Friday, March 12, 2010
News 1,2 Sports 3 Classifieds 4 Games 4 SCENE see insert
Volume 95 | Issue 32
Sunny 65° / 43°
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Students to vote on sustainability projects fee Special ballot for $5 fee in April BY A LEX CHEATHAM Staff Writer
The North Texas Energy and Environment Club is offering students the chance to vote April 19 to 23 for the Texas Green Fu nd Ca mpa ig n, a statewide effort to encourage c ol le ge c a m pu s e s t o g o green. The campaign was implemented on campuses around t he s t at e, i nc lud i n g t he University of Texas and Texas A&M University, where student groups have agreed to pay a $5 fee each semester to support environmental improvements and sustainabilit y on their campuses. That would mean close to $360,000 a year for UNT. “I believe that as an institute of higher education, [UNT] shou ld set a n exa mple for students,” said Nicole Cocco, a studio arts senior and vice president of the club. “The money generated from the fee will empower students to take issues into their own hands.” Cocco i s a l so out reach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. The club is a student-led organization whose purpose is to increase education in sustainability on campus and the North Texas community. U N T do e s n’t h a v e t he money to ma ke a cha nge now because administration funding has been cut back, Cocco said. UNT’s involvement with the Green Fund Campaign began last spring with ReEnergize
A limit of $5 per student After the proposal of the Green Fee was given a unani- per semester was set for the mous “yes” vote by the Student initial fee. “Every penny counts, and G over n ment A s soc iat ion, the club was able to obtain a it’s only five bucks. If it will special ballot. The initiative help [UNT] and our commuwill allow students to vote on nity, then I’m for it,” said Jeff Jackson, a business sophothe fee. If it passes, UNT can fund more, said. Cocco sa id she’s hea rd innovative and sustainable projects that w ill increase many opinions from students st udent i nvolvement a nd at both the club and the Office participation in sustainability of Susta inabi lit y, a nd t he projects, said Cameron Tharp, majority wants to see more club president and interna- susta inabi lit y on ca mpus. In fact, she sa id, t hey ’re tional studies junior. A s t u d e n t m a j o r i t y demanding it. “T he Green Fee w i l l committee, with UNT faculty and staff to advise, will oversee empower the current students the money provided by the at UNT and leave a lasting example for future students,” Green Fee. T ha r p sa id t he mone y she said. wou ld create oppor t u n it ies for students to get involved by a l low ing t hem to propose and follow t hrough w ith their ow n ideas. Ide a s c ou ld include a st udent-r u n sustainable garden, an a r b or e t u m or improved recycling equipment. The environmenta l ser v ice fees are geared toward environmental projects PHOTO BY MARTIÑA TREVINO/PHOTOGRAPHER such as energ y Jordan Cundiff, a philosophy junior, prefers a reusable water bottle rather than the disposable type. He said that he’d c o n s u m p rather pay the five dollars toward sustainability than toward the new football stadium. tion, water use, waste disposa l PHOTO BY MARTIÑA TREVINO/PHOTOGRAPHER and recycling in ReEnergize Texas have been university in Texas to have Texas, a coalition of students Recycling containers for bottles have recently been w h o l o b b i e d t h e Te x a s the option of creating money working with other universi- hopes of lowering placed around campus to make recycling more conveties to share ideas for imple- U N T’s c a rbon Legislature to pass the Green for sustainability. nient for students and staff. Since then, the club and menting the fee on campus. footprint. Fee Bill. The bill allows every
Ribbon Cutting
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
The U.S. government is warning students not to visit border cities in Mexico for spring break because of the violence to civilians caused by war between the drug cartels and the Mexican military.
Texas DPS: Avoid Mexico BY LISA GARZA
Senior Staff Writer The long-standing violence caused by warring drug cartels in Mexico prompted national and state officials to warn students of the dangers of traveling across the border during spring break. More t ha n 1,000 people have died in Mexico so far
this year, caught in the crossfire between cartels fighting for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.Mexico border, according to U.S. government officials and a tally published by Milenio, a nationa l Mex ica n newspaper. “T he i ncrea se i n d r ugrelated v iolence made us
Safe Travel Guidelines -Register your travel with the Department of State -Don’t use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly lit streets. -Try not to travel alone at night. -Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances. -Keep a low profile and avoid loud conversations or arguments. -Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers. Courtesy of U.S. Department of State
think that alcohol plus college students in this foreign country is not a good combination,” said Tela Mange, public information officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety. “We urge anyone who is interested in traveling to Mexico to check with the state department for the latest information.” Both the U.S. Department of St ate a nd t he Te x a s Department of Public Safety have issued advisories aimed at informing students of the travel risks associated with the Mexican cities of Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, Chihuahua Cit y, Noga les, Matamoros, Reynosa and Monterrey. The Department of Public Safety is especially discouraging travel to South Padre Isla nd, which is about 30 minutes north of the Mexican border city of Matamoros.
See U.S. on Page 2
PHOTO BY MELISSA BOUGHTON/ASSIGNING EDITOR
The UNT Internships and Co-op program celebrated its new location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by director Kurt Krause (left) and Celia Williamson, deputy provost and undergraduate dean. The office has taken up home in several places on campus including Marquis Hall and the University Union and is settling in Chestnut Hall. Krause said new location will allow a better collaboration between the two to help students, employers, UNT faculty and staff. In between the two offices are more than 20 employer interview rooms, allowing students to interview with potential employers without leaving campus. “We’re very pleased to have this location and this launch at this time,” Williamson said.
Police advise safe-keeping BY VINCE GRAZIANO Contributing Writer
The spring break holiday c a n b e a n e x c it i ng but s t r e s s f u l t i me f or U N T s t ude nt s . T he s t r e s s of m idter m s cl a s h i ng w it h the sheer excitement of an entire week off is often overwhelming. Some will stay in Denton. Others w ill jet to far-off destinations around the world. Jeff Arrington of the UNT police department cautioned
st udent s to remember to properly prepare their homes and vehicles for an extended absence. He s a id s t udent s c a n become complacent and are so eager to get out of school that they forget to take the proper precautions before leaving for vacation. A r r i ng ton suggested students thoroughly clean vehicles and apartments, or at least their bedrooms. “Cleanliness deters crime
more often than not,” he said. When burglars see a dirty car or apartment, they make the assumption that the owner might be less likely to notice something missing. A clean car makes the opposite statement, Arrington said. “I think my apartments are pretty safe, but you can’t be too careful,” said Frank Bianconi, a logistics junior.
See POLICE on Page 2