Helping Japan
WorldFest event raises more than $3,000 Page 2
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
News 1, 2 Arts & Life 3 Sports 4 Views 5 Classifieds 6 Games 6
Volume 97 | Issue 37
Sunny 74° / 55°
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Spring preview breaks attendance record Event introduces future students to campus BY CANDICE LINDSEY Staff Writer
ARTS & LIFE: Librarians encourage student to eat books Page 3
SPORTS: Softball team loses series to Hilltoppers Page 4
An estimated 4,000 people attended this semester’s UNT Preview, which brought both accepted a nd prospective students and their families to tour and learn more about UNT. The preview took place Saturday throughout the campus between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dustin Mayfield, a higher education graduate student and an assistant director of admissions who helped organize the event, said the response to this semester’s preview was outstanding. “We broke a record in the number of people who pre-registered for the event,” Mayfield said. The event ta kes place during both the spring and fall semesters and serves as a tool for accepted and prospective students to learn what UNT has to offer, Mayfield said. “It gives students and parents a small taste of the ‘real’ college experience,” he said. “By putting our best foot forward and giving the students a good experience, we have a great chance of seeing them on campus in the fall.” The preview is divided into sessions students and their families can attend throughout
PHOTO BY KALANI GORDON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Athletic director Rick Villarreal addresses students at the welcome session during UNT Preview Saturday in the UNT Coliseum. More than 4,000 prospective students attended the event. out what UNT has to offer for fashion merchandising students. “I haven’t really heard anything about [UNT] yet,” Hutcherson said. “It looks fun.” Hutcherson’s parents, J. and Denise Hutcherson, said they’re making a number
“It gives students and parents a small taste of the ‘real’ college expereince.”
—Dustin Mayfield, Higher education graduate students and assistant director of admissions
VIEWS: Students says UNT feels like home Page 5
ONLINE: Watch video of the SGA presidential candidates explain their platform
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the day. Session topics include financial aid, housing, study abroad, freshman admissions, transfer admissions presentations, UNT student and parent panels, and academic sessions. Campus tours and residence hall tours were also available. Alex Hutcherson, a high school junior from Arlington, came to the preview to check
of trips to events like UNT Preview to find a program that best fits their daughter’s needs. Viviana Trevino, a high school senior from Coppell, has already been accepted to UNT. She and her mother came to the preview to tour the campus and to find out more about the journalism program. “I’ve come here before, but
Wet weather ahead BY M ATTHEW CARDENAS
PHOTO BY KALANI GORDON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Julie Kirkland, the assistant dean of undergraduate studies, speaks with prospective student and parents during UNT Preview Saturday. I’ve never taken a tour of the actual buildings,” she said. Jasiel Perez, a higher education graduate student and an associate director of admis-
sions, said the main difference between this semester’s preview and years past was the Accepted Students Luncheon. “This year, we recognized
admitted students that had already gone through the admissions process and we had a lunch barbeque for them,” Perez said. In addition to the luncheon, accepted students had the chance to connect with their future orientation leaders, another new addition to the preview. UNT Dining Services also served lunch to all prospective students and their families in Kerr Cafeteria. Perez said this is the first time UNT has divided accepted and prospective students. Before, UNT has not been able to accurately track how many people end up attending UNT after they have attended a preview. “A f t e r t h i s p r e v i e w, we’ll be able to track that n u m b e r,” P e r e z s a i d . The event’s official count hasn’t been released, but Mayfield guessed that about 1,500 students attended, and most brought family members. “Overall, we estimate around 4,500 students and families [were] on campus,” he said.
Holi Happiness
Staff Writer
Last month proved to be the second driest March in Texas histor y, putting the DallasFort Worth area about four inches below average rainfall for this time of year, the Nat iona l Weat her Ser v ice said. About 3.73 inches of rain has fallen on the Dallas-Fort Worth area so far this year, an amount meteorologists said is unusua lly low for spring weather. “We generally get rain in the spring,” said meteorologist Matt Mosier. “If we are dry in the spring, it doesn’t bode well for summer.” Mosier sa id t hat lack of rainfall has pushed much of the state into drought conditions. “For the first time in two years, the entire state is in an abnormally dry state,” Mosier said. Monday morning showers dropped about .15 inches in Denton to begin a week that could bring more wet weather to the area. Temperatures are expected
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF MCT to slowly rise from low 70s to high 80s by the end of the week, w it h a sma ll cha nce of ra in on Thursday a nd a 20 percent cha nce of ra in Saturday and Sunday. Art history freshman Kyle Kirby said he welcomes the weather change. “I think it’s about time the weather warmed up,” Kirby said. “I think the winter went on way too long.” Hospita lit y ma nagement sophomore Kelsey Hug hen said walking to class in the heat will not be fun. “I’m not rea l ly look i ng for wa rd to it,” she sa id. “I really prefer the winter.” Hughen said the drought and the potential to have a hotter summer concern her. “Texas summers are already pa inf u l enough,” she sa id. “They don’t need to get any hotter.”
PHOTO BY KALANI GORDON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
UNT’s World Echoes and Multicultural Center hosted a gathering Saturday at McKenna Park to celebrate Holi, a Hindu holiday that symbolizes the beginning of spring. About 30 students met at the park to participate and chased each other around with pink, blue, yellow and green powdered paint to celebrate the end of winter. The event concluded with students dancing to popular Indian songs to honor the holiday and their culture.