The Mercury 10/29/18

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October 29, 2018

THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM

University hosts first women's summit Event features female CEOs of Dallas companies

ARIANA HADDEN | MERCURY STAFF

Some classes for the new data science program will be held in the new ECS West building.

NSM, ECS create new degree plan Data science program to integrate foundations of statistics, engineering

CAROLINA ALVAREZ | MERCURY STAFF

Parking Structure 2 was originally slated for construction in 2014 near Residence Hall West.

The parking structure NIKITA BANTEY | MERCURY STAFF

Danyel Jones, the founder of sports gloves company PowerHandz, spoke at the Women's Summit on Oct. 15.

MEGAN ZEREZ

Mercury Staff

→ SEE SUMMIT,

Mercury Staff

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Mercury Staff

that never was

RAZAN AFGHANI

The first annual Women’s Summit held at UTD took place in the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center earlier this month.

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship held the event on Oct. 15.

Female entrepreneurs were invited to share their stories of success. The Women’s Summit was also used as a launchpad for the GalXc Women’s Accelerator, which will officially begin February 2019. Dresden Goldberg, the assistant director of the institute, organized the event.

“Despite being nearly 43 percent women at UTD, very few are actually engaging in entrepreneurship through our programs.

Entrepreneurship is for everyone here, and we have programs to support them as well,” Goldberg said. “Everyone at the institute was on board with this idea.”

Speakers included Jessica Nunez, Clarisa Lindenmeyer and Danyel Jones, all of whom are prominent female CEOs in the Dallas area. 300 people attended the event.

There are already plans for another Women’s Summit next year.

“The feedback has been amazing. All the speakers that I approached were super excited to participate in it. The social media response has been amazing,” Goldberg said.

“I already have a list of entrepreneurs I’d like to invite next year. The response was so great that I think that it would be a miss if we lost that momentum.”

According to the Center for Venture Research, in 2005, only 3 percent of companies that received startup funding were led by women. In 2016, that number increased to 22 percent.

“People are being a lot more deliberate about paying attention to diversity and not discounting somebody’s qualifications,” Goldberg said.

The Boston Consulting Group reported that female-led businesses raised less money than those led by men, earning $935,000 on average per fundraising round compared to $2.12 million. Investors could have potentially generated $85 million more in revenue if they invested the same amount of money in women as they did in men.

“It’s really about recognizing your own potential and believing in yourself,” Goldberg said. “If you have a business idea that’s been in the back of your mind for years, it’s okay to

MADELEINE KEITH

here are three parking structures on campus — Parking Structure 1, Structure 3 and Structure 4. Structure 2, scheduled for construction in 2014, would have provided the first and only covered parking for students living on campus. It was never built.

The original plan, according to data obtained from the Office of Budget and Finance, was to build a 500-space residential parking structure, called Parking Structure 2, in the vicinity of Residence Hall West.

Terry Pankratz, vice president of budget and finance, said before the structure could be built, the Parking and Transportation Office couldn’t justify the cost of construction. He also said the project was abandoned for a multitude of reasons, including a shift in priorities and a lack of student demand.

Rick Dempsey, associate vice president of facilities management, confirmed that the residential permit price would have increased to compensate for PS2’s $7.8 million price

T

Beginning in the spring of next year, UTD will become the second university in Texas to offer an undergraduate degree in data science, a joint effort between the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Data science combines statistics and computational skills to extract useful knowledge from “big data,” which are large compilations of information obtained by a company and held in a computer system.

“Data science is new, in a sense, as one of the biggest employment points for people coming from majors like computer science and mathematics in that it emerged … when machines got powerful enough to deal with huge data,” said Vladimir Dragovic, the head of the mathematics department. “(Organizations) like NSA are one example of a big employer, but all kinds of industries are interested in incorporating this field.”

Gopal Gupta, the head of the computer science department, said the degree plan will

tag, but did not provide an exact number.

“For the parking garages we’ve built, (covered spaces) are open to gold, orange and purple permits,” Dempsey said.

“There are people who are willing to pay more for covered parking, and so we can justify the cost.”

Officials from the Parking and Transportation Office declined to comment on how resident demand for covered spaces was assessed ahead of PS2. However, Parking and Transportation officials later confirmed that the reallocation of parking spaces in the lots is determined by permit sales from the previous year.

At other universities, such as University of North Texas in Denton, drivers pay approximately $400 more for a covered space. At UTD, drivers pay the same amount regardless of whether they park in one of the structures or on a surface lot, so there’s no guarantee of access to covered parking for on-campus students in cases of inclement weather.

Dempsey said PS2 would have had a similar permit scheme to the existing structures. Residential drivers would

→ SEE PARKING,

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→ SEE DEGREE,

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Richardson schools propose tax increase University Village, Canyon Creek residents eligible to vote in upcoming tax ratification election MARCO SALINAS Mercury Staff

ALESANDRA BELL | MERCURY STAFF

Residents of University Village Phases 1-3 and Canyon Creek Heights will be able to vote in a Richardson Independent School District tax ratification election to raise taxes for higher teacher salaries and larger staffs for special education and school security.

If the vote passes, the district’s operating tax rate will increase by 13 cents, or 12.5 percent, from $1.04 to $1.17 for every $100 of home valuation. For a home with the value of $288,794, the increased tax will be $305 a year. Chief Communications Officer for Richardson ISD Chris Moore said this is the highest possible operating tax rate in the state of Texas. Offcampus apartments in Richardson will also be affected by the tax increase.

“Whatever the apartment owners pay,

that would be part of that capture tax base,” Moore said.

Terry Pankratz, vice president for budget and finance at UTD, said residents of University Village and Canyon Creek Heights will not be affected by the tax, as the university is a state entity.

Moore said the funds are intended to be used to increase teacher and staff salaries by 2.5 percent, as well as to increase the amount of teaching and staff positions for students with special needs.

But, he said, not all the money will stay in Richardson ISD. “While $1.17 will generate $24.8 million for us, the state of Texas will actually keep $5.9 million,” Moore said. “When I write that check to RISD, it’s coming to the district, and then it goes to Austin by nature of the system.”

→ SEE TAX,

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Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVIV No. 33

NEWS

UTD PD Blotter

Editor-in-Chief Bhargav Arimilli

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Opinion Editor Madeleine Keith

A

Oct. 11 • A student reported unknown person(s) used her debit card at a DART location without her authorization at 7:17 a.m.

A

Oct. 19 • A UTD employee reported harassment by a former UTD student at 9:17 a.m.

B D

Oct. 22 • A student reported that someone was using their email to defraud other students at 6:00 p.m.

C

Oct. 23 • An unknown person was seen on camera using a UTD student’s phone without their consent at 12:27 p.m.

D

Oct. 24 • A UTD employee was issued a criminal trespass warning between 8:00 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.

E

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Contributors Razan Afghani Madeline Ambrose Sofia Babool Alesandra Bell Sarah Besserer Soujanya Bhat Mansi Chauhan Jenna Cherrey Pranati Chitta EJ Chong Bianca Del Rio Amber Doan Travis Dickerson Ariana Hadden Ambarina Hasta Winstein Hungbui Vanessa Idigbe Christina Jia Ryan Magee Chiamaka Mgboji Keaton Nations Elizabeth Nguyen Nadine Omeis Mubaraka Patanwala Marco Salinas Anna Schaeffer Medha Somisetty Michael Stout Sarah Streety Pavan Tauh Madison York Zuhair Zaidi Megan Zerez Media Adviser Chad Thomas

chadthomas@utdallas.edu (972) 883-2286

Mailing Address 800 West Campbell Road, SU 24 Richardson, TX 75080-0688 Newsroom Student Union, Student Media Suite SU 1.601

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LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT

THEFT

DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD | COURTESY

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Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

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NEWS

Classic Indian cuisine comes to campus

New partnership to introduce locally-sourced, ready-made halal meals at Student Union ZUHAIR ZAIDI Mercury Staff

Chartwells partnered with Kinaara, a local restaurant, to provide halal Indian food options at The Market of the Student Union.

The Market, the SU eatery previously known as Outtakes, introduced the readyto-go meals at the beginning of the semester to appeal to a large demographic of students at UTD. The term “halal” refers to meat that is slaughtered according to Islamic standards and permissible for Muslim consumption. Kinaara, a restaurant located in Plano, previously served UTD students by offering a food truck featuring popular dishes such as biryani and butter chicken.

Resident District Manager of Chartwells Steven Goodwin said the choice to bring halal Indian food to The Market of the SU was part of an effort to cater to a growing population of South Asian students and faculty on campus. According

to the university’s Fall 2018 Profile, 25 percent of the student body is classified as Asian American. The Muslim Student Association’s membership now includes over 250 students.

“I think it speaks to our demographic on campus. We always want to make sure that we’re able to fulfill what our students are looking for and what they can relate to from home,” Goodwin said. “So with such a large international population, we thought it would be perfect because it checks so many boxes of what some of our students are looking for.”

In response to the addition, MSA President and healthcare management and biology senior Saad Obaid said he feels the university is taking steps in the right direction and that additions like Kinaara are much needed for a burgeoning Asian and Muslim population.

“I remember the only option in the beginning was to eat at Subway and Panda Express,” Obaid said. “But now,

PAVAN TAUH | MERCURY STAFF

The Kinaara section of The Market on the upper level of the SU has a rotating menu of Indian dishes such as biryani and butter chicken served throughout the week.

we have options like Chopped Grill, Za’atar and Kinaara.”

Carrie Chutes, the director of food and

retail services, said initiatives similar to

→ SEE KINAARA,

PAGE 9

New graduation help desk launched WINSTEIN HUNGBUI Mercury Staff

AMBER DOAN | MERCURY STAFF

Angela Scoggins, UTD’s associate director of academic outreach, oversees the Graduation Help Desk.

A new help desk on campus will assist students struggling to graduate on time.

The new initiative, called the Graduation Help Desk, works with students, faculty and staff from different departments.

Headquartered in the Office of Undergraduate Education in Founders, the help desk is a primary resource for students who need help coordinating academic, financial or personal issues across schools or offices.

Although the GHD is intended for undergraduate students, Associate Director of Academic Outreach Angela

Scoggins said that the help desk will guide any student struggling with academic or non-academic problems.

“The purpose of it is to help students overcome obstacles with school and resources to graduate on time,” Scoggins said.

Courtney Breechen, the associate dean of undergraduate studies, said the program was adapted from one successfully implemented at UT Austin. “ (UT Austin) had shared with the UT System how successful the initiative had been, and the UT System funded (the) graduation help desk as a keystone project through all academic UT institutions, including UTD,”

→ SEE GRADUATION,

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SG REPORT Housing Cancellation Fees Vice President for Student Affairs Gene Fitch held a meeting with SG to address a campus housing issue that came up this year in which students were canceling or not fulfilling the occupancy terms of their housing leases. As a result, certain spaces and rooms within campus housing were empty, and other students who were on the waiting list did not have access to them.

Fitch is working on a proposal to raise penalties so cancellation scenarios are less likely to occur, so more students have the opportunity to get campus housing if they need it.

Election Day Bussing Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Ben Darling reported the final results of the voter registration efforts.

The committee registered over 450 students, surpassing the original goal of 200.

Additionally, the committee is providing transportation to a polling precinct at Aldridge Elementary School on Election Day on Nov. 6. The bus will operate on an hourly basis and will depart campus from Residence Hall West. $1,300 were allocated for the project.

Lyft Discount Project Residential Student Affairs Chair Zehra Rizvi and RSA senators are working on obtaining a Lyft discount for UTD students.

Lyft is a ridesharing service similar to Uber. The committee plans to model the discount project after one at UT Austin, where students traveling on bus routes sponsored by the university are offered a discount to use Lyft.

know YOUR CANDIDATES:

HOUSE DISTRICT 3 ELECTION GRAPHIC BY: CHRISTINA JIA | MERCURY STAFF

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LIFE&ARTS

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

SOUJANYA BHAT | MERCURY STAFF

Jake Mathis (left) and McKinley Haney (middle) play the roles of Anthony and Casca, respectively in Theatre UTD’s rendition of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”

Performance of ‘Julius Caesar’ to reel in audience

School of Arts and Humanities to present its production of Shakespeare’s historical drama in November as part of midterm election commentary MADISON YORK Mercury Staff

To coincide with the upcoming midterm elections, the School of Arts and Humanities will be presenting a production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” in early November.

The tragedy of Julius Caesar, based on true historical events, is believed to have been written by William Shakespeare around 1599. Director Shelby Allison-Hibbs, a clinical assistant professor of drama, said the message of the play is far from outdated.

“The political era right now is filled with turmoil, and I think this play addresses the idea of fixing a democracy through undemocratic means,” she said. “I think this time we’re in right now, where so many people are angry and frustrated with how our government is functioning, I think that going back and listening to Shakespeare’s take on Julius Caesar is something we should pay attention to.”

Literary studies and theater sophomore

Rachel Franko has been acting in theater productions since elementary school. She said she was not expecting to get the lead role of Brutus, as it was her first time auditioning for a Shakespeare production.

“Funnily enough, I went for Portia, thinking I’m going to do a small role (and) it’ll give me time to work on schoolwork this semester,” Franko said. “I’m literary studies, so I’m used to reading Shakespeare, and (the director) was like, ‘Oh, I can tell.’ And she was like, ‘Why don’t you read for Brutus?’

And so I read for Brutus, and here I am.”

The play centers around Brutus, a close friend of Julius Caesar, as he begins to fear that Caesar’s newfound rise to power in Rome could lead to tyranny. Cassius, portrayed by software engineering freshman Zach Neiger, conspires with Brutus to take down Caesar.

“Cassius has his flaws,” Neiger said. “But his greatest flaw is his ego — that he’s so caught up in what he’s trying to do, that he doesn’t realize that the effect of his actions

don’t always go as calculated. In the end, he pays for it.”

Actors in the production participate in practices five days a week, averaging a total of 16 hours per week. That estimation is just scheduled practice, said Osinachi Osuagwu, a literary studies senior who plays the role of Julius Caesar.

“Outside the rehearsal process, there’s a lot of time dedicated to memorizing the lines — because (there are) monologues on monologues on monologues — and the language is a bit different from what we’re used to,” Osuagwu said. “And then once it comes to memorizing those lines, then it’s trying to find the meaning and the intent behind those lines — because otherwise, you’re just saying words, and that’s not a line.”

Franko said memorizing 600 lines and playing the role of Brutus led her to a deeper appreciation of the character on an individual level.

“I find his insecurity almost refreshing because I can connect with that in so many

SOUJANYA BHAT | MERCURY STAFF

ways,” she said. “You have to take Brutus and not only be thoughtful, which is hard to portray onstage without closing yourself off to the audience, but you have to be emotional — you have to be able to get angry but pull yourself back. It tests so many lim-

its of emotion and thought that you have to play in perfect timing and watch yourself that you don’t overdo it.”

The audience will have an opportunity

→ SEE SHAKESPEARE,

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Comets compost to curb food waste SG Green Initiative launches free composting program for students living in on-campus housing

NOAH WHITEHEAD | PHOTO EDITOR

Students planted fruit tree saplings in residence hall courtyards on Oct. 27 in celebration of Texas Arbor Day.

Residence hall courtyards to feature fruit trees, greenery Students help plant saplings in celebration of national sustainability efforts MADISON YORK Mercury Staff

In recognition of Texas Arbor Day, Facilities Management worked with the Office of Student Volunteerism to plant fruit trees in residence hall courtyards.

Gary Cocke, the associate director of energy conservation and sustainability, said the idea for planting fruit trees began as a discussion between himself and the associate director for facilities services, Sam Eike.

“We’re certified through the Arbor

Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA, and every year we do an event where we plant trees in recognition and observance of Texas Arbor Day,” Cocke said.

“And so, we were thinking about what it would be this year, and we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had fruit trees where students could grab a peach or a plum as they go to and from classes?’”

According to the Arbor Day Foundation website, qualifying for Tree Campus USA status requires a university to meet five standards related to cultivat-

ing trees and engaging students, one of which is an annual expenditure toward planting or caring for trees. This year’s tree planting was part of the Office of Student Volunteerism’s Viva Volunteer day — UTD’s largest single day of service — with over 30 students taking part in the fruit tree event alone.

Although Viva Volunteer day was Oct. 27, one week before Texas Arbor Day, the OSV and Facilities Management

→ SEE TREES,

PAGE 9

AMBARINA HASTA | MERCURY STAFF

The Comet Composting program began this fall to reduce the amount of food waste that goes into landfills.

AYOUNG JO

Life & Arts Editor

Students residing in on-campus apartments can now join a composting program to learn about reducing food waste.

Members of the Green Initiative of Student Government partnered with several on-campus departments such as the Office of Sustainability as well as external groups to launch the Comet Composting program. The

program provides students with portable compost caddies, along with a training program to teach them about how they can use the caddies to collect their food recyclables.

SG’s Green Initiative is an ad-hoc committee established three years ago with the goal of improving campus sustainability.

Unlike other committees of SG, the Green Initiative takes submissions and project ideas directly from the general student body.

→ SEE COMPOST,

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Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

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LIFE&ARTS

Graduate directs school for kids Private school founded by UTD alumna celebrates five years of educating children pre-K through sixth grade

SOUJANYA BHAT | MERCURY STAFF

Alum Anil Sankaramanchi started his acting career when he was featured in a commercial.

Alum finds calling in acting MADELINE AMBROSE | MERCURY STAFF

Jill Guthrie graduated from UTD with a B.A. in 1985 and has since gone on to found a private school centered around discussion-based learning.

SOFIA BABOOL Mercury Staff

A few miles north of campus, a UTD alumna founded a private school centered around discussionbased learning. The school is now celebrating its five-year anniversary.

Attending UTD during her junior and senior years, Jill Guthrie, who graduated with a B.A. in 1985, heavily participated in psychology and neuroscience research. Though she earned her degree in English with a minor in mathematics, Guthrie said her supplemental research in psy-

chology influenced her founding of the private institution.

“I took a lot of psychology classes that I loved, and I learned about research. It was really interesting because it dealt with how the brain worked and how we learn,” Guthrie said. “That was really impactful on my outlook on growth and learning.”

Implemented by over 200 schools, the Harkness method of education, a form of learning that involves multiple students sitting in an oval table to encourage and facilitate discussion, is central to learning

Nordic Dinner: sImPlE bUt dElIcIoUs EMAAN BANGASH Mercury Staff

at The Guthrie School.

“I believe in that very strongly. We use it to promote discourse and discussion in a very safe setting where children are encouraged to express their ideas,” Guthrie said.

She attributed her research skills at UTD as a contributing factor to her founding of The Guthrie School and the establishment of its values.

“UTD gave me the skills to do research at higher level. Even though I wasn’t very interested in going into a research-based field, scientific research translates into a school environment because you learn to look at

Coming from a Pakistani family, I was always used to the heavy spices and extravagant flavors of my home country’s dishes. After trying a traditional Nordic dinner, I realized that food doesn’t have to be spicy or bursting with flavor to be delicious.

The Nordic countries consist of Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. While the term “Nordic” is often assumed to be synonymous with “Scandinavian,” the former is normally used as the umbrella term for the culturally united countries of Northern Europe. People living in Nordic countries often experience freezing temperatures in the winter, and as a result, their food is quite simple and frugal. Nordic cuisine features multiple types of fish such as herring or trout, along with root vegetables, pork and berries.

Chew Crew member Madison

individuals and the way they think,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie’s ties with UTD still remain intact, as many of the children attending The Guthrie School are children of alumni.

Shajie Fang, a UTD alumna who came to the university as an international student in 2010 to major in finance, currently has two children at The Guthrie School.

“I know Mrs. Guthrie is very busy, but from the limited contact that I have had with her, I would describe her with one word — passion,” Fang said. “That is why we

have decided to enroll our students at The Guthrie School.”

Mary Hearty, the associate director of the school, said Guthrie’s leadership was a deciding factor in joining its staff after Hearty had retired from her previous job.

“Once I sat in on Mrs. Guthrie’s class, I was just sold,” Hearty said. “I was back in the game here.”

Guthrie said she learned that the reputation of UTD as a research institution doesn’t hinder the artistic aspects of the university.

→ SEE GUTHRIE,

PAGE 11

RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF

York and I headed over to The Wooden Spoon, a one-stop shop for all things Nordic and Scandinavian. The owner of the store, Gwen Workman, has operated the store for nearly 30 years and prides herself on her love and knowledge of Nor-

dic culture. Gwen sells traditional gifts such as Christmas figurines, goblin statues and children’s picture books she’d written herself about Nordic culture. The room across the

→ SEE NORDIC,

PAGE 11

Actor uses expertise in dance to perform in ads, movies MANSI CHAUHAN Mercury Staff

Ever since he won a contest to be featured in a Super Bowl commercial, one UTD alum has starred in several aired television commercials and web series.

Neuroscience graduate Anil Sankaramanchi began college aiming for a career in either patient care or research. He said he eventually realized his calling was somewhere else.

“I was struggling a lot with my classes, and I realized early on I wasn’t meant for this,” Sankaramanchi said. “I actually Googled how to make money with a good personality, and acting is the first thing that came up.”

After successfully landing the Super Bowl commercial in 2016, Sankaramanchi decided to pursue acting seriously. Since then, he has been cast in advertisements for multiple companies from Kroger to Moneygram. He said he cultivated his talent partially through activities at UTD such as dancing.

“Dance is a form of non-verbal acting. You tell the story through expressions and your body language,” Sankaramanchi said.

“There are entire courses taught

by Stella Adler in New York on this concept, but I feel that I got that ability through learning to perform on stage as a dancer.”

During his time at UTD, Sankaramanchi pursued other creative

→ SEE ACTOR,

PAGE 11

Student promotes LGBTQ+ visibility Sophomore uses photoshoots, podcast to bring queer Asian American students together MUKBARAKA PATANWALA Mercury Staff

MEDHA SOMISETTY| MERCURY STAFF

Julie Le started Lychee City, a website and series of podcast to bring visibility to queer Asian American students on UTD campus.

After a summer spent in India, international political economy sophomore Julie Le was inspired to organize a photo shoot focused on LGBTQ+ Asian Americans.

“In America, I identify as a queer Vietnamese female, but in India, people cannot do that without risking their livelihood.

I thought about that for a long time and how I was such a privileged individual to be doing that, but my friends in India couldn’t,” Le said. “The summer of 2018, I kept thinking about it. Why am I not more involved in the LGBTQ+ community?”

Last summer, Le spent a month in India through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship program. After making friends who identified as LGBTQ+, Le carried her experiences with her until she was able to orga-

nize a photo shoot.

In preparation for the shoot, Le reached out to three friends she met through the Filipino Student Association, including healthcare management junior Linda Tran, ATEC junior Jacob Tran and computer science junior Patrick Le, all photographers Le had worked with before.

“We want to raise visibility for Asian Americans who identify as LGBT+,” Le said. “That was purely the motivation.”

The project was originally set to begin later in the fall, but Le said she felt she had waited too long.

“There’s no point of waiting if I really wanted to do something,” Le said. “I’ve been waiting for over a year — might as well go ahead and get started.”

Le used her high school background in design to craft flyers and find models. The photo shoot consisted of only Asian Americans who identified as LGBTQ+. There were 13 mod-

els, four of whom Le did not know prior to the shoot.

One of the models, finance freshman Henry Zhang, did his own make-up and clothing for the shoot. He said he decided to participate after seeing Le’s flyer in a forum and found the project important for Asian American visibility and inclusion.

“What is seen in the media isn’t always representative of everyone,” Zhang said. “I definitely want to be part of anything that brings visibility to this community.”

Le said an obstacle while finding models was finding more LGBT+ people from the Indian subcontinent as well as darker-skinned Asians.

“We only had one South Asian queer (person) on the photo shoot,” Le said. “That was something I wish I could have improved.”

Le said the photo shoot was a difficult project because she found it challenging to capture

a theme with a natural setting.

“It was so hard to work with three photographers,” Le said.

“Every photographer has their own vision, and I had my own vision. It was heavy trial and error.”

Le said despite the different artistic styles among them, she was pleased with the results.

Le completed the shoot from Aug. 21-22, the weekend before fall classes began. Once the photo shoot ended, she began setting up her website and podcast, Lychee City.

“Initially the podcast was going to be about Asian LGBT+ topics, but I knew I would run out of topics in five weeks. So I extended it to Asian American identity,” Le said. “I could talk about welfare, something that not only affects LGBTQ+ but also Asians in general.”

Though she had a team helping her with the photo shoot, Le runs the podcast and website on

→ SEE LGBTQ+,

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6

COMICS

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

PUMPKIN CARVING

GHOULS NIGHT OUT

CHIAMAKA MBGOJI | MERCURY STAFF

O&B: HALLOWEEN DIETING

BIANCA DEL RIO | MERCURY STAFF

SARAH STREETY | MERCURY STAFF

ETHEREAL EXERCISE

UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

SARAH BESSERER | MERCURY STAFF

THANKS BOO

RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF

A CULT CLASSIC

ELIZABETH NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF

SPECTRAL PECTORALS

EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF

THE LINE'S DEAD

JENNA CHERREY | MERCURY STAFF

KEATON NATIONS | MERCURY STAFF

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

Where's Temoc?

ACTIVITY

Can you find Temoc hiding in this spooky haunted house party?

Here's a hint: If you're stuck, scan the QR code and he'll reveal his location.

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8

SPORTS

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

Coaches reflect on department's growth since inception to include 14 teams, Division III classification TRAVIS DICKERSON Mercury Staff

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UTD ATHLETICS | COURTESY

Both golf teams have had matches cancelled because of weather this season.

Golf team hopeful for spring semester Players stay optimistic after recent bad weather TRAVIS DICKERSON Mercury Staff

The golf teams’ fall seasons started and ended positively in anticipation of the upcoming spring term, despite rain hurting performance midway through the fall semester.

The season opened with both teams playing games primarily out of state, though some were canceled because of the weather. The fall session is shorter than the spring’s, serving as a sample of the teams’ skills and performance.

Last year, the teams ended the fall season ranked 20th in the nation. This season, both teams ranked in the upper 50s and lower 60s in the NCAA national poll.

During several weekends, weather prevented the teams from practicing, as the courses were closed. Head coach Butch Edge said that while rain was a problem, it shouldn’t have kept the team from playing at the top of their game.

“We have a nine-week season, and it’s been so rough that we’ve gone 15 to 18 days at a time without practicing,” Edge said. “Other teams seem to do it though, so we need to fight through it and be tougher mentally.”

The women’s team played in New Mexico and Florida, with the planned games in Houston cancelled because of rain. Last season, the team placed fifth in the American Southwest Conference tournament, the best the teams have reached under Edge’s leadership.

The team placed third in New Mexico at the Rockwind Links Intercollegiate.

Junior Marissa Langer, who was named Golfer of the Week by the ASC, said this season has been a lot harder for the team due to the increased skills of the opposing teams as well as the weather but said she remains positive.

“We’re used to playing two round tournaments, and now we’ve increased to three (while also) facing tougher teams,” Langer said. “We’re still working toward what we had last fall.”

Men’s golf placed fourth in New Mexico at the Rockwind Links Intercollegiate and 12th in Georgia at the Oglethorpe Fall Invitational. The

→ SEE GOLF,

PAGE 11

ince the athletics department first opened its doors in 1998, the number of teams fielded has grown from just three to 14, including a new coed esports team.

When UTD was accepted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III and American Southwest Conference in 1998, the basketball and soccer teams had already been playing for years as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The head coach for soccer at the time, Jack Peel, said recruiting players and getting the word out about athletics at UTD was difficult.

“There were players left from the previous teams (in the NAIA) before us, so we didn’t have to start from the bottom up,” Peel said. “The biggest issue was nobody even knew we had athletics.”

To qualify for full membership in the NCAA’s Division III, the university had to play through a four-year trial period to ensure there was enough interest and support for the teams. The trial period ended in 2002, when UTD began participating in DIII the fall semester of that year. Benefits included the ability to participate in local and national tournaments such as the ASC Tournament and the NCAA DIII national championships. That year also marked the addition of baseball and softball into the program.

Additionally, the year brought the first ASC championship victory, with women’s soccer securing the title and moving on to the second round of the NCAA DIII national tournament.

Men’s soccer and basketball followed suit with their first ASC championship victory in 2004.

Director of Athletics Bill Petitt said success was a continuing trend with the athletics teams, as multiple teams entered the ASC championship every season.

“That’s the evolution of the department. We

just continue to grow and do things and get a little better and it shows out on the field with the results,” Petitt said. “Every year we get a chance to do things. It’s a maturing of the department.”

UTD added volleyball in the fall of 2004 and hired Marci Allison to serve as the team’s head coach. Allison has been with the team since, leading them to the ASC tournament every year since the team’s establishment. Allison said one of the reasons for staying for so long at the school was watching the team, department and campus grow alongside each other.

“I get asked all the time why I stayed here, and it’s because the university supports athletics and really helps us to grow, which I think leads to more and more success,” Allison said. “It’s been fun watching not only our department grow but the university build along with us.”

Since 2004, the newest additions to the department include the Hall of Honors in 2007, which celebrates the best athletes in campus history. The following year saw more facilities constructed. In 2012, a dedicated facility for strength and conditioning was added. This year, esports joined the department as its first coed sport and is currently housed in a renovated gaming room in the Student Union.

Future projects for the athletics department include the relocation of the softball field and the construction of a new headquarters. The university is also considering a proposal to upgrade its membership into the NCAA from DIII to DII, a move that would require an expansion of programming and facilities for athletes.

For its 20th anniversary, the department is celebrating by producing a video series on the Comets Athletics homepage that features former coaches, directors and student athletes sharing their experiences about working in the department or playing for the teams. Individual teams will host banquets for alumni, current players and coaches to celebrate the occasion. The festivities will last through the end of the spring 2019 semester.

Former men's soccer coach inducted into Hall of Honors Retired staff member becomes first coach to receive honor after leading Comets through 15 winning seasons, 5 championships during time at UTD PRANATHI CHITTA Mercury Staff

A former head coach of the UTD men’s soccer team has been inducted into the UTD Athletics Hall of Honors, marking the first time in program history that a head coach has received the honor.

Jack Peel, who retired from coaching the men’s soccer team in 2013 after a 15-year stint, was inducted on Oct. 16. Former players Lyndsey Smith, Kyleigh Irish-Gaddy and Scott Maurer were also honored with induction.

“I’ve been a little bit embarrassed about it,” Peel said. “It’s a little bit hard for me to express how to feel about it. I’m proud to have been honored for this and to have been recognized.”

Peel said since he began coaching the team in 1998, he faced obstacles on the journey to get the team to where it is today.

“The biggest obstacle we had was getting the word out,” Peel said. “The biggest issue that we had with recruiting and bringing teams in for all sports was no one knew what the University of Texas at Dallas was, and furthermore, no one knew we had athletics.”

Peel was honored as ASC Coach of the Year four times and led the soccer team to two ASC titles in 2004 and 2007.

“It was difficult,” Peel said. “We went

Men's cross country takes first league title Team members get out of second-place rut

UTD ATHLETICS | COURTESY

Former coach Jack Peel led men's soccer to 15 season wins and five championships.

into DIII and most of the universities didn’t want UTD in the ASC since we were a public school, and all the other teams were private schools.”

Trent Abbot, a former UTD soccer player, said in spite of the difficulties Peel faced, he coached a successful team of athletes who will remember him for a long time.

“I give him a lot credit for my success,”

Abbott said. “I could’ve never been successful as a player at UTD without Coach Peel. He’s probably, arguably, the most successful coach I’ve ever played for.”

Abbott played on the soccer team from 1999 to 2003, when Peel had just begun coaching the team.

→ SEE COACH,

The men’s cross country team was named the 2018 ASC champion at a tournament hosted by McMurry University on Oct. 27 for the first time in program history. Previously, the men’s team had finished second in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. 127 runners participated, with members of the men’s team all placing within the top 25 runners. The best overall positions went to freshman Cannon Leavitt, who placed third with a finishing time of 27:14, and sophomore Andres Uriegas, who placed fifth with a finishing time of 27:47. The Comets beat out rival Hardin-Simmons by only four points. The men’s team will participate next in the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional Championships that will be hosted in Georgia on Nov. 10.

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CHRISTINA JIA | MERCURY STAFF

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

9

NEWS

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Kinaara are part of an ongoing process of keeping students engaged and interested in what options they’re offered on campus.

“We are going to renew our relationship with Chartwells, so that will be for another extended period of time and with that will be ongoing refreshes and changes,” Chutes said. “So once that new term starts, then we’ll really look toward our students for the voice of what (they) would like to see next, what worked and what didn’t … we always like to keep everything fresh.”

Obaid said he hopes in the future the school will focus on offering other explicitly halal options on campus that expand beyond Indian food by partnering with established restaurant chains.

“I feel like it’s a big demographic that they’re hitting because, obviously, this school

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Breechen said.

The GHD does not replace academic advising. Scoggins, who runs the GHD, said she recommends that students who are behind on their degree plans consult their adviser before directly visiting the OUE or GHD. Breechen said the help desk addresses issues outside the normal scope of adviser duties, such as problems that require input from two or more departments.

“If an issue is really complex or requires multiple parties from across different units on campus, that’s where the adviser would refer you to the graduation help desk,” she said. “Angela can help facilitate conversation between you, the associate dean, the Office of Financial Aid (or) whoever might need to be engaged in

has a lot of Asians and South Asians that will love to check this out,” Obaid said. “Kinaara’s presentation is really nice. The school is going in a good direction to cater to all the different ethnicities.”

Goodwin said Chartwells is interested in the feedback of students and commits to monthly student advisory committee meetings as well as semester surveys to ensure the interests of students are heard.

The next Student Advisory Committee meeting will be held Nov. 5 in SSA 14.244.

“I oftentimes say that this dining program is totally customizable to what a student is looking for,” Goodwin said.

“That’s my goal and vision. So oftentimes if a certain student or organization is looking for something, we want to hear that so we can alter and change our plan moving forward for the upcoming semester.”

developing a creative solution to whatever issue you might have encountered."

The help desk is also a resource for faculty and staff that may need to refer their students to external help.

“We’ll serve anyone who comes our way, even if it’s just a referral,” Scoggins said.

“Sometimes faculty and staff need a singular point to help identify, assess a student’s needs and refer them in the right direction.”

Breechen said the OUE plans on marketing the service to each school within the university.

“We’re going to be making sure advisers understand how to leverage this resource, making sure that students can come to us directly (and) making sure that faculty in all the schools are aware of the barrier to graduation when they’re working one-on-one with students,” she said.

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cooperated to make the events coincide. Aaron Koehler, a program coordinator for the OSV, said students would not only plant trees, but learn about the different types of fruit trees, the benefits of having a tree campus and UTD’s effort in Tree Campus USA. “We thought that it would maybe be best this year to combine our efforts in recognizing Texas Arbor Day while also celebrating Viva and giving an opportunity for a larger group of students to band together under the National Make-ADifference Day and put their roots down on campus with fruit trees,” Koehler said.

In total, 27 fruit trees were planted in the courtyards of residence halls — seven in Residence Halls North, Northwest and Southwest, and six in Residence Hall South because of space restrictions. Cocke said though the fruit trees will be low-maintenance once well-established, student workers in the Office of Sustainability will ensure that the trees remain watered and maintained during their initial growth.

“We should be producing fruit in three to four years,” Cocke said. “I hope that we have freshmen that come for the planting, and they’ll be able to enjoy it when they’re a senior. Or, otherwise, hopefully they will come back as alumni and be able to get the fruits of their labors, literally.”

Despite the fact that the peaches and plums won’t be ready for several years, cognitive science senior Jennifer Good, the president of the UTD Sustainability Club, said the trees will have multiple benefits.

“I think, just in general, adding any trees or plants or flowers or anything adds more awareness to sustainability,” she said. “I feel like everyone has an experience where they have like, ‘Oh, I like that tree grow-

ing up,’ and then they want to garden in the future. So, it could be a stimulus for people to get involved with gardening or stuff like that later.”

Koehler said the trees will improve the aesthetics of the campus.

“I think that any time that you can add any sort of plant or tree to any space, that’s obviously going to give it a nice little facelift,” he said. “A greener campus is a happier campus.”

In the future, students hoping to volunteer in environment-friendly events can look forward to annual tree-planting events, helping in the community garden and participating in the OSV’s Earth Week during the second or third week of April. To further engage students in sustainability initiatives, the Office of Sustainability recently launched a program called Global Citizen Sustainability Service Honors.

“The goal of (the program) is to engage students in volunteerism related to sustainability, and when students meet the hours requirement, then they can receive an honor at graduation,” Cocke said. “Everybody has a role to play with sustainability, and so it’s just a matter of integrating sustainability principles into what you’re already interested in.”

Students interested in participating in Global Citizen Sustainability Service Honors should contact the Office of Sustainability for more information. In the end, however, Koehler said bringing together people with diverse backgrounds and skillsets is how volunteering in the environment creates a ripple effect.

“With environmental conservation, I think it’s really important that not only are we volunteering and helping to give back to our fellow human, but ultimately, in order to lead better and more fulfilled lives, we have to give back to the Earth,” Koehler said.

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not typically afforded to theater patrons, Allison-Hibbs said.

“I wanted to also play with the idea that the audience is really part of the action,” she said. “We’re bringing 60 audience members onstage, and the show is general admission, so you get to choose wherever you want to sit when you come to the theater. But we’re really pulling the action sort of in a circle onstage. And that’ll give a different effect.”'

Neiger said anybody intimidated by the Shakespeare’s prolific use of language may find that watching the words in action enables an easier understanding of the nuances and meanings.

“Studying the arts is something we all should do — something that everyone should do,” Neiger said. “Theater has played a huge role in my life, and I’m hoping that this performance will bring

people to the theater and fill them with the same wonder that theater fills me with.”

Franko said she advises anyone looking to try out acting to put themselves out there because in the end, every single part is integral to a show, and the lifelong friends made through theater are invaluable.

“It is a huge family here,” Franko said. “Everybody cares so much about each other. So, for my life, it’s given me a reason to get out of the house, to get out and do stuff and meet people and — constantly, it’s just reassuring that people care about you.”

There will be six performances of the play in total, starting with the free preview on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., with following shows at the same time on Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Tickets for shows other than the previews can be purchased online on the Arts and Humanities department event page, and UTD students are eligible for a discounted rate.

10

OPINION

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

Rediscovering democracy How we can keep partisanship from tearing us apart MADELEINE KEITH Opinion Editor It seems to me that more and more, we have come to expect less and less of each other. It’s a phrase from one of my favorite TV shows, but increasingly, it no longer seems like the stuff of melodrama. It is far from unrealistic to say that American politics has become a race to the bottom, a competition to see who can play dirtiest and still come out on top. Standards of civility — of basic goodness — are no longer required for the leaders of our nation. Even worse, we no longer expect it of each other. It a well-known and often-repeated truth that a house divided cannot stand, and as our government strays further into political extremism, it is now our duty as citizens to come together and keep America from falling.

Less than a month ago, former Attorney General Eric Holder misrepresented a quote from former first lady Michelle Obama, claiming, “When they go low, we kick them. That’s

what this new Democratic Party is about.” It was only a week before when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was forced out of a restaurant by a mob of angry, anti-Kavanaugh protesters demanding to hear his vote. The Republican Party is far from blameless, however. It was the conservative Lindsey Graham, after all, who claimed almost five straight minutes of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings to call the entire process an “unethical sham” and threatened the Democrats with the impact such investigations would have on future liberal nominees.

This is ultimately the new reality of American politics.

A system built not on debate and compromise, but on total war. Bills are voted against, not because a politician disagrees with the policies, but because its passage would represent a victory for their opposition. And it is this institutionalized hatred that voters have increasingly turned away from. According to the Pew Research Center, more registered voters today prefer to identify as independents than claim al-

legiance to either major party. Reports also indicate that 42 percent of millennials express dissatisfaction with the candidates they are forced to choose between. Despite this frustration, we have allowed this broken system to remain, fueled by our votes of resignation.

For too long now, we have allowed Congress to play to our power complex and entice us into a trap of voting with unshakeable devotion to party lines. We have given office to representatives far more concerned with personal power than they are with public policy, who shut down ideas from across the aisle simply to keep them from being heard. Such partisanship cannot be allowed to continue, lest democracy be pulled apart at the seams in a never-ending tug of war between red and blue.

We cannot forget that our representatives are largely shaped by those they represent. It is our increasing intolerance for ideas different than our own that has perpetuated our government’s devolution into partisan hatred. We speak with

disgust about the juvenile tricks of congressmen and women yet fail to see that same obstinance in our daily discourse. When we refuse to hold conversations — not arguments — with our political adversaries and continue to turn a disinterested eye to well-rounded research on pressing issues, we become more susceptible to manipulating politicians seeking only their next electoral victory. The ideological walls which we so carefully build to protect our sense of moral superiority will ultimately be democracy’s downfall. We will simply continue to shout each other down until nobody has a voice. We can still uphold the beliefs we hold most sacred. Republicans, Democrats, Independents and members of all parties can still strive to be represented within the American government. But if we wish for that government to endure — if we hope to see democracy thrive — then we must hold ourselves, and each other, to a higher standard. We must stop shouting and listen.

RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF

An illusion of transparency Why we should vote on politics, not personalities MADISON YORK Mercury Staff

EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF

CAROLINA ALVAREZ | MERCURY STAFF

A week ago, I was listening to The Ben Shapiro Show, a conservative podcast. For those familiar with Shapiro’s sharp wit and rapid speech, it shouldn’t come as as a surprise when I say that I had to rewind to fully process something he said in passing. In reference to President Trump, Shapiro noted, “You can do nothing to destroy a man who has no character.” Shapiro’s statement is accurate. When reputation and character are perceived as synonymous, our assessment of a politician’s personality is far too flimsy a concept upon which to base our vote. Instead, we should base our vote on whether a candidate’s track record is one of getting things done and sticking to policies.

Let’s take a step back and analyze the weight of Shapiro’s statement. It implies that being renowned — or infamous, as it were — for rudeness, selfishness or some degree of depravity makes you immune to attacks against your character. Somebody who is unapologetic about their behavior is incapable of

being degraded.

In politics, leadership and life, our reputation defines a great deal of who we are in the minds of other people. If our reputation precedes or even follows us, people who haven’t known us individually will make judgements with the resources available to them — that is, our reputations — a resource which may not always be accurate.

There is, of course, a delineation between one’s reputation and their character. The former is the rumors or opinions believed about someone; the latter is the actual mental and moral qualities of an individual. Possible fiction versus possibly verifiable fact. But in the dozens upon dozens of people we interact with every day, it’s difficult to know everyone personally given a limited amount of time.

It becomes more efficient, then, to categorize people based on surface judgements and the hastily gathered rumors we hear from the sources we trust. To many, the difference between reputation and character is all but non-existent.

The distinction disappears.

Take, for example, State Rep. Victoria Neave’s DWI in June 2017 or Sen. Beto O’Rourke’s

DWI in September 1998. Making a handful of mistakes in their past — or their present — has proven to be detrimental to their reputations. In these cases, having an initially good reputation proved to be more harmful in the end. Having an infamously bad reputation, on the other hand, makes candidates, leaders and media personas seem almost transparent. People are confident they are seeing all there is to see. Unlike having a reputation for being good, there is nothing sinister hiding underneath. It’s all out in the open.

In this way, by inoculating themselves against defamation, these types of leaders can focus their attention on elevating their political platforms, since they don’t have to spend time defending their character. On the other hand, leaders with good reputations run the risk of constant media and public scrutiny.

They have further to fall, and it’s easy to be suspicious of a filtered, perfect picture. One could argue, then, that the best candidates are the ones that can’t be defamed more than they already are.

It seems that we’re then faced with a conundrum. Should we risk

voting for people we think are good who potentially could have done bad, or vote for the twisted assurance that comes with someone who can’t stoop any lower?

The answer lies in changing our judgements. We can judge character. We can look at someone’s reputation, note the apparent alignment of principles and good behavior, fill in the bubble and move on. Or we could judge policy. We could compare candidates’ proposed plans to actual issues, look at feasibility of implementation and analyze the candidates’ track record for getting things done. In a perfect country, where candidates are undoubtedly flawless, this wouldn’t be a necessary practice. But we’re humans governed by humans. And in our less-than-perfect country, where a bad character can appear to be more reliable than good character, rationality, as citizens, should be our first priority.

As you head out to the voting booths in the coming weeks, consider how your perception of a candidate’s reputation is influencing your perspective. Don’t vote based on whether they seem nice or not. Vote based on campaigns that are built on objective and factual platforms.

Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

11

NEWS

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Biochemistry senior and Green Initiative Chair Joey Campain said the program got its start when a member of UTD’s Sustainability Club submitted a request. When the committee received more requests expressing interest in a composting program, Campain contacted the Office of Sustainability and University Housing.

“It was also something I had heard of from my friends that either had compost bins in their apartment or just didn’t have the opportunity to (compost),” Campain said. “Then, we got formal submissions, and when we started looking into it, it seemed like a very doable project, something that we could tackle.”

External companies the committee is collaborating with include EcoSafe and Organix Recycling. EcoSafe provides the bins to SG at a discounted rate, allowing the program to expand in scope. Organix is the commercial composting company that has an existing partnership with UTD Dining Services. The company also provides compost for UTD’s landscaping crew and the community garden in the UV Phase 1 parking lot.

To participate in the program, students must attend a free, 30-minute training session led by the Office of Sustainability and Organix. Five trainings occurred in September and October, with the final training taking place Nov. 6. Neuroscience junior and Green Initiatives member Nikitha Vicas said the training is the educational component of the Comet Composting Program, where interested students can learn about the food diversion program and why they should try to avoid wasting food.

“Food waste is more than 90 percent of our waste, especially on college campuses,” Vicas said. “In the training, you learn about why you should compost and who’s involved in it. You also learn about what can and can’t go into the compost bins.”

Because Organic Recycling is a commercial composting company, it will accept food waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps and even meat scraps and bones, which are typically

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“None of us in my family did the typical tech thing that UTD is known for,” Guthrie said. “So we epitomize the other side of UTD, which is the arts.”

Hearty said Guthrie’s attention

not involved in traditional composting. Non-biodegradable waste such as plastic and paper cannot go into the compost bins.

After the training, participants receive their portable compost bins as well as compostable liners to take back to their apartment. When their bins are full of food waste, students can empty them at a large compost collection bin that resembles a trash dumpster with a combination lock attached.

There are two large compost containers — one in Phase 3 and one in Phase 8. The portable caddies used to collect food waste are dishwasher-safe.

“People just walk it out, throw the bag in the collection bin, and that’s the last they see of it,” Campain said. “It’s just another stream like taking out the recycling and trash.”

International political economy senior Emily Stinnett said she had been using worm composting before this program was introduced and was glad to see SG giving university students access to composting in their apartment.

“I’m definitely passionate about composting, recycling and other forms of sustainability, and there was no reason for me not to participate,” Stinnett said. “I’m really excited to see it happening, and I think it’s a great way to spread awareness about ways that individuals can be more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.”

The Green Initiative has received requests to expand the program to students living at Northside or offcampus. The committee decided to initially target students residing in University Village and Canyon Creek Heights because residents of these establishments tend to cook more, Vicas said.

“We are applying for many external grants,” she said. “So we’re definitely looking to expand in the near future and make it more accessible to other people.”

Campain said the program has received positive feedback.

“For one person to participate, you affect three other roommates and make them realize it is easy,” Campain said. “It’s been really fun so far.”

to detail and personalized approach to education benefits the school’s students.

“Out of the several things about her, what I noticed is that she looks at each and every child and says, ‘What can I do to allow this child to reach his or her full potential?’” Hearty said.

“She has the vision, and we follow.”

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shelves of interesting little cookies and crackers. It was quite possibly the cutest little shop I’ve ever seen.

Gwen prepared an entire Nordic feast for us, and I hadn’t expected to see so much variety in the cuisine.

She first served us glogg, a type of warming drink consisting of a fruit concentrate mix, raisins and almonds. She poured the glogg into small cups that resembled espresso cups, which prevent you from drinking too much of the very concentrated drink. Interestingly, glogg smelled like a candle and tasted like very strong grape juice. I loved chewing on the little chopped almonds floating on top as I drank.

Gwen then led us to her dinner table, where there was a spread of pickled herring, Finnish crackers, little bowls of meatballs and fish balls, a bowl of red cabbage and boiled potatoes. She poured us some traditional Christmas soda and Solo, a popular beverage among children in Nordic countries, which both tasted wonderful and familiar.

She offered us lefse, which are tiny rolls of dough stuffed with butter and sugar.

A Nordic dinner isn’t the most exciting meal, but it’s very unusual

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“He is very knowledgeable as a coach,” Abbott said. “He demanded the best. I wanted to hear that constructive criticism – that made me a stronger player and a stronger individual as a whole.”

Peel retired from the team in 2013 with an all-time record of 193-77-23 and had led the team to two NCAA DIII national tournament appearanaces. He still volunteers as an assistant coach for the soccer team. Jason Hirsch, the current head coach of the men’s soccer team, said Peel’s presence is an asset.

“I’m really happy that Jack is with us,” Hirsch said. “He enjoys training and evaluating players and all the ins and outs for getting a team to play games.

It’s hard to see everything, but he’s seen everything.”

Hirsch played under Peel from 2001-2004, volunteered as a coach from 2005-2006 and became an assistant coach in 2007.

nonetheless. While I’d been so used to savory and succulent dishes my whole life, eating this food was pleasantly surprising. The fish balls were made in a smooth shrimp sauce that tasted distinct and sweet.

The red cabbage and boiled potatoes enhanced the fish rather than overpowering it. The pickled herring on Finnish crackers tasted smooth but was firm in flavor. The lefse was addicting. Before I knew it, Madison and I had inhaled the entire plate.

The best part about this meal was the simplicity of each dish. The most basic flavors we often take for granted such as butter, cream, sugar and vinegar were amplified in these foods. Gwen told us how much Nordic people valued frugality and focused more on saving food for the winter rather than flavor. She recounted fond memories of making up to 500 lefse, and the whole supply being gone by the end of the day. Hearing Gwen’s countless stories, I could imagine the lovely time Nordic people have with one another, sharing cups of glogg on frosty winter days and gathering around the table in large groups to enjoy meatballs and pickled fish. Eating Nordic cuisine reminded me of the importance of the simpler times and valuing the little things in life.

“Coaching and playing for Jack was a great experience,” Hirsch said. “I learned a lot from Jack as a player, things I haven’t taught about the game before.

He was able to teach us and push us to understand the game the right way as well as compete and have the right mindset.”

Hirsch said Peel contributed to the athletics department as a whole throughout his coaching career.

“He had a lot to do with the success of the athletics department,” he said. “Behind the scenes, he was doing a lot for all the sports.”

Peel’s coaching career spans over 20 years, varying from coaching middle school to collegiate soccer teams. He said he’s learned a lot about student athletes throughout his experiences.

“I have a vision for how things are done, and you let people know specifically what your expectations are,” Peel said. “If you as a student athlete push yourself, I think that helps you later in life to know what you’re capable of.”

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her own. The podcast was originally supposed to launch Oct. 2 along with the website, but Le said she felt it was rushed and incomplete. The first episode will cover Afro-Asian culture and anti-Black sentiments in Asian communities. Future topics include affirmative action and the hyper-sexualization of Asian females in Western media.

Le is in the process of meeting with professors and profession-

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projects as well. He worked on a sitcom series called “Paz and Chico Take Student Government” in collaboration with UTD TV. The series was produced by finance and accounting graduate Stanley Joseph.

“Anil completely inhabits the characters he plays. He thinks about how a character walks, how they talk, and even how they interact with the items they’re holding in their hands,” Joseph said in an email. “He really has a mature understanding of what it means to be an actor, and he is exceptionally dedicated to his craft.”

Sankaramanchi said with a recent push in the entertainment industry to diversify casts, directors are frequently criticized if they do not feature any people of color, and representation has become a substantial conversation in mainstream Hollywood. He said the push for diversification prompted him to stay in the Dallas area instead of moving to Los Angeles.

“There weren’t many roles for Indians, but after Mindy Kaling, ‘Master of None’ and ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ casts are trying to be inclusive,” Sankaramanchi said. “I am typically the only Indian actor within a large radius if someone is looking to cast in Dallas, because everyone else has already moved to L.A. or New York.”

Sankaramanchi was raised in an Indian household that he said was conservative. He said attending UTD made him a bit of an anomaly within the university community, since a large portion of the student body is pursuing

→ GOLF

careers in STEM fields.

“I face backlash all the time.

People in my community consider acting or any artistic venture as a hobby. If you do pursue it, you must have a practical degree to fall back on,” Sankaramanchi said. “I’ve been lucky with the dance community and even my family. They have been very supportive, despite their initial apprehension.”

Since shoots for advertisements do not last very long, Sankaramanchi typically works for two weeks each month, on average.

He said since he lives at home, he saves a large amount of money to use for other ventures. He recently spent time learning about personal finance and said he intends to use the knowledge he gains by advising others in the artistic community around him.

“Many people out in the workforce have a job and have money but don’t know what to do with it,” Sankaramanchi said. “Now that I have some knowledge in that field, I want to help people who have worked with me or invested in me and supported my career.”

Sankaramanchi said he is beginning to steer his projects in the direction of issues like mental health. He has several upcoming commercials and a film in the works. He said that while Los Angeles is a possibility, he is not planning to go anytime soon.

“If L.A. calls, I will move, but there is a difference between someone calling you, and you going of your own accord,” Sankaramanchi said. “As for acting, all I know is that I want to do it for the rest of my life.”

team’s performance at both led to them falling short of the top 15, which would lock them in place for the ASC tournament. Senior Brice Cooper, the only senior on the team, said the teams they faced at Oglethorpe were better prepared than UTD, catching the team off guard in the first round. “(It was a) bit of a letdown because the teams there were a lot of top 25 teams which knock us down in the rankings quite a bit,” Cooper said. “We managed to come back in the second round which was a little nice, but by then it was too late.”

Both teams finished out the season at the Abilene Intercollegiate with the men’s team placing sixth overall and women’s placing second. Both Cooper and Langer were the top finishers, with Langer finishing with a low of 74, and Hardin-Simmons only beating her by one point. Looking toward the spring semester, Edge said he is confident the team while be ready for what comes next.

“Victory loves preparation; if you don’t prepare, you aren’t successful, and I think both teams understand that,” Edge said. “We got to work a little harder for the time we missed in the fall and doing our job, as I tell them, play the ball in front of you, not the one behind you.”

als in such fields to discuss these topics. She said she aims to incorporate these issues into her podcasts to facilitate a broader discussion on Asian American identity in society.

Tran said he learned to love working on projects that allow for limitless creativity. He said he has better appreciation for the LGBTQ+ community after working on the photo shoot.

“The spectrum of it, of human sexuality, is a lot bigger than I thought, and very normal,” Tran said. “It is so confusing to me

why it is so stigmatized.”

Le said she was appreciative of the models who helped her realize the scope of the project. A few of the models had not completely vocalized their queer identity but wanted to participate anyway.

“It reminded me that it is so much more than just myself and my project,” Le said. “This is for people. This is for gay youth who will see these images right now and subconsciously think, ‘Oh, it’s OK to be Asian and gay,’ and move on.”

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Oct. 29, 2018 | The Mercury

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NEWS

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pay for the same permit regardless of whether they were able to park in a covered or uncovered spot.

Currently, if residential students wish to obtain covered parking for their cars, they must purchase both a residential permit and either a gold or an orange permit, or rely on a limited number of pay-byhour spaces. For many students, the options are cost-prohibitive.

Landry Lashombe is a freshman studying actuarial science. He brought his car to UTD when he moved into Residence Hall North from his family home in Fort Worth.

“I considered buying two permits, but with the additional cost of the gold, I decided it wouldn’t be worth it,” Lashombe said. “I’d rather chance it at that point.”

Lashombe said during the last hail warning, he was able to pay to use the hourly parking in the garages. He said he would be willing to pay an additional amount to be able to park under a roof — but not necessarily the $250 required to buy a gold permit.

Since 1978, a committee on parking has met once per semester.

Currently, the committee comprises 12 members — two representatives from the faculty, two staff members and two students.

Six non-voting members from Facilities Management, UTD PD and the Parking and Transportation Office also hold seats.

At the most recent parking committee meeting on Oct. 10, only one student, Student Government Vice President Carla Ramazan, was present.

“Going to that meeting reassured me that Parking and Transportation is listening to student concerns,” Ramazan said. “It is difficult to see their response immediately, but I am confident that Parking and Transportation is hearing those concerns.”

Ramazan said SG receives about two complaints a month regarding parking. She said SG conveys complaints to the

Parking and Transportation Office during the semesterly meetings of the committee and, occasionally, during oneon-one meetings.

Melissa Wyder is the longest serving voting member of the Parking Committee. She is an administrative assistant at UTeach and serves as the vice president of the Staff Council.

According to minutes from the Oct. 10 meeting, the Parking and Transportation Office proposed a ban on car covers, citing concerns of students abusing policy and parking without a permit.

“As a committee, we said no,” said Wyder. “I’m particularly concerned because if you live on campus, (you) have no covered parking.”

Biology sophomore Jala Tousant has lived — and parked — on campus for two years. Tousant said she would appreciate a parking structure dedicated to residential students.

“I just got this car in July,” Tousant said. “I remember the first week it started raining. There was a hail warning and I had nowhere safe to park my car.”

Tousant said she ultimately decided to take a chance parking outside. There wasn’t any hail that week, but Tousant said she wasn’t sure what she would do if her car did incur significant damage.

“I guess I’d just have to use my insurance,” she said.

Members of the Parking Committee deliberated the proposed ban on car covers, prompting a discussion of the unbuilt PS2.

Wyder said in the absence of car covers or a dedicated parking structure, the Parking and Transportation Office has taken measures to protect residential students’ cars.

“Parking and Transportation reassured us that if there was a storm, they would allow the residents to park in the structures if they moved their cars as soon as the storm had passed,” Wyder said.

“But I’m not sure how realistic that is when you’re in class, or out of town on the weekend.”

Tousant said she enjoys living on campus, but she’s considering moving to Northside next year, where covered parking for residents is more readily available.

The May 2018 update of the UTD Master Plan emphasizes the development of more on-campus and nearby housing options for students. Wyder said she thinks it’s part of a movement to shake UTD’s reputation as a commuter campus.

According to U.S. News and World Report, residential universities tend to dissuade students from bringing a car to campus.

“I think a lot of what drives our decisions is trying to maintain our place on the rankings,” Wyder said.

“One of the criteria for U.S. News and World Report is alumni donations. If you’re a residential school, your alumni are going to feel more attached — that was their home for four years. If you’re a commuter, you’re not going to feel that way, and you’re less likely to donate.”

But ATEC senior Alex Garza said on campus housing isn’t always easy to come by.

“There’s so much competition to get into the apartments,” Garza said.

“I know that (Residential Life) always receives way more applications than they have rooms.”

Dempsey said it is likely the university will prioritize building more housing before adding covered parking for current residents. Discussions are underway for a fourth parking structure to be named Parking Structure 5, which will likely be constructed in lot M, T, U or A. PS5 will not offer residential parking.

Wyder said parking is a popular subject at Staff Council meetings, but said she worries that UTD’s approach toward parking may be short-sighted.

“It’s not about whether you have students today willing to pay for (a residential garage), but if you have students 20 years down the road who’ll pay for it,” Wyder said. “What are your options if you want to grow (UTD) as big as they want it to grow?”

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go ahead and explore that. I want to be able to encourage other women on campus to take that chance.”

Jessica Shortall, the author of the book “Work. Pump. Repeat.,” was a speaker at the event. At 22, she joined the Peace Corps and worked as an elementary school English language teacher in Uzbekistan. “(Peace Corps) was confirmation of something I had already suspected, which is that (I) can’t save the world — nobody can do that,” Shortall said.

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The money generated will be split into a $16.6 million allocation to increase teachers’ and staff salaries, $3.6 million to expand academic programs, $3 million to add special education teachers and $1.6 million to add safety and security officers.

“The 2.5 percent raise is not factored into the budget, but that amount is known and would be able to factor in if the (tax ratification election) passes,” Moore said.

Two political action committees, Vote No RISD TRE and Vote Yes 4 RISD, have become involved in the election. Richardson ISD distributed information packets by mail and held information sessions across the city.

Euan Blackman, a 2006 UTD graduate, is a Richardson resident and a high school teacher at another inde-

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be administrated by NSM but will also be jointly staffed by academic advisers from both schools.

NSM and ECS also created seven new classes specifically for the major. Dragovic said the administration is attempting to create a degree that will prepare their students for the next 40 years of technological development.

“It’s not that we are just do-

Shortall is currently the managing director of Texas Competes, an organization that advocates for the equal treatment of the LGBT+ community in the business world. Having never started her own for-profit company, Shortall said she doesn’t consider herself the typical entrepreneur.

“I have always been drawn to finding solutions to big problems. And sometimes you can find ways to solve problems in an existing company, but sometimes you can’t,” Shortall said.

“It’s just that when I can develop a vision for something that needs to be done differently in the world, I don’t

care much if that’s by joining an organization or a company. I don’t really care about the message as much as getting the work done.”

Shortall said she is aware of the boundaries of being a woman in the business world.

“I think that women tend to be judge themselves on their track record, and men tend to estimate the abilities based on their potential,” she said. “I hope that the women who attended will think about their potential to change the world and not the fact that they don’t have a huge track record just yet.”

pendent school district. Blackman is also a member of the Vote No RISD TRE political action committee and helps run the Vote No RISD TRE Facebook page. Blackman said he is not opposed to increasing taxes but believes a 13 cents raise is too high.

“I don’t think we need 13 cents… we could have done well at $1.07,” Blackman said.

Blackman said he does not believe the 2.5 percent raise for teachers should be contingent on the passing of the tax ratification. “(Richardson ISD) got a 6.5 percent raise in revenue this next year,” Blackman said. “They’re holding the teacher raise hostage to (the passage of the tax ratification).”

Richardson resident Sandy Hanne said the potential increase in taxes owed from this tax ratification election will cause her financial strain.

“It is a hardship for me,” she said.

“My mortgage went up from $899 to $1,100 and that’s before my next tax increase hits and before this.”

Eric Eager, the co-chair of the Vote Yes 4 RISD political action committee and father of two Richardson ISD students, said the tax ratification election is designed to offset lower state funding.

“What I didn’t know was that as the local property taxes go up, the funding from the state inversely goes down,” Eager said.

Richardson ISD’s tax ratification election handouts reported that state funding had decreased by $16.1 million from 2014 to 2017.

Moore said the tax ratification election is a temporary fix and funding will need to be increased again over the next five years. Voting for the tax ratification election will be held at all early voting locations in Dallas County and on Election Day.

ing some mumbo jumbo from what we already have, but we really put a lot of thought into this and energy and creativity to want to have the right product for our students,” Dragovic said. “We want to have a solid background and a high-quality program, and we want our students to get more employable skills.”

Biomechanical engineering senior Delia Appiah-Mensah said a data science program will fulfill a necessity within both

NSM and ECS, but the development of such a degree should be conducted slowly.

“I think there is a need for engineers and students in NSM who understand how to properly analyze data,” she said. “If they’re trying to fill that need, then that’s a good thing, but maybe they should alter our lab classes to include more data processing first and go from there.”

The degree will open for student registration in the spring of 2019.

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