August 24, 2015
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LOST AND MISSING BY THE NUMBERS Page 7
THE SEARCH TEAM Page 6 THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
On Aug. 30, 2014, UTD graduate Christina Morris went missing in Plano. One year later her family is still
NOT GIVING UP HOPE STORY BY CARA SANTUCCI | MERCURY STAFF
ANDREW GALLEGOS | PHOTO EDITOR
The Morris Family (from left to right: Patrick Estes, Sarah Estes, Anna Morris, Jake Morris and Mark Morris) one year after Christina went missing from the Shops at Legacy in Plano.
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t was late on a Tuesday night. Sarah Estes picked up the ringing phone and heard her mother’s panicked voice on
Celica. The next morning, the Morrises were told that Christina’s car
the other end of the line. She said no one had heard from Sarah’s was still in the parking garage at the Shops at Legacy. younger sister, Christina Morris, in days.
“That was really scary once we figured out she hadn’t even
Unable to sit around and wait for updates, Sarah and her made it to her car,” Sarah said. “That whole next week (or) husband got in their car and began to search for Morris. They
month—I don’t even know—was just a complete blur. It
drove to the Shops at Legacy in Plano where she was last seen. seemed like just the longest day ever.” The couple went all the way to Fort Worth, all the while scan-
These first frantic days would set in motion the beginning of
ning highways for accidents, hoping to see Morris’ Toyota the family’s ongoing fight to find Morris and bring her home.
→ SEE CHRISTINA, PAGE 6 TIMELINE OF MORRIS' DISAPPEARANCE Spring 2013 Morris graduates from UTD
Aug. 30, 2014 Day Morris is last seen
Sept. 2, 2014 Morris is reported missing
Dec. 9, 2014 Forensic reports test positive for Morris' DNA in Enqrique Arochi's car
Dec. 13, 2014 Arochi arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping
UTD struggles to meet demand for housing Students deal with delayed signals, steep prices, strict regulations in attempt to find a place to live both on, off campus ANWESHA BHATTACHARJEE Mercury Staff
There are more than 4,500 spaces to live on campus. Yet, every year, the race to be an on-campus resident seems to get a little bit harder. UTD’s Residential Life is charged with the task of accommodating as many students as possible in a floor-plan of their choice and keeping the student body happy about this process at the same time. Of the 4,700 spaces on campus, 2,200 are in the residence halls. Almost 80 percent of students in these rooms are freshmen, although currently Residence Hall North currently houses upperclassmen. Still, there’s a good majority of freshmen that want to move into the apartments in their sophomore year. “More freshmen tend to (apply for) apartment applications a year or two later and our continuing growth with transfer and graduate students increases our demand for housing as well,” said
Kevin Kwiatkowski, director of housing operations at UTD. Then there are students like Alexander Kujak, a healthcare studies junior, who has wanted to move on campus for two years but hasn’t been offered a lease. When Kujak, a transgender student, applied as a freshman, he was assigned to room with girls. He didn’t want that, so he decided to live off campus. In order to get a legal name change, he wanted to move to the Dallas county side of campus this summer. He applied for a lease in December 2014, but found out later that he needed to apply in February for summer 2015. After applying again, Kujak asked for updates and repeatedly got the same answer. “All they said was that they would roll out applications whenever they are available, which is really inconvenient for me or somebody who lives off
→ SEE HOUSING, PAGE 8
ANDREW GALLEGOS | PHOTO EDITOR
The demand for housing has grown substantially over the past few years with the increase of students who have enrolled and looked to live on campus.
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Volume XXXVI No. 4
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August 3 t "U Q N B 65% TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE A his wallet stolen from the soccer fields. August 5 t "O VOBĂŻ MJBUFE NBMF XBT BSSFTUFE PO 8B UFSWJFX 1BSLXBZ OFBS 1IBTF BU B N B for warrants out of Plano PD for expired vehicle registration, failure to maintain financial responsibility and failure to appear. August 5 t " 65% TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE UIBU IFS $PBDI C clutch was taken from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Lab and her %JTDPWFS DSFEJU DBSE XBT VTFE BU Q N August 13 t A faculty member reported that his black D 2013 Ford F-250 was broken into in Lot ) BU Q N BOE TFWFSBM JUFNT XFOU missing. August 14 t "O VOBĂŻ MJBUFE QFSTPO XBT BSSFTUFE BU UIF E SU for driving on a suspended license, with no insurance, expired registration, failure to change address and three misdemeanor C warrants from Mesquite PD. August 19 t "O VOBĂŻ MJBUFE NBMF XBT JTTVFE B $JUZ of Richardson citation for DUI of a minor F PO 8 $BNQCFMM 3E BU B N for an other agency warrant.
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In the last issue of The Mercury, in the story titled "University starts building SSB add-on," the size of the building was incorrectly stated. The new SSB building will be 60,000 square feet when completed. The Mercury regrets this error.
AUG. 24, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
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Mercury story did disservice to veterans
Story, image draws criticism from subject of brain health piece
MIKE RIALS OP-ED
I agreed to share my personal story with The Mercury to raise awareness of research and program offerings for military service members at the Center for BrainHealth. However, when the piece was published, I was disheartened to see my photograph stamped with the labels of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Quite simply, the story that accompanied the piece validated the same unfortunate narrative that continues to plague the military community: that every service member has PTSD and/or TBI and that those labels stay with you for life. I have learned a great deal working with veterans over the last five years and am determined to change the conversation that currently surrounds the military community, PTSD and TBI. This false narrative leaves employers doubtful about hiring service members, families’ worried sick and veterans finding it difficult to create meaningful relationships. Furthermore, the stigma only reinforces a culture where individuals who exit the military are more reluctant to seek help. I want veterans across the nation—and specifically on UTD’s campus—to know that even with a diagnosis of PTSD or TBI, that label does not define you. Any brain-related issue—whether PTSD, TBI, depression or other mental health conditions—carries a stigma that is perpetuated out of fear and lack of understanding. I have learned that PTSD and TBI are not signs of mental weakness, do not last a lifetime, are treatable and can be overcome. There is effective research being done on the brain and there are proven interventions that should be foregrounded by the media and the public at large to enhance our appreciation for the complex organ between our ears. PTSD and TBI are not isolated to the military
Comets and Craters Old faces, new experiences: OK, not trying to sound like a total nerd, but some of us are actually excited school is back. It's great to see all of your friends who have been gone over the summer and are now back in one place. Instead of dreading the inevitable challenges of college life, we should all take a step back and soak in the people around us and how we've all grown.
community and dissemination of accurate information is key, especially among veterans. I wish The Mercury article had focused on our ability to change our brains physiologically and psychologically despite such a diagnosis. Even though I have been through obstacles in my life just like everyone else, I have a desire for improvement. I am a living example that with motivation, education and science-based tools, one can lead a more fulfilling life. The more hopeful and empowering messages we share collectively, the more successful we will be in shattering the stigma, labeling and enabling of veterans and others concerned with their brain health. To my fellow warriors: We have to maintain our fighting spirit. We are fortunate to have learned the importance of grit, leadership, resourcefulness, strategic thinking, perspective, mission orientation, teamwork, loyalty and work ethic from our rich service oriented experience. It is our responsibility to translate what we have been trained to do in the military for our next mission and purpose in life. Take that first step and reach out if you feel like you are struggling. There is a wealth of resources available to you. Please join me in defying the perpetuation of misinformation. Leverage the opportunities and resources before you; train your brain like you do your body and revel in your new purpose. Let our successes and the achievements of our brothers and sisters in arms be the defining face of what it means to be a veteran. As a former Marine and UTD student veteran, I appreciate The Mercury’s interest and attention to highlighting service members. I have been fortunate to personally experience the vast support the University offers for its student veterans, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have been provided by both UTD and its Center for Brain Health.
Mike Rials is a former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, UT Dallas graduate and member of the Center for Brain Health’s warrior training team.
Green parking disappearing: Complaining about parking in the opinion section is the college journalism equivalent of beating a dead horse with a chainsaw, but sometimes you just have to vent. It's becoming increasingly frustrating for students who don't want to drop over $200 on a pass every year to find a good place to park on campus since green spaces are going away faster than LeBron's hairline. It's not as bad as other schools, but we're not going to those schools, are we? New Food: All of the changes on campus are great, but a personal favorite of The Mercury's staff is the new dining options being made available to students. A Ben and Jerry's on campus? That's literally the best and worst thing you could have told us. If we all balloon up like an elephant, you'll know why. We'll see you guys in the gym.
COMET COMMENTS
OPINION
Editorial Board What students need, want from presidential search The university is more prone to change than ever simple. Under Daniel, UTD transformed from a comwith a new school year and the search for a new president in full swing. With that being said, it’s muter school to a lively, vibrant campus. It’s hard to important that the search committee charged with get around at times due to the number of students finding the school’s new leader knows what’s on that flood the school grounds. Sadly, very few of them knew the man who was most responsible for students minds during this transition. UTD has seen huge growth in the last decade. making UTD what it is today. Part of that is because Building after building has sprung up as glass and of the student’s lack of basic knowledge about the steel have started to replace the draconian architec- school and the other part was Daniel’s lack of presture that characterized the UTD of old. The North ence on campus. While Daniel did many great things, it someMall is finally (finally!) open after renovations made it look like a scene out of “Terminator” for times felt like he was the king in the castle known the past year. As students, this is the kind of physi- as the Administration Building. You could see him every now and then at an event cal change we need on campus, interacting with students, but you and under the former president, couldn’t find him every day out David Daniel, that’s the kind of and about. This may be nitpickchange we got. ing - especially when Daniel had so Now that Daniel is on to Going forward, to oversee - but it would be a bigger and better endeavors as the new president much definite boost to university life for the deputy chancellor for the will play an intestudents to actually know who the University of Texas System, we president is. want to make sure that we have gral role in shapStill, no one is saying the student a president that has a similar ing the future of body won’t miss Daniel. He did focus on expansion. As UTD much more than anyone could have grows in population, we need our university. We asked for UTD. Ultimately, if the to have a campus that keeps up. need someone search committee could find someYes, that may mean more conwho can not only one on par with him, that would struction plaguing us, but isn’t be like a back-to-back championthat worth it in the long run? match Daniel's ship run. That being said, students Specifically, the school is in deslegacy, but imdeserve to know exactly who is being perate need of more apartments. considered to lead UTD. The residence halls have greatly prove upon it. University business at the adminhelped to increase the population istration level has a tendency to be of students living on campus, specovered in red tape. It’s very rare that cifically freshmen. But older stustudents have an active look at the dents who want to find an affordable, quality place to live on campus increasingly have processes that affect their lives. That can’t be the case to fight tooth and nail to get a lease. More apartments in the search for the new president. Students should on the main campus would help to improve life for know exactly who’s being considered. The university countless upperclassmen that just want to live close system and UTD officials need to make the best efforts possible to consistently publish updates on the to where they get an education. Construction has seemed to be no problem for search. If this candidate is going represent us, it’s the UTD in the last few years, so there’s no doubt that least we can ask for. Going forward, the new president will play an the problem will be taken care of once officials recognize the need for more housing. Hopefully integral role in shaping the future of our university. the new president, whoever he or she is, makes We need someone who can not only match Daniel’s this a top priority. While this seems like an easy legacy, but improve upon it. It’s a difficult task for problem to fix, there are others that are not so the search committee, but it’s one that must be done.
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"(Giving up) is not an option" -ANNA MORRIS
Ever since Christina Morris' disappearance a year ago her family, loved ones have been on the hunt for her whereabouts → CHRISTINA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The Incident On Aug. 30, 2014, Morris drove herself to the Shops at Legacy and met up with some friends from high school at Scruffy Duffies, a local bar. Among the group was Enrique Arochi, an acquaintance of hers who had aslo gone to Allen High School. When she was ready to go home, she walked to the parking garage. According to police reports, Arochi went with her, saying he was also planning to head out. That was the last time anyone saw Morris. Three days later, when her boss noticed she had missed work, Morris was reported missing. Mark, her father, reached out to everyone who was with Morris the night she went missing, but nobody had a clue about what might have happened. “(Christina) parked in a well-lit area of the parking garage… She didn’t walk alone. She let people know she was leaving and told a friend she’d call when she got home… and nobody followed up,” Anna Morris, her mother, said. “Christina did all the right things.” Jonni McElroy, Morris’ birth mother, stayed up for 24 hours when she first heard of her daughter’s disappearance. She left her home in Tulsa, Okla. and drove down to Texas to begin looking for her daughter. She thought the search would be quick. “I was sure we were going to find her within three days or 24 hours. I was sure,” she said. “And then a week goes by and the exhaustion hits in because you don’t sleep… Your mind is going a hundred miles an hour.” Three and a half months after Morris was reported missing, Plano police arrested Arochi for aggravated kidnapping after finding Morris’s DNA in the trunk of his car. Arochi is pleading not guilty. The Morrises have raised a $30,000 reward for her whereabouts. They are committed to finding their missing loved one, even though an arrest has been made. “If there was solid evidence that she were not alive, he would be charged with more than aggravated kidnapping,” Anna said. “If you can’t prove she’s not alive, then as far as I’m concerned she is still alive.” Meet the Morris Family
LOOKING FOR A PIECE OF LIGHT
Every weekend a dedicated group of volunteers led by Mark Morris searches for his daughter
ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mark Morris, the father of Christina Morris, examines a clearing for any evidence that may lead to where his daughter is. Every Saturday, Morris and a team of about a dozen searchers look through the local countryside for any clues regarding where Christina is located. ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Editor-in-Chief
Even though Mark Morris stood surrounded by shadows in the abandoned farmhouse, the faint glow of the afternoon sun illuminated the unmistakable look of exhaustion on his face. As he had done for almost every weekend since his daughter Christina Morris, a UTD graduate, went missing on Aug. 30, 2014, he was once again scouting the North Texas countryside for any sign of her whereabouts. So far that day, he wasn’t having any luck. Deserted buildings house plenty of dark hiding spaces, and Mark needed a flashlight. He didn’t have one, but a volunteer from the small search team dedicated to finding Christina brought over a cell phone to help him illuminate the gloom. It was one of the innumerable selfless acts that Mark Morris has witnessed over the last 12 months from the dozens of strangers who have banded
The Morrises are a blend of three different families. Anna and Mark Morris got married about 21 years ago. Each of them brought a child to the mix. Morris was Mark’s daughter from a previous marriage, while Sarah was Anna’s. When they first met, new siblings Sarah and Christina didn’t like the idea of sharing their parents. Sarah, now a 28-year-old forensic scientist in Dallas, became much closer with Morris after their half brother Jake was born. “Jake had both of us wrapped around his finger really quickly,” Sarah said. “She wanted to see where I grew up so we went to Even though Morris had a new family, she still stayed close to her birth mother, Jonni. McElroy Chicago together,” Mark said. “It was just her and I said she and Anna did their best to raise Morris and… we had a good trip.” The trip was one of the last times Mark would get together. “When Christina was three, (Anna and I) sat to spend quality time with his daughter. down. I said, ‘All I care about is you being a great mom to my daughter,’” McElroy said. “(She and I) The Search have taken Christina to her first kindergarten, her The whole family agreed that if anyone could surfirst everything we have done together. I’ve held one vive something like this, it would be Morris. hand, she held the other.” “She is the most stubborn, strong-willed person McElroy spent as much time with her daughter I’ve ever run across in as possible, even though my life,” Anna said. they were sometimes “In this sort of circumapart. stance, that could serve “Every week, no mather very well. That’s ter what, (Christina and what I’m counting on.” I) had lunch together. When his sister first We had a date,” she said. went missing, Jake “Even when I moved to remembers everything Tulsa, I flew down here being chaotic until when she had her mouth the family established surgery. Anything, I was a command center here at the drop of a hat.” at Legacy Church in After graduating from Plano. The church was high school, Morris went the family’s home base to Texas A&M Universitywhere members orgaCorpus Christi. Soon, nized their efforts to however, she became very find Morris. homesick. “You lose so much “She thought she wanted sleep… It’s constantly to be far away,” Sarah said, running through your “But she drove that eight mind so you lose focus hour drive almost every on things you normally weekend to come home.” pay attention to. Even She later transferred to just meals or the sunset UTD to major in maror sunrise,” Jake said. keting. Jake remembers “You just don’t notice Morris’s excitement after anymore.” finding her niche in the MORRIS FAMILY | COURTESY Everyone involved School of Management. Christina Morris, center, pictured with her family memin the search has had She would call home, bers, from left to right, Anna, Mark, Jake and Sarah. to make sacrifices. eager to share what she McElroy has left her learned that day with her current husband and her two steps-sons in Oklahoma family. “She genuinely loved going to school, and I don’t for extended periods of time in order to look for her daughter. It’s almost become an occupation for her. think she’d liked that before,” he said. “It is about Christina,” she said. “That’s my job as After she graduated in 2013, she took a fathera mother. That’s who I am, and I made the decision daughter trip with Mark to celebrate.
together to search for his daughter. “How do these people do it? I don’t know,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough. I can never repay them.” **** Ever since Christina Morris’ disappearance last fall, a ragtag group has come together every weekend to help the Morrises search for their daughter. The band is composed of people from all walks of life: from an old man in his 50s with a thick country accent to a hip, young married couple painted in tattoos. Despite their differences, they all seek to answer the same question: Where is Christina Morris? Armed with snake boots, walking sticks, bottles of water and an endless supply of bug spray, they gather every Saturday at Allen High School, Morris’ alma mater, to begin searching. The small army, outfitted in camo print t-shirts marked on the back with #TeamChristina, is used to covering a lot of ground. Sometimes they check out locations based on
that if (my husband) can’t realize that she comes first right now and understand my feelings and emotions right now, then so be it.” Jake said he feels as though he is doing all he can for his sister, but is frustrated that what he can do hasn’t been enough. He said Morris is always in his thoughts. “I send her a Snapchat everyday,” Jake said. “(I) hope I wake up and that red arrow (has been) read, and I got one back.” When things get too overwhelming, the family turns to each other for support and strength. “I don’t see a family that’s closer than ours," Jake said. "That was (true) before this happened, too. After this, we’ve come together more than we could have imagined.” The Morrises all have dark days from time to time, but they have never thought of giving up the search. Instead, Anna said they use their support system to keep pushing each other forward. “(Giving up) is not an option,” Anna said. “That would be just giving up on her and you just can’t. I don’t know that any of us will until we do find her. Regardless of how we find her.” The Road Ahead Sarah and Jake both expressed how difficult it was to return to their old routines. For Sarah, her work in forensic science frequently felt too close and too personal. “All of the horrible scenarios that I encounter would play in my head with Christina’s face,” Sarah said. She said it helps to know that her job helps victims like Morris. All the same, there are days Sarah goes to her boss and says she just needs to go home. In Jakes case, he missed a lot of school the first few weeks after Morris went missing. Going back to school, Jake said he felt a lot of guilt at first. “When I was sitting in a classroom… (I) felt like (I was) letting her down when (I wasn’t) actively doing something to help bring her back,” Jake said. Sarah said going back to her normal life has been one of most difficult parts of the whole incident. It was difficult for her to get on with her life without her sister. “I remember it being really hard right after she went missing to see people go on with their lives, because for us everything stopped completely,” Sarah said. “I go to sleep every night praying that I’ll wake
tips from Plano police, other times they follow their own leads and look at areas that might be good for hiding. The group doesn’t reveal information about the specific locations it explores just in case someone is still moving Morris around. Even after a year of investigating every nook and cranny in the DFW wilderness, the search party still meticulously examines nearly every inch of land they come across. Dennis Abercrombie, one of the oldest members of the group, takes this mission to heart. Before exiting one of the search location, he gets out of his truck and picks up a crumpled blanket lying on the ground 15 yards away. Things like that bother him, he said. He had to know whether it could possibly lead to Morris. “Hell, you don’t want to go home and lay in bed thinking, ‘Well, I wish I had done this or that,’” he said.
→ SEE SEARCH TEAM, PAGE 23
MORRIS FAMILY | COURTESY
Christina Morris, center, pictured here with her birth mother Jonni McElroy and her father, Mark.
up tomorrow and it’s all been a bad dream.” Because of what happened to Morris, Jake has changed some of his behaviors when he’s out with his friends. He uses what he learned from this whole experience to help other people. “Every decision we (make) now… always has Christina in the back of our minds,” Jake said. “Last night, I was out until 1 (a.m.) with some friends. I have to walk (them) to their car (now). It just has to be done.” Morris’s disappearance has shifted Anna’s perspective on the minor frustrations she experiences throughout the day. “I can have what two years ago would have been the worst day ever… (and now I’d) just give anything for that to be (my) worst day ever again,” Anna said. Even though the family has had to deal with the thought of Morris passing away, they still hope to see her one day. “I hate the idea of closure, to be honest, because I want her home more than anything in the world,” Sarah said. “She deserves better than wherever she is. She deserves to be celebrated always.” Additional reporting by Nidhi Gotgi and Esteban Bustillos
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The timeline for getting an apartment on campus can start as early as December of the previous year. Fees and payments have to be made throughout the process for applicants to have a chance at snagging one of the highly sought after spots.
→ HOUSING
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campus and has a lease ending soon,” he said. He didn’t hear back from them until June, which left him frustrated. “They’re just making money off the application fee even though they have an extremely long waitlist,” he said. By then, Kujak had already signed on a year-long lease off-campus. He couldn’t afford to pay $200 to $300 extra a month for a short-term summer lease in the hopes of moving to an on-campus apartment, he said. On June 22, UV sent him an email saying he had been placed on its waitlist. The email stated that he could apply for a refund of the $75 application fee since the number of applicants this year had been high. He got his refund for the 2015-16 cycle, but only because he wasn’t offered a lease to start with and he decided to get off the waitlist. Kujak said he shouldn’t have been allowed to apply in the first place. “They are very over-saturated with applications,” he said. “If they know they won’t be able to fit everybody, then they should close off the applications at some point.” All students placed on the waitlist were given the option to ask for a refund in late June according to Kwiatkowski said. He said UV received an exceptionally high number of applications this year. There were more than 3,300 applications for a little more than 1,200 spaces available. By late June, it wasn’t likely that those on the waitlist would get an offer in time for fall, Kwiatkowski said. There is a three-tier priority system for housing assignments in UV. Renewals, when students opt to continue living in the same apartment, are the top tier followed by transfers from residence halls and
current UV residents. AES scholarship recipients receive priority over others, Kwiatkowski said, but only because their housing stipend is applicable to on-campus housing only. New and returning students who have lived off campus are the lowest priority, but leases are offered first-come-first-served based on the application time-stamp in the UV database. “We think the way that we have everything set up is the fairest possible way for everybody to get equal treatment,” Kwiatkowski said. From late March to mid-May, the people who are offered leases have a week to accept or decline. Kwiatkowski said many students do decline or cancel leases within that period. However, as the days inch closer to fall move-in dates, students usually have 48 hours to respond. Kwiatkowski agreed that it is a difficult situation. But, he added, UV is aware that this late into summer, most people have already looked at other options for fall, which is why there’s a quicker turnaround. Moreover, they can continue to be on the waitlist for a later opening in the semester or in spring, he said. “Our goal is to allow as many people as we can the opportunity to live here,” Kwiatkowski said. Starting 2015-16, UV has stopped the shared bed option where two students could share the same bedroom. Kwiatkowski did not comment on what prompted this move. “This is ridiculous, right? If (they) want to accommodate as many students as possible, then why … stop the shared option?” said Raj, an illegal campus resident, whose name was changed for anonymity. He is an international student on a budget who said he would have lived on campus legally had the
shared option been available. When he first came to the United States, he had a lease at Ashwood Apartments on McCallum Blvd. On-campus options were too expensive and Ashwood had a two-bedroom apartment available with four legal lease-holders at $1,000 a month. Raj was happy paying $250 a month plus utilities and living legally. Then, last October, several international students were mugged on McCallum Blvd, he said. Scared and shaken up, he and his roommates decided to move on campus to a two-bedroom, twobath floorplan, which would cost them each close to $400 a month excluding utilities. Unfortunately, only single-bedroom apartments were available, each costing $760, a price too high for any of them to pay. They took the apartment, but decided to live all four to the same unit, paying $190 a month in rent and getting to live on campus. For Raj, the price of living illegally in cramped conditions is worth the personal safety of campus. This year, he and his roommates have applied again, but no shared beds were available. All other students pay the rent stipulated by UV, but Raj said that is not an option for him and his roommates. Raj didn’t want to rack up additional rent expenses if he could help it, and he wanted to live on a $7,000 budget per year. That’s possible in a community like Ashwood where he lived before. On campus, however, the lowest possible amount is $14,000 a year as a legal graduate campus resident. Every room has a maximum occupancy standard as per the city’s fire code. According to that, up to two residents can live in a one-bedroom apartment, four in a two-bedroom and four in a four bedroom in UV. Illegal occupants create a dangerous situation for
all other residents in the building, Kwiatkowski said. “It’s important to the safety and comfort of the building, and to the quality of life within the campus community,” Kwiatkowski said. Living illegally isn’t great for Raj either, but options around campus are very limited, he said. Most international students can’t afford a car, so traveling from those communities would be a challenge. He said he understands why UV needs to price its apartments at the current rates, but UTD also has to meet international students halfway to amend matters. “They also need to construct more apartments,” he said. “UTD keeps on admitting more students each year, but there is no housing for them. Either stop giving admissions out or provide enough apartments to students.” Plans to build more apartments south of Phase 2 are underway, said Grant Branam, SG vice president. Raj is close to 1,000 on the waitlist currently. UV has informed him that he doesn’t have a chance of getting an assignment before spring 2016. Raj isn’t sure that there is a point to it anyway. And he isn’t alone. Some of his friends, he said, are in the same boat. They come back from fall internships in other cities and don’t want to get in on the waitlist for six months only to lose the application fee. Then again, if Raj is assigned to a single-bedroom floor plan, he will have to take on an illegal roommate. He can’t pay the full rent on his own. Raj says living illegally is an adjustment that has him looking over his shoulder. “It’s a constant fear,” he said. “We don’t show it but it’s always there in the back of our minds. If we’re
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NEWS
Cancer researcher gets fuding Money given to be used for studying stem cells, cancer prevention
RANJIT SREENIVAS | MERCURY STAFF
Jiyong Lee (center), an assistant professor for chemisty, sits with the research team during a meeting. Lee has recently received a $194,000 grant to study cancer. JIANA KHAZMA Mercury Staff
Cancer research at UTD has reached a new milestone thanks to a recent grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. Jiyong Lee, an assistant professor of chemistry at UTD, was awarded $194,000 in May to conduct cancer stem cell research that focuses on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. “The research has never been done before and we are trying to do something new,” Lee said. “If it works, the impact will be huge.” The main objective is to identify the proteins whose presence may cause breast cancer patients to relapse after otherwise successful treatments. Research officially began in June and will continue for two years. According to Lee, there is a population of cancerous sub-cells called stem cells which often linger despite chemotherapy and other treatments. These cells, while infinitesimal, usually remain because they are chemo-resistant. “Conventional chemotherapy targets the mass of the tumor itself, but it never really kills these stem cells,” Maria Castaneda, a doctoral student and researcher working under Lee, said. If scientists can identify the proteins that remain in cancer stem cells, then they are closer to targeting those specific cells instead of attacking the entirety of the tumor. By obtaining both a better understanding of cancer stem cell receptors and identifying their respective drug interactions, the project could potentially help maximize cancer treatment options in the future. “It’s possible that the identity of the receptor is already discovered, but its connection to cancer just wasn’t clear,” Lee said. “I hope that we’re going to be able to identify many various receptors on cancer
stem cells, and each of them will give us new opportunities to develop new cancer drugs.” Despite the grant, Lee acknowledged that there will be difficulties to his research given its expansive nature. “I don’t think we’ll be able to solve everything by ourselves,” he said. “But we are going to share this information with all of the other cancer researchers in Texas.” Even though Lee does not know anyone personally who is suffering from cancer, he knew early on that he wanted to help people with incurable illnesses. He came to the university unsure of what he wanted to pursue. He was somewhat interested in chemistry, though it wasn’t until he saw a TV special on genetic diseases that he became inspired to pursue scientific research. “The father of the family they showed was showing symptoms of a disease, but there was no cure at all,” Lee said. “It was Sunday. I was just relaxing. But that show changed my life, really. I just felt that I must do something about it.” Today Lee is working on several cancer-related research projects, though he says it has been difficult to secure funding on an individual basis. “We do our best to get external funding, but then that’s not always enough,” he said. “Not just me, but all the people at UT Dallas have really good research ideas to try.” Aside from supporting professors directly, donations would especially benefit students, through increased scholarships and research assistantship stipends. “We have a lot of wonderful undergraduate students and really smart graduate students, and I just want them to have more chances to be involved,” Lee said. Despite these setbacks, Lee said his lab has made diligent progess with the money from the grant. “Whatever discovery we make could help people lead their happy lives,” he said.
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AUG. 24, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Deus ex Machina
The BattleBots bring home trophy at international competition
Who let the dogs out? Richardson opens $1.2 mil five-acre facility aimed at pets, owners
CARA SANTUCCI | MERCURY STAFF
Criminology senior Alessandra Richter spends quality time with Gannicus, her Catahoula Great Dane, at Bush Central Barkway, Richardson's first dog park. CARA SANTUCCI
LINDA NGUYEN| MERCURY STAFF
Mechanical engineering sophomore Haley Abitz shows off a part of the award-winning robot — called The Blender — the UTD BattleBots created to help them place third internationally at the 2015 RoboGames. SEJAL MALI AND NIKITA SOJAN Mercury Staff
For the first time in the school’s history, UTD’s robotics team won third place internationally at the 2015 RoboGames in San Mateo California. The team, known as BattleBots, built a 120pound robot named The Blender. It’s made of a titanium shell and has large steel teeth. It is specifically designed to spin at more than 120 miles per hour and slice into other robots. “They end up putting really big gouaches inside other robots and flipping them over and stuff. It’s really impressive to watch,” said Haley Abitz, a mechanical engineering sophomore and project head of the BattleBots, said. The current team didn’t come up with the design for The Blender. The idea for the combat machine
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has been passed down for many years. “The group started at Richardson High School,” Abitz said. “They started with, ‘Oh! Let’s do a spinning robot,’ and that idea has been built upon every year by the following team.” Jack Doan, a computer engineer sophomore, is currently in the process of designing new motors. “Because a motor is essentially a short circuit, you can’t just flip it on or off,” he said. “So what you need to do is use a sort of semiconductor to ramp the motor.” Abitz and Doan agreed that the BattleBots have made a lot of improvements to get to the current design. This year they worked on improving the battery and the motor controller that drives the instrument. The BattleBots placed third out of all the teams
→ SEE ROBOTS, PAGE 13
Mercury Staff
Dogs all over the city of Richardson now have a park of their very own. The park, named Bush Central Barkway, sits on land beneath the intersection of the President George Bush Turnpike and North Central Expressway. It is the first dog park in Richardson and is open most days from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The park opens at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. The five-acre facility includes fenced-off sections for large, small and older or injured dogs. There is also a rentable area citizens can rent to host parties or other events. The park has several drinking fountains for both owners and animals, as well as a restroom and a place to wash off dirty pets. Kurt Beilharz, the superintendent of park planning for the city of Richardson, spent the past year finishing up the $1.2 million project. The park has been under development for about four years and construction began in August of 2014. He said the idea for the park was conceived after
A SUPREME court
numerous requests from Richardson inhabitants. Richardson Parks and Recreation held public meetings to find out what people wanted in their new dog park. “So far (public response) has been very positive,” Beilharz said. “Some people were wanting more seating and we’ll work on that, but other than (that) we haven’t heard anything negative.” Criminology senior Alessandra Richter quickly made use of Bush Central Barkway. She has brought Gannicus, her 8-month-old Catahoula Great Dane, to the facility three times since its opening. “It’s the nicest (park) that’s close… It’s shady, which is really good, and there’s grass,” Richter said. “A lot of the other dog parks right now are so run down. It’s all dirt.” Richter heard about the park opening from a post on Facebook. She has been using the park as a place to help Gannicus socialize with other animals, an important part of development for young puppies, according to Richter. “It’s been awesome,” Richter said. “Everyone that’s
→ SEE DOGS, PAGE 13
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As part of a dining exchange plan, students can swap eating from
New dining options in the SU include Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Moe's and 2mato
their meal plan for something at the food court.
PHOTOS BY ARUN PRASATH| MERCURY STAFF
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Moe's employees prepare to welcome new and returning students on campus with an array of choices on their menu.
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Panda Express opened its menu and pricing on Aug. 20 and is ready for the new year with a full staff.
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LIFE&ARTS
THE MERCURY | AUG. 24, 2015
PIN POSSIBLE
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Difficulty Cost Durability
LINDA NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF
T
hree summers ago, I did an internship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. I enjoyed doing research, spending time working on my tan and meeting with the faculty and students at the school. It's also the first time I noticed how popular longboarding had become. I saw several people ride along the Seawall — a sidewalk area along the beach — and around campus. I knew that I wanted to learn. The problem was that I didn't know people who longboarded. Soon after my internship, I befriended a guy who finally taught me to ride. Then I faced my second problem. As much as I enjoyed longboarding, my creative side wasn't a fan of the limited options for a board that I didn't mind lugging to class every day. I finally settled on a Sector Nine board that did the trick, but I was always tempted to try and repaint it. I figured out how to ride with cowboy boots during those fall days, but I still wanted a board that reflected more of my personality. When one of my Student Media coworkers later came in with a handmade board, I eagerly asked if he could teach me how to make one. Now I have a board that's fully my own and satisfies my artistic side.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 1 plank of plywood — about 1 foot across and several feet long - An electric shaver and sander - Drill - Eye protection - Grip tape — found at most skate stores or your local Zumiez - Paint, paintbrushes and sealant - Pencil - Longboard hardware — trucks, wheels, bearings and screws - A socket set, screwdriver and hammer - A box cutter or some other similar razor
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Ask an employee at a hardware store to cut your plank into several mini planks. The sizing will depend on how long you want your board to be. Mine ended up being a little over 35 inches long to begin with which was shorter than my previous Sector Nine board. A 2. Sketch out the shape of your board. Try to make the left and right sides of the board as symmetrical as
possible for balance. B 3. Using the electric shaver, shape the board as close to the outline you sketched as possible. It doesn't have to be perfect because after that, you will use the electric sander to smooth out the edges and finish the fine detailing of the board. Again, you'll want to pay attention to the weight of your board and try to make both sides even. C 4. Draw a line down the center (this is why symmetry is important) and estimate where you want your trucks to be. Carefully mark the holes on the trucks. 5. Drill the holes. 6. Now we're going to put on the grip tape. I wanted a simple design on my board, so I first cut a V-shape right about at the middle of the grip tape. For anything more intricate than a few cuts, you'll need a laser cutter. D 7. Put your board on the ground with the side you want the grip tape on facing up and you gently lay the piece (or pieces) of grip tape on it. 8. Cut the excess grip tape off and use a screwdriver to help get the smaller pieces off. Use the excess grip tape to sand the sides of the board to give it a more even feel. Then sand the entire board to give it a softer wood feel. E
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9. When I painted my board, I first put on a couple coats of the background color I wanted, waiting for each coat to fully dry before putting on the next coat. Then I painted on the design. 10. After I was happy with my design, I took it outside and sprayed it with a couple coats of paint sealant. 11. I attached the trucks and wheels and screwed it into the board using the instructions included with the set. F There you have it — a handmade longboard. Of course, it's not as fancy as one you would buy at a skate store, but it was cheaper and there are other adjustments that can be made to make it sturdier such as layering the wood and pressing it. Arm strength is necessary for this project because controlling the power tools with one hand turned out to be important for precision. I'm happy with the final product, but unfortunately — with the exception of riding around the mall area with my longboard — I can't get very far with all the construction on-campus. Hopefully when these 110-degree days become closer to 70, I can break out my board and just ride around campus lost in my thoughts.
Every issue, The Mercury’s craft connoisseur will scour Pinterest and craft blogs in search of the best and worst DIY projects. Show us your results on social media using #pinpossible and @utdmercury.
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been here has been really solid. There (aren’t) a lot of nervous … owners who are trying to stop the dogs from playing.” Beilharz said there are plans to connect a DART
LIFE&ARTS
station to the park by trails for easy access. There is also a proposed shade structure for the facility. That part of the project, according to Beilharz, is still several years away. “(Bush Central Barkway) is a great benefit to everybody,” Beilharz said. “It’s a great park and we’re just really pleased we can put this in for the citizens.”
CARA SANTUCCI | MERCURY STAFF
According to Alessandra Richter, the owner of Gannicus (right), it's good for the 8-month old dog to socialize with other animals because it plays a big role in the development of young puppies.
→ ROBOTS
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that competed from all over the world. The first and and second place teams have alternated taking first place almost every year. “One of (the teams) was from a college where basically all they do is combat robotics, and so that’s like their specialty,” Abitz said. UTD plans to next compete in the RoboGames in 2017. The team, consisting of about seven students, will spend the first year doing research and developing the robot. The team must find sponsors and ways to fund the project. “They’ll have to raise money ... it’s almost like having a start up company in some sense,” said Matthew Goeckner, the program head of mathematical sciences and the team’s advisor. “They have to raise money in order to build it.” During the second year, the team builds the machine by ordering the parts, putting the robot together, testing it and competing. Abitz was involved in robotics since eighth grade and was very interested in robots fighting each other. “When I heard that UTD had a BattleBots team
that was the first thing that I really, really wanted to join,” Abitz said. Abitz said joining the BattleBots has benefitted the team in a number of ways. “We learn a lot of ... theory in class, but you don’t really get to do much with that outside of a couple of assignments and labs,” Doan said. “Being able to take what’s done in a classroom and build a robot that goes and smashes other robots makes it feel very worthwhile. And those hours you spend in textbooks and equations pay off.” Over the next two years, the team looks to make a number of improvements on the machine as they prepare for the 2017 RoboGames. “Even though it’s a well-performing robot, there’s always room for improvement,” Abitz said. Goeckner said the biggest accomplishment for the team has been working together and communicating well. It has brought the entire team closer together. “They are a family,” he said. “Having alumni show up to watch and actually to help (is because) they are family.”
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AUG. 24, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
new blood, new leadership
Strength and conditioning coach hopes to build program, help athletes
Softball head coach brings Division I experience to help revitalize team
NIDHI GOTGI | MANAGING EDITOR
Jami Clinton, UTD's first strength and conditioning coach, will fill in a missing piece in athletics that the school needs. She hopes to prepare student-athletes to compete at the national level and also help athletes stay healthy and prevent injury. ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Editor-in-Chief
For the first time in school history, UTD will have a designated strength and conditioning coach to help student-athletes grow and develop. On Aug. 7, the athletic department announced that Jami Clinton was hired to start the new program from scratch. She has more than 15 years of experience training collegiate athletes and has worked at Division I schools such as the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, Texas Christian I was being University and coached as opthe University of posed to being Memphis. Clinton, who kind of dragged is originally from through a the Dallas area and graduated workout. from Dallas Baptist University, — Brandon George received several Senior baseball player phone calls about the job opening from other members of the collegiate strength and conditioning community. “The majority of the people, my professional colleagues, know that I’m from this area, and I’ve been a head strength coach before,” she said. “With this being a brand new program, they all thought that I would be a really good fit.” Head Athletic Trainer Tom Monagan, who was in charge of the committee assigned to finding candi-
dates for the position, said the athletics department has been attempting to start a strength and conditioning program for several years. “When I first got here five years ago, that was one of the things when they interviewed me that I told them we really needed,” he said. “At the time, we were having the athletic trainers on the staff who were also strength and conditioning certified doing that, and it was too much.” Monagan explained having a strength and conditioning coach not only helps keep athletes in shape throughout the season, but it also helps them stay healthy and prevent injury. “As you compete, you get seasons that are longer, you have a lot of games, you have a lot of practices and kids have to be able to maintain what they’ve got and build on that,” Monagan said. “To be able to compete, even at Division III, it’s vital to what we do.” Athletic Director Bill Pettit realized the need for the position when the men’s basketball team played the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the third round of the 2014 NCAA tournament. “I thought talent-wise we were very similar to them, but they were just bigger and stronger,” he said. “I’ve always just kind of kept it in my mind that if there were a way to (hire a strength and conditioning coach), it would be really good.” After going to UT Arlington, Southern Methodist University and TCU to research how their strength and conditioning programs are run, the search com-
→ SEE CLINTON, PAGE 18
ANDREW GALLEGOS| PHOTO EDITOR
Softball Head Coach Rich Wieligman was officially appointed on Aug. 4. He brings with him experience coaching at several Division I schools including Oklahoma State. Student-athletes hope he will help revitalize the program and bring it to the next level. PABLO JUAREZ
“From what I’ve read, Coach Wigs has a great background," she said. "I have met him in person multiple times, and each time I talk with him, I like After finishing with a second straight losing him more and more. He has a very strong personalrecord in conference play and the first losing sea- ity, and I believe it’s the type of personality that will son since 2011, changes at the helm have been get us to the next level all the girls have wanted to made in an effort to revitalize the softball pro- reach for years.” Ervin said there will be definite changes to the gram. UTD’s softball program will begin the year with a softball program. “(Coach Wielignew head coach. man) has made it very Rich Wieligman clear that he wants to was officially apHe has a very strong personality, grow in every aspect pointed the new and I believe it's the type of personof the game,” she excoach on Aug. 4. ality that will get us to the next level plained. “We are goThe former ing to be expected to Oklahoma State all the girls have wanted to reach for put a lot of hours in, softball head years. on the field and in coach brings with him a re— Taylor Ervin, Senior outfielder (the weight room).” Location and posisume that intive feedback about cludes three NCAA Division I tournament appearances with the the university were among the factors that played Cowgirls during his nine-year tenure, including a into Wieligman’s decision to come to UTD. “I want to be in this region," he said. "I have fam2011 Women’s College World Series appearance. Athletic Director Bill Petitt explained that Wielig- ily here, and I didn’t really want to leave this region,” man’s head coaching experience and ability to recruit he said. “I know after studying and talking with othin the state of Texas were among the qualities that er coaches at the (Division III) level that it’s really a great place to be.” made him a formidable candidate. As he looks to get himself and his family situated, “I’ve just talked to him a few times," he said. "(He) Wieligman said he’s already noticing the differences seems very personable. I think he’ll do a good job.” Senior outfielder Taylor Ervin believes the change in coaching reigns can catapult the softball program → SEE WIELIGMAN, PAGE 18 to the next level. Mercury Staff
Friendly competition inspires excellence UTD student athletes, coaches weigh in on their team rivalries in the ASC conference, share how they help them become better PABLO JUAREZ Mercury Staff
On a clear, blue Saturday afternoon last season, the women’s soccer team hosted rival UT Tyler. The Comets struck first on a 24th minute goal, but shortly after the Patriots evened the score at one goal apiece in what would finish as a double overtime draw. It was a competitive 110-minute game, but for these two well-known adversaries, it was just another day at the office. A junior forward for the women’s soccer team, Megan Mugavero shared her experience playing in that packed home game last season. “Last year was a pretty memorable game against UT Tyler… I scored in that game actually,” she said. “I think we had over 600 people at that game… definitely the most people we’ve had attend our game… (it) was pretty cool.” Since UTD was granted full membership to the ASC in 2002, each of the various varsity sports have experienced success and rivalries have brewed.
For Mugavero, two schools standout among the pack as the Comets premier rivals. “I’d say it's UT Tyler. I’d say it’s because it goes back to us both being UT schools, and we kind of just want to be the better UT branch (program),” she said. “We’re just always so close in competition — like who’s going to be ahead of each other — it’s always a really big game, (and) it’s turned into a rivalry.” Mugavero says Hardin-Simmons, a team that’s frequently at the top of the conference standings, is also tough competition. “Hardin-Simmons is always a really competitive (opponent) just because they’re always one of the top teams in the ASC,” she said. “Every time we take them on it’s like a really big rivalry game. It gets really intense in the game.” Men’s Soccer Head Coach Jason Hirsch shared many of the same sentiments. “Hardin-Simmons University (and) the University of Texas at Tyler… are our two biggest rivals,” he said. “Recently, nowadays, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is kind of a strong program as
well.” A former player for the men’s soccer team and a member of the 2004 ASC championship squad, Hirsch said not much has changed from his playing days as a Comet. “It’s pretty much the same — Kenny Jones has been the coach at UT Tyler since I was a player. They have always been a strong, competitive team,” Hirsch said. “Hardin-Simmons has the same coach from when I played. They have stayed competitive and stayed really strong as well.” The men’s soccer team will get to face UT Tyler in their home opener and will host Hardin-Simmons in early October. “We get both of those teams (to) come play us at home… those are going to be fun games for sure,” Hirsch said. In last year's ASC championship game against Hardin-Simmons, one red and seven yellow cards were handed out. “Yeah, it was pretty heated," said last season's captain Omar Jaroun. "It kind of stems back to earlier in the
year when we played them. Really not even early in the year but just last year in general and the year before that.It’s just putting two very competitive teams out there and seeing that you’re going to get some tension.” When these two teams are pitted against one another, pride plays a key component said Jaroun. “There’s a lot of pride at UTD… when you play those guys, you always want to win,” he said. “They’re a very physical team usually. You expect to go in there and fight pretty much.” Senior setter, Kayla Jordan admits there are some teams she gets pumped up to play against from a competitive standpoint. “We get pumped up to play against (East Texas Baptist University)… it's really good competition,” she said. Jordan said she and the rest of the team try to approach each opponent the same way. “We try not to let feelings or how we feel about a team get in the way because we want to play the game the way we’re supposed to play the game,” she said.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW GALLEGOS | PHOTO EDITOR
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between Stillwater and Dallas. “(In) Stillwater it was about seven cars a stoplight and that was rush hour,” he said. “Here you have seven cars plus at every stoplight, in every lane.” Although he is transitioning from a Division I to a Division III program, Wieligman said he isn’t going to change anything as far as his coaching philosophy is concerned. Petitt attributed the ability to recruit Division I talent to UTD’s prestige. “I think it’s becoming more common… We have a number of people on the staff that came from a Division I (school),” Petitt said. “I think we have a lot of student-athletes here that can compete at a higher level but choose to be in Division III because of what UT Dallas offers. I think it’s probably the same for
→ CLINTON
SPORTS
the staff.” With the team in the off-season, Wieligman said the new strength and conditioning coach, Jami Clinton, will play an important part in the team’s success moving forward. “We’re lucky enough that we just hired a strength and conditioning coach," he said. "It will move our kids in the right direction — lifting weights and getting stronger and faster. Just getting them in better condition, I think that’s the biggest thing… to improve our strength and our conditioning.” For him, coaching softball remains the same and that it’s more about being on the field than the level you’re playing at. “(In) softball … you have to catch it, you have to throw it, and you have to hit it,” he said. “I look for us to get better in all three aspects, I expect us to pitch it better and compete for championships.”
mize the potential ability of athletes at UTD so they can perform on the fields and courts. One of the main ways she plans to do this is by utilizing the new 5,000 square-foot weight room in mittee opened up the job and received over 100 Synergy Park North that has been designated for stuapplicants. According to Pettit, Clinton stood out among the dent-athletes and faculty. “We’re always in a voluntary time unless they’re other candidates because of her background and how she interacted with student-athletes during her in- in season, but they have this wonderful facility,” she terview. One of these athletes, senior baseball player said. “I’m here to make sure they don’t get hurt, beBrandon George, said he was pleased with what he cause weight lifting is dangerous, and it’s important that they know how to do it properly.” saw from Clinton on the first day. Clinton said many of the athletes don’t know “The difference that I felt with her is that opposed to working out with a trainer at a local gym or some- how to properly train and lift weights to get stronger, so a large part thing like that, it of her early work really felt to me like I think that we will win a national will focus on the she was a legitimate proper form and strength and condichampionship in the next few years. techniques used to tioning coach,” he said. “I was being — Jami Clinton lift. Once they get coached as opposed Strength and conditioning coach those basics down, she said, the athto being kind of letes will be ready dragged through a to build muscle and workout.” According to George, Clinton showed the athletes gain strength. Clinton will be working with the coaching and the workouts and how to do them and then pushed them through the actual routines. He said it was like training staffs for the various sports to make sure she she cared as much about the players hitting their is providing the appropriate workouts. Her main focus won’t be on improving the skills the athletes need marks as they did. George works out with Clinton three times a week for their various sports, but rather on getting them and has started to grow accustomed to her intense physically ready to compete at the national level. “I don’t want to say we’re going to be as big and personality. “When it’s time for business, she can turn it on,” strong and fast as national champions," she said. "I he said. “It’s sort of like she projects energy through want to say we have a national championship team you, which is something, as an athlete, we like to have because we’re bigger and stronger and faster. We already have such a great coaching staff here. I feel like with us.” Clinton will be overseeing all 13 varsity sports, this is one of those missing pieces and if they just which she admitted will be a challenge to manage by have that one missing piece, I think that we will win herself her first year. Still, she said she hopes to maxi- a national championship in the next few years.”
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COMICS&GAMES
AUG. 24, 2015 | THE MERCURY
Jumpers #5
Temoc
by Emily Grams
Puzzles: Sudoku 2 8 5 2 9 4 2 5 5 7 9 2 6 3 6 8 1 2
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Temocs
by Emily Grams
CLASSIFIEDS Help Wanted—Grapevine UTD Staff person needs able-bodied m/f to help with household projects. NO cleaning. Requires lifting up to 25 lbs. and climbing short ladder. Work 3-6 hours on weekends. Schedule flexible and on-going. Call Patricia at 682-557-9605 The Nerdettes Looking for fun, nerdy girls to join our group. Go to the-nerdettes.com and join us on our days of hanging out, sewing, anime nights and more!
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NEWS
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UPCOMING EVENTS Join your fellow Comets for a night of entertainment with food, music and hula dancers.
Get involved in campus life by learning about student organizations while playing games and winning treats and giveaways.
Win prizes for dunking your favorite JSOM faculty and staff.
The annual freshmen service project will focus on serving military troops, their families and veterans in conjunction with National Day of Service and Remembrance. Students must register for one of two available shifts.
A gender studies lecture series will show a documentary about theLwomen's liberation movement of the 20th century followed by a
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Abercrombie, who is from Plano, heard of the search last fall on Facebook and decided to do what he could to help. At first, he felt like a “turd in a fish bowl” searching with the larger groups that sometimes numbered in the hundreds. As the numbers started to dwindle as the weeks dragged on, he soon became a staple of the posse. After a year of searching, Abercrombie has seen it all: volunteers passing out after being exposed to Texas’s infamous summers, water moccasins slithering by him as he marched through a field of wet, chest-high grass. Nothing seems to faze him anymore. The same can be said of the majority of the group, many of whom have no personal relation to Morris. Some simply want to lend a helping hand to what they see as a worthy cause, while others have a deeper motivation for their efforts. Robert O’Neil, one of the veterans of the search party, had a niece, Rachelle O’Neil Tollesson, who disappeared under similar circumstances to Morris’. In 2004, Tollesson was abducted by a man she had known for most of her life, who then went on to strangle, rape, stab, murder and burn her. She was 20. Her killer, Moises Sandoval Mendoza, was later found guilty and sentenced to death. He is currently awaiting his punishment on death row. O’Neil described that experience as “a nightmare that you can’t wake up from.” It motivated him to help look for Christina. “The case is so similar to this one, it really makes me sick sometimes,” he said. Even though the group is composed mainly of these good Samaritans, there is at least one person in the group who is almost as close to Morris as her actual father. Ken Stegman’s daughters went to school with the Morrises’ children and they quickly formed a strong
NEWS
friendship. Soon, the two families were almost as close as actual kin because of their kids. Stegman has been helping with the search from the very beginning and he said the process can be difficult. He acknowledged that at this late of a stage, it’s less of a search for where she is and more of a search for where she isn’t. “You don’t want to find her out here,” he said. Still, Stegman is driven to help his friends find closure. “If it was (my child), one way or the other, I’d want to know,” he said. “Just bring her home, one way or the other.” **** Despite the odds that stack against him with every passing day, Mark Morris still hasn’t given up hope. The group hasn’t found any single piece of evidence they’ve been able to connect to his daughter, but instead of viewing that as a negative, he believes it means there’s a chance she’s still alive somewhere. The search has taken its toll on almost everyone involved — both physically and emotionally. Something as simple as finding animal bones on a search has brought the Morrises to tears. Still, Mark Morris refuses to stop looking for his daughter, and the group follows suit. He knows he owes a debt to the searchers, who he said have become like another family to him. What he doesn’t know is if he can properly thank them. “No amount of money can repay what they’ve done,” he said. “I feel very close to all of them. Look what they’ve sacrificed for us.” Even though he has little to show, Mark Morris said he won’t quit until he’s brought his daughter home. He and his army of searchers are still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. “That’s my daughter. How do I stop?” he said. “I won’t stop until I know. I just can’t give up on her. I still have hope that she’s out here somewhere... I don’t want to come out here, but I’ve got to. I can’t give up.”
ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS | EDITOR -IN-CHIEF
Dennis Abercrombie, left, stands with Mark Morris and Ken Stegman as they take a brief break from searching to examine a map on Morris' cell phone. Abercrombie and Stegman have both been searching since the early days of Christina Morris' disappearance.
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