October 1, 2018
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THE MERCURY
UTDMERCURY.COM
SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF ALUMNA Community mourns loss of recent accounting graduate
PAVAN TAUH | MERCURY STAFF
PAVAN TAUH | MERCURY STAFF
LIN “RENEE” WANG
ANNA SCHAEFFER Mercury Staff
Dallas police charged a man with capital murder in the stabbing and subsequent death of a UTD alum. 38-year-old Jeremy Todd Meeks confessed to the murder of of Lin Wang, an MS ’18 graduate, while being questioned for an unrelated burglary charge on Sept. 29. Wang, who went by Renee, took her dog for a walk at 8 p.m. the night of Sept. 21. She lost her life when Meeks followed her home and entered her apartment with a knife, killing Wang and injuring her room-
mate. Meeks has arrest records dating back ner Park, about 7 miles from campus. Wang’s to 2001 in several Texas counties for offens- roommate, whose name has not been released es such as theft, assault and drug to the public, survived the stabpossession. His bail is currently bing. Although she was taken to set at $505,000. the hospital, details on her condition have yet to be released. Wang “We’re trying to get our was pronounced dead upon arrival thoughts around it,” said Dimat the hospital.Members of UTD’s ple Bhatia, Wang’s business Friendship Association of Chinese partner. “She was a very beautiStudents and Scholars gathered ful, smart, hard-working womin front of the Student Union the an. How does this happen to a JEREMY Friday after the attack to honor young girl?” MEEKS Wang and her roommate. Lit candles Wang and her roommate lived at the Churchill on the Park apartment com- arranged in the shape of a heart sat on a table plex near Interstate 635 and Anderson Bon- with an open book for students to write a mes-
sage to Wang’s family. The organization, which seeks to promote Chinese culture and serve Chinese students, also laid out two UTD T-shirts for signatures and written messages of condolences. Information technology and management graduate student and FACSS President Zheng Zhou said the shirts will be given to Wang’s parents, who came to the U.S. from China following her death. “We hope that she can rest in peace,” Zhou said. Wang moved to Texas from China to study
→ SEE ALUMNA, PAGE 11
Students trapped in study room for 3 hours Maintenance crew breaks through wall to free residents after doorknob malfunctions
NIKITA BANTEY | MERCURY STAFF
Several UTD students resigned from their positions at Tech EdVentures, a Dallas-based startup that develops educational resources for elementary and middle schools.
Startup suspended from internship fairs COLTON MIKESKA | COURTESY
Students in Residence Hall Northwest were trapped in a study room on Sept. 18 after they were unable to open the door. A maintenance crew entered the room through the ceiling and dismantled the door to allow the students to leave. MADELEINE KEITH Opinion Editor
Three students in Residence Hall Northwest were trapped in a study room for nearly three hours after the doorknob malfunctioned, forcing maintenance staff to break through a wall in order to safely extract them. Computer engineering freshman Colton Mikeska and two of his friends were studying during the evening of Sept. 18. The doorknob to the study room had recently been replaced and was working properly throughout the night. When the group tried to leave, however,
Mikeska was unable to open the door. Passing residence hall staff members were also unable to open the door from the outside. While calls were being made, the staff attempted to maintain a calm atmosphere. “What (the staff) did was really nice — they called the residence hall coordinator, and in the meantime, they grabbed some dry-erase markers and a rag, and we had one marker in there, so they just started drawing on the windows and playing hangman with us,” Mikeska said. A maintenance crew arrived 30 minutes after the incident was reported and determined that door could not be opened from the out-
side and, therefore, the team would have to resort to alternative methods. “The maintenance guy and the coordinator started talking a bit and one of the PAs started drawing a diagram on the window of two walls — us in one of the walls and them in the other,” Mikeska said. “So we’re thinking, ‘They’re really gonna bust through the wall!’ And they did. Apparently, it was cheaper and more efficient than breaking the glass door.” A maintenance staff member used a mallet to break a hole into the drywall between the
→ SEE STUDY ROOM, PAGE 7
Career Center investigating allegations of delayed, missing payments along with inadequate training IZAAK LUX
Mercury Staff
A startup that once employed 15 UTD students was recently barred from participating in university-sponsored career and intern fair events following allegations of mishandled payments. Tech EdVentures, which specializes in developing educational resources for elementary and middle schoolers, recently lost seven of the 15 UTD students working for the company. Chris Terrell, a mechanical engineering senior who worked as a con-
tractor for Tech EdVentures until this summer, said he was drawn to the company because of his interest in programming. "From the way they describe it in their interviews, they make it seem like we’re teaching kids to do a bunch of technical stuff like coding and circuitry, which I’m very passionate about because I’m in engineering, and I feel like kids need to get exposure to this stuff at an early age,” Terrell said.
→ SEE STARTUP, PAGE 7
Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVIV No. 31
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Sept. 18 • A UTD student reported the theft of his gaming system between 7:25 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. at Residence Hall West.
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Sept. 21 • A UTD student assaulted an unknown individual at 8:20 p.m. at IHOP Express in PS3.
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Sept. 21 • At 12:29 p.m. in the Student Union, a suspect knowingly made a false theft report to divert attention from himself as the suspect in numerous theft cases.
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Sept. 21 • A UTD student was arrested for the possession of marijuana between 2:37 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. at Canyon Creek Heights South. Sept. 23 • Two unaffiliated females and one unaffiliated male were all issued criminal trespass warnings after attempting to recruit members for their on-campus Bible study group at 2:53 p.m. in Phase 1 of University Village.
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DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD | COURTESY
CORRECTION: No violation found in UTD PD Clery reporting practices A previous edition of The Mercury featured an article stating that UTD PD was possibly in violation of the Clery Act. After further investigation, it was discovered that the Clery Act mandates that only crimes reported to campus police are required to be included in the university’s daily crime log and annual security report. Because crimes at Northside are reported to Richardson PD rather than campus police, they do not constitute UTD PD’s Clery reporting requirements, meaning UTD PD is not in violation of the Clery Act. The Mercury regrets this error.
Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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NEWS
MANDATORY SEXUAL ASSAULT MODULES:
ARE THEY EFFECTIVE?
EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF
RAZAN AFGHANI Mercury Staff
U
TD requires every new student to complete a series of web-based sexual assault prevention modules. A survey of 94 students conducted by The Mercury revealed 86 percent of participants do not believe the modules are effective in educating students about sexual misconduct. UT System implemented the sexual assault prevention course to inform and educate incoming students about sexual misconduct and consent in a variety of settings. While failure to complete the course results in a hold placed over a student’s account, the
SG REPORT Residence Hall Power Banks Technology Committee Chair Tanuj Tiwari is helping to coordinate with University Commons staff to offer freshmen living in the residence halls power banks for checkout. Signs in SU Dining Spaces Student Affairs Committee Chair Anuhya Emmandi spoke with Dan Goodwin, the director of the Student Union, about colored signage at dining tables. A red placard indicates “busy,” yellow means “I won’t socialize but feel free to sit down” and green means “I’m open to socializing and meeting new people.” Emmandi said the goal of the colored signage is to open up more dining space and promote socialization. Physics Standardization Academic Affairs Chair Jonathan Schueler is in contact with the physics department to discuss the standardization of introductory physics classes. Mark Lee, the department head, said physics professors had concluded a meeting discussing standardization and ultimately decided exams and syllabi would not be standardized to allow professors the freedom to teach the material in the manner that suited them.
penalty was not always in place. Psychology freshman Alexandria Ramirez said the course was engaging, “The first year we started was back in but the length of it 2014,” Kacey Sebedeterred her from niecher, the director paying attention. 42 of the Student WellHaving someone percent of responness Center, said. to talk to you about “But there was not dents in The Mercuit in person is much a consequence unry’s study said they skipped through the til the fall of 2016. more engaging than course. For those two years, doing it online. it was strongly sug“I think because it was so long, people gested. We always — Mattieu Evans, weren’t reading it,” sent out reminders, psychology freshman Ramirez said. “The but we had nowhere incentive was to skip near a 100 percent through it. Everycompletion rate.” Incompletion of the module, how- one’s been telling me that. I know a ever, does not prevent students from guy who failed it 4 times, but how do you fail that? It’s common sense. But registering for classes.
he didn’t care he failed it, he cared because he couldn’t see his grades.” The course, designed by education technology company EverFi, takes 45 minutes to complete. “Being a student before, I do think the module is too long,” Sebeniecher said. “We don’t create the modules, EverFi does. There are certain topics that they have to hit, as per federal guidelines, and that’s why it’s so long. But they are actively working on shortening it.” Mattieu Evans, a psychology freshman, said he felt the timing and the presentation of the modules was inconvenient. “I felt like we could have done them after we got here, after everyone moved in and everything,” he said.
“Having someone talk to you about it in person is much more engaging than doing it online.” Of the 94 respondents, 31 percent said that an in-person seminar would be more effective than the module. The decision to implement the web-based module system was set by UT System. Sebeniecher said the idea of adopting an in-person seminar was ideal but likely not feasible. She said the SWC presents multiple workshops throughout the year on topics other than sexual misconduct, making it difficult to create in-person sexual assault prevention seminars without potentially axing other initiatives.
→ SEE MODULES,
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West Nile virus cases reported in local area Richardson, Plano health department officials conduct mosquito adulticide spraying near campus MARCO SALINAS Mercury Staff
After a Richardson resident contracted an aggressive form of West Nile virus last month, the city’s health department officials ordered mosquito adulticide spraying in nearby neighborhoods. However, there has been no spraying on the UTD campus. West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the kind contracted by the Richardson resident, can cause high fevers, induce comas and lead to paralysis, among other symptoms. In August 2018, an elderly North Dallas resident passed away from this form of the virus. The Richardson resident who contracted West Nile lives on the corner of Custer Road and Campbell Road, less than 2 miles from campus. On Sept. 11, the areas to the north and west of Custer Road and Campbell Road were sprayed with agent orange mosquito adulticide. In total, 10 traps
→ SEE WEST NILE, PAGE 7
CAROLINA ALVAREZ | OUTREACH EDITOR
Professor develops AI essay grading program MEGAN ZEREZ Mercury Staff
New Program of Graduation Help Desk Jessica Murphy, the dean of undergraduate education, announced a new graduation help desk initiative. If a student is stuck at a certain point in their degree plan, or misses a required class, the Office of Undergraduate Education will assist the student in completing the requirements for graduation. The help desk will work with faculty, staff and advisors in addition to students to resolve these problems. RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF
For professors struggling to cope with stacks of papers to grade, new software — developed by a UTD researcher and powered by artificial intelligence — may offer a long-term solution. Vincent Ng, a computer science professor who works with UTD’s Human Language Technology Research Institute, is developing an automated grading system for longform essays. Ng said the goal of the technology is to remove the need for human graders altogether. “Essay grading is one of the very important applications of natural language processing,” Ng said. “For one, it has a lot of commercial value. Grading essays requires an enormous amount of human labor, and these are hours that can be spent elsewhere in the classroom.” The software, he said, will read blocks
of text and parse certain pieces of information. The parsing occurs on multiple levels. Lower levels might deal with spelling and grammar. Higher levels would evaluate coherence and overall organization, and even higher, the overall persuasiveness of an essay. The Human Language Technology Research Institute consists of eight separate laboratories, each headed by a faculty member. The labs focus on different aspects of natural speech, including essay grading. Luba Ketsler, a UTD economics professor, has a total of 449 students in her classes, in addition to a handful of research students. She said in her field it can be difficult to assess knowledge using only scantrons. “I do have tests that are multiple choice, because I do have to control my workload somehow,” Ketsler said. “But I also want them to get some detail, some data.”
→ SEE GRADING, PAGE 4
Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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NEWS
SAMANTHA LOPEZ | MERCURY STAFF
→ MODULES
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“The module is ineffective on their own,” Sebeniecher said. “(The module is) only one way to educate. That, coupled with our presentations and events, is effective. We don’t rely solely on the module and say that our students are properly educated just through that. We do believe there needs to be more.”
→ GRADING
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For Ketsler, that means written quizzes, regular writing assignments and three major research papers, each with a minimum of seven pages. “That adds up quickly,” she said. Ketsler, who has been at UTD for 11 years, said she’s witnessed a lot of growth, changing the way she has to approach teaching, including reducing the number of written assignments as her class sizes grew. “The bigger the class size, the more disparity you’re going to see between each student’s knowledge,” she said. Ketsler said more diverse classrooms can make for interesting discussions but creates a demand for grading that takes each student’s background into account. The objectivity of grading software powered by artificial intelligence is a big draw for Ketsler, who said she doesn’t like to rely on teaching assistants to grade everything. “I don’t let the TAs grade the research papers. I let them do a lot of the technical work, like inputting grades and marking quizzes, because I want to stay consistent with the actual grading,” she said. “Everyone grades a little subjectively.” Biology junior Sania Zeito, who recently transferred to UTD, said she felt there was a lack of objectivity when it came to grading standards at her previous university in Dubai. “I sometimes felt like there
A separate UT System initiative called Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments overlaps with the sexual assault prevention course. Released in March of 2017, the empirical study investigated the prevalence of sexual misconduct on campus. “Anonymous initiatives like the CLASE and the sexual assault modules are actually one of the only times survivors will disclose,” Sebeniecher said. “But the thing is, we will never
was injustice, like maybe the grade depended on the mood of the grader,” Zeito said. “A robot would put a standard on the grading system.” Artificial intelligence systems are modeled on the human brain. Ng said it is necessary to teach AI software how to grade by feeding it examples — in this case, essays graded by other humans. Feeding examples, however, can propagate error. If the data set contains biased grading, then AI incorporates the bias, too. “You’re only as good as your data set,” Ng said. Automated essay grading software has been employed at other institutions, such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to grade student submissions in open-access online courses, which often have enrollments in the thousands. While there aren’t any classes at UTD making use of the software yet, students might have had essays graded by computers well before they enrolled at UTD, as standardized exams such as the GRE and the TOEFL are scored by Criterion, an essay-grading software. Increasingly, the written portions of these standardized tests are making use of Criterion in preparation for an expected transition to fully automated grading. Criminology freshman Giovanna Gonzalez said she is optimistic about the prospect of an automated grading system.
know 100 percent of the time.” Besides the regularly scheduled programs, classes and student organizations can request to schedule an informational presentation from the SWC. “I do hope those modules are making a positive effect on students, in knowing what resources are available and that it is okay to come forward, and whom they can come forward to,” Sebeniecher said.
AMBER DOAN | MERCURY STAFF
Luba Ketsler, an economics professor, is teaching 449 students this semester.
“It’s going to save a lot of time and money,” she said. “We’d also be able to get our grades faster.” Gonzalez said she is concerned, however, that using automated grading software might mean that professors won’t have a complete picture of a student’s understanding of a concept. “It would be better for the professors, maybe,” she said. “But I am not sure if it would be better for me as a student.” Ng said the technology is still years away from grading higher-level assignments such as those in Ketsler’s classes, giving professors time to adjust. “Professors will always find new ways to connect with their students as technology evolves,” Ng said.
ALESANDRA BELL | MERCURY STAFF
LIFE&ARTS Reopened borders, renewed hope Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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UTD students of Ethiopian, Eritrean descent reconnect with heritage as 20-year conflict draws to close MADELEINE KEITH
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Opinion Editor
arlier last month, the land border between Ethiopia and Eritrea reopened for the first time in two decades. UTD students from both countries celebrated the implications such a change will have for their families and for the future of their nations. The neighboring African countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea have been mired in conflict for over 50 years. Eritrea’s 30-year campaign for independence from Ethiopia ended in 1991, giving the countries only a brief respite before PAVAN TAUH | MERCURY STAFF tensions flared History graduate Madiina Ssali again during a said the reopening of the Ethioborder conflict pian-Eritrean border was a posiin 1998. The tive step for African unity. territorial dispute over the small town of Badme escalated into a decadeslong war, killing thousands. In June of this year, however, Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, conceded Badme to Eritrea and further normalized diplomatic relations by reopening the border between the two countries in September. Interdisciplinary studies freshman Axum Taylor was in Addis Ababa — the capital of Ethiopia — visiting family when the historic announcement was made. “There were a lot of festivities going on. At the time I compared it to the energy of the inauguration of Obama back in 2008 — everyone was so happy,” Taylor said. “There was this rumor going around — but it actually ended up being true — that people by the border would just call random numbers that had an area code in Eritrea or Ethiopia…. and say, ‘Hi, hello my brother, my sister,’ just very welcoming.” Biomedical engineering junior Betsiti Aray was born and raised in Ethiopia to Eritrean parents who would describe the beauty of Eritrea to her as a child. Though she
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was in the U.S. when the news was announced, Araya said the restoration of diplomatic relations was an impactful moment for both her and her family. “Right when the first plane got to Asmara, there were people crying, families who hadn’t see each other for decades, a lot of really powerful images, and…it made me a little bit emotional,” Araya said. “But my family was also very happy about it because, for instance, my aunt grew up there. Even though she was Ethiopian, Eritrea is where she was born and raised — her parents passed away there and she hasn’t seen their cemetery because she couldn’t go. And so for them I think it’s a lot more powerful than it is for me.” The peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia also has significant economic implications. Ethiopia has been landlocked since the conflict began, forced to rely on the ports of the neighboring nation Djibouti. Eritrea’s economy, on the other hand, experienced a total collapse shortly after the war began. Though Eritrea has since recovered, the resumption of trade between the nations will likely bring significant monetary benefits. For Taylor, however, the most important ramification is the reunification of families separated by the border. “I know there was a lot of Eritrean people being hostile to Ethiopian people and vice versa, and it just was very discriminatory things that were happening within the Habesha community,” Taylor said. “Even though there still is (division), this is just a turning point towards people coming together… even though we are different countries, we’re still family, we’re still one people.” “Habesha” is a cultural designation that encompasses people of both Ethiopian and Eritrean descent. Madiina Ssali, a history graduate and member of the Habesha Student Union at UTD, said she feels the reopening of borders is progress for all of Africa. “I’m from Uganda and I don’t want to speak on a community that’s not mine, but I grew up with Bob Marley and this idea of ‘I and I’ like we’re all one person. Borders — especially in Africa — are a colonized construction,” Ssali said. “I think anything that’s kind of uniting Africa as a whole continent is something I’m down with.” Araya said she hopes that this milestone will help Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace their commonalities. “We’re all the same, and for so long there’s been these things that separate us and make us into two different groups,” Araya said. “But I think now that there is peace, we can be the family that we were always meant to be.”
Activist’s latest book interweaves stories of protest, hope Widely known civil rights activist, Black Lives Matter organizer draws from personal experiences of battling racism SOFIA BABOOL Mercury Staff
In his book, “On The Other Side of Freedom,” Black Lives Matter activist Deray McKesson compiles a compelling collection of experiences from the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri that impart a lasting knowledge of the racial challenges our society faces, and our role in creating hope through community efforts. Although the author scatters the concept of hope throughout the book, he introduces the necessity for such a powerful weapon in the first chapter. McKesson draws a clear line between faith and belief, explaining that hope is not a mystical feeling or emotion living within us, but rather a belief that is fueled by hard work toward a personal or public cause. Instead of relying on luck, he makes it clear that hope should be a strategic vision powered by a working attitude and specifies that the hope of black people relies on cre-
ativity and culture. Through the discussion that the imbalance of power is not only racial, of music, history and the power of com- but also institutional. The author supports his arguments about munity, he captures the identity that keeps the black population a people of culturally- power imbalances through statistics, including the disturbing driven aspirers and fact that black people contributors to society. McKesson goes on McKesson develops a are three times more likely to be killed to address the fact that relationship with social by police than their some may not view white counterparts. black people’s grievancmedia that allows him rough his “Mapes as deserving of symto amplify his message, Th ping Police Violence” pathy by introducing turning small phrases database, McKesson the earn/deserve paracreates a way to track digm. He explains it into powerful movepolice killings naby seeing the world as ments. tionwide. The most a community that dejaw-dropping revelacides who is worthy of tion was the fact that power. Those who have earned necessities such as housing, health- the rules of police departments vary heavily care and education believe they’re entitled to when it comes to the use of firearms. While the privileges they’ve been given. McKesson some departments in California mandate bluntly states that this inequity has led to a gun restrictions, the other half of the counsense of superiority between different races. try might allow for their policemen to shoot Using the police force as an example of those first and ask questions later at the slightest who believe they are above the law, he shows feeling of attack. McKesson goes on to iden-
tify laws and regulations that protect officers who have committed murder but claimed self-defense. Despite the claims of brutal inequality toward one class of citizens, he remains surprisingly hopeful, leading readers into his discussion about the power of technology-driven protest. The author relies on technology for his widely-known and successful protests, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement. Comparing Twitter to a friend who is always awake, McKesson develops a relationship with social media that allows him to amplify his message, turning small phrases into powerful movements. Though there are moments when McKesson is repetitive in his statements about hope and faith, “On The Other Side of Freedom” provides an engaging and compelling argument that acknowledges the racial inequality embedded in our system, yet remains hopeful for a society based on individual choices instead of systemic conformities.
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE | COURTESY
DeRay McKesson rose to national prominence after using social media to document the 2014 Ferguson protests.
MoMo: NePaLi dUmPlInGs EMAAN BANGASH News Editor
RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF
It’s one thing to eat a dish completely different from that of your culture, but it’s another to create it yourself. I was fortunate enough to not only try momo, which are Nepali dumplings, but I was able to create them myself. After inviting former Nepali Student Association President Anuka Dhakal, current Vice President Abhilash Bajracharya and fellow Chew Crew member Marco Salinas to my house, we began the process of meticulously preparing each individual momo. Momo are a special type of dumpling that originate in Tibet, where they’re referred to as “mog mog” in Tibetan colloquial terms. The delicious snack spread to neighboring countries by merchants who traveled between Tibet and Kathmandu Valley in the early 1900s. Interestingly, as the recipe for momo spread to the northern
regions of India, the recipe was modified to accommodate Indian vegetarian diets. Momo can be filled with meat, vegetables and cheese (especially with a particularly delicious type of cheese common to the South Asian region called paneer). Anuka brought an incredible amount of supplies and spices, including creole spice, green chili peppers, garlic powder, cumin powder and her own special momo spice she brought from Nepal. She brought what looked like a tower of silver round cake pans with holes in them, which turned out to be a special steamer commonly used by Nepalis specifically used to cook momo. The bottom pan was filled with water, and the steam would rise through little holes in each pan to cook momo. It was an extraordinary contraption and surprisingly a staple item in Nepali culture. Preparing the ingredients for momo was simple enough. It involved cutting cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger and cilantro into minuscule pieces. I’m afraid I wasn’t very adept at cutting vegetables, and my feeble
skills didn’t stand a chance next to Anuka’s lightning-fast chopping skills. In no time, we combined the vegetables with a few pounds of ground chicken, and I had the wonderful opportunity to mix the ingredients together with my bare hands. Putting the momo together using the dough was truly an art. We gathered around my kitchen island, and Marco and I watched in wonder at Anuka and Abhi’s incredible momo wrapping skills. They’d spoon a very small amount of momo filling onto a piece of dough the size of my hand. Then, their experienced fingers quickly pinched the ends of the round dough together, and in seconds, they made beautiful little dumplings. Marco and I quickly learned how to wrap the momo, though not nearly as skillfully as our counterparts. Later, after the momo were steamed and a spicy tomato dipping sauce was prepared, we sat down and tried our creations. I’d tried dumplings before, so the texture was
→ SEE MOMO, PAGE 11
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SPORTS
Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
Esports team reaches quarterfinals UTD 'Overwatch' team advances through six rounds, places fifth overall after losing to UNT in first tournament of season
MICHAEL STOUT | MERCURY STAFF
The Comets lost at the quarterfinals stage during OP Live Dallas on Sept. 22. The “Overwatch” A team defeated Colorado State University and Mississippi State University in separate matches, placing fifth overall. DEV THIMMISETTY Mercury Staff
The UTD “Overwatch” team kicked off its season by advancing to the quarterfinals of a local tournament. The new convention, OP Live Dallas, was sponsored by the professional esports team Dallas Fuel and took place on Sept. 22 in Irving. One of the main events of the convention was an “Overwatch” collegiate tournament involving 16 universities, but it also featured streamer meet-and-greets, co-
splay events and several booths varying from a children’s health charity to the sale of competitive gaming chairs. The UTD A team that participated in the tournament won 2-0 in the group stage matches against Colorado State University and Mississippi State University but lost to the University of North Texas in the quarterfinals, which went on to win the entire tournament. Each match was played in a best-of-three rounds format. Student assistant coach Eric Aaberg said the team energy and communi-
cation were important factors in the team's success. “I’m really proud of our wins… and the team only started practicing together two weeks ago,” he said. Head coach Greg Adler said the players had been working well together since day one. “Right off the bat, the team got right into the swing of things,” Adler said. “You can tell that most of these guys have played together before in the way they work off each other.” The tournament started with four
groups of four, with the top two of each group moving on to the quarterfinals, a simple 8-team bracket. Although Overwatch is a 6-on-6 first person shooter, the objective for each match changes depending on the map. During the tournament, the Comets played in a variety of maps, switching from attack to defense and vice versa each round. After defeating Mississippi State University and Colorado State University, the Comets played against the University of North Texas in the
quarterfinals, where the first and second rounds ended in losses for UTD, leading to elimination. UTD placed fifth overall. “UNT was a tough opponent, but I’m glad the team had fun,” Aaberg said. “In esports, the only two things that really matter are having fun and winning, so we need to encourage both.” The Overwatch team will continue its season with a series of Tespa tournaments that will be conducted online, meaning players can compete from the gaming room in the Student Union.
Women's soccer achieves 9-game winning streak Coach attributes wins to team patience, sets sights on national championship MANSI CHAUHAN Mercury Staff
The women’s soccer team has only let one opposing shot get past its defense, making its current cumulative score 34-1 over the past nine games of the season. The team, led by head coach Kanute Drugan since 2014, has reached the semifinals of the regional American Southwest Conference for four consecutive years. “I think the key is recruiting girls that understand the culture and philosophies I wanted to have within the team,” Drugan said. “They were open to coaching and learning what was needed on the field tactically and strategically.” During one of their most recent games against Austin College on Sept. 18, the Comets ended with a score of 8-0. Austin College was out-shot by the Comets 30-3, and 8 out of the 17 shots on-goal were able to surpass the Austin College Kangaroos keeper. The three keepers for the Comets only tallied one save. Drugan said he attributes the shutout to the mental resilience of the team. “The girls showed a very high level of execution that night. Typically, there is a tendency to get frantic and hysterical in the effort to try and get more goals, but they were very patient,” Drugan said. “They remained very composed even when the game got a bit frustrating.” One of the players who led the team in scoring during the game was senior forward Melissa Fulfer. Since joining the team as a freshman in 2015 from Martin High School, she started every game except for one. In the match against the Kangaroos, Fulfer scored her first goal just two minutes and 55 seconds into the game and scored the next two just nine minutes apart. “During the first half of the game, we were possessing really well but weren’t getting a lot of good looks at the goal,” Fulfer said. “During the second half we
ANNA PHENGSAKMUEANG | MERCURY STAFF
Marketing sophomore Lindsay Caudill, analyst for the “Overwatch” teams, was one of seven women who tried out for UTD esports.
Female video gamers join male-dominated industry UTD WOMEN'S SOCCER | COURTESY
Women's soccer holds a cumulative score of 34-1 and remains undefeated.
really started breaking down the defense and finding the back of the net. It was a whole team effort. “ Healthcare studies major Jacquie Kaufman is also one of seven seniors on the team this year. Kaufman made four shots on goal against Belhaven University on Sept. 22. The upperclassmen members, including Kaufman, started their collegiate soccer careers as freshmen and sophomores, which Drugan said is a key reason the team is enjoying success this season. “The high number of seniors I think is the main ingredient. They play a lot of games when they are young, which makes them receptive to new ideas,” Drugan said. “The younger players watch them and see what sacrifice and commitment looks like and that propels their own development.” Freshmen have been on the field in every game as well. Midfielder Sofia Munoz scored the 44th hat trick in program history during a game against Louisiana College, while goalkeeper Morgan Sher-
man saved an on-goal shot made by the Belhaven Blazers on Sept. 22. “The young players are very involved. They are committed to learning our system and how we play, and they fit right in,” Kaufman said. “We have all really bought into the program, which helps us succeed.” The women’s soccer team has not lost a game thus far, but both Drugan and Kaufman said they are aware of their competitors and weaknesses. “Our biggest competitor right now is Hardin-Simmons. The coach there has similar levels of experience as me — (he) and I are the 29th and 30th people to have won 300 games, respectively,” Drugan said. “He knows how to develop a team and so do I.” The Comets have eight ASC conference games remaining before the final games of the regional tournament begin. If they win the finals, they will be
→ SEE SOCCER, PAGE 7
‘Overwatch’ team members carve path for women in competitive gaming field MADISON YORK Mercury Staff
Lindsay Caudill, a marketing sophomore, has been an avid gamer since the age of six. Now, she serves as an analyst for both the A and B “Overwatch” esports teams. “I've always been doing games, but I was really excited about Overwatch when it came out,” Caudill said. As the esports team gains momentum, the two female gamers on the team are making their mark. Greg Adler, the coach of both the “League of Legends” and “Overwatch” teams, said that 20 of the 150 respondents to the initial esports interest form were female. Just four of them tried out for the “Overwatch” team, and only three tried out for “League of Legends.” He said the department evaluated players based solely on ability. “Nationality aside, gender aside, anything aside, it really just comes down to how you play the game, how well you work
with your teammates, your communication,” Adler said. “At the end of the day, if a woman can play better than a man, if anything then she’s going to get that spot over him any day of the week.” Caudill, one of the females who made the team, is currently ranked Diamond in “Overwatch.” Caudill said her position as an analyst includes analyzing game data, developing strategies and coordinating individual and team gameplay. “A lot of it also can tie into more of like an intellectual, but also emotional kind of comfort for the teammates,” Caudill said. “You actually have to have a lot of game sense, a lot of awareness. Especially in different roles, there's got to be a lot of surroundings — you need to always be on your toes and be aware of different critical things that are happening during gameplay.” ATEC junior Melisa Martinez, the other female on the team, competes on the “Overwatch” B team. Martinez plays as a
→ SEE ESPORTS, PAGE 7
Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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able to compete at the national level in Division III of the NCAA tourna-
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support flex, meaning that her main priorities during gameplay include healing team members and monitoring enemy maneuvers and positions. Like Caudill, Martinez also started gaming at a young age and began playing “Overwatch” the year after it was released. Now, she ranks at the Diamond level and said she enjoys playing on a competitive, officially-organized esports team for the first time. “The entire team is dedicated in spreading their knowledge,” Martinez said. “We share videos amongst each other, we look at videos of our gameplay… and we're looking at our mechanics. I don't think they really see my gender. They specifically want me to get better.” Caudill and Martinez said they each have experienced varying degrees of abrasiveness from their male gaming counterparts over the years. Caudill also noted that much of the resistance she faced from male gamers was not so much opposition as surprise that a female was playing on their level. “It's not like bullying, but they're
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this stuff at an early age,” Terrell said. At previous UTD career fairs, Tech EdVentures advertised opportunities for paid internships where students would be tasked with going out to elementary and middle schools to teach children the basics of coding through using programming robots, developing video game add-ons and learning coding languages such as Python. In a Facebook post made by Brittney Nicole, a member of upper management at Tech EdVentures, she advertised that starting pay at the company was $15 per hour. Terrell said when he was offered a position at Tech EdVentures, he was offered only $12 an hour. Mohammad Mustafa, an engineering senior who worked as an instructor in the summer of 2017 and then a technical manager for Tech EdVentures from the fall 2017 to the fall of 2018, said he retained the promised pay of $15 per hour because of his position in the company. Mustafa said he became concerned when he began to experience delays in receiving payment. “What has happened is that when… delayed payments do come in, for no rhyme or reason, they are
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study room and the office adjacent to it. He then pushed a ladder through the opening and climbed into the study room, at which point he was able to free the students by removing the entire locking mechanism. Matt Grief, the associate vice president for student affairs, said
ment for the first time since 2011. “I think we need to work on staying focused on the game and how we’re playing regardless of who our opponent is,” Kaufman said. “My hopes for
this season are to win the ASC in both the regular season and the conference tournament and then to go on to the NCAA tournament and hopefully win a national championship.”
like shocked,” Caudill said. “It kind of makes you feel a little bit more awkward about it — you're like, girls can play video games too.” Both women agreed, though, that esports at UTD is another story. “Honestly, it just depends on the community. Because there's certain people, even in the real world, that are just mean,” Martinez said. “When you're a part of the team, it feels more inviting. You feel like you're making a contribution… I think in terms of organization, it's completely different from what you deal with online in general.” Female gamers have experienced harassment over the years. The 2014 “Gamergate” controversy, for example, centered on an online harassment campaign directed at female players and developers. Caudill said she doesn’t know and hasn’t interacted with many girls who self-identify as gamers. She said the reluctance might be because of the psychology of male and female preference — that males may get more exposure to other gaming males, whereas females may not get exposure to other gaming females. Because of
this — and because they experience or hear about negativity towards female gamers — women may be deterred from coming out of the woodwork. Esports, Caudill said, presents an opportunity for females to come out of that obscurity and demonstrate their skill, regardless of gender. “It's a very different world, but it wasn't like a bad awkward. It was like a good awkward, because it was like this is actually might be a bigger breakthrough,” Caudill said. “Just if you like games you like games, and you need to be the truest form of yourself and just do it. Because if that's what you like, that's you like.” Martinez said she encourages female gamers to keep practicing and be vocal about reaching out to their gaming peers. Caudill also said to be confident and stay committed to personal passions and interests. “I've had some girls be like, ‘I'm not the best at this, that or the other,’” Caudill said. “That's where we all are. We all start from somewhere, regardless of your gender — and that's when you just keep pushing yourself, and you just make a lot more of it. So I'd just say, don't give up.”
much less than they should be,” Mustafa said. “I’m still owed over $2,000." Mustafa said the delays in payment led to multiple contractors leaving all at once, or newcomers simply dropping out midway through a semester, forcing the company to scramble and find a replacement instructor for courses. Allen Selis, the CEO of Tech EdVentures, said he knew of these issues and sought to fix them. “I am solely responsible for (the payment delays),” Selis said. “We missed the mark on a few pay cycles. That reflects in the dates. I sent out an apology to all our staff.” Mustafa said students with little to no training were also tasked with teaching courses specifically catered toward students with special needs such as ADHD or other learning disabilities. Selis said he personally trains new contractors on how to handle to special needs classrooms. However, Mustafa said he felt unprepared after the training. Jerry Alexander, the assistant dean for student development, coordinates internship and career fairs in association with the Career Center and the School of Management. Alexander said after he heard student concerns about Tech EdVentures, he suspended the company from par-
ticipating in all future events. Tech EdVentures started participating in UTD-sponsored job and intern fairs in the spring of 2016 and has participated in every one since then. “We are advocates for students,” Alexander said. “If you start an internship, you should be treated a certain way.” Alexander said companies are vetted through Handshake, a nationally recognized web service that allows colleges to leave reviews for companies that frequent collegiate career and intern opportunities. Additionally, the Career Center conducts its own research into companies that apply for a booth at career-related events by checking to see if it has an office and runs its domain through verification services such as Scamadviser and Glassdoor. Alexander said he encourages students to conduct their own research as well, as the system can’t catch everything. Selis said he attributes many of the problems experienced by students to the struggles of getting a young company off the ground. “I believe in sunshine,” Selis said. “I believe in our mission here, and it would be dumb to jeopardize that. If anyone has any concerns, I want to make sure they get in contact with me.”
the university is making efforts to ensure this incident is not repeated. “We’ve actually gone back and evaluated all the door handles on those doors to make sure they’re functioning properly,” he said. “This is out of the ordinary, so I feel like the staff quickly responded to it and addressed it as quickly as they could.” Mikeska said the most disap-
pointing aspect of the experience was not being able to make a more dramatic escape. “It was really just an inconvenience at most,” Mikeska said. “Whenever they said they were busting through the wall, we thought we were going to be the ones making the escape out instead of them coming in, which was a little bit of a disappointment. But at least we got out.”
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in Richardson and Plano have tested positive for West Nile virus in the month of September. On Sept. 20, the City of Plano reported their first case of West Nile virus, followed by another case on Sept. 21. These two cases were not neuroinvasive in nature. Officials from Plano’s environmental health department and Richardson’s health department ordered four rounds of sprayings in the month of September. Bill Alsup, a Richardson senior
environmental health specialist, said UTD’s campus was not sprayed during any of the September sprays, as the university is outside of their spraying zone. “We don’t spray campus at all. We don’t drive on campus,” Alsup said, “It may hit Waterview or Synergy or Campbell, but not interior to campus.” Communications Manager Robin Russell said the university does not spray for mosquitos, but instead uses mosquito dunks, which are a preemptive measure designed to kill mosquitos in the larval stage.
City of Plano Environmental Quality Specialist Carolyn Russell said mosquito dunks can be effective when the exact location of a mosquito pool is known, but adult mosquitos carrying the virus are unaffected. Carolyn Russell also said the virus does not affect single areas and can be spread by breeding mosquitos. “To be able to definitively say that it would just be isolated to one area — we couldn’t really say that,” Carolyn Russell said. “Because mosquitos move, (the virus is) going to move.”
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Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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OPINION
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Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
NO MORE EXCUSES Voter registration critical to effect change in local, national politics
CHIAMAKA MGBOJI | MERCURY STAFF
THE EDITORIAL BOARD We have an opportunity to change our nation — to determine the direction of our policies and mold a better future. But only if we give ourselves the power to do so. With the Oct. 9 voter registration deadline quickly approaching, it’s important now more than ever to register to vote. There is no excuse for not participating in the most essential aspect of our democracy, the simplest manner of ensuring our representation. Yet for more than half a century, we as Americans have slipped dangerously into indifference. According to FairVote,
turnout of eligible voters has barely peaked over 60% since the election of John F. Kennedy, with Texas consistently ranking 48th out of 50 states in voter turnout. Worse, the Pew Research Center reported that millennials were the least likely generation to grace a ballot box in the most recent presidential election. In an age of Twitter rants and Instagram essays, we have become over-accustomed to expressing our politics through social media, only to step comfortably back into complacency when asked to contribute to the democratic process. While online activism may help to facilitate and disseminate political conversation, it is no substitute for the change that can only be brought about through casting our ballot.
Ultimately, we cannot lament inequitable representation when we have decided not to be represented. No one can complain about their candidates not winning when they have chosen the path of silence. For Texans, voter apathy is often justified by the state’s deep-rooted conservative character. Democrats consider their voice inherently inconsequential, while Republicans find comfort in the state’s unchanging politics. Change is far from impossible, but only if voters from all generations and parties recognize the potency of their political influence. Partisan stalemates can end and longheld policies can be overturned only if the electorate reclaims their power. Those still needing to register to vote can
find a number of deputy voter registrars throughout campus. For those permanently condemned to the classroom or cubicle, registration can be completed through a quick form online. Out-of-state students can request mail-in registration forms. In short, there are a number of options available to ensure everyone can make it to the ballot box on Nov. 6. By voting, we hold our representatives accountable to a standard higher than their own ambitions. We stand for something greater than a party or a politician. Registering to vote is the first step in making your voice heard. The polls are your platform. So speak. - Bhargav Arimilli, Cindy Folefack, Emaan Bangash, Ayoung Jo, Madeleine Keith
Moving beyond misconceptions Shia culture, history essential to understand significance of Muharram AMBARINA HASTA Mercury Staff
One of the biggest consequences of being a minority sect in the midst of a big religion like Islam is that our traditions and viewpoints are never accurately represented in mainstream media, textbooks or even among other members of the Islamic community. As a Twelver Shiite, a sub-branch of the Shitte sect of Islam, my customs and traditions have significant value but are either unknown or misrepresented. With the start of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, there is no better time to clarify the significance of the month and clear up the misconceptions that surround it. For most of the Muslim world, Muharram is just the start of the new Islamic year. But for Shiites, it’s a period of mourning and respect for the sacrifice of Imam Hussain ibn
EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF
Ali, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Around 1,400 years ago, Imam Hussain and his 72 companions fought the injustices of the caliphate in the desert of Karbala, but they were all brutally murdered. Beyond the religious aspect of Imam Hussain being the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, the tragedy of Karbala is an emotional story that holds life lessons applicable to all of humanity. Imam Hussain stood up against the leadership of the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Muawiyah, because he unjustly misrepresented the Muslim community. Imam Hussain sent a severely outnumbered army to fight Yazid that included members of his own family, a battle that ended in massacre. The event in Islamic history is left out of mainstream Islam, yet it monumentally shaped the foundations of Shiite faith and tradition. This tragedy became a part of a
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Cut from curriculum
CAROLINA ALVAREZ | OUTREACH EDITOR
State Board of Education should not let political bias enter classrooms ARIAN SHARIATMADARI Mercury Staff
Judeo-Christianity, the Alamo and the removal of important female figures — the Texas State Board of Education’s committee hearings may be the most ridiculously “Texas” things one could expect. In midSeptember, over the course of four days, the committee members of the SBOE discussed a number of changes to the public school’s curriculum before coming to a final vote on Sep. 14. But one proposed change particularly sticks out — just how did the first and
only female presidential nominee of a major political party in U.S. history get removed from Texas’s high school curriculum? The answer starts with the work-study groups. The metric that the SBOE used to determine which individuals were important enough to remain in the curriculum was the opinion of a group of volunteers . When surveyed among other notable names, Hillary Clinton scored very low. This was the indicator the board used to determine that she was not necessary to the required curriculum. No historians, political scientists or academic sources were present — it was simply a group of volunteers. It is no secret that Texas is a deeply red
state, and although the trend shows that it is becoming less red, it is still proudly conservative. It would be safe to assume that just like the SBOE itself, a volunteer-based workgroup would comprised a similar distribution. When asking a proud conservative — whose main hobbies may include complaining about Barack Obama, complaining about political correctness or watching Fox News pundits complain about Obama and political correctness — to judge the importance of Hillary Clinton, bias has a major role to play in their decision to give her such a low score. I myself have not been the biggest fan of Hillary Clinton, because to me, she never
seemed genuine in her stances and had a few too many instances of pandering. But even her biggest opponents would have a hard time debating her importance in national politics. Not only did she accomplish the task of becoming the first female presidential nominee of a major political party, she also won the popular vote in the national election. So, when you find out that on a scale from 1 to 20, the fact that the former secretary of state scored below 10 is a red flag. What is even more concerning is the fact that she not only scored below 10, but she scored a 5 out of 20.The removal of
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Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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yearly ritual to commemorate the sacrifice of Imam Hussain during this month, with emphasis being placed on the first 10 days. While attending both Middle Eastern history and Islamic culture classes at UTD, I have noticed how the majority of course content is based almost entirely on conventional history without much acknowledgement of Shiism. As the beginning of the semester coincided with Eid al-Adha, my classes took the opportunity to discuss the Islamic holiday and dedicate the introductory lessons to its significance. Yet when Muharram began two weeks ago, my professors failed to mention the customs, events and significance of this month in relation to Islamic history, only that it was the beginning of the Islamic calendar. My beliefs were considered less important because they did not conform to “mainstream Islam.” The tragedy of Karbala is a part of Islamic history, but it’s hardly addressed in the courses and contexts where it should be. The most common misconceptions associated with Muharram and Shiites are that we celebrate, hit our chests and beat ourselves with knives and chains. The tragedy of Karbala is emotional and
sad. It’s not a festival or celebration but a period of mourning. We attend gatherings known as a “majalis,” where we commemorate and listen to the narrations of the tragedy. Beating the chest is known as “maa’tam” and has been derived from the concept of the physical reaction in times of grief. From there, when reciting forms of poetry known as “latmiyats” and “nohas,” a rhythm is created by beating the chest, and it isn’t supposed to be hard or physically abusive on the body. Though there are people who do it more intensely, it is often because they feel emotionally connected to their history which “maa’tam” allows them to express. The use of chains and knives is publicly depicted as a widespread Muharram practice, but it’s only performed by a minority of Shiites. A 2016 article by the British newspaper The Independent about Muharram was headlined “Ashura 2016: Self-flagellation begins as Islamic world marks religious festival”, and throughout the entire story, there were images of shirtless men and boys beating themselves with chains and swords. If that happened at my mosque, those individuals would be asked to leave immediately. This flagellation is an extreme form of “maa’tam” known as “tatbir,” a practice that has been condemned by both
Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Khamenei, major world leaders for the Twelver Shiite school of thought. In a 1994 sermon, Khamenei said, “If someone does anything to display their desire to practice tatbir, I will be deeply disappointed in them… this is certainly an unlawful action, one which Imam Hussain would not be pleased with, as practiced today.” Ayatollah Sistani’s liaison office has also claimed that “one is not allowed to harm the body or the noble reputation of the faith”. Ultimately, the promulgation of tatbir as the primary portrayal of Muharram serves only to perpetuate the misconceptions behind this month and its customs. The assumptions about Shiite Islam and Muharram stem from ignorance and a lack of the Shiite perspective seen in most Islamic history and culture. Islamic unity is important, but these misconceptions prevent an understanding of Shiite culture, and hinder the humanitarian message from Karbala. Imam Hussain’s story emphasizes loyalty, family, faith and standing up against injustice. Understanding the historical and cultural context of Muharram is necessary to create an understanding of the month’s significance alongside an accurate perception of our customs.
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Hillary Clinton was just the start. Helen Keller, an important figure in our nations’ history and a champion for Americans with disabilities, was also removed from the curriculum. During her time educating the world about people with disabilities, she also championed women’s rights and birth control. The reason Hellen Keller and Hilary Clinton were ever put in the curriculum is because of their individual efforts and their unique impacts, but there is something much more pro-
found that connects both of these figures. Both are women who spent their lives attempting to break the ceiling, showing future generations that what was expected of them is not what they did for the rest of their lives. You might think there are different reasons leading to this, but at the end of the day, what I do know is that two very influential women from U.S. history were deemed “not important enough” to the SBOE, and as a result, many children may be given two less female figures to help them feel like they can break the glass ceiling. For those concerned about the changes in the pro-
posal, there is a glimmer of hope. The board recently voted on amendments to the curriculum, and the revisions have all been agreed upon. The actual vote to officially implement the changes, however, will be held in November. As long as members of the board can hear from their constituents, they may realize that there is a difference between what the work-group thinks and what the electorate thinks children should be learning. At the end of the day, members of the SBOE are elected representatives, and as constituents, we have the ability to prevent this removal from happening.
UNDER THE SEA
EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF
COMET COMMENTS
Should esports players be recruited with scholarships?
Comets and Craters UTD receives millions in funding State and federal agencies awarded researchers at the university a total of $4.5 million for cancer-related research.
“I think it's good for the school. As long as they’re not exorbitant, I don’t mind. I don’t think it would be reasonable to give people full ride scholarships for esports, but I’ve got no problem with the school trying to incentivize that.”
“I have to say I don't really know much about video games and competitive gaming, but I think that would be cool if they got scholarships for that. If they’re good at it and passionate about it, then that should be something offered to them.”
“I think that's totally fair. I’m just sad that the esports that I like aren’t big right now. I’m waiting for ‘Starcraft 3’ to come out. It doesn’t require as much skill if you’re just controlling one thing on a screen.”
Taylor Beach Biomedical Engineering Junior
Layla Ali Psychology Freshman
Zachary Soules Political Science Junior
Rainwater accumulates in UV Recent storms left large puddles and mud flows in certain phases of University Village.
A&H launches new journal Athenaeum Review, a joint venture between the Edith O' Donnell Institute and the School of Arts and Humanities, will promote thoughtful criticism of arts in the DFW metroplex.
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Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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NEWS
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT UTD?
NIKITA BANTEY | MERCURY STAFF
ANDREW GALLEGOS | MERCURY STAFF
MICHAEL STOUT | MERCURY STAFF
James Milliken, the newly appointed UT System chancellor, visited UTD on Sept. 19 and met with members of the faculty and Student Government. Milliken officially began his term on Sept. 17.
SUAAB presented the next iteration of its “Lift Off” music series with a live performance by Bobby Sessions and So-So Topic (pictured) on Sept. 20 in the SSA.
Key Log Rolling, a manufacturer of log rolls, hosted the first collegiate log rolling tournament in Texas at UTD on Sept. 29 in the Activity Center.
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at UTD. After graduating with a master’s in accounting, Wang began working for Dallas-based accounting firm Cantrell & Associates. Bhatia said the two months Wang worked for the company were wonderful. “We were looking forward to having her come back and join us,” Bhatia said. “It’s tragic. We said, ‘Come back when you can,
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familiar to me, but the flavor of the filling itself was so distinctive and unique. Combined with the sauce, the zesty spice of the filling was like an explo-
and your job and desk are right here.’ We can’t imagine what her parents are going through, having a child in a foreign country. It’s hard to even put your head around it.” Bhatia said the recent graduate had returned to China for a month to sort through visa issues. She had planned to return to work last week. President Richard Benson sent a message of condolence to the UTD community the Monday af-
ter Wang’s death. “UT Dallas students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends form a strong and connected family, and to hear of such a horrible tragedy is difficult for us,” Benson said. “During this time, I know we all extend our sympathies and concerns for the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.”
sion in my mouth. It reminded me of Pakistani kebabs my mom makes from time to time, with all the spices and flavors coming together and tasting like home. Sooner or later, we found ourselves devouring nearly all 50 of the momo we made.
Momo were certainly wonderful to try, but making it together with friends was a completely unique experience. I loved learning the different and intricate technique to fold momo. It was almost like sculpting a piece of edible art.
Additional reporting by Cindy Folefack.
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Oct. 1, 2018 | The Mercury
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