The L asso On the scene since 1914
Student-run newspaper | Never a dull moment
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | Vol. 101, No. 17
News Feature | Safety
A time for precaution: Red zone Until Thanksgiving break, students have a higher chance of experiencing unwanted sexual contact
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RED ZONE
Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu Aug. 25 marked the start of the Red Zone, a six-week period in which the most unwanted sexual experiences take place on college campuses. This is a national issue, one that all universities experience, including TWU. Sexual assault is
the act of sexual contact without consent or consent given under the influence of anything that can impair judgment. While TWU is among the safest colleges in the country, cases of sexual harassment or sexual assault may still arise. According to university statistics from a CLERY report, TWU Denton campus had two forced sex offenses in 2010, and five non-forcible sex offenses
in 2010-13 in residence halls. It is important to note that unwanted sexual contact can be experienced by both genders, although it is more common for women to experience it than men. According to a 2007 Campus Sexual Assault study, more than 50 percent of cases occur during the fall semester. In a research study conducted by Elizabeth Wible at the
University of New Hampshire, results pointed toward a higher number of unwanted sexual contacts in the overall population than unwanted sexual intercourse. According to officials at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the reason that first-year students are victims is because they are unused to looking out for themselves. They are also unaware of preventative and
Denton Campus Event
Graphic by Toi Ferguson
safety measures, which is why UNCW began educating students on tips for avoiding potentially bad situations. According to TWU’s Department of Public Safety website, DPS offers the Sexual Harassment, Assault and Rape Prevention course, which is comprised of three different units.
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Goverment Ordinances
Block party starts year right Denton voters Students got a taste of TWU spirit and life on campus have a ballot Monica Alcaraz Reporter malcaraz@twu.edu
Incoming first-years were welcomed to TWU with a bang: First-Year Commencement Friday morning, color group meetings throughout the day and lastly the Block Party. Pioneer Camp typically keeps a tight schedule of activities and meetings for the first-years that arrive to on-campus living each year, and this past weekend was no different. First-Year Commencement began simple enough. It served as a welcome to the new students at TWU and provided a guided tour through our history: the university seal, the presidential medallion and the academic regalia worn by graduates based on their level of degree. The students were warmly welcomed to the university and were presented with their first-year rings. At the
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Opinions Siren, a woman’s dating app.......2
News Lake Lewisville deaths.................4
Community Denton Farmer’s Market.............5
Arts & Entertainment 010 Art Gallery opens................7
Dentonites prepare for Nov. vote Sarah de Schweinitz Reporter sdeschweinitz@twu.edu
Photo by Tammi Paul
conclusion of the event, students were taught and asked to join in singing the TWU Alma Mater. That evening the Block Party began. This year it featured many options, from a mechanical bull ride to hamster ball races to do it yourself
tie-dye T-Dub T-shirts. Junior Biology Major Kaylah An’drea said: “I’m ecstatic, I’m taking pictures, found a bae (cute guy) and it’s great to meet the new students here at TWU.”
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On Nov. 4, important issues that affect Denton county residents and temporary residents — from the condition of our streets and parks to alcoholic beverage options — will be addressed and taken to a vote. On the ballot is the much talked about fracking ban, where liquor sales in Denton County, the issuance of money toward public improvements and the authorization on the sale of North Lakes property. “Fracking” has caused an uproar of responses from the community because of claims that it is dangerous not
only to the land but also to anyone who drinks the water that may be contaminated by the process of hydraulic fracturing. Fluid is drilled or injected into the ground at a high pressure to fracture shale rocks and release natural gas. It takes one to eight million gallons of water to do every fracturing job according to http://www.dangersoffracking. com. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality put Denton County on a Level One drought watch in May of this year, meaning that use of water for non-essential purposes is restricted.
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Student Life
Veterans Center opening soon Jones Hall rooms are revamped and ready for Veteran students to connect Emily Nickles Page Editor enickles@twu.edu For the men and women who serve our country, returning to civilian life is not so easy as it would seem. In fact, according
to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, the rate of veterans who have committed suicide is 22 deaths per day. In a news release published by the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, that rate has been declared to be
steadily increasing. These saddening statistics reveal a need for support towards veterans. This is part of the reason why Director of Commuter and Non-Traditional Services Amy O’Keefe decided to apply for a federal grant. The
grant would supply TWU with the funds to create a center for veterans, which would function as a haven on campus.
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