April 17, 2019 WEDNESDAY
VOL. 105, NO. 4 Thin Line pg 2
Cabaret pg 3
Aggravated Assault pg 4
World News | Notre Dame
Notre Dame goes up in flames
By KRISTA SIMPSON
After 850 years of crowd-drawing beauty, the Notre Dame Cathedral has fallen. Monday, April 25, a fire erupted on the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Bystanders watched as the flames ravaged the building that many say served as one of the icons of Paris. Social media filled up with thousands posting their mourning for the fallen cathedral and the Parisians who saw it as part of their home. Religious or not, many are sharing their sadness over the loss of the monument. “This is a tragedy to all the world. Notre Dame stood stoic for nine centuries, a testament to the hands of men and the faith of people,” TWU sophomore Joe Grantham said of the burning of Notre Dame. Videos and pictures of the raging fire taking over the Notre Dame Cathedral swept the Internet, keeping the world updated on the state of the cathedral as the hours went by. The fire was uncontrollable, and the blaze quickly destroyed a large portion
Notre Dame on fire of the building. At some point Monday evening, the spire, one of the most prominent features of the cathedral, tumbled from its place. A video depicting the emotion of the Parisians was released last night as they gathered to sing “Ave Maria” as the blaze engulfed the cathedral. The song is “a humble
Wikipedia
Catholic prayer,” according to the Classic FM website. Finally, Tuesday morning, the fire was completely extinguished, and the cathedral is safe from any further damage. A significant portion of the cathedral, along with the history it carried, was destroyed by the fire, but some of the more prominent fea-
tures were salvaged. According to Huffpost, two-thirds of the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral was destroyed in the fire. Many people were devastated by the loss of the roof because it contained “the forest,” which is what the framework of the roof was known as. A majority of the framework of the Notre Dame Cathedral was
made up of oak that dated back to between 1160 and 1170, according to CNN. The roof was one of the oldest portions of the Notre Dame Cathedral structure, but because it was the birthplace of the inferno that took over the cathedral, it was lost. However, the New York Times reported that the main structure
of the monument was “saved and preserved as a whole.” French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the cathedral will be rebuilt because it is such an important part of France. Many of the precious artifacts within the cathedral were saved as well, including the Crown of the Thorns and the Tunic of Saint Lois. One of the more recognizable features of the cathedral was salvaged is the cross and the sculpture known as Descent From The Cross, which many people find remarkable considering that it was a religious monument that burned down on the week of Easter. As for the cause of the fire, officials say it is still unclear. French officials said that the fire was an accident, and a team of investigators are working on pinpointing what it was that caused the flames to erupt in the cathedral. While the burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral caused distress across the globe, reconstruction has been promised to ensure that the great monument stands again.
Sports | Pioneer Pride
Proud to have Pioneer Pride! By ADRIANNE LAKY
Texas Woman’s University’s dance team, Pioneer Pride, has recently been awarded the honor of Collegiate Academic Champions for having the highest grade-point average out of all the teams that competed at the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championships. The team competed against 28 other universities at this competition and was also named the first runner-up for Univer-
sity Division II Open competition, as well as third runner-up in the University Division II Overall competition. The roster for 20182019 includes: Samantha Anderson, Daniela Archila, Brooke Ashmore (Co-Captain), Lauren Boyes, Sarah Cannon, Carmen Carey, Kylie Castillo, Caroline Cave (Co-Captain), Elle De Pau, Emily Friedman, Charity Hawkins, Maddie Hoffman (Co-Captain), Alyssa Miller, Frances Ostermann and Joelene Rosas. The
Pioneer Pride Dance Team
team is under the direction of Allison Fields. “Having the privilege to compete at these contests and represent TWU is surreal,” said sophomore nursing major Frances Ostermann, who is coming up on her second year of being on the team. “The bond our team has only grew stronger when we went on to compete together. All of the hard work we put in throughout the year has led us to Continued on pg. 6
Courtesy of Pioneer Pride
Campus | Theatre
Life is but a cabaret
By KRISTA SIMPSON
“Life is a cabaret, old chum. It’s only a cabaret.” -Cabaret The TWU theater department put on a production of the classic musical Cabaret this April 4 through 7 and April 11 through 13. The musical is a dark comedy portraying 1930s Berlin as the Nazis rose to power. The musical featured a cabaret as the main characters of the play and depicted their way of life before and during the reign of Hitler.
The play opened up with the Emcee introducing the cabaret in the Kit Kat Klub. It was a dazzling display with plenty of over-the-top theatrics to first show the cabaret members to the audience. Of course, all the cabaret members were scantily clad, as a cabaret is, but the costumes indicated to the audience that the characters were promiscuous and living freely with no constraints. The Emcee was dressed in drag, which added to the promiscuity of the
play. The Emcee was not a necessary part of the story- rather, he provided props to the characters and made the transitions flow smoothly between scenes. At first, the play seemed jolly and carefree, but as the story progressed, it quickly became apparent that not all was well in the cabaret. In one of the first scenes, a struggling American writer, Clifford Bradshaw, arrives in Berlin in search of inspiration for his next novel. Continued on pg. 3
Campus | Redbud Awards
Redbud Awards to continue despite severe weather threats By KATELYN GARST With the threat of severe weather, today’s Annual Redbud Awards has been moved. An email from Kyle Voyles, the Executive Director of the Center for Student Development, informed students yesterday around 11:30 a.m. that the ceremony will take place in the MCL Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on the Texas Woman’s University Denton campus. Upon consultation with TWU Emergency Management, the Center for Student Development decided to move the event in order to “continue the event and end before the most severe threat arrives,” Voyles said in his email to the student body. “Safety is our number one priority.” Weather threats will not cease the commencement of the ceremony, however, and the work that Taylor Sandoval, the Coordinator for Leadership Development in the Center for Student Development, will still pay off. “Redbud Awards is an event that I plan and help run the logistics and things like that,” Sandoval said. “I pulled together the evaluations committee… I build the nomination forms and send it out, try to advertise to get students, faculty and staff, and whoever to nominate,
then I have to go in and sort and sift and organize it to where the evaluators have all the information they need.” At the event, the award recipients that the evaluations committee deliberated over and selected will be announced and recognized. The awards that the Center for Student Development will be handing out include the Faculty or Staff Advisor of the Year Awards, Campus Leader with a Heart Award, Individual Student Leader Awards and Student Organization Awards. Additionally, some of the sponsors of the awards attend the event and present them to award recipients. “They still are involved, and they love coming back to TWU to see what the students do,” Sandoval said. “There’s two of them. Our community
service award is the Dr. Glenda Brock Simmons Community Service Award, and then Dr. Richard Nicholas Outstanding Student Leader. They come and actually give those awards.” Though the award recipients will be recognized for their dedication and co-curricular involvements, Sandoval emphasizes that just receiving a nomination is an honor in itself. “I really enjoy seeing the students go on stage,” Sandoval said. “Especially the students I’ve been working with, if I see them or even if they’re just nominated, that’s still an honor to be nominated. Someone took the time to fill out the form and nominate you for this award, so clearly you’re making an impact somewhere.”
Anissa Clark / The Lasso
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Opinions
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 twulasso.com
The Lasso Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief
Krista Simpson ksimpson9@twu.edu
Managing Editor Lacey Cutburth lcutburth@twu.edu
Copy Editor
Katelyn Garst rgarst@twu.edu
Graphic Designer Anissa Clark aclark20@twu.edu
Page Editor
Madeline Boutwell mboutwell@twu.edu
Reporter
Amber Gaudet agaudet@twu.edu
Reporter
AdriAnne Laky alaky@twu.edu
Photographer Caitlyn Laky claky@twu.edu
Advisor
Joseph Alderman jalderman@twu.edu
STAFF
Legalizing marijuana: Hitting the jackpot or bound to go up in smoke?
Opinion | Marijuana
By ADRIANNE LAKY For over a decade, Texas lawmakers have been arguing over whether or not marijuana should be legalized. Arguments for either side have had strong advocates, and the fight for a decision has been fierce. Many supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana have made their arguments from an economic standpoint. In a study conducted by Washington Post, roughly 40% of people living in Texas have used recreational marijuana at least once. Supporters say that if Texas was able to place a tax on marijuana and sell it legally, it would bring in a lot of revenue for the state. Supporters also make the argument that there is an unnecessary negative stigma over marijuana. Many claim that because of “pothead” culture, the
public has an unrealistic perception of marijuana. In fact, some advocates for the legalization of marijuana claim that marijuana is actually a safer substance than alcohol. These individuals make the point that a significantly greater amount of alcohol-related deaths occur each year in comparison to the marijuana-related deaths. A final argument of those in favor of legalization is that marijuana is not as addicting as many are led to believe. The Washington Post study revealed that only around 9% of marijuana users become addicted in comparison to the 30 %of tobacco users that get addicted. On the other side of the coin are those who are against the legalization of marijuana. These individuals tend to make the argument that, while it could bring in revenue for the
What is your favorite way to celebrate Easter?
PIC KS
I don’t really have any Easter traditions, and I don’t really do anything to celebrate, to be honest. It’ll probably just be a normal Sunday for me.
LACEY CUTBURTH My absolute favorite Easter tradition will always be coloring eggs. I’ve done it ever since I can remember. It’s a great time to come together and be creative. The second tradition I love is my parents have always gotten me a chocolate bunny, and that’s pretty sweet.
KRISTA SIMPSON
MADELINE BOUTWELL
My family and I always have an Easter dinner to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. My grandpa reads the Easter story to us from the Bible before the egg hunt. The little kids search for big eggs with candy in them while the older siblings hunt for the small eggs with the good stuff in them: money.
Easter is my favorite holiday because of what it symbolizes. Easter is a celebration of how great and powerful and loving my God is; he can conquer death. I love getting to gather with my family and my brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate this great gift of life.
KATELYN GARST
ADRIANNE LAKY
Easter is not only my favorite holiday because it is the culmination of all things springy, but because it is the most important holiday of my faith. Aside from all of the paganized celebrating and ceremonies of this time of year, it is a great reminder of the greatest sacrifice I could never deserve.
My absolute favorite way to spend Easter is alongside my family at church. Getting all dressed up in honor of the most important day of the year for me and my faith is one of my favorite things to do. After church, my family and I spend time together eating and laughing while we watch the kids in the family compete in our annual Easter egg hunt.
Opinion | Review
The Act: reviewed
By LACEY CUTBURTH
Gypsy Rose, a very sick, wheelchair-bound young girl with not much of a real life, lives with her mother Dee Dee Blanchard. The pair receives much recognition and assistance from the struggles they face, but is it all an act? The Act is a Hulu original series that premiered on March 20, 2019. The series is focused on an overprotective mother who refuses to let her daughter do anything independently. The teenage girl starts to uncover secrets and begins to despise her mother. The Act is based
off real-life criminal events that occurred back in 2015. When starting this series, I was not sure what to expect. I had heard of the crime before but didn’t do much research about it. However, once I watched the first episode, I was hooked. I fell into a rabbit hole of research about Gypsy Rose. The show keeps you wanting more. The constant twists and turns leave you begging for an explanation. Each episode is released on Wednesday of each week. So far, I’m three episodes deep and look forward to each new
episode The use of flash forwards and backwards during the episodes gives the viewers a peek at what the future holds for the family. The transitions are smooth and easy to follow. Each episode has it’s own issues the family encounters. The most recent episode I watched was the turning point. Without giving any spoilers, the third episode has been my favorite. I highly recommend this show to anyone. The show is based on true events and keeps the audience on their toes. For those who like docuseries or a suspenseful plotline, this is
sociation (AMA), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics. These organizations have conducted research that show a variety of longterm adverse effects on brain structures caused
Anissa Clark / The Lasso
by the use of marijuana. In the end, the public must be careful about what they make legal. It’s important for the public to weigh the possibly harmful effects of cannabis use with the economic benefits of marijuana legalization. It is up to each and every individual to decide.
Campus | Thin Line
Despite snags, Thin Line festival delivers
By AMBER GAUDET
All photos by Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
AMBER GAUDET
state, the costs related to increased hospital visits, addiction treatments, environmental damage and more would far outweigh the benefits. Another detriment that opponents of marijuana legalization make apparent is the increase in marijuana use by teens legalization would cause. In data analysis conducted by ProCon.org, researchers found that the percentage of 12 to 17-year olds using marijuana is higher in every legal marijuana state than the national average. Opponents explain that marijuana use by teens can cause serious mental impairments to adolescent development. A concluding argument for not legalizing marijuana is that marijuana use is opposed by numerous major public health organizations, including the American Medical As-
As far as local traditions go, the Thin Line festival is still finding its footing after more than a decade – but with a little work, it could soon be running strong. The annual Thin Line film festival ran Wednesday, April 10 through April 14. The free event centered mainly on films, though it also featured several evening musical performances, two photo galleries and a hodgepodge of other local events. Events were held at different venues and times, allowing most Dentonites at least one opportunity to experience what the festival had to offer. The festival featured the premiere of more than 20 full-length films and six film shorts from around the world. Screenings were held at the recently opened Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a theater that, like Thin Line, is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Denton’s cultural landscape. Documentaries explored everything from Italian lip-syncing scandals to how totalitarianism in Iran threatens artists’ autonomy. One of the short films, Mack Minded, centered around the story of a Texas Woman’s University professor, Pauline Beery Mack, whose scientific research on bone density provided valuable knowledge that contributed to NASA’s efforts in manned spaceflight. Mack earned a Silver Snoopy award in 1970 for her work, pioneering STEM research at a time when women received little recognition for professional achievements. No film – or film festival – would be complete without an impressive soundtrack, which Thin Line achieved this year. Thin Line musicians performed at some of Denton’s most popular venues such as Dan’s Silverleaf, Harvest House, Andy’s and Mulberry Street Cantina. The lineup featured artists that spanned several genres including jazz,
country, rock and techno. The festival featured mostly Texas-based musicians, including several from Denton’s own growing music scene. Thin Line also featured several events, from a crawfish boil to a photojournalism class. Although events mostly centered around photography, there were a few events for food and fine art connoisseurs alike. Given the array of events offered, though, the festival did not go off without a hitch. Although this is the 12th year of the festival, the frequent changes that the organizers continue to facilitate leave guests a little unsure of what to expect. Though photos are a headlining feature of Thin Line, they felt like an afterthought in this year’s festival. The cramped space of the Hickory Street gallery crossed from “intimate” to “awkward” as gallery-goers were forced to walk around partitions featuring falling-down photos, apparently the result of haphazard stapling by event organizers. The lack of space may not have presented much of a real problem, though,
if Thursday afternoon’s empty gallery was any indication of interest generated by the exhibits. A few other issues persisted as the festival progressed. The event being spread across venues at different times prevented real immersion in the culture of the festival. A lack of detail on the online schedule created confusion for attendees looking to see specific shorts as they often were lumped together under one name. Some events did not seem to match up with the schedule at all, such as the photo exhibit that was supposed to be up at Armadillo Ale Works but featured only blank canvas boards Thursday afternoon. Overall, though, the laidback, guest-centric feel of this festival worked in a way that made up for what did not. While the festival is still a work-in-progress, it’s ambitious lineup and diverse entertainment offered attendees a unique experience. From movie buffs to music gurus, this year’s Thin Line had a little something for everyone and, with a little work, the festival could solidify its place as an important part of Denton’s culture.
Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
Campus Campus | Homelessness
By LACEY CUTBURTH “It’s not just the people you see at the corners or living under the bridges. It’s right here in front of you,” graduate student Jasmine Wiley said. In Texas alone, there are roughly 23,310 people homeless on any given night, according to endhomelessness.org. As of February 2019, Denton had a total of roughly 194 homeless persons, according to the Texas Homeless Network. Wiley recognized the growing issue and decided to take action by organizing a survey to help students better understand the facts about homelessness. She hopes to create
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 twulasso.com
A better look into homelessness a simulation so students can get a better feel on what it might feel like to be without a home. When asked about the misconceptions students may have about homeless people, Wiley has heard plenty. “The biggest ones that I hear is that it’s a mental health issue or an addiction issue or they chose to live in that situation,” said Wiley. She said that although this may be true in some cases, the population of homeless people is over-generalized. “People just assume that it applies to everybody, and it’s completely not the case,” Wiley said. “A lot of this population have jobs. They’re just
Campus | Theatre Continued from pg.1 He meets Ernst, who comes off as a shady character right off the bat when he becomes aggressive about what is in his bag. However, Ernst is a key to the play, as he introduces Clifford to the Kit Kat Klub. Sally Bowles, the female lead of Cabaret, is let go from the Cabaret despite her claims that the show cannot go on without her. In a last-ditch effort to stay off the streets, she goes to Clifford and attempts to seduce him into letting her stay with him. Of course, it works, and what starts out as a rocky relationship quickly turns into a dreamy romance. Clifford and Sally stay in a hotel run by Fraulein Schneider, who becomes engaged to Herr
underemployed.” Being homeless does not always mean living completely on the street or under overpasses. Being homeless means not having a steady living space. Those who struggle with low income can find themselves staying in their cars or in cheap motels because it is cheaper than renting an apartment. “Nowadays, motels are being considered as the new homeless shelters,” Wiley said. “A lot of community members can’t afford a modest apartment because you have to pay the deposit, and you have to give up the first month’s rent.” Even with a steady job,
TWU production of Cabaret Schultz. At their engagement party, it is revealed that Ernst is a Nazi. Ernst comes to realize that Schultz is Jewish. As a
friend of Schneider, he strongly advises her to break the engagement. It can be easily inferred by the audience that he ad-
Summer job fair connects students with employers
School is almost out for the summer, and for some students, that means employment is in. Last Wednesday, Texas Woman’s University hosted a summer job fair at the Denton campus, inviting employers to set up booths in the Student Union. The fair connected students with employers in an informal environment, allowing them to browse booths in casual dress and set up on-campus interviews. Julie Way, associate director of Employer Relations, Technology and Operation for the Career Connections Center and organizer of Wednesday’s event, said it was aimed at easing the job search process for students. “We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for students to get jobs, marketing them to all these employers and telling them about their talent,” Way said. Way said part of the reason events like the summer job fair are important is that experience in the workforce gives students a leg up in the post-graduation job search. “So much blood, sweat and tears go into this degree,” Way said. “Any kind of professional experience they get in a workplace pops out on a resume.” Way also said that students should not rule out working at a job
people can find it is still difficult to find a home. “If you’re working a minimum wage job at $7.25 for 40 hours a week, that’s not enough,” Wiley said. “You still have to consider food, hygiene products and all these other factors.” Wiley wants to make a difference and would love to see her peers do the same. Her advice for those who are apprehensive about taking the leap to help those in need is to do research. “If I’m uncomfortable with just jumping out and going to volunteer, if I see an opportunity on campus where I can learn about a group that I’m not familiar with, I’ll go to that public
Cabaret
Campus | Job Fair
By AMBER GAUDET
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unrelated to their degree path because any work experience is an asset. “Even if you worked at Chick-fil-A […] you have created a professional persona,” Way said. Though Way said student turnout was low, employers expressed satisfaction with the interest generated by the event. “It’s been really successful,” Paige Frantz of the City of Fort Worth Parks and Recreation department said. “We’ve had several students come set up interviews, so [it has been] a really good event.” Taylor Bela, summer missionary team coordinator at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center, echoed other employers in declaring the fair a success. “I talked with a lot of students and there was a lot of interest, which is nice because at some of the other career fairs I’ve been too, it’s [been] hit or miss,” Bela said. For students looking for something closer to home, Pioneer Kitchen is hiring staff for their new restaurant, Oakland Café, which opens June 1 in the Oakland Street parking garage. “We’re hiring cooks, waitresses, busboys – all positions,” chef Aaron Austin said. “We want to get them trained before [Oakland Café] opens.” Austin said that the Kitchen is looking to hire a significant number of employees over the coming months.
“We’re going to have to staff the new dining hall as well,” Austin said. “That opens in August and it’s going to be three times the size of what we have now, so we’ll need to hire a bunch of people.” The employers The Lasso contacted said that students who could not attend the job fair could find open positions on TWU Connect or apply on the companies’ websites. For a complete list of employers who attended the job fair, contact the Career Connections Center.
Courtesy of TWU Theatre
vises against the marriage because he is a Nazi, and Shultz is Jewish, which means Schneider would be implicated with him.
forum,” Wiley said. Wiley has a survey that will be sent out to the TWU community to help get a better understanding of what people are thinking when the word “homeless” comes into conversation. The mass survey will be sent out via TWU email. Once that data comes back from the survey, she hopes to create more information to better inform the community about the truths of homelessness. In the near future, Wiley wants to create a simulation where TWU members can get together and hear from multiple panel members about homelessness over the course of the night while experiencing
It is during this scene that the course of the show is significantly shifted to a much darker mood. A member of the cabaret asks to dance with Ernst in order to give some sort of relief to the rest of the party, but it is clear that she is terrified the entire time. The musical number is slow, which makes the mood very somber. As the play continues to progress, the Emcee gets drunker and drunker, and his makeup continues to become more smeared. The original light-hearted demeanors of the cabaret completely transform into somber faces marching towards their deaths. Then, the Nazis come, the cabaret is stripped to nothing but Jewish stars and pink triangles, rounded up, and the lights go out.
what it would be like to be homeless for a night. Although the simulation may not be close to what people actually face, the simulation has been widely successful across multiple colleges like Mt. San Jacinto and Austin College. “We can’t just look away,” Wiley said. “A lot of people are just one check away from being homeless.” For those wanting more information about Wiley’s study, she can be contacted at jwiley1@ twu.edu.
Campus | Crime Blotter
E IM
CR
By KATELYN GARST This week’s blotter will cover April 2 to April 8. •Jones Hall – An item was reported stolen or missing from an office at Jones Hall March 28, and was cleared by other means Wednesday, April 3. •Bralley Annex – Fraud greater than $30,000 and less than $150,000 was reported at the Bralley Annex Feb. 19 and was suspended Wednesday, April 3. •MCL – A hit-and-run resulting in less than $200 worth of damages was reported Monday, April 8 on Bell Ave. in front of the MCL. The case was still active as of April 8.
Don’t think of it as “summer school,” which (in the way, way back) was for students who were behind. That model is so 20th century. Instead, think of it as lighter coursework, more flexible scheduling and graduating sooner with significantly less debt. Yup…that’s some smart thinking right there! With more than 600 transferable and completely ONLINE course offerings in Maymester and Summer I and II terms, TCC Connect Campus makes it easier for ambitious students to complete their prerequisites and core curriculum quickly (8-week classes) and affordably (just $64 per credit hour for County residents). By completing 15 hours in just two months, you’ll be an entire semester closer to your degree, saving time and money that can be used for other dreams.
Summer Term One Begins June 3 Summer Term Two Begins July 8 Registration Opens April 1 Visit tccd.edu/summeronline to learn more.
Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
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Community
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 twulasso.com
Community | Parking
Parking dispute leads to felony charges By LACEY CUTBURTH A victim of assault in Deep Ellum charged with felony criminal mischief sparks controversy. The night of March 21, a woman was beaten in a parking lot at the corner of Elm and Crowdus Street in Deep Ellum. The victim, L’Daijohnique Lee, told police she had turned into the parking lot and had blocked in a driver, Austin Shuffield, as he was trying to exit. Shuffield exited his car to confront Lee and ask her to move, which lead to a heated argument. Witnesses claim that during the argument Shuffield pulled a gun out and held it behind his back. He then hit Lee’s cell phone out of her hand as she attempted to call police, and Lee responded by punching Shuffield. In response, Shuffield took a boxer’s stance and punched Lee in the jaw, followed up by four more blows to the face and head. While Lee was on the ground holding her head, Shuffield kicked the cell phone away from Lee. The entire dispute was caught on video by bystanders. Shuffield was initially charged with public intoxication, interference with an emergency call and assault, all of which are class A misdemeanors. Later, Shuffield was charged with an additional warrant for unlawfully carrying and aggravated assault. Community members are questioning why it took so long for Shuffield to be charged correctly. Dallas Police Chief Reneé Hall told CBS news, “The media and the community needs to
Community | Trains
By AMBER GAUDET Staff, faculty and students at Texas Woman’s University might be getting a new option for commuting to the Denton campus – eventually. Denton County Transportation Authority officials are considering expanding the A-train route for Highland Village and Lewisville residents, including a possible northbound extension to both TWU and US 380, according to Community Impact. The 21-mile A-train track, which currently runs from Downtown Denton to Lewisville and connects to Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Green Line, will also be expanded south to connect to DART’s Cotton Belt line. DCTA officials hope the expansions will help alleviate road congestion and prepare North Texas for expected growth. “[The board] has to look out decades from where we are now and plan,” DCTA board member Dianne Costa told Community Impact. “And we realize now that Collin County and Denton County are going to significantly grow, and we are going to need to
understand this is a threestep process: initial arrest, investigation by our unit, then taking those facts and turning them over to the DA. We don’t get to skip those steps just because someone wants us to.” April 2, Lee was also charged with felony criminal mischief for causing more than $3,000 worth of damage to Shuffield’s vehicle. Lee has admitted to the damage. Lee’s attorney Lee Merritt posted on Twitter about the charges, “A black woman alone in a dark parking lot is stalked, harassed and assaulted by a white male. He brandishes a gun, knocked away her phone when she tries to call for help, then beats her mercilessly with blows to the head. DPD just found a way to charge HER
Shuffield mug shot
with a felony.” As of April 3, the charges against Lee have been dropped. “We understand that some people are upset,” Deputy Chief Thomas Castro said. WFAA has said, “The case has drawn widespread attention since a video was posted on Facebook of Lee being punched repeatedly.” While the video spreads, controversy continues to rise. Local activist and founder of the Next Generation Action Network, Dominique Alexander, went on Twitter to speak out about the upcoming protests. “Dallas Police always find a way to make a victim the suspect,” Alexander said. “I know that the community will be outraged, and the community will protest.”
Photo courtesy of Dallas County Jail
Dan Black paints with young artist
Photo courtesy of Narciso Tovar
Community | Art
LSA Mural Art Project decks out the rooftop By KRISTA SIMPSON
Denton is well-known for its art, and LSA Burger Co. makes sure it stays that way. Last Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14 , LSA hosted its annual Mural Art Project. Every year, LSA allows artists to showcase their talent by creating a mural on the LSA rooftop wall. This year’s artists were John Bramblitt, Cynthia Giron, Dan Black, Madelyn Grays, Chelsea Miller and Justin Archer. According to LSA’S Head of Marketing and PR Narciso Tovar, the Mural Art Project is “set up as a joint initiative between LSA and the Greater Denton Arts Council… to showcase the creative abilities of six area artists and promote the benefit of visual arts in community.” The second-floor art space was wiped clean of last year’s murals in order to let the new artists create new art with no limits to their creativity.
That evening from 7 to 9 p.m., the six artists let their creative juices flow and painted away as live music played in the background and cocktails and burgers were served. The artists were also available to meet and greet during the live show. Without revealing too much about the murals, a couple of the artists gave some previews of what they thought their work would end up looking like at the Mural Art Project. Chelsea Miller, who gravitates toward colorful abstract pieces, completed her first mural in her art career at the Mural Art Project. When asked before the show what she was planning on painting, she said, “I’ll definitely be doing something around the portrait realm. I just want to make it really fun and bright.” Miller was also the youngest artist to showcase at the Mural Art Project. Justin Archer, an artist
with contemporary figurative work with digital aesthetics, typically works with sculptures. “At the heart of my studio practice is the desire to really consider and think about what it means to be human, what it means to experience joy and hardship and any mixture of all the things we experience,” Archer said. “I’m inspired by my faith and the experience I’ve had within that. As for the mural he produced, Archer said it is a reference to the piece he has displayed at the Greater Denton Arts Council, which is his sculpture of a man free-falling. With the murals all completed, the wall is set for the next year. The murals will remain there until next year’s LSA Mural Art Project, so be sure to grab a burger and enjoy the art from the rooftop of LSA before they are swept away to make way for the 2020 murals.
A-train expansion could bring new transportation options to TWU find a way for all of those people to get around.” Though plans are still in the preliminary stages, TWU administrators said they are open to working with DTCA. “TWU is very interested in collaborating with DCTA today and in our future,” Monica Mendez-Grant, vice president for Student Life, said. “All the discussions have been very preliminary, but the locations have generally included a DCTA stop on the northeast side of the campus.” Administrators say expanding the A-train to campus could be beneficial for several reasons. “I think any expansion that is close to TWU would be a tremendous asset to the campus,” Grant said. “It would allow faculty, staff and students to have another option in terms of transportation to and from the campus.” Jessica Burchfield, assistant director of Commuter & Distance Education Student Services, said she feels the expansion could help mitigate transportation barriers for commuter students. “I believe it’s safe to say that we have a good num-
ber of commuter students who struggle with transportation, whether it be access to transportation or costs of fuel and vehicle maintenance,” Burchfield said. “Having an expansion to DCTA offerings could potentially alleviate some of this struggle.” While some TWU community members might have concerns that the creation of an A-train platform could extend construction, Mendez-Grant said the university does not anticipate it would create any major barriers to navigating the campus. “It is our hope that some of construction will actually be complete fall 2019,” Mendez-Grant said. “TWU is very sensitive to the needs of our students and would consider the advantage of the services provided and calibrate the need for the service with the ongoing need to traverse the existing campus.” Mendez-Grant said partnering with DCTA in expanding the A-train would not only benefit commuters, but also enhance TWU’s standing in the community and help encourage students and fac-
ulty to reduce their fuel consumption. “TWU wants to be a good community partner so that if we can encour-
Denton DART station
age more sustainable options - including public transportation - we want to encourage these choices,” Mendez-Grant said.
To explore current transportation options and access commuter resources, visit twu.edu/care.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Entertainment
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 twulasso.com
5
Campus | Pioneer Palooza
TWU celebrates 118 years By KRISTA SIMPSON
Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
National News | Admissions Scandal
118 years later, and the Pioneers are still celebrating their school pride. Friday, April 5, Texas Woman’s University threw a Pioneer Palooza on the Denton campus for its 118 birthday. The party took place from 5 to 9 p.m., and it generated a large turnout from the community and the student population. The event featured live music from several artists to keep the crowd entertained. The artists that performed during the Palooza were DJ Boogie, DJ Dupree, Troy Garrick, Kade Trentham and Sawyer. While Palooza-attendees enjoyed the music, there were several activities for them to participate in. Attendees were given the chance to spray paint their mark on a car, have a photoshoot with props available to them or play a game of pick-up volleyball with their friends.
There were also many performances put on by TWU students and members of the community, including a hip-hop dance performance and a “dragon dance” performance. Oakley was at the Palooza as well and walked around greeting anyone who attended. A highlight of the party, however, were the pounds and pounds of crawfish available for students and community members. The crawfish feast was free for TWU students, and open to the community for a price of $11.25. Served alongside the crawfish was gumbo, New Orleans red beans, dirty rice and hush puppies to make it a true Cajun-style picnic. The meal was all-you-caneat, so event-attendees were allowed to go back for as many servings as they pleased. While Pioneer Palooza was put on to bring TWU students and community members together for a
fun time, it was also created as a celebration of TWU and its many years of history. After all, Pioneer Palooza was a birthday party for TWU. TWU was born in 1901, which is when it was known as the Girls Industrial College. The university didn’t become Texas Woman’s University until 1957. According to the TWU website, the school’s mission then and now is “to provide a liberal education and to prepare young women for the ‘practical industries of the age’ with a specialized education.” When TWU first started out, the entirety of the campus was located in the Old Main Building, which still stands on campus. OMB was first constructed in 1903, and it contained classrooms, the cafeteria, professors’ offices and everything else that made up the university. Everything else around OMB was farmland.
Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
TWU has most certainly grown since then, but not just in the number of buildings the university has. The first graduating class graduated in 1904, and it was a class size of one- Beulah Kincaid. Kincaid graduated with a degree in home-making, which TWU no longer offers. However, it’s degree programs have significantly multiplied in size. Another prominent event to occur in the history of TWU is the acceptance of men into the university. As the school name implies, TWU originally was a college strictly for women. Then, in 1972, TWU opened its doors to men as well. TWU has undergone a lot of change since its birth in 1901, and it is still continuing to grow. Pioneer Palooza celebrates the existence of TWU and the students that it educates
Caitlyn Laky / The Lasso
Admissions scandal costs $25 million in fraud By LACEY CUTBURTH
Fifty people, including Full House actress Lori Loughlin and Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman, were indicted March 12 for a widespread college admissions bribery scandal. Those involved include parents of applicants, ACT and SAT administrators, a test proctor and coaches at universities including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, the University of Southern California, the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Texas at Austin. Prosecutors have claimed that parents of students paid off college test preps to help students cheat by having standins during the test or having proctors correct the missed questions. College coaches were also allegedly bribed to label applicants as athletic recruits. Admissions consultant William Singer was paid by parents a total of $25 million between the year 2011 and February 2019. Boston U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling confirmed at a press conference that Singer used that money to bribe test administrators and college coaches. The 33 parents that were charged are “of wealth and privilege,” Lelling said. Singer claims that Huffman had arranged for her daughter to have a certified learning disability, which granted her extra time in the test room. Once the test was finished, Singer arranged for a specific person to correct Huffman’s daughter’s answers, leaving her with a score of 1420. Loughlin paid $500,000 for her two daughters to be designated as recruits to the USC crew team, even though neither of them participated in the crew. “Singer worked with the parents to fabricate impressive athletic profiles for their kids,” said Lelling. It was stated in the press release that some in some cases, students’ faces were actually photoshopped onto the bodies of athletes. The universities involved have sent out statements to the community about the scheme. “As the indictment makes clear, the Department of Justice believes that Yale has been the victim of a crime perpetrated by its own former women’s soccer coach,” Yale said. “The university has cooperated fully in the investigation and will continue to cooperate as the case moves forward.”
USC sent an email stating that the university had fallen victim to the scheme by a long-term Athletic Department employee, one current coach and three former coaching staff. “We will be implementing significant process and training enhancements to prevent anything like this from ever happening,” USC said in an email to the campuses community. “USC has not been accused of any wrongdoing and will continue to cooperate fully with the government’s investigation.” Stanford made a statement about the scheme claiming that they have been cooperating with the investigation and have taken measures into fixing the problems.
Head sailing coach John Vandemoer has been terminated for accepting payment to recommend two students to admissions. The former tennis coach at Georgetown , Gordon Ernst, was placed on leave in December 2017 after having irregularities in recruitment practices. The university had found that Ernst had violated the admissions policy before he separated from the university in 2018. At the time, Georgetown was not aware of how deep Ernst was in the scheme. They have since been cooperative with the investigation. “Today’s arrests resulting from an investigation conducted by the U.S. At-
torney’s Office in Massachusetts send a clear message that those who facilitate cheating on the SAT- regardless of their income of status - will be held accountable,” The College Board said in their statement. “The College Board has a comprehensive, robust approach to combat cheating, and we work closely with law enforcement as part of those efforts. We will always take all the necessary steps to ensure a level playing field for the overwhelming majority of test takers who are honest and play by the rules.”
To whom it may concern
accepted on someone else’s merits
Expensive University
Anissa Clark / The Lasso
6
Sports
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 twulasso.com
Sports | Softball
Pioneers ‘Pack the House’ to support TWU softball team By ADRIANNE LAKY There’s nothing like being outside on a sunny day watching softball to wind down during a stressful point in the semester. This past Friday, April 12, at the Texas Woman’s University’s softball field, there was a ‘Pack the House’ event from 5 to 8 p.m. to support and uplift the home team. At this event, Pioneer Kitchen supported the softball team by setting up a tent as well as tables at the field in a cookout fashion in tune with the hotter weather that Denton has been experiencing. Pioneer Kitchen catered food that is friendly for all types of audiences with different diets. For example, Pioneer Kitchen served food such as hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, vegan quinoa burgers, baked beans, watermelon, cookies, drinks and much more. At the tables, Pioneers were able to use their meal swipes to pay for their food to make use of their meal plan. At the time of the game, The Underground was closed so that Pioneer Kitchen could serve the students food. Following the series finale, Housing and Dining funded for and gave away an $800 Housing Scholarship for one lucky TWU student who was in attendance for the entirety of the game and filled out a ticket. At the ‘Pack the House’ event, the softball team went up against the Cameron University Aggies from Lawton, Oklahoma as a part of their Lone Star Conference. In addition, the 1979 National Championship team was honored and recognized in a special on-field ceremony in between Friday’s games where the champions were acknowledged for their past accomplishments. This event was open to families, fans, students and all the public to cheer on
the Pioneers as they came to an end in their series against the Cameron Aggies. This game series began Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. at the Dianne Baker Field and was concluded the following Friday night. This week, the Lady Pioneers will face
off with West Texas A&M at the Lady Buff’s home turf in Canyon, Texas. This will be a three game series beginning on Thursday, April 18, at 6 p.m. and conclude with two games on Friday, April 19. The games on Friday will be at 1 p.m. and then at 3 p.m.
For additional information on the TWU softball team’s schedule, visit the softball website softball, or to learn about other special events related to TWU athletics like the ‘Pack the House’ event, visit the athletics page.
The current pioneer softball poses with the 1979 national championship team at the Friday night pack the house event
Photo courtesy of TWU Housing and Dining
Sports | Update
By KATELYN GARST
As summer begins to creep around the corner, the Texas Woman’s University’s gymnastics and softball teams are wrapping up their seasons. The TWU gymnastics team took the mat for the last time Friday, April 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut for the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship. Traveling to New England to defend their two-time national championship titles, the Pioneers fell short during the semifinals and failed to bring home a third title despite valiant efforts. Bria Northrop tied for first individually with a 9.825 on vault and logged a teambest of 9.750 on bars with fellow teammate Hunter Vincent. The girls started strong on the vault and bars but struggled on beam and floor. In light of their losses, the TWU Gymnastics Coach Lisa Bowerman was still proud of their fight and perseverance. The final day of the meet was Sunday, April 14, and TWU gymnasts Bria Northrop, Erin Alderman and Hope Parkin were named All-Americans. On the field, the TWU softball team has been working through their games in the Lone Star Conference. Thursday, April 4,
the Pioneers lost 0-4 to No. 10 Texas A&M Commerce in Commerce, Texas for the series opener. Friday, April 5, the Lady Pioneers fell to the Lions in both of their games 1-5. The Homecoming Game at the Dianne Baker Field Thursday, April 11 saw another fall for the Lady Pioneers. An early four-run deficit in the first inning put the girls at a disadvantage, setting them up for their 2-10 loss to the Cameron University Aggies. Friday, April 12, TWU finished the series against Cameron with two final losses of 1-9 and 1-4. Members of the 1979 National Champions were recognized in between the doubleheader to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their national championship. The girls will head to Canyon, Texas to take on West Texas A&M Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. for their final road series of the regular season. The Pioneers will return home for the season finale Friday, April 26 against Western New Mexico at 6 p.m. For more information on upcoming sports events and story recaps, visit the TWU Athletics page.
Sports | Dance
Pioneer Pride
Continued from pg. 1 break new boundaries and make TWU history,” The Pioneer Pride dance team first began its journey in the fall of 2017 and has been competing ever since. Their first competition experience was in Daytona Beach, Florida at the National Dance Alliance College Nationals. At this competition, the girls placed seventh in the nation in 2018. “Competing against other teams is one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced! It’s so fun to see what other teams have been working on throughout the year.” Said first year nursing major Kylie Castillo, a member of the team. “It’s also super nerve wracking! NDA is our biggest contest of the year and everyone wants to do well,” Castillo also said, “I learned so much about myself during my first year on the team. I’ve grown so much as a person and as a dancer. My teammates and my coach always have my back and I know I
can count on them. I’ve made so many memories and have developed so many close relationships through this program.” The dance team does more than just compete: it also performs at a variety of school functions, athletic events and community events throughout the school year and into the summer. If interested in being a part of the team, auditions for the 2019-2020 season are coming up soon. They will take place Friday, April 26 from 6 to 10 p.m., as well as Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kitty Magee Arena on TWU’s Denton campus. For additional information on the dance team auditions, contact the Pioneer Pride Dance Team Director Allison Fields at AFields2@twu.edu or visit the Pioneer Pride website. A complete list of audition requirements and rules for the auditions can also be found at the Pioneer Pride website.
SCOREBOX
THE
Gymnastics and softball come to a close
SOFTBALL
Score by Innings A&M - Commerce Texas Woman’s
0 1 0 3 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Score by Innings A&M - Commerce Texas Woman’s
1 2 0 2 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Score by Innings A&M - Commerce Texas Woman’s
0 2 0 2 1 0 X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Score by Innings Cameron Texas Woman’s
Texas Woman’s
E 0 1
R 5 1
H E 7 0 10 0
R 5 1
H 7 4
E 0 0
4 1 0 2 3 1 0 1 0 0
E 0 1
1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
R 4 1
E 0 1
1 0 1 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
R 9 1
Score by Innings Cameron
H 10 3
R H 10 11 2 3
Score by Innings Cameron Texas Woman’s
R 4 0
H 5 6
H E 12 1 4 0
GYMNASTICS USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship Gymnast
Event
Bria Northrop Bria Northrop
Vault Bars
Hunter Vincent
Bars
Score 9.825 9.750 9.750
