the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
The Student Newspaper of UTD
Vol. XXX, No. 15
UTD Table Tennis team bounces into action Page 8
Playing with fire Page 6
International homecoming ‘Whoosh Around the World’ to explore cultures Jameshia Bankston Staff Writer jtb071000@utdallas.edu
illustration by Michelle Nguyen
With a hint of color, sports games and slight competition, UTD’s Homecoming board is looking to spice up the traditional way of promoting school spirit. UTD’s cultural diversity symbolizes unity and this year’s Homecoming theme “Whoosh Around the World,” which was gener-
ated as a complement to promote a stronger sense of “Comet spirit,” said criminology senior Melissa Tarin. Some events will be dedicated more to the literal and obvious meaning of the theme, while some will be more fundamental and traditional but still able to reach out to every venue of the student body. The Homecoming Dance,
see HOME page 4
RECORD setter
November 15, 2010
Eight foods that get the brain going Page 5
Move to more ‘AccessAbility’ Nada Alsami
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
Divya Raju looks like a typical college girl. She wears jeans and t-shirts, ties her hair back in a ponytail and can often be seen walking to the library to study. But Raju’s casual appearance masks an internal struggle that she must face every day. She has ADHD and dyslexia, two learning disabilities that others cannot see and that she prefers to
keep a secret. But every time she walked into the Office of Disability Services for help, the office’s name revealed to everyone around her that she was living with a disability. “I hated (people knowing) that I was in the Office of Disability Services,” Raju said. “They would get so shocked, their eyes would widen.” But now, Raju no longer has to deal with such
see ACCESS page 4
Senior setter Niki Calverley is the first All-American in UTD volleyball history.
Calverley named most valuable player in division Bobby Karalla
Contributor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
T
he most valuable volleyball player in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) East Division is a Lady Comet. Interdisciplinary studies senior Niki Calverley was named the ASC East Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nov. 9. “I am really honored. I feel very fortunate,” Calverley said. “It’s overwhelming at this point.” This is another award added to Calverley’s list of accomplishments that includes her nomination as DIII Player of the Week in October and back-to-back ASC All-Conference Team and the ASC East Division First Team honors. She was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-South Region Team and All-American Third Team last season. Calverley is the first All-American in UTD volleyball history. Coaches nominate a player from their team for National Player of the Week, and the executive members of the AVCA selects the winner. Calverley is also UTD’s all-time leader in both single-season and career assists, and was the team captain this season. UTD women’s volleyball assistant coach Zach Villareal likens Calverley’s role on the court to that of a quarterback, which requires awareness and good decision-making. “(Calverley is) the one who makes all the decisions about who gets to hit what ball at what time,” Villareal said. “She has a lot to think about, not only on our side but what players on the other side of the net are doing.” Villareal said statistics determine who is named Player of the Week. Calverley’s assists per set statistic led the nation through Oct. 31. “It’s easy to get assists when you have such good hitters,” Calverley said. “Most teams have two good hitters, but on this team we have at least five.” Calverley also leads the team off the court. She said she tries to help teammates by keeping them out of trouble and encouraging them to go to class. Calverley said the best advice she has received from Villareal and head coach Marci Sanders is to work hard every day and be the best person she could be. “You have to be yourself and be the best person you can be, and you have to work at that daily,” 1,167 assists (1st in conference) Calverley said. “You have 11.55 assists/set (1st in conference) to consciously think about 3,872 career assists (most all-time at UTD) what you’re saying and 27 service aces (2nd on team) doing, and how you’re .27 aces/set (T-1st on team) treating other people.” 251 digs (3rd on team) Villareal said he has coached Calverley since
Player profile
see CALVERLEY page 9
photo by Albert Ramirez
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Blog
November 15, 2010
Alex Hays
Social Media Editor socialmedia@utdmercury.com
Luke owns over 120 clocks. It all started with his grandmother’s pocket watch. Luke first saw the pocket watch when he was two. At the age of five he had the dexterity to create a wanted poster for it.
www.utdmercuryblog.com
the Mercury
“I had a penitent when I was younger to take (clocks) apart before I knew how to put them together again.” His parents didn’t always appreciate this. “I got my hands on this wall clock my dad had used in college, I completely tore it apart and my dad was furious because I couldn’t put it back together again.” As Luke grew up he got better at the all important putting-them-back-together step. His abilities landed him a job in a clock shop in high school, where he learned more about the mechanics of clocks.
photo courtesy of Bradley Griffith
photo courtesy of Amy Pickup
He did make a customers clock explode once by accident (he goes into detail in the video interview) but he’s learned from his mistakes. Luke currently finds himself buying clocks and modifying them to fit his aesthetic sensibilities. “That’s
from Wal-mart,” Luke said, pointing to a clock on his desk. “I just bought it then I put a different face in it because I’m mimicking a clock that was made by Braun in the 80’s that I can’t afford.” He says he is often driven to new clocks because of their product design. Luke said he owns some clocks that began ticking before the United States existed, which is a testament to the time, effort and skill put into these devices by craftsmen. The pocket watch is now his in his possession, and it’s about to celebrate its 110th birthday. Luke’s an Arts & Technology graduate student, which speaks to his interest in these devices. “I’m an Arts & Technology student and to me clocks are the prototypical arts and technology object.” Luke said he isn’t sure what originally stirred this interest, but he was buying clocks at garage sales at a young age. The clocks in his parents house are scarred with tape, scratches, glitter and other playful reminders of his childhood self.
photo courtesy of Bradley Griffith
Luke’s also interested in the odd relation clocks occupy in regard to time. He said there is a pessimistic view you can take, one that sees clocks as objects that count down to their own demise, to their last tick. You can also take on a positive perspective to clocks, and see them as an object that has counted up to the current age, an object bathed in history and stories. Luke says he prefers to take a more happy-golucky approach, and just buys the ones that catch his eye. Visit the utdmercury.com blog to watch a video interview with Luke to gain a little more insight into his life-long hobby. photo courtesy of Bradley Griffith
Opinion
the Mercury www.utdmercury.com
November 15, 2010
3
Name change offers more ‘AccessAbility’ to student body The recent move to the Student Services Building changed the location of several offices, but it wasn’t the move to a new building that made one department stand out. It was the decision to change their name. The Office of Student AccessAbility, formerly called the Office of Disability Services, exists to help students receive academic accommodations, get information about jobs and deal with other issues they may face on campus. The department of Student AccessAbility made their services
more ‘accessible’ without changing anything about what they offered except their name. Instead of telling students they are unable to perform certain actions, the new name explains their purpose is to help students gain access to whatever they need within reason, especially if it helps them academically. According to their website Student AccessAbility currently serves around 200 students, which is just over 1 percent of the UTD student body. ‘Disabled’ can carry with it a negative connotation, and because of this
stigma students who could use additional help may have been turned away because they didn’t want to be connected with the word. The new name loses this connotation, and as a result it becomes another department. Changing their name didn’t change any of their services, but it may result in a higher number of students who use them. This kind of insight shows a real understanding of what students want, and that the administration cares to listen.
Editorial Board Jessica Melton, Editor-in-Chief Shane Damico, Managing Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham, Graphics Editor Alex Hays, Social Media Editor Swaroop Rayudu, Web Editor news@utdmercury.com The Mercury Editorial Board voted 5-0 in favor of this editorial. The board consists of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, managing editor, graphics editor, social media editor and web editor. The board will discuss, debate and develop editorial positions on issues affecting the UTD community. We welcome your responses at news@utdmercury.com. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the university administration, the University of Texas System Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. Editorial and business offices are in Student Union, Room 2.416. Telephone: 972-883-2286. Mailing address; SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080.
I am a dirtbag (and so can you!) John D. McCrary
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
A couple of weeks ago I heard there was some trouble surrounding a certain retirement prone quarterback. Being an admirer of his work, I investigated. This was early in the recent Brett Favre scandal, so I was unfortunate enough to actually see the piece on deadspin.com. For those of you who haven’t heard, the folks at Deadspin felt it prudent to put together a story about some questionable messages Favre sent to one Jenn Sterger, some of which included photos (and all that implies). Personally I’ve got moves worse than Oscar Wao, but I’ve never had the Green Bays to Jet my Viking over the airwaves to anyone, and the fact that he’s a grandfather can only excuse so much poor cell phone etiquette. Regardless of culpability, I no longer see the record
holding quarterback the way I used to, and as I say sayonara to another admirable figure I wonder what it might mean to have another big shot turn out to be just another dirt bag. We all need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, and religious figures are all well and good, but sometimes it helps to know that mere mortals can do it too. The fact is we need heroes and role models, and the loss of one, especially one that was as seemingly heroic as Favre, is a tragedy. Now we all watched the Olympian downfall of Tiger, and never again will Mel Gibson be known for blue face paint and making millions rehashing the bible, but only for unprovoked anti-Semitic rants and those hilarious tapes. Some would tell you the message here is clear. If you act like Zeus you’re gonna get Hera’d. They’d argue the “inevitable”, and at this point clichéd, relationship between power and human nature.
That it’s just impossible to achieve big things and not get lost along the way, but I think there is something to be said about fighting the good fight. It’s not like there is something inherently wrong with Mr. Favre. He doesn’t have to hold himself accountable mine or anyone else’s moral standards. In essence he owes nothing to me or any other fan, but even if I have the right to smoke, I still have an obligation to explain to my kid sister why smoking is bad. So while it is disappointing that Mr. Favre didn’t think about all of the people who look to him as a symbol of strength, endurance, and all around good ol’ boy-ness, what worries me is not his behavior but rather the implications of losing another icon. It seems like people have been disenchanted so many times they’ve stopped allowing themselves to strive to be like, or even have, an icon, whoever they may be. As college students setting out to achieve whatever goals we’ve made for ourselves I think we should
Comet
be reminded that if we want out of our country’s ongoing economic predicament we are going to need more than a few new strokes of genius. Since we’re at the beginning of our journey, I think we should consider establishing some ridiculously lofty goals because, why not? Just keep in mind that those goals can be achieved much faster if we have our sights set on a role model rather than simply putting one foot in front of the other. I wasn’t exactly expecting the next Brett Favre to come out of UTD but definitely the next Warren Buffet, Thomas Friedman or Muhammad Yunus. While many might insist on Harrison Bergeron-ing anyone and everyone, don’t let that keep you from picking someone to be your own preposterously high standard and recklessly setting out to surpass them. So in light of this disappointment I just remind myself, I might be a dirt bag now but there are still plenty of people out there who can show me how not to be.
W
Comments
‘A pictures worth’ explanation Laura-Jane Cunningham
Graphics Editor news@utdmercury.com
Everyone who read my editorial cartoon from the Nov. 5 edition of The Mercury, and particularly the members of Delta Delta Delta (TriDealta), deserves an apology. The cartoon was misleading and inaccurate. The cartoon was a comment on Tri Delta’s Fat Talk Free Week, which tries to promote healthy body images in women by boycotting harmful “fat talk” for a week. Fat talk is defined as any language which equates being skinny to being beautiful. It can be self-defeating phrases like “Ugh, I look fat in this,” or apparent compliments like “You look terrific! Did you lose weight?” The campaign is useful in shifting women’s dialogue from weight to health, but I feel it doesn’t target one of the leading causes of body image issues: images.
I tried to argue this point in my cartoon, but a poor choice in composition changed the meaning entirely. The cartoon showed a member of Tri Delta standing next to sign saying, “No Fat Talk.” A thin girl was walking past, and glanced at a table in front of the sorority member. On the table was a fashion magazine, with a ultrathin, and rather buxom, woman on the cover. In the last panel, the girl pinched her stomach as if self-conscious about her weight. I meant positive campaigns like Fat Talk Free Week are often overshadowed by fashion magazines and other representations of unhealthy ideals, but my decision to place the magazine on the Tri Delta table implies that Fat Talk Free Week promotes unhealthy ideals. The cartoon will remain on utdmercury.com for the sake of openness, but The Mercury will be adding a disclaimer about its faults.
hat do you think about the proposed $5 green fee that could help fund sustainable on-campus projects?
“That would be fine with me.”
“I would need a set plan on where they were using the money.”
“It doesn’t matter to me since I won’t be paying it.”
Kate Gougler Interdisciplinary junior
Juan Alvarez Accounting junior
Esraa Khalil Speech pathology senior
“I’ll give them $10”
“I don’t even know what going green means.”
“I wouldn’t mind because I’m on a scholarship.”
Amre Aboul Neuroscience junior
Sam Al-Nahi Psychology junior
Jeffery Okonye Neuroscience junior
the Mercury Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton
Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham
Managing Editor Shane Damico
Web Editor Swaroop Rayudu
Advertising Manager Josh Moncrieff
Social Media Editor Alex Hays
Media Adviser Chad Thomas Administrative Assistant Andrew Arias Photographers Albert Ramirez Brandon Higgins Ben Hawkins
Staff Writers Danelle Adeniji Jameshia Bankston Contributors Nada Alasmi Amanda Duke Robert Karalla Michelle Nguyen Christopher Wang
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
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MAIL: 800 W. Campbell Road, SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080-0688
4
News
November 15, 2010
Report
Shane Damico
Managing Editor spd064000@utdallas.edu
The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the Nov. 2 Student Government (SG) meeting. Full minutes of meetings can be found at sg.utdallas.edu. • Vice President for Student Affairs Darrelene Rachavong visited senate to announce that SG needs to decide whether to expand the Student Union (SU). Rachavong opened the floor for suggested areas to expand. Student Affairs Committee chair and political science junior Haroon Hashmi said contracting a 7-Eleven in the SU would meet student demand for an affordable, oncampus convenient store. Biochemistry junior Sachin Shah said The Pub can get very crowded and so maybe it could be grown. Graduate student Nick Hinojosa said he would like to see more space designated for planning and conducting Student Union Activities and Advisory Board events. Rachavong said the senator’s suggestions were possible, but they will all rely on how much SG decided to increase the student SU fee by. • The first floor SU suites, located at the south end of the building, will begin redesign February 2011 and reach completion by May or June 2011, Rachavong said. The renovation will house fraternity and sorority life, a ritual room, a non-denominational reflection room, a meeting room and office space for all four student media groups. • Accounting and information management senior Matt Lagos and undecided freshman Cody Willming were appointed as SG’s city council student liaisons. • SG Vice President and political science senior Dina Shahrokhi and Residential Student Affairs Committee chair and graduate student Dypti Lulla were at the Campus Housing Advisory Committee meeting where Resident Hall titles were discussed. Suggested themes are naming the buildings after space shuttles or something related to chess. • SG President and political science senior Grace Bielawski said UTD Police Chief Larry Zacharius would like to start a bicycle safety program to promote a safer environment between bikers and pedestrians. Senators will hand out safety pamphlets and bicycle bells for bikers, so they can warn pedestrians as they pass by. • Shahrokhi reported on behalf of the Textbook Savings Committee. The Comet Textswap will take place Dec 13, the location is undecided. • Treasurer and neuroscience senior Sara Mahmood went over SG’s recent spending. $958 was spent on senator sweatshirts and $119 on senator polos. $589 was spent on Know Your Right’s Day and $505 towards the screening of the film “Fuel.” • Up to $100 will be allocated toward the purchase of comment boxes. They will be placed on SG billboards across campus. • Up to $150 will be allocated for the bicycle safety program. The money will be used to help purchase bells for student bicycles. • Up to $150 will be allocated toward the construction of SG’s homecoming cart.
www.utdmercury.com
Address focuses on budget cuts, diversity Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
UTD President David Daniel’s State of Our University Address focused on student enrollment, diversity and potential budget cuts. The speech took place Nov. 3 in the Conference Center. Below are the main points of the speech. Full text can be found at utdallas.edu/ president. • Enrollment has grown by 18 percent in the last 10 years and reached 17,000 for the first time this fall. Daniel’s goal is to reach 21,000 by 2016. • UTD’s freshman class totaled 1,377 new students while increasing the average SAT score 36 points from last year. • This fall 5 percent of freshmen students are African American and 15 percent are Hispanic. Daniel said UTD will emphasize diversity and work to recruit qualified African American and Hispanic students.
• UTD currently has an 85 percent freshman to sophomore retention rate. Daniel said his goal is to reach 88 percent by 2017. • The current 4 and 6 year retention rate are 44 and 46 percent. Daniel’s goal is to increase those rates to 47 and 72 percent, respectively. • Currently, there are 444 tenure and tenure-track faculty members. Daniel said the goal is to obtain 21 new members by fall 2011. • Daniel said faculty diversity remains unchanged from 2009, and said he wants to increase diversity. • Research expenditures totaled 85 million this year, a 60 percent increase from 2006. • Daniel said Texas is likely to cut funding to higher education in the upcoming biennium, which begins Sept. 1 2011. • In 2009 UTD’s state appropriation was cut 5 percent. Daniel said the state asked UTD to plan for an additional 10 percent cut, totaling a 15 percent cut to state funds. • Daniel said UTD doesn’t
know exactly what the budget cut will be, but there is a possibility it could be more than 10 percent. • While UTD’s state budget was cut 5 percent in the last biennium, UTD was also given state stimulus money to fund some appropriations. Daniel said these funds might not be replaced. • Daniel said the administration is working to find 4 million in savings this fiscal year from state appropriated accounts, which Daniel said is about 4 percent of our state funding for operations. He said these reductions will carry into the next fiscal year. • Daniel said UTD may consider consolidation in some areas, such as having faculty members from one school teach a critical course in another school. • UTD’s lean initiative will double and become the lean green initiative designed to save money and become more sustainable. Daniel said this will be accomplished by efforts to reduce the 6 million spent on electricity, natural gas and water costs by at least 10 percent.
HOME
continued from page 1
hosted by the Student Union Activities and Advisory Board, will be broken up into sections of the student union so that each can be decorated with a different theme dedicated to a foreign country and its culture. Another theme-based amenity this year will be featured in The Pub. Each day a different dish from a foreign country will be added as a special to the menu for students to choose from. “Paint Your Ride,” commuter students will be able to get their car decorated and receive complementary antenna balls allowing them to better participate in celebrating school pride even while off campus. New regulations for a seat on the Homecoming Court has also opened the door for more of the student body to get involved. In the past, before a student could be considered they were required to be an active member within in on campus organization. Now unaffiliated students can be nominated and pursue a chance at royalty. The biggest new approach that separates
the Mercury this year’s Homecoming from previous ones, is in what only started out as an adjustment to the recent construction projects on campus. In this year’s Homecoming parade organizations will no longer be able to use their personal vehicles to decorate and showcase, everyone has to decorate a rented miniature golf cart. This lowers the advantage of some groups over others that have big SUV’s to decorate while others don’t and raises the competition because everyone has to creatively market the same product, co-chair and biochemistry sophomore Courtney Stuck. Student involvement has become the foundation to this year’s homecoming success as students will not only be able to participate and attend events but volunteerism is also encouraged. While most colleges Homecoming events are targeted towards their football team’s Homecoming Game, UTD’s Homecoming Committee wanted to emphasis the most important theme of the event and that’s school spirit, Stuck said.
Greek get together
UTD Police scanner Nov. 1 • An officer was dispatched to Waterview Park Phase IV for reported criminal mischief. Nov. 3 • A UTD employee reported to have been threatened by a UTD student. Nov. 4 • A hit and run report was
ACCESS
continued from page 1
a concern. As of late September, the Office of Disability Services changed its name to the Office of Student AccessAbility. Assistant director of Student AccessAbility Kerry Tate said that because of its previous name, many students were embarrassed to approach her office. “The term ‘disability’ carries a negative stigma,” Tate said. “It ostracizes a group of people characterized as different from the norm.’” So about one year ago, Tate and her coworkers decided to devise a new name. They combined words which signify power and performance to create the name AccessAbility. The result, Tate hopes, is a name that focuses on the types of services that the office provides and not on the students themselves. Thomas Campbell is executive director of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. One of the center’s functions is to work with the Office of Student AccessAbility to diagnose and treat students who have speech and language disabilities.
filed that took place in Lot J. • PD dispatched to the Science Learning Center and School of Management in response to elevator calls. Nov. 5 • A UTD employee reported theft of an automobile.
Campbell said moving away from the term “disabled” is a wise idea. “Disabled people do not see themselves as ‘disabled,’” Campbell said. “They see themselves as functional members of society.” Raju has a similar opinion. She said she feels her disability does not make her any less of a person. In fact, Raju has even decided to create a club called Disability Awareness Support and Help, or DASH for short. To support its members, DASH will have a Big Brother-Big Sister program that will allow older students who have disabilities to advise their younger peers. “It becomes like networking,” Raju said. “It will help (younger students) learn things that they never knew about.” Raju also said the club will work to spread awareness about disabilities. To do this, it will sponsor activities such as Wheelchair Basketball and Dining in the Dark. Raju said she is still interviewing officers for the club and she hopes it will become official beginning spring semester. “I will be heavily advertising it on campus,” she said. “Everyone will know about it when it starts.”
Nov. 7 • PD dispatched to the second Residence Hall construction in response to driver’s licence violations. • PD dispatched to the Facilities Management main office in response to an investigation.
photo by Albert Ramirez
Greek members enjoy snacks and drinks during the Greek Convocation celebrated Nov. 4.
the Mercury
News
www.utdmercury.com
November 15, 2010
5
Fee could offer more ‘green’ for sustainability The fifth article in a continuing series on the environment Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
For the price of a cup of coffee students could have more recycling bins added to campus, large-scale energy projects or fund “green” research through the university. A point to remember is that students who vote on the green fee bill will not be the one’s paying, said sophomore political science major and Student Government (SG) sustainability sub-committee chair Andrew Previc. Because of UTD’s fixed tuition rate, if the green fee is passed, entering students will be the only people affected. If passed, the green fee bill would collect $5 from each
student to put toward sustainable efforts on campus. If the green fee were fully implemented this semester, UTD would have more than $85,000 for sustainable projects. Physics junior and Students for Environmental Awareness President Saskia Versteeg said some schools that have this system already in place have used the money anything on from expanding recycling programs to housing windmills on their campuses. It’s only $5, it’s not that much to ask for renewable project on campus,” Versteeg said. “But it’s a way to show what you want UTD to look like in the future.” While Versteeg admits buying a windmill is far down the road for UTD, growing the recycling program is a
goal that is within reach. Previc mentioned UTD’s letter grade improvement in the green report card as an example of what the fee would be used for. He said we moved from a C- to a B-, but improvement beyond that likely requires increased student involvement, better recycling on campus and more sustainable features in buildings. According to greenreportcard.org, UTD’s letter grade improvement was, among other things, related to administrative support, which Previc said is crucial to implement a green fee. “There is opportunity for students to help make this one of the top sustainable universities in the country,” Previc said.” “(The) green fee bill way to do it.”
If the green fee bill is passes students who voted will not pay the $5 fee, but Previc said they will see the result of the vote if they stick around campus. Energy Conservation and Sustainability Manager Donna Riha said if the bill is passed this spring, it is likely to be implemented spring 2011. The vote for the green fee bill will take place at the same time as SG elections. Previc said the goal is to have a thousand students vote, and the sustainability subcommittee will focus most of it’s efforts in the spring semester promoting awareness. He said after the Nov. 15 Texas Recycles day the subcommittee will host environmental town halls to gen-
Anthocyanin
erate awareness and allow people opportunity to share their ideas for sustainable projects. Previc said he doesn’t think there will be much opposition from the students, and he said responsible spending choices would be made with this money.
Fructose
Riha is in charge of making to sustainable committee that would vote on ways the money would be used, and she said it will contain students, faculty and staff. “$5 from every student can lead to amazing things on campus everyone can enjoy,” Previc said.
illustrations and page design by Laura-Jane Cunningham
Quercetin Caffeine
Raw Sugar/Fructose Onions Onions can help memory retention because they contain both quercetin and anthocyanin.
Coffee/tea
Natural sugars found in fruit have enough sugar to let your body release it slowly resulting in even energy boosts.
Apples
Apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which is found to help boost memory. The antioxidant is found in the apple skin, so make sure that part doesn’t get tossed.
Popcorn
Food For
The caffeine in coffee, tea and most other energy supplements, will boost your memory, improve alertness and help concentration. The more caffeine you consume, however, the more tolerant your body becomes.
Thought
Fish/Avacados
This year, instead of sticking with the classic Turkey and stuffing, try a few of these memory-boosting foods. They can taste good and help give a little extra edge to help you stay focused and remember all that test material.
Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help with brain function. Avocados are a good vegetarian alternative to fish because they are also high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Popcorn contains vitamins B6, B12 and E, which can all help improve memory and focus. B vitamins also help unlock natural energy in foods.
Nuts
Green leafy vegetables
Antioxidants in nuts can keep you focused while their high protein can keep you full for longer. Nuts such as almonds contain B2 and Vitamin E.
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli and brussel sprouts have high amounts of the vitamin B folic acid and vitamin K, which can keep you focused.
Omega-3 Vitamin B6 Vitamin E is also in popcorn
Vitamin B12
Vitamin E Vitamin K
Sources: webmd. com, thedailymind.com, organizedwisdom.com, worldwidelearn.com, diet/ ygoy.com, medicalnewstoday. com, whfoods.com
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November 15, 2010
Life &Arts
the Mercury
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Burning ring of fire Childres twirls with an unusual hobby Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
Out of the night background comes a fiery dance. With the flick of his wrist the chain begins to spin around his body, inches away from touching him and setting the night ablaze. Standing still but with anticipation he lights both wickers on the poi. The dance starts with his arms going in a swinging motion back and forth. Light from the fire grows bigger and bigger as the dance between him and the fire grows. He moves onto the staff and with swift movements the fire glides around his body. It appears as if he himself will catch on fire, but the fire is still dancing at his will and control. Finally, he disappears as the flames take over. Biochemistry sophomore Cameron Childres has performed in bars, in front of peers and taught fire-spinning sessions at summer Camp Augusta in California. Throughout each performance Childres said he remains cool while the heat is on. Childres started fire spinning four years ago. He said he got into it when a fire performer came to his high school and made the act of throwing around fire look easy. When practicing on UTD’s campus Childres doesn’t light the wickers but instead leaves them unlit or uses LED’s. When he started performing Childres said he picked up one of the easiest tools used in fire spinning, the poi, which he described as a big yo-yo on a string because of it’s design. He has since moved on to more difficult tools such as the staff which is a bar with large wicks on both ends. Childres said working with these tools requires heavy safety precautions and security in the act. Childres always has a safety, someone who watches after him as he performs. This is a precaution in case the performer catches on fire it can be quickly extinguished. He doesn’t wear any form of fire retardant on his hands or clothes but recommends wetting the hair to avoid it from being burned or catching on fire. “The ball on the end of the poi has tagged me a couple of times,” Childres said. “My hair really didn’t catch on fire but there were a few
see FIRE page 7
photo by Brandon Higgins
Double feature ‘Best of Broadway’ delivers many shows with one performance
‘Dancin’ 4 A Cause’ gives students reason to move their feet
photo by Albert Ramirez
The Mercury file photo
Arts & Performance senior Rebecca Mitchell sings at the third annual “Best of Broadway” which took place Oct. 11-13.
Performers dancing at the 2009 “Dancin’ 4 A Cause.” This year’s performance will take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 19 in University Theater.
Jameshia Bankston Staff Writer jtb071000@utdallas.edu
In an array of colorful costumes, dance numbers and classic Broadway tunes, UTD’s performing arts department brought life to the stage in a show that could be considered stereotypically theatrical. On Oct. 11, the UTD performing arts department opened it’s third production of the Best of Broadway musical.
On a black stage with little setting, the show began with a spotlight and a solo from biochemistry sophomore Emily McCoy dressed as a queen from the medieval times. As she continued to sing, she was joined by a chorus who brightened the room with colorful costumes and picnic baskets. One of the lighter selections included songs from “Spamalot,” a parody that had audience members hysterical before the cast
had begun to sing. The women in the cast had wind up keys on their backs, the men danced with actual cans of Spam and the women slapped the men with stuffed toy fish. Only to end the number with a member scurrying from one side of the stage to the other with a can of Spam the size of a litter box. As the show progressed microphones began to
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Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
Since the start of the semester happy feet have been moving across the campus gearing up for “Dancin’ 4 A Cause.” Numerous participants have been working all semester in the Group Fitness Dance Classes in the Activity Center and are ready to show the campus what they have been working on.
Students, faculty and staff will showcase their talents for charity. This year “Dancin 4 A Cause” will donate all of the proceeds to the Children’s Hunger Relief Foundation. The event raised more than $3,000 last year and is expected to bring in even more donations said Coordinator of Recreational Sports Holly Worrell. Worrell is the founder of “Dancin’ 4 A Cause” and has a background in dancing. She said her
dancing days are over but that doesn’t stop her from helping choreograph different performances every year. Dancers will be performing to Hairspray, Stomp the Yard, Footloose and many others. This year’s theme is a tribute to the big screen. “Dancin’ 4 A Cause” is open to all students and faculty. UTD alumnus Jonathan
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Life &Arts
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November 15, 2010
7
Help with Hindi Student club explores culture through games, language and movies Nada Alsami
Some club members, like biology freshman Mitchell Owens, do not speak, read or write Hindi. “In high school I had a lot of Indian friends,” Owens said. “I love Indian culture and want to be fluent in Hindi.” Other club members, like global business freshman Pankhuri Mittal, know how to speak the language. “Hindi is my mother tongue,” Mittal said. “I joined this club to learn to read and write it.” Biology sophomore and Hindi Club president Apeksha Saxena said the classes are led by the club leaders. “We try to make classes fun,” Saxena said. “We play games, divide them into groups and use a lot of visuals.” Business administration sophomore and Hindi Club
secretary, Monisha Lulla said that the she is proud of the members’ progress. “They have learned the alphabet and common words and phrases,” Lulla said. “Soon they will move on to grammar.” Although Hindi Club is mainly language based, its advisers also discuss Indian culture and events. One event that the club recently discussed was Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights which began on November 5. “Divali is the biggest holiday in the year,” Lulla said. “During it we pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.” Professor of business management and Hindi Club adviser Rajiv Shah said the club’s future goal is to create official Hindi language classes at UTD. “We want to see if there
and sang to a compilation of storybook favorites. Stories like Little Red Riding Hood, screech and props were Cinderella and Jack and the dropped but the actors main- Beanstalk were followed up tained their composure as if it with a sequel as to what the never happened. characters conseCommentary quences were for Arts & Performance having their wishsenior Rebecca es granted. Mitchell captivatThough engaged the audience ing and humorwith her over the ous, the constant top portrayal of a change between stage performer. musicals and songs Throughout this with no clear story scene she extendlines left the some ed notes longer of the audience than they needed to be and members confused. Someone leaned back with her eyes in the audience said they closed as if it was the last note didn’t understand the concept she would ever sing. of the story after the musical In the second act, the audi- closed. ence’s interest seemed to In addition to a long list of peak again as the cast danced soloists who suitably comple-
mented each role, a few were not the best singers but possessed a confidence in their performance and stage presence that it made the show more enjoyable to watch. The show ended with a “rowdy” cast dressed in Aggie memorabilia, cowboy hats, cheerleader costumes and blue jeans as they danced and sang selections from “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” In a prop-heavy production on a blackened stage, a large cast performing black on a black stage with only a podium center downstage and bleachers to the right, the large cast ended the night with laughter and whistles.
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Mohammad Sultan grew up in a world of vibrant colors and spicy curry. A world where the sweat of a barefoot rickshaw driver contrasts with the gleam of a dancing woman’s black hair. Sultan grew up in Bollywood, or as some would phrase it, he grew up watching Indian movies. Despite the fact that as a child, his senses were overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of India, Sultan, who is a biology freshman, does not speak Hindi. At the beginning of the semester, Sultan joined the Hindi Club so that one day he would understand the language. The Hindi Club teaches reading, writing and speaking Hindi at the introductory level.
BROADWAY
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Best of Broadway
8/ 10
photo by Brandon Higgins
Freshman global business major Pankhuri Mittal instructing students about Hindi culture at the Nov. 1 Hindi Club meeting in the Galaxy Rooms. are enough students interested,” Shah said. Because Indian students make up a large demographic at UTD, Shah said he believes an official Hindi
program would be successful. While official Hindi classes are a future goal, for now the club members will stick to learning Hindi, playing
DANCING
continued from page 6 Etibo said his right and left feet didn’t always coordinate with the beat. “When I first started dancing I sucked,” Etibo said. “I would go to clubs and dance and the girls would walk away from me.” Etibo said being a part of “Dancin’ 4 A Cause” for the past fours years has improved his movement and dancing. This year he is one of the head male choreographers and helped put together a hiphop routine and the finale in the show. Finding dance majors or people with dancing skills at UTD can be a hard
games and having fun. The Hindi Club meets Mondays from 7 – 8:30 p.m. For more information contact Monisha Lulla at 214-734-5041.
task Etibo said. He said he enjoys teaching new dancers but sometimes it can be difficult for them to remember their steps. Computer Science sophomore Darrel Dunn is not new to the dancing scene. “(Even though) it’s the only dance event at UTD I’m excited to be a part of it,” Dunn said. Dunn will be a part of a hip-hop routine and will be seen throughout the show. UTD’s sororities and fraternities have also taken to the stage to help with the finale. “Last year Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated performed the finale with an awe-
some step routine,” Worrell said. “Dancin’ 4 A Cause” will be 8-10 p.m. Nov. 19 in the University Theatre and doors open an hour before the show. Tickets are sold in the Activity Center and will be sold on the day of the performance. UTD Students & Children under 17 - $6 and UTD Faculty, Staff, Alumni & Adults $9. Last year Worrell said the University Theatre was filled to capacity and even with the line around the corner people had to be turned away. Worrell said she is excited for this years event and is expecting the same numbers as last year.
photos by Brandon Higgins
FIRE
continued from page 6
burnt pieces.” In the years that Chidres has been spinning he said he’s had a couple of close calls. While at Camp Augusta Childres was performing in front of a group of children when the chain from the tool he was using hit his back and caught his shirt on fire. Childres said his safety rushed to him with a dry towel and put the fire out. Once Childres was extinguished he continued on with
his performance and he said the children still enjoyed the whole show. “This is why it’s important to wear natural fibers, know what you’re doing and have a safety,” Childres said. Psychology sophomore Penvisa Buraparate said she is fascinated when she sees Childres performing. “It’s not something that you see everyday, especially at UTD,” Buraparate said. “I’m kind of envious.” Buraparate said she doesn’t worry much about Childres because she knows he is confident in what he’s doing.
Childres said he enjoys his hobby because it’s a different but effective way for him to ease his mind. “Once I start spinning relaxation begins to flow,” Childres said. “Fire spinning is a great form of meditation for me.” Fire spinning led Childres to meet a lot of interesting people, and he said his performances on and off campus have generated a lot if interest. “I don’t do it for money or anything like that,” Childres said. “I just truly enjoy performing and spinning.”
FIRE TWIRLING BASICS Fire spinning also known as fire dancing or fire twirling is a discipline which involves manipulation of objects on fire. Typically these objects have one or more bundles of wicking that are soaked in fuel and ignited. Wicking or wicker material is made from fiberglass, cotton or Kevlar blended with fiberglass. Kevlar-blend wicks are the most common and are considered standard equipment in modern fire performance. Common tools: Poi - A pair of roughly arm-length chains with handles attached to one end, and bundle of wicking material on the other. Staff - A rod of wood or metal, with wicking material applied to one, or both ends. Fire hoop - A hoop with spokes and wicking material attached.
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Sports
November 15, 2010
Winning with will 2009-10 Season Review Overall W-L: 19-7 Conference W-L: 16-4
Notes: The Lady Comets allowed 56.0 PPG last season, second best in the conference… Their +10.0 scoring margin was the third highest in the conference… Their +3.73 turnover margin was second best in the conference… The Lady Comets are picked by ASC coaches to finish third in the ASC East this season... Business administration senior and forward Lauren Hale, who tore her ACL before the season.
Lady Comets work as one this season Bobby Karalla
Contributor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
The UTD women’s basketball team will have a new look this season after they lost their two leading scorers from last year’s team. The team will return nine players from last season, and they are not worried about how they will make up for the losses. Business administration seniors Lyndsey Smith and Tarneisha Scott and psychology senior Brittany Houston emphasized that this year the team has excellent chemistry and will use it to their advantage to help win games. “This year, our strength will be team play,” Scott said. “We hang out more and it’s easier to get to know everyone.” The UTD women have won at least 19 games the past two seasons. Coach Polly Thomason, returning for her sixth season, credits the team’s recent success to the players. “We have just brought in players who want to compete and want to win,” Thomason said. “We’ve set the standard, but now they want to get to the next step.” The next step for the Lady Comets is to advance past the first round in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Championship Tournament, where they have lost each of the past four seasons. With high win totals and early exits, both players and coaches are frustrated at the defeats they have suffered. But they know what they need to do to advance further. “Skill gets you to the tournament, and it’s will that keeps you in,” Thomason said. “I think that’s what we’ve got to bring.” The UTD women plan to advance with a competitive attitude and team play. “We all know our roles. We have competitive people on our team,” Houston said. “We’re focusing on an aggressive man-to-man defense this year. If you stop the other team from scoring, you’re going to win the game.” Scott said the Lady Comets have a “team, team, team” attitude and everyone is vital for team success. Thomason agrees that it
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Team takes third, looks to bounce back Club proves it can compete with the best in Texas Bobby Karalla
Contributor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
Returning Leaders Points: L. Smith/8.5 Rebounds: T. Scott/5.1 Assists: T. Ichimura/2.7
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The UTD table tennis team finished third in their first National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) tournament Oct. 22. They lost only to UT Austin and Texas Wesleyan University (TW). TW features nationally-ranked players and gives scholarships strictly for table tennis. UTD table tennis was created March 2010 and consists of about 15 players, said electrical engineering junior Hoang Nguyen. Nguyen, along with seven other UTD players, competed against six schools at the Collegiate Team Trials that took place in Forth Worth at TW. This was UTD’s first official tournament as an organized team, but marketing sophomore Hung-Chih Kao was not intimidated. “I wasn’t nervous because I’ve been at a lot
of (table tennis) tournaments before in Taiwan,” Kao said. Computer science graduate student Sameer Arora said there was nothing to be nervous about and he took playing TW as a challenge. The NCTTA tournaments are made up of head-tohead matches between two teams. Computer science junior Duc Le said four players from one team play four players from another. The winner of the tournament is decided by the combined total score of the four players. Members of the table tennis team compete against each other in practice to decide who will compete for the school in the tournament. Once the eight players qualify, they play other students with the same rating. Le said there are eight levels of ratings and players can only compete against others with the same or higher rating. Software engineering senior Nasco
photo by Albert Ramirez
Hung-Chih Kao practices Tuesday in the Activity Center. The UTD table tennis team was formed last spring. Tchizmarov plays at the 1900 level (the fifth-highest) and competed against TW’s best player. “When you play in a tournament, the environment is very different. There are a lot of people watching,” Tchizmarov said. “You have to prepare yourself to perform well in front of (an audience).” Considering how new UTD’s program is, the players said they were very satisfied with the results.
“We were really surprised because the other teams have been to many tournaments before,” said graduate student Hynek Boril. Tchizmarov said he hopes and expects the team to improve in the future. “Since this was our first competition, I’m anticipating next semester to be even better,” Tchizmarov said. That feeling resonates with other players as well.
“We learned that we need to work more,” Arora said. “We were nearly second. This is the first step towards winning.” Arora said he hopes more people will join the team, but Boril said it takes hours of practice to compete at tournaments. Nguyen stressed the table tennis team is also a club and has an uncapped
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Ludwig races to Memphis Cross country star moves on to NCAA Regional Bobby Karalla
Contributor rjk090020@utdallas.edu
courtesy of Nicholas Kang
Daniel Ludwig runs cross country earlier this season. He can advance to the National Championship with a top-10 finish in Memphis.
Daniel Ludwig has a chance to do something no other Comet has ever done. Ludwig, an economics sophomore, finished third place at the American Southwest Conference Championship cross country meet Oct. 30. He advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional Championship Nov. 13 at Rhodes College in Tennessee. Should he finish in the top 10 at the Regional Championship, Ludwig will become the first Comet to advance to the NCAA National Championship. Rather than focus on his accomplishment, Ludwig concentrates on how he can improve his time and win the next race. This dedication and focus shows. He runs 70-80 miles per week. “The race didn’t go quite how I wanted it to,” Ludwig said. “I didn’t get out very fast with the leaders so I had some catching up to do very early on, and that left me pretty tired there at the end.” While Ludwig finished third place out of at least 70 runners, he said he felt as if he could have finished second or even first. He lost to the second-place runner by a few seconds and had already defeated both of the runners that beat him earlier in the season. Ludwig, a Florida native, said cross country is a mentally demanding sport. He has disciplined himself not to slow his pace even if he feels out of energy. “Sometimes it feels like you’re under empty,”
Ludwig said. “There comes a point when you have to forget about yourself. I focus on staying relaxed in a race, and the competitive nature will take care of itself.” Ludwig competed in the 8K event, which is approximately five miles. To build up his endurance, Ludwig said he runs about 1,000 miles during the summer, even though perfect running weather is between 45-55 degrees. The cool conditions are not as physically or mentally draining. “It doesn’t matter how much you want it in the fall if you don’t want it in the summer,” Ludwig said. “The heat makes you tougher and so much stronger, especially mentally.” Once summer is over, Ludwig has less time to run. But he said he still makes time to run almost every day either on or near campus. Ludwig said he is looking forward to the possibility of making it to the National Championship, but he cannot look too far ahead. “It’s a day-by-day process. You can’t get too far ahead of yourself,” Ludwig said. “But we’ve never had someone go to nationals, so that’s the goal right now.” This is just Ludwig’s second year of running cross country for UTD, and he has already advanced to the NCAA Regional. He will advance to the NCAA National Championship if he finishes somewhere in the top 10 at the Regional Nov. 13. Associate Athletic Director Bruce Unrue said Ludwig’s accomplishment is a milestone not only for Ludwig
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photo by Albert Ramirez
CALVERLEY
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was 15 at the club level, and often jokes that he and Sanders are Calverley’s second parents. “It’s like watching your own child grow up,” Villareal said. “She’s a very down-to-earth kid and just works hard for everything that she’s gotten.” The volleyball team practices everyday at 8 a.m. She lives 30 minutes away in Wylie and wakes up at 6:30 to travel to UTD. While she said it was difficult for her to adjust to that lifestyle, she got used to it with time. “You have to work hard every single day to achieve what you want,” Calverley said. “Even when you’re doing conditioning or (coaches) are
yelling at you, in the end it’s all worth it.” Calverley has not made it this far without struggle. She jammed her thumb sophomore year, and it affected her setting all season. Last year, she sprained her ankle before the season and said it limited her mobility and quickness. “You spend a lot of time in the training room,” Calverley said. “That’s the life of an athlete.” Calverley said she has a coach’s attitude on and off the court, and will join Sanders and Villareal on the staff next season as a student assistant, she said. She also coaches club volleyball teams outside of volleyball season and said her coaching experience has helped her play. UTD’s volleyball season ended at the ASC tournament.
Sports
Calverley has played her last game as a Comet. “It makes it a little easier to have the awards, to know that you still played well even if you didn’t accomplish your final goal,” Calverley said. The team’s goal this season was to compete for a National Championship, but they fell short. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Villareal credits Calverley and the team’s other seniors, psychology senior Jessica Nassau and criminology senior Amber Wetz, for helping the program to grow. “(The seniors) have been a part of the winningest four years in the program,” Villareal said. “There will be big shoes to fill, but they’ve helped us get to where we are now.” This group of seniors won two ASC championships and at least 20 games every season. Associate Athletic Director Bruce Unrue said he is very happy for Calverley and proud of her accomplishment, but is also excited about what this recognition could mean for the program. While Calverley plans to pursue a career as a flight attendant so she can travel the world, she hopes to continue playing volleyball after college in a recreation league and possibly coach at the club level. The AVCA has yet to release neither its 2010 All-South Region nor its All-American Teams, but Calverley said she expects to be named to both as she has statistically qualified for the teams. Her play has already gained both conference-wide and nation-wide attention, and she will leave as UTD’s most decorated athlete in volleyball history.
photo by Albert Ramirez
Members of the UTD table tennis team practice in the Activity Center on Tuesday nights. Their practices are open to anyone, and members encourage anyone to join the club.
Tennis
continued from page 8 level, which means anyone can join. The players said they welcome new members and the club has its own page on Facebook –
LUDWIG
continued from page 8 himself, but also for the cross country program as a whole. Cross country is an individ-
Table Tennis Club (at UTD). The next NCTTA event the team plans on competing is in January at TW, which allows enough time for new members to join. Players are often in the Student Union, and the team practices Tuesday
nights in the Activity Center. Tchizmarov is very serious about the program’s growth. “We want to market ourselves and show to the school that there are very good players on this team,” Tchizmarov said.
ualistic sport, and an award like Ludwig’s could help UTD recruit better and also become more recognized, Unrue said. Ludwig has now experienced the pressure of a big race, and said he feels ready
for an even bigger race and is mentally up to the task. “You have to know your body and know your limitations,” Ludwig said. “It’s really believing in yourself and the training you’ve done.”
November 15, 2010
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photo by Ben Hawkins
Business administration senior Tarneisha Scott dribbles the ball during practice. The Lady Comets begin their season Nov. 16 at the Activity Center.
Womens
continued from page 8 will take chemistry and team play to succeed this season, but also stressed that it will take hard work and a high basketball IQ as well. “We have a lot of players who have very good knowledge. They’ll be able to make more adjustments than we have in the past,” Thomason said. “I’ve preached to them to work hard and not be outworked, and I’ve seen that so far in practice.”
The Lady Comets have gone 34-7 in ASC play the past two seasons and 40-12 overall. They have inched closer to an ASC title and were nationallyranked two different times over the past two seasons in the DIII national poll. The players and coaches are satisfied with the evolution of the program. Under Thomason, UTD has an overall record of 79-50 and a 65-37 record in conference play. UTD has now established a reputation as a solid program. Although
reputation is important to recruiting and popularity, Smith argued that rankings and recognition only matter if the team wins, and that will take a group effort. “I don’t think the rankings mean anything. I think we’re underdogs this year since we lost two seniors from last year,” Smith said. “People know their roles, and they’re all contributing but just in different ways. We’re more focused on winning the conference than we are about getting our stats.”
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Comics
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Losers and Geeks
November 15, 2010
Sudoku
by V.A.X.
Well it’s getting near that time of year again, folks. The time when you can’t mention things you need around your parents because they will become what you “wanted” for Christmas. There’s nothing like finding that instead of buying you that new tablet you wanted, your parents bought you a shiny new belt and an XL pack of shoe strings. Thanks for the shoe strings, Mom. They’re just long enough to hang my dreams with... Well... your mom liked it...
Math Puzzle solutions online at www.utdmercury.com.
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*Remember multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.
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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.
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Instructions:
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Math puzzle
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34
by Michelle Nguyen
The Story of My Life
by Pennyworth
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Workspace:
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Workspace:
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November 15, 2010
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