Cleaning up
discussion keeps on rolling NEWS: A-train Page 2 Soccer team fails to overcome key injuries SPORTS: Page 5 Religion and science not mutually exclusive VIEWS: Page 6
Group works to ‘green’ up tailgating Page 4
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
News 1,2 Arts & Life 3,4 Sports 5,8 Views 6 Classifieds 7 Games 7
Volume 94 | Issue 39
Sunny 71° / 50° The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
ntdaily.com
Student fights SGA on upcoming vote BY CAROLYN BROWN Senior Staff Writer
To read the Daily
editorial on this A UNT student is attempting story, see Page 6 to block the Nov. 16 special election about whether to allow same-sex couples on the Homecoming court. Stephen Benavides, a polit- sense to have the very same ical science junior, filed a people hear the case again,” brief Monday arguing that Benavides said. SGA president Da kota t he Student Government Association’s supreme court Carter said he stands by the should approve the change referendum. “I think it’s a great idea for and stop the student vote. “By ma k ing the entire students to get to voice their student body vote on it, opinions,” he said. “What’s a you’re basically making them better way to do that than to complicit in discrimina- let them vote?” Benavides’ action tion,” said Benavides, is the latest in a series who is chairman of of protests against UNT’s chapter of the SGA’s handling of the American Civil the amendment. Liberties Union. The student The student senate senate’s failure to voted on Oct. 21 to pass the bill has ta ke t he issue to generated controa bi nd i ng refer- DAKOTA ver s y i n re c ent endum. CARTER weeks, including a Benavides is trying to invalidate the referendum, protest and march during a stating in his brief that current previous senate meeting. Carter also disagreed with Homecoming court rules unfairly discriminate against the request to form additional same-sex and gender-neutral parts of the judicial branch, which he said violates the couples. The brief includes refer- student constitution. “I think our supreme court’s ences to the student constitution, SGA bylaws, Student Code purpose is to interpret the of Conduct, Center for Student bylaws, not enact new ones,” Rights and Responsibilities he said. However, Carter said he and federal law. The brief also calls for the is looking forward to the formation of trial and appel- supreme court hearing, which late branches of the SGA’s will take place later this week judicial branch to mirror the or next week. “I am greatly happy that structure of state and federal people a re ut ili zing t he courts. “It seems if you take a case processes of the university,” before the supreme court he said. and they turn it down and you appeal it, it doesn’t make See PROF on Page 2
PHOTO BY DREW GAINES/PHOTOGRAPHER
Freshman wide receiver Darius Carey runs in for his first of two Mean Green touchdowns in Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky University.
Mean Green earns first home win in more than two seasons BY ERIC JOHNSON Senior Staff Writer
After missing the previous game with a high ankle sprain, UNT’s quarterback Riley Dodge ignored the pain and led his team to its first victory since opening night, Sept. 3. The Mean Green (2-6, 1-4) scored the most points in a game since 1957 in its 68-49 victory over the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers. With the win, UNT waved goodbye to its six-game losing streak and 15-straight conference losses, led
by Riley Dodge’s performance. “This game showed what our offense is capable of doing,” said Riley Dodge, an undeclared redshirt freshman. “We have missed some opportunities this year, and I put that on my shoulders, but we really grew up as an offense tonight.” He pic ke d apa r t t he Hilltoppers for 332 total yards and seven touchdowns, the second-most touchdowns by one player in the history of the Sun Belt Conference. His effort earned him his second Sun Belt
UNT funds new Immigrant Research and Policy Center BY MELISSA BOUGHTON Senior Staff Writer
PHOTO BY MELISSA BOUGHTON/PHOTOGRAPHER
Loring Taoka and Deanna Ooley, metals graduate students, stop by the metals club sale to check out the handmade jewelry. Students sell jewelry 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the Art Building.
Metals Club sells jewelry BY MELISSA BOUGHTON Senior Staff Writer
Students can start their Christmas shopping early this year at the UNT Metals Club jewelry sale in the Art Building. The UNT Metals Club sells an array of eclectic, handmade jewelry in an effort to raise money and show its work. The club features either a sale or fundraiser every semester. The fall sale runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. “It’s just kind of a cool opportunity for other people to see what we do besides what’s hanging in the gallery,” said Amy Jewell, a metals junior and
vice president of the metals club. Jessamine Vermillion, alumni and metals club member, said one of goals of the fall sale is to fund the club’s trip to Houston for the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference in March. “We are very excited about it since the last one was very far away, so we are trying to get some money to help with that,” Vermillion said. Vermillion said the money also goes to club activities such as paying for a visiting artist to do demonstrations or give a lecture. Hilari Oller, a fibers graduate student, said the sale is a benefit
The green-and-white lightConference Player of the Week ning bolt f lashed through award. “As a father I am very proud, Western Kentucky for 227 yards, but I am even more proud as a his fifth-straight game eclipsing coach,” said head coach Todd 100 rushing yards. With time winding down Dodge. “The ball was in his hands all night and he made in the third quarter and the great decisions. He made big Mean Green trailing by seven, plays and got the ball in our Dunbar broke through the playmakers’ hands. We have line and exploded for a careerthe makings of something that long 71-yard touchdown run, which was also the longest play could be very special.” Running back Lance Dunbar from scrimmage this season was stuck on fast-forward while for UNT. the Hilltoppers defense was left stunned in his wake. See LINEBACKER on Page 5
to buyers because it gives them a chance to take-home, oneof-a-kind work done by other students. “I always come to the jewelry sale,” Oller said. The sales also helps the metals students get an idea of how to market their work, said Harlan Butt, of the College of Visual Arts and Design faculty. “It gives them a chance to experience what the world is like in terms of marketing and selling their objects,” Butt said. “Sometimes art objects are hard to sell, but they have a builtin audience here within the college campus.”
See UNT on Page 2
In an effort to improve immigrant research and understanding, the university is launching the new Immigrant Research and Policy Center this fall. Wendy Wilkins, the provost and vice president of academic affairs, approved more than $288,000 for the next four years in August to get the newly founded Immigrant Research and Policy Center started. Todd Jewell, a professor of economics, will serve as the center’s director and has put together a steering committee to begin strategic planning. “There are so many facets to this and it is so interdisciplinary and one of the strategic goals of the university is to enhance interdisciplinarity,” he said. “And this falls right into that.” Jewell said the center is in the beginning stages and has at least 20 confirmed, interested faculty members. Jewell also said there are more than 50 total faculty members on campus that do research or teach something about the immigrant experience that he hopes can get involved. James Meernik, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the center will bring together faculty and students who are doing interdisciplinary research on immi-
to support activities such as gration and immigrants. Jewell said the center will annual academic conference focus on research involving and a guest lecture series. Meernik, also a member of immigrants and not necessarily the center’s steering committee, immigration as an action. “What we want to concen- said he believes these types trate on is the entire immigrant of opportunities will benefit experience,” Jewell said. “The everyone at UNT. “I think there’s going to be actual immigration process is one part of the immigrant great opportunities for faculty and the students to research experience.” The center will also conduct in this area and to engage in research about immigrant outreach in light of the different policy. Jewell said he believes community groups that reprepolicy research will better sent a lot of the different immigrant populations,” he inform policy-makers said. and policy decisions. Meernik said he “We t hink t hat thinks the first year informing policyor so will be devoted makers, if not the to planning out what general public, about types of research and immigrants and about outreach activities the immigrant expeshould be involved rience is just going to TODD with the center. foster a lot of under- JEWELL “I think there is standing and w ill probably foster more toler- actually probably going to be a lot of activity involved ance,” Jewell said. Jewell said the center will in getting the center off the fill one role of disseminating ground,” Meernik said. “So research and informing other probably, the really visible academics, in addition to activity won’t be starting until next fall.” policy-makers. Hilario Compean, a biology “One of the major goals is we want to be known as a place senior, said he believes the where people can come and get center will bring more awarethat knowledge, and we want ness and understanding to the to be known as a place that, issue of immigrants and immiif somebody has a question, gration. “I think it’s about time that … they can come and get it people start looking at this sort answered here,” Jewell said. Though the center is still of issue from a human standin planning stages, Jewell point, rather than a selfish said the funding will be able one,” Compean said.
Page 2 Tuesday, November 3, 2009
News
Shaina Zucker & Courtney Roberts
News Editors ntdailynews@gmail.com
Prof: ‘Good democracy balances opinions’ Continued from Page 1 John Booth of the political science faculty helped Benav ides put t he brief together, and said Benavides
is bringing up some valid concerns. “A g o o d d e m o c r a c y balances the opinions of the majority with a good set of rules to protect the rights of
the minorities,” he said. Mon ica Her mosi l lo, a photography freshman, said she thought there would always be conf lict, even if the referendum passes.
“I think for equality there’s always going to be a conflict,” she said. “If we vote ‘yes it’s fine,’ we might have all guys winning it, and what would happen to the girls?”
Hermosillo also said she liked the idea of the referendum. “I think it is fair because it gets us involved, and it’s our peers,” she said. “We’re going
to be voting for them, so why not vote for the rules?”
Sept. 30
Sept. 23
Same-sex Homecoming bill introduced
Nov. 2
Oct. 20
Benavides files brief challenging referendum
SGA supreme court declares removal procedure unconstitutional
Oct. 14
Students protest at SGA meeting and senators complicate removal procedure
To read previous stories on this issue, visit: ntdaily.com
Same-sex Homecoming bill timeline: Student senate denies proposed amendment
Online: Archives
Oct. 21
SGA approves referendum allowing students to vote on issue
Nov. 16 to 20
Students to vote on same-sex Homecoming court bill
A-train coming to Denton BY TIM MONZINGO Intern
The Denton County Transit Authority has offered UNT commuter students buses running from Dallas to Denton for years, but its newest and most expensive project has yet to come. The DCTA’s A-train is the most recent attempt to ease Interstate Highway 35 E congestion and give people another option for getting from Dallas to Denton besides cars and buses. “Congestion on I-35 was and is only getting worse, and Denton County is one of the fastest growing small urban counties in the United States,” said Dee Leggett, a spokeswoman for DCTA. Leggett said the train is a way to make life easier on commuters. C on s t r uc t ion on t he first phase of the project c on ne c t i ng Da l la s a nd Lewisville is underway and
will be completed by December 2010. The Denton phase of the project won’t be operational until the middle of 2011, Leggett said. The $314 million project will work in conjunction with the existing bus system to provide UNT commuter students with a direct line from the DCTA bus station in downtown Denton to campus. Joe Richmond, UNT assistant director of transportation services, said the train will provide students with another way to get around. “Currently, students ride the commuter express and this will provide one more transportation option,” Richmond said. DCTA has an agreement with the school that allows students to use their systems free of charge, but how that will translate to the A-train is still undetermined. “DCTA a nd UNT a re discussing that,” Richmond said. “We just haven’t really gotten to
that point yet.” L e g get t a g re e d w it h Richmond and said that DCTA hopes it can offer a cheaper fare for students. Grace Young, an interdisciplinary studies junior, said she thinks the A-train is a good idea. “I think I would use it to save money on gas to go see a show or something,” Young said. Young said as long as tickets are cheaper than a tank of gas, she would definitely use it. The rail will use diesel-electric engines to pull passenger cars that can carry up to 200 people. Leggett said the system was designed to transition from the diesel engines to other types of energy as the area becomes more urbanized. The f ina l operat iona l schedule is still being planned, but the DCTA plans to run trains Monday and Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to DCTA’s A-train Web site.
Upcoming Rail Discussion • The Denton City Council will hold a work session at 4:30 p.m. and a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St. • The agenda includes a vote on whether to extend an agreement letting the Denton County Transportation Authority access a Denton Rail Corridor to build its A-train passenger rail line until Dec. 15.
PHOTO BY MELISSA BOUGHTON/PHOTOGRAPHER
Hyrum Benson, a visual arts adjunct faculty member, looks at jewelry outside the art gallery in the Art Building at the Metals Club sale Monday.
UNT club offers ‘handmade jewelry for a reasonable price’ Continued from Page 1 Jewell said the club members spend a lot of time preparing for the sales in both meetings and jewelry making. “It’s time consuming but it’s enjoyable because it’s what we
like to do,” she said. Anyone can join the metals club, including graduates and non-metal majors, and there are more than 20 active members in the organization. Jewell said the sale will start slow at the beginning of the
week, but usually picks up by Wednesday. More work will also be added as the sale goes on. “It is a good time to find jewelry that’s handmade for a reasonable price,” Vermillion said. “We put a great deal of our blood, sweat and tears into it.”
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Page 3
Arts & Life
Kip Mooney
Arts & Life Editor ntd.artslife@gmail.com
Auction raises money for UNT programs Some businesses donate items despite economy BY MORGAN WALKER Staff Writer
T-shirts, hotel packages and movie tickets lined tables on the first floor of the University Union on Monday as part of a silent auction. Many students, faculty, and staff stopped to place bids at the auction, hosted by UNT’s Division of Institutional Equity and Diversity. “The hotel packages would have to be my favorite because there’re some good deals,” said Cara Walker, a Multicultural Center coordinator. Lanette McClure, another Multicultural Center coordinator, said the center has had the auction for three or four years and the goal is to sell as much as possible to raise money for Multicultural and Women’s centers programs. “Swanky hotels and restau-
rants that usually help us out were unable to this year because of t he economy,” McClure said. “I’ve had to get out and hit it pretty hard to get everything.” Many students stopped by the restaurant tables to see what was offered. Colter Ellis, a general studies freshman, bid on a gift certificate to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. “I’m a big fan of Fuzzy’s and it was kind of a good deal, so if I win I’ll save, like, $7,” Ellis said. Other offers consisted of sporting event tickets, spa treatments and pottery. Almost everything at the auction had a “buy-it-now” price for those who wanted to buy the item rather than bid. W i n n i ng bidder s were contacted immediately so they could come by the Multicultural Center to pick up the items. Last year, the auction raised more than $2,000 and this year’s final amount should be calculated by Wednesday, McClure said.
PHOTO BY CRISTY ANGULO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Caty Cobb, an early childhood education senior, stops by the Multicultural Center’s auction Monday on the first floor of the University Union.
Group recycles at football tailgating, home games BY K ATIE GRIVNA Senior Staff Writer
W hile UNT football fans cheered on the Mean Green inside Fouts Field on Saturday, other students walked around tailgating areas searching for recyclable materials like cans and bottles. The Tailgating Recycling Initiative promotes its recycling prog ra m t hroug hout football games. The program will help the new football stadium receive points to become a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED certif ied, said Nicole Cocco, a studio art senior. “Next year we’ll start over with football season and we’ll have a concrete plan … so that by the time the new stadium is built, we’ll be recycling hopef ully ever y single can out there,” she said During Saturday’s football game, about 15 people volunteered to collect recycle material, which totaled roughly 150 pou nd s, s a id C oc c o, who is also the outreach and communication director for the Office of Sustainability a nd v ice president of t he Nor t h Tex a s E ner g y a nd Environment Club. A f ter t he mater ia l is collected, it is given to UNT
Recycling Services and sold. Materials such as plastics cannot be sold, so they are given to companies who can reuse the materials, Cocco said. The total amount of money UNT Recycling receives is deter m i ned a n nua l ly, she sa id, so t he exact a mount saved f rom t he Ta i lgat ing Recycling Initiative cannot be determined yet. The program is a collaborat ive ef for t bet ween t he Office of Sustainability, the Nor t h Tex a s E ner g y a nd Environment Club and Eco Reps from housing services. Often plastic beverages are not allowed in football games and beverages are served in paper cups, so the members in the program have no control over rec ycl i ng i nside t he stadium, she said. “That is incredibly important to the university economically and also publicity-wise for LEED certification, and it’s also better for the environment because you’re taking that out of the Denton landf ill, so it saves space,” she sa id. “We wa nt to save as much as Denton landfill space as impossible.” At the UNT Homecoming football game on Oct. 17, about 500 pou nds of rec yclable
“There’s no reason to not participate in it. It’s the easiest thing you could do.”
—Danielle Franki Rehabilitation studies sophomore
materials were collected. Members of the Tailgating Recycling Initiative encouraged people to volunteer and created awareness about the program by offering a free
One of the biggest problems for members of the Tailgating Recycling Initiative is when pe ople t h row t r a sh i nto recycle bins or v ice versa, which causes the materials to become contaminated. Da nielle Fra n k i, a rehabi l itat ions st ud ies sophomore, works for t he Off ice of Sustainability and participate d i n t he Ta i lg at i ng Recycling Init iat ive at t he Homecoming game. Franki said she wants the prog ra m to cont inue even when t he new stad iu m is built. “We need to make sure that what we’re doing at the games is also sustainable, not just PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KAITLIN HOAG / INTERN where we’re doing the games,” she said. Franki added that encourt-shirt in return for a full bag aging people to chip in can of recyclable materials. Since more people attended be difficult, especially when the Homecoming game, more pick ing up beer ca ns a nd r e c y c l a ble m a t e r i a l w a s ot her items, can be repulsive. collected, Cocco said.
“There’s no reason to not participate in it,” she said. “It’s t he easiest t hing you could do.” Sarah Phillips, a rehabilitation psychology junior, said she t hinks UNT’s program will cause a chain reaction,” making Denton a more beautiful place to live. “I don’t like seeing trash and having to explain to my son why we can’t go play in that water because it’s filthy,” she said.
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Page 4 Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Arts & Life
Kip Mooney
Arts & Life Editor ntd.artslife@gmail.com
Play turns spotlight on domestic violence By Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer
“The Yellow Dress” event wrapped up Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Monday night with a one-woman play and an open discussion about preventing violence in relationships. The production was a partnership between the UNT Women’s Center, the Office of the Provost, the women’s studies department, and the Denton County Friends of the Family, a local shelter providing housing and counseling to domestic abuse victims and families. Along with the UNT organizations, the shelter took more than two months to plan the night, said Sarah Martinez, community resource coordinator of Denton County Friends of the Family. “It is not something people want to talk about,” Martinez said. “Seeing it in a dramatic way, we’ve found it can be very effective in terms of leaving a lasting impression.” Admission was free, but monetary and item donations were accepted to help Denton County Friends of the Family. “The Yellow Dress” is a dramatic interpretation of what happens to victims during situations of domestic violence, and spotlights one victim named Anna. “It highlights the impor-
tance of understanding abuse as an issue and the importance of stopping, changing and preventing it,” Martinez said. Actress Amie Cazel portrayed Anna, a college student who was in an abusive relationship, questioning whether she should tell her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend of his violent past. Wearing a black dress and st a nd i ng ba refoot, A n na told the audience about her ex-boy f r iend’s cont rol ling behavior, extreme jealousy, possessiveness, constant insults and sexual abuse. Anna then changed into her favorite yellow dress stained with blood after she reveals her ex-boyfriend’s violence reached the point where he ultimately killed her after they had broken up. After the performance, the discussion covered warning signs, prevention and recognizing opportunities for intervention. Lindsay Ripley, an art education senior, said college students need to be aware of relationship abuse. “It’s an issue that threefourths of all women face, so it’s an important event,” Ripley said. “I thought the play was very honest and brought up some very valid points and busted important myths.” “The Yellow Dress” showed how violence in relationships
Photo by Cristy Angulo / Staff Photographer
Actress Amie Cazel performs in the one-woman play “The Yellow Dress” on Monday in the Lyceum. The money donated by viewers of the performance directly benefits the Denton County Friends of the Family, a local shelter providing housing and counseling to domestic abuse victims and their families. can often be mistaken for love and affection, said Lauralee Espinosa, an elementary education senior. “I thought the play showed that abuse really does happen because it showed all the red flags that go on,” Espinosa said. “It was just really powerful.”
Denton County Friends of the Family has offered resources to UNT students, so the Women’s Center wanted to continue to support them, said Uyen Tran, director of organizational development of the Women’s Center. “The event is a really good,
succinct way to get the message across to students about domestic violence,” Tran said. The center has also set up donation boxes around campus to help students get involved with stopping the cycle of family and relationship abuse. “We encourage everyone to
become aware of sexual violence because it doesn’t just affect women, it affects everyone,” Tran said. “It happens across all cultures, and it’s something we need to work toward ending.” For more information and a full list of items needed, visit www.dcfof.org/test.asp.
Ruby, ex-stripper reunited in Dallas mural DALLAS (AP) — After Jack Ruby made a huge splash by killing Lee Harvey Oswald on live television, Joyce Gordon became a ripple. G or d on , a g r e e n- e y e d redhead who was 20, worked as a stripper at Ruby’s Carousel Club on Commerce Street in downtown Dallas. Now, at 66, she is thought to be the last liv ing woman who danced at Ruby’s club during t hat period in November 1963. “I did what I did,” she said last week. “No sense regretting what you’ve done. I had no education and I had to have a way to support my child, and that was the way I did it.” This month marks the 46th a nniversa r y of one of t he most dramatic episodes in American history. President John F. Kennedy was assassi nated on Nov. 22, 1963, Oswald was arrested for his murder, and Ruby shot and killed him on Nov. 24. Entrepreneurs and artists are still pay ing homage to t he characters who played major and minor roles in the
ma ssive i nvest igat ions of Oswald and Ruby. Gordon, who went by the stage name Joy Dale, became one of those characters. Gordon has appeared in a few assassination documentaries over the years but, for the most part, has kept a low profile. Randy Redmond, a colorful Da l la s busi nessma n, is putting a little gloss on her golden years. He is immortalizing Gordon, Ruby and two ot her Carousel Club strippers on a mural in back of his building at 2616 Commerce i n Deep El lu m. Red mond rents the building for parties, a nd t he mura l adorns t he entrance to a faux speakeasy in the alley. Gordon, her youth restored w it h water proof pa i nt, is portrayed sitting on the hood of a police car with the Dallas skyline in the background. “My daughters think it’s kinda cool,” she said. Gordon a nd her 3-yea rold daughter, Cynthia, were riding a city bus to a doctor’s appoi nt ment at Pa rk la nd
Memorial Hospital on Nov. 22, 1963. Several weeks earlier, Cynthia had almost lost an eye in a freak accident. She needed a checkup. “We got to the corner of Houston and Commerce (near Dealey Plaza) and a motorcycle policeman stopped the bus and got on and looked a round,” Gordon reca lled. “Word of what happened had gotten out and people were screaming and crying.” By the time the bus arrived at Pa rk la nd, Gordon sa id, doc tor s had pronou nc e d P resident Ken nedy dead. After the eye appointment, she a nd Cy nt hia took t he bus to the Carousel Club, a second-f loor walkup across from the Adolphus Hotel. It would be the last time she ever spoke to Jack Ruby. “We got there and he was hysterical,” she said. She said Ruby promised to shoot the person who killed Kennedy and she told the FBI. When she and Cynthia got on the bus to go home, Ruby was getting his shoes shined, tears rolling down his cheeks
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as he stroked his pet dachshund, Sheba. The president had been dead for about three hours. Two days later, on Sunday morning, Ruby made history when police tried to move O s w a ld f r om t he p ol ic e station’s lockup to the county jail. He stepped forward with a Colt .38 snub-nose and killed Oswald on live television. To this day, some conspiracy theorists believe the Mafia a nd t he CI A conspired to kill Kennedy and that they used Oswald as a patsy. Some believe Ruby was in the Mafia and that his bosses ordered him to shoot Oswald to cover up their involvement in the assassination. Gordon doesn’t buy those theories. Ruby was just an eccentric who lost his head, a busybody who wanted to be at the center of things in Dallas, she said. “He reminded me of a little old lady in a small town who wanted to know everything going on,” she said. “If there was a Mafia in Dallas, I didn’t know about it.”
Photo courtesy of Jack Beers/Dallas Morning News/MCT
Joyce Gordon, a stripper, was one of the last people to speak with Jack Ruby, who shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Ruby and Gordon’s likenesses now adorn a mural in downtown Dallas.
Obama greets trick-or-treaters WA SH I NGTON (A P) — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama doled out presidential M&Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters Saturday, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families. Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.,
and lined up on the orange-lit White House driveway. Standing outside the White House front door, the Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses. Kids also received a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book. Michelle Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned
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top. Obama said the kids looked adorable, as well as his wife, “a very nice looking Catwoman.” A big, stuffed, black spider dangled in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns. Meanwhile, an odd cast of figures wondered around the North Lawn, including skeletons playing musical instruments, walking trees and “Star Wars” characters. The night’s arrangements took a month or two to prepare, the White House said. The loot handed out was just part of the treat for the visiting kids, who were chosen with help from the Education Department. “He touched my hand,” said a beaming Tiera Thomas, 11, of Washington, D.C., after she picked up her candy from President Obama.
Page 6
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Views
Amanda Mielcarek
Views Editor ntdailyviews@gmail.com
Civil liberties not a matter of debate Editorial The debate over the same-sex Homecoming court amendment will find a conclusion when the matter goes to a binding student vote beginning on Nov. 16. On that day, students will decide whether UNT will allow same-sex couples to run for positions on the Homecoming court. While allowing students to vote on the matter is a better option than the Student Government Association’s original rejection of the bill, the fact remains that an issue of civil rights should never have been debated in the first place. The SGA purports that this vote will allow students to voice their opinions on the matter. Civil rights, however, should not be a matter of opinion. Even if the majority of students vote against the bill, this would prove nothing but the power of a majority to impose its will on a minority. The SGA senators were elected to give voice to all students, no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation. An effective elected body should give voice to and protect the rights of all members of its community, not just the majority. In truth, putting the matter to student vote only succeeds in taking the pressure off of the SGA. The senators found themselves in a lose-lose situation where they faced removal if they rejected the bill and ridicule if they reversed their original decision. Rather than risk removal by making the right choice, they handed off the responsibility to students. Voting is an integral part of any democracy, but it was never meant to be used as an alternative to legislative responsibility. Students elected the senators to represent them in matters of student welfare. To deny the civil liberties of an entire group of people, or even to trivialize the matter by putting it to a vote, goes against the purpose of the SGA specifically and democracy in general. The SGA should either recognize its past mistakes and pass the bill or stand by its decision and face the consequences. Passing the decision on to students may be good politics, but it is not good representation. By the end of next week, a student supreme court hearing will decide if the current Homecoming court setup unfairly discriminates against same-sex and gender-neutral couples. We urge them to overturn the poor decisions of the student senate and vote in favor of civil liberties.
Campus Chat
What was the most interesting costume you saw this Halloween
{ { { {
“I had a friend who created the T-1000 costume from the movie Terminator 2.”
Ryan Reed
Electrical engineering junior
“I saw a lot of interesting swine flu costumes this Halloween.”
Stephanie Hawkins History senior
Science relies on facts, not faith Wednesday, I read a column in the Daily entitled “Religion provides life guidance” that I felt severely skewed the debate surrounding science and religion. It is my wish to discuss a few of the claims made in that column, not as a theist, atheist or agnostic, but simply as a promoter of educational discussion. The first section of the column was a comparison of scientific and theological theory. One line in particular caught my eye. The author, Jamie Khoo, wrote that science is “just as ‘phony’ as religion.” If he aimed to highlight the largely theoretical foundation of scientific study, I certainly agree. However, I am inclined to pursue this comment further because attached was the qualifier “just as.” This phrase implies that when put side-by-side religious and scientific theory balance each other out. He asserts that science is largely theoretical. And, to humor him, he’s correct. Everything is fundamentally theoretical. Gravity is a theory, conduction is a theory, thermodynamic reaction is a theory and
the list goes on. Here it’s important to distinguish from epistemology, the study of knowledge, and ontology, the study of being. Simply because mankind has put a term on something doesn’t change what that thing fundamentally is, whether we’re right or wrong. Knowledge does not equal reality. Knowledge is simply a list of terms we give to reality. Therefore everything in the vast world we live in is theoretical. The question now becomes, if everything is theoretical, how do we go about differentiating between theories? Certainly, if you were to live your life as if anything at all was possible, you wouldn’t accomplish much. So how do we determine the credibility of a theory? We find evidence that supports it. For example, though gravity is only a theory, it is evidenced by the fact that when I jump I will, at some point, fall back to the ground. Science is the process of strengthening theories like gravity by testing hypotheses and observing other possibilities. Theological theory, on the other hand, finds evidence slightly
more difficult to come by. Most religious theories are statistically illogical to subscribe to. To be clear, I do not wish to discredit spirituality. My aim is to highlight the difference between observable scientific theory and faithbased religious theory. Religious evidence is intuition, while scientific evidence is observation. I am interested in the second section of the column as well. The first section seems to be a dismissal of logical comparison, but the second section is a return to an appeal for logic. The author cites Pascal’s Wager as a logical reason for believing in a higher power, the argument being that with a belief in God there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. This argument was long ago dismissed by philosophers as faulty. It creates a false dichotomy between a Christian afterlife and none at all, ignoring a sea of other spiritual options. It also dismisses the possibility of judgment based on anything other than whether or not you believed in a god. But let’s ignore the fallacies of Pascal’s Wager for a moment and
consider the sort of god that this doctrine would imply to. First off, there’s no personal attachment to this god. Your decision to believe is purely economic. Second, this model creates a fear-based relationship with this god, making this god coercive and jealous — an all-powerful tyrant. My claim is not that religion is bad, nor is it that science is a superior entity. My claim is that science and spirituality are fundamentally different areas of study and aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Spirituality is important because it’s personal and emotional. Spirituality thrives on faith. It would be meaningless if the answer were absolute. Science thrives on observance and its propensity to ask questions and harbor doubt. Chances are — if scientific exploration is seen as dangerous in the eyes of a religion — that religion probably has motives based more in control of power than in enlightenment and understanding. Morgan Booksh is a journalism freshman. He can be reached at mdbooksh@gmail.com.
Health care debate misses the point Unless you have been in a coma for the past year, you know there has been a robust debate about the current health care system. By now, there is no question you have heard certain buzzwords like public option, death panel, government takeover, Obamacare, socialized medicine, co-ops and other words that probably tested well in a focus group. It can all be a little confusing and more than a little overwhelming. But there is basically one thing you need to know about the current debate: Both sides seem to be missing the point completely. What we have in this country is sick-care. The notion that the U.S. possesses, or at one point in time possessed, the greatest health care system in the world is just that — a notion. More t ha n 70 mi l lion Americans, or one-third of the entire adult population, are considered not just overweight, but obese. About one-third of children are classified as overweight, with 16 percent considered obese. The leading causes of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, accidents, and diabetes.
Most of those ailments are caused either directly or indirectly by eating too much, smoking too much, drinking too much or exercising too little. That is why, regardless of whether we have a public option or not, whatever bill comes out of the halls of Washington will be a joke. What this country needs now more than ever is a health-care plan that focuses on the causes instead of the symptoms. We need to re-educate Americans about proper nutrition, and we need to start at an early age. A strong emphasis on healthy living choices has to be a part of elementary school curriculum. This means school lunches will need a drastic makeover, because a fried, meat-filled taco dipped in cheese with a side of fries and a soda is not a healthy lunch. But that’s not all. In order to graduate from high school, every student should have to pass a rigorous, federally administered written exam about the fundamentals of health. This exam would focus heavily on the human body’s biological response to negative health decisions. Yes, most states require students to pass a health class, but anyone who has taken one of these classes can attest that they are a complete joke. To address chronic health
problems like lung cancer and respiratory disease, the minimum smoking age should be raised to 21 for the civilian population. Additionally, those who are 21 or over and want to smoke should be required to take a class about the effects of smoking before being able to renew a driver’s license. After taking this class, some might be discouraged to even start smoking. This should drastically reduce respiratory problems over time. All yearly doctor check-ups should be paid for by the federal government. Everyone, regardless of income, should have access to a doctor at least once a year. This proposal is especially important to identify and stop diseases that might be hiding in the body at an early stage. Additionally, the government should pay for a yearly visit to see a nutritionist. Nutritionists can explain and educate people on good eating choices and give them a plan to follow. It’s no secret that people respond to money. That’s why a tax credit should be given to all healthy individuals. Qualification would be determined by a person’s doctor during their yearly check-up. This would give people that make unhealthy choices a real incentive to change,
and encourages those who are already healthy to keep up the good work. Gym memberships should be subsidized for lower income families. Aside from the obvious health benefits of this proposal, gyms like the Young Men’s Christian Association often offer a wide variety of support systems and programs that are often unavailable to low-income families. These support systems include after-school programs for children that teach them the value of a healthy lifestyle. While the proposals presented here aren’t perfect and are subject to intense debate, they do attempt to re-vamp the system in a more effective manner than any proposals currently being considered in Congress. Fixing the distribution and holding insurance companies accountable are good starts, but they are only temporary solutions. If President Obama is seriously determined to be the last president to take up the issue of health care, then he and the Democrats have to address the real problems. Greg Ramirez is a radio, television and film junior. He can be reached at greg@griconsulting. com.
“I saw a pretty realistic Statue of Liberty holding both the torch and the tablet.”
James Hapgood
Radio, television, and film sophomore
“I went to a Stars game and saw three guys imitating the new Stars ice dancers. They had short shorts and tiny shirts on.”
NT Daily Editorial Board
Kryston Lopez
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 Umberson, and David Lucio
English junior
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sports
Justin Umberson
Sports Editor ntdaily.sports@gmail.com
Short-handed Mean Green overcome by Pioneers BY SEAN GORMAN Senior Staff Writer
With two of its most important players out with injuries, the UNT soccer team continued its road woes with a 1-0 loss at the University of Denver Pioneers (14-5-1,9-2-0) on Saturday in Denver, Colo. The Mean Green (11-6-2, 7-2-2) will now enter the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the fourth seed and will play the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (12-5-2, 6-4-1) in the first round. “We knew even before today’s game started that we could not finish better then the third seed in the conference tournament,” head coach John Hedlund said.
Leading scorer for ward Michelle Young, an undeclared freshman, was held out because of a concussion she suffered in the Oct. 25 game against Western Kentucky University. “We have enough depth and talent on our team to be able to adjust, but the loss of Michelle still hurts,” Hedlund said. Young is expected to return for the conference tournament. The Mean Green also lost goalkeeper Mandy Hall, a history junior, whose thumb injury prevented her from playing. Hall remains tied for the school record in most career shutouts with 17. “Mandy is somebody you can’t replace,” Hedlund said.
Filling in for Hall was Haley Newsom, a merchandising freshman, who finished with six saves in a strong effort to keep things close. The only goal Newsom couldn’t prevent came in the 19th minute when Pioneer Kelli Briedenbach scored on a one-timer to give Denver an early lead. “The overall goal is to win the conference tournament,” said forward Kendall Juett, a sociology senior. “We would have liked to have won the regular season title, but we still have a good shot at accomplishing what we set out to do.” Without Young, UNT was outshot by an opponent for
the third time this year, as the Pioneers outdueled the Mean Green 14-11. “We had a few real nice chances right in front of their goal to tie the game, but unfortunately the ball would not go in today,” Hedlund said. With the win, Denver improved its seed for the conference tournament, taking the No. 2 spot away from Western Kentucky University. Despite having the same in-conference record as the Hilltoppers, the Pioneers gained the edge by defeating them earlier this year. The Mean Green begins tournament play at 1 p.m. Wednesday against the Blue Raiders.
PHOTO BY RYAN BIBB/PHOTOGRAPHER
Midfielder Katie Wendling, a kinesiology sophomore, dribbles the ball against University of Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 27.
Sun Belt Conference regular season standings: Team 1. Florida International 2. Denver 3. Western Kentucky 4. North Texas 5. Middle Tennessee 6. Arkansas State 7. Troy 8. UALR
Record
Win %
9-1-1 9-2-0 9-2-0 7-2-2 6-4-1 5-5-1 5-6-0 4-6-1
.863 .818 .818 .727 .591 .500 .454 .409
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