09-02-10 Edition

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react to new comic character ARTS & LIFE: Students Page 4 Researchers design space rovers NEWS: Page 2 Student argues against death penalty VIEWS: Page 7

Junior midfielder recognized early in soccer season.

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

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Volume 96 | Issue 5

Sunny 95° / 72°

UNT community responds to end of war

BY A BIGAIL A LLEN Managing Editor

President Barack Obama announced the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom on Tuesday night in the Oval Office.

Now, UNT is responding to his speech and its implications for the seven-and-a-half year war.

“This was the plan,” said James Mueller of the journalism faculty, who said he is not an expert about war. “We are not pulling out of Iraq too soon. Both parties agreed to it. They have had this plan for a long time, and hopefully they will have enough troops to keep order of things if [the U.S. military goes] away.”

The combat troops will begin withdrawing and the transitional military force will leave by the end of next year, Obama said during his televised speech.

In the absence of the American troops, the Iraqi people will control their security with the friendship and support of the U.S. “They understand that in the end only Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets,” the president said. “Only Iraqis can build a democracy within their borders.”

He went on to assert the importance of ceasing the conflict.

“Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest, it’s in our own,” Obama said.

Some of the troops removed from Iraq could end up going to Afghanistan, however. The current administration plans to “go on offense” in the al-Qaida stronghold, he said.

“Obviously I think leaving Iraq was a wise decision,” said Clinton Townsend, an economic and political science junior. “What I was concerned with was that he wants to escalate the war in Afghanistan.”

Townsend, who is also the president of Young Americans for Liberty at UNT, added that he worries that the push in Afghanistan will trigger more

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issues in the Middle East and at home.

“The citizens of these nations are already resentful of our nation, and escalating the war in Afghanistan is only going to increase that resentment,” he said.

The president mentioned that type of anger during his speech.

“It’s time to turn the page,” Obama said, referring both to the war and the home front.

He appealed to the American people, asking them to face the challenges, like economic unrest and problems in the middle class, with the same “energy and grit and sense of common purpose” as the soldiers.

“I don’t feel it is truly the end of conflict because I do still have friends over there,” said Valerie Pena, a medical technology senior.

She added that she feels the purpose was important but now she wants the troops home.

“I agree with his speech, and now after his speech I have more respect for him as a president,” she said.

Mueller, who has written about the interaction of presidents and the press, said he felt the speech was good but lacking.

“The economy is the main thing that is going to be driving the elections in November, so it’s hard to say how much this speech will really resonate with voters,” he said.

Townsend appreciated the language and speech itself, but he worries about the outcome of Obama’s decisions.

“We haven’t seen him follow through as much as we’d like to as far as decreasing the level of troops in the Middle East,” he said. “I’d like to see him wind down the war in Afghanistan as well.”

Assigning editor Josh Pherigo and interns Josh Bangle and Sara Corwin contributed to this report.

PHOTO BY KRYSTLE CANTU/SENIOR STAFF WRITER

UNT Dallas, a part of the UNT System, started as an independent university this semester. Its administrators hope to see it grow by several thousands by 2030.

UNT Dallas recruits new faculty

BY K RYSTLE CANTU Senior Staff Writer

UNT Dallas now stands on its own as an independent university. However, not all the faculty has returned from prior semesters.

The college has been around since 2000 as a part of the UNT system, but this fall things are different.

“The city of Dallas was … the only top-10 American city with no publicly supported university within its limits,” said Greg Tomlin, the executive director of marketing at UNTD. “The campus has independent administration now and for the first time has a president presiding over the campus.”

That administration is looking forward to all of the college’s growth and expansion, including adding the UNT law school.

It will become accredited to UNTD after five years, Tomlin said.

“It will operate independently for five years and then it will become UNT at Dallas

College of Law,” he said. “We’re quite excited.”

New and Old Faculty Mixed UNTD is in hiring mode.

It did not renew the faculty contracts from the previous semester because UNT Denton, not the newly independent university, issued them.

“We didn’t have the power to renew faculty contracts because the contracts were issued by Denton,” Tomlin said. “When those contracts ended, their departments in Denton did not renew them because UNT Dallas was becoming a separate institution.”

The members of the administration were immune to the process because they are system employees, not faculty members on contracts.

Warren Kennedy, a human resources director for UNTD, said the university attempted to transfer faculty members, but the general counsel advised that it could not be done. The university had to open up

the positions to anyone who cared to apply so the university could be seen as independent, Kennedy said.

UNTD also had to add administrative staff and look into faculty ranks.

“It wouldn’t do to have everyone at the lecturer rank and have no one who was in a tenure position,” Kennedy said. “We highly encouraged the current faculty to apply, and some were successful and some were not.”

A search committee was assembled to hire 65 positions, with 39 faculty members wanting to return.

Because the hiring process was extended, the administration could not inform the faculty members who weren’t selected in enough time. Some found jobs elsewhere. In light of that, UNTD President John Price extended an offer while he was president-designate for all of them to return to the UNT system to give them adequate notice to find other employment within a year.

The administration doesn’t promise a long-term contract or specific campus the faculty would return to, however.

“But we’ll guarantee you a one-year non-renewable term to teach for the fall and spring semester,” Kennedy said.

Out of the 39 previous faculty members, 12 returned to the UNTD campus and nine came to UNT Denton.

UNTD is still looking for seven faculty members to finish filling its 65 positions.

Planning Ahead and Seek i ng Independent Accreditation UNTD is expected to accommodate 16,000 students by 2030.

It now accommodates 2,200 students, with 1,063 of them being full time, Tomlin said.

“UNTD has a master plan and it calls for growth over the next 40 or 50 years,” he said.

It is seeking to construct a degree programs and independent accreditation.

See PRESIDENT on Page 2

Channel provides voice to Mayborn, Denton community

BY ERIC JOHNSON Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO BY BERNICE QUIRINO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The mural at the entrance of the new center was painted by Chicago artist Damon Lamar Reed, who won a contest for the job.

UNT Multicultural center combines past, future

BY TAYLOR JACKSON Staff Writer

The UNT Multicultural Center reopened on Wednesday on the second f loor of the University Union after being closed over the summer for remodeling.

Three speeches and a reception marked the occasion that was attended by more than 100 people, including UNT students and employees.

Gilda Garcia, the vice president for equity and diversity, talked about the process it took to complete the remodeling.

She expected the center to be “a window to the world, a safe place for everyone,” she said.

She i nt r o duc e d U N T President V. Lane Rawlins, who commented on the center being an important part of the

university’s dream to be one of the most diverse campuses.

Cheylon Brown, the center’s director, explained how the center has ex pa nded its views.

“We opened the doors to more than race and gender…,” Brown said. “We’ve added r el ig ion, s e x u a l it y a nd disability.”

See CENTER on Page 2

The sounds of a live television newsroom could soon fill the halls of the General Academic Bui lding’s f irst floor if the Mayborn School of Journalism’s proposal to run the Denton public access channel is accepted by the city.

Denton City Manager George Campbell sent an invitation to the Mayborn School in early June to submit a proposal. The broadcast department built a relationship with Denton over the past two years, with students producing content for Denton Television. The school, the city and the Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship have worked together since the start of the year to feature entrepreneurs in the Denton area.

If UNT is chosen to operate the channel, it would create a partnership between the residents of Denton and the faculty and students of UNT, according to its proposal.

The channel would give journalism students the reallife experience they need, said Mitch Land, the interim dean of the Mayborn School.

“Chemistr y and biolog y have laboratories,” Land said.

“Broadcast doesn’t have a lab. We need a venue for our students to express their craft.

News is a cornerstone of what we do, and this is an opportunity to better serve the students in the School of Journalism, the students on this campus and the Denton community.”

Residents of Denton can use the studio free of charge to produce their broadcasts, something that would continue if UNT were operating it, Land said.

Denton’s cable TV supervisor Billy Matthews said the residents of Denton need a place to be heard.

“The access channel is a voice for the people of Denton,” Matthews said. “It’s an opportunity for residents to express their opinions in a public forum, and we want to make sure that is maintained.”

After a five-year agreement with Charter Communications, the city of Denton is in need of a new partner for the channel because Charter is no longer obligated to run the public access channel. The agreement officially expires on Dec. 31.

If the proposal is accepted, UNT will begin its work with the channel starting Jan. 1 of

NANN GOPLERUD

MITCH LAND

next year.

“This would put UNT on another level as far as journalism schools go,” journalism senior Liliana Villarreal said.

“This would give us hands-on experience, let us get our feet wet and better prepare us for our careers.”

There is a plan in place to incorporate the channel into the news curriculum, Land said.

The public access studio would move from Industrial Street in downtown Denton to the first floor of the GAB. The Daily Ad Office would be moved and replaced by the new studio, and the channel would work together with the Daily’s newsroom, interim chairwoman of the news department Nann Goplerud said.

See MAYBORN on Page 2

News

Page 2 Abigail Allen & Josh Pherigo News Editors

Thursday, September 2, 2010 ntdailynews@gmail.com

President plans for ‘thriving’ UNTD campus Continued from Page 1 Price began his administration Tuesday at UNTD, which is Dallas’ first public university.

“This will be a thriving university,” Price said in an

e-mail. “We will establish new programs that meet market needs, build more buildings, partner with more community colleges and school districts, and begin to take on the feeling of a residential campus

someday.”

Tomlin said the students know they will have fewer resources available at UNTD but are still enthusiastic about the new university.

Taylor Rackley, an early child-

Center aims to increase inclusiveness for students Continued from Page 1 The reception in the center played up the new additions, complete with drinks served under a new mural, which was selected from a contest that Chicago artist Damon Lamar Reed won that reflects the ideas and atmosphere of the center.

“We wanted diversity to be more inclusive, more than one identity,” Garcia said while describing the ideas behind the mural. “You can be a woman and be religious.”

Keynote speaker Cynthia I z a g u i r r e , c o -a n c h or of WFA A’s Daybreak and UNT alumna, talked about being Ecuadorian and how going to UNT, “the most diverse, culturally accepting university in the United States,” helped shaped who she was and how she handles her job.

“If you have a phenomenal work ethic, you can get hired anywhere,” Izaguirre said.

Izag uir re closed w it h a Q-and-A from students and faculty.

Ca ra Wa l ker, a st udent services coordinator, talked about remodeling and setting

Photo by berenice Quirinov/Staff PhotograPher

Students help themselves to a lunch buffet at the reopening of the UNT Multicultural Center on Wednesday in the University Union. up the opening.

“We originally planned on a Dallas Cowboy [speaking], but it all worked out in the end,” she said.

Walker said she couldn’t have been happier with the way t he open ing t u r ned out.

“Izaguirre seemed to have a ball with it,” Walker said.

The center is planning a n Equ it y a nd Diversit y Con ference i n Febr ua r y with keynote addresses from Soledad O’Brien, Hill Harper and Evelyn Hu DeHart as well as straight ally workshops to help promote gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender understanding among students.

hood education-ESL junior, said she is most pleased with how personable the faculty is.

“It’s really comfortable here and all the staff care about all the students,” she said. “They genuinely care about us succeeding,

and they seem really personable and proud of everyone going to the college.”

The faculty agrees.

“We’re happy to have students come in,” said Tiffiney BarfieldCottledge, a professor of crim-

inal justice at UNTD. “The new faculty is excited. We’re all just looking forward to the growth and we’ve worked hard here, so we get to reap some of the fruit of our hard work.”

Research takes hands-off approach By tIm monzIngo Senior Staff Writer

A team of UNT researchers is among groups from 18 universities across the country that received a $70,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to change the way humans colonize the last frontier.

Kamesh Namuduri of the electrical engineering department and graduate and undergraduate students are working to change the way robots explore planetary surfaces through an advanced communication network.

Robots like Spirit and Opportunity have sent back images of the surface of Mars as NASA scientists drove them across the planet from Earth.

That takes time.

“Generally speaking, it takes about 10 minutes for sending messages from here,” Namuduri said.

The problem is that sometimes those objects aren’t 10 minutes away from the rovers, and the drivers can’t maneuver the rover in time to avoid hitting the objects.

Programmers told Namuduri the biggest problem they faced was obstacles on the surface of the planet.

“The programmers were telling me probably the biggest obstacle, the biggest problem, [was] to prevent the robot from getting stuck in the sand or falling into big craters,” he said. “Those are the challenges.”

Namuduri and his students want to take the control out of the hands of drivers on Earth and put it into the claws and memory cards of the rovers.

“Until we make the system completely autonomous, it’s very difficult for the rover to sustain for [a long period of time],” he said.

The rovers Spir it a nd

Opportunity touched down on the Martian surface in January of 2004, according to marsrover. nasa.gov. They have already proved their mettle by lasting longer than expected, Namuduri said, but NASA has bigger plans in mind.

“They want to send a series of

“Generally speaking, we will be known by our research in the community.”

—Murali Varanasi Engineering department chairman

missions to send more than one robot with the idea of exploring the surface,” he said. “Maybe down the line we might think of building a city or roads.”

The robots could be used to put structures like power stations in place, which would give the rovers extended life spans on alien surfaces.

But the rovers are only one part of the team’s work.

The other side is the development of a wireless network of sensors that would store the work done by earlier missions for subsequent explorers.

Namuduri likened the network to visiting a new town where you have a friend who can show you all the sites.

Technology of this sort is already in use today, but UNT researchers are challenged with making it smaller.

Shengli Fu of the electrical engineering department said

the sensor systems being developed for this type of work are similar to ones used on Earth for researchers to gather and analyze data remotely and to pilot unmanned aerial vehicles by the military.

Unlike the systems used to control unmanned aerial vehicles on Earth, the system being developed for Namuduri’s research will help the rovers to be more autonomous, Fu said.

Fu is working to develop new sensors that will consume less power and could even use solar panels to charge their batteries.

Although the work being done

by Namuduri and Fu will push the boundaries of space, Namuduri said there is a great benefit here on Earth, too.

In October, Namuduri’s research will be presented to the National Science Foundation in competition against the other 17 universities for an additional $250,000 in grants.

Namuduri is hoping to teach students how to work together, he said.

Murali Varanasi, the engineering department’s chairman, said both the university and the students benefit.

“Generally speaking, we will be known by our research in the community, so that is the first step,” he said. “The second step, in order to do that research, we have a lot of graduate students who directly benefit from that.”

Varanasi said the experience is invaluable to the students working on these kinds of projects.

“The graduates get outstanding experience here before they go out,” he said.

To see a video about the project, visit YouTube and search for “UNT Autonomous Systems Laboratory.”

SGA holds first meeting

By Isaac WrIght

Staff Writer

The Student Government Association held its first senate meeting Wednesday to train new members of the organization, appoint senators to represent the students of UNT’s colleges and schools, and approve the first budget of the semester.

Student Senate members and SGA executive members met at 5:15 p.m., and the meeting lasted until about 9:45 p.m.

New members were trained

in the rules and procedures of the SGA. The senate then appointed students as senators of their respective colleges along with other offices within the SGA. In attendance were a number of students new to the SGA and to UNT who also voiced their opinions during the appointment process w ithout the ability to vote on the candidates.

“It’s nice to see so many freshman interns speaking up,” said Monica Saunders,

the SGA speaker pro-tempore and a business junior.

The new budget for the SGA was also approved at the senate meeting. SGA President Kevin Sanders discussed the executive branch’s ability to cut the costs associated with running the association by calling attention to more than $16,000 that was saved and put into reserve as general funds out of the total budget of $153,000 for the fiscal year 2010 budget.

The SGA is the student-led governmental body of UNT.

Mayborn, city of Denton consider potential partnership Continued from Page 1 “This gives students that r e a l -w o r l d e n v i r o n m e n t where they are meeting deadlines, f inding good stories and serving the community,” G opler ud sa id. “St udent s would be working in an actual newsroom and going live on television. That is something

we can’t teach without this potential opportunity.”

The f uture of t he public access channel will be determined quickly, as the issue is slated to be decided during t he O c t . 5 C it y C ou nc i l meeting.

Regardless of the outcome, G opler ud sa id t he publ ic access channel would not be

controlled exclusively by the Mayborn School.

“This is not a takeover of a ny t h ing,” Gopler ud sa id.

“It’s a partnership between the city, the community and UNT. We ca n operate t his station at a low cost and give t he communit y a place to voice their opinions, which is beneficial for all involved.”

Correction In “Scientists research alligators, chickens” from t he Wed nesday ed it ion, the development process

of a l l igators shou ld have been termed ectot hermic, t he Rockefeller W i ld l i fe Ref uge is i n

Louisiana, not Arkansas, and the research project is intended to study a l l human development.

Thursday, September 2, 2010 Katie Grivna Arts & Life Editor

Arts & Life

Page 3 kgrivna@ntdaily.com

Freshman to release third novel in science fiction series

BY JESSICA PAUL Staff Writer

For some students, writing one paper throughout the entire semester is considered a grueling accomplishment in itself.

For Ri’chard Caldwell, a sociology sophomore, writing is a passion.

Caldwell, who has written two novels in a science fiction series, will have his third and final book, “Star Struck: Culmination,” finished by next year.

The published author said he is currently at work on the final novel in the series.

Caldwell, a member of the fraternity Phi Kappa Sigma and University Program Council, works a part-time job and says finding time to write is the biggest challenge of being a writer in college.

“Trying to have a social life in general, it takes a while to get even a minute to write something,” Caldwell said.

He first got the idea to write the book after he’d had a nightmare, he said.

“The first time I got an idea for it, I had a nightmare that I actually got in a fire, which is how the first one starts,” Caldwell said.

“I just woke up and thought, ‘It sounds like a good idea for a book,’ so I just wrote it down. I don’t know why but I had a cat with me in the fire.”

UNT has given him more material for his books, he said.

“It’s really hard to just make up a character, but there are random people on campus where I think they’d be good for my story,” Caldwell said. “I’ll take some of their features and throw them with some other people’s features and it’s like making a new person.”

While the professional writing field can be intimidating, he said he believes his works are of enough merit to be compared to other published authors.

“Most of my idols could compare my work to theirs. But like Rick Riordan, who wrote ‘The Lightning Thief,’ I compare my work to his and he blows me out of the water,” Caldwell said.

Nonetheless, Caldwell says he wants to be at that level at some point.

UNT’s liberal arts environment has been helpful for continuing to write his novels, Caldwell said.

Corey Pool, a radio, television

and film junior, said he thinks it’s important for a university to have students who use what they learn to write novels and series.

“I love to read and write and I think it would be really interesting and personal to read something from a student that’s at UNT,” Pool said. “It’s really important for the university to be able to have those kinds of people and have examples of people who do really well.”

Caldwell has also been caught writing for the series during class.

“I was writing the second one in my English class, and I almost got in trouble for it,” he said. “I was sitting in the front row and she asked me what I was doing.

Literally, I talked my way out of it by telling her I was writing a book and I’d put her in it, so, she’s in it now.”

Lauren Puls, an applied behavior analysis freshman, attended the same high school as Caldwell and said she loved the first book.

“I’ve never been one to like science fiction books,” Puls said.

“I read it and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is awesome.’”

Caldwell said he plans writing books for different genres after he finishes this series.

“I started the first book when I was 15 and I figured I already had it planned out for children,” he said. “I’m kind of done with science fiction after I finish the third one.”

Puls said she thinks UNT has challenged Caldwell, more so than his time in high school, because of the motivation from students and greater publicity with students reading them.

“I mean, yeah he took honors English classes, but I’m sure he’s getting more encouragement here,” Puls said. “The first book has a really catchy cliffhanger ending. It made me really mad after I read it, and that’s when I started bugging him and telling him to finish them.”

For other aspiring writers, Caldwell says you can always find an audience.

“If most of your friends are like, ‘Oh that’s dumb,’ there’s millions of people out there.

Someone will want to read it,” Caldwell said. “If you want to do it, just do it. Even if it doesn’t sell, you accomplished something.”

PHOTO BY DREW GAINES/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ri’chard Caldwell, a sociology sophomore, is a published science fiction author.

His final book, “Star Struck: Culmination,” is set to come out next summer and will complete the trilogy.

Documentary series pays homage to Hurricane Katrina CHRISTINA MLYNSKI Senior Staff Writer

Five years ago, thousands of people sat in front of their televisions and watched the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

To pay tribute to the disaster’s victims, the Doc Spot Series, a Media Library program, is screening free documentaries at 2 p.m. in Chilton Hall, room 111.

“I think people want to know what’s been happening in the days and years after the hurricane,” said Kim Stanton, librarian and head of the Media Library. “These films both pay homage and give some insight into the city as it’s changing.”

The Doc Spot, which has shown Hurricane Katrinarelated documentaries since Monday, screens weekly documentaries focused on current events and social issues and decided a year ago to do a week devoted to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Stanton said.

The Media Library focuses on using films as its preferred for m of c om mu n ic at ion because it believes t hat a greater awareness is raised to a broader audience, Stanton said.

The Media Library chose docu menta r ies i nstead of mainstream movies because it makes more of an impression, Stanton said.

“All of the documentaries we’re screening are powerful, well-made f ilms,” Sta nton said. “They don’t need the added dramatic element of Hollywood to make them seem important.”

Delia Covo, a general studies junior, said the documentaries are a means of showing people what really happened.

“The documentaries show the good and the bad in a raw way,” she said. “It helps teach and remember, for years to come, the things our world has gone through.”

T he f i l m fe at u r e d on Tuesday, “A Village Ca lled

Versailles,” followed a community in eastern New Orleans as they took the audience on an emotional journey of what it means to rebuild a new life.

“Everyday progress is being made and even though we cannot see it, it doesn’t mean the wheels are not working towards the goals that were set in the beginning,” Covo said.

The film showing today, “Wade in the Water, Children,” presents t he a f termat h of young people dealing with the ongoing American crisis, according to t he Kat r ina: Looking Back website.

Nicole Dash, associate dean for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, is an expert on natural disasters, specifica and lly hurricanes, and believes necessary steps can be placed to better prepare people who live in natural disaster areas.

“The hazard itself is a force of nature, but the impact is not,” Dash said. “We can build

PHOTO BY CHAZZ MORRISON/INTERN

In acknowledgement of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Media Library is offering free screenings of several documentaries that address the damage and people the hurricane affected. stronger buildings and implement land use policies that limit where we can build, but the better question is whether we, as a society, are willing to do what we need to do to make people safer.”

W h i le t he f i l m s e r ie s pr ov ide s a r ol le r c o a s t e r of feel i ngs, a n overa l l sense of hope st i l l is evident throughout Lou isia na even f ive yea rs later.

“W hile things may have taken quite a bit of time, they went about it in t he right manner,” Covo said. “I feel that they did what they could with the time and resources they had.”

Members of class of 2014 adapt to North Texas ways

BY JESSICA DETIBERIIS Intern

Many freshmen will tell you change defines the transition from high school to college.

With their first semester well on its way, some students are feeling a little overwhelmed.

“I would have to say my fear was that I wasn’t going to make friends,” interdisciplinary studies freshman Erin Cochrell said. “Not adjusting because I didn’t know anybody.”

Coming from all over the state and even the country, students from smaller schools find themselves a bit overwhelmed by a population of nearly 36,000.

UNT creates social atmospheres, such as the Playfair at Freshman Orientation, Eagle Camp and First Flight events, to help break the ice between students.

“[Eagle Camp] gave me a set of friends that I know before I go into college, like I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t gone,” said Andrew Love, a business freshman.

Fre sh men have fou nd friendship at various other on-campus events as well, such ERIN ANDREW as those in the greek commuCOCHRELL LOVE nity.

“Eagle Camp is a threeFashion marketing freshman day, two-night retreat,” said Jenna DeMetsenaere recounted Scott Geer, coordinator of new her rush experience. student programs. “Students are “I made friends with the engaged in group activities…to girls in my Rho Gamma group, get to know each other.” which was a smaller group of It seems Eagle Camp was a girls within rush,” she said. “It success, as its activities were helped me to be more outgoing purposed to help students get in terms of my new pledge accustomed to the college envi- sisters.” ronment. According to surveys Making friends before classes taken after the retreat, about begin comes in handy, as many half of the participants even freshmen admit they weren’t expressed interest in being on prepared for the size or diffiEagle Camp staff. culty of their college courses.

How freshmen can get involved at UNT Get to know your resident assistants.

Get connected! Attend a game or join a student organization.

Learn your limits. It’s important to know how long you can study before it becomes ineffective. You won’t be able to do everything you want, but pick what’s most important and give it your all.

Be open to try new things.

Tips courtesy of Scott Geer, coordinator of new student programs.

“I have one English class that has 26 students but other than that all my classes are in lecture halls,” Cochrell said. “I feel like in the smaller class I’m going to get more professor and student interaction.”

Professors are doing what they can, however, to aid students in this transition.

Known as a technically savvy generation, the class of 2014 is used to relying heavily on the Internet for research purposes, as opposed to textbooks and handwritten notes.

Thanks to UNT’s eCampus, teachers can post their lectures and PowerPoint presentations online for student viewing. In other ways, technology has also facilitated students’ social lives.

“Social networking sites really help, like Facebook and Skype. Everyone I met I can just

look them up…and get to know them better,” Cochrell said.

Ma ny st udent s i n t he freshman class are adapting well to their new lives, despite the shocking differences from high school.

Geer encouraged students

who are still struggling to adapt to be open to trying new things.

“Even if you think you may not like it, be courageous enough to give it a try… you might surprise yourself,” Geer said.

Page 4 Katie Grivna Arts & Life Editor

Arts & Life

Thursday, September 2, 2010 kgrivna@ntdaily.com

Archie comics introduce first gay character

BY NICOLE L ANDRY Staff Writer

After more than 60 years of publication, Archie Comics, Inc. took a big step by introducing its f irst openly gay character, Kevin Keller, in the newest issue of “Veronica,” on Sept. 1.

The company revealed its plans in an April 22 press relea se. T he co-CEO, Jon Goldwater, stated t hat t he decision was made to keep “the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive.”

Lesly Ogden, an English and secondar y education sophomore, is excited about this “forward step.” “‘Fi na l ly ’ w a s my f i r st thought,” she said. “It’s 2010.

This isn’t something people should be shocked over.”

Ogden acknowledges that there are two different reactions that the public can have – shock or nonchalant acceptance.

“People who haven’t adapted to change w ill be shocked, and people who are already

them going in either direction, but I’d like for them to f lesh him out,” she said. “He can just be a normal guy who happens to like guys.”

Joseph Harrington, a UNT a lu m nu s, sha res Ogden’s excitement.

“I think it’s wonderful that they’re introducing a gay character,” Harrington said. “It means a lot that this comic is changing with the times and helping our community gain visibility.”

His only issue with the character is that Keller is portrayed as a Caucasian male, which Harrington considers to be stereotypical.

“Homosexuality is usually seen as a ‘white issue,’” he said.

PHOTO BY JEANETTE LAREDO/PHOTOGRAPHER “But it’s better than not having Archie finally gets the girl in comic #604 “Archie Marries Betty: The Wedding.” But far from being traditional, this main- a gay character at all.” stream comic shows its progressive side with the introduction of its first gay character, Kevin.

Becau se A rch ie com ics are intended for an audience Ogden hopes the creators of all ages, Harrington said accepting won’t make a big her advances. While he tries to figure out how to let her of Archie introduce Keller in he thinks young readers are deal,” she said.

Keller is introduced as an down gently, he finds himself a tasteful way, though she can progressive enough to receive object of Veronica Lodge’s spending a lot of time with see them turning him into a Keller in a positive manner.

“If it receives any negative affections, yet she is perplexed Jughead, the comic’s admitted stereotype.

“Preference-wise, I can see response, it will probably be when he doesn’t respond to woman-hater.

from the parents,” he said.

Tim Stolt zf us, ow ner of More Fun Comics and Games, located at 103 W. Hickory, said he feels it is the parent to be aware of what their children are reading.

“W it h t he Inter net, it’s hard to figure out when is it the first time kids interact w ith something, so it falls into the responsibility of the parents.”

He hasn’t seen a lot of response to the comic yet, though, Stoltzfus said.

“I don’t know that people are even aware [of Keller],” he said. “But I expect a positive response.”

The Archie stor yline has been expanding for years, Stoltzfus said, and the crew handling it has been taking bolder steps i n hopes of widening its audience.

“We’ll see if it pays off,” he said.

For more information about this comic, visit the Archie Comics of f icia l website at archiecomics.com.

Students notice as crickets collect, multiply

BY JOSHUA SHAMBURGER Staff Writer

This fall, students are being forced to make a few unwelcome friends: crickets.

The pesky insects collect around doorways, hitch a ride in cars and find their way into buildings and dorms, posing a problem for many students.

“I’m so scared of them… they’re all over school,” said Brittany Ray, an accounting junior.

According to exterminating companies around the country, crickets are more common during the summer because they mate to lay eggs in the fall.

Cricket babies hatch in the spring and by the end of summer, they are full grown and ready to

restart the cycle.

Outbreaks of crickets can occur when rainfall follows a dry period, similar to this summer’s Texas weather.

“It’s not bad this year,” said Lanse Fullinwider, a UNT grounds maintenance manager.

“There’s been past years where they were bad.”

More crickets pop up when the fields are dry, he said.

Crickets are also attracted to the bright lights at night and the stadium lights at Fouts Field can attract crickets from all over campus.

If needed, the grounds maintenance personnel can spray outside the buildings where crickets collect.

Fullinwider said the crews

are trying to reduce the use of insecticides and since the cricket population isn’t uncontrollable, the maintenance crews haven’t needed to use them yet.

In the case of an indoor cricket infestation, a separate pest control company would have to be called.

Not everyone has been bothered by the crickets.

“I haven’t really noticed,” said Alan Killion, a computer engineering sophomore.

While he sees some crickets around, Killion said he hasn’t noticed large collections of the creatures.

Students who are bothered by the crickets can contact the UNT grounds department at 940-3697318 to report the insects.

PHOTO BY CHAZZ MORRISON/INTERN

While many students have noticed the increase in crickets on campus, this year’s cricket population is “not bad this year,” according to UNT grounds maintenance manager Lanse Fullinwider.

Country music helps student embrace Texas life

BY CONNER HOWELL Intern

Sunday was the last night of the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo and everyone celebrated.

“Beer,” said Plano resident Phillip Godino when asked why he was at the fair.

Beer is a popular reason.

But, a lcohol could a lso be the reason why the fair exists in the first place, because it

helped establish a permanent Texas tradition.

It’s the tradition of Texas country music, a genre born from a significant social event in U.S. history.

Joe W. Spe cht , ret i re d d i r e c t or o f l i b r a r i e s a t McMu r r y Un iver sit y a nd aut hor of t he book “T he Women There Don’t Treat You Mean: Abilene in Song,” said Texas music really began with

the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, which legalized alcohol in the country.

“Once that happened these little bars and clubs started springing up on the outskirts of town where they could actually serve beer,” he said.

These honk y-tonk nightclubs and bars housed t he movement and evolution of Texas country music.

“Cou nt r y mu sic st a r ted dea l i ng w it h ha rdcore t h e m e s o f l i f e ,” S p e c h t sa id. “A lcohol ism, broken ma r r ia ge s, i n f idel it y a nd those themes just fit perfectly w ith the honk y-tonk atmosphere.”

A nd it’s t hat atmosphere which makes it so unique to Texas people.

“I t hin k w it h t he at mosphere people can get into the music,” said Josh Ewing, a music junior. “If you listen to the lyrics, listen to the music then everybody can sing along to the certain melodies.”

It’s t he ever yday, boring stuff that most country song lyrics talk about, Ewing said.

Music sophomore Daniel Routh said he thinks country music offers a relaxing break from some of the more sophisticated musical genres.

“It’s kind of a nice break from hearing really thick stuff like Mozart and Beethoven,” Routh said. “It’s nice to sometimes sit back and glaze over while you listen to something simple like that.”

And the simplicity isn’t just in the lyrics but in the music itself.

“A lot of the best songs come on a simple basis,” said Corinth

PHOTO BY CONNER HOWELL/INTERN

Local musicians meet every Saturday by the Denton courthouse to play country, bluegrass and gospel music. resident Greg Kneupper. “A lot of fiddle tunes are two chords, but they sound good.”

For t he pa st 18 ye a r s K neupper has played w it h several musicians in Saturday morning jam sessions held on t he f ront law n of T he Courthouse-on-the-Square.

K neupper sa id t he music t hey play is a spur-of-t hemoment variety of country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, but all fall under a Texas brand of music.

“I played ‘Texas Trilogy’ a little earlier, which is three songs about Texas written by Steve Fromholz who grew up in Denton,” Kneupper said.

Country music is an easily re c og n i z ed t r adema rk of Texas culture, especially to students new to the state.

Early childhood education graduate student Icey X iao and biology student Charlene Jiang are both international students from China.

It has only been 10 days since Xiao and Jiang arrived in Texas and they have trouble identif y ing which cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area they’ve visited so far, but they can tell what Texas country music is about.

“W hen you listen to folk music in our country you can imagine a picture like a small river and you will be quiet,” Jiang said.

But the picture they both imagine when they hear Texas country music is “a cowboy,” Jiang and Xiao said.

“And when we listen to the local [Texas] music we want

to dance,” Xiao said.

And dancing is an integral part of Texas country music with honky-tonk roots.

“The bottom line is that it’s got to be music you can dance to,” Specht said.

Local Denton venues with da nce f loor s l i ke Rock i n Rodeo preser ve t he t raditional honky-tonk experience with regular contemporar y count r y music per formers like Aaron Watson, Stoney LaRue, Ryan Bingham and Wade Bowen, Specht said.

And the fact that it serves alcohol is just a part of the Texas tradition.

“You gotta get you a pair of boots and you gotta listen to the music,” Godino said.

“The beer makes it that much better.”

Sports

Thursday, September 2, 2010 Laura Zamora Sports Editor

Page 5 laurazamora26@gmail.com

Athlete of the Week: Midfielder mesmorizes Lackey recognized in new position

BY BEN BABY

Senior Staff Writer Du r ing Tuesday’s intersquad practice, head coach Joh n Hed lu nd sits on t he b enc h, w at c h i n g a s h i s team fights for loose balls and takes on defenders and the sweltering heat. Junior midfielder Julie Lackey lies in the midfield waiting to pou nce, pu n ish i ng opponents for their mistakes.

Calm and poised, her play is not the same of someone w ho ju st s w itche d positions, but of someone who is looking to take her team to the top.

Lackey has blossomed in her first season as a full-time sta r ter a f ter mov ing f rom defender, scoring six goals for the Mean Green. Her play has helped the Mean Green jump out to a rema rkable 4-0 start.

“First two years, she was a pretty solid player for us, but she pretty much came off the bench,” Hedlund said. “I think she’s found her perfect role, her per fect posit ion, and we depend on her now greatly and she’s really come through for us.”

Lackey hails from Humble, 30 m i nutes out side of Houston. W hi le t he ‘h’ in Humble is silent, Lackey’s play is far from quiet, netting

game-winning goals against Texas Southern and Missouri State.

T he emerg i ng L ackey started only five games as a defender last season, scoring two goals and contributing two assists. In her junior year, she has taken full advantage of Hedlund’s newly implemented 3-5-2 formation.

“She’s very positive, very hard working,” senior goalkeeper Mandy Hall said. “You can always count on her to come out here and work as hard as she can every practice, no matter what’s going on with everything else. She’s really stepped up in a big way this year.”

Lackey, a biolog y major and the fourth of five children, picked up soccer at the age of four. The 5-foot-6-inch junior flourished in the sport, constantly receiving love and encou ragement f rom her parents and siblings.

“Grow i ng up, a l l of us played soccer, and my other t h ree sisters, we t raveled across tow n to play on a more competitive club team,” Lackey said. “Soccer’s been in our lives forever.”

Her fa m i ly st i l l plays a v ita l role bot h on a nd of f the pitch. On most occasions, Lackey w i l l look i nto t he stands and see her parents and role models, Rick and Cindy.

“Julie was always quiet and a little bit on the shy side,” Cindy Lackey said. “We’re just so proud of her academ-

ically. She always strived to do her best in spor ts a nd school.”

Lackey peaked the interests of many schools after graduating from Atascocita High School in 2008, two of which were UN T a nd Troy. She chose to play closer to home for the Mean Green, where she cont inues to improve season after season.

While she would rather be out on the water in her down time, Lackey has f looded the stat sheets in 2010, helping the Mean Green to a tremendous start. On a deep and talented squad, Lackey has solid i f ied her spot in t he starting line-up.

“There’s always pressure to come out strong and always be on your game, because if not, there’s always someone to come in for you,” Lackey said.

Lackey’s ha rd work a nd de t er m i n at ion h a v e not only helped her become a starter, but have also brought another dimension to a team that is poised to make a deep postseason run.

“I think she’s going to be a big player here and a big threat to other teams,” Hall sa id. “She’s just goi ng to continue to improve… She’s really someone we can rely on, so I think she’s going to help us go far this year.”

To see multimedia for this story, visit ntdaily. com.

PHOTO BY RYAN BIBB/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Lackey practices her juggling at the Mean Green Village on Tuesday. Lackey played 14 games out of the season last year and scored the game-winning point in her first start this season.

Samford Invitational to be tough test for UNT

BY FELICIA A LBA Staff Writer

After earning its first 3-0 record since 2003 and first tournament title since 2006, the UNT volleyball team is heading into this weekend’s Samford Invitational on a high note.

The Mean Green will take on four teams at Samford in Birmingham, Ala., including Syracuse and Northwestern State, which are both 3-0 in regular season play. UNT will also face Samford (2-1) and Tennessee Tech (0-3).

“Hopefully we’ll have some confidence this weekend,” head coach Ken Murczek said. “The competition will be significantly more intense.

We’ll be challenged to raise the level of play, which will be good for us.”

Syracuse earned its 3-0 mark af ter capturing t he

Colgate Classic title with a offensive momentum running. .312 hitting percentage, while Huddleston only needs 102 Northwestern State defeated more kills to reach 1,000 in fellow Sun Belt team Arkansas her career.

Ju n i o r State to take the m i d d l e Arkansas State b l o c k e r Inv itat iona l Mela n ie title.

Boykins also UNT will looks to add take what strength worked at the at t he net, Jackson State leading the Inv itat iona l te a m w it h and use it again 25 kills and for this weeka .417 attack end’s action. p e r c e nt a ge “F r om a n at last offensive w e e k e n d ’s standpoint we —Ken Murczek Jackson State did really well, Head Volleyball Coach Invitational. hitting at .250,” “We’re just Murczek said.

“We also kept every opponent looking to do what we need to on our side and serve aggresunder .100.”

The team is looking to senior sively,” Boykins said.

Junior setter Kayla Saey captain and outside hitter Amy Huddleston to keep the is expected to be the offen-

“We’ll be challenged to raise the level of play, which will be good for us.”

PHOTO BY RYAN BIBB/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Mean Green volleyball team huddles up before an intersquad scrimmage. The team will be back on the road for the Samford Invitational Friday in Birmingham, Ala.

sive playmaker this weekend, leading the team with 28 career aces. Saey averaged 9.10 assists per set at Jackson State to earn Most Valuable Player.

“We’re going to keep serving aggressively and keep the communication going,” she said. “Serving aggressively is a key factor in establishing the middle.”

The biggest objective and central component for the upcoming invitational will be the serve and pass game, Murczek said.

Senior Kristin Petrasic and junior Sarah Willey will both represent the back row at libero. Willey led UNT with 35 total digs at Jackson State and ranks 10th in the highest career digs in school history.

Petrasic followed with 31 digs for the weekend.

The Mean Green will take on Syracuse at 3 p.m. and Samford at 7 p.m. Friday, then continue with matches against Tennessee Tech at noon and Northwestern State at 3 p.m.

Saturday.

PHOTO BY RYAN BIBB /SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior setter Kayla Saey puts the ball in position during a scrimmage. The girls will seek victories at the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.

Page 6 Laura Zamora Sports Editor

Sports

Thursday, September 2, 2010 laurazamora26@gmail.com

Burroughs delivers new strategies to UNT New coach seeks reform through recruitment

BY R AEGAN POOL

Intern New Yorker Sam Burroughs never thought he would move to Texas. However, with eight years of coaching experience, he joins UNT as the new cross country coach.

“Initially, if someone told me about three or four years ago that I’d be in Texas, I would have said, ‘Heck no! You’re out

of your mind,’” he said. “But it’s kind of just where the path takes you.”

Burroughs spent the past two years at Abilene Christian University, where he led both the men and women to the Lone Star Conference Championships and was named LSC Coach of the Year in 2008.

He coached many Wildcats to success, including runner Amos Sang, who won the 5,000meter and the 10,000-meter at the NCAA Division II championships last semester. Under Burroughs, many ACU runners have been named to the all-LSC team.

P r i o r to AC U, Bu r roug hs coached at Iona College in New York f rom 20 05 to 2007. The Iona Gaels SAM s aw m a ny BURROUGHS improvements during his time there.

In his first year he led the men’s cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the NCA A Championship. The team improved to third place in his second year coaching, and by 2007 the team won

second place at nationals.

Burroughs also coached many men and women runners to A l l-A mer ic a n honor s, including former Gael McKayla Plank.

“If I needed anything, I knew I could always count on him,” Plank says. “He went above and beyond and would always do his best to come through.”

Burroughs attended the University of Buffalo, where he ran as one of t he top distance runners and served as co-captain his senior year.

He graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and earned

his master’s degree in 2002.

He wasted no time after graduation and began coaching at Manhattan College where he led the team to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship titles.

Burroughs now replaces former UNT cross countr y coach Robert Vaughan, who left the program after four years.

While the runners are upset to see Vaughan depart, they are eager to see what Burroughs will do.

The difference between the former and present coach is that Burroughs “is more hands-

on,” according to returning senior Ingrid Mollenkopf.

“He’s always out there timing every mile,” she said.

Bu r roug h s is a st rong believer in recruiting.

“My job is to improve the Sun Belt results in the fall season,” he said. “A big part of that and how it’s going to be accomplished is through some very aggressive recruiting.”

With only one of the top five men returning this season, recruiting will be very important this season.

The team will kick off its new season Friday at Baylor University in Waco.

New season means changes for cross country

BY R AEGAN POOL Intern

With a new coach and many new freshmen, the UNT cross country team is uncertain what to expect when it travels to the Baylor Opener in Waco on Friday and for the season as a whole.

“Naturally, you’re always going to be apprehensive about change,” senior Patrick Strong said. “But that’s usually a good thing.”

The men’s team is in the process of adapting to many changes. The men are not only getting used to a new coach but also are replacing four of their top scorers, two of whom are freshmen runners.

The men’s top five now includes Strong, and freshmen Wade Denton, Adrian Nevarez and Matt Russ.

“We’ve got to figure out a fifth man,” head coach Sam Burroughs said.

The men finished fourth at the Sun Belt Conference meet last season, and despite losing all but one of the team’s top five performers, Strong is still confident that the team will improve its ranking at conference this season.

While the men lost all but

one of their best scorers, the women lost only one of their top scorers.

The top five women include junior Sara Dietz, freshmen Elyssa Garcia and Chynna Hart and senior Ingrid Mollenkopf.

The team is also searching for a fifth runner.

Although the women are not experiencing changes as drastic as the men, Dietz is still adjusting. “[Having a new coach] is still something that we’re all getting used to,” she said. “Before, we ran times. Now, we run miles.

It’s like a complete new program, and so we’re all learning how to adapt to it.”

For both the men and women, the cross country team is looking to improve its conference rankings this season.

Their biggest competition in the Sun Belt are Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, but the team wants to perform well and win wherever they competes, FILE PHOTO BY JOSIAH SORRELS whether it’s at Baylor on Friday or Sara Dietz finished 16th with a time of 19:09 in the Ken Garland Invitational last fall. She is expected to lead the team again this year under a new coach. at UT-Arlington on Sept. 11.

Burroughs is also looking to strongly improve the teams’ team will win or lose. to run out of their minds [this The Baylor Opener is expected conference meet. recruiting program this season.

This is the first collegiate meet meet],” Burroughs said. “I’m “If that is taken care of, every- to be a small, dress-rehearsalHe believes recruiting has the thing else falls into place,” he type meet. The coach wants for many of the runners. asking them to run out of their biggest impact on whether a said.

“I’m not asking these kids minds two months from now.” the team to concentrate on the

T hur sday, Septemb er 2 Royal Tragedy w/ Blunt Force and Dead Beat Poetry Denton, TX 9:30 pm@The Boiler Room R4WR 9:30 pm @ Andy’s Bar ORANGE PEEL SUNSHINE 10:00 pm @ Dan’s Silverleaf Baruch The Scribe/Peoplelodian/Here Holy Spain @ Rubber Gloves Friday, Septemb er 3 TruffulaTreew/LikeBurningGlass,ARotterdamNovember and Don’t Wake Aislin 9:30 pm @The Boiler Room Megafauna, General Bye Bye, The Red 100s, Shakedown Alley 9:30 pm @ Andy’s Bar The Wee-Beasties/Shaolin death Squad/ Power Violence 9:00 pm @ Hailey’s Nervous Curtains/New Science Projects/Pinkish Black/Delmore Pilcrow @ Rubber Gloves Stavely/Jillian Irons @ The Hydrant

GOING THE DISTANCE [R] 12:05pm 2:35pm 5:25pm 8:05pm 10:45pm MACHETE [R] 12:50pm 3:30pm 6:10pm 8:50pm MACHETE - DIGITAL [R] 11:20am 2:00pm 4:40pm 7:20pm 10:05pm THE AMERICAN [R] 11:30am 2:10pm 4:45pm 7:30pm 10:20pm TOY STORY 3 [G] 11:45am 2:20pm 5:15pm DESPICABLE ME - REAL D 3D [PG] 12:00pm 2:30pm 5:00pm EAT, PRAY, LOVE [PG13] 12:55pm 4:00pm 7:05pm 10:15pm GET LOW - CinéArts [PG13] 11:55am 2:40pm 5:20pm 8:00pm 10:40pm NANNY McPHEE RETURNS [PG] 11:40am 2:15pm 4:55pm 7:35pm PIRANHA - REAL D 3D [R] 7:25pm 9:45pm TAKERS [PG13] 11:20am 1:55pm 4:30pm 7:10pm 10:00pm THE EXPENDABLES [R] 11:25am 2:05pm 4:35pm 7:15pm 9:55pm THE LAST EXORCISM [PG13] 11:35am 1:50pm 4:25pm 7:00pm 9:30pm THELASTEXORCISM-DIGITAL [PG13] 12:45pm3:15pm5:45pm8:10pm10:35pm THE OTHER GUYS [PG13] 11:50am 2:25pm 5:10pm 7:50pm 10:25pm THE SWITCH [PG13] 7:55pm 10:30pm VAMPIRES SUCK [PG13] 10:10pm

Saturday, Septemb er 4 TheseMadDogsofGloryw/Lehnen9:30pm@TheBoilerRoom Cory Branan, Drag the River, Jon Snodgrass 9:00 pm @ Andy’s Bar Young & Brave/The Virgin Wolves and The Eastern Sea open 10:00 pm @ Dan’s Silverleaf Amandla (Claude Coleman Jr. of Ween)/ Dovehunter 9:00 pm @ Hailey’s Mind Spiders/Sunnybrook/Melting Seasons/ Land Mammals @ Rubber Gloves The Contingency Clause @ The Hydrant

CADDYSHACK weekend of 9/26

Sunday, Septemb er 5 Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son, 7-9 pm, Free @ Sweetwater Monday, Septemb er 6 TEX ZIMMERMAN AND HIS ALL-STAR REVUE 5:00 pm BOXCAR BANDITS 10:00 pm@ Dan’s Silverleaf Tea & Tots/ike Mains & The Branches @ The Hydrant Tuesday, Septemb er 7 RYANDAVIDSON8:00pmGRASSFIGHT10:00pm@Dan’sSilverleaf Brad Leali Quartet, 7-9 pm, Free @ Sweetwater

SHOWTIMES VALID FOR 9-3-2010

GOING THE DISTANCE [R] 11:00AM | 1:40 | 4:20 | 7:00 | 9:45 MACHETE [R] 11:40AM | 2:20 | 5:00 | 7:40 | 10:30 | 12:10AM

THE AMERICAN [R] 11:15 | 2:00 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 | 12:15AM THE LAST EXORCISM [PG13] 11:25AM | 1:50 | 4:10 | 6:40 | 9:15

Views

Thursday, September 2, 2010 Ryan Munthe, Views Editor

Obama speaks loudly, says nothing Editorial President Barack Obama gave a much-anticipated Oval Office speech Tuesday night regarding the end of the end of combat in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges and economic problems. During primetime, Obama sat in front of the camera and addressed the nation, seeming a bit more professional than he has in the past while attempting to raise spirits and create patriotic sentiment.

However, after listening to the speech and reading the transcript, it seems obvious that the president simply gave the public more of what’s already been said before.

Unlike past speeches, the president avoided making his speech from Town Hall. This speech, given with importance and professionalism, featured an idyllic backdrop complete with a panoramic shot of the office and pictures of his family. He also showed off his American pin, possibly for those who have criticized the president before. Despite his stout anti-Iraq war policies, Obama seems to credit himself for the success in Iraq when ironically, former President George W. Bush’s surge in troops was the strategic move that actually turned the war in our favor. Obama downplays Bush’s strategy in turning the war into a successful campaign, only referring to him in one section of the speech, crediting his “support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to security,” not his final move to surge troop presence.

The reoccurring flaw in Obama’s speeches has resurfaced. There is a lack of actual substance. Obama vaguely outlines a plan to rebuild the economy, casually outlines a loose combat strategy throughout the continuation of the Afghanistan War, and praises American troops. Not to mention much of the speech’s actual substance is nothing more than broad statements and promises to protect the country to the best of his ability.

He tries to assuage fears of a weakening military and bombards every one with promises of strengthening middle classes. Yet, what is his plan to keep the military strong? What is he going to do to strengthen the middle class, other than reiterate what he has done so many times before? He promises to reignite our “industries to create jobs” and “end our dependence on foreign oil” but does not go into further detail.

Although the president’s speech looked and sounded nice, it tried to appeal to everyone and effectively ended the war in Iraq, yet it said and did nothing that he had not already promised. The Editorial Board finds Obama’s speech ultimately boring. The address seemed to be nothing more than a simple motivational speech, reiterating many points and vaguely outlining a few controversial topics, but, in reality, was more of the same.

Page 7 ntdailyviews@gmail.com

Christianity more than a blind faith If you are on a college campus for at least 24 hours, you are bound to have an “intellectual” conversation with a fellow student regarding philosophy, social thought or politics. Generally speaking, a s p s e udo -i nt e l le c t u a l s , we have no idea what we’re talking about; however, we attempt to make rather large statements on the meaning of life. Yet, once you mention that you base your life off of Christian philosophy, you are often deemed close-minded or ignorant. I have noticed that Christians and non-Christians alike are unable to discuss the apologetic side of religion and its place in society. I think this is for one of two reasons. The first is that we are embar-

rassed, and the second is that we are completely ignorant of what and why we believe in Jesus Christ.

My heart breaks for those who have no desire to look at Christianity as a historically and philosophically viable solution to the truth for which we all yearn. For decades, we have been brought up by the church to accept, inadvertently, these beliefs blindly and have faith without any type of logic. My hope is that those who do claim Jesus as truth also understand the factual, not just the spiritual, side of Christianity. With YouTube at our fingertips and great books in our libraries, there is no excuse for not defending the Christian faith. For those

who are non-believers, my hope is that you would ask sincere questions and look at Christianity for what it truly is, not what society deems it is.

Books like “Young, Restless, and Reformed” and “Hipster Christianity” are comforting signs that Christianity is no longer considered ridiculous among some young adults. One of the best things about Denton is the amount of churches we have here that are willing to talk with students about the Christian faith. Churches like the Village and Denton Bible are full of college students and wise staff members who are more than happy to share this truth. With more and more college-age men and women being drawn by Jesus Christ,

I encourage you, as a fellow UNT student, to look, study and understand what so many find remarkable.

Nicholas Stevens Nicholas Stevens is a sociology junior. He can be reached at Nicholas.Stevens@unt.edu.

Student: Protest use of death penalty Since t he reinstatement of t he deat h pena lt y in 1976, Texas has experienced a number of tragedies.

Cameron Todd Willingham was executed, yet he was innocent of the charges against him. Regina ld Blanton, an African American, received inadequate lega l representation in the courtroom and faced an all-white jury. The evidence brought against him was circumstantial at best, yet he was sentenced to die and was executed in 2009.

Cha lleng ing t he stig ma of the infamous all-white jury, death penalty apologists often tell us t hat minorities a re simply underrepresented in the eligible jury duty pool. A study conducted by the Dallas Morning News shows otherwise. Studies from the Death Penalty Information Center show us that while African

A mericans ma ke up about 12 percent of the population, they are almost 50 percent of those living on death row; however, they also indicate that murder rates have actually increased in states that still use the death penalty.

In recent news, Chicago Police Investigator Jon Burge wa s fou nd g u i lt y for t he torture of almost 200 African American and Latino men.

It was reported that Burge and his officers would attach jumper cables to the victims’ gen it a l s a nd ele c t roc ute them. The list of crimes and tor ture per formed aga inst these men only gets worse.

W hile the officers tortured their victims, they used racial slurs to further humiliate and demean them. This eventually compelled the “suspects” to confess to cr imes t hey d id not act ua l ly com m it.

T hese tor t u red con fessions sent ma ny to deat h row. Mark Clements, one of Burge’s victims, is among the numerous people who have finally been exonerated from his so-called crimes. He and others are not keeping their stories silent, but they are not the only ones speaking out against the death penalty and police brutality. Sandra Reed, mother of Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, is traveling the country to be a voice for her son who, like so many before him, suffered from racism in our courts.

As the laundry list of injustices piles up, people from a l l over a re f ig ht ing back against t he deat h pena lt y.

One of t he ma ny protests will occur this Saturday at 5 p.m., as multiple organizations plan on marching from Denton Squa re to UNT in

protest of the death penalty, followed by a documentary about Rodney Reed in Wooten Hall, Room 122. Everyone is invited to attend and take a stand against the injustices of the death penalty.

Laura Lamb Laura Lamb is an Anthropology junior. She can be reached at Laura.Lamb@ my.unt.edu

Campus Chat

What do you think about the end of the war in Iraq?

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“I think we should have never been in Iraq. We should have focused on Afghanistan. In fact, I would even support increasing the troops in Afghanistan.”

Katherine Beal

Undecided freshman

“I believe it is time we pulled our troops out.

We have been there far too long and it has been a pointless war from the start.”

Lon Morris

Philosophy junior

“I support Obama’s decision to end the war, it was a long overdue decision. It is a war that shouldn’t have begun in the first place.”

Jabob Reyes

Political science freshman

NT Daily Editorial Board

The Editorial Board includes: Eric Johnson, Josh Pherigo, Abigail Allen, Sydnie Summers, Brianne Tolj, David Williams, Laura Zamora, Katie Grivna, Graciela Razo, Carolyn Brown, Katia Villalba, Ryan Munthe, Augusta Liddic

Want to be heard?

The NT Daily is proud to present a variety of ideas and opinions from readers in its Views section. As such, we would like to hear from as many NT readers as possible.

We invite readers of all creeds and backgrounds to write about whichever issue excites them, whether concerning politics, local issues,

ethical questions, philosophy, sports and, of course, anything exciting or controversial.

Take this opportunity to make your voice heard in a widely read publication.

To inquire about column ideas, submit columns or letters to the editor, send an e-mail to ntdailyviews@gmail.com

Note to Our Readers

The NT Daily does not necessarily endorse, promote or agree with the viewpoints of the columnists on this page.

The content of the columns is strictly the opinion of the writers and in no way reflects the belief of the NT Daily.

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