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Grim Reefer “Green” musical coming to UNT Arts & Life | Page 3
Women’s lacrosse team trying to return to playoffs Sports | Page 4
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
News 1, 2 Arts&Life 3 Sports 4 Views 5 Classifieds 6 Games 6
Volume 99 | Issue 38
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
UNT Board of Regents approves tuition increase NICOLE BALDERAS Senior Staff Writer
The Board of Regents approved a 3.95 percent tuition increase for undergraduate and graduate students during a meeting yesterday. The increase would raise tuition rates for undergraduates in fall 2012 and 2013. Graduate students will share the hike only for fall 2012 but will pay an additional $25 per semester credit hour beginning that semester. “It’s important to balance quality and cost effectiveness, and I’m pleased the Board of Regents looks at these issues c a ref u l l y,” U N T Sy stem Chancellor Lee Jackson said. “They asked a lot of questions about operating improvements and approved modest increases for all our campuses.” Underg raduate resident
Flying off the handle
Effect of the 3.95 % tuition increase Price of 15 credit hours for undergraduate resident students:
Spring 2012: $4,191.05 Fall 2012: $4,556.70 Fall 2013: $4,740.95
LEE JACKSON
V. LANE RAWLINS
students paid $4,191.05 in tuition for 15 credit hours for this semester. The increase will raise tuition to $4,566.70 for 15
credit hours in fall 2012 and to $4,740.95 for 15 credit hours in fall 2013. “I never really feel good about a tuition increase,” UNT President V. Lane Rawlins said. “I know a lot of students are struggling. Even with the increase it’s still squeezing some tight budgets, but I do feel good about how we’re using this money.”
See TUITION on Page 2
PHOTO BY JORDAN FOSTER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
English senior Devin Kelly and computer science freshman Bryce Fleeman, Quidditch team captain, fight over the Quaffle, which is the ball used to score points in a Quidditch match. See QUIDDITCH on page 3
City council considering new food ordinances NICHOLAS CAIN Intern
PHOTO BY CAYDEE ENSEY/STAFF WRITER
The Old Alton Bridge, located seven miles south of UNT, has been named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, the highest honor the state can give a historic structure. The bridge was built in 1884 and can be found on Old Alton Road near Teasley Lane in Denton.
Bridge named a landmark CAYDEE ENSEY
chairwoman. “A regular marker is for information and education,” Stribling T he Te x a s H i s t or ic a l Commission last week honored said. “The Commissioners’ Denton County’s Old Alton Bridge Court deserves a lot of credit by naming it a Recorded Texas for the work they already do in Historic Landmark (RTHL), the preserving bridges in Denton, highest honor the state can give and giving the Old Alton Bridge a RTHL marker ensures the a historic structure. The bridge, located on Copper county will maintain structure Canyon Road about seven miles in years to come.” In order to be named a RTHL, south of UNT, was built in 1884. The truss bridge is one of the last a site must have historical and standing in Texas, according to architectural significance, be at Roslyn Shelton, Denton County least 50 years old and must not Historical Commission admin- have been moved from the spot where it was built, according to istrative manager. Being given an RTHL marker is Stribling. “Most historical bridges fall different than receiving a typical historical marker, according to short of eligible when we come to Beth Stribling, Denton County that last requirement,” Stribling Historical Commission Marker said. “Almost all of them have Staff Writer
been moved from their original sites.” The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. A lengthy application process and financial commitment kept Old Alton Bridge from being named as a RTHL until now, according to Stribling. “It is a lot of work to submit a site to the THC,” Stribling said. “Lots of paperwork and proof of historical accuracy is needed, as well as a chunk of money. It cost $1,600 to give the Old Alton Bridge a marker. We were lucky that we had the money to designate it; the THC doesn’t always have that luxury.”
See BRIDGE on Page 2
In lieu of its traditional City Council meeting, Denton hosted a roundtable discussion last week to discuss various details in the latest proposed food ordinances. The gathering allowed for establishment owners to discuss with members of the Denton Consumer Health Division new city policies ranging from management certification to regulations toward farmers markets and stipulations that would allow mobile food trucks in the city. “As of now it’s hard for food trucks to exist,” City Councilman Kevin Roden said. “This discussion was a way for businesses to voice their concerns before this ordinance goes before City Council in the next meeting.” Dallas and Fort Worth have already made changes that allow food trucks to operate. “Dallas, and particularly the arts district, is flooded with food trucks, and there is even a park for food trucks in Fort Worth,” Roden said. “In the next meeting we will be talking about many different subjects in the city; however, the new food ordinances will be a big part of the discussion and in particular the mobile food industry.” However, even after this roundtable gathering, many
PHOTO BY PATRICK HOWARD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lee’s Grilled Cheese co-owner Lee Perez prepares a sandwich at the food truck outside of the Language Building on Tuesday afternoon. local business owners have concerns about the new ordinances, including Keith Lee Weber and Lee Perez – owners
of Lee’s Grilled Cheese food truck.
See TRUCK on Page 2
SGA campaign season kicks off with presidential debate HOLLY HARVEY
Senior Staff Writer In advance of next week’s Student Government Association elections, the 2012 SGA presidential candidates met in a debate last night in the University Union’s Silver Eagle Suite during which they addressed issues on campus. Morgan Ray and running mate Adam Hasley faced off against opponent Rudy Reynoso and running mate Justin Wood on five main topics: the new Union plan, campus parking, issues facing students, the main problem facing the SGA and diversity.
Candidates were allowed opening and closing statements, and also fielded several audience questions at the end of the debate. Plans for the Union Ray, an English junior, and Hasley, a pre-radio, television, film sophomore, said they would support the vote of students on the funding plan for the new Union. “I’ve worked in the Union, and in some places the floor slants or is buckled,” Ray said. “We definitely need a new Union.” Reynoso, a triple marketing, Spanish, and communications
sophomore, and Justin Wood, a philosophy junior, held the same stance, saying student opinion was needed in deciding how to pay for the Union. “Students should see it as an investment,” Reynosa said. Problems with parking Ray described parking at UNT as “abominable” and said she would work with administrators to relocate some premium parking places and make people more aware of temporary parking passes. Reynosa said he would work to change some meters to regular
parking and relocate where funds from parking fines go. He also wants to create awnings for bus stops around UNT. Most important student issue that needs to change Ray said that the issue that needs to change the most is voicing student opinion and that students need to feel that they’re being heard. She suggested the use of comment boxes and promoting SGA agendas and events. Reynosa also said getting student voices heard was important and that he wanted SGA to do bimonthly video updates and
MORGAN RAY
ADAM HASLEY
use social media and YouTube to promote SGA. Biggest problem at UNT that SGA can address Lack of spirit and traditions is a problem at UNT, according to
RUDY REYNOSO
JUSTIN WOOD
Ray. Building student connections and cosponsoring programs with other campus organizations can increase campus pride and involvement, she said.
See SGA on Page 2
Inside FBI speaks with professor, student News | Page 2
Softball team needs some change Sports | Page 4
Nods and Shakes examines the debate Views | Page 5