the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
The Student Newspaper of UTD
Vol. XXXI, No. 2
Comets fighting for first place in ASC Page 7
January 24, 2011
Hobnob with The House of Mob Page 5
A student’s take on academic dishonesty Page 3
Checkmate: UTD topples top foes UTD chess crowned best in the West Bobby Karalla
Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
The UTD Chess team won the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship in Milwaukee outright for the first time in the university’s history. Teams from across the Western Hemisphere competed in the tournament. The top four American teams at the Pan-American Championship automatically qualify for the Final Four, which takes place April 1-3 in Washington D.C., Director of Chess James Stallings said.
“This is truly the crown jewel of college chess,” Stallings said. “The Final Four doesn’t mean anything if you don’t play in this. To win it like we did is not easy.” The other three schools to qualify were UT Brownsville, Texas Tech and University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Three UTD teams competed at the tournament. The “A” Team, the school’s most competitive, finished the tournament with a 6-0 record. Stallings said the best previous finish a UTD team had was 5-1. The final few rounds were
the toughest for the team, Stallings said. Each opponent they faced had national and international stars. “In the last three rounds, we had to go up against three teams, each of which had three grand masters and one international master,” Stallings said. “In that run of 12 games, we only lost one game out of 12. Not only did we face the stiffest competition, but we also had our best record. We’ve never had a 6-0 score.” Three UTD teams competed at the Pan-American
photo by Ben Hawkins
After winning the Pan-American Championship, the board is set for the UTD Chess Team to compete in the Final Four in April in Washington D.C.
see CHESS page 4
Nanotech’s new threads
Courses a go despite cutbacks
Biscrolling harnesses hardto-handle nanomaterials Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
Threads have been used to sew buttons back on clothes or mend shirts for thousands of years, but a recent development in nanotube technology will take the ability of thread to an entirely new level. Earlier this month, UTD’s NanoTech Institute published part of its yearlong research
UTD faring well amid statewide budget reductions
project aimed at harnessing the properties of nanomaterials, or infinitesimally small chemical elements, that can be used in a wide variety of everyday products. As it is, the NanoTech Institute is one of the few places in the world with the ability to spin multi-walled carbon nanotube sheets into threads. These threads — also known as biscrolled
Shane Damico
Managing Editor spd064000@utdallas.edu
While most other Texas public universities are buckling under the pressure of continued statewide budget cuts, UTD officials say the university has yet to make any significant sacrifice that would affect students and faculty. Last fall UTD administrators cautioned that this semester might see course cuts in response to lower state funding. This semester, all schools at UTD reduced their budgets by 2.5 percent in preparation for an estimated 10-25 percent budget cut over the next two years. Meanwhile, UTD officials say course offerings have not been affected by the recent and expected budget cutbacks on the state level. Hasan Pirkul, dean of the School of Management, said 26 of the School’s classes have been cancelled this semester,
see NANO page 10
photos by Albert Ramirez
Marcio Lima, NanoTech research assistant and lead author of the biscrolling project, twists sheets of nanotubes to create a yarn. When these threads are biscrolled they retain the function of whatever was added as well as the properties of the thread.
see BUDGET page 4
Mysterious millions Arts & Humanities gets anonymous donation Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
A multimillion-dollar donation will add six new faculty members to the school of Arts & Humanities and help pay for the construction of a new building on campus. This past fall a $5 million donation was received from an anonymous donor to recruit more staff in the Arts & Technology program. University officials said the UT system added $2.5 million to the donation.
The combined $7.5 million will be used in two parts: $5 million will be used in the Arts & Technology program for the placement of four new professors and two endowed chairs, or research based professors. The remaining $2.5 million will go toward the construction of the new Visual Arts Building and an Arts & Technology scholarship. Dennis Kratz, dean of the School of Arts & Humanities, said UTD embraces new ideas, optimism and enthusiasm. He said the donor was
pleased with the money added to their donation, because it could help the department grow. “A gift of any level is welcomed but a gift of this magnitude is transformational,” Kratz said. “The gift is recognition of the program.” The donor specified the money should go toward procurement of Arts & Technology professors. A university official said a committee has been formed to indentify the areas that professors and endowed chairs are needed, and they
illustration by Laura-Jane Cunningham
will be searching for top researchers in the Arts & Technology field. “(The) School of Arts and
Humanities seeks to build one of the finest schools in the nation,” Kratz said. “To do that we need funding
from other sources.”
see DONATION page 4
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January 24, 2011
News
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UTD Police scanner The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the Jan. 18 Student Government, or SG, meeting. Full minutes of meetings can be found at www. sg.utdallas.edu. • A Collin County representative visited senate to deputize senators and visitors. Deputized individuals are certified to register others to vote. • Zayd Mabruk, Legislative Affairs Committee chair and business administration junior, said he is working to create what he calls the Community Newspaper Program. “This program came about in one of my classes that I had,” Mabruk said. “A lot of students were complaining that there weren’t any access to newspapers or publications on campus.” Mabruk said the program plans to use three tiered newspaper stands, which will offer, possibly, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Washington Post. • Kia Wright, Communications Committee chair and Arts & Technology senior, said a Dine with SG event, similar to Dine with Deans, is in the works. The aim of the event will be to increase student awareness of SG and to provide a method of out-
reach for students with questions. • Grace Bielawski, SG President and political science senior, said she plans to give a parking and transportation report at the next senate meeting. • Dina Shahrokhi, SG Vice President and political science senior, said the Comet TextSwap went well. About $7,520 was saved by students who used the program, Shahrokhi said. • Nominations were reopened for the position of Treasurer. In addition to Brittany Ellenberg, political science junior, Samuel Scott, accounting sophomore, and Kayla Klein, undecided freshman, were nominated. Each candidate presented a two minute speech followed by a brief question and answer session. Senate discussed the three candidates and then submitted their votes by secret ballot. Scott was elected as the new Treasurer. • Seven students were appointed to senate: Monisha Lulla, Shanoya Taylor, Joseph Micheli, Justin Hajek, Clifford Hsieh, Irene Morse and James Woolley. • Up to $300 will be allocated toward the Interdisciplinary Studies townhall.
Jan. 6 • A person was arrested for resisting arrest and interference with public duties. Five others were cited for consumption of alcohol by a minor. • A staff member was arrested for outside agency warrants, failure to ID and possession of marijuana • A student was taken to
the hospital because of a high level of intoxication Jan. 12 • Two students were arrested in the Phase I parking lot for possession of two ounces of marijuana and drug paraphernalia • A Chartwells employee reported his laptop was stolen from the Dining Hall building
Jan. 13 • A female was taken to Green Oaks hospital • A student reported the theft of his laptop Jan. 14 • A person was issued a City of Richardson citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and a criminal trespass warning Jan. 17 • A male was arrested for
outstanding warrants following a traffic stop Jan. 18 • A person was arrested for driving while intoxicates and fleeing from a police officer after a traffic stop Jan. 21 • A student was arrested for possession of marijuana after a traffic stop
News briefs Police update The UTD PD has not received any calls regarding the information request printed on the front page of the Jan. 10 issue of The Mercury. The posting included two photographs of different individuals who are believed to have information regarding on-campus thefts. “I really thought with all this cold weather, someone would spot that knit hat. It’s pretty distinctive,” Lt. Ken MacKenzie said of a dark cap with a black bear stitched into its right side. MacKenzie said since the automobile theft Jan. 3, two student laptops were stolen out of theDining Hall, one Jan. 12 and the other on Jan. 14.
One of the laptops had been left in the Dining Hall unattended for two hours before the student returned to find it missing, MacKenzie said. He reminds students that the on-campus theft rate is very low. He said most thefts are the result of carelessness by the victim. “I constantly see students get up from their table and walk away to get something,” MacKenzie said. “They are thinking that they will only be gone a minute, but the problem is, it only takes a thief a couple of seconds (to take someone’s belongings).”
Ban update Details have surfaced concerning the possible UT System smoking ban after
the second UT System Student Advisory Council, or UTSSAC, meeting at the end of November last year. Kia Wright, Student Government Communications Committee chair, is UTD’s representative following the issue. UTSSAC intends to finalize a recommendation at its next meeting on Feb. 4-5. “Students should not expect any changes to go into effect until maybe even months after a recommendation is passed,” Wright said. “Recommendations, if passed, are brought to the (UT System) campuses, who then have a certain amount of time to implement changes.” The decision isn’t final, but so far discussion sug-
gests there will be a full ban, as any compromise has been met with rejection from campuses unable to meet the requirements of the compromise. “We are aware of the constraints a full-out smoking ban would put on smokers, and we are working to discuss any way to compromise, though it’s proving difficult,” Wright said. No word yet on how the ban would be enforced.
TextSwap results Textbooks were gathered and traded for credits at the first Student Government, or SG, sponsored Comet Textswap event last fall, and on Jan. 12 and 13
see TEXTS page 10
Opinion
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January 24, 2011
3
Editorial Board
Budget cuts call for forward-thinking frame of mind As “budget cuts” may become a buzzword around Texas campuses this spring, a few things are important to keep in mind. So far the implemented budget cuts have little impact on students. The projected estimates for fall 2011 are much higher, up to 25 percent, but no one knows for sure what the end result will be. One of the concerns is that courses will be consolidated, increasing the class size, or that some classes not necessary for graduation will be eliminated all together. The area students have been affected is the loss of some campus
activities, such as Sounds of Class. While these campus traditions are a loss, there has not been a big change with academics. Until September arrives, there will be changing drafts presented by the state Legislature indicating what the cuts may be. The budget cuts affecting us are statewide, and one of the benefits of attending UTD is, in a sense, the high tuition rate. UTD is one of the most expensive public universities, but fixed tuition keeps students locked in at the same rate of pay until we graduate. As a growing university, hearing
courses may be cut or our state budget may be significantly decreased can be daunting. As of yet the administration has been keeping us up to date with information, and the most helpful thing they can do is to continue that path. Students deserve to know what the plans are for our university, even if they’re tentative, until there is a solid plan. If the information isn’t available, all we’re left with is news of other universities and what we speculate might happen.
Integrity not optional
Editorial Board Jessica Melton, Editor-in-Chief Shane Damico, Managing Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham, Graphics Editor Albert Ramirez, Photo Editor Bobby Karalla, Sports Editor news@utdmercury.com The Mercury Editorial Board voted 5-0 in favor of this editorial. The board consists of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, managing editor, graphics editor, photo editor and sports editor. The board will discuss, debate and develop editorial positions on issues affecting the UTD community. We welcome your responses at news@utdmercury.com. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the university administration, the University of Texas System Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. Editorial and business offices are in Student Union, Room 2.416. Telephone: 972-883-2286. Mailing address; SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080.
Take two for center stage by Laura-Jane Cunningham
Literary studies student says college degrees aren’t earned through academic dishonesty Lisa Bell
contributor news@utdmercury.com
While in middle school, my son was caught allowing another boy to copy his homework. Both boys received a zero for the assignment and several days of in school suspension. Some, including the other child’s parents, found this punishment too severe but I rejoiced in the disciplinary actions taken against my son. Many Mercury readers may think me harsh, but I would argue that my son learned a valuable lesson about cheating, a lesson it would seem many college students fail to grasp. Academic integrity is a serious issue. It is not only an issue of integrity but also one of self-respect and the reputation of our school and thus the value of the degrees we receive from this university, and yet many students see cheating as inevitable or no big deal. The big deal is that we are all part of a collective student body. Those who cheat their way through this institution and receive a degree go out into the workplace with University of Texas at Dallas boldly printed on their
applications and resumes. Eventually these individuals will prove themselves unable to perform the tasks they are asked to complete and they will be fired for incompetence. If this scenario plays itself out several times a certain pattern begins to emerge and employers will begin to shy away from UTD graduates. If our university gains a reputation of graduating incompetent people, the value of our degrees will decline. Meanwhile I continue to pay tuition and even put forth extraordinary effort to earn high marks. But it does not matter because others are still cheating and their lack of discipline and integrity will damage the reputation of our school and us, by association. Perhaps you think this scenario cannot really happen. I know at least one executive who will no longer even interview individuals who have graduated from a local university because of a pattern of incompetence in their recent graduates. We have chosen to enroll in a well-respected university, presumably to earn a degree. Receiving this degree implies we have gained the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a chosen career and requires a significant
commitment of time and effort. Not every moment we spend in these hallowed halls is enjoyable nor is every assignment fun. However, every effort is part of the investment we are making in our own futures. A degree from UTD opens doors and sets us upon the path toward success, but cheating undermines any future success we might otherwise enjoy. Cheating is not cool, it is not funny and it is not just a minor issue. If you have no more selfrespect or integrity than to try to cheat your way to a degree, go home. If you are unwilling to put aside the beer and video game controllers and pick up a book, you are not ready to be on a college campus. If you know there is cheating going on in one of your classes report it. Don’t allow the irresponsible and dishonest activities of some to degrade the reputation of our school or undermine the hard work of the rest of us. As another semester begins and we are once again regaled by professor’s introductory lectures on plagiarism and academic integrity I hope we might all take these warnings seriously and do everything we can to put an end to cheating on this campus. -Literary studies senior
Comet
W
Comments
hat are your interests outside of school?
“Traveling, biking, athletics in general and scuba diving.”
“Video gaming, kickboxing, stuff that has to do with my major.”
“I like to play sports and soccer with my friends and also play video games.”
Miles Kellum Accounting graduate student
Megan Robertson Geophysics junior
Alfonso Lopez Computer science junior
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January 24, 2011
News
Campus Services and Bookstore en route
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DONATION
continued from page 1
Director of Arts & Technology Thomas Linehan said he is thrilled about the donation, especially in times of recession and lack of funding. “The donor is less interested in bricks and buildings and more interested
Budget
continued from page 1 photo by Albert Ramirez
The Campus Services and Bookstore Building’s ground breaking took place Jan. 20. The building is scheduled for completion by the end of July 2011.
CHESS
continued from page 1 Championship. The “B” Team finished 4-2 overall and the “C” Team finished in the middle of the pack. The “C” Team is made up entirely of women, and were the only women’s team at the tournament, Stallings said. A victory at the PanAmerican Championship is the perfect springboard for the Final Four, Stallings said. “You’d much rather go into it having won than not having won,” Stallings said. “It makes the players feel good.”
Stallings said the UTD Chess program started in 1996, which is new compared to other established programs like UT-Brownsville and UMBC. The success the team has had in such a short amount of time is a reflection of the players’ work ethic and practice, Stallings said. “They truly do have to work a lot and study. In modern chess, you can’t just go in and wing it,” Stallings said. “It’s like football teams viewing film. These guys are memorizing hundreds of variations and openings.” Senior player Karina Vazirova credited the success
to the team’s work ethic and also its chemistry. “The success was definitely backed up by a combination of practice, experience, and of course the unique multicultural chemistry that drove the team,” Vazirova said. Stallings again praised the players for their performance at the Pan-American Championship, which adds to the growing list of UTD Chess championships. “The players all were able to rally. They could have lost those games but they came back. Their training and resiliency made it possible for us to win those matches.”
but none of them are the result of the recent budget cuts. In comparison, Pirkul said around 15 classes were cut in the spring of 2010. Nearly half of this semester’s cancelled classes had alternative sections open, while most of the others were low enrollment elective courses — those containing only one to five students — Pirkul said. This amount of course cuts is not unusual, he said. Bert Moore, dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and Dennis Kratz, dean of the School of Arts & Humanaties, both echoed Pirkul’s sentiment: Course offerings were not affected by budget cuts. “(The School of Management cuts courses) every semester,” Pirkul said. “We have a very high number of elective courses. I encourage our faculty to be innovative, cutting edge. If you look at Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, you will see that we have many more different courses offered than them.” The downside to offering so many elective courses is that not all of them receive
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in people,” Linehan said. University officials said the donation is intended to improve the Arts & Humanities program and in turn draw more students to UTD. This is not the first anonymous donation given to the Arts & Technology program. In summer 2010 $1 million dollars was donated for
an endowed chair position. Linehan said an announcement will be made soon to announce the new professor. The goal, Kratz said, is to link Arts & Humanities with science and technology. He said thoughts of the schools future play a major role in educating the students of tomorrow.
adequate student enrollment and consequently get cut, Pirkul said. “I think UT Dallas is uniquely positioned because we are a growing school,” he said. Although more School of Management courses were cut this spring than the last, more courses are also being offered this semester. Pirkul said 342 courses are offered this semester compared to last spring’s 321 and the university has experienced a 10 percent growth in credit hours overall. “Compare us to UT Austin, to Texas A&M, this is heaven for students,” Pirkul said. “A lot of time the students won’t get into the classes they want, because they’re closed. Here, we almost never close classes (entirely).” On Jan. 3 The Chronicle of Higher Education reported 130 tenured professors accepted buyouts from UT Austin and Texas A&M after both universities had already laid off assistants, lecturers and staff members. The buyouts are estimated to save the universities about $18 million every year, according to the January report.
Pirkul managed the School of Management’s 2.5 percent budget cut by reducing computer investments and repairs, purchasing fewer supplies and minimizing faculty travel expenses. The university is not invincible, however. The next budget period, which begins September 2011, threatens a 10-25 percent budget cut, Pirkul said. “If they do that, then we will have to seriously consider some of the (course) offerings and maybe increase some of the class sizes,” he said. Already, the budget cut has changed UTD in a few ways. In an e-mail statement to The Mercury, UTD President David Daniel said “Sounds of Class,” an annual community festival, will not be hosted at UTD as it traditionally had, and the freshman convocation Comet Carnival has been cancelled. Overall, though, Pirkul is optimistic. “I think we’ll be okay,” he said. “At our school, we are going to protect our students the best we can. They’re going to be the last ones affected.”
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Life &Arts
January 24, 2011
5
Hollywood remarks on recession As the country wallows on the wrong side of the economic cycle “The Company Men” comments with perfect precision John D. McCrary Contributor news@utdallas.edu
In the opening of “The Company Men,” Ben Affleck’s character, Bobby, walks into a meeting bragging about his morning on the golf course, and after reading his coworker’s faces asks, “Did somebody die?” The irony of the question is that nobody actually died, but Bobby gets fired moments later. We spend the rest of the movie exploring this new and per-
vasive kind of grief, over the deaths of our careers. John Wells, director of ER, West Wing and currently of Southland, is at the helm of this exploration of life after mass layoffs and manages to hit every note along the way with nuance and accuracy. His script follows three men at different points in their lives, careers and the corporate ladder. Affleck acts as the hot shot sales rep with young kids and a Porsche. Chris Cooper plays a manager
a few years shy of retirement who worked his way from the factory floor to the board room. Tommy Lee Jones is the right-hand man to the head of the ship-building company they all work for, and the moral center of the economic chaos. All three Academy Award winners play their parts with a delicate touch and at no point milk the circumstances for sentimentality or melodrama. We follow the characters as they move from read-
justment, to the fierce job market to coping with the financial strain. As each separate experience takes shape, it’s hard to find a side of the recession that is left entirely unaddressed. In addition to the superb main performances, Kevin Costner is spot on with his portrayal of a native Boston homebuilder and gives a face and voice to blue collar America. While the experiences of the main characters feel
see COMPANY page 6
Steam punk savvy
photo courtesy of nydailynews.com
“The Company Men” shows characters through rough patches in their lives during the recession.
Group plans to give back Nada Alasmi
Contributor news@utdallas.edu
photo by Brandon Higgins
Garret Mobley, literary studies student, struts Steam Punk accessories used to create The House of Mob.
Accessory designer has dream divergence Rebecca DeButts
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
A UTD student and his partner have teamed up to design their own line of sexy and unique clothing. The House of Mob was founded New Year’s Day 2010 by Garrett Mobley, literary studies junior, and his
partner, Sarah Davis. Mobley said he has always loved the Steam Punk genre of literature, such as the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Steam Punk holds its roots in science fiction and fantasy with futuristic elements presented in a Victorian form. This, he said, is what ultimately turned him onto the Steam
Punk fashion scene. “I’m a lit studies major who wants to be a teacher (but) I’ve got the bug in me for clothing now,” Mobley said. Mobley started making accessories like brass goggles and headpieces as a hobby and began to wear his designs when he went out. Davis said the two met
at a club in 2009 when she admired a hat Mobley was wearing. He then began to tell Davis, a fashion design student at the time, about Steam Punk fashion and the accessories he made. In 2009, Mobley was invited to the DragCon fashion convention in
The service organization, Circle K, offers handson volunteer opportunities to its members. The group aims to work hands on with people in need both in the local community and internationally, said Suneet Flora, Circle K president. “We do whatever we can get our hands on,” Flora said. This year, the club’s activities included running a marathon for St. Jude’s hospital and wrapping Christmas presents for children with disabilities. Circle K is unique because it involves interactive, and not just labor-intensive, service projects, said club vice president Sagar Shah. One example of such projects is Challenge Air, a project Circle K hopes to begin this semester. “Private pilots will give us their time one Saturday a month to take children who are physically and mentally challenged into the air,” Shah said. “It is like telling them anything is possible, the sky is the limit.” Other possible projects include building ramps for people who use wheelchairs and volunteering in a softball league for disabled children. Circle K is the college branch of a larger international service organization for adults called Kiwanis. Unlike other similar international service organizations, Flora said, Circle K offers its members substantial leadership opportunities. “. . . (The Circle K organization) is completely run by the students,” Flora said. Alma Vazquez, Circle K secretary, said that she, Shah and Flora opened Circle K at UTD at the end of the winter semester. “Now our work focuses on helping the community,” Vazquez said. “As we grow larger we might help internationally as well.” Circle K meets every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Student Union. For more information contact Flora at suneet.flora@student.utdallas.edu.
see STEAM page 6
Student explores life beyond the daily grind Nada Alasmi
Contributor news@utdallas.edu
For his capstone project, Benjamin Smithson is creating a project titled “Bubble.” “Bubble” is a documentary about people who have a day job as well as a serious hobby on the side. “Most of the things we become interested in don’t pay our mortgage,” Smithson said. “This project will explore the fine line between job and passion.” For the documentary, Smithson will follow his subjects, whom he has chosen to keep anonymous at this stage of the project, and record them. After the project is finished
he will give them a copy of the footage to use and offer to teach them video editing. One man Smithson has been recording is a database programmer who collects vintage camera gear. Another is a private grade school teacher who directs community theatre as a hobby. Both of these men, like many of Smithson’s’ subjects, struggle to manage what they love with what pays their bills. The database programmer faces this issue, Smithson said. Some vintage cameras that the programmer collects are expensive, and if he sold and bought them for a living, he could make a good profit.
“These people have been living for the paycheck all their lives,” Smithson said. “Now that they have found something they love, what are they going to do (with their lives)?” While “Bubble” is a documentary of other people, Smithson said it’s also a reflection of his life. “I have a full time job in an education company,” Smithson said. “It is a stable job, but not my dream job.” Instead Smithson hopes his current degree in emerging media and communications will help him to become a filmmaker. “This is not film school,” said Smithson. “It is less formal so I can explore things I want to and create my own
photo by Brandon Higgins
Ben Smithson, a graduate student in the Emerging Media & Communications department, uses his passion for film to showcase other’s dreams.
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January 24, 2011
Life &Arts
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‘Glitch’ stands for sought out tech failures Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
Two professors are showcasing what can happen when technology goes awry by creating an entirely videobased exhibit which is currently hosted at CentralTrak. “Glitch” explores what happens when things go wrong, said John Pomara, UTD professor and one of the curators for the exhibit. He gave the example of a disturbance in a video game or movie, or a picture that is printed as the printer is running out of ink. “This is a malfunction of a printer, but I think that’s
a beautiful painting,” said Pomara, who uses technological glitches as inspiration for his artwork. The exhibit uses video to show different types of manmade glitches and includes an actual flat screen television that was dropped and then further manipulated. This is the fourth purely video exhibit UTD professor Dean Terry and Pomara have curated together. The previous three took place at the Dallas Contemporary Museum, and summer heat is the reason “Glitch” did not. “(The Dallas Contemporary) moved into warehouse space and didn’t
have air conditioning yet, Pomara said. “We (were scheduled for the summer) but we couldn’t do the show there with all this equipment in hot weather.” While the change in locations diminished the square footage available for the exhibit, it increased the number of videos with the inclusion of the hallway at Centraltrak, which is often a separate exhibit. Of the seven videos in the hallway, UTD alumni created five. The main gallery exhibit is comprised of more experienced artists, one of which is Kyle Kondas, UTD graduate student and Arts & Technology professor, whose
piece is projected onto the wall. Kondas has been taught by both Pomara and Terry, and first became interested in glitches in 2005 after Pomara showed him examples. When the curators told Kondas his work was ready for the exhibit, he said he couldn’t have been happier. “This is the first time I’ve had my work projected that big. It’s been on screens up to 40 inches, but its never been projected like that before,” Kondas said. “I’ve gotten some good feedback. People say this is how my art should be seen.” The piece Kondas used in
Steam
continued from page 5
photo by Brandon Higgins
Fashion designers Sarah Davis (left) and Garret Mobley (right), of the House of Mob, adjust a model’s clothes for their line of apparel.
Atlanta. He decided he couldn’t present his accessories without clothing to accompany them, so he invited Davis to present her clothing designs with his accessories. Since then, Mobley said their collaboration has grown into House of Mob. “(We’re) trying to stay edgy by keeping that kind of rock, kind of dark feel to it but we’re trying to make something appealing to everyone,” Mobley said. Davis and Mobley premiered their first line, Luscious Eve, in 2010, which was shortly followed by their line of corsets and unmentionables called Forbidden Apple. Davis and Mobley are currently designing their Fall 2011 line.
Company
continued from page 5 honest and true to life, everything outside of them tends to feel a little too neat. The CEOs are extravagant and heartless, the concept of ethics is unheard of amongst the human resources department and for those of us still struggling with the current state of the economy, the concise and hopeful ending can induce groans. But while certain elements of the film seem contrived, it does give us the heart wrenching depictions that will almost certainly speak to anyone
photo by Ben Hawkins
This dropped, punctured television attempts to display the image seen on the smaller, inner screen “Glitch” is a manipulation of the “Spiderman” video game for GameCube. He said he currently changes the games himself, but he hopes to learn ways to change the code so the game will
begin to manipulate itself and always be different. “Doing what I do is leading me to a world of possibilities,” Kondas said. “Glitch” will remain on display at CentralTrak until
Ultimately, Mobley said they would like to include summer and winter lines, as well. Before designing a clothing line, Davis and Mobley brainstorm ideas for new designs first. Davis then puts together a few preliminary drawings and Mobley makes suggestions. Then Mobley draws up his preliminary designs on which Davis makes suggestions. The two then begin to produce their designs as prototypes, which appear on the runways. Davis and Mobley take note of what is popular at the runway shows and then design what they will sell on their website. “You can have elegance without having to be expensive, you can have sexy without having to be naked,” Mobley said. “We’re trying to turn (this) into something where women can be thor-
oughly beautiful and elegant and (have) an ambiance of pre-1950s vintage.” By some standards, The House of Mob’s clothing is expensive such as corsets that range from $200 to 300. But, Davis and Mobley said because their products are handmade using high quality materials, their prices are much lower than other local boutiques. Mobley said House of Mob markets most of their clothing through its Web store and local nightclubs. “We like getting into the community and interacting with people,” Davis said. Mobley said they are currently trying to find a retailer that will carry their designs. Because of this, House of Mob will soon shut down its Web store and turn it into a fashion blog.
personally affected by the recession. For so long we’ve had to choose between films with cheap thrills and entertainment dumbed down for the masses or “high-art” for the cultural elite, we sometimes forget that film can be an opportunity for us to take note of the world around us and stop to watch a commentary on everyday life and the dramas that permeate it. “The Company Men” is a movie that does just that. With so many moments that hit close to home and leave you with ample food for thought that doesn’t require a bachelor’s in philosophy. It’s a film for the
everyman that doesn’t forfeit a smart script or subtle acting. Exploring this new face of the American dream could have seemed like studio executives trying to capitalize on the pervasive joblessness that is ravaging the country, but ultimately it feels like a fair and honest depiction with a little bit of the Hollywood gloss. Essentially, “The Company Men” could have just as easily been a punch to the gut, but is actually a lot closer to a sympathetic pat on the back.
“The Company Men”
9 / 10
7
Sports
January 24, 2011
the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
Coach calls upcoming stretch ‘critical’ Comets struggling heading into divisional matchups Bobby Karalla
Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
At 11-5 (8-4), the UTD men’s basketball team is in second place in the ASC East. A second-place finish in the division qualifies the Comets for the conference tournament. But head basketball coach Terry Butterfield is more concerned with the losses than wins. “I’m disappointed that we have (four) conference losses at this juncture, but we’re right in the thick of it,” Butterfield said. “Right now our focus is on winning every East division game we can win.” The Comets have lost one game against an East Division opponent. Butterfield said the team places extra emphasis on those games because they are twice as effective in the standings. “The thing about the East is that every time you win, someone on your side loses,” he said. “Every time you go head-to-head, it’s like a double whammy. Each game is critical from this point on.” The Comets have had division success without senior center Jimmy Witten,
whose knee complications have sidelined him for the season. Junior forward Chris Barnes has moved into the center role since Witten’s injury. Barnes leads the Comets in scoring at 18.2 points per game. “The guy’s a warrior. Because of the type of character he has, he understands that’s what he has to do to help the team,” Butterfield said, referring to Barnes. “He’s tremendously coachable and he wants to win. He wants to win badly.” The Comets have established a well rounded offensive attack by moving the ball. They lead the ASC in assists, something Butterfield said reflects the personality and selflessness of the players. “I would like to think that our guys continue to have that tradition of playing without ego,” he said. “Our guys understand that in order for us to be successful, we have to function as a unit. It’s not a collection of individuals. The individual steps out of the way for the good of the team.” The Comets also lead the conference in defensive rebounding. Butterfield said good rebounding and
photo by Duc Kao
Head coach Terry Butterfield instructs his team during a timeout in a game played at the Activity Center. Butterfield, in his 11th season, is trying to coach his team to its eighth straight ASC Tournament. defensive play make teams successful. “The two core things we have to do are defend the basketball and rebound,” Butterfield said. “If you don’t have those two things as your foundation, you open yourself up to defeat every time out of the box. “Sometimes you come out and offensively you can’t miss, and sometimes you couldn’t throw a stone in the ocean if you were standing in it,” he contin-
ued. “On those nights when you aren’t throwing the ball in the hole like you need to, your defense and rebounding have to carry you.” Defensively, the Comets have held opponents under 75 points in all but five of their games. Their defense has kept them in position to win games, but Butterfield said offensive execution has to improve to achieve further success. “Right now, our execution is spotty at times,”
Butterfield said. “We’re a very pattern-oriented, precise offense. In our losses, it’s very clear to me that there’s a fundamental lack of execution at key points in the game.” The Comets have executed enough to this point to be in second place in the East, but with so many games remaining on the schedule, Butterfield said the team is not resting on its laurels. “There’s so much basketball left to play. There’s nobody that’s run away with
things,” he said. “That’s a good thing for us. “But, everything else is still so unsettled,” he continued. “Now is the time that we’ve got to hit our stride and play our best basketball because every game has a double effect. “I want them to be looking over their shoulder and trying to scratch and claw to get on top of this thing,” he added. Note: The Comets’ record in this article is as of Jan. 21.
New bleachers add spirit, cause road trips Construction forces Comets into nine straight away games Bobby Karalla
Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
photo by Albert Ramirez
The basketball court in the Activity Center is unavailable to both UTD basketball teams while new bleachers are put in place. The Comets will not play a home game until Jan. 29. The new bleachers will be easier to repair and will feature “UTD” in orange letters in the middle sections. The project started over Winter Break.
Men’s ASC East Basketball Sandings
The Activity Center basketball courts are unavailable to UTD’s basketball teams while the court’s bleachers undergo renovation. Tricia Losavio, director of Rec Sports, said while the bleachers will feature no additional seating, they will be easier to repair. “The original bleachers we had in the main gym were becoming obsolete,” Losavio said. “It was harder for us to find parts when the bleachers broke. Since we use the main gym for basketball and graduation, we didn’t want the bleachers to break.” The project will take five
weeks, Losavio said. The construction began the day after last semester’s graduation ceremony. Men’s head coach Terry Butterfield said his players — who have been practicing at Collin County Community College throughout the construction process — are being challenged by facing a long stretch of away games while the gym is closed. “If you researched across the country, you couldn’t find a team anywhere in America that has to play this many road games at once. It is what it is, and we’ve got to find a way to win in spite of that,” Butterfield said. “That doesn’t excuse us from going somewhere and trying to win. When we go away, that’s a little more of
a chore, but the court’s still the same dimensions and there’s no reason why we can’t win on the road.” Butterfield said while the Comets are currently in second place in the ASC East, winning road games is still a challenge, and good teams must be up to the task. “If you’re gonna be a good team, you’ve got to win on the road,” Butterfield said. “You can’t split on the road. There’s got to be a mind set and a chip on your shoulder as you travel and think about what you have to do to be successful in someone else’s gym.” Losavio said this is the Activity Center’s slowest period and is the best time to complete the project. “We utilized the two-
Women’s ASC East Basketball Standings
week window that we were closed for Winter Break,” Losavio said. “The basketball team didn’t have a home game during this window, so this was our slow time, which is why we picked this time to do it.” The men are 6-4 on the road as of Jan. 21, and the women have gone 7-2. The next time either Comets team will play at home is Jan. 29, when both the men and women take on East Texas Baptist University. The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m. “We added a ‘UTD’ in orange in the middle of the bleachers, so we added some spirit, and I think the students will really like what we’ve done to it,” Losavio said.
ASC Rec.
Overall Rec.
Lousiana College
9-1
13-1
11-5
UTD
10-2
14-3
5-4
7-7
Mississippi College
7-3
12-3
UT Tyler
5-7
6-11
UT Tyler
7-4
9-8
Mississippi College
4-6
7-8
Univ. of the Ozarks
5-7
9-8
Univ. of the Ozarks
3-9
6-11
East Texas Baptist Univ.
3-7
4-10
LeTourneau Univ.
0-11
1-15
LeTourneau Univ.
1-10
2-14
ASC Rec.
Overall Rec.
East Texas Baptist Univ.
8-3
11-4
UTD
8-4
Louisiana College
Note: Standings reflect all teams’ records as of Jan. 21
8
Classifieds
January 24, 2011
www.utdmercury.com
the Mercury
:
JOBS The North Central Texas Council of Governments serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for transportation and is seeking Interns to support geographic information system and database activities related to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The TIP document contains federal, state, and local transportation projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Applicants wishing to be considered for a position should apply online at: https://mycogcar e e r. s i l k r o a d . c o m /
HOUSING
Roommate wanted in Large House with Students and recent Grads. Shared areas include Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, and Bathrooms. Large Yard and Deck. Mostly a Quiet Place. No Smoking. No Pets. Richardson near campus. Call David at 512-310-0720
the Mercury
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The First Werewolf
Comics
by Laura-Jane Cunningham
January 24, 2011
If you want to submit comics to The Mercury, email graphics@utdmercury. com to get instructions and deadlines for each issue. Or send us a file of the comic you want printed. It’s that easy.
Sudoku
Losers and Geeks: Cool Kids Club by V.A.X.
Party of One
Don’t laugh, step aerobics is harder with a tail by Michelle Ngyuen
9
by Alison Kwong
10
News
January 24, 2011
Psyched and ready to go
photo by Amanda Duke
(From the left) Psychology students Angie Johnston, Victoria Ekema, Lisa Keylon and Rachel Nowlin sit beside John Santrock, behavior and brain science professor.
New psychology scholarship offers unique experience Nada Alsami
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
A UTD scholarship of up to $1000 has been awarded to four psychology students.The award pays for four upper-level undergraduates to visit a psychology convention. John Santrock, behavior and brain science professor, created the award and said that it is UTD’s first travel scholarship for psychology undergraduates. Angela Johnston, a scholarship recipient, said will be traveling to Montreal, Canada to attend the Society for Research in Child Development, or SRCD, convention. “I have wanted to go for about half a year,” Johnston said. “Without the scholarship it might not have been feasible for me to go.” At the convention, Johnston said
she will be presenting two posters about research she co-authored. The first is from her work with graduate student Ahseley Landrum which looks at whether children value niceness or expertise when evaluating sources of information. The second poster is from her internship at Yale University and it discusses whether children more general or specific concepts for science. “Right now I’m excited to go,” Johnston said “but I think I might get nervous presenting when I get there.” Lisa Keylon, Rachel Nowlin and Victoria Ekema were the other three scholarship recipients. Keylon and Ekema will be traveling to the SRCD convention. Nowlin will be traveling to San Diego to attend the International Meeting for Autism Research. Last semester Nowlin conducted research with Dr. Noah Sasson in the
Development of Social Cognition Lab. She studied the relationship between autism-associated traits and socials skill in the general population. “We submitted our abstract for a poster (of our research),” Nowlin said. “It would be cool if we could present it there.” According to Santrock, the recipients were awarded the money based on their GPA, research experience and research and career goals. “(I created to scholarship) to give students the chance to meet students and professors from other universities and to really broaden their experiences,” Santrock said. Santrock said that for now he plans to award the scholarship to up to five psychology undergraduates each year. This year, scholarship notifications were sent out to psychology students in November and recipients were notified in December.
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NANO
continued from page 1
yarn — are then compatible with any technology used for regular fabrics, said Marcio Lima, lead author of the ongoing nanotube project at UTD. About 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, nanotubes produce extremely thin, almost transparent sheets. When these so-called “nanosheets” are spun, or scrolled, they have strength comparable to steel and are electrically and thermally conductive. Lima said many new nanomaterials have been developed, but they don’t have strength on their own and are difficult to use in practical applications because of their ultra small size. Biscrolled yarns are made with the same sheet of carbon nanotubes, but a nano-material is added to the top before the bilayer is twisted. The result is a biscrolled yarn that behaves like a nanotube yarn, but has the function of whatever material that was added to it, said Carter Haines, neuroscience senior and member
TEXTS
continued from page 2 students returned to swap their credits for spring semester textbooks. “The majority of students found the book they wanted, which I think makes (the event) a success,” said Dina Shahrokhi, SG Vice President.
the Mercury of the NanoTech team that discovered biscrolling. Haines said this nanotechnology isn’t advanced enough to be sold yet, but one of the things he appreciates about the NanoTech Institute is its drive to create real, tangible products that people will be able to use in everyday life. Some of the applications Lima described for biscrolling include sutures which contain antibiotic properties, or batteries that can be structured into doors of electric cars. The technology might also for the development of self-cleaning clothes. “If this particle is incorporated into regular textiles, it’s just a matter of shining sunlight on them to destroy impurities and microorganisms,” Lima said. The original article the NanoTech lab published didn’t contain enough space for all the possibilities of the new application. Lima said the lab will continue to work with different nano-materials. “One of the main advantages of this technology is that it’s extremely flexible,” Lima said. “We don’t know all the possibilities yet…”
According to the event’s tally, 76 books were taken from the event and 120 books still remain. Shahrokhi said students saved approximately $7,250 using the program. SG will host another Textswap at the end of this semester to collect textbooks, the exact date hasn’t been announced.