the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
The Student Newspaper of UTD
Vol. XXXI, No. 1
Strange sights in the Visual Arts Building Page 5
Take a closer look at UTD’s student workers Page 6
January 10, 2011
The spring sports season has arrived Page 8
Limited access As classes begin, so do on-campus construction projects: what to expect this semester Shane Damico
Managing Editor spd064000@utdallas.edu
The journey to the Activity Center from Lot J, the parking lot on the south side of the building, will now have you burning calories before you even step inside.
Construction has begun for the Campus Services and Bookstore Building, or CSBB, and along with it a detour which will last two semesters, said Richard Dempsey, associate vice president of business affairs. The CSBB will house a visitors’ center, multipurpose
area and the new on-campus bookstore. Design for the CSBB dates as far back as 2009. The UT System Board of Regents approved the building at its May 2010 meeting photo by Albert Ramirez
see ACCESS page 4
The south side of the Activity Center is currently fenced off for construction.
On-campus thefts continue Bobby Karalla
Tom Thumb and Walmart for a total of $600. One of the items bought was a big screen TV, Investigative Specialist Cassandra Velasquez said. The card was eventually cancelled, but not before the money was already spent, MacKenzie said. On Nov. 29, a student left his computer on a table in the library for reportedly no more than four minutes, MacKenzie said. Once the student returned to the table, the computer and its bag were missing. On the heels of the additional incidents, MacKenzie offered his advice for students about protecting personal items both in cars and buildings. “Don’t leave backpacks out, and don’t leave computers in plain view,” he said. “When you leave stuff out as a target, when people see it they will go after it.” MacKenzie said UTD Police still plan to host a Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, etching event later this spring, once weather conditions improve. Zacharias said VIN etching can lower the cost of car insurance for students and also make selling stolen car parts more difficult.
Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
illustration by Laura-Jane Cunningham
UTD shells out for multi-faceted faculty and staff Nada Alsami
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
UTD President David Daniel is currently the second highest paid UT System president, according to public information records on the Texas Tribune website. Daniel is the university’s highest paid employee,
according to the UTD 2010-2011 budget and is set to receive a total salary of $502,360. Daniel’s salary trails only that of William Powers, President of UT Austin, who receives the highest salary among UT System presidents at $511,491. Trailing Daniel is UT Arlington President James Spaniolo with a salary of
$408,456. UTD’s top five salaries make up 3.18 percent of the approximately $59 million UTD will spend on salaries in 2010-2011, according to the UTD budget. According to Larry Wilson, Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs, UTD’s professors receive salaries from
Police seeking information
amongst the top half of the University of Texas institutions. “A research institution like UTD tends to hire people that can both teach and do research. Wilson said. “You have to pay more for that than an institution whose mission is mostly teaching.”
see SALARIES page 4
In “On-campus thefts incite action,” an article in the Nov. 29 issue of The Mercury, Chief of Police Larry Zacharias and Lt. Ken MacKenzie discussed two car thefts which occurred in October. Those incidents are no longer the most recent motor vehicle crimes on campus. In the early hours of Jan. 4, a BMW was broken into in University Village near Building 50. The driver’s side window was broken and a MacBook Air, black Apple computer bag and radar detector were missing, MacKenzie said. Just before winter break, two separate on-campus thefts transpired at the Activity Center and McDermott Library. On Nov. 17, a wallet was stolen from the weight room in the Activity Center. The wallet contained a credit card, which was soon after used at two separate locations. “A very short time later, (the) credit card was used all over the place,” MacKenzie said. The card was used at a
Mock team earns national clout Student group shines at statewide event Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
courtesy of UTD Police Department
The above individuals are believed to have information regarding recent on-campus thefts. Police are requesting anyone who recognizes either of these individuals to contact Lt. Ken MacKenzie at (972) 883-2572 or ken.mackenzie@ utdallas.edu.
In mock court the process begins before the jury has taken their seats, before the judge slams the gavel to signify the start and before the prosecutor makes her opening statement. It starts when the case packet is received and the first page is turned to read the role that must be played to perfection. Mock trial instructor Mike Gunnin works closely with the teams coaching them in the ways of the law. Gunnin said the prelaw program has done
courtesy of UTD Mock Trial Team
UTD’s mock trial team excelled at the Dallas/Fort Worth Invitational. very well over the short span of five years. UTD’s mock trial program was ranked in the top five at the fall 2010 Dallas/Fort Worth Invitational, Gunnin said it is one of the premier programs in Texas. “We’re working towards
attaining a national reputation,” Gunnin said. In November 2010 UTD co-hosted its first invitational tournament with Collin College. UTD alumni, law school students and local judges judged the event. groups from Sam
Houston State University to Baylor College were in attendance. The event, Gunnin said, increased the visibility of UTD and the mock trials program on the national
see TRIALS page 4
2
January 10, 2011
Report
The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the Dec. 7 Student Government, or SG, meeting. Full minutes of meetings can be found at sg.utdallas.edu. • Dean of Undergraduate Education Sheila Piñeres visited senate and announced changes to Freshman Convocation. She said beginning fall 2011 it will target all incoming undergraduate students and be named University Convocation. Convocation will no longer involve a carnival, but will center on a summer reading program including a keynote speaker related to the book. This year’s book is “Picking Cotton.” • Piñeres also noted fall classes will begin Aug. 24. • SG President and political science senior Grace Bielawski reported the academic dishonesty committee met with Dean of Students Gene Fitch. She said the committee received reading material about the current UTD policy as well as UT System rules, which it will review over the spring semester before it recommends policy changes to UTD President David Daniel. • Bielawski noted the upcoming senator elections in March. • SG Vice President and political science senior
Dina Shahrokhi reported the Comet TextSwap program had more than 100 students registered. Senators will distribute books to students with book credit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 12 and 13 in the Galaxy Rooms. • Shahrokhi said Associate Provost Thomas Chesney asked about suggestions for remodeling the Conference Center. Additional seating was brought up, and Shahrokhi asked senators for their ideas. • Neuroscience senior and Academic Affairs Chair Lewis Chang reported the possibility of a new environmental studies minor. • Senate voted and approved a resolution in support of the environmental studies minor. • Chang also announced the Environmental and Political Policy Sciences Town Hall meeting will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 20 in Founders Building. • Residential Student Affairs Committee chair and graduate student Dypti Lulla reported the addition of recycling bins in the Residence Hall as well as the possibility of recycling bins in other phases. • Sustainability Subcommittee chair and political science sophomore Andrew Previc introduced a resolution to support more recycling in the School of Management. • Senate voted and approved a resolution to increase on-campus recycling.
News
www.utdmercury.com
the Mercury
UTD Police scanner Nov. 21 • UTD employee reported damage to a door at the Student Union Nov. 22 • Police responded to a delayed report of a building burglary • UTD employee reported a hit and run on their vehichle Nov. 24 • An unknown person took 17 gallons from the UTD gas pump station Nov. 28 • UTD police responded to a delayed report of theft Nov. 29 •UTD Police responded to a report of harassment by phone • A student reported the theft of a laptop and book bag from the McDermott Library Dec. 1 • A student reported a hit and run Dec. 2 • UTD police responded to the theft of a Phase I soda machine. Dec. 3 • A staff member reported
being harassed after finding a note which threatened bodily injury • A UTD employee reported an unknown person attempted to fraud the University by using a counterfeit check Dec. 4 • There was an arrest after evading detention in a motor vehichle following a traffic stop and pursuant to outstanding warrants Dec. 5 • An unknown person pulled a fire alarm inside a building • A UTD student was issued a citation for criminal mischief Dec. 6 • Police responded to a delayed theft Dec. 7 • Graffiti was discovered in the Research and Operations Center parking lot • A female was arrested for an outstanding warrant Dec. 10 • A student was arrested for public intoxication and no driver’s license • A student was arrested for public intoxication Dec. 11
Editor’s note: What’s that jumbled mess of black and white next to this article? It’s not a misprint, it’s a link to The Mercury website. They’re called Quick Response, or QR, barcodes and they were first introduced to UTD in May 2010 at Centraltrak’s “NonProfit Margin” exhibit, although at the time they were readable only with an iPhone. Now QR reader applications are available
• A student reported the theft of a wallet and credit card abuse • A student reported two males jumping on the roofs of parked cars in the Phase VIII parking lot Dec. 12 • Police arrested a male for misdemeanor warrants after a traffic stop Dec. 13 • A theft at McDermott library was reported Dec. 14 • A student reported the burglary of his vehicle • A student was stopped for a traffic violation and the passenger was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia Dec. 15 • A male was arrested for multiple warrants from the Richardson and Garland Police departments • A male was arrested for an outstanding warrant and expired vehicle inspection • A female was issued a citation for soliciting without a permit and a criminal trespass warning
for most mobile phones. Starting with this issue, we will post QR barcodes in The Mercury. Simply scan any barcode next to an article and it will navigate your phone’s browser to additional information, photos or other web exclusives. Don’t have a Smartphone? Don’t worry. The additional content can be found on The Mercury website, and a barcode next to an article still indicates that there’s more to see online.
Dec. 18 • Police responded to an accident in Phase VI which revealed UTD property was damaged in the accident • Graffiti was found on a sign near the spirit rocks Dec. 22 • A student reported the theft of a bicycle Dec. 23 • A student and another person were involved in mutual combat in the University Village apartments Dec. 27 • A person was arrested for driving with an invalid license and outstanding traffic warrants after being stopped for a traffic violation Dec. 28 • Several students and other people were issued citations for consumption of alcohol by a minor • A male was arrested for outstanding traffic warrants • Police issued a criminal trespass warning Dec. 29 • Two males were issued citations for consumption of alcohol by a minor
Scan me:
Opinion
the Mercury www.utdmercury.com
November January 10, 15, 2011 2010
3
A look back at on-campus eateries through the semesters Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
As college students, we have exams, quizzes, papers, problems and reading to worry about. And not unlikely, this can be paired with the stress of a job. So when we’re not trying to memorize Gilbert Gottlieb’s epigenetic view or a dozen formulas in an hour, we have stress down to a science. At the open and close of each semester, it can be the price of books. I know I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a few strained “how much?!”es running through my mind both when I’m buying and selling texts. But, aside from the many worries of being a student and having a life can bring, the two things that remain in thought, at least some of the time, are food and parking.
UTD’s first Dining Hall opened Aug. 12 2009, and the first dinner it served received rave reviews with words including “amazing” and “delicious.” Personally, I was excited to have so many choices available right on campus, and it represented more than just a place to eat, it was a big step toward becoming a more active campus. What put a damper on the excitement of it all were the prices and the hours the Dining Hall was open. In all honesty, the price is reasonable for all you can eat, though for a campus with many classes ending at 9:45 p.m. it seems unreasonable to have the Dining Hall close before the final classes even let out. After the first semester the Dining Hall extended its hours to 9 p.m., and currently gives students with a meal plan the option of using a credit at The Pub, after the Dining Hall closes, because it
Worth a second take
stays open later. While the night-owl within me wishes everything on-campus was open until 2 a.m., I can’t deny this is an improvement, and a good one. One area that could use improvement is the off-peak hours during which food can run out, otherwise “all you can eat” turns into “all you can find.” This semester the Comet Café is opening its newest addition, Papa John’s, which some students say they hope replaces the Subway smell in the upper level of the Student Union. Although it’s uncertain how having a more-healthythan-not café overpowered by the smell of pizza will turn out, the change from Coyote Jack’s is welcomed. The Comet Café and The Pub are what they are and, if anything, they could use more space to fit all the hungry students during peak hours. Lucky for the comets down the line, the idea, if nothing more, is being looked into.
New Year’s revelation by Laura-Jane Cunningham
Dance department is better than expected, deserves recognition, respect Rebecca DeButts
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
UTD gets a lot of attention for its science and engineering programs. We have a strong School of Management and we have one of the highest-ranking SAT scores in the state. When you think of UTD, you probably don’t think of a strong arts program. Arts at UTD are incredibly underrated. As an Arts & Performance major, most of my personal experiences with arts at UTD are localized to the Theater and Dance departments. Before I came to UTD I wanted to go to a big, fancy arts school with a large dance department and lots of teachers, students and studio space. But, I couldn’t afford the tuition. That’s how I ended up at UTD. UTD’s dance department
is almost the opposite of what I wanted out of the schools I wanted to go to. It’s small with few students and only two teachers in one studio tucked away in the basement of Jonsson building. I was hesitant when I got here, but I’ve found a lot of really great things. The arts at UTD are thriving. More than thriving, they are creating a world of their own. The professors I come in contact with on a regular basis are greatly adept in their fields of study and are exceedingly dedicated to teaching anyone who is willing to listen. They are intensely supportive and critical, two things that make great artists. Because the department is small, students who are serious about developing their craft are shown a good deal of attention and guidance.
I’ve never been told that I cannot create my own work, or that I cannot participate if I am willing. In the dance department we train and rehearse about 10 hours per week for a performance. Our space is limited but, it’s cool, we make it work. In college it’s easy to get trapped in the world of research papers, exams and weekly reading assignments. That, I think is one of the biggest reasons that the arts at UTD are under-rated. Another factor is the poor advertising and lack of encouragement to come see events and performances, as well as the unemphasized role the arts play in American culture. The people behind the arts at UTD are always creating and always teaching. UTD faculty and students should pay close attention to what is being presented and what is being created, more often than not, it is unique and momentous and could change the way we look at things.
Comet
W
Comments
hat are your goals for the spring semester?
“Get good grades for scholarships and getting focused on my career.”
“Get a job and make new friends.”
“Make good grades and have a good first semester here.”
Carlos Caicedo Engineering junior
Alex Atkins Accounting sophomore
Shally Chand Biology junior
“Get good grades and go on to the next semester.”
“Attend my classes, actually.”
“Pass all my classes, get a girlfriend and make a lot of friends.”
Eve Eisenhauer Criminology junior
Tyler Dowell Interdisciplinary senior
Tien Tran Accounting sophomore
the Mercury
Sports Editor Bobby Karalla Media Adviser Chad Thomas
Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton
Web Editor Swaroop Rayudu
Managing Editor Shane Damico
Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham
Photographers Ben Hawkins Brandon Higgins
Advertising Manager Josh Moncrieff
Photo Editor Albert Ramirez
Staff Writer Danelle Adeniji
Contributors Nada Alasmi Rebecca DeButts John D. McCrary Michelle Nguyen
The Mercury is published on Mondays, at twoweek intervals during the long term of The University of Texas at Dallas, except holidays and exam periods, and once every three weeks during the summer term. Advertising is accepted by The Mercury on the basis that there is no discrimination by the advertiser in the offering of goods or services to any person, on any basis prohibited by applicable
law. Evidence of discrimination will be the basis of denial of advertising space. The publication of advertising in The Mercury does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the newspaper, or The University of Texas at Dallas, or the governing board of the institution. Copyright © 2010 UT Dallas
E-MAIL: news@utdmercury.com
MAIL: 800 W. Campbell Road, SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080-0688
4
January 10, 2011
News
Moot court duos dominate Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
Out of the 32 teams at a moot court tournament, three duos represented UTD and received first, second and fourth place. As a part of UTD’s moot court program, political science seniors Grace Bielawski and Phil Harris have debated their way to win many arguments. UTD’s moot court teams competed in their second South Central Regional Moot Court Championship in November 2010 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Bielawski and Harris took first place. “Phil and I have our different strengths that make us a strong team,” Bielawski said. “My strength is in public speaking and Phil’s is that he is a really good advocate.” Moot court coach Anne Dutia praised this year’s group for the work they’ve done. “Several judges from the competitions were incredibly impressed with the UTD teams professionalism, memorization and analysis of the cases,” Dutia said. In moot court, teams engage in a hypothetical appeal court reviewing a made-up case. Students are
given several similar cases so they can construct an argument before a hypothetical U.S. Supreme Court. When the case is presented, teams are given the role of respondent or petitioner and then two broad areas of Constitutional Law are argued. Harris argued the banning of same-sex marriage in the fake state of Olympus, while Bielawski argued the Health Care Act of 2010. To prepare, Harris said he spent at least twenty hours through the fall semester going over both sides of the argument and used regional tournaments and competitions as practice for the main
tournaments in the spring. Arguing cases is not always an easy process for Harris. “Sometimes it’s hard to come up with an argument that I don’t agree with,” Harris said. “To overcome it, I just argue the law.” UTD moot court teams will be competing again this spring. Bielawski said she and Harris go into tournaments with no expectations, but they plan to argue and debate to the best of their ability. By placing in the top eight, UTD teams qualify for the National Moot Court Tournament. It will take place in January 2011 at Tulane Law School in New Orleans.
www.utdmercury.com
ACCESS
continued from page 1
after previously rejecting the building based on safety and design concerns. Construction for the new building currently blocks the south entrance of the Activity Center and Dempsey said it will continue to do so until the building’s completion sometime this fall. In the future, students will first enter the CSBB and then walk a short distance through a corridor to the Activity Center’s south entrance. Additionally, 75 parking spots have been lost to the building’s construction site.
SALARIES
continued from page 1
TRIALS
continued from page 1
level. The mock trial program is meant to simulate trial level argumentation and testimony. On the first August of every year a fictitious case packet of more than 100 pages containing affidavits, evidence and pleadings are given to a team of six to ten to study. The American Mock Trial Association alternates between civil and criminal cases. This time UTD’s
team is working on a civil case, Davis v. Happyland. Davis sued the toy maker, Happyland, after their child passed away from swallowing the toy and ingesting large amounts of the paint. The main question of the case boils down to who is at fault. The parents for allowing their child to have the toy or the toy maker for using a paint that could have dangerous effects. Political science major Dionna Budd said this case has been a challenge for her since she has little cous-
ins who play with toys. “This case has impacted me in a heavy way,” said Budd. “Little children play with a variety of toys and chances are that they’re going to put the toy in their mouth.” To prepare, Budd said this past fall she has studied the case backwards and forwards, practicing and memorizing the information. At the trial, Budd plays the roles of a witness and attorney. One of Budd’s techniques is to highlight case information that will help her with the case in one color and
information that will hurt her in another. When the teams have their weekly meetings it’s to rehearse, check and double check witnesses to make sure they’re ready for the questions the judges will ask. “I expect the teams to do even better than previous years,” Gunnin said. “This year’s teams have been phenomenal,” Gunnin said. In February UTD teams will attend the regional qualifying tournament in Houston hosted by Houston Baptist University.
Correction: In the Nov. 29 issue of The Mercury, the article “Danger zone” contained an error. The word “McCallum” was misspelled throughout the article. The Mercury regrets this error.
Dean of Management, Hasan Pirkul, will receive $404,080, making him the second highest paid employee at UTD. Ray Baughman, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry and director of the Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute at UT Dallas, is third with $327,180. Bryan Wildenthal, Excecutive Vice President Provost of Academic Affairs, receives the fourth highest salary of $ 326,923. Engineering and Computer Science Dean, Mark Spong, is the fifth highest with $ 321,734. Compared to similar out of state universities, UTD’s salaries are not high, Wilson said. “The best we can try to do is to match,” Wilson said. “I don’t think we lead the market in salary.”
the Mercury This is the first setback in parking after an otherwise steadily growing commodity, as more than 350 spots were added in 2010. Very few of the lost spaces will be gone forever, Dempsey said. The Parking and Transportation office confirmed that they anticipate regaining the spaces after construction is complete, according to an e-mail correspondence with the Office of Communications. Parking and Transportation officials also noted that open parking will be available in green parking spaces until Jan. 26. Students, faculty and staff can purchase parking permits online at utdallas.edu/myparking.
UTD salaries need not only to match, but to also sometimes exceed other institutions, Daniel said in an e-mail this week. “We often find ourselves in direct competition with the nation’s best universities and top corporations for this talent,” Daniel said. “We must offer competitive salaries if we are to continue to recruit and retain the very best people.” Daniel’s salary is determined by the UT System Board of Regents and a chancellor appointed by the governor of Texas. The president then determines the salary of vice presidents, deans and department heads, who determine the salary of their faculty and staff. Salary rates are determined by five factors which include salary competition from similar universities, the merit of the professor and available funding.
the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
Life &Arts
January 10, 2011
5
Graphic acting rings in new year Gosling, Williams give Oscar Worthy Performances in “Blue Valentine” John D. McCrary
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
A few months ago there were some reports that the Motion Picture Association of America, or MPAA, had given the film “Blue Valentine” an NC-17 rating. After a petition from the producers a few weeks later the film was reissued an R rating. An NC-17 rating essentially says that a film contains content on a pornographic level. In “Blue Valentine” what little nudity there is in the film is far from deserving of the rating, but the raw and emotional relationship depicted in the film is nothing short of graphic. The MPAA’s initial misjudgement of this film speaks less about the content of the film as it does about the quality. The performances given by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are so emotionally naked that it feels indecent to watch,
which led members of the MPAA to pull out a rating that is so rarely used. Their portrayal of a dying relationship is natural to the point of seeming voyeuristic. Basically, the acting is so good that while being less sexually explicit than “Black Swan,” “Blue Valentine” received NC-17 while Black Swan was immediately rated R. The story is about Cindy (Williams) and Dean (Gosling) at two points in their relationship. The film oscillates between clips from their past, of their first meeting to their wedding and their present, where they are raising a little girl and trying to jump-start their relationship with a night of getting drunk at a sleazy motel. This interplay goes on throughout the film, but director Derek Cianfrance manages to put in enough subtle distinctions to keep it from feeling disorienting. The one flaw of the film is
its clear lack of plot. In all of the movie’s dedication to realism it also manages to capture life’s boring nature, which at times makes the film feel tedious. “Blue Valentine” is entirely about the relationship and operates on an emotional level. Everything happening on screen is hypnotically organic which helps ensnare the audience in the riveting decay of the characters’ marriage. Both Gosling and Williams give career defining performances with unforgiving honesty and relentless emotional resonance. The acting out of the characters’ endearing qualities and destructive flaws cause the opinions of the audience to be felt rather than formed as the visceral characters go back and forth between victim and villain. Gosling’s portrayal of Dean flows seamlessly from the charming and affectionate father, to infuriatingly insecure and accusatory, to heartbreaking and hopelessly in love with his wife. Williams’ portrayal of Cindy is right on par with
courtesy of nydailynews.com
Actors Michelle Williams (left) and Ryan Gosling star in “Blue Valentine.” This movie first opens with limited release Jan. 7 and again Jan. 14. her costar as the overworked and short-fused mother, to the under appreciated breadwinner, back to the disturbing cold-hearted lover. Everything about both of these performances, under the careful direction of Cianfrance, is flawlessly executed and makes for acting
Chance encounters become staged to perfection
on a level that is rarely seen and will very likely become a type of standard for quality performances in the new decade. “Blue Valentine,” while emotionally trying and astoundingly natural, to the point of seeming grotesque, is one of the best films you will see this year standing
on acting alone, and it will be a very long time before we see a performance as good as what Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling have given here.
“Blue Valentine”
9 / 10
Spring 2011: A month of events in brief Semesters at UTD can be filled with more than exams, papers and textbooks. While studying may be a top priority, even the most estute student can use a break every once in a while. Below is a list of some of the free events offered at UTD. So, when the time comes for a Comet to take a step back from the books and have a little fun, the phrase “there’s nothing to do on campus” should be last on the list.
January • Death-match ginormous bingo - Everything great about bingo, but giant. 7 - 9 p.m. Jan. 13 in the Galaxy Rooms
• Meteor theater - Movies shown inside Jonsson.
photos by Albert Ramirez
Alumnus Carlo Zinzi mounts his photographs in preparation for the photo exhibit “Stranger than Fiction.” To create the picture on the left, Zini first let the sadnwich sit for four weeks to allow it to stiffen for placement.
Artists choose and create photos for “Stranger than Fiction” Rebecca DeButts
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
The Visual Arts Department will begin the spring 2011 semester with a new photography exhibit entitled “Stranger than Fiction.” For some artists, photography is about capturing a specific moment in a specific place, which is a quality unique to photography and film, said Marilyn Waligore, art professor and curator. But this exhibit has a different goal. The show’s main objective is to present staged works of photography as an alternative to documentary style pieces. Instead of
seeing photography’s connection to reality, “Stranger than Fiction” will investigate what can happen when an artist imagines a photograph rather than going out and finding one, Waligore said. Like a painter imagines a painting, these artists were asked to imagine their photographs before they were captured. “Stranger than Fiction” explores the use of digital photography and photography alteration. Arts & Technology graduate student Kerry Hennigin will premier three photographs in this show. “My goal with these three pieces is to communicate that life is a matter
of problem solving, “ said Hennigin. “It investigates this idea in terms of constructing a moment in time that could never have possibly existed.” Hennigin is one of 11 artists showing work in the exhibit. “Stranger than Fiction” will present work from artists on faculty at UT Arlington, Texas Women’s University, Richland College and UTD. Work by artists from Houston, San Francisco and Philadelphia will also be presented in the show. Dwayne Carter, professor at Richland College, will present several works from his photography series entitled “Midway to Madness,”
which Carter said deals with social critique. “In this period of political extremes, I have become interested in conflict between personal needs and social order,” said Carter. Waligore said the show reflects the kinds of processes contemporary artists are exploring and presents a way to rethink photography as a connection to the real. The works presented in this show range from pieces dealing with contemporary issues, American culture, self-portraiture, domesticity, consumerism, dreams, historical events and narration. “Stranger than Fiction” will run from Jan. 14 - Feb. 12 in the Visual Arts Building.
This month’s movie is “Scott Pilgrim vs the World.” 10 - 11:59 p.m. Jan. 14 in Jonsson Performance Hall
• Texas party - An event to aid students learn about Texas culture. Included is line dancing instruction and Tex-Mex food. noon - 2 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Galaxy Rooms
• Annual Martin-Luther King celebration breakfast - This year’s guest speaker is Bob Ray Sanders, vice president /associate editor and a Metro columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 8 - 11 a.m. Jan. 20 in the Galaxy Rooms • Ground breaking - The start of construction for Campus Services and Bookstore Building. 2 - 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at the south end of the Student Union Mall, across from the School of Management • “Stranger than Fiction” artists talks - Artists Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen will be available to discuss their pieces at UTD (see left for detailed information). 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Visual Arts Building
• Underground Poetry Circus - The third Thursday of each month, artists and observers are invited to The Pub for live slam poetry. Every month brings a feature poet to perform on stage. In addtion to feature poets, students also perform. 10 - 11:59 p.m. Jan. 20 in The Pub •Chinese New Year celebration - Features traditional music, dance and theater performances by traditional Chinese artists. 10 a.m. Jan. 29 in the Conference Center
6
January 10, 2011
News
www.utdmercury.com
the Mercury
How can we help you?
From left to right: computer science senior Cayman Nava, accounting sophomore Aaron Blankenship, psychology sophmore Victor Faner, accounting senior Jaime Yang, neuroscience sophmore Braden Herndon and ATEC sophmore Zain Gaziani are members of the Orientation team, also known as OTMs. They help new students transition into college life by serving as mentors.
Graduate student Chen Li helps a student with financial matters. Li is one of many students working in the Bursar’s office serving the student community.
Graduate student Dhakshimamoorthy Gunasekaran hands a student his receipt. Dhakshimamoorthy and many other student serve others in the Comet Café.
Doctoral candidate Rubia Valente answers a student’s question during the International student orientation. Rubia and many other students are part of the International student services office. They provide guidance and mentor UTD’s robust international student community.
Finance and accounting junior Zachary Seay hauls a stack of chairs during an event set-up in the Galaxy Rooms. Seay and other Student Union staff work hard to keep students and staff needs satisfied.
Graduate student T. K. Haydan answers a student question. T.K. works in the information desk in the Student Services Building, he and other student staff members provide a vital role for students, by directing them to the proper personnel for their needs.
Students serve as parking enforcement agents. Parking staff provide a crucial service to help enforce parking regulations to ensure fair and equitable standards for all parking patrons. photos by Albert Ramirez
the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
Life &Arts
January 10, 2011
7
BE IN THE KNOW
Go to utdallas.edu/textme and give us your cell phone number. During emergencies or unscheduled campus closures, we’ll text you with alerts and updates.
UTDALLAS.EDU/TEXTME
Fall 2010 Dean’s list honors top students School of Natural Science and Mathematics Ababaf, Shaghayegh Abdulali, Ahmed, Ahmed, Alias, Baer, Ball, Beggs, Belli, Bilbray, Borner, Buchanan, Carr, Castle, Chang, Chang, Chau, Chou, Cogan, Davis, Ding, Duong, Elbring, Christopher El-Khaled, Embabi, Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Enriquez, Fatima, Gamal, Goderya, Gurak, Ha, Hamati, Han, Hankins, Harper, Christopher Harrell, Hird, Ho, Hoang, Hoang, Doan Hoelscher, Houari, Hua, Hua, Huang, Huynh, Idicula, Jacob, Joe, Joseph, Kam, Kang, Khan, King, Klein, Kshattry, Kuzbary, Lai, Lebens, Lee, Li, Li, Litteken, Lockwood, Madhavan, Mathew, McDill, Mehta, Memon, Mikhail, Mikhail, Milburn, Mogri,
Samina Nadia Arsalan Tony Andrew Carson Katie Olivia Haley Katherine Molly Michael Ryan Sophia Zhantein Yasmin-Pei Jeff Timothy Joseph Min-Sheng Tram Samah Aya Naveen Nichael Bibiana Sayyeda Sara Mudrekh Mary Tuan Joseph Sol Julia Stuart Mackenzie Xuan Lien Nha-Binh KhanhSkyler Sammy Linda Diane Luequn Martin Jensen Diana Elliott Maria Hiulam Chia Dan Tahuriah Corey Kayla Sabin Miriam Adrian Kaylen Victoria Chuxi Anna Clay Laura Archana Mishal Parker Tarjani Pauras Rita Magui Nathaniel Husain
Monaghan, Ryan Moosavi, Harrison Morrow, Caitlin Nguyen, Dan Nguyen, Patrick Nguyen, Derek Nguyen, Chris Nguyen, Mai Nguyen, David Nimmo, Stephanie Nimmo, Michael Ninan, Jibin Noor, Nasreen Odle, Jared Oh, Susan Palankar, Reema Patel, Palak Pescador, Rebeca Pham, Hieu Phan, Christina Philip, Justin Preisser, Samantha Rodriguez, Luis Rosa, Jeffrey Samuel, Shiney Schoenfeld, Jessica Sechrist, Lauren Shah, Sagar Shah, Sachin Shahabuddin, Amena Shipman, Paul Shu, Charles Sneed, Philip Stone, Shane Syed, Sunna Tran, Thomas Valdez, Jennifer Vandiver, Beau Vento, Gina Vuong, Jennifer Vuong, Dat Wagoner, Emily Weingarden, Gianna Wolfe, Christina Yoon, Minhee Young, Erik Zacharias, Tresa
Undeclared
Akhavan, Jamshid Alasmi, Nada Amar, Ghazal Belknap, Natasha Berriche, Sonya Bindner, Corey Brumett, Joshua Dsouza, Jessica Dunkerton, Nadia Gyore, Charlotte Jetpuri, Hera Kim, Daniel Lee, Caroline Litovsky, Dana Minyard-Simms, Shannon Moore, Michelle Morales, J Raul Olander, Matthew Peera, Safa Price, Jordan Ratliff, Jorden Sichmann, Natalie Wong, Lye-Yeng
School of Management
Abraha, Amanuel Akhawala, Mohammad Alexander, Geoffrey
Allen, James Arenas, Nicholas Arshad, Jazib Azeem, Zara Aziz, Azeem Ba, Yanjun Babar, Sabah Bai, Hsiao-Ping Barker, David Bass, Conway Beardsley, Rebecca Bellew, Andrea Bennett, Taylor Blankenship, Aaron Brands, Alyson Caldera, Rosie Carr, Lauren Chapman, Moira Chen, Tian Chen, Jennifer Ching, Sarah Monique Cole, William Cone, Allison Cook, Lindsey Crane, Elizabeth Cruz, Crystal Dato-On, Dariel Dobias, Morgan Doherty, Brittany Dollin, Thomas Ellenbogen, Farah Ellis, Timothy Engel, Stephen Evans, Kyle Fang, Bao Farooq, Namra Feigenbaum, Barry Foo, Yun Sin Foster, Marlon Franchuk, Svitlana Fulginiti, John Giang, Zuri Gotsdiner, Vladislav Guernsey, Elli-Mari Gupta, Kushagra Haddock, Melody Haider, Sarwat Harwood, Benjamin He, Cindy Henry, Diane Hernandez, David Hernandez, Jasmine Ho, Diem Hodges, Rachel Hopkins, Houston Hua, Thu-Thuy Hudson, Ben Hutterer, Frederick Jackson, Zacheriah Jenkins, Anastasia Jennings, Andrew Jeong, Da Hee Jewett, Amber Jin, Kyu Eon Jinson, Jose Jones, Christopher Khan, Sartaz Kim, Taehoon Kim, Sol Koung, Amy Langford, Olivia Lee, Esther Lefki, Paulo Lentz, Audrey Lewis, Taneska Li, Zhaohan Liang, Xiaowen Liao, Chih Lucas, Adam
Mabruk, Zayd Mahendroo, Arjun Makanji, Miqual Malani, Priya Mandara, Harpreet Maner, Stephen Markova, Juliana McArdle, Fergal McClure, Madison Meagher, Jason Midden, Alex Miller, Ellen Moncrief, Cody Moore, Jessica Morris, Eric Moyes, Neil Mozur, Kyle Munoz, Mario Namazi, Sophie Naqi, Nazia Nguyen, Ca Nguyen, Aivy Nguyen, Hoa Nguyen, Thanh Thuy Nguyen, Trung Nguyen, Dao Nguyen, Hien Nguyen, Tiffany Oravetz, Christine Park, Jessica Patel, Deepa Patterson, William Pau, Reema Pazwakavambwa, Yolanda Pilat, Jordan Pirkey, Jonathan Qiu, Yu Radulov, Ventsislav Ramzan, Shahzad Rao, Shreya Rauschuber, Jennifer Reed, Jordan Reynolds, Nicole Rizvi, Sehrish Robison, Erik Rodriguez, Jorge Rowe, Kerry Salas, Erica Sanchez, Servando Sanchez, Yesenia Sawani, Iqra Scalf, Joshua Sethi, Shravik Sharma, Gaurav Sheth, Prarthana Shlimak, Kamilla Siewsurut, Boripat Stephens, Nickolas Sterling, Kristin Tang, Min Tariq, Ali Tata, Jordan Terry, Helen Thomason, Keith Thuo, Stephen Townsend, Dana Tran, Jesse Truong, Tuan Vivar, Mario Wahed, Mohsena Whitman, Christi Willard, William Winslett, Wilson Wolfe, Margaret Wolfe, Chelsea Wright, Rebekah Xiao, Xiao Yu, Jingcheng Zemerova, Maria Zhang, Yi
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
Arbuckle, Francesca Bakhsh, Ramona Burke, Jacqueline Coleman, Cloe Dollar, Kathleen Duzyk, Sara Faulkinbury, Michael Fisher, Cherisse Fox, Michael Gorecki, Laura Griggs, Katherine Hudspeth, Sharon Le, Brenda Lee, Brenda Lodowski, Rose Lucas, Melissa Nardozzi, Kristen Perez, Daisy Reed, Debby Reuber, Dustin Sanchez, Cristal Scharbauer, Audra Scheirman, Elizabeth Sosa, Irene Townsend, Chelsea Ware, Katharine Wrinkle, Angela
Erik Johnson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Aboudkhil, Yasser Adams, Tyler Ahmed, Zeshan Almeida, Juliana Arnold, Jerry Baek, Seung Baronne, Christopher Becvarik, Lisa Bledsoe, Jonathan Campbell, Philip Cao, Tri Carrington, Daniel Casey, Joshua Choi, HeeEun Cohen, Michael Coward, Stephen Csabi, Rachel Daconceicao, Ricardo Duong, Patrick Dwight, Mark Dwivedi, Rajiv Edgett, Jared Eid, Omar Elander, Joshua Fallon, Andrew Farmigoni, Robert Fowler, Caitlin Frederick, Mark Galles, Daniel Gao, William Glasgow, Melissa Gregorat, Riccardo Ha, Taewoo Hand, Scott Hearne, Weston Heins, Zachary Hernandez, Anthony Hindes, Logan Hinze, Joseph Hoffman, Timothy Holman, Charles
Hood, James Howell, Michael Jones, Scott Jurcak, Sheryl Kaldawi, Grace Kotamarti, Aaron Kraft, Christopher Kuni, Rajesh Larsen, Garrett Le, Duc Lee, Da Eun Lee, Chang Min Lee, Erik Liu, An-Ting Lorkowski, Lily Lu, Junchao Makarov, Alexander Massey, Harrison McGregor, Molly Miller, Kenneth Mills, Kenneth Mirsky, Michael Moreno, Salvador Nathan, Viswam Nguyen, Long Nilson, Benjamin Oropeza, Ivan Patel, Siddharth Porter, James Price, Robert Privat, Benjamin Pujari, Ratul Raj, Abhishek Ramakrishnan, Sridhar Ramesh, Mukund Reisenauer, Joshua Rich-Wittrig, Melanie Rodriguez, Johanan Salisbury, Camron Sanchez, Matthew Saxena, Anuvrat Schmidt, Michael Schmiedel, Mark Schneider, Justin Sierra, Carolina Slinker, Ian Smith, Tucker Smith, Daniel Smith, David Sohn, Joon Standeven, Delores Stephen, Matthew Sullivan, Allison Sullivan, Keri Thompson, Patrick Thurmond, Jeremy Tiso, Matthew Tran, Tam Varati, Verthika Varghese, Shawn Villeda-Principe, Edsa Vo, Alan Wisler, Alan Wolff, Ruben Wu, Alex Xu, Junjie Yadegary, Nikkan Yang, Dong Uk Zaman, Mohammad
School of Arts & Humanities Aksu, Leyla Allen, Jennifer Anderson, Mariah Attebery, Karen Beauchamp, Caitlin Blair, Charles Bonnell, Michael
Bratton, Samantha Bustos Vergara, Andrea Charania, Ali Civis, Michael Cline, Kinsey Coble, Ryan Collins, Ashton Compton, Laura Counts, Amber Crowell, Katherine Cuadros, Carlos Cude, Teloa Cunningham, Laura-Jane Davis, Lauren Delgado, Cynthia Ely, Michael Esquivel, Paolo Garcia Topete, Alex Gebrehiwet, Temesxgn Giron, Elizabeth Gordon, Erin Hale, Bradley Hallford, Susan Hashim, Huda Hill, Lindsay Humphreys, Adam Hunt, Roman Johnson, Ryan Juarez, Alexandra Keller Scotch, Grace Kiesewetter, Steven Klick, Aaron Kobs, Taylor Kuhlman, Tyler Kwong, Alison Lane, James Law, Jerrica Lee, Alyssa Leonard, John Lo, Vincent Ludwig, Daniel Manning, Evan Martin, Madison Medina, Jose Meyman, Vladimir Miller, Logan Pabst, Karl Parry, Jason Peera, Faatema Pennell, Caitlin Ploehn, Cathryn Plumlee, Kelli Rock, Catherine Salamone, Marco Sanford, Michael Shiroma, Kristina Sloan, Lindsay Snader, Katlyn Sohn, Jane Stefko, Caroline Stewart, Sally Stone, Larke Straus, Daniel Takeda, Mayu Tiefenthaler, Hayley Tran, Catherine Trisna, Gabriella Van Sickle, Kristin Weaver, James Webb, Jamye Weidenbruch, Larissa Weir, Dustin-Kirk Wells, Ryan Wilbanks, Jimmy Willess, Ashley Williams, Christopher Winters, Elissa
Wirski, Jessica Wooldridge, Robert
School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences
Acton, Leah Akers, Taylor Alexander, Blair Alonso, Alyssa Arastu, Nasreen Ashraf, Rose Bowen, James Bowersox, Emily Boyte, Jennifer Cannedy, Sloan Chang, Lewis Choi, Nari Chou, Linda Cobble, Pamela Crawford, Kaycie Daniel, Gloria Doolittle, Catherine Douglas, Clayton Elashi, Asmaa Elkins, Alycia Farris, Clayton Gano, Nicole Gorkowski-Day, Julie Gundermann,Christine Halipoto, Faatima Haney, Ann Hansen, Kaitlyn Hardin, Kathleen Harding, Megan Hemani, Anusheh Hernandez, Rigoberto Hernandez, Brittany Hsieh, Clifford Huxall, Jordan Hyman, Abigail Ibanez, Nicholas Iribadzhakova, Diana Jajal, Nistha Johnston, Angela Jones, Nicole Juergens, Collin Karim, Alyzae Khan, Anum Kissko, Wendy Lai, Michelle Langford, Alex Laughter, Andrea Le Baron, Wilford Lee, Roxanne Lin, Andrew Loehr, Samantha Mains, Cody Malik, Allison Manjunath, Lakshman Massey, Lyndsay Mattay, Morgan McGuinn, Kaitlyn Meder, Camille Milot, Kara Naqvi, Syeda Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen, Christina Nguyen, Ann Oliver, Julianne Parnitke, Shannon Partin, Alexander Patel, Palak Prado, Alejandra Rahman, Ivan Ramesh, Muneerah Rapp, Alexandra Richards, Steven Ringler, Nicole Robarge, Cori Roberts, Gerald
Sanjay, Amrutha Shaikh, Saba Sori, Ermias Spann, Samantha Tauber, Elizabeth Thomas, Bejoy Valadez, Vanessa Vazirisepehr, Ahou Ventocilla, Martin Waheed, Jawairia Weaver, Laurel Weittenhiller, Lauren White, Kendrick Zambrowicz, Brittney
School of Economic, Political & Policy Science
Abedin, Naveen Angstadt, Stephanie Atef Zafarmand, Maryam Beatty, AlisonLeigh Brown, Andrea Cervantes, Rocio Chapman, Hannah Coats, Kristin Cooper, Geoffrey Dave, Devaki Ener, Katie Fichtenbaum, Zachary Frankum, Christine Garrett, Elena Gregston, Tyler Harris, Philip Johnson, Erik Kelly, Kyler Korous, Parisa Lane, Jeri Lay, Joshua Le, Quynh Leach, Brittany Lee, Magdalena Lichtenheld, Emily Lorinc, Tomas Lutfy, Marwina Lutterloh, Colton Menke, Holly Morten, Elena Nair, Krishnan Nath, Saheli Nguyen, Danh Niewiarowski, Monica Olivas, Jimmy Packard, Christopher Payne, Joshua Pham, Tung Previc, Andrew Ruff, Jameson Ruggeberg, Joshua Saidi, Sepanta Scott, Dana Simons, Megan Tate, James Tran, Phuong Tran, Tra Wallace, Maija Weber, Nicholas Weber, Adam Wei, Chen
8
Sports
January 10, 2011
Since our last issue, the Comets have played nine games and went 7-2 over that span, including 5-1 in conference games. Here is a brief summary of what you may have missed over the holidays.
Leaders Points: Barnes (18.9) Rebounds: Barnes (9.4) Assists: Chiasson (3.4) Notes: Chris Barnes leads the ASC in scoring and is second in rebounding… The Comets allow the second-fewest points per game (66.5) and have the second-highest points differential per game in the ASC (+10.1)… The Comets lead the ASC in assists per game (17.2)… The Comets (5-2 in conference) are currently in second place in the ASC East Division behind East Texas Baptist (5-1).
www.utdmercury.com
SPRING
MEN’S HOOPS
11/27 vs. Howard Payne W 92-50 11/29 vs. Sul Ross State W 81-52 12/2 @ HardinSimmons W 58-54 12/4 @ McMurry L 72-60 12/8 vs. Texas Lutheran W 77-63 12/15 @ Austin College W 69-62 12/18 @ University of the Ozarks W 87-83 12/20 vs. Stevenson W 90-56 12/30 @ LSUShreveport L 80-65
the Mercury
preview Story and photo illustration by Bobby Karalla
A
long with the basketball teams’ continued seasons, four sports will start this spring. UTD’s golf, tennis, baseball and softball teams will compete for American Southwest Conference, or ASC, bragging rights and improve on last year’s performances. While the young baseball program has existed for 10 years, head coach Shane Shewmake has turned the team into a threat in the ASC. The Comets have qualified for the ASC tournament seven of the last eight seasons. Last season, the Comets went 23-16 and lost in the first round of the ASC Tournament. They finished fourth in the ASC East. Joseph Killgore led the Comets’ offensive attack. Killgore hit .424, sixth-best in the conference. The Comets hit .348 as a team, which led the ASC. Shewmake said with pitching and defense, the Comets could take the next step towards a conference title. “If you can hold the other team down to two, three or four runs per game,
you’ve got a very good chance of winning. We’ve got the staff this year to do it,” Shewmake said. “The pitching and defense will put us over the top.” The Comets will compete in the Arizona Desert Classic Feb. 10-13 in Anthem, Ariz to start the season. The Lady Comets softball team finished sixth in the ASC East last year, with a 16-24 overall record. Caysie Norum (.477) and Natalie Duran (.469) finished second and third respectively in batting average last season. Both will return this season. Norum also finished third in slugging (.789) and first in on-base percentage (.587). With two returning offensive stars, the Lady Comets have a chance to improve on last year’s results. The golf team competed last fall, as well, in preparation for the busier spring schedule. At their most recent event, both the men and women finished seventh place at the Schreiner Fall Classic Oct. 18 and 19.
Zach Norton and Alex Campos finished tied for 18th place for the men, and Chelsea Sargent led the women with a 24th-place result. The Comets had more success at the UT Tyler Fall Invitational Oct. 4 and 5, as the men’s team finished second place overall. Chase Curtis finished tied for third and Keaton Kelly tied for fifth. The golf team will compete at its first event of the spring, the Schreiner Spring Invitiational, Feb. 28 and March 1. The tennis team kicks off its conference campaign Feb. 12 at home against Louisiana College. The men finished fourth and the women third in the ASC East last season. The women competed at the USTA/ ITA Southwest Regional Championships Sept. 25 in San Antonio. Mindy Tiu and Rachel Houston advanced to the round of 16 before losing in the singles bracket. Megan Tan and Lauren Diaz advanced to the quarterfinals in the doubles bracket.
WOMEN’S HOOPS The Lady Comets continued their 201011 campaign over the holidays, posting a 7-2 mark overall and 5-1 record in conference. 11/27 vs. Howard Payne W 87-68 11/29 vs. Sul Ross State W 99-50 12/2 @ HardinSimmons W 66-52 12/4 @ McMurry W 54-52 12/8 vs. Texas Lutheran W 67-54 12/15 @ Austin College W 71-50 12/18 @ University of the Ozarks L 69-60 12/20 vs. Stevenson W 80-39 12/29 vs. Carthage College L 60-38 Leaders Points: Scott (17.4) Rebounds: Scott (8.9) Assists: Ichimura (3.1) Notes: Tarneisha Scott leads the ASC in scoring and is fourth in rebounding… Lyndsey Smith is seventh in scoring (14.7)… The Lady Comets allow the second-fewest points per game (53.8) and have the third-best differential per game (+14.9) in the ASC… The Lady Comets lead the ASC in free throw percentage (76.4%)… The Lady Comets (6-1 in conference) are in third place in the ASC East, behind two 6-0 teams, Mississippi College and Louisiana College.
Baseball coach, players support lights Bobby Karalla
Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
You are driving down Campbell Road. You look towards campus and see the brilliantly lit Activity Center, soccer fields and the softball field. One thing you cannot see is the baseball field. The field has no lights. As a result, UTD cannot host baseball games played at night, something that troubles finance junior Shane Wallace. Wallace does not play baseball for UTD. He played minor league baseball when he was younger and also currently coaches a recreational adult men’s baseball team in the Metroplex in a league that, like most other DFW-area leagues, looks for stadiums that can host night games.
The issue with adding lights appears to be financial. UTD head baseball coach Shane Shewmake estimates lights would cost approximately $200,000 or more to install. While maintaining the lights would not cost nearly as much, Shewmake said the initial financial investment required to install functional lights would require fundraising from the baseball team and support from the athletic department. Shewmake still supports lights, though. “Having lights allows you to miss less class time and have more practices,” he said. “It gives you a little more flexibility.” Wallace agrees with Shewmake, and argues that a limited schedule can be a burden on the studentathletes. “When you’re trying to
maximize your practice time, especially in-season, it puts a constraint on a student that doesn’t have scholarship money coming,” Wallace said. “If they have to practice (during the day), they’re committing to going to the gym and practicing on their own time.” Other schools in the American Southwest Conference, including McMurry (where Shewmake previously coached) and UT Tyler, have lights on their field. The Comets rarely play games under the lights and are therefore at a disadvantage when they go on the road and face teams at night like McMurry, Shewmake said. “In a night game, it’s a little harder to (see) the baseball until you get used to it,” Shewmake said. “We have teams in our confer-
ence that have lights, so it’s a little bit of a disadvantage when we play a night game because we only play three per year while they play 20 per year.” The Texas heat can also affect player performance. The Comets usually play at two p.m. in March and April, when the air is humid and the sun is hot and bright. In an anonymous poll of UTD baseball players, one responded, “I find it a little difficult having to play in the morning because the sun comes up right in the eyes of the batters. A game at night would give equal lighting to all parts of the field.” Another player agreed, again pointing to the weather. “Having lights that would allow us to play night games
see LIGHTS page 7
photo by Albert Ramirez
A UTD pitcher throws to an opposing hitter. The game was played in the afternoon, which is the only time slot available for the Comets to play home games. With no lights, games cannot be played after dusk.
the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
Sports
January 10, 2011
9
Basketball Games Men’s Jan. 13 Jan. 15 Jan. 20 Jan. 22 Jan. 26 Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Feb. 5 Feb. 10 Feb. 12 Feb. 17 Feb. 19
at University of Texas at Tyler at LeTourneau University at Mississippi College at Louisiana College at University of Dallas vs. East Texas Baptist University vs. University of the Ozarks at East Texas Baptist University vs. Mississippi College vs. Louisiana College vs. University of Texas at Tyler vs. LeTourneau University
Tyler, TX Longview, TX Clinton, Miss. Pineville, La. Irving, TX UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center Marshall, TX UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center
7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m.
Tyler, TX Longview, TX Clinton, Miss. Pineville, La. UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center Marshall, TX UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center UTD Activity Center
5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m.
Women’s Jan. 13 at University of Texas at Tyler Jan. 15 at LeTourneau University Jan. 20 at Mississippi College Jan. 22 at Louisiana College Jan. 29 vs. East Texas Baptist University Jan. 31 vs. University of the Ozarks Feb. 5 at East Texas Baptist University Feb. 10 vs. Mississippi College Feb. 12 vs. Louisiana College Feb. 17 vs. University of Texas at Tyler Feb. 19 vs. LeTourneau University
photo by Ben Hawkins
Men’s and Women’s Tennis Schedule
The view from home plate at UTD’s baseball field during the afternoon, when all games must be played and finished by darkness.
Lights
continued from page 6 would be able to help us from playing in the Texas heat so much,” the player said. “Because some of the games can get brutal when the humidity is up in the middle of the day.” Shewmake and Wallace both said attendance could significantly increase if the games were played at night. “On a Friday at two o’clock, parents are working. If we play at seven o’clock, there’s more of a chance to get people to the games,” Shewmake said. “It would allow people in the community to come out as well.” Wallace said students get short-changed on an experience if they are unable to see day games, and if more were able to attend, the
student body could potentially grow closer together. “It’s not that fun just going to school. You’ve got to have something that connects students to the community and to one another,” Wallace said. “I feel like sports is one of the easiest way to do that. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to get a good experience.” A loud student section could also give the Comets an advantage, Wallace said. “Our students are smart, so they can understand the intricacies of the game,” Wallace said. “If they can get into the other team’s mind, it’s so much more fun when you have fans like that.” While Wallace is passionate about the light installation, he also realizes the financial burden of such a project.
“I know (funding) is a big obstacle,” Wallace said. “The funding can be derived from a community effort. If it’s derived internally, that’s great. But if we can get some money from the students, there are people that are willing to put the effort in.” UTD’s growth as both a sports power and a prominent Texas school could continue with such an investment, Wallace said. “We excel in everything we do on campus. We put out some unbelievable MBA and entrepreneurship programs. Why not go ahead and take the next step to becoming a major university in Texas, and take a chance with sports that we already have?” Wallace said. “There has to be a group of people that make enough noise to make it happen.”
Feb. 12 Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Feb. 28 March 3 March 5 March 5 March 8 March 10 March 14 April 1 April 6 April 9 April 16 April 21
vs. Louisiana College vs. Belhaven University vs. Mississippi College at Hardin-Simmons University vs. Dallas Baptist University vs. LeTourneau University at Trinity University at Schreiner University vs. Lake Forest College vs. McMurry University vs. Central College at University of the Ozarks at Collin College at University of Texas at Tyler at Howard Payne University vs. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
UTD Courts UTD Courts UTD Courts Abilene, TX UTD Courts UTD Courts San Antonio, TX Kerrville, TX UTD Courts UTD Courts UTD Courts Clarksville, Ark. Plano, TX Tyler, TX Brownwood, TX UTD Courts
3 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. TBA 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 10 a.m. 4 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. noon 3:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m.
10
January 10, 2011
Advertisement
www.utdmercury.com
the Mercury
the Mercury
The First Woman
Math puzzle
Math Puzzle solutions online at www.utdmercury.com.
+ +
+
+
*Remember multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.
3
/
+
-
+
19
January 10, 2011
Sudoku
by Laura-Jane Cunningham
Instructions: Try to fill in the missing spaces using numbers 1-9 to complete the equations for every row and every column. Each number may only be used once.
Comics
www.utdmercury.com
-
Workspace:
7
6
/
+
Workspace:
13 3
And when I say jumping to conclusions, I don’t mean literally by Michelle Ngyuen
Fighter Failure
by Pennyworth
11
12
January 10, 2011
Advertisement
www.utdmercury.com
the Mercury