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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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Volume 95 | Issue 45
Sunny 77° / 57°
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
U.S. Census counts unlicensed couples BY K RYSTLE CANTU
form instead of “unmarried partner.” The same is also available for For the first time in its history, the U.S. Census Bureau heterosexual couples who are is allowing an option to tally also unwed but consider their same-sex couples as married partners a spouse. “Anyone can self-identify couples in the 2010 Census, even if the couples aren’t on this form,” Brandon said. “If they want to identify themlicensed. This week is the last week selves as married, that is their for individuals to mail in their right to do so on this form.” According to the Washington Census’ and be counted among Post, there is a heated debate their communities. “This is a huge step,” said a mong c on ser v at ive s on Joy Donovan Brandon, media whether this is a step toward redefining marriage. specialist for the Census. “I don’t think it is redefining Brandon sa id most gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans- marriage, because these individuals don’t gender commuhave licenses nities are and they’re plea sed t hat not married,” t he gover ns a id Ty le r ment is going to Young, vice recognize their chairman for unions. They North Texas can now count C o l l e g e themselves as Republicans. married even However, if they aren’t Young said he legally within —Diedrick Brackens doesn’t agree their state. President of the UNT that couples “It’s a push chapter of GLAD who a ren’t i n t he r ig ht married d i r e c t i o n ,” s hou ld b e said Diedrick Brackens, president of the UNT counted as married. “The nature of the relationchapter of GLAD, an organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual ship is irrelevant,” he said. and transgender students. “It “You’re either married or you’re will bring people to realize how not. It’s a pretty cut-and-dry many same-sex couples are issue.” Young said he still thinks actually out there, and how the right to marry or be with their the Census Bureau should partners would really benefit follow the law and not change the rules for unwed couples, them.” Nora Lewis, a UNT alumna despite their sexual preferand active member of GLAD, ences. “I don’t see a problem said she agrees this opportunity will give same-sex unions with counting them married the chance to be counted in in Massachusetts and not married in Texas, because general. “I feel that it’s important, if they aren’t,” he said. “It doesn’t they could actually see how have anything to do with the many couples are out there couple’s sexual orientation. I and how many couples have just think the Census Bureau children,” she said. “I’m hoping should follow the law.” Bryant Surley, a political the figures will increase our chances of gaining the right to science senior, said he thinks marriage has already been marry in every state.” Brandon said the form was redefined. “Sa me-sex ma r r iage i s approved by Congress two years ago. In accordance with already legal in five … states,” the Census Bureau, same- he said. “They’re just trying sex couples in any state who to accurately represent the consider themselves spouses millions of Americans that can check the “husband” or are engaged in same-sex rela“wife” boxes on the census tionships.” Staff Writer
“It will bring people to realize how many samesex couples are actually out there.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF INVISIBLECHILDREN.COM
UNT will show a new documentary called “GO” produced by Invisible Children, a grass-roots organization started to help end Africa’s longest running war. The documentary will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum in the University Union.
Documentary travels to UNT BY SHEA YARBOROUGH Senior Staff Writer
A survivor of the Lord’s Resistance Army from KoroAbili in Northern Uganda, Lilian Ajok, 21, will be on campus to tell her story tonight in the University Union Lyceum. UNT will also show a new documentary called “GO” produced by Invisible Children, a grassroots organization started to help end Africa’s longest running war, said Liz Gurney, a volunteer and international studies freshman. “This is a chance for Lilian to tell her story,” Gurney said. “UNT needs to hear it.” In 2007, Invisible Children launched a competition through their program, Schools for Schools, to raise $1 million in 100 days to help rebuild schools in war-torn Uganda. “GO” shows the journey of the winning 20 students to see where their money went in Uganda, according to www. invisiblechildren.com. “The film asks the question, ‘How far are you willing to go?’” Gurney said. More than 1,500 American schools participated in the Schools for Schools competition. The program pairs them with a school in Uganda, Bateman said. “GO” shows the journey of the American
Bollywood at UNT
students who won the Schools for Schools challenge as they see the money they raised put to use in Uganda, Bateman said. The money raised goes directly toward the needs of the Ugandan schools and students. “They have raised money in the millions for Schools for Schools,” Bateman said. “It helps pay for better technology, cleaner water, new buildings, textbooks.” Invisible Children launched a tour in January using interns, mostly students who take off a semester from college to volunteer with the organization, showing the “GO” documentary in any public forum where people would listen, said Lindy Bateman, an intern and sophomore at the University of Missouri. “We’ve gone to churches, elementary schools and universities,” she said. The whole tour is important because it brings light to the issues Uganda is still facing, Gurney said. It’s one thing to see an infomercial about what’s happening in Africa, and people think ‘Well, that’s Africa,’” she said. But Gurney said when she heard Ajok, and her teacher Lanyero Benna, would be on
Senior Staff Writer
The Bollywood Blowout dance event will be at 7 p.m. today in the University Union’s Silver Eagle Suite. Indian food will be provided, and Indian dancers will teach others how to dance. “I hope people get to see how exciting Indian culture is,” said Montreal Williams, an interdisciplinary studies junior and vice president of arts for the University Program Council. “I’m going to be showing clips of Bollywood so they can see all the wonderful garments and how much time and effort they put into those types of movies for entertainment.”
the tour with the interns, she got excited. “She’s someone my age,” Gurney said. “She is my age, and she has gone through all this. It makes it much more relatable.” Gurney and Bateman said they jumped on board with the Invisible Children cause after seeing the documentary “Rough
Cut,” the original film made by three college students who stumbled upon a war zone in Uganda. Gurney is hoping the showing of “GO” will inspire people like it did her, she said. “I’m hoping it opens people’s eyes to the issues so we can implement Schools for Schools at UNT in the fall,” Gurney said.
Report shows Regents gave to Rick Perry’s campaign BY LISA GARZA
PHOTO BY KAYTI EDWARDS/PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTO COURTESY OF INVISIBLECHILDRENUGANDA.ORG
A survivor of the Lord’s Resistance Army from Uganda, Lillian Ajok, will be on campus to tell her story at 7 p.m. tonight in the Lyceum in the University Union.
Texas public u n iversit y boards of regents individually contributed hefty donations to Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign before and after their appointments, according to a new report released by Texans for Public Justice. Contributions from regents, who are appointed by Perry, totaled nearly $6.1 million over the last decade, with t he average at more t han $39,200. “A high percentage of the a pp oi nte e s w ere i nde e d campaign donors,” said Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice. “It seems that a primary qualification or a major qualification to serve as a regent is whether or not you are willing and able to give literally tens of thousands of dollars to the governor.” Perr y has appointed 155 regents so fa r during his
tenure as governor with 97 regents giving money to Perry’s campaign, which makes up 63 percent of Perry’s regent appointees. There is no st ipu lat ion prohibiting or discouraging the regents from individually supporting the governor with financial contributions. “This is the first that we’ve specifically looked at regents,” McDonald said. “We did it because … the appointment of regents [was] somewhat politicized during the primary campaign, so we took a look at the degree that Perry’s appointees had been supporting him with financial contributions.” Based on t he numbers, McDonald said, the group believes that Perry primarily selects regents who give money to his campaign. “I’m not so sure that’s the vast or first line of qualifications for anyone to be making
policy for our institutions of higher learning,” he said. G. Brint Ryan, a regent for the UNT System, was among the top contributors with donations totaling $213,000 from August 2008 to June 2009. Ryan was appointed to the Board in September 2009. Ryan said he is not familiar with Texans for Public Justice but that he is “sure they are a well-meaning group.” Rya n sa id he was on ly speaking for himself but “in this particular case, I think they are completely misguided.” “I don’t think my appointment has anything to do with my support of the governor,” Ryan said. Ryan said while other states are grappling with massive budget deficits and structural and financial problems, Texas is in the best shape compared to others.
See REGENT on Page 2