9-11-09 Edition

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Art and love A new Denton art exhibit features artwork created by couples Insert Page 4 Friday, September 11, 2009

News 1,2 Sports 3 Classifieds 4 Games 4 SCENE Insert

Volume 94 | Issue 10

Stormy 82° / 69°

ntdaily.com

The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas

Construction continues on passenger rail Two stops added in Denton

Construction upsets residents, complex

CHRIS SPEIGHT

BY MELISSA BOUGHTON

Senior Staff Writer Denton residents will have the option of taking a train to Dallas rather than a car beginning December 2010.

Officials said the rail will be cheaper and cleaner than other forms of transportation and will ease traffic congestion along Interstate Highway 35.

Denton Cou nt y Tra nsit Authority started construction in May on the A-train passenger rail, said Dee Leggett, vice president of communications and planning for the Denton County Transit Authority.

The rail will connect Denton and Carrollton.

Matt Ezell, a business junior, commutes from Carrollton several days a week and said he would use the train to reduce the money he spends on gas.

“Being able to get from Dallas to Denton would be cool to go see shows in Dallas or to go to bars and clubs,” he said. “Any type of public transportation is a good idea in my opinion.”

There will be two stops in Denton and three in Lewisville that will connect with the Dallas

Staff Writer

PHOTO BY MELISSA BOUGHTON / PHOTOGRAPHER

Denton resident Wade Martin on Thursday points out where he used to run on the pedestrian/bike trail that is under construction for the DCTA A-train passenger rail. Martin lives at Colorado Court apartments and is unhappy about the changes taking place.

Area Rapid Transit system at its Trinity Mills station in Carrollton, said Tom LeBeau, vice president of rail development and capital projects and Denton County Transit Authority.

“The A-train rail is a 21-mile

commuter rail system that will have five stations,” he said.

Leggett said the train would run Monday through Saturday with service every 20 minutes during peak commute times and hourly service during the minimal traffic hours.

The transit authority said it hopes to ease congestion along the I-35 E corridor, especially once a 5-to-10-year construction project to widen the interstate begins, Leggett said.

“Traffic congestion on I-35 E is already significant, you

put construction into that mix, you’re going to have kind of a perfect storm of a nightmare of traffic,” she said. “We hope we can alleviate congestion.”

See A-TRAIN on Page 2

Construction for Denton C ou nt y Tr a n s p or t a t ion Authority’s A-train passenger rail began in July, and many residents who live near it are not happy about the changes.

The construction closed the pedestrian/bike path already in place between Duncan Street and Shady Oaks Drive for crews to work on the Morse Street Bridge and clear out vegetation.

Apartment employees and residents at Colorado Court said they were surprised to find the trees near their complex cut down and cleared.

“We were given a heads up that construction would be occurring at some point, but we didn’t know when,” Samantha Noel, a leasing agent for the complex, said. “They didn’t tell us that the trees were going to be taken down, we just kind of found out one day when we went outside and saw it.”

See RESIDENTS on Page 2

Obama’s speech on health care sparks divisive debate

BY A MBER A RNOLD Senior Staff Writer

PHOTO BY CLINTON LYNCH /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Former ambassador to India Swashpawan Singh spoke Thursday at UNT about India’s growing democracy and expanding economy.

Ex-U.N. envoy talks tolerance

BY T.S. MCBRIDE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A former ambassador of India to the United Nations Office in Geneva spoke to students Thursday about topics ranging from stabilizing Afghanistan to snake charmers.

Swashpawan Singh’s lecture, titled “India: More Fact Than Fiction” brought in a crowd of about 80 people to the Art Building 223.

His lecture focused mostly on educating students about the world’s largest democracy, its relationship with the international community and its future.

Jean Schaake, the associate dean for academic affairs of the College of Arts and Sciences, was contacted by the World Affairs Council to see if UNT would want to host the event with the ambassador and a separate event featuring his wife.

“One of the strategic goals of this university is to internationalize our campus,” Schaake said.

“We would like all our students

to travel abroad but that’s not possible, so we would like the world to come to them.”

Singh was in the area to give a speech at a council event at the Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas.

“I think he made some very valid points about the future of U.S. and Indian relations, as well as India’s role in Afghanistan,” Jennifer Williams, an international relations senior, said.

Other topics covered in the lecture included India’s economic growth, which has rivaled China’s and remained strong throughout the recession.

“Despite the economic downturn we hope to do about 6.5 percent. We hope it will be seven percent,” Singh said. “We have a drought. We have not had enough monsoon.”

Singh also discussed how enthusiastic his countrymen are for the democratic process, citing a recent election with 828,000 polling stations and millions of electronic voting

machines, which, he said, went off without a hitch.

“We were seriously thinking we might do a transfer of technology with the state of Florida,” he said, bringing out a laugh from the crowd.

Singh cited India as an example of a country with religious tolerance, noting the many religions practiced there.

“We all grew up taking for granted that all these faiths could coexist,” he said. “We have to be tolerant of each other. That sort of bugs me. What is tolerance? We have to go beyond that to acceptance.”

Singh said that through the “soft power” of cultural influence, India’s image has changed.

“People think of India and think of snake charmers, elephants and poverty. You know, the first time I went abroad, I was asked ‘Do you guys sleep in beds?’ I said: ‘No I sleep in a tree.

It’s much nicer there.’”

See DIPLOMAT on Page 2

Health care reform bills have kept Congress and the entire country in a whirlwind of debate for the past few months.

In President Barack Obama’s speech before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday regarding health care reform, he attempted to not only explain the reasoning for his support of health care reform and an inclusion of a public option, but to also clarify facts in the bills and dispel rumors.

The estimated 10-year, $900-billion reform plan would allow those without insurance or adequate insurance to shop for health coverage at competitive prices, slow the growth of health costs for the American people and provide laws against insurance companies excluding those with preexisting conditions, Obama said.

What this reform will not do, Obama said, is “set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens,” insure illegal immigrants or pay for abortions.

So fa r, conser vat ive Republicans have been blamed for the spread of these myths.

However, Dale Yeatts of the sociology faculty said he believes the blame should be focused on pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies — the ones who stand to lose money.

“The people making money off of the health care system don’t want it to change,” he said. “If that means fabricating things from Obama’s proposal, then that’s what they’re going to do.”

UNT College Republicans chairman Trayton Oakes,

pointed to the cost and government control as his reasons for opposing the public option.

“It would lead to a government take-over the health insurance industry,” said Oakes, a political science and economics junior.

Early in his address, President Obama called on congressmen and women to “stop bickering,” and called for action.

Jeffrey Rous of the economics faculty pointed out a problem that arose when the Health Maintenance Organization appeared in 1973 as a contrast to traditional insurance.

Because HMOs offered fewer services and fewer choices of doctors, they were cheaper, which led to healthy people moving to HMOs and left no one to balance out the costs at traditional insurance companies.

However, James Swan of the sociology faculty disagrees, saying

that the government’s position on health care along with the added public option can only benefit the economy.

“I’m optimistic after the speech that there will be some sort of public option to create more competition … not only among insurance companies, but also among plans,” he said. “To keep people from doing this, insurance companies need to have the same benefits package in their public option.”

The common theme, and the point that President Obama reiterated is that health care, the way it is right now, is not working, and Yeatts agrees.

“If you’re in a boat and the boat is sinking, you have a choice, you can either go down with it, or you can just get on that boat over there,” Yeatts said when asked about the transition to a new health care system.

Friday 09.11.2009

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WaxSCENE

Brooke Cowlishaw Scene Editor ntdailyscene@rocketmail.com

Waxy wonders attract Dallas-area visitors

BY MORGAN WALKER Staff Writer

A n a bu nd a nc e of l i fel i ke figures stands on display at Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works in Grand Prairie.

Though the drive from Denton can be lengthy — about an hour — students can spend an entire evening ta k ing pictures w it h Hollywood stars, talk show hosts and all the former U.S. presidents.

The Gra nd Pra irie locat ion originally opened at Fair Park in Dallas, but it was bought by a family company called Classic Attractions in the 1980s, when it was moved to Grand Prairie, sa id Kaylene Stewa r t, event coordinator and Texas Woman’s University marketing senior.

I n Ja nua r y 20 0 4, R iple y ’s Entertainment Inc. bought the family business and began renovations, which included changing the corporate offices into a mirror

maze and creating the laser race, Stewart said.

The wax museum has many d i f ferent sets, i nclud i ng one called the Life of Christ, which gives a wa lk-t hrough of Jesus Christ’s life from his birth to the crucifixion.

T h i s i s a tou r i st f avor ite bec au se chu rch g roups c a n come in and perform sermons in the Sermon on the Mount area, Stewart said. The Grand Prairie location is one of the only Louis Tussaud museums that have the Life of Christ on display.

The exhibit was created when the museum was a family-owned business.

The display starts out as a cave setting with the Bethlehem star where Christ is born and moves into later years of his life where he gives his testimony.

Visitors are t hen led to t he room showing the Last Supper, followed by the crucifixion.

Ot her stor y tel l i ng ex h ibits include t he Road to Freedom which displays American historica l events such as t he Civ i l Rights movement and the making of t he U.S. Constitution, a nd the fairytale room, in which the museum schedules times for Girl Scout groups to come in a nd spend the night.

Though the museum is known as a family and group attraction, it does get a lot of college students, Stewart said.

“We recently got a phone call from a TCU sorority to visit as a group,” she said.

Many groups go in wanting to know how the figures are made, general manager Drew Morales said.

In May, UNT alumni magazine the North Texan covered a story on how wax artist Sonya Va squez created a President Ba rack Oba ma wa x f ig ure in honor of the inauguration.

Vasquez studied scu lpture a nd com mu n icat ion desig n at UNT from 1995 to 1998, according to t he North Texan.

Du r i ng t hose y e a r s , s he a l s o bega n sc u lpt i ng for Ripley’s. “ Wa x a r t i s t s are scarce to come by,” Stewart said, “Sonya makes figures for d i f ferent locat ion s, i nclud i ng the Ripley’s in San Antonio.”

PHOTO BY MORGAN WALKER / STAFF WRITER To s c u l p t a figure, she collects A wax figure of American cyclist Lance Armstrong stands a series of photo- near the entrance of Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works. graphs and tries to get different angles of the face and sculpts them out.

The amount of time it takes to with similar expressions, then sits down with a block of clay build an entire wax figure can vary depending on the amount of detail the body will have.

For instance, if she is sculpting a celebrity female exposing her whole leg, that will take longer t ha n a ma n wea r i ng a su it, Vasquez said.

Right now, Vasquez, Morales and ot her Ripley’s employees are preparing for the haunted house exhibit, which will take place Oct. 23 to Oct. 24 and Oct 29 to Oct. 31.

To f i nd out mor e a b out Vasquez’s wa x creat ions a nd other Ripley’s museum attractions, v isit w w w.palaceof wa x. com.

Page 2 Friday, September 11, 2009

News

Shaina Zucker & Courtney Roberts

News Editors ntdailynews@gmail.com

Denton football team takes time to ‘revitalize’ Josh Pherigo Staff Writer

Singh challenges students to improve the world. “The future is yours,” he said.

Photo by Melissa Boughton / Photographer

Diplomat responds to human rights questions Continued from Page 1 He also said that India is better known for its engineers and explosive economic growth, not to mention its cuisine.

Following the 45-minute lecture, Singh opened the floor to questions from the audience.

He answered questions on such topics as India’s refusal to sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and the best strategy for stabilizing Afghanistan.

Regarding Afghanistan, he

stressed that a solution would require working not just with the Afghan government, but also with tribal leaders.

“If we are to work for political stability in Afghanistan, we have to work with these traditional structures of power,” he said.

Singh expressed frustration with the political ins and outs of the UN in Geneva.

“Human rights is political,” he said. “In the UN in Geneva, there’s a place where all of us sit and have coffee. It’s called the

Serpentine bar, and it’s good to be called the Serpentine bar because that’s where all the snakes are.”

He closed by calling on students to correct the mistakes of his generation.

“Just make up your minds that you want to do something about it,” Singh said. “Don’t wait for somebody else to do it.

Do it yourself. Do it as individuals. Do it within your community, to any area that interests you. But do it. The future is yours.”

Since 2002, the Liberty Christian School Football Stadium has been home to Denton’s own semi-pro football team, The Denton County Patriots.

But in February 2010, the Argyle stadium’s lights will fade and the screams of fans will be silenced.

“We’re taking a break to revitalize the program,” team owner Jim Mundy said. “We’re hiring a new head coach, gathering sponsorships and changing the name of the team to solidify our new image.”

Officials plan to change the team’s name to the Denton County Rhinos in hopes of making a fresh impression with fans before next October, he said.

According to the team’s Web site, the Patriots play other teams from across the state in the semi-professional Texas United Football League.

The league began in 2001 to give players who were unable to participate in a college football program the opportunity to continue playing at a competitive level.

Before becoming owner, Mundy served as the league commissioner and participated as both a player and coach.

“The TUFL is the highest level of minor league football,” he said. “The size and skill of the players rival that of many college teams.”

Local business owner Leven Pendergrass will be joining Mundy as co-owner of the new Denton County Rhinos.

In 2008, as both offensive coordinator and player, Pendergrass helped lead the Hunt County Longhorns to a league championship. He said that he and Mundy hope to achieve the same level of success when the Rhinos begin practice in fall 2010.

Pendergrass also said that the athletes play for a variety of reasons. Some play because they enjoy staying involved in the sport, while others use the team as a stepping-stone to launch a professional career.

“We don’t pay our players,” Pendergrass said. “Most of the time, the players actually have to pay fees and purchase the equipment on their own. These guys are out there because they love to

play the game of football.”

These players dedicate their time to the game because most of them have grown up with the sport. However, most of the players also have their own careers and families.

A former player, Sgt. Jeremy McCombs juggled a career with the Denton County Sherriff’s Department while playing for five seasons. In 2004, a knee injury ended his playing career.

“The game atmosphere was always extremely competitive,” McCombs said. “It’s good hardhitting defensive football.”

Mundy said he remembered McCombs, “the poorman’s Brian Urlacher,” for carrying the title of all-time leader in tackles for the team.

Both Mundy and Pendergrass said they expect great things from the Denton County Rhinos.

The owners said they will be giving away thousands of free tickets in the weeks prior to the season opener in February 2011.

“Our goal is not to make money,” Mundy said. “We want to bring people out to have a good time watching these guys play football.”

Residents: Rail kills beauty Continued from Page 1 The rail line will connect Denton to Carrollton and eventually become part of a bigger transportation project.

Noel said the transportation authority sent a letter to the complex about a year ago explaining that it would be building a rail line through the trail nearby, but did not specify what would go on or when the construction would begin.

Kimberly Durnan, public information manager for the North Texas Rail Group, said all procedures were followed to let the public know of the construction.

“We placed some ads in the newspaper, city officials were aware of the construction, and we posted the information on the DCTA Web site and notified emergency officials,” she said.

Concerns among residents at Colorado Court include noise pollution, the loss of Internet connections and the disappearance of the trees bordering the complex.

Alexandria Ferraris, a resident at Colorado Court and English literature senior, said she is constantly struggling to get her schoolwork done because the Internet connectivity at her apartment is always going in and out.

“It’s a problem because I’m

doing a dual graduate-undergraduate program right now, so it makes it very hard for me to complete my assignments,” Ferraris said.

Wade Martin lives at Colorado Court and used to run on the pedestrian/bike path before the A-train passenger rail construction.

“I don’t really like to run on pavement, but there aren’t really a lot of options now,” he said.

“You know it’s really hard to find a trail like this.”

The destruction of the landscape has also affected potential business for the complex.

Several customers who were shown available apartments close to the construction did not return, Noel said.

“I don’t think we’ve had any move-outs because of it yet, but it is still kind of a work-in-progress,” she said.

The transportation authority told residents in the complex that there would be a sound barrier built between the complex and the A-train, Noel said.

Dee Leggett, vice president of communications planning at DCTA, said the company tries to address residents’ concerns as soon as possible.

“We have taken into consideration all of the nearby communities in all of our construction,” she said. “We are making sure that we minimize the

impact and we are limiting the construction activity to daytime hours.”

The primary concerns to residents will be street closures, but the transportation authority is working closely with the city to make sure proper notification is made and that the streets are closed for as short a time as possible, Leggett said.

Leggett said other concerns involve the destruction of trees.

“It has killed the beauty of this residential area,” Ferraris said.

“One of the reasons I moved here was because it had the nice trees and the path where you could walk.”

Construction for the entire A-t ra in passenger ra i l is expected to end December 2010. The biggest impact that the Denton area will see during the construction period will be early next year when they start building the overpass over Loop 288, Leggett said.

“That is an eight to 12 month process and is a significant component of our project,” Leggett said.

The pedestrian/bike path that is currently under construction will be replaced east of the rail line.

To stay informed about the A-train construction and closures, residents can visit www.dcta.net.

A-train to cost $314 million Continued from Page 1 T he r a i l w i l l c ater to commuter cravings for alternative transportation, Leggett said.

“Students typically desire alternative modes of transportation because it can be more convenient and it’s definitely a cleaner alternative than the car and it’s also a cheaper alternative,” she said.

The rail will cover a 21-mile corridor, which will include a bike and pedestrian path that will eventually connect all five of the rail stations, she said.

“It will replace the existing Denton bra nch ‘ra i l-t ra i l’, w h i c h i s a n e i g ht-m i l e bicycle and pedestrian trail that currently runs between Denton and Corinth,” Leggett said.

The trains will run dieselmultiple-units, which operate using clean burning diesel, LeBeau said. The trains themselves are manufactured in Switzerland.

I n t o t a l , t h e A-t r a i n pa ssenger ra i l costs $ 314 million, Leggett said.

Of that, $250 million comes from Regional Toll Revenue Funds and the remainder is coming from the ha lf-cent sales tax received from the cities of Lewisville, Denton and Highland Village.

“There are no federal funds in this project, it’s all local or regional,” she said.

LeBeau sa id t he t ra nsit authority is working to minimize some costs through an engineering effort by redesigning some of the work to get the same quality products, but at a better price.

DCTA of f icia l s sa id 95 percent of the rail design is complete and they are focused on road crossing improvements, general site clearing, sur vey ing, demolition and drainage work. “ We h a v e a g e n e r a l contractor on board that has started construction of the A-train project and is currently work i ng t he const r uct ion project from the city limits of Carrollton all the way up to downtown Denton,” LeBeau said.

Leggett said the rail would be great for the Denton area.

“W hen you’re looking at the great cities in the United States, most of those cities have a ba lanced transportation network that affords them multiple opportunities for travel, whether it’s by bus, rail or car,” she said.

FoodSCENE

[ ] Food Snobs Banter 219 W. Oak St. Denton

By Chris Speight and Jeph Burton Senior Staff Writer and Contributing Writer

Calm, comforting and cozy are just a few adjectives that come to mind when thinking about Banter, a bistro of sorts.

Banter has a contemporary design that’s not quite minimalist. It is clean and has an open feeling to it.

An edgy, concrete wall takes up the left side. Adorned with abstract, eccentric, “out-there” designs, there are plenty of visual objects to capture attention and start conversations.

Most of the artwork is made up of intricate drawings in stencil, pastel and ink. A feng-shui chain hangs from the ceiling in the corner; it’s interlaced with plastic tubing that drips water into a small pool.

On the bricked right wall, you’ll find the 28-foot-long bar stocked with wine and beer.

The wine selection is limited to say the least, having only two reds and two whites to choose from, but Banter makes up for it with its beer selection, which features a colorful array of some popular beers from around the world.

Jeph started with a glass of merlot and Chris had a Flying Dog Dogtoberfest.

It took 20 minutes for our orders to arrive, but the wait was well worth it.

The Thai chicken salad came in a deep serving dish, filled to the brim with mixed greens and diced chicken. The dressing, an explosively flavorful blend of spice, ginger, peanut butter and soy sauce, was served on the side. Craisins cut the earthiness of the greens and the

Friday 09.11.2009

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dressing, adding a fun kick of sweetness to each bite.

The capresi panini was delicious.

Imagine grilled panini bread coated with basil-pesto oil, melted slices of mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and add turkey. This will cost you $7.99.

The menu features a wide selection of sandwiches, soups, paninis, and salads, all made with fresh ingredients and cooked to order. Almost every item on the menu features a classic pairing made special by the addition of something unique.

All around us, Banter showcased its universal appeal.

The crowd was a mixed bag, some there to take advantage of the free WiFi, others there merely to hang with friends. In the far back, a comfortable lounge area replete with a small bookcase and an assortment of board games can help you kill time.

Your coffee fix can be sated by a Photo by Melissa Boughton / Photographer delicious cup of Banter’s house blend or popular espresso beverages like At Banter, patrons can get a single order of pita bread and hummus for $3.75 or a double order for $6.25 as an appetizer. lattes and macchiatos.

The atmosphere keeps everyone without too much of a crowd. You completely down-to-earth and don’t need to go with a group to enjoy invites its staff to do the same. The yourself here. friendly bartender came to greet us as soon as we hit the bar and was more than Cleanliness happy to make a few drink Service recommendations.

The food was altogether Affordability delicious, but what was Atmosphere most surprising was how Food Quality easy Banter makes it to just hang out. Having finished our meals, the coffee shop/bar ambiBanter Drink Specials ance encouraged us to just lounge around.

Mondays: Real Ale Full It comes as no surprise then that Moon Day, $2.50 this restaurant with a bit of an identity Tuesdays: Flying Dog Tire crisis should also offer live music.

Bite, $2.50 Every Thursday is open-mic night Wednesdays: Hefeweizen, at Banter, while Fridays and Saturdays $3.00 are normally booked for local bands.

Thursdays: All-Day Happy The first Tuesday of every month also Hour, $0.50 off everything kicks off a special night called “Hot Fridays: Mexican Beer, Klub du Denton,” featuring the music $2.50 of Django Reinhardt.

Saturdays: Shock Top, Banter is a great stop because it has $2.75 something for everyone: food, coffee, Sundays: Saint Arnold, alcohol, books, games, free WiFi and $2.75 some very comfortable couches.

It’s a great alternative bistro

Banter

Friday, September 11, 2009

Sports

Sports Editor ntdaily.sports@gmail.com

By Eric Johnson Senior Staff Writer

Volleyball team seeks first victory

By R emington Bird Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy Ball State Daily News /Bobby Ellis

North Texas quarterback Riley Dodge runs with the ball during a 20-10 victory over Ball State University on Sept. 3. and should only get better every week,” offensive line coach Spencer Leftwhich said.

Ohio lost their opener to the University of Connecticut, while managing only 247 yards of total offense earning 16 points.

The Bobcats were held to just 61 yards rushing, while surrendering 259.

UNT’s new balanced offen-

Page 3

Justin Umberson

Football team hosts Bobcats After an impressive victory in its opener, the Mean Green football team (1-0) will now get its first chance to excite its home crowd at Fouts Field on Saturday night against the Ohio University Bobcats (0-1).

UNT’s defense showed a vast improvement from last season’s team that gave up over 47 points a game, allowing only 10 to Ball State University.

Redshirt junior linebacker Craig Robertson and quarterback Riley Dodge, an undeclared redshirt freshman, were named Sun Belt Conference Players of the Week for their efforts.

Robertson, a management major, recorded a career-high of 12 tackles and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Combined with 11 tackles and a forced fumble from Tobe Nwigwe, a sociology redshirt senior, the Bobcats will have their hands full with the Mean Green line backing corps.

“They are so versatile and really work together to lead the defense. They are excited and passionate about the game and are dedicated to winning,” head coach Todd Dodge said.

The offense did its part as well, with Riley Dodge gaining nearly 300 yards of total offense in his first career start and throwing the game winning touchdown pass.

The Mean Green rushed for 296 yards as a team and showed that it will have a more balanced attack this season, with an experienced offensive line opening running lanes for Riley Dodge and company.

“They know the speed of the game and how to read the defense

sive attack could take advantage of an unproven run defense, but Nwigwe feels the key will be the defense again.

“I feel like we can go out there and hold teams to zero points. I am very confident in our defense and this football team,” Nwigwe said.

Students can show their support for the football team

tonight at Clark Park on the corner of Maple Street and Avenue C, with live music at 7:30 p.m. and a pep rally at 9 p.m.

Kick-off is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Fouts Field, and will be the first of six home games for UNT this season.

“I am looking forward to Fouts Field being celebration station this weekend,” Nwigwe said.

UNT (0-7) will still be looking for its first win this weekend after three tough losses last weekend in at the Golden Grizzly Invitational.

The Mean Green volleyball team play this weekend in the Arkansas Razorback Invitational Fayetteville, Ark., where UNT will match up against the University of Kansas (4-2), Jacksonville State (5-2) and host the University of Arkansas (4-3).

The Mean Green has faced both Kansas and Arkansas before with record of 2-1 and 0-3 respectively, but will face the Jacksonville State for the first time.

O ut side h it t er A my Huddleston, an interdisciplinar y studies junior, recorded 20 kills and 23 digs against Oakland University in that tournament. It was the first 20-20 performance by a Mean Green player since 2003.

“We’re doing a lot of mental preparation right now, on top of tough, quick-paced practices,” she said. “KU and Arkansas are big schools, so I’m excited about that.”

Last weekend’s games were decided by a few points and it caused the Mean Green to work on many different aspects of the game.

Setter Marelle Lepmets, an accounting senior, said the team is having trouble finishing during the last few

points of the game.

“We had the same problem last year,” she said. “We have all the physical parts there, all the skills there, and all the heart there. Right now we’re just focusing on being focused and just finishing.”

The three teams scheduled this weekend all have winning records, and it will be a hard environment for UNT to get its first win.

Head coach Cassie Headrick said the practices will not be structured around any one team in the tournament because they are all good and deserve attention.

“We have three teams this weekend, so everything is pretty general,” she said.

“We’re looking at each team and trying to touch on what each team is doing and just going from there. We have got to play each match for itself.”

Headrick has not overlooked the flaws the Mean Green has displayed during the beginning of this season and is working on them on a daily basis in practice.

“We’re just working on our stuff right now, and that’s all we can do,” she said. “We’re just trying to get ourselves to a position where we’re playing to win points and cleaning up what continues to be our weaknesses.”

The Mean Green’s first match in t he A rkansas Invitational will be against Kansas at 5 p.m on Sept. 11.

The Bears and Panthers invade Mean Green field

By Sean Gorman Senior Staff Writer

The UNT soccer team hopes to take advantage of this weekend’s home games. After Saturday, only four of its remaining 13 games will be played at the Mean Green Soccer Field.

The Mean Green will host the Baylor University Bears (3-0-2) at 7 p.m today. and will be back on the field at 11 Saturday morning to take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

After suffering its first loss last Friday, the Mean Green (3-1-0) bounced back with an overtime win against the Texas Tech University on Sunday.

“For us to win a game like that is huge,” said Kendall Juett, a sociology senior. “We stayed

composed when we needed to and made enough plays to come out with a win.”

Juett was awarded for scoring Sunday’s game winning goal by being named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week.

“It’s great to get that kind of award, but the most important thing for me is the success of the team,” she said.

Last season, the Mean Green surprised many by going into Baylor’s home field, defeating the Bears 2-0 in Waco.

Since last year, the Mean Green has had much success against teams from the Big 12, winning its last three contests against the conference.

“We knew coming into this season we’d be challenged by

Photo by Khai Ha / Staff Photographer

Freshman midfielder Carly McDowell moves to clear an opposing corner kick in Saturday’s game against Texas Tech. UNT won in overtime 2-1.

good teams, but we feel like we have enough talent to compete with anyone,” head coach John Hedlund said.

A win this weekend will place Hedlund among the NCA A coaching elite, as he is one win away from 200 career wins.

“This program has wanted to stay competitive and succeed since starting in 1995, and the wins we’ve accumulated are a result of that,” he said.

The Mean Green will need to stop the consistent Hanna Gilmore, last week’s recipient of the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Award. Gilmore has been involved in every goal Baylor has scored this year, totaling three goals and two assists.

The Panthers (0-4-0) have struggled recently, losing their first four games by a combined score of 19-1.

“A key for our club this year is to make sure we take every team we play seriously,” Juett said. “Our expectations for this season are too high to take any games off.”

The Mean Green defense will rely on goalkeeper Mandy Hall, a history junior, who has surrendered two goals in four games this year.

“She’s really carried us so far this year,” said Carly McDowell, a hospitality management freshman.

Injuries became a problem for the team last weekend when Lauren Shockey, a journalism senior, and Kara Brooks, an undeclared sophomore, left Sunday’s game against Texas Tech with concussions.

Shockey is expected to play this weekend, while Brooks is out indefinitely.

“I was impressed with out team’s effort, especially considering the injuries we were going through,” Hedlund said. “We have enough leadership and character to play well no matter who’s on the field.”

FEATURING THE NEW SINGLE

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BY SHWAYZE SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENTPRESENTS A KARZ ENTERTAINMENTPRODUCTION “SORORITY ROW” BRIANA EVIGAN LEAH PIPES RUMER WILLIS JAMIE CHUNG AUDRINA PATRIDGE JULIAN MORRIS MARGO HARSHMAN MATT LANTER CASTING MUSIC COSTUME PRODUCTION MUSIC AND CARRIE FISHER BY JOANNA COLBERT RICHARD MENTO SUPERVISOR JULIANNE JORDAN BY LUCIAN PIANE DESIGNER MARIAN TOY EDITOR ELLIOT GREENBERG DESIGNER PHIL TOOLIN DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

BASED ON THE ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY EXECUTIVE “SEVEN SISTERS” BY MARK ROSMAN

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BY STEWART HENDLER

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© 2009 SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MOBILE USERS: For Showtimes, Text Message SORORITY and Your ZIP CODE to 43KIX (43549)

IN THEATRES FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS 5.56" x 10.5"

Friday 09.11.2009

4

ArtSCENE

Couples share inspiration for di

By Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer

T he Greater Denton A r t s Council is answering one main quest ion w it h t he open i ng of its new ex h ibit: How do couples relate and inspire one another?

Through the “Couples Who Create” ex hibit, t he counci l displays the works of artistic couples, placing them side-byside to show similarities and dif ferences in each of t heir artistic aesthetics.

Eight Denton-area couples

are display ing creative projects such as paintings, photographs, metalwork, sculptures and collages.

The concept came from Corky Stuckenbruck, one of the artists in the show, said Deb Dyer, the Greater Denton Arts Council associate director.

The idea was to show t he resemblances between the two artists’ works.

“It is one of t hose t hings where each couple is going to approach things differently,” Dyer said. “It is supposed to

show t he sensitiv ities in t he couples’ pieces.”

The artwork from each couple is displayed together so viewers can detect these “sensitivities” for themselves.

Some of t he a r t i st pa i r s specialize in the same kind of a rt, while ot hers on ly sha re i n s pi r at ion, c r it ique s a nd enc ou r a gement w it h t hei r partner.

A common inspiration Harlan and Robin Butt are one of the couples presenting

their works in the exhibit. It is the first time they will be in the same display.

T he t wo met at t he Tyler School of Art as art undergraduates and have been married for 34 years.

Harlan Butt said both have ded icated t hemselves to different art forms, but often share the same inspiration.

He is a regents professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design as well as the coordinator of the jewelry and metals prog ra m. He specia l i zes i n

Photo by Cristy Angulo / Photographer

College of Visual Arts and Design professor Harlan Butt met his wife, Robin, at art school in Philadelphia. He does enamel work and she paints.

“

meta lwork wh i le his wife, an occupational therapist, focuses on drawing and painting.

“I s t a r t e d of f bei ng ver y f ig urat ive, a nd he is more spi r it ua l and concise in his work,” Robin Butt said. “Since we’ve been ma r r ied, I Paint have gotten more involved in landscape and the spiritual part, while he has gotten looser in his work.”

Harlan Butt is displaying seven pieces, most of which are vases and incense burners. He said his work mirrors landscapes of Texas and Colorado, the two places he calls home.

Robin Butt is showcasing older and newer works of hers to show the progression of her art.

Her pieces are also centered on nature.

“T hey a re st i l l k i nd of emotional. You can feel the movement of the water and its power,” she said.

Harlan Butt said it will be a different experience being in the same exhibit together. The two have shared criticism and given each other support in the weeks leading up to the event.

“I think she is showing some of her best work,” he said. “I am also interested in seeing the show and how it is displayed as well as seeing other artists from the community.”

Robin Butt said her husband has been working consistently on his pieces 24/7.

“Ever ybody thinks I should bow dow n to h i m ever yday because he is a genius,” she said.

supp ot

Friday 09.11.2009

5

isplayed art

We’re very portive of each ther’s career.

“

– Robert Jessup ting and drawing professor

“He is quite the metal master.”

Complementing each other

He said his painting shows “monster-like creations and hybrid beings.”

“My reac t ion s to h i s paintings are usually, ‘Wow, that’s really strange,’” Faith Scott Jessup said.

She calls her paintings “m a g ic re a l i sm,” of ten show ing rea listic images juxtaposed next to somet h i ng u n related. Her painting displays a large fish.

Bot h a r t i st s chos e a bright blue sk y for t heir background.

The couple said throughout the painting process, they offered each ot her adv ice on how to improve, and they’re excited to be ex hibiting together for the first time.

“We’re very supportive of each other’s career,” Robert Jessup said. “We just looked forward to the opportunity to make these paintings.”

Once t he ex hibit is set up, viewers will enjoy the variety of art displayed, Dyer said.

“It is a show people should come to w ith an open mind,” Dyer sa id. “It is a ver y interesting show with lots and lots

While some couples share the same kind of artistry, others, such as Robert and Faith Scott Jessup, have the same interests.

Ma r r ied for 24 yea rs, bot h artists are painters and wanted to have fun seeing what they would come up with for the exhibit.

In the summer, Robert Jessup, a painting and drawing professor, went to his downstairs studio and his wife, an art teacher at Guyer High School, went to her upstairs studio to begin working on their separate pieces.

Both agreed to make paintings seven and a half feet long and five feet wide.

The couple found t heir pa intings turned out completely d i f ferent w it h few Sept. 22 to Oct. 30 likenesses.

“T hey were ver y 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. much our own kind Meadows Gallery of i mager y, but i n a wei rd way, t hey Greater Denton Arts Council c om ple m e nt e a c h 400 E. Hickory St., Denton other,” Robert Jessup said. “They kind of talk to each other.”

Photo by Cristy Angulo / Photographer

The “Couples Who Create” exhibit displays the work of eight artistic couples.

“Couples Who Create”

Photo by Cristy Angulo / Photographer

The exhibit lasts until Oct. 20th and contrasts the artwork of the husbands to the artwork of the wives.

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WeekendSCENE

Fest celebrates Celtic culture

By K atie Grivna Senior Staff Writer

Kilts and clans from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area will gather Saturday, marking the first Denton Celtic Festival.

The event, held at the North Texas State Fairgrounds at 2217 N. Carroll Blvd. in Denton, will open at 10 a.m.

The festival is put on by the Celtic Cultural Association of Texas, a Denton-based nonprofit organization started in 2007.

Denton has a la rge Celt ic com mu n it y, co-cha i r woma n Nancy Chevalier said.

Cla ns attending t he event include Clan McDuff, Clan McKay and Clan Lamont, according to the festival’s Web site.

The festival will feature four stages w it h per for mers a nd dancers, as well as language work-

shops, vendors and games.

Music performers include the Trinity River Whalers, the Jakeys, Beyond the Pale, BEHAN, Ed Miller, Seamus Stout and Tullamore, among others.

“It is beyond just bar drinking songs,” Chevalier said.

It’s important to have music festivals, entertainment director Seamus Delmont said, because Denton is a music town.

The Denton Celtic Dancers and Murphy Highland Dancers will perform Celtic dances, and the festival will offer workshops with Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic topics and storytellers, she said.

Chevalier said people should “give Irish a try.”

She encourages students to attend the festival to learn about Celtic culture and get a greater sense of their heritage and community.

Get a lot of clothes for a little cash.

About 40 people will participate in the Highland games, she said, which often include events such as the caber toss. About 10 to 12 vendors will also offer Celticstyle items.

The Denton Celtic Festival’s success is important so Celtic festivals don’t die out, Chevalier said.

The Bonnie Knees contest will allow kilt-wearing men and women to compete against one another for the nicest legs and how well they wear the kilt.

The festival gives people the opportunity to wear their family kilt without being laughed at, she said.

“It’s really about having a good time,” Delmont said.

Rebecca Berthume, a social work sophomore, said she has some Irish and Scottish heritage but doesn’t see her dad sporting the family kilt any time soon.

“I love the Renaissance Faire,” she said. “I’m interested in that kind of stuff.”

Admission for adults is $10 and $7 for students with ID. Children 5 years old and younger are free, as are all uniformed militar y personnel, peace officers and firefighters.

If it rains Saturday, the festival will be moved into two buildings on the fairground site.

Parking is $5.

For more information, visit www.celtictexas.org/dcf.html.

[ In theaters today... ] Opinion

By K ip Mooney

Arts & Life Editor

“Sorority Row” St a r r i n g R u me r W i l l i s , Briana Evigan, Carrie Fisher.

Directed by Stewa r t Hendler.

A s a rema ke of t he ’80s slasher f lick “The House on Sorority Row,” this looks unintentionally hilarious and not the least bit scar y, which is actually right up my alley.

Probably not worth $10, but definitely worth a rental in a few weeks (this one won’t last long). Plus, Carrie Fisher’s in it. W ho doesn’t love Ca rrie Fisher?

Other releases include “9” and “Whiteout.”

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“I Can Do Bad All by Myself” Starring Taraji P. Henson, Tyler Perry, Mary J Blige.

Directed by Tyler Perry.

Few directors infuriate me more than Tyler Perry. You get one cheer from Oprah, and you get to churn out terrible movie after terrible movie.

Nearly all of his films have hit No. 1 at the box office, which further proves how foolish the moviegoing populace can be. And don’t get me started on his poster, which apes from ’70s classic “Straw Dogs.”

And you have an Oscar nomination now, Ms. Henson. You can do better than this, playing an alcoholic singer having an affair with a married man who just might realize the error of her ways.

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EntertainmentSCENE

Friday 09.11.2009

7

Yo La Tengo album stays true to original sound

By Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer

Yo La Tengo is a band that has stayed relevant and under the mass audience’s radar for 16 albums.

It is not a drugs, parties and rock-androll kind of band, nor is its sound trying to portray the genre’s biggest clichés.

It has had a consistently modest array of tracks since the late ’80s.

Its latest album, “Popular Songs”, is definitely no different.

The familiar ’90s alternative sound is echoed throughout the album but has elements of new, fresh ideas.

“Popu la r Songs” treads off with “Here to Fall,” a song not to be listened to casually because every second seems to be carefully crafted into a romantic ballad.

Balmy vocals along with a smooth set of violins overtake the experimental psychedelic song, setting the mood for a constantly interesting

table of what is to come.

The sincerity of singer, guitarist and songwriter Ira Kaplan carries the track to another level with poetic lyrics. The repetition of the lyrics with a background of clashing cymbals doesn’t create a typical rock song, but it does carry the listener further into the album to see what is next.

What awaits them is a collection of folk, garage rock and funk genres, all mixed together with the customary carefree sound of the band.

Yo La Tengo keeps listeners on their toes with the Motown throwback “If It’s True.” It begins with an

intro familiar to the Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” to form a knee-tapping tune that shows the band’s versatility.

Although the band alludes to sounds of other decades, the occasional clashing drums from drummer and Kaplan’s wife, Georgia Hubley, and tense bass riffs from bassist James McNew still keep “Popular Songs” a little bit rock and roll.

Immediately after, the group surprises with slow tempo folk whispers all while keeping the band’s reputed relaxed vibe.

Suddenly rock opera-like senti-

ments emerge with the last three songs, totaling more than 35 minutes of Kaplan’s discreet murmurs, complex instrumentation and ending with “And the Glitter is Gone,” a guitar-screeching finale.

Kaplan’s vocals keep the album steady, making the band’s latest a familiar Yo La Tengo endeavor. It is yet another project to survive and surpass today’s music trends.

Longtime loyal fans will not be disappointed.

Spectacle overwhelms story in Tim Burton’s latest

By Brooke Cowlishaw

Scene Editor

It is the age of the machine.

Based on a short film by the same name, “9” opens just before the fall of mankind. Humans become too technological for their own good and fall victim to the machines they created.

In an effort to destroy the animallike contraptions, a scientist creates nine dolls, each with its own personality and skills, all named in the order they were created.

Our hero, 9 (Elijah Wood, “The Lord of the Rings”), wakes up to a

dismal world driven by fear of The Beast, one of the evil machines.

Although the plot is somewhat simplistic, see this movie for the intricate beauty of its animation.

This is Shane Acker’s first major movie to direct. He brings experience from being an animator on “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The movie also comes from producer

Tim Burton, who’s known for his visually captivating films.

For “9,” the setting itself isn’t exactly stunning – a desolate, dirty, post-apocalyptic dump – but the delicate computer animation makes every detail a masterpiece in itself, right down to the threads that hold the rag creatures together.

The same beauty is found in the flawless action

sequences, and it’s easy to forget you’re watching a cartoon. The moving score by Danny Elfman is just the icing on the cake.

But it must be said that this is not a kid film. There are many ways to feel after the movie ends — including triumph, failure, hope and loss — but none of them are jubilance, and it is reasonable to assume that this bitter-

sweet story was meant for an adult’s emotional capacity.

So save “9” for a night when you’re feeling vulnerable because a movie like this is meant to be absorbed, not watched. Where the film lacks in story, it makes up for in artistry.

FashionSCENE

Friday 09.11.2009

8

Fashion embraces man bags

y a l P ss

Pre

By Dominique Beck Staff Writer

Music to Clean to

1 2 3 4 5 6

”Fake Palindromes,” Andrew Bird ”Rebellion (Lies),” The Arcade Fire

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”Kate,” Ben Folds Five

”Title and Registration” Death Cab for Cutie

”Sundress,” Ben Kweller

”Hold Tight!,” Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

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It has been referred to as the man purse, the murse and man luggage, but in the fashion world, it is known as the man bag.

The man bag is a shoulder bag for men used to hold items such as cell phones, pens, notes and other items men are not able to fit into a wallet.

Brian Feldman, co-owner of t he online store M A N-n-BAG, said he would like to get one thing straight: The man bag should absolutely not be called a murse or man purse.

“The term ‘man purse’ is an oxymoron,” he said. “Murse is a combination of merk in and purse, but I’ll leave that up to your readers to look that up on their own.”

Feldma n sa id t he ma n bag is not just a fashion trend. It actually helps men with medical issues.

“We’ve received testimonials from people who purchased man bags from our store saying that it saved them from back pain,” Feld ma n sa id. “A wa l let ca n only hold so much, and sitting on a stuffed wallet can be very uncomfortable.”

Women are different from men, Feldman said. They carry purses.

Men don’t.

“The law of physics dictates that no matter how hard you try, you can’t you can’t fit your cell phone, PDA and other gadgets into a fat worn wallet,” he said.

UNT alumnus Ayveel Robinson is a fan of wearing man bags, and to him, the man bag is an essential accessory.

“The man bag used to be a sign of femininit y or being homosex ua l, but as I grew older, I started to realize that I had a lot of things that I needed to be with me at all times instead of being left behind in a car or at home,” Robinson said.

Photo by Drew Gaines / Photographer

Kyle Russel, an English language sophomore, displays his shoulder bag. Sometimes called a man bag, this fashion accessory garners mixed reviews from the public.

Just like a purse would for a woman, the man bag holds all of his necessary things, he said.

“I used to have to ask a woman I didn’t know if she had lotion because I was shy. Now, I just go to my man bag,” he said. “From my wallet and cell phone to my medicine and lip chap, my man bag is the best thing for me to carry what I need.”

Feldman said one of the most popular questions his Web site receives about the man bag is:

W hat’s w rong w it h t he fanny pack?

“It is no longer t he ’80s,” Feldman said. “Fanny packs rate up there w ith cell phone belt clips, but if you like cute stringy things hugging your waist, wear them. But men wear man bags.”

History senior Andrew Morris said although he can see why some men would have it, the man bag is not for him.

“My wa llet is just f ine,” he said.