2-17-10 Edition by North Texas Daily

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Students discuss suicide prevention Page 2 UNT participates in recycling competition Page 3 NBC crosses the line airing luger’s death Page 5

Freshman tennis player makes impact in first few matches Page 4

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

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Volume 95 | Issue 18

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The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas

Residents still show opposition to annexation BY MORGAN WALKER Senior Staff Writer

After a Denton City Council meeting Feb. 9, many residents said they are still outraged by the proposed annexation of 9,000 acres into Denton. Mayor Ma rk Bu r roug h s and Council members held the open meeting to consider adopting the ordinances of annexing the 18 areas. “I don’t know why they want my land because it’s not really something they can use,” said Billie Glosser, 65. Glosser spoke at the meeting and presented photos of the f looded areas near her home including a bridge on Tom Cole Road. She said she opposed the closing of Tom Cole Road, which runs alongside Denton Municipal Airport, because she has no alternative way to leave her home. City Council members told Glosser that an alternate road would be provided. “I don’t know how they’re going to do that because the FA A w ill not let you drive across that runway,” Glosser said. Other residents, like David Lawrence, 57, said they oppose the annexation because of a fear that the cit y w ill ta ke away residents’ land and use it at its own discretion.

“The problem with cities in general is that they start annexing all this land, build their stuff and take it away from the residents,” Lawrence said. “Denton needs to stick with what it’s got as far as I’m concerned.” Melissa Vardas, 34, said she has been following the annexation issue and has been to every City Council meeting regarding the matter. Vardas owns three acres of land in the PA A4 area, which includes land on the south side of Milam Road, north of Loop 288 and east of Interstate Highway 35. She said she is in opposition because of the increase in ta xes it w ill cause, a nd the city will not be providing services that residents don’t already have. “Basically, they just want to have control over what we can and cannot do with our own property,” Vardas said. Many of the areas considered for annexation include resident s w it h fa r ms a nd ranches. “Nearly everyone has their own property so that they can do with it as they please,” she said. “We want to be out in the country, and we don’t want to deal with the city.” Increasing the city’s size began as part of the Denton

PHOTO BY MORGAN WALKER/SENIOR STAFF WRITER

David Lawrence, 57, said he opposes the annexation of 9,000 acres into Denton and feels the rural-area residents should be left alone. Plan, adopted in 1999 in anticipation of the city’s growth. If t he a n nex at ion is approved, it would increase Denton’s si ze by about 16 percent. Four of the potential annexation areas are in the northwestern quadrant of the city’s

extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the other 14 areas are unincorporated pockets that are within the current city limits. Denton public information of f icer John Cabra les sa id there was not as much opposition at last week’s Council

Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY

OF AIMEE SANTOS / MCT

Course causes controversy BY JOSH PHERIGO Views Editor

When local disc golf enthusiast Aaron Quisenberry set out to bring a disc golf course to his hometown park in fall 2008, he said he wanted to provide a great addition to the Corinth community. But some members of the community said they don’t believe Quisenberr y’s disc golf course provides that great addition to Corinth’s densely forested Community Park. In the more than one-andhalf years since the plan was approved by the city parks depa r t ment, t he course’s construction has been the subject of a heated debate concerning the shared use of the park’s 116 acres, Corinth Trails Committee member Everett Marple said. The first of three final town hall meetings concerning the issue was held Tuesday evening. It provided a chance for community members to discuss their concerns a nd attempt to compromise.

“I want everyone to play nice and be open-minded about sharing the park,” Quisenberry said. Marple, a 17-year resident of the Denton County town, said the problems started when the parks department allowed the course to be constructed without consulting the City Council. He said residents were concerned about the course’s location, which intersects and sometimes overlaps existing hiking and biking nature trails. “Unfortunately, the parks department took a unilateral action,” Marple said. “Now we have an issue with trying to get too much stuff in too little of an area.” State champion disc golfer Mike Doran said he heard about Quisenberry’s quest to construct the course and joined in the endeavor. Doran pointed to other shared-use parks such as one at Lake Lewisville and said disc golf courses and nature trails can successfully sit side by side with little friction. Loca l resident A nnette

Argabright said she disagrees with that assertion. “The trail and the course can’t coexist,” Argabright said. Argabright’s backyard fence borders the edge of the disc golf course, and other nearby homeowners have a number of complaints about the uninvited addition to their neighborhood, she said. “We boug ht our house bec au se of t he wood s,” Argabright said. “They’ve cut down hundreds of trees, and it’s heartbreaking.” Argabright said she and her husband, as well as other neighbors, blame the loss of those trees for a severe erosion and draining problem that led to cracking in their foundation. She said city officials have mishandled the situation. “I’d like to see the course removed and trees replanted,” Argabright said. “But the city should immediately take care of the drainage problem.” To read the full story, visit ntdaily.com.

be held May 4, when the adoption of the ordinances will take place. Dur ing t hat t ime, t here will need to be a supermajorit y, si x out of the seven Council members, to determine whether each area will be annexed.

Abroad program grows BY CHRISTINA MLYNSKI

There are three basic discs for disc golf. A driver (left) is for the first toss. A mid-driver (center) is for the in-between shot; and the putter (right) is for the final shot into the basket.

meeting as there has been in the past. “From the city’s perspective, we feel we have been very clear why the city is moving forward on these annexations at this time,” Cabrales said. T he last read i ng of t he annexation ordinances will

Two new Italian professors recently created the UNT foreign language department’s first and biggest study abroad program. The department hired Jessica Greenfield and Humberto Gonzalez to the Italian faculty last semester to satisfy the need for permanent professors. “We’re really passionate about the language and the Italian culture,” Gonzalez said, while he waved around an Italian flag. “It’s such a rewarding experience to teach others about a culture they are unfamiliar with.” Various approaches to learning and a rekindling of the Italian culture are what Greenfield, first-year Italian coordinator, and Gonzalez, firstyear professor of 1010 and 1020, established. Both professors were hired to develop what has become a

steady, growing program. Greenfield and Gonzalez have worked to improve the enrollment rate along with activities both on and off campus, and created the first and biggest study abroad program ever produced from the UNT language department. The greatest achievement for the Italian department was being able to send students abroad to study in Rome and Sicily, allowing them to embrace the culture, both Greenfield and Gonzalez said. During the five weeks spent overseas, the students will complete a total of six credit hours. All students must meet the prerequisites of ITAL 1020, be in good standing with the university and have at least a 2.5 GPA to apply for the program. “Students will have the opportunity to transpire themselves in the traditions and use Italian

on a constant basis. I’m looking forward to seeing the students realize how much they have learned in a year,” Gonzalez said. However, studying abroad comes with a cost, and many restaurants around Denton are willing to give part of their proceeds to the Italian department. Considering the economic downturn and understanding that college students have limited expenses, Greenfield said she is working hard to collect money by holding fundraisers to provide academic and study abroad scholarships. Katy Crawford, a French graduate student, said she took Italian for multiple reasons, but the most appealing factor was being able to study in Italy. To read the full story, visit ntdaily.com.

Enjoying Fat Tuesday

PHOTO BY KHAI HA/PHOTOGRAPHER

(Left) Lauren McKelvey, a communication design freshman, and Cecilia Chaparro, a finance junior, enjoy crawfish at Public House. Bars in the Fry Street area celebrated Mardis Gras by decorating, having drink specials and serving Cajun food.

News

Page 2

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Scott McBride, Rebecca Hoeffner & Melissa Boughton, News Editors

ntdailynews@gmail.com

Counseling center sponsors suicide prevention By K rystle Cantu Staff Writer

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students after car accidents. An estimated one million people die by suicide each year, and 75 Americans die each day, said a video shown at an event held by the counseling center. The UNT Student Counseling Center sponsored a suicide prevention training program Tuesday. Counseling psychologist Pam Flint and Martin Gieda, a psychologist and cognitive therapist, hosted the event. Both work with the counseling and testing services at UNT. “It was very helpful,” said Kr ystal Ince, a post-baccalau reate st udent ea r n i ng her teaching certification. “I think a lot of people should t a ke adv a nt age of t hese

free learning seminars and training, because I think they are beneficial.” Both Gieda and Flint’s goal was to educate students on the three main steps of suicide prevention: question, persuade and refer. “ We’r e b ot h s er iou s l y committed to suicide prevention,” Flint said. “So, we think it’s very important to put these programs out there.” Students were prov ided facts about suicide and ways to recognize symptoms in people, such as changes in mood or appearance. St udents lea r ned about the steps of QPR, through videos and role-play activities. Students learned what to say when questioning a person about suicide versus what not to say, as well as how to react and numbers to call in crisis

References for Suicide Counseling: •

Student Counseling Center (940) 565-2741 •

Denton County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center (800) 762-0157 •

Metro care services (214) 743-1200

•

Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas (214) 828-1000 24-hour crisis line •

National Suicide Hotline Toll-Free 24/7 1-800-Suicide and/or 1-800-273-TALK

More info on suicide: www.suicidology.org

situations. Students were also taught persuasion tactics and where to refer potential suicide victims for help. It is impor ta nt to ra ise students’ awareness about suicide, Flint said. “We want to provide background facts about suicide and help with some of the myths and misconceptions people have about suicide,” she said. “We also talk about some of the warning signs of suicide, so students can be more alert.” Twent y-f ive perc ent of American youth reports seriously considering suicide. Suicide cases and situations can occur in children as young as 7 years old, the video said. “When I started the training for psycholog y, I was ver y surprised at the number of children that take their life,” Flint said. According to a study done by the University of Texas in 2008 gathered from hundreds of universities, more than 50 percent of college students ex per ience t houg ht s of suicide. Fifteen percent seriously considered suicide and 5 percent actually attempted suicide, Gieda said. “At UNT we have our counseling services, and there are students who are clinically depressed or have bi-polar disorder, and they are not seeking treatment,” Gieda said. “They’re the ones through this ‘QPR’ we may be able to reach out to and have some impact to get them in for help. I think

Photo by Kaitlyn Price/Photographer

Ryan Ferguson, a radio, television and film graduate student, and Aisha Marshall, an educational psychology graduate student, participate in a role-play activity at a suicide prevention training program. The program, called QPR, helps students learn the signs of suicide so they can prevent it. important to approach rather than avoid,” he said. “Make a connection, because people that are depressed or down will feel alienated, and if you avoid them, that’s almost reinforcing that feeling.” Flint and Gieda also coached students on the importance of letting people talk freely about suicide without judging and of listening to them. “The main thing is that you want to be sincere about what you say,” Flint said. “Let them know that you really care about what is happening to them. Offer hope to that person, because that could save somebody’s life.”

that’s really important.” Flint said there are three different risk factors in suicide: substance abuse, distress and access to firearms. Flint considers firearms to be the most risky, she said. However, all of the factors should be taken seriously. “The thing that is important is that if you can eliminate any of these, you can reduce someone’s risk for suicide,” Flint said. Accord i ng to Gieda, untreated depression is the No.1 cause of suicide. “About two-thirds of those who die by suicide or make attempts have some form of

clinical depression,” he said. “It’s also interesting. That also means one-third doesn’t.” A person doesn’t always have to be depressed to commit suicide, Gieda said. “The American Journal of Psychiatry 2008, published an article saying that 10 percent of those who attempt or commit suicide had no identifiable psychiatric illness,” he said. It is impor ta nt to stay attuned to people and not avoid them in these situations, Gieda said. “W hen you see someone withdrawn and depressed, and they’re talking about how life isn’t worth living anymore, it is

the university. “At some point we all have to take some personal responsibility to do things like reporting suspicious activity and seeking out more information,” Tapia said. “It’s about putting it on yourself to learn some of these skills.” According to one of the emergency management safety videos, “Shots Fired on Campus,” the odds of encountering a real-life situation with a school shooter are about on par with being struck by lightening, but this fact has not deterred Arrington and Tapia from aspiring to make UNT as safe as possible. “I’ve never felt unsafe,” said Zach Coleman, an English graduate student.

Emergency Management coordinator Luis Tapia and Emergency Preparedness specialist for the North Texas Council of Governments Melanie Devine discuss details for an anti-terrorism security grant for the university.

Police add video about campus safety to Web site By Vincent Graziano Contributing Writer

Crime prevention officer Jeff Arrington and UNT Emergency Management coordinator Luis Tapia are striving to help students answer questions about how to stay safe. They are part of a coordinated effort between the university and the campus police department to educate students, parents, faculty and staff on how to handle emergency situations and unexpected events. “Every person has a role,” Arrington said. “Protection of human life is the most important.” New safety videos were posted to the Office of Emergency Management Web site this

January and can be viewed with an EUID and password. The subject of campus safety and security has been thrust into the spotlight with events like Columbine High School and the Virginia Tech massacre making global headlines. The police department and university have recognized the seriousness of these incidents and are working diligently to ensure the UNT community is as prepared as possible. A rring ton sa id of f icers undergo constant training to ensure they are on the cutting edge of safety. “Proper training for police officers is absolutely critical,” he said. Training students and faculty

to be prepared and aware is the department’s other mission, and both offices have made material available to whoever wishes to use it. Many of the tools for students are online for review by accessing the emergency management Web site at emergency.unt.edu, or the UNT Police Department Web site at www.unt.edu/police. The site was launched in February 2009, and students can access an array of information from dealing with a school shooter to what to do in the event of a flood. Information about scheduling an emergency preparedness presentation is also available, as well as links to other emergency services provided by

Photo by Danielle Murdock/Photographer

European morning-after pill has stronger effects By A lex Cheatham Staff Writer

A new type of emergency contraceptive on the European market is more effective than

the Levonorgestrel, or Plan B, pills that are available in the U.S. Uliprista l acetate, known as EllaOne, is effective for up to five days after

unprotected sex. “EllaOne works to prevent or delay ovulation, effect sperm to prevent fertilization, or, if fertilization has already occurred,

will stop the egg from implanting in the uterine wall,” pharmacist Subunai Husain said. Husain also said that although both give a surge of hormones, Plan B works only up to 72-hours post-unprotected sex, while EllaOne works for up to five days, preventing pregnancy with three different agents. European pharmaceutical

company, HRA Pharma, developed EllaOne as its newest emergency contraceptive. And, although not yet available in the U.S., EllaOne was approved for use in Europe last March through prescription only. HRA Pharma is the same c ompa ny t h at pr o duc e s Levonorgestrel for the U.S., as well as more than 140 countries

worldwide. Levonorgestrel, a progesterone agent, is t he most commonly used and widely available type of emergency contraceptive available on the market in the U.S. The pill contains synthetic progesterone and mimics how natural hormones work, thus delaying ovulation, or stopping the egg from leaving the ovary so a woman cannot become pregnant, said Debbie Horn of Planned Parenthood. Horn also explained that pills containing Levonorgestrel have a 75 percent success rate but will not affect the pregnancy if taken after conception. The HR A Pharma and its team of researchers conducted a study comparing Plan B to EllaOne. The experts studied 1,700 women who took emergency contraception within three to five days of having unprotected sex. The results concluded that women who took EllaOne had a 1.8 percent chance of pregnancy, while women who took Plan B had a 2.8 percent chance. To read the full story, visit ntdaily.com.

Arts & Life

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Amber Arnold, Arts & Life Editor

Campus competes in statewide recycling competition BY K ATIE GRIVNA Senior Staff Writer

From now until March 27, UNT is one of 607 schools participating in a 10-week friendly competition to see which university can recycle the most. This year is UNT’s third year to partake in the nationwide RecycleMania program. “It’s really in our best interest to reduce, reuse and recycle because we don’t have a lot of space for landfills and we don’t want to do that to the earth anyway … when you recycle it really does make a difference,” said Erin Piper, administrative specialist at Bruce Hall and volunteer for the Office of Sustainability. On campus, the program is a joint effort from the Office of Sustainability and the recycling services department. As of press time, the weekly totals showed UNT ranked sixth in the state of Texas in the cardboard category and ninth in the paper category, recycling coordinator, Doug Turnage, said. There are 42 universities in Texas competing in the contest, according to the RecycleMania Web site. Whichever school recycles the most wins bragging rights and a trophy, Piper said. The losing schools are encouraged to take out a full-page ad in the winning school’s newspaper to congratulate the university. “We don’t expect to win the grand prize or anything, but it is just fun. It’s a neat and exciting way to raise awareness I think,” she said.

Once a week, the recycling services department collects aluminum and plastic, sorts them and fills its truck with the materials. Since UNT doesn’t have a scale to weigh its collected recycling materials, the items are taken to Fulton Supply and Recycling in Denton, where they are weighed on a truck. Every day, Kyle Davis, an undecided freshma n a nd student worker for the Office of Sustainability, collects tin from each of the dorms and dining halls and takes it to be weighed. The money collected for the recycled materials goes towards paying for Earth Week events, Piper said. “Every college is like a small city,” Davis said. “They all consume a lot of resources that generate so much waste, it’s important for everyone to be aware and do what they can. The University of North Texas is really making a move to be more sustainable, and that is why we’re doing it.” To measure which school recycles the most materials, the university population including faculty, staff and registered students is divided by a poundsper-student ratio, Piper said. Getting students involved in the program has been challenging, but dorms are holding general assemblies to raise awareness about RecyleMania. “There are so many different things going on on campus and recycling really is not on anybody’s top agenda, much less

Staff Writer

With the spring semester under way, t he decision of where to live next fall may become a common concern among students. The Money Management Center will host a workshop from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Terrill Hall 121 for those who are renting an apartment for the first time. James Mat lock, a senior money management mentor, said this workshop will stop students from paying too much, and help them become able to budget correctly. “This is something that will teach you the fundamental skills, which is going to help you not only in just your first apartment but after graduation for finding your first home,” he said. Matlock said the workshop will assist by making sure that students find an apartment the correct way without giving either them or their parents extra financial burdens. “A lot of times, the information that we go through is a lot of common sense, but if no one’s ever told you this information before, you might not think that or go about it in the right aspect,” he said. As for where students prefer to live, Matlock said it depends on the age of the student and how long they’ve been attending the university. “What we’ve seen is sophomores and juniors typically like

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CLINTON LYNCH/VISUALS EDITOR

UNT will participate in RecycleMania, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to help promote waste reduction activities. radar,” Piper said. Bruce Hall is hosting a general assembly on Thursday, which will be a miniature Olympic-style competition. It was designed after a Japanese

game show, and students will participate in Dumpster diving, phonebook shot put, recycling trivia and recycle pong. For more information, visit www.recyclemania.org.

to stay in college housing apartment s w h i le seniors or grad students typically like to get away from the college apartment section,” Matlock said. “They try to stay away from some of those.” PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CLINTON LYNCH/VISUALS EDITOR Elizabeth Hagar, a broad- There will be a workshop at 5 p.m. Thursday in Terrill Hall 121 to help answer all student quescast journalism tions about the basics of renting an apartment. sophomore and resident at Uptown Apartments, had known what the normal said her advice to prospective apartments looked like and apartment renters would be to what condition the apartment consider location and look at was in. “Even t houg h t hey say as many apartments as they can and “see which one you everything is fairly new and my complex is pretty new, not feel best in.” Both Matlock and Hagar said everything feels new,” Hagar to make sure to talk to people said. “My furniture isn’t that great, and it’s kind of falling that already live there. “If you just go to the apart- apart. I’m just afraid that if ment complex and ta lk to something does fall apart that the workers there, it’s really I’ll have to pay for it when it was biased,” Hagar said. “You’ll see already in pretty poor condithe nice model apartments but tion.” Another tip from Matlock is you don’t find out that maybe there are roaches there or they for students to read the lease have a cricket problem, because thoroughly. “A lot of times, students I know a lot of people that have been having problems with get excited, especially if they go in with a group of three pests.” Matlock suggested talking to or four other people,” he said. some of the neighbors who are “Ever yone’s excited. T hey in those apartments, as well as should definitely take the time visiting the apartments during to read through the lease before different times of the day and signing. There’s no telling what finding out what the atmo- you’re signing for, if it’s extra costs, if you can get a pet, if it’s sphere of the complex is. Hagar said she wished she an extra thousand dollars.”

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Festival to present documentary films BY GRACIELA R AZO

disabilities by showing what an active lifestyle Rivas leads. “Usually people think if you Showcasing various topics from environmental concerns to have cerebral palsy, you have to social issues to music, Thin Line stay home, but for Joe Rivas, he’s Film Fest audience members constantly doing stuff to chalwill find an assortment of films lenge himself,” Lee said. “ C r a z y to watch this Diamond” gives week. a short biogThe festival raphy on Rivas will present 46 and shows his documentar y preparations to f i l m s tod ay • Wednesday - 7 p.m. go skydiving. through Sunday at Campus Theatre Lee said she at the Campus w a nte d her Theatre, Fine • Thursday - 1 p.m. at documentar y A rts Theater Fine Arts Theater to show Rivas’ and UNT on the constant desire Square. • Friday - 10 a.m. at to push himself Viewers Fine Arts Theater further despite will be able to his disability. watch six world • Saturday - 10 a.m. at Lee said she premieres, three Campus Theatre feels excited to U.S. premieres publicly show and 20 Texas • Sunday - 11 a.m. at her documenpremieres, as Campus Theatre tary for the first well as a selectime. “I was so t ion of t he festival committee’s handpicked honored when I found out I was documentaries from around the chosen for the festival, but I was really happy for Joe so people world. However, festival director Josh could know his story,” Lee said. Butler said just because they are screening only documentaries Creating social awaredoes not mean people will not ness enjoy the films. Fort Worth filmmaker Carl “My take on a documentary Crum will present the docuis that I like to be entertained,” mentary he and his wife, Betsy, Butler said. “Sure there are educa- made called “One Square Mile.” tional aspects to them, but people It is part of a four-part series want to be entertained.” portraying different neighThe festival first started in borhoods around the country 2007 when a group of radio, tele- that represent different social vision and film students began issues. Texas Filmmakers, a nonprofit The film will show what it is organization that is now open like to be an African American to the entire community. living in the U.S., specifically Out of the 225 submissions showing a neighborhood in Fort received, the festival’s committee Worth. chose 46 documentaries and “The overriding theme of the mockumentaries to show. story is about the heritage of the “We were able to spend a lot of community and the cultural time getting a lot of quality films legacy,” Crum said. “I think those in this year’s festival, and that stories resonate throughout the will be the difference people will entire country.” notice the most,” Butler said. The couple not use narration The committee will also in their films and said they try not present five awards to filmmakers to let their own beliefs influence throughout the festival. the outcome of the project. Although the series is set in specific parts of the country, the Telling a story through issues each neighborhood depicts film are relevant to everyone. Hanny Lee, an RTVF senior, “We try to step back and let the is presenting her first public screening of her 10-minute docu- stories come through without us mentary “Crazy Diamond” that preaching or teaching the auditells the story of UNT alumnus ence,” he said. “Our ultimate goal Joe Rivas’ life with cerebral is to offer a fresh perspective.” For more information, visit palsy. Lee said she wanted to break w w w.2010.thinlinefilmfest. down stereotypes of people with com. Senior Staff Writer

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Page 4 Justin Umberson, Sports Editor

Sports

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 ntdaily.sports@gmail.com

Athlete of the Week becomes ‘complete player’ BY ERIC JOHNSON

Senior Staff Writer

Head tennis coach Sujay L a m a h a s b e e n pie c i n g toget her a cha mpion sh ip pu zzle over t he last t hree a nd a ha l f yea rs, a nd he may have fou nd h is f i na l piece in freshman Barbora Vykydalova. Through her first six weeks i n A mer ica, t he Šu mperk, Czech Republic, native has made a seamless transition to collegiate tennis, solidifying the doubles lineup and adding depth to the singles rotation. “She is such a complete player. The sky is the limit for her,” Lama said. “She is a huge boost right off the bat to our doubles, and she gives us so much versatility. She has made our lineup so much stronger and has the potential to be the key to us earning a championship.” Lama originally discovered Vykydalova through an e-mail she sent to former Florida Internationa l coach Carlos Casely. Lama was given her na me a f ter Casely lef t t he program, and Lama took an immediate interest in her. Vyk yda lova won si x matches at the ITF Futures Tournament, one of the top tournaments for junior international players, and she made it all the way to the quarterfinals. She was ranked the No. 28 singles player in the Czech Republic, and after making a trip to Šumperk to meet Vykydalova and her family,

Lama offered the experienced international player a scholarship. “I k new she was specia l r ig ht a w a y,” L a m a s a id . “She was academically and athletically sharp, but I was really impressed with her as a person. As good as she is, she is dedicated to improving and taking her tennis to the next level.” The 20-year-old international studies major dreamed of playing college tennis and living in another country. “I always wanted to play here and experience life in a different part of the world,” V y k yda lov a s a id . “C oach Lama was so nice to me, and I knew that this was the experience I was looking for.” Vykydalova’s transition was eased by two fellow Europeans who joined the Mean Green last season. Romanian sophomores Irina Paraschiv, from Bucharest, and Paula Dinuta, f rom P itest i, welcomed her w it h open a r ms, a nd Vykydalova lived in Dinuta’s apartment during her f irst week at UNT. “She was very shy at first, but I took her around the city and explained to her about classes and everything else,” Dinuta said. “She got used to it very quickly, and she has been very easy to get along with. She is so nice, and everyone on the team accepted her as soon as she got here.” There are many similarities between the three Europeans, a nd t hey a ll play w it h t he

same competitive fire. “We are very intense when we are playing. I guess it is a European thing,” Paraschiv said with a smile. “We all play with a lot of strength and hit the ball very hard, and with all of us being from the same part of the world it makes us ver y comfortable with each other.” Off the court, Vykydalova spends most of her time with her teammates or talking to her family via Skype. “I miss my family everyday and it is hard, but this is where I want to be so I have to be w ithout them,” Vyk yda lova said. “That has been one of the hardest parts for me, but I am so happy I came here.” W hen her ten n is ca reer is over, Vyk yda lova wa nts to u s e her i nter n at ion a l studies degree to work for the embassy. But she also dreams about a possible ca reer in journalism. “I want to study journalism, but I was nervous because my English is not that good yet,” Vykydalova said. “If I was still in Czech Republic I would study journalism, so maybe at some point I will be confident enough to do that.” The powerful ball striking of 5-foot-10-inch Vykydalova has already pushed her into the top four of the singles lineup, and her pairing with senior Catalina Cruz has proved to be UN T’s most consistent doubles team. With six nationally ranked tea ms awa it i ng t he Mea n

PHOTO BY DREW GAINES/PHOTOGRAPHER

Tennis star Barbora Vykydalova, from Šumperk, Czech Republic, has moved her game from European tournaments to collegiate competition. She now claims a spot on UNT’s tennis team as a freshman. Green over the next month, UNT will need its freshman phenomenon to cont i nue gaining confidence. “She reminds me so much of Irina and the success she

had as a freshman,” Lama said. “If she gets to that same confidence level that Irina is at, I don’t think there are any limits on what we can accomplish.”

The next step for the Mean Green and Vykydalova will be at 3 p.m. today at the Waranch Tennis Complex when UNT host s t he Ta rleton St ate Tex Anns.

The Script: Mean Green Sun Belt meet opens today likely to reach 20 wins BY L AURA ZAMORA Staff Writer

Opinion BY SEAN GORMAN Senior Staff Writer

Under the leadership of head coach Johnny Jones, the UNT men’s basketball team has accomplished enough to become a contender to win the Sun Belt Conference and compete for a NCAA Tournament bid every year. With the team posting a winning record in every season since 2003 and advancing to the big dance three years ago, Jones was shown a vote of confidence last week when the Board of Regents extended his contract through 2015. Jones’ most impressive accomplishment has been the consistency he has brought to UNT, as the Mean Green (18-7, 10-5) has won 20 or more games in each of the past three seasons. This steadiness was brought into question when UNT struggled midway through the season, but after a five-game winning streak and a strong sense of confidence, it looks poised to win 20 games for the fourth-straight year.

One reason UNT should reach the 20-win plateau is its recovery from injury, which can be attributed to a growing sense of confidence from the Mean Green’s newest players. Early-season injuries plagued a team that was already going through a transition with the handful of transfers and freshmen joining the team. With senior guard Dominique Johnson and junior forward Kedrick Hogans out for the year and new players still trying to figure out their roles, UNT appeared to be a talented team that couldn’t figure itself out. A key turning point came when senior forward Eric Tramiel returned from a wrist injury with a vengeance, averaging 15 points per game on 63 percent shooting in nine games since returning. Tramiel’s resurgence and newcomers like junior guard Shannon Shorter becoming more confident in their roles on the team has allowed it to recover from early-season issues. “I think all of the new guys have become more comfortable as the year has gone on,” Shorter said. The fact is that with the Sun

Belt tournament only weeks away, UNT is as healthy and sure of itself as it has been all season. When looking to UNT’s competition in its final three games, it seems likely they will win at least the two needed to reach 20, as the Mean Green faces two Sun Belt opponents with losing records. Seeing the way UNT has played recently almost makes the competition seem less important. The Mean Green just finished playing three games in five days, coming away with two easy wins on the road and defeating a Denver team that nobody wants to face in Hot Springs, Colo. One of the reasons Jones’ contract was extended is because his team plays its best basketball when it counts, as UNT is 19-8 since 2006 in February games. This year has been no exception, with UNT is 4-0 this month and is playing its best basketball down the stretch. Mid-season struggles created skepticism about the Mean Green, but thanks to a growing sense of confidence, a soft remaining schedule and great coaching, UNT is now almost sure to secure its fourth-straight 20-win season.

The UNT swimming and d iv i ng tea m w i l l put it s program high of nine wins to the test today at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Nashville, Tenn. T he meet, w h ich r u n s through Saturday, gives the Mean Green (9-5) a chance to top six other teams in the conference, including twotime defending champion Western Kentucky. “Western Kentucky is definitely the team to beat again this year,” head coach Joe Dykstra said. “They always drop their times at the end of the season, but we’re better than we were at this time last year.” The Mean Green is hoping the first two days of the meet can help stack its point count against its toughest competitors. The second day of the meet will hold the 50-yard f reest yle, w h ich is tea m captain senior Nicole Leslie’s

bread and butter. “We know they’ll fight until the ver y end,” Leslie said. “We k now what to expect from them, and I know I want to win the 50-free.” Dykstra believes W K U’s st rongest a sset is ju n ior C la i re Dona hue, w ho i s expected to compete in the 100- and 200-yard butterflies Friday and Saturday. He said he hopes UNT will sit in first place after Thursday’s finals because the last two days will play in WKU and Denver’s favor. The Mean Green finished in third place in last year’s SBC championships behind Denver and WKU. “We’ll rely on our relays and our divers. We’re hoping they can score some points ea rly,” sophomore Seabre Pope sa id. “We had t hree d ivers last yea r a nd now we have six. We have lots of senior swimmers, and lots of the same girls will medal this year.”

The team prepared for the SBC championships against No. 6 Texas A&M on Feb. 6 in College Station. Although the Mean Green lost 178-112, Leslie said she felt the Aggies’ competitiveness was something she and the team could build on. “Somet i mes you brea k under pressure,” Leslie said. “The A&M meet helped us strengthen to prevent that in conference, and we gained experience.” This year’s SBC championships will be the first time Dykstra takes a handful of seniors that he has coached all four years. The veteran squad ha s helped spa rk con f idence a nd pr ide i n him for the outcome of the meet. “I’m extremely proud of my seniors,” Dykstra said. “They’ve taken this program from the bottom to the top in these last four years, and they’ve gained respect a ll around.”

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Josh Pherigo, Views Editor

Editorial When viewers tuned into NBC for the first night of Olympic coverage Friday, they were greeted by the violent image of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili’s tragic death. The 21-year-old died instantly when he lost control of his sled rounding the final curve of a practice run Friday. Traveling at close to 90 mph, Kumaritashvili was thrown over a concrete retaining wall and slammed into a metal support column. An audience of 32.6 million Americans watched as NBC played the video of his death three times — once in slow motion — and then displayed a still photograph of the Georgian’s bloody face as rescue workers attempted to resuscitate his lifeless body. The image of Kumaritashvili’s body suspended in mid-air just before the moment of his death will likely be one the defining images from these Olympic games, and NBC was right to air it, once. News outlets have an obligation to report the truth. They are responsible to the public and must neither invent news nor distort the message being relayed. Showing the raw footage was the most honest depiction possible. It served as a powerful moment of realization that for even Olympians life is precious. It conveyed aspects of human emotion that words can’t touch, and during the surreal moments when NBC initially aired the crash, the world was connected in that sorrow. That should have been the end of its nationally televised coverage. But it wasn’t. When they replayed the crash it became something very different. The motives were distorted, warped away from honest journalism as viewers were subjected to the catch-it-if-you-missed-it-the-first-time replay and the slow-motion version. This was exploitation, and it was a disgusting.

Robin Hood steals identity charges. Hood was charged Friday with identity theft and impersonation. Authorities said Hood’s true identity was uncovered after an employee at a record store stopped him as he allegedly was leaving without paying for three baseball caps on Jan. 6. He was issued a court summons in that case.

Lucky dog hitches ride NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The dogs in New Orleans’ Carnival pet parade included a pooch that hitched a ride 1,200 miles from Taos, New Mexico, to the city where his 26-yearold master had hitchhiked weeks earlier. Stephan Soleas came to New Orleans for a few weeks of visits and music. He said his 6-year-old Labrador mix, Charlie, went missing days after he left. Charlie was found by a couple vacationing in Taos. The couple saw a collarless dog and tried to find its owner,

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Good manners show maturity

NBC mishandles luger’s death

DENVER (AP) — This Robin Hood is accused of stealing — and not to give to the poor. Authorities said a 34-year-old named Robin Joshua Hood found someone’s wallet in downtown Denver and apparently began using the man’s name in a ploy to avoid being caught on a warrant. Hood told investigators he was being investigated for drug

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but the veterinarian didn’t have a microchip scanner. The couple gave up their airline tickets, rented a car and made the 3-day drive back to New Orleans with the dog. Incidentally, they also named the dog Charlie. Soleas and Charlie were reunited 10 days later — Feb. 5 — when Magazine Street Animal Clinic co-owner Teresa Gernon checked a microchip in the white dog’s neck. Two days later, they were in the Krewe of Barkus pet parade.

Over the years, I have evolved as a human being. In high school, I was the opinionated, snot-nosed punk who thought he knew everything about video games, movies and certain music. I was also the guy to correct someone else’s grammar and pronunciation. After telling my older brother, Justin, how to say a word MY way for the 649th time, he told me to quit being a little knowit-all. He didn’t put it that nicely and used more four-letter words when scolding me, but I took it to heart. During my senior year of high school, I stopped chiding people as much for liking things I didn’t, and I could tell I was becoming more approachable. I slipped up, and still do, but I continue to grow as a person and respect others’ tastes and preferences. I’ve come to learn it’s important to try and have respect and consideration for other people

and their opinions. Back in the day, if someone told me they liked the movie “Crank” or the band Incubus, I would turn my nose up at them as if I were better for having standards. Now, I might tell that individual that while I don’t personally care for that movie or am not a fan of that particular band, I’m glad they receive enjoyment from those particular entertainment styles. It’s like the old adage goes: to each his own. Here’s another, more elaborate example. A lot of people like mayonnaise on their sandwiches while others prefer Miracle Whip. For me, the proper situation calls for the right condiment. When eating at home, I lean toward Miracle Whip because it’s what I was raised with, but I like mayo when I’m at Jimmy John’s. I also put ranch on certain foods. I know some people who love mayo so much they bash me for

even mentioning Miracle Whip. The same goes for ranch. I am being personally attacked because I was raised liking something. That’s just rude and mean. The nice way to go about it would be to say, “I think Miracle Whip is gross (emphasis on I), but that’s just me.” Wow. That’s much nicer than, “Miracle Whip is the devil’s ear wax and I cannot believe you would RUIN a perfectly good sandwich with it! You eat your own toenails, don’t you?” As previously mentioned, I slip up occasionally. If someone tells me Nickelback is one of his or her favorite bands, I have to bite my tongue to not say anything mean. It’s not easy and I’ll trash the band instead of the person, but it’s still better for me if I change the subject to mayo versus Miracle Whip. On a side note, I recently became a fan of “Can this pickle

get more fans than Nickelback?” on Facebook. The group is close to surpassing the band in fans, and I’m happy I could help. Try to be nice and understanding of other people and what they like or prefer. It’s inconsiderate and snobbish to be on such a high horse when it’s a matter of opinion. Besides, Miracle Whip is superior to mayonnaise.

I am not ashamed to admit it: Hanson’s “MMMBop” was the first cassette I ever owned. To those of you who are my age and refuse to admit the same, I suggest that you get over that shame right this second. Was Hanson creating innovative new music? Nope. They were not the next Beatles — for those who subscribe to the idea that the Beatles are the end-all, be-all of the music industry. The Hanson brothers were just three longhaired kids who got famous off of a ridiculously catchy single. But Hanson made me who I am today, and I refuse to deny my musical heritage. A reoccurring theme takes place when people choose to write off the music of their childhood as irrelevant, stupid or embarrassing. In response to that, I say: of course it was.

Very few ‘90s babies can say that the popular performing artists of the time changed the game considerably or even slightly. But what we can say is that their music provided the soundtrack to our formative years and taught us how to express ourselves. I’ll admit, I used to be one of the snobs. I made fun of Britney Spears just like everyone else as we watched her deterioration into the commando-going, head-shaving hot mess that she became for a while. I never admitted that I could still sing every song from her first two albums or that I used to know the dance to her music video “Drive Me Crazy.” Why? It was deemed too embarrassing. It wasn’t cool to like pop music anymore. But I have transcended that ideology.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without Britney, Christina Aguilera or the Backstreet Boys. I wouldn’t have gotten much further without the influence of my dad’s love for Prince and Lenny Kravitz. Every single music note that has passed through my ears has become the foundation of the place where my musical tastes reside today. This place, in case you were wondering, is where my iPod has Coldplay beside Cree Summer, Fall Out Boy wedged between The Exies and the Foo Fighters, and the Glee soundtracks nestled next to Seether’s “Disclaimer II.” These days, I no longer feel the need to make something up when someone asks what I’m listening to. I also don’t feel pressured to lie about knowing a band when I’m actually half-

convinced that whoever asked just made up the band name on the spot. For me, what you hear is what you get, and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. Now, just because I have matured into this musically unashamed individual does not mean that I will allow people to take a metaphorical baseball bat to the bands and artists I cherish most. Breathe a solitary bad word about Christina Aguilera and I will chew you up and spit you back out. The same goes for my favorite band, Circa Survive, though I mostly encounter people who have no idea who they are — then I just convert you.

Ryan Feuerhelm is a journalism senior. He can be reached at Ryan. Feuerhelm@unt.edu.

Music tastes shape personality

Nicole Landry is creative writing sophomore. She can be reached at NicoleLandry@my.unt.edu.

Letter: Bataille’s ‘thank you’ gift absurd Dear Editor, I would like to know why the people of the state of Texas are paying a severance of $598,600 to a president who chose to resign her position! Now I’m sure we the “little people” will never know the reason for her bailout. But at a time — or any time — when we are asked to cut back and save money, I was under the wrong impression … If you quit, you get severance. If you are asked

to leave, you get severance. Wow! A win-win contract. It’s absurd to think that as a university we should now “thank her for her service to the university!” She has been paid up to this time — correct? If she is to be thanked, throw her a dinner. Put the money back into education and shorten our gap. G. C. Bechtold C hem i st r y depa r t ment inventory supervisor

Write to us! The North Texas Daily encourages readers to write letters to the editor on a variety of topics. Letters typically run 200 words or less and may be edited for content and length. You will be contacted if your letter is published. Letters can be e-mailed to ntdailyviews@gmail.com

Mancave built from snow AQUILLA, Ohio (AP) — It’s quite the man cave. Jimmy Grey says he’s been out of work for almost a year and needed a project to stay busy. So with the heavy snowfall this winter, the 25-yearold laborer got to work on an extreme igloo in his family’s yard in Aquilla (ah-KWIL’uh), about 30 miles east of Cleveland. His four-room creation has

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6-foot ceilings and an entertainment room. He powers the TV with an extension cord plugged into an outlet in the garage. He also ran wires for cable television with surroundsound stereo. Grey says candles help add ambiance for nighttime gettogethers with friends, and the freezing temperatures mean that the beer never goes warm.

The Editorial Board includes: Shaina Zucker, Josh Pherigo, Rebecca Hoeffner, T.S. McBride, Melissa Boughton, Amber Arnold, Kip Mooney, Abigail Allen, Sydnie Summers, Brianne Tolj, Clinton Lynch, Justin Umberson, and David Williams.

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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