Tuba tunes
Association offers romantic songs Page 3 Wednesday, February 9, 2011
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Volume 97 | Issue 11
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ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
UNT hosts 19th parent education conference ‘Pre-conference’ held today in University Union
NEWS: Students study ecology at the bottom of the world Page 2
SPORTS: Basketball team visits Trojans Page 4
be highlighted to help support parents and families of diverse cultures and nationalities. Julie Leventhal of the educational psychology faculty said she not only looks forward BY CANDICE LINDSEY to the two-day conference, Staff Writer but also to the pre-conferT h e C e n t e r o f P a r e n t ence offered on Wednesday. The pre-conference, titled E duc at ion a nd Fa m i ly Support, a program w it hin “Celebrat i ng Fa m i ly L i fe the Department of Educational Education Month,” offers inforPsychology, will host its 19th mation to students and their annual international confer- parents on what they can do ence on parent education and with their development and parenting Thursday and Friday. family studies degree after The National Council on graduation. “We’re just trying to increase Family Relations has named February Family Life Education Month. The conference, open to all UNT and Denton community members, will focus on the major societal changes that affect families in an always changing world — economic distress, shifting resource allocation and other societal pres—Julie Leventhal sures. Educational psychology Arminta Jacobson of the educational psychology faculty began faculty member the conference in 1992. She said the overall goal of the confer- awareness for this field, for the ence is to educate and improve types of careers you can have, life for children and families. and to celebrate what we’ve Jacobson said researchers and done — try to get the word practitioners from around the out on our department and world plan to share their knowl- our program as well, and just edge and new ways of doing educate people,” Leventha l things within the family unit said. during 1-hour and 15-minute concurrent speaking sessions. See CONFERENCE on Education strategies will Page 2
“We’re just trying to increase awareness of this field...”
PHOTO BY NAHUM LOPEZ /INTERN
Charlie Brown, 32, a development and family studies junior and his daughter Hailey Brown, 10, prepare for a meeting to reschedule the parent convention that was scheduled for February 10th and 11th in the University Union.
PHOTO BY JORDAN SHEDD/INTERN
People are advised to consume less than a teaspoon of salt a day, which can be hard for students because most the quick and easy foods they eat contain a lot of salt.
VIEWS:
FDA advises less salt
People shouldn’t complain so much Page 5
BY TAYLOR JACKSON Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MULCIHY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
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Ryan Cho, a senior TAMS student, talks to Shannon Hill, social work junior, about Carts for Cancer. SGA members drive students around campus for a one-dollar donation, with the money benefiting Cook’s Children’s Hospital.
SGA continues Carts 4 Cancer BY K ALANI GORDON Staff Photographer
The Student Government Association will begin selling C a r t s 4 C a nc er T-s h i r t s Feb. 21 at t hei r table on the campus green near the Un iversit y Un ion to ra ise money for Cooks Children’s Ho s pit a l i n For t Wor t h . Carts 4 Cancer, the SGA’s first solo philanthropy project, bega n in October to ra ise money for cancer research. Each month, SGA senators set up a table on the campus g reen w here t hey cha rge students $1 for a ride in a golf cart any where on campus. “We still have the same focus as last semester,” said Joel Arredondo, SGA’s Speaker of the Senate. “Cancer is a grow ing cause and it’s not going away a ny t ime soon. E v e r y l i t t l e b i t h e l p s .” The T-shirts are another way to help spread awarene s s a bout t he prog r a m and raise additional funds for t he cha rit y, A rredondo
said. The student-designed T-shirts will be sold for $10 at the SGA table each month. Last semester, the SGA raised more than $1,300 w ith the Carts 4 Cancer program. The association has already hosted one event this semester and hopes to continue throughout the fall, Arredondo said. “We are doing our best to raise the most money,” said Monica Saunders, a n SGA senator. “Any money we have gotten has been a blessing.” Jason Meyer, a mecha nical and energy engineering freshman, said he thinks it is a n inex pensive price to pay while contributing to a good cause. “If I was in a hurr y and really needed to get to class, I would easily pay a dollar for a ride,” Meyer said. The SGA is waiting until this semester’s end to donate the money to Cooks Children’s Hospita l, A r redondo sa id. The SGA is planning to host a contest between different
g reek orga n i z at ion s. T he organization that raises the most money w ill receive a trophy and be able to go with the SGA to present the donation, Arredondo said. The program a lso raises awa reness about t he SG A and a llows the senators to interact with their constituents while raising money for their philanthropy, Saunders said. “As our philanthropy, we dedicate ourselves to Cooks because we can better help some one i f we foc u s on their needs,” Saunders said. “Children are the future and we are helping t hose children have a fighting chance at theirs.” The SGA table will be set up the third week of ever y mont h, exclud i ng Ma rch, when it will take place during the second week, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Donations to Cooks Children’s Hospital can also be made in the SGA office in University Union 320.
New dietary guidelines recently released by the Food and Drug Administration show that reducing sodium intake could reduce the risk of heart problems. According to the report, Americans should reduce their daily sodium intake by more than a third of the current average to less than 2,300 milligrams. Some students said they have personal reasons to stay away from sodium. “My dad had a quadruple bypass, so we didn’t use salt in anything,” said Jacque Trahan, a sociology senior. “I got used to it and now I don’t use salt.” Shohreh Sparks is the associate director of UNT residence halls and she said she isn’t worried about dining hall menus. “Residence halls have the right amount of sodium for healthy students. Students shouldn’t have to worry about it,” Sparks said. “If they’re really worried or have dietary conditions, Mean Green Café is specialized for those who like it bland. Less sodium, less spices.” More than 77 percent of sodium comes from processed and prepared food. Eleven percent of sodium comes from table salt added while eating and cooking, and only 12
percent of sodium comes from natural sources, according to a UNT report. Big sources of sodium in the diet are table salt, condiments, canned soups and salted nuts, but unlikely sources that can be overlooked are frozen meals, instant meals, cheeses, dressings, fast food and pickled foods. Even though over-saturating foods with sodium can be unhealthy, some sodium is needed to stay healthy. “The body needs the sodium ions found in salt to function properly. Your body regulates the amount of sodium and water in your body,” said Ed Dzialowski of the biology faculty. “Water tends to follow salt, so higher sodium levels in the body leads to more water in the body, which can lead to high blood pressure.” The teaspoon of salt is still needed because iodine in the salt is important to maintain health and salt helps maintain the water in the body. “The whole point of cutting sodium intake is to help bodily functions like the heart and kidneys. You don’t want your heart to work harder than it has to,” Dzialowski said. “Think of it this way: your cardiovascular system is like a water balloon. As you increase your salt intake, this draws in water, inflating the balloon, and you’re creating more pressure.”