Closer to milestone
takes precautions against flu virus NEWS: UNT Page 2 stay connected with Skype ARTS & LIFE: Students Page 4 stirred by Obama speech VIEWS: Controversy Page 6
Soccer coach Hedlund one victory away from 200 Page 8
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
News 1,2 Arts & Life 3,4 Sports 5,8 Views 6 Classifieds 7 Games 7
Volume 94 | Issue 7
Stormy 92° / 72°
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
UTA student congress may end newspaper BY CAROLYN BROWN Senior Staff Writer
Students at the University of Texas at Arlington will lose the ability to read their morning newspaper if the school’s student congress passes a measure to stop the presses. The school’s student government introduced a resolution that would restrict its student newspaper, The Shorthorn, to an online-only version as part of a series of environmentally friendly initiatives. Any changes will require further research and discussion, The Shorthorn editor-in-chief Marissa Hall said. The Shorthorn’s staff is working on improving the paperís Web site, which has fewer readers than the print version, she said. “There’s ways to be creative online. We have to learn to adjust and work in different ways,” Hall said. “It’s not anything to get upset about at this point.” Newspapers that go exclusively online tend to do so for business rather than environmental reasons, Neil Foote of the UNT journalism faculty said. Newsprint is one of the biggest costs for a paper to maintain, and as ad and subscription revenues decline, newspapers have to cut back. Other money-saving practices used by newspapers include smaller print size and narrower margins, he said. The movement of more papers to exclusive online formats in the future will depend on whether advertisers decide they want more online ads, he said.
“A lot of people like to cuddle up with a paper. How could you do that with a computer?”
—Neil Foote UNT journalism professor
At present, there is still a sense from many readers that they want paper editions of the news. Readers who were brought up reading a daily print version often like to continue the tradition, Foote said. “A lot of people like to cuddle up with a paper. How could you do that with a computer?” he said. Former North Texas Daily adviser and journalism faculty member Tracy Everbach said the paper is not yet ready to go entirely online. Student newspapers are different from city newspapers because they are available for pickup on campus, Everbach said. Students are more likely to pick up a copy and read it on the way to class than they are to look up stories online, she said. “Perhaps in the future it might be practical to have an onlineonly version, but I still think a paper version is vital on campus,” Everbach said. A change to online-only content for the NT Daily would have serious consequences for the paper, NT Daily director Jacqi Serie said. “If our print edition ceased to
See the editorial about this issue on page 6 exist, the organization as a whole would probably shut down,” she said. In a single fiscal year, ad revenue for the NT Daily averages $265,000 for print ads and $5,000 for online ads, she said. If the Daily were to continue operating, staff positions would have to be completely redefined, and some full-time positions would have to be made part-time, she said. Ad revenue for The Shorthorn could not be determined at this time. After numerous attempts, Dakota Carter, president of the UNT Student Government Association, could not be reached for comment about the SGA’s stance on the issue. Some UNT students said they liked both print and online versions of news, but did not feel too strongly about either. “It depends on the setting,” Tony Steadman, an international studies freshman, said. “If it’s spur of the moment, I prefer online. Settings where there’s a long wait — definitely a newspaper.”
PHOTO BY KHAI HA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior midfieleder Lindsay Lackore butts heads with junior Texas Tech midfielder Maggie Fete. The game went to overtime with UNT wining 2-1.
Soccer team 3-1 after weekend Read the full story on page 8 and visit ntdaily.com for multimedia
Officials offer venue for student opinions on meal plans BY C YNTHIA CANO Intern
Students dissatisfied with the lack of options offered in their meal plans may get the chance to voice their opinions. On Sept. 11, the first Student Food Adv isor y Committee will meet in Crumley Hall to address student concerns on meal choices. “We want to set up a structure for a good, active food committee and get general feedback from students of the current dining system,” Executive Director of Dining Services Bill McNeace said. A mong t he issues to be discussed at the meeting will be the introduction of a new system allowing students to use their meal plan in places other than regular cafeterias. McNeace said the university is working out the details to take over private contractors who are doing business
PHOTO BY JIMMY ALFORD / PHOTOGRAPHER
UNT will begin a new program in fall 2010 that will allow students to use meal plan fees to buy food outside dorm cafeterias. in places like the University Union. This will allow students to eat in these establishments as part of their meal plan. “When students purchase food from these places, the amount will be charged and
deducted from t heir mea l plan,” McNeace said. “That way they won’t be limited to just eating in the cafeterias and will have more variety and choices.” It is this lack of options that
has struck a nerve with some UNT students who said they find the lack of variety upsetting. “I don’t like that at lunch they don’t ever change the menu,” Maggie Kelly, a jour-
nalism sophomore, said. Kelly said brea k fast and d i n ner a lways have more variety but being able to eat somewhere else wou ld be beneficial because sometimes she doesn’t have the time to run to a cafeteria and still make it to class on time. Su z ie Tow n s end, jou rnalism sophomore said this new program would be more cost effective because she feels her current meal plan is too expensive. “I usua lly just buy food elsewhere and keep it in my dorm,” Townsend said. “I’m a vegetarian and there are not enough cafeterias where I can eat.” Others like Caitlin Hopson, an undeclared sophomore, said they have opted for a meal plan that better fits into their lifestyle without feeling like they are throwing money away by not eating cafeteria food. “I have the eight-is-enough
plan because sometimes I would be too busy to eat,” Hopson said. This plan allows her to eat eight meals each week at the time she chooses, for almost half the cost of a seven-day meal plan. M c N e a c e s a i d U N T ’s meal plan system is already different from other universities because it does not limit the number of times students can eat throughout the day. He said he hopes that implementing this new system will better improve the quality of the dining program. “The ultimate goal will be to put as much money back on the student’s plate by making sure they are satisfied with the dining options throughout campus,” McNeace said. For more information on the first student food advisory committee meeting, visit the Housing and Dining office in Crumley Hall.
UNT competes with Texas schools for research funding BY CAROLYN BROWN Senior Staff Writer
A new bill aimed at creating more national research universities in Texas went into effect Sept. 1, giving UNT a chance to win money for research projects. Texas House Bill 51 provides several programs to help establish and maintain national research universities in Texas. One of the highlights of House Bill 51 is the Texas Research Incentive Program,
which prov ides matching state funds for private donations received for research purposes. Using the program, universities will provide accounts of gifts received after Sept. 1 to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which will then evaluate and distribute money from the $50 million program throughout the next two years. Seven universities are participating in the program: UNT,
Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas campuses in Arlington, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has designated these universities as emerging research universities. The board will develop and manage the program. The bill resulted from a discussion about the need for more Texas national research universities.
The discussion has been going on for at least the last 30 years, Jack Morton, vice chancellor of governmental relations, said. UNT reported $2.9 million from nine donors, with a potential state match of $1.7 million, according to a Dallas Morning News article on Sept. 2. Some students said they liked the idea of the program. Kim Aldy, a graduate student, said she thought it would be useful for obtaining money in a
difficult research climate. “Right now funding is really tight for scientific research,” Aldy said. “It’s really hard to get funding from national institutes such as the National Institute of Health. It’d be really great to have funding from the state to keep ground-breaking research going.” Megan Pogue, an accounting senior, said the program would help boost UNT’s reputation. “I think research is beneficial for the university because it
can raise our recognition in the academic world and professors can get more papers published,” Pogue said. The program will be used for all types of research, not just scientific research, UNT President Gretchen Bataille said. UNT is putting together the donor and gift accounts, which will be sent in this month, she said.
See NATIONAL on Page 2
Page 2 Tuesday, September 8, 2009
News
Shaina Zucker & Courtney Roberts
News Editors ntdailynews@gmail.com
UNT prepares for possible swine flu outbreak By Melissa Boughton
Need to know info:
Staff Writer
As worries deepen that college campuses will become a breeding ground for the H1N1 virus, university administrators are telling students to cover their noses and mouths and wash their hands often. It is expected that there will be an increase in swine flu activity this year and UNT is taking precautions to keep students from spreading germs. University health officials are informing students of hygiene practices and working with dorms to scrub down commonly infected areas. The American College Health Association reported more than 1,600 cases of swine flu at 165 colleges last week. Students sharing classrooms, living quarters and bathrooms have the potential to spread the flu rapidly throughout the campus. “It’s very contagious so there is definitely the potential for an outbreak, but we’re trying to do what we can,” said Grant Hawley, the assistant hall director at Clark Hall . The custodians and resident assistants are wiping down commonly touched areas in the
UNT Student Health and Wellness Center is at 1800 Chestnut on campus. Students can make an appointment by calling (940) 565-2333. For more information about the health center, students can visit www.healthcenter.unt.edu. For the most up to date swine flu information, students can visit www.unt.edu/flu
dorms such as handrails, desks and main doors, Hawley said. The hall employees are also encouraging students who feel sick to go to the Student Health and Wellness Center to keep the spread of germs to a minimum. The university has had a small number of positive flu tests since the beginning of the semester, Reginald Bond, exec-
utive director for the Student Health and Wellness Center, said in an email. Bond met with hall directors to discuss the swine flu and answer questions at the beginning of the semester. “They told us this morning in our host meeting that the university would urge a student who had the flu to go home,” said Tanya St. Clair, a desk clerk at
The money w ill go to researching the effectiveness of curriculum instruction in technical education. UNT is among four universities to receive money from the Texas Education Agency. Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M and Texas Tech also received a smaller amount of grant money. Jeff Allen, interim chairman of the Department of Learning Technologies, received two of
the four grants. He said he will devote $300,000 to programs in architecture and construction, as well as another $300,000 to business management and administration. Technical Education, the new term for vocational education, has been misinterpreted in the past to be only for students who want to learn a trade and do not want to go to college, Allen said. “I think these grants are part of the change in perception,” he
aspect of an outbreak will be for sick students to get checked out by a doctor. “Having a health center on campus just makes it that much easier for students,” Stradal said. Students who have flu-like Photo Courtesy of MCT symptoms can visit the Student Health and Wellness Center on campus. Honors Hall. Students pay a medical service If students are unable to go home, the university is making fee included in their tuition, preparations to have a space in which allows them to use the one of the dorms with a bath- center for free throughout the room for them to recover without semester. Medical services such infecting other students, the as lab testing and flu shots will journalism graduate student cost students, but at a discounted rate. said. The health center will offer John Stradal, a public administration graduate student, said flu shots for students beginning he believes the most important today through Sept. 11. Shots for
the students, faculty and staff will be given Sept. 14 until the center runs out. The cost is $12 for students and $15 for faculty and staff. The center anticipates more students seeking the seasonal flu shot this year than last year, Bond said. Though the seasonal flu shot offered at the center will not protect students against the H1N1 strain, it will protect students from other, more common flu strains. An H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in mid-October for prevention of the virus. “I have a fair amount of confidence in the university to do what needs to be done,” Stradal said.
mulated for the past 10 years because of the faculty members’ continuation in being involved in a higher level of the research, Allen said. The $1.2 million will expire this year with the remaining money going back to the Texas Education Agency. However, Allen said he plans to use all of the money for his research before this happens. The research includes not only curriculum development but also professional development. At schools like the Sarah and Troy LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex, the faculty members have worked with subject matter to help design new curriculum, and have conducted workshops with teachers to increase the effectiveness of technical education. “What we want the result to
be is better innovation and new ways for students to learn and teach,” Allen said. “We want to create new pathways for learning and a new way for students to transition into a four-year university.” Jerry and Michelle Wircenski received the other two grants of $300,000 to do research. Jerry Wircenski will conduct research in government and public administration, health science, and public safety, and Michelle Wircenski will focus on the arts audio and visual technology and communications, according to the press release. UNT submitted the professors’ research proposal to the Texas Education Agency’s Career and Technical Education State Leadership Projects Grant Program to receive the initial grant of $15,000 in 2000.
Profs receive $300,000 grants for ‘career pathways’
By A mber A rnold
Senior Staff Writer
A grant given to the Department of Learning Technologies, originally for $15,000, has grown into $1.2 million, and provided the department with the opportunity to further its research on career and technical education. The Texas Education Agency approved four grants to be given to three faculty members in the amount of $300,000 each, according to a press release.
said. Now it’s part of students’ career pathways, not necessarily just an out from college.” Allen said he hopes that the research that he, Jerry Wircenski and Michelle Wircenski are doing will change the face of technical education to be more of an early career preparation. Lacy Cain, information sciences graduate student, said she views technical education much like others do -- it’s for people that are not going to go to college, or, at least, not a fouryear university. “When I think of technical education, I think of someone that’s just going through training --maybe to be a radiologist or something. Either that or someone that is just planning to go to community college,” she said. The grant money has accu-
National fund to be established Continued from Page 1
Send an email message to MelissaLui@my.unt.edu for the guidelines and case.
Right now, UNT’s strategy is to continue its current path of research initiatives, Bataille said. “We should be doing what we’re doing, raising money from donors and raising our research profile,” she said. Some of the bill’s actions w ill ta ke more time to be enacted. A $425 million Nat iona l
Research University Fund will be established if it is approved in a constitutional referendum this November. If approved, the ex isting Higher Education Fund will be converted to the National Research Universit y Fund. However, UNT has not yet met all the criteria for receiving money from this part of the bill and will not be immediately affected, Bataille said. House Bill 51 also includes
an $80 million performance incentive-funding plan that will be distributed based on at-risk student enrollments a nd g r adu at ion r ate s of students in high-need fields, according to a July 7 report from the board. The Universit y of Nort h Texas at Dallas will be able to receive money from the Higher Education Funds as soon as it becomes a general academic teaching university.
Correction In a Sept. 2 article titled TA MS cea ses prog r a m charge, Amanda Studebaker, a second year TAMS student, was incorrectly identified in
a mug shot. Also in the same article, Keith Anderson’s name was misspelled.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Page 3
Arts & Life
Kip Mooney
Arts & Life Editor ntd.artslife@gmail.com
Skype application connects students online BY K ATIE GRIVNA Senior Staff Writer
W hen C a s sie Holt z , a c om mu n i c a t i on s j u n i or, studied abroad in Hong Kong, she said she wanted to show her mom her dorm room. With the use of Skype, an application that allows users to make voice and video calls using the Internet, she was able to talk to her mom and see her even though she was more than 6,000 miles from home. Holtz said using Skype while abroad was an inexpensive way to keep in touch w ith people in America. “It just connects the world entirely,” she said. Now back in the United States, Holtz said she uses Skype to keep in touch with the friends she made in Hong Kong, and a webcam to video chat with friends who are only 30 minutes away. Holtz said she prefers using Skype to a telephone because it doesn’t cost minutes, it is easy to use, and you can see
the other person to whom you are talking. Holtz said she and a friend will get on Skype and do homework or other things together and won’t talk to each other the whole time. “We’re just kind of hanging out over Skype,” Holtz said. She said she would recommend Skype to other people because it is free and works well. Calls are usually clear but drop every once in a while, Holtz said. One thing Holtz said she doesn’t like about Skype is the Twitter-like mood messages t hat tel l what a f r iend is doing. Skype can be downloaded on l i ne for f ree a nd ca l ls between Skype users are also free. Skype also offers instant messaging and conference calls at no charge. Calls can be made to landlines, cell phones, and international lines for a fee. The cost for unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada is $2.95 per month, according to the
Skype Web site, with a limit of 10,000 minutes per month and a maximum of six hours per day. For unlimited international calls, the cost is $12.95 per month, which allows the user to call more than 40 countries worldwide, according to the Web site. For those who prefer not to have a monthly subscription, Skype credit allows users to purchase a set amount of money to be used on the application. Jordan Hughes, a psychology senior, said she uses Skype about once a mont h a nd uses it to talk to her sister in England. W hen she and her sister were preparing to attend a wedding, Hughes said Skype allowed her to see her sister’s dress. “I think that video capability adds something to the conversat ion so t hat you can actually see somebody,” Hughes said. Kaitlin Moore, an elementa r y educat ion f resh ma n,
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KHAI HA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Skype, an application which allows users to video-chat and make long-distance phone calls, can be used on laptops and other mobile devices such as Sony’s PlayStation Portable. said she uses Skype to talk to friends at other colleges and her long-distance boyfriend. Skype is easy to use, she said, but causes people to have
a dependence on technology. Skype cannot be used to make emergency calls, which should be directed to 911, according to its Web site.
The program is available for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. For more information, visit www.skype.com.
Italian premier denies wrongdoing with 18-year-old
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi delivers a speech to the 109th Congress of the United States at the U.S. Capitol, March 1, 2006 in Washington, D.C. (AP) – Defiant in the face of a sex scandal, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Monday he is still popular because Italians secretly want to be like him. He denied a ny st ra ins with the Catholic Church and denounced what he called a “subversive ca mpa ig n” to unseat a democratically elected leader. Berlu scon i’s com ment s came a day after the woman who unwillingly initiated the scandal – Noemi Letizia, whose 18-year-old birthday party Berlusconi attended – broke
her silence. In a TV interview, Letizia described her relations with the man she calls “Daddy,” and her dreams of Hollywood glory. “I love America and I would love to work in America,” Letizia said in the interview broadcast by Sky Italia. The 72-year-old billionaire and the young model from a Naples suburb have been the subject of speculation since Berlusconi attended Letizia’s birthday party in April. His wife cited his presence there when she announced,
shortly afterward, that she was filing for divorce. The premier has said Letizia is the daughter of an old friend and denied having a sexual relationship with her. Letizia said in the interview that she calls Berlusconi “Papi” – or “Daddy”— because she has known him since she was a little girl. In recent months, new allegations have surfaced about the premier’s encounters with younger women, including a call girl who claims to have spent the night with him. Berlusconi has denied ever paying for sex, but said in the summer that he is “no saint.” “The majority of Italians in their hearts would like to be like me and see themselves in me and in how I behave,” Berlusconi said Monday during a phone interview on a TV channel he owns. “They also know that Silvio Berlusconi doesn’t steal and doesn’t use his power to his own advantage,” he said. Berlusconi’s governing coalition appears solid despite the scandal, although his support among practicing Catholics had slipped slightly, according to a recent survey. A center-left opposition busy selecting its new leader has been unable to capitalize on the scandal. In spite of his influence on Italian media – both as a media tycoon and as premier with indirect influence on the state broadcaster – Berlusconi said an
Italian press dominated by the left had mounted a campaign to overturn his government. It is “against the will of the people, and therefore it is a subversive campaign,” he said. Some Catholic publications have criticized Berlusconi for the scandal. A Berlusconi family newspaper recently accused the editor of Italy’s pre-eminent
Catholic newspaper of being involved in a scandal of his own. Still, Berlusconi insisted that relations between the church and him and his government remain excellent. He denied reports he had sought a meeting with the church’s No. 2 official to clear the air. To Letizia, the scandal has brought sudden notoriety. She
said in the interview she enjoys being followed by paparazzi and hopes her new fame will help her get acting jobs. “Until today I couldn’t do anything because I wasn’t known. But now I have acquired notoriety and if they call me to work in America, I will absolutely not be afraid,” Letizia said. “I know what I want; I know I can get to America.”
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Page 4 Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Arts & Life Meditation club clears away stress JibberJabber
Kip Mooney
Arts & Life Editor ntd.artslife@gmail.com
By K hai
Meetings focus on relaxation techniques
ha
Staff Photographer
By Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer
Name: Eloy Tavera Major: Computer Engineering
Status: Senior
Q: A:
How long have you been a U.S. citizen?
Since April 2008. Before that I was a Mexican citizen and a permanent resident of the U.S.
Q: A:
Why did you want to be a U.S. citizen?
I wanted to be able to vote. They were also raising the cost to become a citizen, from around $400 to $700.
Q: A:
How long did the process take?
I applied in August of ’08, and heard back in December. Then in April I was interviewed and sworn in. I heard it takes a really long time though. Since I look white, I think it seemed to go by pretty fast. My dad failed the interview and had to reapply.
Eloy Tavera
Q:
What type of questions were you asked in the interview?
A:
They asked if you could read and write, how many stars are on the U.S. flag. Things like that.
W it h t he st ress of t he first few weeks of school on students’ minds, a UNT organization is reaching out to give students a chance to relax. P a h t s a p o n g Tanaaw ibuonpoan, a UNT prog ra m mer a na lyst w it h the computer and information technology department, founded the Meditation Club five years ago to give students and anyone with “a busy life” a chance to rela x through guided sessions of meditation. “I started the group because UNT did not have a student orga ni zat ion t hat a llowed students to take their mind off of classes and have a break,”
users can personally improve upon themselves. A lt houg h med itat ion is usually connected with religious practices, the club does not connect the Eastern tradition to any belief system. “We do not include religion… but focus inward on ourselves,” Ta n a a w i b u o n p o a n said. “It is the breath and body, nothing else.” With the physical and menta l rewards m e d itation provides,
scattered thought process.” Members usually include UNT students, but faculty and staff are welcome to the group meditations as well. Once the students go home, Tanaawibuonpoan s a id t he y f e e l physically rested a nd ready to meditate on their own. Kelley Webb, a hospitality
Q:
What have you voted on since becoming a citizen?
A:
Uh, nothing.
Tanaawibuonpoan said. During every club meeting, the adviser passes down a set of five meditation techniques to members. The guided sessions include breat hing, wa l k ing, inner body, inner awareness, and loving and kindness meditations, each with a different purpose and focus. Howe ver, a l l pr ac t ic e s center around being aware of one’s body, breat h a nd surroundings. Before and after sitting, and ref lecting the group has a discussion on what meditation is, its benefits and how
Photo Illustration Tanaawibuonpoan said the club’s benefits reach beyond alleviating everyday stress. “Physically, meditation is to make you regain your lost energy and to feel lighter when you finish,” Tanaawibuonpoan said. “It could also potentially improve concentration because we have to focus at one thing at a time during each technique and not have a
m a n a ge me nt m a jor a nd Meditation Club president, said she uses the meditation tech n iques before ta k i ng exams. “I w ill just sit there and close my eyes, ta ke deep breaths, and relax my body,” Webb said. “Meditation does help me do better because I’m not as tense.” Webb has been a member for
four years and practices the five techniques throughout the day. “It was not easy to get into at f irst,” Webb sa id. “It is pretty difficult to do because med itat ion is t h in k ing of nothing. You have to push all the thoughts out of your head.” However, bringing calmness into academic life is not the only benefit Meditation Club hopes to give its members. Landon Esquivel, a business marketing senior, carries over the breathing and calming techniques not only to the classroom but a lso to his athletics. Esquivel plays UNT intramural football and is a member of the baseball club. He said joining the club was not something he would have done on his own, but Webb suggested he join. “It is a way to ge t out of t hat fe el i n g o f c o m p e tit ivene s s,” E squ ivel said. “You can trick your m ind into relaxing.” W h i le a feel i ng of rela xation is what most w i l l t a ke f rom t he club, Esquivel sa id it a lso gives him control over his own feelings once he is ready to play on the field. “You c a n g ive you r sel f confidence in whatever you want to do. It is easy as long as you a re able to rela x,” Esquivel said. The Meditation Club meets from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in t he Universit y Union Room 411.
Ex-con trades drugs for hot dogs (AP) – Two decades after customers clamored to buy cocaine from a teenager named John Cappas, they’re lined up again to buy what he has to sell: Hot dogs. The one-time “drug kingpin,” as the newspapers called him in the late 1980s, became an owner of a hot dog stand called Johnny’s WeeNee Wagon this summer. It’s a few Chicago suburbs and a world away from where he ran the drug empire that made him $25,000 a week – enough to buy a house, fast cars and a necklace that spelled “Spoiled Brat” in diamonds to drape around his Playboy bunny girlfriend. In a bright red building that looks like a barn with a man-sized statue of a hot dog wearing an American flag out front, he sells hot dogs, gyros, burgers, and now for the first time since the place opened in 1955, french fries. “I’m doing the right thing now,” said the 43-year-old Cappas, who was released in 2004 after serving 15 years in prison. That doesn’t mean Cappas is shying away from his past. He obviously enjoys telling stories about what life was like before he was arrested. Like the time he made headlines when, knowing federal agents were
looking to arrest him, he and a local television reporter took a spin on Lake Michigan on a friend’s speedboat (“The feds had already seized mine,” he said) before he turned himself in. Nor did he keep it a secret that for his grand opening last weekend – an event that included a magician and a tiger he says belonged to former boxing champ Mike Tyson –he’d asked two friends who were Chicago police officers before they were convicted of selling cocaine to judge his auto show. But Cappas knows that his reign as a drug kingpin includes more than funny stories about his lavish lifestyle. He’s linked to the deaths of two 19-yearold sons of Chicago police officers, both of whom killed themselves with their fathers’ service revolvers after, authorities said at the time, at least one of them bought drugs from one of Cappas’ accomplices. And he knows that for all the “toys” he had, there was a time members of his family wanted nothing to do with him. “I was banished from my house,” he said, his father, Louis Cappas, nodding in agreement. Then he was banished from society, with a judge who
sentenced him to 45 years in prison, angrily telling him that he had “lost his soul.” “I am what I am,” he said simply. “I’m never going to live that down.” That helps explain why he said it is important to let people know he is no longer the same young man he was when he was sentenced to prison – something he says he deserved. And that he wants to make amends. “I do not want kids to follow in my same footpaths...” he said. “I’m paying some penance for what I did in the past.” That means his plan is not just to own a successful hot dog stand in a community, but also to play a role in that community. He talks about plans to sponsor Little League teams and build a baseball diamond, as well as continue talking to at-risk kids, as he’s done for the last few years. He said a big part of his message is that it’s possible to turn your life around, to come out of prison and make an honest living. “This is my way of giving back,” said Cappas, who also plans to publish a book about his life. It all has impressed Scott Ladany, the owner of Red Hot Chicago, Inc. to sell Cappas his hot dogs.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Page 5
Sports
Justin Umberson
Sports Editor ntdaily.sports@gmail.com
Cross-country team gets a head start at invitational BY SEAN SWINNEY
Contributing Writer T he Mea n Green crosscountry team earned positive results, including one first place finish, Saturday at the Texas Christian Universit y Invitational. Head coach Robert Vaughan sa id he was pleased w it h his team’s performance in its first meet of the season, and believes the team can continue its success. “The most important thing is to build toward the conference meet and the regional meet and use (the early meets) as stepping stones,” Vaughan said. “It’s one or two meets that are important, and the rest of them you use to do well when you get to that meet.” In t he men’s fou r-m i le, Patrick Strong, a geography junior, took first place with a time of 20:37 in a field that also included runners from
TCU and the Universit y of Texas at Arlington. Garrett Sage, a sociology junior, came in fourt h and Matt Peters, kinesiology senior, finished eighth. Faci ng competition f rom Sout her n Met hod ist Un iver sit y, TCU a nd t he Un i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s a t Arlington, Sara Dietz, busine s s s ophomor e, pl a c e d highest in the women’s twomile, coming in seventh place with a time of 11:51. Ingrid Mollenkopf, a criminal justice junior, and Sallie Anderson, a kinesiology junior, finished in 12th and 14th respectfully. O ver a l l, t he men took second place while the women finished fourth. “We haven’t even t ra nsit ioned i nto ou r ha rder t ra ining yet,” Peters sa id. “But it’s important to get out there and compete and kind of get an idea of where we
“We haven’t even transitioned into our harder training yet, but it’s important to get out there and compete ...”
—Matt Peters Kinesiology senior
are, and I think it gave us a much better indicator of how our training was going. It gave some people some confidence and some people some ideas of things they need to work on.” Reinforcements are on the way as well. No less than four reg ulars were absent from t he TCU Inv itat iona l, a nd Vaughan said a new runner from Kenya was expected to join the men’s team in the coming weeks. De spite t he s e p osit i v e
early indicators, the team is remaining realistic as they continue to prepare for the season ahead. “You’d a lways like to go out there and win the conference championship,” Peters said. “We’re never going to say that’s impossible to do. But I feel pretty safe to say that on both the guys’ and the girls’ side our goals for the season are to continually improve and to just tr y to finish at least in the top three at both conference and regional.”
Oakland University Invitational Volleyball Tournament North Texas vs. Canisus College Griffins Set 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Griffins 25 18 19 25 17
Mean Green 23 25 25 17 15
North Texas vs. Oakland University Grizzlies Set 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Grizzlies 25 25 18 17 15
Mean Green 21 19 25 25 12
North Texas vs. Wright State Raiders Set 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Raiders 24 25 25 20 15
Mean Green 26 25 19 25 13
The Script: College football system needs revision Bowl series leaves out most college football teams Opinion BY ERIC JOHNSON Senior Staff Writer
BCS is a n acrony m for Bowl Championship Series, but what do the letters really mean? Just eliminate the “C” right away because is stands for charade, and the B and S you are left with. Well, that sums up what the BCS really is. College football should be the game at its purest, but it is not an equal playing field. It is not about the athletes, but instead how much money the university they play for can bring in. The BS ranks teams by dollars, not talent. The elitist attitude of the BS conferences is a disgrace, and after watching Brigham Young University “upset” the University of Ok lahoma on Saturday night it is clear they should be in the BS championship game discussion. The University of Utah was absolutely robbed of an opportunity at a title last season, a nd it has become pret t y clear to me that only the six BS conferences will ever be allowed to play in the title game, so if BYU goes undefeated with wins over four or five top 20 teams, how do you
leave them out? I n 20 0 8 t he Mou nt a i n West Conference, a non-BS con ference, f i n ished w it h the same amount of ranked teams, three, as the Atlantic Coast and Pacific-10 conferences and more than the Big East Conference, who only had two. But the Mountain West does not get the respect or recog n it ion it deser ves because its name is not as well known. W hen g iven t he opportunity to play in one of the BS bowls non-BS teams are 3-1. All three of those teams finished undefeated, and did not sniff the title game. The BS even left one of its own out in the cold in 2004, w hen Aubu r n Un i ver sit y f i n i she d u ndefe ate d a nd watched t he Universit y of Southern California and OU play in the title game. Since the inception of the BS, no team outside of the Associated Press’ preseason top-10 has ever won the BS title game. W hat that boils dow n to is t hat t he persona l opinions of sports writers effectively eliminate the other 110
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University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is injured late in the second quarter of a college football game Saturday against Brigham Young University at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. teams in the Football Bowl Subdiv ision before anyone sets foot on the field. C h a m pion s s h ou ld b e decided on the field and not in the press box! Case for a playoff: Cu r rent ly 64 of t he 120 FBS tea ms ma ke t he postseason, and 32 of those teams celebrate with confetti and parades. W hy be excited about a
victory in the Humanitarian Bowl, when the goal should be to win a national title? All that is needed to qualify for a bowl is six victories. Why should the mediocrit y of a .500 season be rewarded? T he per sona l bia s a nd greed could be eliminated with a playoff system, and it would be simple to execute. The bowl sponsors can stay for each of the playoff games,
so you can keep raking in the dollars. Ta ke your 11 conference winners and any where from one to 21 at-large teams and let the players decide it on the field.
I will never recognize the BC S cha mpion sh ip ga me winner as the national champion, and you can never really have a “true” champion until you eliminate this severely f lawed system.
Views
Page 6 Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Amanda Mielcarek
Views Editor ntdailyviews@gmail.com
UTA student congress should not kill newspaper the way to class, many people who are regularly exposed to The Shorthorn might not seek it out online. This would greatly hinder its circulation by limiting access to students, not all of whom will come across the paper’s Web site on a regular basis. As for the university’s journalism students, not having a newspaper to work at will greatly hinder them, rendering them without real newsroom experience unless they supplement their studies with an internship. It should be noted that The Shorthorn is the Daily’s biggest rival, and it would actually benefit the Daily in terms of ad revenue if it were to go under. However, as a fellow student newspaper with a staff that recognizes the vital need for local media, the editorial staff feels it is our duty to speak out against what would only hurt the community in the long run. Newspapers are going under left and right, and to willingly put the nail in the coffin of such a successful publication is simply irresponsible.
Editorial The University of Texas at Arlington’s student congress introduced a new resolution during its last meeting. The resolution called for its paper, The Shorthorn, to discontinue its printed circulation and make the paper available only online. The UTA congress purports that this is an environmentally conscious proposition, but it has failed to consider the broader impact it will have on the university. This is a rash move, and one that shortchanges both the UTA students and the Arlington community. While going online-only may be a viable option for some newspapers, student newspapers are by nature entirely different. On campus there are always people walking by newsstands on their way to class. This constant stream of students, faculty and staff provides a large base of readership for these papers. If the student congress takes away the option of grabbing a paper on
Campus Chat
Where are you from? What was the biggest culture shock coming to America?
{ { { {
“America is much more religious and conservative than Canada.”
Rory Quinn
Jazz studies senior
“In Canada, you’re encouraged to keep your culture and be a Canadian, while here you would be an American first.”
DuranRitz
Jazz studies senior
“The biggest difference for me was how people interact. I feel people here keep more of a distance between one another.”
Carolina Calvache Masters in music
“People act different here than they do in Columbia. The language is pretty different. I couldn’t hit on a girl for like eight months.”
NT Daily Editorial Board
Juan Chaves
Jazz studies senior
The Editorial Board includes: Andrew McLemore, Amanda Mielcarek, Shaina Zucker, Courtney Roberts, Brooke Cowlishaw, Kip Mooney, Abigail Allen, Sydnie Summers, Brianne Tolj, Christena Dowsett, Justin Umberton, and David Lucio
Race fuels speech controversy During his eight years in office, President Bush misled the American people about the Iraq war, illegally wiretapped telephones, and declared the right to arrest and detain citizens without a trial. Yet the national conversation never degenerated into as much rabid, irrational hatred of a president as when Barack Obama declared his intent to give a speech today aimed at promoting education to students across the country. And if you think this latest lunacy is irrelevant and ineffectual, think again. After a week of shameless fear-mongering by conservative talk show hosts and leaders in t he Republica n Pa r t y, most Nor t h Tex a s school districts chose not to air the speech to students. The White House reacted by releasing a transcript of the speech Monday to assuage the concerns of administrators and parents. Does anyone need further proof that crazy sells? A lt houg h t he proact i v e a nt a gon i sm a g a i n st t h is speech def ies u nderstanding, itís explained easily enough. Words ending in “-ism” lose all meaning when dragged through the messy gauntlet of the mainstream media, an institution that reliably fails to present a balanced political discourse, allowing the sensational fringe to monopolize political discourse. A s a resu lt, “socia lism” has become an easy moniker for nastier words long since ex i led f rom conversat ion. Pa rent s concer ned about Obama aren’t worried about h i m i ndoc t r i nat i ng ch i ldren with a socialist agenda. Ironically, the failing public
school system is an example of socialism at work. No, the truth is simpler and more painful. Only a fear of the “other” spawns enough irrational paranoia for political activists to claim he wasn’t born here, for the religious right to call him a Muslim, for parents to see the President of the United States of America as a boogeyman that needs only speak to transform children into mindless slaves of a government machine. Ma r x ism? Com mu n ism? Fascism? Please. This is about race. Itís about u npr i ntable, u nspea kable words heard every where — the subtext of raving conservative rhetoric too loud to ignore. Many newspaper columns and network commentators say this isn’t about race, but politics. For politicians who want to amp up criticism of the Obama administration — however nonsensical — that may be true. For parents who force an unexcused absence on their children by making them stay at home to avoid a televised address from the leader of this countr y, the tr ut h is exact ly t he opposite. Ba rack Oba ma is not a perfect president — far from it. His healthcare plan is ambitious but flawed, his failure to discontinue militar y tribunals begun under Bush disappointing, his recent town hall speeches underwhelming. Yet t he demonization of him reaches new lows each month, the ignorant hatred of a growing minority of the American public rising in a seemingly endless crescendo of intolerance, bigotr y and self-righteousness.
In 1991, Democrats accused President George H. W. Bush of manipulation for a similar speech to students. In 2001, his son spoke to “the children of the country” to urge t heir support for a war in Afghanistan. But in neither case did the hatred reach such infernal heights. Most school districts in the North Texas area chose not to require the viewing of the speech, giving students and teachers the choice to watch it later. In other words, Obama’s speech — advocating selfdetermination over handouts and external blame, including for racism — will never reach the ears of most students in the area. C ong r at u lat ion s, Tex a s school administrators. You have allowed a vocal minority to h ijack even t he publ ic school system. W hen a rg u ment a nd discussion are usurped by zea lotr y and institutiona lized paranoia, the pillars of a democratic society begin to buckle under the pressure. Fractured by TV personalities who reward those who shout loudest and wounded by pundits who cite rebellious quotes of the founding fathers as though President Obama’s administration were t he second coming of t he British empire, the America of progress and power falls further into ruin. Given the chance to finally unite with the president on an issue universally vital to our future, conservatives chose to pillory the president yet again. The education system in this county has become the servant of economic imperatives and toothless discus-
sion. How w ill children be molded into adults who think critically without challenging their most cherished beliefs? How will students know the difference between a logical argument and mere demagoguery if they are not pushed to question themselves and those around them outside of an ineffectual, politically correct curriculum? They won’t, of course, and the regression of compassion and humility will continue. The changing, complex definition of what it means to be American will be reduced to ambiguous conf licts of us vs. them. The dehumanization of neighbors, friends, teachers, politicians and presidents will persist, worsening with the passage of time and the nurturing of uncontested dogmas. If we trust the fundamental nature of this countr y, we must recognize its roots in the confrontation of ideas and not the avoidance of them, in listening before speaking and never allowing fear to subjugate reason. The speech airs at noon today. Please watch it.
Andrew McLemore is a journalism senior and the Editorin-Chief of the Daily. He can be reached at northtexasdaily@ gmail.com.
Alumna competes in ‘Project Runway’ If the excitement and exhilaration of previous “Project R u n w a y ” e pi s o d e s h a v e been remarkable in terms of design and talent, then hold on to your seats for the sixth season, which brings the UNT fashion department into the limelight. UNT alumna Shirin Askari, native of Richardson, Texas, joins 15 ot her competitors for t he chance of w inning the ultimate prize package for a ny i nspi r i ng fa sh ion designer. For 24-yea r-old A sk a r i, design has been a big part of her life since she was a young girl. “I made a little white dress, with blue hearts. I was seven years old,” she said to Lifetime television network. “I ta ke inspiration f rom different places. I’m not all about one designer or one t hing. I a lso love going to ga lleries and ta k ing inspiration from sculptures and architecture and things that a re not necessa r i ly ot her fashion,” she recent ly told the North Texan. T he i nterest s of t he designer are surely keeping t he judges i n awe of her creat ive ga r ment s. In episode t h ree she received great praise
from Rebecca Romijn for designing an evening, Greek-inspired, maroon gown with comfort in mind. The sense of smocking at the waistl i ne, d raper y a nd choice of fabrics a nd tex t u res leaves Askari as a definite st a ndout among the other designers in the competition. Among the crowd are other designers with ex pertise f rom some of t he top ra n k i ng design schools in the country. Graduates of Pa rsons, Pratt a nd the Fashion Institute of Te c h nolog y a re some of the biggest designer a lu m n i that have b e e n featured o n
the “Project Runway” series. Desig ners Ma rc Jacobs, Alexis Phifer a nd Ph i l l ip L i m, w ho h ave a l l gone to accla imed desig n schools that have made an imprint in the education of fa sh ion, h a v e a l s o pa r t icipated in the show. The question is, ca n UNT be t he nex t Parsons? Well, who k nows what f uture endeavors await us as a university? As of now, t h e s p ot l i g h t feels like a great accomplishment for ou r desig n program and its graduates. Shirin Askari being presented on t he s how could possibly become a new ta ke on t he fashion industry, representing other
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
educ at iona l back g rou nd s and demographics where new talent resides. Until t hen, t he designer offers some great advice to prospe c t ive de sig ner s at UNT. “Not only know what you wa nt to do but don’t get discouraged,” she said. “Work ing rea l ly ha rd is very important. I think some people say they want to be a fashion designer but they aren’t willing to put in the immense amount of time and hours that it takes to do it well. During my last semester I was pulling about three allnighters a week. Just keep work ing at it. A ll the hard work will hopefully eventually pay off.”
Dominique Williams is a merchandising senior. She can be reached at dnwilliams07@ yahoo.com.
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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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Page 8 Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sports
Justin Umberson
Sports Editor ntdaily.sports@gmail.com
UNT soccer team splits weekend games SMU hands Mean Green its first loss BY SEAN GORMAN Senior Staff Writer
The Mea n Green soccer team failed to score for the first time this season on the road Friday against Southern Met hod ist Un iversit y, but rebounded Sunday with a win over Texas Tech University. Friday at SMU (1-0) The UNT of fense stayed stagnant all game as the Mean Green (3-1) was shutout by the SMU Mustangs 1-0. After securing a loose ball in front of the Mean Green net, Scovill scored her first career goal in the 10th minute to give SMU the early lead. The goal was the first surrendered by goalkeeper Mandy Ha ll, a histor y junior, t his season. “SMU is a very good school, but we felt like we could have competed at a higher level against them,” head coach John Hedlund said. Despite U N T’s 12 shot at tempt s, compa red to
the eight attempted by the Mustangs, the Mean Green failed to strike back with a score all game. Midfielder Ellen Scarfone, an undeclared freshman, and forward Michelle Young led UNT with four shots while midfielders Kendall Juett and Kelli Lunsford, a n applied behav ior a na ly sis sen ior, created some chances with two each. “We did a good job staying composed, but I still think we cou ld have won t hat game if we had done more on offense,” Juett, a sociology senior, said. Sunday against Texas Tech University (3-2) In t he tea m’s f irst overtime game of the season, the Mean Green defeated the Red Raiders 2-1. M ic he l le You n g ’s f i r s t career goal early in the first half gave the Mean Green the early lead. “It was really exciting to get involved and score my first goal,” Young, an undeclared freshman said. “As a whole our offense made things a lot easier for me to make plays and I was able to take advan-
tage of that.” A late score in t he 74t h minute by Tiffini Smith was the highlight of an otherwise uneventful second half and evened the score for the Red Raiders to force overtime. T he Me a n Gre en took cont rol in over t ime, outshooting the Red Raiders 4-0 and scoring in the sixth minute to secure the win. Juett provided the winning score after outrunning three Tech defenders to t he ba ll a f ter a header t hat went straight up in the air. “I’m proud of the character that we showed in overtime,” Hedlund said. “Texas Tech came out and played somewhat complacent and looking comfortable with just a tie, but our seniors took charge and put us in a position to win.” Juett led the team with a season high nine shots en route to scor i ng her 10t h career game winning score. “It felt great to get this one, PHOTO BY KHAI HA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER especially after we thought we Senior midfielder Kelli Lunsford squares off against Texas Tech defender Morgan Johnson. UNT won the game Saturday could have defeated SMU on in overtime 2-1. Friday,” she said. The team is riding a three“I can see this as a cham- conferences like the Big 12 when it hosts Baylor University game winning streak against pion s h ip c a l i b e r t e a m ,” goes to show how competitive at 7 p.m. Friday as Hedlund Big 12 opponents dating back Hedlund said. “The success we can be at any level.” attempts to w in t he 200t h to last year. The team returns to action game of his coaching career. of this program against big
PHOTO BY CLINTON LYNCH / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Soccer coach John Hedlund talks to his team after defeating Texas Tech University 2-1 over the weekend. The Mean Green waited until the end to score the game-winning goal in its overtime victory.
Hedlund closing in on 200 wins BY SEAN GORMAN Senior Staff Writer
A f ter lead i ng t he Mea n Green soccer tea m for 15 y e a r s , he a d c o a c h Joh n Hedlund is now one victory from the milestone of 200 for his coaching career. A s he a ppr o a c he s t he accomplishment, Hed lund says he is both honored and surprised to have a chance at achieving the feat. “I’ve been coaching for a long time but didn’t realize I was so close to this great milestone until recently,” he said. Since starting the program in 1995, Hedlund has led the program to t hree Sun Belt Conference regular season t it le s a nd t w o Su n Belt C on f e r e n c e Tou r n a m e nt titles, en route to a winning percentage of .727. “He is a g reat coach on every level and instills confidence in all of his players,” captain Kendall Juett, a sociology senior, said. “To be able to play with him for my whole career has been great.” U N T t h r ived at a h ig h level under Hedlund during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The team made two straight appea ra nces to t he NC A A Tournament, while owning t he nat ion’s t h i rd longest w inning strea k, 15 games, and attaining a school record 16 wins in 2004. “The great thing is that I
see a lot of the trademarks that we had on those teams on today’s group,” he said. “We have the character and talent to continue to perform on a high level this year. Many of Hedlund’s w ins have come at home, as the Mean Green owns a record of 76-7-5 at the Mean Green Soccer Field since the 2000 season. “T he success of t h is program has been tied to our ability to protect our own turf and the sense of pride that we have when we play at our own stadium,” he said. Hedlund has led players to countless individual accompl i sh ment s, c oach i ng 49 players on the All-Sun Belt Conference Team and 15 on the All-Region Team. “It really makes it that much more worth it as a coach,” he said. “When you see your players succeed, coaching becomes t hat much easier and more enjoyable.” Coach i ng for mer Mea n Green forward Marilyn Marin is one of Hedlund’s biggest achievements. Marin had the best season of any player in UNT history in 2002, leading the nation in goals, points and points per game. A fter four years at UNT, Marin collected 214 points and 88 goals, while being the only UNT player ever selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference
Team every season. Consistenc y has been a staple of the Plano native’s career, as UNT had winning seasons in all of its 14 years and is the only Sun Belt team to make the conference tournament in each of the last eight years. “Since the beginning, we’ve raised the bar high and have stayed competitive enough every year to get the most out of what we have,” he said. Under Hedlund’s leadership, the Mean Green studentathletes have prospered in the classroom as well. Over the last year, ever y member of the team has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while six have earned a perfect 4.0. UNT has placed in the top 10 percent of NCA A soccer teams academically twice in the past three years. “Our players a re just as competitive in the classroom as they are on the field,” he said. “It could really help with recruiting for the future. Our players know that getting a degree is the most important thing while they’re here.” Before coaching, Hedlund le a r ne d a bout t he g a me du r i ng a 12-yea r play i ng ca reer w it h t he New York Express, Dallas Sidekicks and the Dallas Rockets. “I’v e b e en w it h m a ny coaches and learned something from all of them,” he said.