her props, presenting the occasional weapon or accessory quite proudly. And she should, considering most of McGehee costumes were made by hand.

McGehee is a real estate senior at UNT who is currently saving money to attend law school, but what she is most known for is being a highly successful cosplayer in Denton.

Cosplaying is a contraction of the words “costume play” and is considered a type of performance art where participants often dress up as characters from anime, comics and video games and attend various conventions. For most cosplayers, the art usually goes no further than a hobby and means to express themselves, but for McGehee, it has quickly become a full-time job.

“No one is more surprised than I am that this is happening,” McGehee said. “I never dreamed it would be like this. I started this hobby as a sad, anxious 12-year-old

that just wanted to not be themselves for a while and now it’s more than artistic expression. It’s more than me trying to escape something — less escapism than it used to be.”

McGehee currently has 224,000 followers under the Instagram handle OMGcosplay, 150,000 of which can

be attributed to the last eight months, McGehee said.

She makes a living by using Instagram to guide followers to her Patreon account, where fans can support her with monthly subscriptions in exchange for exclusive access to her boudoir-style photos and

SEE COSPLAY ON PAGE 5

Maggie McGehee fixes a set of squirrel ears in preparation for her Squirrel Girl costume. McGehee creates most of her costumes and props by herself Trevor Seibert

NEWS Page 2

North Texas Daily Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Alec Spicer @Spicer_Alec Alec.Spicer@unt.edu Copy Chief Kaitlin Pennell @K_itlinnn pennellkaitlin@gmail.com News Editor Sean Riedel @SeanRiedel seanriedel@my.unt.edu Arts & Life Editor Amy Roh @rohmyboat amyroh77@gmail.com Sports Editor Zachary Cottam @ZachCottam zachacottam@gmail.com Opinion Editor Rachel Herzer @coolrachdoritos rherzer96@gmail.com Visuals Editor Kelsey Shoemaker @kelesmis kelseyshoes@gmail.com

Production Team Design Editor/Copy Editor Kiera Geils @KieraGeils kierageils@my.unt.edu Designer/Copy Editor Parisa Nasiripour @risanasiri parisa.nasirip@gmail.com Designer/Copy Editor Parker Ward @ParkerDFW parkbenward@outlook.com Social Media Manager Alexia Johnson @uhlexeeyuh alexiajohnson@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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

NTDAILY.COM

UNT students target of phishing incident

By Jackie Guerrero @gagaart1 A large-scale phishing attack occurred Tuesday evening when emails from what appeared to be UNT-issued email accounts were sent to students, a UNT help desk technician said.

Students who received the phishing email(s) and clicked on the link in the email are suggested to reset their password at ams.unt.edu, UNT help desk technician Mario Torres said in an email.

Phishing refers to entities attempting to gain access to sensitive information via email. Torres said this is not the first time something of this nature has happened.

Student technician Isma Azam said phishing attacks usually “escalate” and occur during the beginning of the semesters due to students signing into their student emails and pressing on different links.

“Hopefully as the semester goes on it will kind of die down,” Azam said. “The thing to worry about is to make sure you are not pressing on any links that come through emails. If anything, make sure you type the link in the browser rather than clicking on [the link]. Whenever you click on it, the information gets your account and sends it to everyone in your contacts, and it is kind of like a spreading thing.”

Unfortunately, some students’ email accounts may be blocked due to the automated system UNT uses for phishing. For student emails that were affected, students will need to fix the problem on their own Torres said.

Business computer information systems freshman Lazayvion Hammick’s email was hacked during the phishing attack after receiving an initial email at 10:30 p.m., he said.

“I clicked on the link,” Hammick said via email. “It asked me for my password, and I knew it was something skeptical.

UNT’s email servers do not ask for email passwords to view emails with compatibility issues.”

He later noticed some of his emails that he had previously sent out had been sent back to him as if they were sent to an undeliverable email address.

“I checked my sent items folder and there were 40 instances of this fake email being sent to people I previously corresponded with,” Hammick said.

“I got responses from the admissions office, the Mainframe and the Financial Aid office. I was able to fix the issue by changing my password at ams.unt.edu.”

To stop email account forwarding, Torres said students can log into their accounts, find the settings icon, then type in “forwarding” and make sure there are “no emails” checked in the setting.

New shipment of 400 U-locks to arrive in October

By Jackie Guerrero @gagaart1 The UNT police department partnered with the We Mean Green Fund to issue out free U-locks — a solid lock in the shape of a “u,” that retails for $45 each — to UNT students with a valid university-issued ID. There are currently no U-locks currently available due to high on-campus demand.

The next shipment of 400 U-locks is set to be delivered within the next 60 days from the manufacturer in China.

Sgt. and Community Relations officer Kevin Crawford said most students tend to buy cable locks to keep their bikes secure on campus.

Average cable locks are a thin cable wire and can be cut with a “good set” of bolt cutters.

“When you look at like a chain, or particularly these U-locks, they are solid pieces of steal and take a lot more work to get through,” Crawford said. “You would almost have to use a power tool to get through a U-lock.”

Some students have turned to riding bikes around campus

to reduce or eliminate their parking woes.

Psychology junior Alexandra Loftin likes the idea of the UNT police department handing out free u-locks for the purpose of preventing bike theft on campus. Loftin rides her own personal bike on campus and uses a cable lock, wrapping it around both tires, the bike frame and the bike pedals.

“Having a lock for your bike is incredibly important for preventing theft, especially if you leave your bike alone for long periods of time,” Loftin said.

The U-lock project started in spring 2016 during UNT Earth Day festivities,after Crawford heard a student’s story about fear of his bike being stolen. Then Crawford contacted the We Mean Green Fund to work on a method to prevent bike theft on campus.

“What motivated me to push harder was when I did a presentation and a student approached me,” Crawford said. “They talked to me about how they wished they could ride their bike on campus but they were scared.”

UNT Police has been sellling U-locks to students as a more secure way to lock up their bikes. They are expecting a new shipment to arrive by October. Trevor Seibert Emily Bilcik, We Mean Green Fund and student sustainability project coordinator, said the We Mean Green Fund is a great outlet for anyone on campus to become involved and take charge of sustainability efforts at UNT. “The bike theft prevention project is just one example

of how the UNT community has worked towards making sustainable lifestyle behaviors easier for everyone to partake in,” Bilcik said.

There is not an allocated budget for the locks, Crawford said. Each shipment purchased has to go before the Mean Green Fund Committee in order to have a proposal to

fund the program approved.

From there, the committee votes behind closed doors on whether or not to grant funding.

Since the project started, a total of 1,000 locks have been purchased, including the upcoming shipment that is set to arrive in October, Crawford said.

Activists hold drive for families separated by ICE

By Ally Zarate @allyzaratetx More than 30 people donated clothing, toiletries and other basic necessities Sunday for the families affected by a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid. ICE arrested and detained more than 160 alleged undocumented immigrants Aug. 28 at a manufacturing plant near Paris, Texas.

Cities throughout Dallas-Fort Worth have reacted to the bust, f locking to Paris with donations and services for aff licted family members.

The Denton response to the raid began with activist and anthropology professor Mariela Nuñes-Janes.

“We’re the third collection site in the metroplex,” Nuñes-Janes said. “What’s happened is that there are several groups that have come together to support the families that were affected by the raid.”

Raices, Movimiento Cosecha, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, League of United Latin American Citizens, North Texas Dream Team, Light of Hope Immigration Services, United Fort Worth and Justice for Our Neighbors (among the groups that mobilized in response.)

“All of these organizations and groups have come together to support the families in a variety of ways,” Nuñes-Janes said. “One [way] is bail bonds and [to provide] legal services pro bono. [On Saturday] there was a legal clinic outside of Paris with attorneys and volunteers.”

Although immigration is a charged issue in the U.S., Nuñes-Janes said

this is not a political mission.

“What we’re doing is just to provide food and clothing,” Nuñes-Janes said.

“This happened close to the end of the month. Families are being separated, and the main source of income has been lost, so some families cannot make rent, and so they’re being displaced. We’re collecting hygiene products, mattresses, blankets — just nonperishable items to provide assistance for the families as they wait for their main family member to be released.”

While Nuñes-Janes has played a major role in efforts to provide resources for families, she did not work alone. Community advocate and teacher Lilyan Prado-Carrillo joined forces with Nuñes-Janes more than a decade ago.

Prado-Carrillo said her intent is to let the people in Paris know that they have support and are not alone. Originally from Guatemala, Prado-Carrillo has gone through the immigration process and said this is a personal issue.

“I think that when these things happen, it tends to feel like you’re isolated and you have a spotlight on you,” Prado-Carrillo said. “You’re the one that’s going to jail, and you’re the one who’s afraid that you’re not going to see the rest of your family.”

Prado-Carrillo said she wants to bring awareness of immigration issues to the rest of the community, especially to those who are not versed in the immigration process.

“It’s easy to say, ‘Well it’s their fault, they should have waited their turn in line,’” Prado-Carrillo said. “There is

Protestors hold up signs at the Paris, Texas Donation site. Courtesy Lilyan Prado-Carrillo no line. There is no pathways through residency unless you have someone sponsor you. All of these people have very real stories, and I think it’s easy to say ‘those immigrants’ until you have the immigrant right in front of you.”

Despite Paris being two hours away, students have taken action in response to the raid remotely.

Donations, social media posts and messages of solidarity were the largest demonstrations of support.

“I am a supporter of Raices,” political science sophomore Yolian Ogbu said. “I donated to them on Facebook and I’ve been sharing

posts online.”

Ogbu is the founder and executive director of Grassroots Youth, a youthbased activism organization geared to empower young people in political advocacy. Ogbu said this organization is an important tool to transform communities, especially in the wake of events like the Paris raid.

“I was infuriated when the raid happened,” Ogbu said. “I wanted to go out [to Paris], but as a student, it’s hard to put boots to the ground.”

Prado-Carrillo said she and Nuñes-Janes intend to put on another donation drive for the separated families this coming weekend.

NEWS AROUND THE US

By Jackie Guerrero and Sean Riedel

Twitter CEO testifies before congress

Shooting in California

UNT prof. earns Tech Titan award

100 people get sick on plane

Man crashes into Dallas TV station

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday regarding meddling and abuse on social media platforms. CNBC reported that Dorsey said Twitter “believes strongly in being impartial,” that a single tweet by a Republican in Congress is viewed twice as much as one by a Democrat in Congress, according to a data analysis.

Eight people were shot Sunday night in a mass shooting during a dice game at an apartment complex in San Berardino, California. None of the shooting victims died, however two are in critical condition. Detectives investigating the incident found no initial motive, but it was reported that the area has a history of gang activity.

UNT computer science professor Renee Bryce received the 2018 Tech Titans of the Future University Level Award. Bryce earned the award because he created the Bug Catcher and Bug Wars program, which was used to engage high school and college students in the field of technology. Along with the recignition of the award, Bryce also recieved a $25,000 gift.

During an Emirates Flight 521 from Dubai to New York on Wednesday morning, about 100 passengers and crew members reportedly fell ill. Once on the JFK International Airport tarmac, the 100 sick people were evaluated by workers.

There were around 521 passengers on board the flight, and only 10 ill flyers were transported to the hospital.

A man was arrested for purposely crashing into the KDFW TV Fox 4 station in Dallas early Wednesday morning with his pickup truck. After the crash, the suspect got out of his truck and started yelling and throwing papers around from boxes in his truck. The building was evacuated after a suspicious bag was left behind, and no explosives were found on the scene.

NTDAILY.COM

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Deadline to enroll in Early Childhood Music Program sessions are approaching

By Jackie Guerrero @gagaart1

Bryce Goodman has dropped out of the race for U.S. Congressional District TX-26. File

Bryce Goodman drops out of race

By Lizzy Spangler @LizzySpangler Bryce Goodman quietly withdrew from the race for US Congressional District TX-26 with no official announcement on his campaign Facebook page or his now defunct, he told the Daily.

Goodman, who announced his candidacy as an Independent in April, said a lack of signatures and a new job were the main factors causing him to drop out of the race.

“When I started this, I was working with someone and then we got a couple people together to work on everything,” Goodman said. “[when] personal stuff came up, the group kind of splintered and rather than trying to revamp and get more people into it, I figured ‘I got a new job ‑ stuff coming up ‑ I might as well focus on those rather than trying to rebuild the ship right before it sinks.’”

Goodman filed his Declaration of Intent to Run as An Independent candidate with the Texas Secretary of State’s office

in December 2017 and ran. However, he was not able to obtain the 500 signatures needed by the June 21 deadline that would allow his name to appear on the ballot in November.

What made the process difficult for Goodman was that the only people who were able to sign the petition “must be registered voters who have not participated in the general primary election or the runoff primary election of a party that has nominated, at either election, a candidate for the office you seek,” according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

Goodman has no plans of running for office in the future.

Linsey Fagan, the Democratic nominee for TX-26, talked about the difficulties of gaining signatures.

“I got on the ballot with signatures and it was incredibly hard,” Fagan said through Facebook Messenger. “We turned in 1,400 and we put our blood, sweat and tears into getting them. It took us eight months.”

Fagan said she is focused on her race and less on what other candidates are doing or saying.

Shane Warren, a political science sophomore and vice president of the UNT College Democrats, said through Twitter he was not surprised Goodman did not get enough signatures.

“He announced his run after the primaries ended, and people who already voted in primaries aren’t allowed to sign a petition to get an independent candidate on the ballot,” Warren said through Twitter.

“This is important because many people who already knew Bryce through local Democratic organizations were naturally more likely to vote in the primary.”

Warren, while opposed to Goodman’s run when he announced, said he thinks an Independent challenge can be a good thing.

“I believe anybody who bases their Independent campaign on a complete rejection of the two-party system should do so as soon as primary season starts so that people who are used to voting for one party or the other can have some time to hear their case and compare it to the candidates in the major parties,” Warren said.

The College of Music’s Early Childhood Music Program begins its 22nd annual 10-week program on Sept. 7 and 8 at the UNT. The deadline for registration is at noon on Sept. 8.

The program is based on music researcher and professor Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, a comprehensive method for teaching audiation or hearing and comprehending music in the mind, according to the Gordon Institute of for Music Learning.

“It’s a class that is really a product of a lot of research that shows how important music guidance is for children in their earliest years,” Miller said. “So what the class looks like is a lot of musical play because the children learn a lot through play.”

This fall, the College of Music is expecting 50 families from the Denton community, to join the 10week class, Early Childhood Music instructor Meghan Miller said. The average amount of participants ranges from 40-50 families per semester. This past summer, a record 70 families were enrolled in the program.

There are three classes held on Friday mornings with Miller as instructor, and five on Saturday mornings taught

by Miller and another instructor. Each class is designed to teach a minimum of five students and a maximum of 10, Miller said.

The prices are $150 for infants and $170 for toddlers, mixed-age and preschoolers for the semester.

Music development is similar to language development, in that it engages with the syllabus, speech sounds and babbling. In the class, the children will do what is called “musical babel,” during which they are able to experiment with songs, play with the different syllabus and simplify the music, Miller said.

With the parents accompanying their child/children during the course of the class, parents learn how to bring the activities learned in session into their home. Miller said this year she plans on providing the parents with more at-home activities that include more instructions and materials.

Vocal performance junior Cami Everitt said the Early Childhood Music program is a wonderful aspect to the College of Music.

“I believe letting kids learn about music early as possible is very beneficial for the mental development of young children,” Everitt said. “If I had a child and lived in a community that offered a class like this, I would absolutely enroll them in it, regardless of whether or not they grew up to actually become a musician.”

Music education sophomore Stefanie Herrera also said that if she had children, she would enroll them in the 10-week program.

“I [would] want my kids to understand from a young age that music can be fun and that they too can become musicians just like their mother,” Herrera said. “Music has this weird stigma that only musicians can make music, and that’s certainly not true. I want my child to understand from early on that anyone can make and learn about music at any age.”

Courtesy UNT College of Music

Ride with Mean Green pride.

Get a specialty UNT TollTag and pay the lowest toll rates.

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ARTS & LIFE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Page 4

NTDAILY.COM

Dancers step into rhythm for the season games.

“We have to be healthy,” Jaime said. “You cannot be eating out the day before a game or even the week of a game — we always are kind of strict on that. You just have to get sleep, you can’t be out all the time [and] you have to take care of your body just like a normal student athlete, like a basketball player or football player would.”

Taking preventative measures to combat injuries and maintaining stamina also helps them to stay on top of their game.

“We have our training that we do for workouts to help get us ready,” Love said. “Any time we feel like something doesn’t feel right [or if] we just want to get something checked out, we go to our trainer.”

They may not be playing on the field, but being a North Texas Dancer requires athleticism and discipline just as other sports do.

“Dance is a sport,” Love said. “We do a lot of different things that incorporate our bodies. We have competitions [that are] like jazz or hip-hop or contemporary [dance]. We do different genres, and it requires a lot more technique and harder choreography than what you would see on a game day.”

As captain of the Dancers, Love hopes that fans and students realize the extent of the team’s role in the football and basketball seasons.

“We’re more than just pretty faces,” Love said.

“We go out there, we work hard, we dance. We’re here to entertain everyone, yes, but we are more than just a pretty face on the sideline trying to entertain the crowd whenever a football game or basketball game isn’t on.”

Jaime said the upcoming season is a chance to showcase growth within the team.

“Last year we really just started rebuilding,” Jaime said. “We got a new coach, and we’re really trying to turn the program around. This year is our time. We are stepping it up, and we are showing UNT who we are, what we can do and what we bring to the table.”

Gameday The Dancers and the Green Brigade are all on the Apogee field again. Except now, the stands are

a sea of green, filled with fans cheering on the Mean Green. Everything runs its course just as it did during rehearsal on Wednesday but with an added buzz of energy both on and off the field.

“The student section really helps,” Jaime said.

“Whenever they are cheering, it keeps us hype and it keeps us wanting to dance. Whenever the football team is doing well, it really amps up the energy and it makes it easy — but it is easy to do what you love to do.”

The crowd’s excitement is something that made her first game as a North Texas Dancer two years ago memorable.

“It was really exhilarating,” Jaime said. “All the fans just made it so fun. My favorite part was whenever the football team came out [and] we were doing the fight song because everybody just cheered so loud for them.”

Behind the sidelines where the North Texas Dancers keeps the crowd entertained, the football team works together on the field to defeat its opponent. At their spot on the sidelines, the girls remain equally in sync, periodically looking to Love and other members for cues on what routine to start.

“

We are more than just a pretty face on the sideline trying to entertain the crowd.

“

DANCERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The connection they have during the game extends to times off the field, as Love equates being a part of the team to being a part of a “sisterhood.”

“We have our team-bonding activities that we do to get us closer together,” Love said. “During practice we work hard, but we have our fun moments.

Something goofy might happen — somebody might accidentally do something — and you just laugh it off. That is a great way to bond with each other and with our coach.”

North Texas Dancers perform at the first football game against Southern Methodist University. Jessika Hardy Coach Brittani Richards, who has been directing the team for more than a year, multitasks during the game. She can often be spotted taking photos and videos of the team on her phone, telling them when to engage the crowd, updating them on the status of the game and offering encouragement — all at the same time. The dancers rarely stop moving, and neither does she — she paces around adorned in a glittery fanny pack and aviator glasses while directing them.

“My relationship with Coach [Richards] is really good,” Jaime said. “She is obviously my coach before she is our friend, but she is really motivating. She always makes sure that we are taken care of first and that we are doing well in school, as well as dance.”

Richards places heavy importance on being aware of all aspects of the Dancers’ lives.

“I believe my biggest role as a coach is to help nurture the growth of my athletes both athletically and academically throughout their collegiate dance

careers,” Richards said.

Richards began teaching dance at the age of 14, and her drive to mentor other dancers has only grown.

“My favorite thing about coaching is the relationships that I get to make with my athletes that transcend beyond our program and their time in college,” Richards said. “It truly makes my heart smile to see them chase their dreams.”

After the 46-23 win last Saturday against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, Richards hopes the North Texas Dancers continue to progress along with the football team.

“I would like see my team continue to help rebrand and rebuild our program to become one of the elite collegiate dance teams,” Richards said. “This is a big long-term goal, but all the small goals that we accomplish this season will continue to take us in the right direction.”

UNT freshman starts anew with adoptive family

By Rachel Linch @Rachel_Linch Shayna Russo remembers the day she became a Rogers.

She was standing in the Johnson County Courthouse Annex, surrounded by her loved ones and new family, the Rogers.

Russo wore a floral dress as she stood before the judge who asked her and her adoptive parents if they wanted to become a family forever.

“Them saying the standard ‘yes’ meant way more than just three letters — it was like they were actually accepting everything that I am as a person,” Russo said. “I remember the feelings more than I remember the actual day. I felt accepted more than anything and it’s just a really good feeling to have.”

For most adopted children, it is a day

they are too young to recall and are told about by their adoptive parents one day when they are older.

For Russo, she has fresh memories of her adoption because it happened five weeks before she moved into her freshman dorm in Kerr Hall.

July 17, 2018 was a day she and the Rogers had been hoping would happen for years, a day that finally closed the door on the pain, hurt and trials Russo said she had lived in for most of her life.

Hopeful through hard times Before the day she became a Rogers, the last time Russo can recall having a mom she loved was when she was 8 years old.

She was living in Beverly, Massachusetts, with her dad and twin brother when her mom died of breast cancer.

“I was sad when she first passed

Freshman, Shayna Russo sits at her desk in her Kerr Hall dorm room. At age 19, her new adoptive family has her excited for her future. Will Baldwin

away,” Russo said. “I didn’t really show my emotions a lot but, I mean, I was sad. I just didn’t really understand how important my mom was at the time.”

The reality of her mom’s death began to hit her when her dad remarried and moved her family to Aledo, Texas, in November 2008. As a fourth grader, she didn’t know this would be the place she would experience physical, emotional and mental abuse throughout middle school and high school.

“Even though I should have just given up and kind of given in, a part of me was like, ‘Don’t do it because something is going to change,’” Russo said.

And something did change.

In December 2014 after being put into a Waco residential treatment center for the second time, Russo was sent to live in a group home in Itasca, Texas, at the Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services.

It was on her tour of the group home that Russo met Andrew and Christen Rogers, who were working as group parents at the time.

“Usually before they would place the child in the home, we would do a tour and meet the staff, so that was the first time we met her,” said Andrew, Russo’s adoptive dad. “You could just tell there was a life in her. I don’t really know how to say it — just a livelihood in her that made her very, very different.”

Russo lived in the Rogers’ group home with their two children, Autumn and P.J., and six other girls. During her first six months at the home, Russo said she experienced an instant connection with her group home parents.

“They felt like my parents from the first time I met them,” Russo said. “Even

when I was doing something wrong, they taught me instead of punishing me and I think that’s when I really realized that they cared for me.”

After six months, Russo was forced to leave the place that had become home and go back to the original environment she had been trying to leave.

Russo said she spent nine long months of the worst abuse she experienced before she was dropped off at Child Protection Services at 17 years old. Returning to the Rogers’ group home for good, Russo spent two and a half years bonding and healing at the group home as she finished high school.

“During that nine-month period I always thought about them,” Russo said. “I always thought, ‘I wish I could go back and live there with them, I wish I could see that place again.’ I never thought it was going to happen but it actually did. That was cool.”

A family to belong to “Is it OK if we adopt you?”

This was the question Russo had always wanted to hear but did not expect to hear, especially as a 19-year-old adult. She spent countless hours doing homework in the Rogers’ living room, playing with their kids and eating at their dinner table.

But she never felt like she truly belonged as their daughter, until they asked her to.

“It really felt like I was a guest for a long time, so when they finally did ask me to be adopted it was like that barrier was gone,” Russo said.

It was a normal evening in the house, the same one Russo made so many memories in, when she was asked to become part of the family. The Rogers’ tears flowed as Russo realized her hopes for a better

future came true.

“Andrew and I had been talking about this day for years honestly — she had been a daughter in our heart,” Christen said.

“So for us to finally say that she is our daughter, it was just this sigh of relief. We were like, ‘Yes, this is home, this is what our family needed to be complete.’”

Russo’s adoption day was very personal and intimate. The only people present were the ones who had been by her side, the Rogers and her boyfriend Scott Williams.

“I was actually really excited for her getting to become a part of a family again,” Williams said. “I know she hasn’t had that experience ever since her mom passed away. I could tell they were all happy, and that was definitely what they wanted.”

It is not the typical adoption story, but to the Rogers family, it was everything they ever wanted. Not only did it bring closure on the painful past of Russo’s life, it was an open door to her new future in a family and at college.

“I think for Shayna, the adoption was like watching chains come off,” Andrew said. “I felt like her move into college and everything was more successful because these other things were no longer holding her back.”

Today, Russo is a daughter and college student. To be given a chance and a place to call home is no longer something Russo has to hope for — it is her reality. Now, she is more excited than ever to move forward knowing she has a family she belongs to.

“I really don’t have to worry about anything anymore,” Russo said.

“Everything is actually going to be OK and I don’t have to say that anymore to prove it.

It’s just something I know now.”

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䘀爀攀攀 唀一吀 䴀漀戀椀氀攀 匀琀甀搀攀渀琀 吀椀挀欀攀琀猀 愀琀 唀一吀琀椀砀⸀挀漀洀

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Page 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

OMGcosplay: Denton’s renowned cosplayer COSPLAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 private Snapchat account. However, McGehee makes it very clear that she has never and will never do nude photos. While she is not in the top 10 cosplayers in terms of size, she has been one of the top 10 Patreon earners for around a year and a half.

McGehee began cosplaying almost nine years ago when her sister was given the choice to take either

McGehee or her parents along to the A-Kon anime convention. Twelve-year-old McGehee was chosen and has been cosplaying ever since. However, a bad experience at her first convention nearly caused her to drop the idea entirely.

“Probably the most formative moment I’ve had in cosplay happened at my very first convention,” McGehee said. “It’s not uncommon for people to ask for photos — it’s almost like being famous

Maggie McGehee, better known as OMGcosplay on Instagram, holds a squirrel tail she had commissioned for an upcoming Squirrel Girl costume. McGehee also hopes to use the tail in a future Sandy Cheeks costume.

Trevor Seibert

— so whenever a guy asked to take our photo, we weren’t alarmed. He was like, ‘Hey, I don’t like the background. Can we move over here where the background is better?’ And he just kept on moving us further and further away. He was trying to get us into a service elevator, [and] was trying to take inappropriate photos. I almost stopped cosplay after that, but we decided to give the next day another try, and we had a really good day the following day. We kept going, but that was scary as a 12-year-old.”

Ever since that formative experience, McGehee takes extra precautions at conventions and stays on the lookout for other girls who may be feeling uncomfortable or caught in a bad situation. It is no surprise that she has made several life-long friends through cosplay.

“We started off cosplaying and meeting up [as] random strangers on the internet at Grapevine Mills mall,” said Claire Spigel, a digital retailing and fashion merchandising sophomore at UNT and close friend of McGehee. “We were anime characters, and we’ve been long-distance best friends ever since. I kind of stopped cosplaying when I went to school.

But for Maggie, it’s always been like, she studies law in school and then outside she makes this her passion. She needs to express herself, and she loves it.”

McGehee’s passion keeps her very busy and is defined by her as a full-time job. She attempts to create between two and five costumes every two months, usually following the convention cycle.

Along with creating costumes, she must constantly create new social media content to keep her followers intrigued.

“I work very hard, don’t get me wrong,” McGehee said. “This is a full-time job, but I’ve gotten absurdly lucky. Because I’ve been a cosplayer for so long, I entered the social media market before being a cosplayer was cool. I used to have a Facebook where I would hide all of my cosplay stuff so that other people at school didn’t know I cosplayed. It didn’t use to be a thing that was publicly acceptable, but now I can have conversations with adults that know

what I do.”

While McGehee’s rising popularity may have come as a shock to her, it is no surprise to her friends.

“I think she is hilarious,” said Tristan Blodgett, manager and longtime friend of McGehee. “I think that a lot of cosplayers online don’t have a real personality, they just have kind of TV smile, and I think that she definitely brings more ‘her’ to the table.”

McGehee has always made a point to be very open, honest and personable with her followers and cites the introduction of Instagram stories as one of the keys to her success. They allow her to constantly post less flattering content, such as videos with her making double chins, bed hair and goofy voices. It has allowed her to become what she describes as “everyone’s quirky internet girlfriend.”

But she is also very open about darker parts of her life, such as her struggles with an eating disorder.

She was shocked at how many fans messaged her about struggling with the same issues, especially considering 90 percent of her audience is male.

“Even me being somebody who’s more open about things than most people on my Instagram, what people do see is curated,” McGehee said. “You never get a full idea of what is going on behind the scenes.

I actually recently made a post of this goofy photo set for around Valentine’s Day when I had a suicide attempt when I got home. You never know what’s going on, and so it’s kind of a reminder that people with bodies you like probably hate themselves, [and] people with lives you look up to probably hate themselves.”

McGehee’s supporters are very personal to her.

Spigel recounts McGehee’s 21st birthday where one of her supporters sent her 21 individually packaged gifts.

“This follower was with her from the beginning,” Spigel said. “Stuff like that just goes to show that these people are her friends. She has met up with them — it’s not just like a face in the crowd. It’s very personal with her. It’s not just, ‘You are one of my thousands and thousands of followers.’ Everyone makes a difference, and she answers almost all of her messages unless they are creepy or weird.”

The largest takeaway for McGehee is the empowerment and joy she feels from cosplaying, which is evident in one of her favorite characters, Wonder Woman.

“One of my favorite things about the sexy internet cosplay is it’s just this group of girls that are normally very conventionally attractive, kind of these Barbie dolls, and they have the most impressive set of power tools,” McGehee said. “I used to keep safety goggles in my purse, and I just love that duality of these girls that love makeup and frills — we get our nails done, but I also have a power sander and a heat gun. So I love the duality of cosplay. It’s taught me some very functional skills, and I have more power tools than any guy I know.”

Photo courtesy Instagram

The Dose: Easy breakfast ideas for students

By Noah Hutchinson @noahutnoah Since childhood, the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day has been evident in every aspect, from parents’ preachings to TV advertisements. However, the luxury and rarity of sleep for many college students often outweigh the benefits of a fulfilling morning meal. But rushing out the door with a last-minute and likely unhealthy snack can be a thing of the past. If you want to start your day off right and still be able to hit the snooze button, try making one of these five healthy, easy breakfast meals for on-the-go college students.

1. Microwave French toast This recipe combines just a few kitchen staples to create a breakfast that evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia.

All you will need is milk, eggs, butter and bread. If you want to elevate your morning to the next level, add f lavors like cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate chips, chopped nuts or syrup. The absolute marvel of this recipe is that all of the wonders of a classic French toast can all be whipped up with just a mug and a microwave, making this a go-to breakfast meal that can be served in under five minutes.

2. Sweet potato breakfast bowl OK, hear me out: sweet potatoes may not scream “breakfast,” but their creaminess serves as a perfect base to a morning bowl. Plus, getting your fruits and veggies in has never tasted so good.

Much like a smoothie bowl, this meal is easily customizable with a wide range of toppings. Granola, fresh fruit, coconut f lakes, honey — you name it, this bowl can have it. So if you’re looking for a unique twist on your morning routine, this sweet potato breakfast bowl is not only one-of-a-kind but is sure to revolutionize your breakfast meals.

3. Morning parfait On-the-go food trends will come and go, but a classic parfait is a morning meal that is here to stay. Simply grab a mason jar or any other portable container and begin the layers of creamy, crunchy,

creative f lavors that make a parfait as limitless as your imagination. My personal favorite combination is vanilla yogurt with honey, pumpkin seeds and some fresh berries. Want to get into the fall spirit? Try adding pumpkin spice, apples and granola to satisfy all your PSL cravings.

4. Microwaveable eggs Eggs are a staple of an American breakfast. There’s scrambled, boiled, poached, baked, omelet, frittata and endless other variations. To the luck for students everywhere, the almighty egg can be cooked simply with the press of a microwave button. The guide by epicurious.com gives a solution to an easy breakfast meal in under 90 seconds.

To really make your morning one-of-akind, incorporate tasty ingredients like salt and pepper, cheddar, gruyere or swiss cheese, and even vegetables like spinach or tomatoes. If you don’t end up using that entire dozen of eggs for your scrumptious breakfast, check out the 151 different egg recipes by Delish to enjoy for any meal of the day.

5. Overnight oats This versatile and transportable morning meal has been all the rage in the food trend community these past few months, and it’s no wonder

If students can’t find the time to cook in the morning, UNT cafes offer various types of egg meals that are great for on-the-go, such as deviled and hard boiled eggs. Kaitlin Pennell why. It utilizes creative, customizable ingredients, tastes delicious and, above all, is 100 percent Instagram-worthy.

However, one of the most appealing aspects of this recipe is the fact that you can prep this meal the night before, resulting in a substantial, healthy breakfast that only requires a spoon and a hungry appetite in the morning.

So while you could keep picking up that last-minute granola bar as you

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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Karley York looks to build upon her record-setting 2017 season

By Joshua Paveglio @JoshPaveglio

Senior volleyball player Karley York serves the ball during practice. York has been ranked among the top 5 players in the nation and beat the Mean Green history record. Rachel Ridings

Reaching the top of a leaderboard is an impressive feat that few are able to accomplish.

Senior Karley York accomplished this in the 2017-2018 volleyball season by ranking No. 4 in assists (1,441) in all of Division I and also averaging the No. 6 most assists per match (11.80). York also moved up to No. 6 all-time (2,483) in assist in school history.

Not only did York dominate in statistics but she led the Mean Green to an overall record of 29-4, the best in school history.

“It’s been [a] very honoring [experience],” York said. “We’ve also had a lot of young people step up and do the job, too.”

She is now entering her final season with North Texas, and while she said it will be difficult, York has an entire season left to top her accomplishments.

Considering York recorded nearly half of her career assists in her junior season, her chances of continuing up the leaderboard look likely. York has utilized this past offseason to continue her rise.

“This offseason has consisted of continuing to learn how to spread the ball around, hitters looking to get that kill in the rotation and also [working] on techniques,” York said.

Holding the role of the lead setter for North Texas, the senior’s leadership does not go under the radar. In fact, head coach Andrew Palileo looks at York as more than just another player.

“Her experience makes it like having another coach with me on the court,” Palileo said. “She understands what the system is and the rotations we like to go through and it really helps our team out.”

In her final season, there will only be two seniors present, with six new freshmen on the team. Incoming freshmen will be burdened with the task of overcoming a learning curve.

Some, like freshman setter Kylie Smith, are already learning underneath her.

“It’s good to have a leader [who] knows exactly what to do and who tells us what to do,” Smith said. “She’s someone I can really look up to.”

Palileo doesn’t consider this to be something that will hold back the senior from doing what she does.

“Our expectations haven’t changed, as far as a new group of other players,” Palileo said.

“She has to learn the f lows of those other players and how she wishes to communicate with them. She knows what she wants to do and has a plan in place.”

The freshmen new to the team look to absorb as much information out of York as possible before the season is over.

“She’s a great setter and knows where to put the ball,” Smith said. “I hope to become a smarter player from her.”

Although new players will be joining the Mean Green team this season, Palileo has no lack of confidence that York will remain the leader of this team.

“The center in volleyball is like the point guard or quarterback for the other sports,” Palileo said. “Putting her in a position where she is empowered [allows her] to make changes she needs to make for the team.”

Palileo also believes her progression has no roadblocks and that doubling her assists total from last year is not the ceiling.

“It’s been more of a continuation of the progression she’s made the previous three year,” Palileo said. “This year it’s been about how we can fill that void from what we’ve lost and make the next couple players in line carry our team and put them in a position to be successful as much as we can.”

York is especially looking forward to build on a 29-4 season.

“I want to end my volleyball career on a high note,” York said. “I’m excited to see if we can follow up last season even better this year.”

The Mean Green are currently 3-4 so far on the 2018 season and will bwe playing in the Kansas State Invitational Sept. 7-9.

Mean Green face Incarnate Word for first time in team history

By Dillon Swan @Dillon_swan The Mean Green opened the 2018 college football season with a 46-23 win against the rival Southern Methodist University Mustangs. Quarterback Mason Fine torched the Mustangs for 444 passing yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes went to Jalen Guyton and the other went to Nic Smith.

The Mean Green play the University of the Incarnate Word at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at Apogee Stadium.

Last year these two teams did not face one another.

In fact, this is the first time in program history for these two teams to face off in the field. The Mean Green ended the season with a 9-5 record and a trip to the New Orleans Bowl. The Cardinals were 1-10 last year with their only win coming against Lamar 33-24.

Incarnate Word lost its season opener 62-30 to New Mexico, but the Mean Green aren’t treating the Cardinals differently than they would any team.

“I know there are some things we have to improve on and get better on throughout this week to have success this weekend, but I like where our mentality is at,” Mean Green head coach Seth Littrell said.

Incarnate Word’s new head coach Eric Morris used to work with Littrell at Texas Tech University. This is the second week in a row that Littrell is playing a team whose head coach worked with him at Texas Tech. “[Morris was an] unbelievable player, tough, competitive, and a good friend,” Littrell said.

Despite Fine’s stellar performance against Southern Methodist — which earned him C-USA Offensive Player of the Week — Fine said there are things he and the Mean Green can improve on. “[We need to keep] learning from our mistakes and

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keep preparing the right way,” Fine said. “We pride ourselves on being the most prepared team and the hardest working team.”

The Cardinals offense and Mean Green defense will be locked in a battle this Saturday. Incarnate Word put up more than 500 yards of offense against New Mexico with quarterback Jon Copeland throwing for 328 yards and running backs Ra’Quanne Dickens and Ameer King both averaging more than 10 yards per carry.

On the flip side, the Mean Green defense was able to shut down Southern Methodist through three quarters.

The Mean Green defense held the Mustangs to two out of 10 third down conversions and added a pick-six by defensive back Kemon Hall. Linebacker Brandon Garner had six tackles and a sack, and linebacker E.J. Ejiya had two sacks.

The Mean Green offense put on a display, and wide receiver Rico Bussey had a connection with Fine as the two linked up for nine receptions and 109 yards.

“We just work at it, that’s all it is — ­­ just a bunch of work — and it’s a reflection of our work,” Bussey said.

“This is our second year, we’ve already played a whole season together and the whole offseason we worked.”

The Incarnate Word defense had some stellar play from inside linebacker West Lambert who tallied 10 tackles, two of those being a tackle for loss. Fellow linebacker Silas Stewart had nine tackles and one tackle for loss.

The Cardinals defense allowed nearly 700 yards to the New Mexico offense. The Cardinals allowed 361 yards through the air and 319 yards on the ground last week.

The home crowd cheered on the Mean Green this past week with a record-breaking 29,519 fans packing Apogee stadium.

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Bottom: North Texas football players sing along to the school song after their victory against Southern Methodist University on Sept. 1 at Apogee Stadium.

Top: Redshirt Junior wide reciever Jaylen Guyton stretches for the end-zone after being tackled by SMU defender..

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Page 7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Inside look at UNT’s lacrosse team

By Jacob Solomon @Jakesolo00 The UNT lacrosse team may not be as famous as the football team, but the sport is just as intense.

Lacrosse at North Texas is a club sport, meaning that it does not receive the same equipment, facilities, medical staff and training the varsity sports receive. Because of these obstacles, players have to sacrifice their body for the game they enjoy.

“They have the facilities, the trainers and doctors to help them,” senior lacrosse player Logan Riggas said in reference to NCA A lacrosse teams. “With us being physical, it’s like if you’re hurt, you’re hurt. You play through it.”

The difference in funding between NCA A lacrosse and club lacrosse illustrates just how much passion these club players have for the game.

Connor Crossland, a senior lacrosse player for the Mean Green, is a former NCA A Division III lacrosse player for Hendrix College and can easily spot the training difference between club and NCA A lacrosse.

“There was a lot more work, more practice time and more hours put forward,” Crossland said.

However, the competition does not vary much from that level to the club level.

“The competition’s still about the same,” Crossland said. “There’s still a lot of really good players.”

On the financial side of the collegiate sports spectrum, club and varsity athletics are very different. On the time management side of things though, club lacrosse players still have to sacrifice a lot of time and learn how to balance school and sports.

“You really have to learn to balance, and you have to pay attention and focus highly on your grades,” senior lacrosse player Zachary Bach said.

Lacrosse player Logan Riggas expressed a similar sentiment. “[The schedule] makes it difficult, but it’s not

Last of McCarney era hoping to go out on top

By Deondre Jones @DeondreJones34 The 2018 football season marks the beginning of the last year with players from former-head coach Dan McCarney’s recruiting. Though he does not search these players out, current North Texas head football coach Seth Littrell places a lot of value in his senior group this year.

“The success of any team is going to come down to how well that leadership does throughout the year of overcoming adversity and sticking together,” Littrell said. “When coaches don’t have to step in, that’s when teams really start taking off and holding each other accountable, and I think you’re going to have much more success when players are buying into our core values and start to lead themselves into being successful.”

The Mean Green have a lot of talent heading into this season, but with a roster comprised mostly of underclassmen, experience is needed as well.

Eleven players on this team carry experience dating back to the 2015 season, and while a lot of fans would like to forget that 1-11 season, these players are continuing to use it as fuel.

After losing to Portland State 66-7 during the Mean Green’s homecoming weekend in 2015, head coach Dan McCarney was immediately fired. This caused a lot of players to question which direction this team was headed.

Senior defensive back Nate Brooks described the situation as chaotic after McCarney announced he was fired.

“It was just very hectic,” Brooks said. “I wasn’t really playing at that moment, but there was a lot of chaos in the locker room.

When he came in and told us, there was just a lot of uncertainty on what my future was going to be here at UNT.” One of the reasons why the 2015 season was a disappointment for North Texas was due to the number of high expectations heading into the season.

“We didn’t perform the way we were supposed to,” senior linebacker Brandon Garner said. “Coach McCarney won a bowl game two years before, so we had high expectations [but] we didn’t live up to them. Once the team doesn’t live up to the expectations, the head coach is usually the first one to go.”

With an almost winless season and new coach on the way, some players thought of possibly transferring from the program.

“I was pretty close,” Brooks said. “I talked to my mom [and] some close friends about it. Me and a couple teammates were pretty close to talking to some other coaches and asking for our releases.”

Brooks ultimately stayed on the team because he knew he had to finish things where he started.

“I just felt like I was meant to be here,” Brooks said. “I prayed about it and just felt a very strong urge to be here, like I had a purpose here.”

Others, however, were set on staying loyal to the Mean Green.

“I don’t leave or quit,” Garner said.

“That’s just not in my blood. I talked to my mom about it and she already knew I wasn’t gonna leave.”

Top: Connor Crossland, junior and North Texas lacrosse club player, charges another in a one-on-one drill during Tuesday practice.

bad if you learn to time manage,” Riggas said.

“I’ve struggled a couple times, especially in the spring when we’re traveling, but a lot of the guys on the team are willing to help you.”

The North Texas Mean Green lacrosse team is like most other athletic teams when it comes to one thing it tries to promote and encourage – camaraderie.

“This is an amazing sport, amazing guys, everything pulls you together,” Bach said.

Dan McCarney File On Dec. 5, 2015, North Texas hired then-North Carolina assistant head coach Littrell to become the new head coach.

A lot of players didn’t know what kind of coach they were getting in Littrell, but after he addressed the team, they knew he was serious about trying to steer the Mean Green in the right direction.

Redshirt senior defensive linemen Ulaiasi Tauaalo believed heavily in what Littrell was trying to install in his team. “‘Attack’ — that was his statement,” Tauaalo said. “That’s when he instilled our core values, which are self lessness, toughness and discipline.’ He just emphasized that day-in and day-out.

People started buying in and we started to see it.”

Littrell built his team the way he wanted but never held anything against players from the previous coaching regime.

“All I know is they’re my family,” Littrell said. “Whoever recruited you, it doesn’t matter. When I got here you establish good relationships and become part of a family.”

The players knew Littrell didn’t want to give them a hard time for the season they just went through.

“He knew that I’ve been here through the worst of the worst, so he knew I was ready to win and was willing to do whatever it took to win,” Garner said. “He loved on us and never called us out because he knew that we went through a bad stage. Now it’s time to get back on top.”

The team witnessed a quick turnover from the coaches when it came to practices and workouts.

A lot of players thought of Littrell’s approach as modern and fast-paced compared to McCarney’s old-school approach. “[Littrell is] a lot closer in age to us compared to coach McCarney,” Brooks said. “Coach McCarney is very old school and that’s a different style of football. Our

practices are easier and more up-to-date.

With coach Mac, it was a lot of full pads, full contact for four or five days of the week. Coach Littrell really takes care of us on the field.”

Another big difference between the two coaches is how these teams are built, which is largely in part due to Littrell’s success in recruiting in- and out-of-state, finding hidden gems in each class.

“I know when McCarney was here, he emphasized big on Texas and trying to be homegrown,” Tauaalo said. “With coach Littrell, it’s a matter of who can ball — no questions asked.”

In Littrell’s first year as head coach, the Mean Green finished with a 5-7 record and a bowl berth. In 2016, the team finished with a 9-5 record and reached both the Conference-USA Championship game and in the New Orleans Bowl.

The team carries momentum into this year, but Garner hopes that his experience with that 2015 team will teach the younger guys to go out and compete every week.

“Like the coaches always say, it’s a fine line between 1-11 and 10-1,” Garner said.

“If you don’t do certain stuff right on practices and game days, it’s going to show up. It’s just little things that separate from 1-11 to 11-1.”

A lot of players on that 2015 roster are now grateful to have stuck around and become part of a winning culture here at North Texas. Since they’ve seen what rock bottom looks like, they’ve improved each season, and feel they deserve to go out on top.

“It’s a great feeling,” Brooks said. “It’s something we never thought we would feel ,and it’s pushing us this year to try to go undefeated and win conference while finally getting a bowl win. Just having that feeling of being 1-11 is a lot of motivation for us to try and be successful this year.”

Right: Coach Aaron Skiles teaches his new players about his prefered playing styles.

Matthew Flores

Mean Green golfers go pro PGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 college,” Muñoz said. “I was a good golfer coming into college, but I wasn’t a star. I wasn’t recruited by the highest universities or was on the cover of a golf magazine. It’s a dream that’s developing, and I’m still surprised at things that I’m accomplishing. I haven’t put a roof on it — I’m still believing that I can go far.”

This is not either one of their first stops on the PGA Tour.

Muñoz graduated from UNT in 2015 and went on to be the first player from Colombia to ever win a Web.com Tour event. He earned his PGA Tour Card in 2017 and played the entire 2017 season before not being able to retain his card for the 2018 season.

“This sport is really frustrating sometimes,” Muñoz said. “Then sometimes it is really easy, and this year was one of those years where it was clicking. I had lots of good finishes, and I was really proud of the way I performed this year.”

Ortiz, the older of the two, graduated in 2013 from UNT and immediately went to the pro league.

Ortiz competed on the Web. com Tour in 2014 and won three different tournaments, which automatically granted him a PGA Tour card for the 2015 season. He was voted as the Web.com Tour Player of the Year in 2014.

He played well enough in 2015 to return to the PGA Tour for the next season, but Ortiz lost his card prior to the 2017 season.

“It is very hard to get the PGA Tour card,” Ortiz said. “I have been working really hard to get back to the PGA Tour the last two years, and I know my game is good enough to compete out there.”

Ortiz and Muñoz have known each other since their time at North Texas, as they were teammates from 2011-2013.

They have also taken similar paths to get to where they are today. Both led their teams to conference championships while winning the individual conference championships as well.

Muñoz said the bond between the golfers was strong when they first met, and nothing has changed since.

“Being able to share this experience with Carlos has been great,” Muñoz said. “He’s a great guy and we motivate each other.

We’re going to be close friends, practice a lot together and share lots of experiences throughout the next year.”

Both players played under current North Texas golf coach Brad Stracke. Stracke is a twotime conference coach of the year and has also coached six other players to the PGA Tour.

Ortiz said he looks up to Coach Stracke, and it was a joy to play for him each and every day.

“Coach Stracke helped me so much,” Ortiz said. “I gained a lot experience during my four years playing for him.”

Muñoz also described Stracke as a person that really cares.

“Once I met Brad Stracke, he really had an impact on me,” Muñoz said. “Our whole team was so specific about every detail and about every practice session. He taught us to be very efficient, and I still use that focus and precision while in my pro career.”

When Stracke learned about the great news of his former players being called back up, he said he was excited for both Ortiz and Muñoz.

“I am so proud of what Carlos and Juan have accomplished throughout their careers,” Stracke said. “I am looking forward to watching them play on the PGA Tour again this year. It is amazing how much positive press these two have given the Mean Green.”

He also said that although both were great golfers with lots of skill, it’s still hard to believe he has been a part of their journey to the PGA Tour.

“When Carlos and Juan arrived here at UNT, they had a lot of talent and above average skillset,” Stracke said. “Even with how talented they were, it would have been difficult to say they would make the PGA Tour. However, during their final year, you could tell they had improved and had a chance to play on the PGA Tour.”

Muñoz is coming off a year with top-five finishes, and he wants this trip to the PGA Tour to be permanent.

“Being able to keep my card would be great, that’s goal No. 1,” Muñoz said. “I also want to be in the top 25 and try to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

After being asked about what goals Ortiz had in mind for the upcoming PGA Tour season, his answer was simple.

“I want to win out there,” Ortiz said.

Courtesy Mean Green Athletics

OPINION Page 8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

NTDAILY.COM

Nike boycott does not have a sweatpant leg to stand on

By North Texas Daily @ntdaily Some protests take the form of marches in the street, picket signs and putting pressure on legislative officials. Some, evidently, take the form of cutting the Nike logo off your own clothes.

In response to the athletic company’s new ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, a number of disgruntled Nike consumers took to destroying the brand’s merchandise — merchandise they had already purchased. The boycott manifested almost immediately after the ad’s release, with many taking up scissors and even fire against the socks, shoes and shorts they bought themselves.

In the past, there has been similarly misguided mass destruction of goods in the name of protest. Last year, Fox News host Sean Hannity convinced many of his viewers to chuck their Keurig coffee makers out the window when the brand pulled its advertisements from his show.

When will people learn how to protest effectively? And more disturbingly, what exactly do

protesters think Nike has done that is worthy of a complete boycott?

Protesters seem most angry that Nike is siding with Kaepernick, essentially endorsing his stance on police brutality and racism. While they may be highly controversial among certain football fans, these concepts are widely accepted as real social and structural issues we need to confront. Turning a blind eye to things you personally do not care about does not mean they don’t exist, but that’s a can of worms for another day.

Another aspect that provoked the protesters may be the fact that Nike kept its continued partnership with Kaepernick in the shadows until the 30th anniversary of the brand’s iconic slogan. It seems unhappy fans wanted every NFL advertiser to reject Kaepernick and his views as quickly as the 49ers did, but this is just not realistic.

Different companies have different values and demographics and will not always come to the same conclusion.

In a political climate where not picking a side is as bad as picking the wrong side, its admirable that a brand as prominent as

Illustration by Chelsea Tolin Nike made the right decision so publicly. Of course, it would have been preferable if the company didn’t conveniently wait for a highly publicized, highly profitable, celebratory moment like an anniversary to reveal its support.

When it comes to ethical

questions like this, hesitation is proof enough of faulty moral fiber.

At the very least, Nike’s hesitation to come forward and defend Kaepernick’s actions proves the brand needed time to organize its priorities and decide if the endeavor was worth it.

If any company can afford a light dip in sales due to a politicized statement, it’s Nike.

Those on Twitter enraged about the advertisement claim it isn’t accurate — “If Kaepernick didn’t lose any money and came out the other side with his brand deal intact,

what exactly did he sacrifice?” He was a professional football player.

He had to leave the job he loved and his elevated platform all because he exercised his Constitutional rights to bring light to issues affecting his community. Wouldn’t you consider that a sacrifice?

Outspoken, confident women are the new norm, get used to it

By Christina Palomo @chramapal Women’s mannerisms and clothing have been historically governed and regulated by standards of society, usually meaning that ladies were to be polite, well-mannered and modestly dressed.

Modern women of today are redefining what it means to be a woman, and everyone has their own definition. Many women today exude confidence and aspire to be unapologetic about their identity.

But with love and assurance in oneself comes others who feel the need to share their discontent.

Seeds of female rebellion were planted long ago, by women like Joan of Arc, Frida Kahlo, Ida B.

Wells and many others. Women’s fashion evolved from immobilizing clothes to shorter dresses, hairdos and eventually pants. These women paved the way for comfortable clothing, a better job market, and alleviation of gender role restrictions.

Despite our modern gratitude for the change, in their respective periods, these rebels were referred to as outrageous, disgraceful and rude.

It should not come as a surprise the more liberalleaning women of today receive so much hate. The immediacy of social media may be convenient, but unwarranted comments are just as instantaneous.

And though hate can be directed at anyone, certain groups like fat women, women of color and trans women seem to receive an even greater deal of negativity.

In the face of online harassment, some women use the negativity to fuel their own empowerment.

One of the most popular and powerful ways of reversing the effects of belittling insults is to reclaim them. When former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was regarded as a “nasty woman” by fellow candidate Donald Trump, her female supporters proudly wore the words on their clothing and posters like some version of “The Scarlet Letter.”

Another example lies in the Latinx community, where Chicanas are proudly reclaiming the word “chingona,” a word with previous negative connotations. The word has reemerged with a second definition to meanw a woman who has strength, intelligence and perseverance.

From Amber Rose’s SlutWalk to the women of LGBT communities reclaiming slurs, women of all shapes and sizes are showing pride in their identities and lifestyles. But why do they continue to garner so much hate?

For one, change can be uncomfortable for people set in their ways. Some still believe in embracing

gender norms of the past. Others point out the negative effects of enforcing these stereotypes.

Another reason may fall directly on the perpetrator. Insecurity and jealousy drive people to act with some strange need to humble others.

Not to mention, people hate to be rejected — I know I’m not the only girl with a handful of stories about having a difficult time rejecting a persistent person at the bar. Especially as a brown, plus-sized girl, some men act like I should feel grateful for the opportunity, like some sort of business deal. After not taking the hint from the first polite “no,” I’ve learned to be blunt with undesired invitations, only to be met with insults.

Like many others, I have learned to just stop caring.

Let women embrace their bodies, let them wear their makeup or live without it. Let them wear what they want and do what they want as long as it doesn’t affect you. I have no advice for those who want to know how to better deal with “rude” women. Looks like you’re just going to have to deal with it.

http://bit.ly/UNT_MBA

Illustration by Chelsea Tolin